Statehouse Headlines
Lantigua wins recount over Devers
A recount in Lawrence City Hall yesterday confirmed Rep. William Lantigua as the Democratic candidate for the 16th Essex House race. Election officials said the two-term representative had 1,849 votes to 736 for his write-in challenger, Marcos Devers. A final tally is expected Monday, City Clerk William Maloney said. (By Ana Rivas, 10/1/06)
September
Third-Party Candidates Offer Alternatives
On a recent day, Christy Mihos reclined in a comfortable leather office chair at his Park Street campaign office overlooking the Statehouse's majestic, golden dome and suggested it might be time to put an independent in the governor's corner office. (By Heather Schultz, 9/27/06)
State funds will be scarce in coming years
Massachusetts faces a growing gap between tax revenues and increasing demands on the state budget, according to a report released today by the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation. (By Gary Dzen, 9/26/06)
MCAS results please officials:
Educators plan to continue to work on improving students' test scores
This year, tenth-graders in Massachusetts recorded their best results on the state MCAS exams since 1998, but public schools in Dedham, Norwood, Walpole and Westwood still plan on working to improve their scores. (By Michelle Laczkoski, 9/28/06)
Teens say recovery high schools keep them clean and sober
Sitting on a marble stair at the Statehouse, Sabrinna Clark, 17, waited for her chance to tell a legislator how a state-funded high school for those recovering from drugs and alcohol helped her deal with her own demons. (By Ana Rivas, 9/29/06)
Report on higher ed reflects state concerns
State officials say a federal report on higher education underscores problems facing Massachusetts' colleges and universities, including issues of affordability and preparing high school graduates for college. (By Anupreeta Das, 9/27/06)
Lawmakers hot and cold on Environmental Voters' scorecard
The Massachusetts League of Environmental Voters recently released its 2006 Environmental Scorecard, listing Sen. Bruce Tarr lowest among senators representing communities in the Greater Lowell region. (By Rick Heller, 9/25/06)
Devers, Lantigua recount set for Saturday
Lawrence election officials said yesterday they will begin a recount in the 16th Essex House race on Saturday, after Marcos Devers challenged his sticker campaign loss against two-term incumbent Rep. William Lantigua in the Democratic primary. (By Ana Rivas, 9/27/06)
Track bill could cost Plainville
Legislators on Beacon Hill are in the middle of their yearly fight over simulcasting rights for state racetracks. (By Heather Schultz, 9/24/06)
Record fundraising fuels fears that governor's office is up for sale to the highest bidder
Deval Patrick not only received the most votes across North of Boston in Tuesday's Democratic primary. He swept the field in fundraising, too. (By Ana Rivas, 9/24/06)
Healey signs sex crimes bill
Peter and Annette Presti got the justice they were seeking yesterday, as Lt. Gov. Kerry Healey signed a bill extending the statute of limitations for prosecuting sex crimes and placing tougher penalties on convicted sex offenders. (By Michelle Laczkoski, 9/22/06)
A ruff month
Dean was there. Brew was there, too. And so were Moose, Mellow, Drego and Coco Crisp. (By Gary Dzen, 9/22/06)
Healey signs sex-offender bill Legislation lengthens statute of limitations for child sexual abuse
Two days after Lt. Gov. Kerry Healey was officially nominated as the Republican candidate for governor, she took on the gubernatorial role by signing legislation that lengthened the statute of limitations for child sexual abuse. (By Rick Heller, 9/21/06)
A new Green-Rainbow candidate
Not to be left out of the political headlines this week, the Green-Rainbow Party introduced its replacement candidate for lieutenant governor, Martina Robinson, a 30-year-old Belchertown resident. (By Rick Heller, 9/21/06)
Democrats split on support
Now that Deval Patrick is officially the Democratic candidate for governor, the party’s elected officials will be voicing support for the voters’ choice. (By Michelle Laczkoski, 9/20/06)
Mihos poised to play spoiler
The gubernatorial candidate closest to the governor's office last night was Brockton native Christy Mihos, whose primary-day party was held across the street from the State House. (By Patrick Anderson, 9/20/06)
Now on sale: needles and syringes
After a two-decade long fight, a new law allowing the sale of needles and syringes without prescriptions is off to a slow start. (By Michelle Laczkoski, 9/20/06)
Incumbent has big fund-raising edgeIncumbent has big fund-raising edge
As one of the few state representatives facing a primary challenge this year, Democratic Majority Leader John H. Rogers is well armed for the fight, having raised $152,943 more than his opponent, Leah O'Leary. (By Michelle Laczkoski, 9/19/06)
Residents donated more to Patrick
Deval Patrick, the frontrunner going into today's gubernatorial primary election, is also a leader when it comes to campaign contributions from the Waltham-Newton area. (By Michelle Laczkoski, 9/19/06)
Romney MIA, so Healey goes it alone: No announced plans for governor to stump for ’02 running mate
Gov. Mitt Romney may be on the campaign trail, but he isn’t making pitches for his lieutenant, Kerry Healey, who is running to replace him. (By Leslie Friday, 9/19/06)
Meehan backs plan to offer 9/11 compensation for toxic exposure
Five years after Sept. 11, the families of 64 Massachusetts residents who died in the terrorist attacks are among those who have received settlements from the federal September 11th Victim Compensation Fund. (By Rick Heller, 9/17/06)
Milford area gives heavy to Reilly
Milford area residents have given more financial support to Attorney General Thomas Reilly in the past two years than to his two Democratic opponents for governor, according to campaign finance reports filed with the state Office of Campaign and Political Finance (OCPF) last week. (By Gary Dzen, 9/17/06)
Bill aims to help towns attract business; Legislature OKs plan to expand special tax incentive areas
The Legislature has given municipalities some extra help in attracting businesses by approving a bill that could double the number of economic development zones where towns would be allowed to offer certain tax incentives. (By David Cogger, 9/16/06)
North Reading gains $3.4M from Berry Center sale
A new law allows North Reading to receive close to 20 percent of the state's $18 million sale of the former J. T. Berry Rehabilitation Center. (By Ana Rivas, 9/15/06)
Bill passed to expand tax breaks for business
The state Senate's passage of a bill doubling the number of Economic Target Areas in Massachusetts to 40 yesterday will allow other state communities to benefit from tax breaks and business incentives already enjoyed by towns in the Milford region. (By Gary Dzen, 9/15/06)
Addison Gilbert gets help from state
As Massachusetts prepares for the implementation of the new health reform law, the state announced new grants to area health providers, including $500,000 to the Northeast Hospital Corp., which owns Addison Gilbert Hospital. (By Ana Rivas, 9/15/06)
Money OK'd for sailmaker's move to Salem
A state agency yesterday approved a $2.15 million bond allowing Marblehead-based Doyle Sailmakers to relocate to Salem this fall, creating a new product line, moving 34 jobs to Salem and adding six more. (By Ana Rivas, 9/14/06)
Patrick's the target in final debate
The three Democratic gubernatorial candidates showcased their résumés and took turns shifting alliances as they attacked each other’s campaign promises, with Christopher Gabrieli and Atty. Gen. Thomas Reilly often teaming up against poll favorite Deval Patrick. (By Leslie Friday, 9/14/06)
Sailmaker asks state to help it expand
A Marblehead-based maker of yacht sails is hoping the state will help it launch a Witch City operation and aid the company's foray into the blimp market. (By Ana Rivas, 9/13/06)
Poll: Reilly loses ground
In one of the first polls since last week's Democratic gubernatorial debate, Tom Reilly appears to have fallen further behind fellow candidates Deval Patrick and Chris Gabrieli, according to figures compiled by the State House News Service. (By Rick Heller, 9/13/06)
Patrick on the Rise
Deval Patrick surged at least 10 percentage points ahead of his Democratic primary opponents, Chris Gabrieli and Atty. Gen. Tom Reilly, in the latest State House News Poll conducted by KRC/Communications Research. (By Leslie Friday, 9/13/06)
How to Put a Price on Life?
When Kenneth Feinberg was appointed by then-U.S. Attorney Gen. John Ashcroft to administer the federal 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund, one question tormented him: How to put a price tag on a life? The statute Congress enacted creating the fund was brief and cryptic, offering no guidelines on how to divide $7 billion of public money among victims' families and survivors. (Anupreeta Das, 9/13/06)