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Fifteen State Attorneys General Challenge FERC Proposal to Expedite Natural Gas Projects

Fifteen State Attorneys General Challenge FERC Proposal to Expedite Natural Gas Projects

A coalition of 15 state attorneys general, led by Washington Attorney General Nick Brown and Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell, is urging the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to reconsider a proposal that would expand its blanket certificate program for natural gas projects. This program allows certain expansions or modifications to existing natural gas facilities to proceed without a separate, full certificate proceeding, aiming to reduce delays. While supporters argue that faster permitting could improve reliability and reduce construction costs, the attorneys general contend that expanding this program could lead to larger, more consequential projects receiving insufficient scrutiny. They warn that this reduced oversight could expose ratepayers to unnecessary costs and environmental risks, particularly if utilities later seek to recover these costs from customers without adequate justification for the project's necessity or cost-effectiveness. The debate centers on balancing the ...

The real Lizzie Borden story – What Netflix's 'Monster' got right about the murders

The real Lizzie Borden story – What Netflix's 'Monster' got right about the murders

Netflix's "Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story" focuses on a young woman acquitted of her parents' deaths in 1892.

Judge strikes down Trump policy that cut millions in teacher-training money

Judge strikes down Trump policy that cut millions in teacher-training money

A federal judge has struck down a 2025 order from the Trump administration that cut hundreds of millions of dollars in teacher-training money

Congressional Leaders Introduce AI Data Center Moratorium Act Amid Local Pushback

Congressional Leaders Introduce AI Data Center Moratorium Act Amid Local Pushback

Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Jim McGovern, along with Senator Bernie Sanders, have co-sponsored the AI Data Center Moratorium Act (S.2414 and H.R. 9442) in Congress. This proposed legislation aims to establish a temporary prohibition on the construction of new data centers. The moratorium would remain in effect until Congress enacts comprehensive legislation to address the economic, environmental, and safety impacts associated with artificial intelligence. This federal initiative comes as numerous municipalities across Massachusetts, including Greenfield, Lowell, Mansfield, Holyoke, Westfield, Southbridge, Agawam, and Leominster, have already implemented or are considering their own moratoriums or bans on data center development due to concerns over energy consumption, water usage, and local control. New York Governor Kathy Hochul also issued an Executive Order for a one-year pause on data centers, citing similar concerns.

U.S. Representative Jim McGovern to Receive Spirit of Service Award at Veterans Inc. Recovery Summit

U.S. Representative Jim McGovern to Receive Spirit of Service Award at Veterans Inc. Recovery Summit

U.S. Representative Jim McGovern, who has served Massachusetts' 2nd Congressional District since 1997, is slated to receive the Spirit of Service Award at Veterans Inc.'s fifth annual Recovery Summit. The event, themed “The Weight: We Carry It With You,” will take place on Friday, September 18, from 9 a.m. to noon at Independence Hall in Shrewsbury. McGovern, a Worcester native and the ranking member of the House Rules Committee, is being recognized for his extensive work on hunger and food security issues, as well as his consistent advocacy for veterans throughout his tenure in Congress. The summit aims to bring together over 200 recovery practitioners, policymakers, and legislators to discuss recovery in a broader context, encompassing trauma, stigma, and grief beyond addiction. Judson Brewer, a psychiatrist and neuroscientist from Brown University’s Mindfulness Center, will deliver the keynote address, focusing on his research into habit loops and mindfulness-based treatments. Additionally, the Vanguard...

Massachusetts Municipal Association to Host Legislative Breakfast Meetings in October

Massachusetts Municipal Association to Host Legislative Breakfast Meetings in October

The Massachusetts Municipal Association (MMA) is scheduled to conduct its fall series of Legislative Breakfast Meetings throughout October. These meetings will take place in various communities across the Commonwealth, including Great Barrington, Leicester, Lowell, Needham, Northampton, and Westport. The purpose of these gatherings is to provide an informal setting for local leaders, legislators, and MMA staff to network and discuss issues pertinent to both local and state levels. The MMA’s Legislative Division staff will present updates on current legislative activities impacting cities and towns. Key discussion points will include the fiscal 2027 state budget, a fiscal 2026 supplemental spending package funded by “Fair Share” revenue, the transportation infrastructure bond bill, and the PROTECT Act. Additionally, attendees will receive updates on pending bills related to economic development, energy costs, environmental measures, and other legislative priorities. A light breakfast and coffee will be prov...

Gas prices debate continues in Congress. Can Washington lower costs?

Gas prices debate continues in Congress. Can Washington lower costs?

Lawmakers in Washington are trading blame for high gas prices with Trump administration officials. Here's what Washington can do to lower pump prices.

US judge strikes down Education Department's anti-DEI grant policy

US judge strikes down Education Department's anti-DEI grant policy

By Nate Raymond BOSTON, Sept 17 (Reuters) - A federal judge on Thursday struck down a policy that was adopted early in US President Donald Trump's administration that required the US Department of Education to terminate millions of dollars in grants funding diversity, equity, and inclusion

Congressman Richard Neal Attends Ribbon-Cutting for New $52 Million C-5M Maintenance Hangar

Congressman Richard Neal Attends Ribbon-Cutting for New $52 Million C-5M Maintenance Hangar

U.S. Representative Richard Neal of Massachusetts participated in the official opening of a new $52 million C-5M maintenance hangar at Westover Air Reserve Base. The facility, known as the Regional Isochronal Inspection Hangar, is designed to support the inspection and maintenance requirements of active-duty and Reserve C-5M Super Galaxy aircraft. This project, which began in June 2021 and was completed in April, is a collaborative effort between the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Air Force. The 105,000-square-foot hangar will enable Westover Air Reserve Base to conduct intricate isochronal (ISO) inspections, a new mission for the base. These comprehensive inspections, performed every 420 days, are crucial for keeping the C-5M fleet mission-ready. Approximately 200 members of the 439th Maintenance Group will work in the new hangar. Westover is one of only two bases equipped to handle these detailed inspections, which can take up to three weeks to complete.

On This Day: Northern Resistance Challenged the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850

On This Day: Northern Resistance Challenged the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850

The Fugitive Slave Act of 1850, while intended to solidify federal power in returning escaped enslaved people, instead ignited a firestorm of legal...

Democratic women aren't oppressed, but they keep blaming men | Opinion

Democratic women aren't oppressed, but they keep blaming men | Opinion

A new poll shows Democratic women overwhelmingly blame men for society's problems. The real explanation has less to do with sexism than status.

Homeowners Maximize Solar Payoff Through Net Metering and SRECs Amidst Varying Local Incentives

Homeowners Maximize Solar Payoff Through Net Metering and SRECs Amidst Varying Local Incentives

Homeowners Maximize Solar Payoff Through Net Metering and SRECs Amidst Varying Local Incentives