By Colin A. Young State House News Service Gaming regulators voted Friday to prolong their mandated shutdown of the state’s slots parlor and casinos until at least May 18 in line with Gov. Charlie Baker’s latest order, and announced plans for an internal group to focus in-depth on issues around …

Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued an emergency use authorization for the investigational antiviral drug remdesivir for the treatment of suspected or laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 in adults and children hospitalized with severe disease. While there is limited information known about the safety and effectiveness of using remdesivir to treat …

Today, Congressman Bill Keating announced an additional $1,956,550 in funding from the US Department of Transportation for four airports in the Ninth Congressional District. The following airports received grants: – $927,000 for Barnstable Municipal Airport to acquire snow removal equipment and an additional $250,000 to acquire an aircraft rescue vehicle; …

Massachusetts Coronavirus Update On May 1, the Massachusetts Public Health Department reported that the state added 2,106 more positive cases of COVID-19 bringing to total to 64,311. This is an increase from Thursday’s 1,940 reported cases. 154 new COVID-19 related deaths were reported on Friday bringing the total deaths in …

The Port of New Bedford has partnered with Southcoast Health to pilot targeted COVID-19 testing for workers in the commercial fishing industry and others, beginning with commercial fishermen on the New Bedford waterfront Friday. Using the Southcoast Mobile Health Van, testing began Friday afternoon for fishing crews whose vessels are …

The Baker-Polito Administration today issued an order requiring the use of masks or face coverings in public places where they cannot socially distance from others. The Administration also announced expanded community health center COVID-19 testing capacity at centers throughout the Commonwealth. Mask and Face Covering Order: The Baker-Polito Administration has …

Mayor Jon Mitchell’s office Friday reported 27 additional confirmed COVID-19 cases in New Bedford, bringing the total positive cases in the city to 625, up from 598 on Thursday. Three additional COVID-19 related deaths were reported today raising the total to 19 in the city. The Greater New Bedford Community …

Mattel launched action figures representing nurses, doctors, EMT’s and delivery drivers with the net proceeds going to “providing essential supplies, equipment, and resources for protecting frontline healthcare workers and their families.” From Mattel: “Here’s how it works. Beginning April 29, 2020 through May 31, 2020, when you purchase one or …

Chris Lisinski State House News Service Nearly 900,000 Massachusetts workers, representing almost a quarter of the state’s entire labor force, have filed new claims for unemployment benefits since mid-March as the COVID-19 pandemic and the widespread shutdowns it prompted continue to exert an economic toll. Labor officials on Thursday reported …

A Salvadoran national, who previously resided in East Boston, was sentenced yesterday for illegally reentering the United States after being deported. David Sanchez Murcia, 38, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Patti B. Saris to time-served (approximately 18 months in prison) and one year of supervised release. Sanchez Murcia …