Politics

By Katie Lannan State House News Service One bill unanimously passed by the state Senate on Thursday would revise Massachusetts’ adoption laws to remove a section prohibiting adults from adopting younger siblings, aunts or uncles, and another aims to make it easier for homeless youth and adults to secure state …

The Baker-Polito Administration today announced $5 million in grant funding awarded to 306 Massachusetts fire departments from the FY22 Firefighter Safety Equipment Grant Program – New Bedford will receive $49,994.60. This program enables fire departments to purchase a variety of equipment that will make firefighters’ jobs safer. This is the …

Rachael S. Rollins announced that Joshua S. Levy has been appointed to serve as First Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Massachusetts. Levy was formally sworn-in today by U.S. District Court Chief Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV. “Mr. Levy has distinguished himself as someone with outstanding character, judgment …

Today the Baker-Polito Administration announced an order was placed with iHealth to supply the state with 26 million rapid antigen tests over the next 3 months. The tests will be prioritized to support K-12 schools and childcare settings. The agreement allows for shipments of tests to arrive on a rolling …

Michael P. Norton State House News Service After last session’s effort died in the House, the Massachusetts Senate is taking another run at the idea of creating a process for homeless individuals to apply for official state identification cards. The Senate Ways and Means Committee on Monday approved legislation (S …

Mayor Jon Mitchell has announced his appointment of Acting Fire Chief Scott Kruger as Fire Chief for the City of New Bedford. In New Bedford, candidates for fire chief are selected based on performance on a state-administered Civil Service examination and assessment process. Results from the most recent Civil Service …

Governor Charlie Baker nominated Sarah Joss and Kristen Stone as Associate Justices of the District Court. Attorneys Joss and Stone have a combined 37 years of legal experience. “The decades of experience in public service that Sarah Joss and Kristen Stone will bring to the District Court and the people …

Katie Lannan State House News Service Lawmakers advocating to make school meals available to all students at no cost got a hand Tuesday from a New England neighbor, as Maine Senate President Troy Jackson urged Massachusetts to follow his state’s lead in passing the bill. Introducing himself as “a fifth-generation …

New Bedford Public Schools will be pausing all athletic practices and competitions through this Friday, January 7, due to an increase in positive COVID-19 cases among several different ​ athletic teams, Superintendent Thomas Anderson announced today. “In consultation with the New Bedford Department of Health, we have been advised to …

By Matt Murphy State House News Service Attorney General Maura Healey will report raising more than $400,000 in December, the Democrat’s largest fundraising month ever, adding to the $3.3 million she has on hand as she weighs whether to seek the governor’s office this year. Healey’s campaign committee said Monday …