At a Hispanic and Latinx Heritage Month event at the Massachusetts State House, Gov. Maura Healey praised the state’s Latino community, highlighted economic and demographic claims, and said she has hired Pedro Martinez to lead the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

At a Hispanic and Latinx Heritage Month event at the Massachusetts State House, Gov. Maura Healey praised the state’s Latino community, highlighted economic and demographic claims, and said she has hired Pedro Martinez to lead the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

Governor Maura Healey and Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll joined the Latino Empowerment Council at the State House to celebrate Hispanic/Latinx Heritage Month, highlight Latino contributions to the state, and reiterate administration support for Latino representation and services; Healey said she had hired Pedro Martinez to run the Department of E

Governor Maura Healey and Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll joined the Latino Empowerment Council at the State House to celebrate Hispanic/Latinx Heritage Month, highlight Latino contributions to the state, and reiterate administration support for Latino representation and services; Healey said she had hired Pedro Martinez to run the Department of E

At a Hispanic/Latinx Heritage Month event at the Massachusetts State House, Gov. Maura Healey announced she has hired Pedro Martinez to run the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and praised the work of the Latino Empowerment Council, while reiterating the administration's stated commitments to education, housing, childcare and small‑

The Leominster City Council kept its hearing open on petition 15-26, a proposed zoning amendment to add battery energy storage systems, after councilors raised safety and siting questions and developers and landowners offered technical information and commitments to collaborate with fire and planning officials.

Representatives who identified themselves with Thorndike/Florida Development presented a master plan at a joint Select Board–Planning Board meeting on Oct. 14 proposing 424 senior condominiums, a rebuilt 9‑hole public golf course and a private wastewater plant. The project would require rezoning, a master development agreement and action under M.G.

Councilors filed a hearing order to examine city-owned grocery stores, nonprofit grocers, food hubs and other models to address food insecurity, reflecting concern about recent SNAP benefit reductions and local grocery closures.

A petition from the Senate by Paul W. Mark proposing legislation to promote residential energy-conservation windows was received and referred to the House Committee on Housing; the House concurred.

Bethany Steiner of the Mass Cultural Council asked the committee to report S.2169, which would remove size and age restrictions for municipally owned facilities and clarify tribal eligibility for the Massachusetts Cultural Facilities Fund, citing past denials of otherwise strong projects.

Rep. Sally Kearns testified on H.2216 seeking stronger oversight of antipsychotic prescribing in nursing homes after a personal experience with a parent; she said Massachusetts has disproportionately high antipsychotic use in nursing facilities and argued for a sign‑off requirement so antipsychotics are used only when clinically justified.

Mayor’s team presented a five‑ and ten‑year financial forecast and the five‑year capital improvement plan. Officials forecast modest revenue growth, stress rising costs for health insurance, pensions and stormwater/phosphorus control, and recommended $10 million of certified free cash be added to the Newton Public Schools stabilization fund.

Finance Committee recommended favorably an order to accept and expend a $1,600,000 MassWorks infrastructure grant to fund roadway, stormwater and park design in the Trout Brook redevelopment area; councilors pressed staff on what the design money buys and timing for construction funding.

Councilors pressed the mayor, CFO and DPW commissioner about a recent trip to meet Aquaria representatives about a possible purchase of the Dighton desalination plant; city officials said the visit was exploratory and no purchase price was negotiated. The DPW announced a citywide outdoor water ban effective Oct. 8 and said aquaria output will be cr

MOSES and affected employees told the Joint Committee that forensic scientists, DCR aerial foresters and Department of Correction construction coordinators face hazardous conditions that warrant Group 2 retirement classification; bills filed include House bills 2979, 2972 and 2881 and Senate bills 1853 and 1843.

Speakers told the joint committee that Massport police and campus police performing full policing duties should receive retirement benefits aligned with comparable municipal officers; bills include Senate Bill 1798, House Bill 2997, House Bill 2808 and Senate Bill 1920.

SEIU 1199 urged the committee to expand the existing ban on mandatory overtime for nurses to all hospital workers, citing fatigue, patient safety risks and the emotional toll on caregivers balancing family obligations.

Employment lawyers told lawmakers that Massachusetts should remove antiquated exemptions, update salary thresholds for executive/administrative/professional exemptions, and codify federal regulatory definitions into state law to protect middle‑class workers.

The Massachusetts House suspended rules to take up resolutions and orders, adopted a resolution recognizing a deficiency-awareness day, extended committee reporting deadlines by order, and moved several bills to third reading or passed them to be engrossed.

At a virtual meeting, the Brockton City Planning Board voted to recommend an amendment to the Fairground Zoning Overlay that members say will reduce the need for costly underground garages. The board also approved a set of site-plan modifications and a residential ADU, and voted to release surety for two lots pending a cash bond replacement.

Representatives from TIAA urged the committee to advance legislation (H1112) designed to limit certain voting and conversion tactics used by activist investors that can disadvantage long‑term retirement investors who hold closed‑end funds.

Members of Father Martin Homes, a limited-equity cooperative in South Boston, told the City Council committee that decades-old loan terms, rising carrying charges and an estimated multi-million-dollar capital needs list threaten the cooperative’s long-term affordability and asked the city for flexible relief and supports.

Disability advocates, outdoor organizations and trail builders told the committee that S.548 / H.915 (Trails for All) would close a major access gap: fewer than 1% of unpaved trails in Massachusetts are universally accessible. The bill would create an advisory council and a public trust fund to support design, construction and long‑term maintenance

Several residents used the council hearing to report long-running condo building defects that have driven owners toward foreclosure, and to press the city for oversight and remedies at Tent City after allegations of mismanagement and disputed refinancing proceeds.

Massachusetts education officials unveiled the "Go Higher" outreach campaign at UMass Dartmouth, urging students and families to apply for financial aid and highlighting recent increases in state support for higher education.