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Tuesday, September 1, 2015

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By George Donnelly (@geodonnelly) with Keith Regan

The action today: Bridgewater State inauguration; Opioid update Gov. Baker joins State Auditor Suzanne Bump at the inauguration ceremony of Bridgewater State University President Frederick Clark, Jr., a Bridgewater State alumnus who had been appointed by Gov. Deval Patrick to serve as chairman of the Massachusetts Board of Higher Education and also served as Bridgewater State's executive vice president, at Bridgewater State University, Boyden Quadrangle, 131 Summer St., Bridgewater, 1 pm... A press conference is planned to "provide current data on the opioid epidemic and to inform the public about the Greater Lowell Health Alliance's Substance Use and Prevention Task Force efforts." Scheduled speakers include Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan, Lowell City Manager Kevin Murphy, Lowell Police Superintendent William Taylor and Kerrie D'Entremont of Greater Lowell Health Alliance, Lowell General Hospital, One Hospital Drive, Lowell, 9 am.   Government by consultant -- it's wiser than you think There are a lot of smart people in Massachusetts, who, for a reasonable price, would be happy to help weigh in on some of government's thorniest problems. Yes, consultants can be inane, and sometimes do more harm than good. But the third-party approach seemed to work with the Boston 2024 bid, providing a buffer for Charlie Baker to stay uncommitted while the bid unraveled on its own. Wasn't the Brattle Group's analysis worth the money ($250K), even if the findings were moot? The commonwealth's bedraggled transportation infrastructure begs for some fresh thinking, which is what appeals about the MBTA Control Board's interest in bringing in an outside group to examine what went wrong with the Green Line Extension costs overruns, as Gabrielle Gurley reports on CommonWealth's website. http://bit.ly/1JzlwlI But perhaps it's time to look at the much bigger picture and project 20 years ahead. Computer models should be able to tell us if anyone truly will be able to get anywhere on 93 near Somerville in five years. (It shouldn't be a matter of debate, but instead a matter of science -- simulated logistics.) In 10 years, will the Mass. Pike be obsolete because of the population growth in the western suburbs? What would high-speed rail mean for the economic development of Worcester and Lowell? Simple but big questions aren't asked simply because the Commonwealth is too busy trying to catch up from years of neglect, as exemplified by the now $7.1 billion backlog in public transportation repairs. In the midst of the disrepair and gridlock, we're starved for vision.    It was exactly a year ago... Coakley by 9 points In the what a difference a year makes department: UMass Lowell released a poll with AG Martha Coakley with a commanding lead over her primary opponents while also leading Charlie Baker 41-32 The odds favor Brady The Globe's Ben Volin, a sportswriter by trade by quickly emerging as one of the best law and courts journalists in the land, gives us the latest lowdown on the Brady matter. Based on comments from US District Court Judge Berman, who has blitzed the NFL on several matters, Volin says it's more likely No. 12 will prevail. "Berman appears to have made up his mind. If the previous two hearings were an indication, he will be siding with Brady and the NFLPA." http://bit.ly/1LPiWLQ   Bobby Farrelly, Deflategate and Mayberry A poignant episode of "The Andy Griffith Show" may be helpful in explaining the psychological dynamics of the Patriots' fans and the ongoing Deflategate controversy, movie-maker Bobby Farrelly explains on the Globe op-ed page. It's about the need to believe transcending the particulars of a situation.http://bit.ly/1LQJYT2   50,000 people can't be wrong The return of the Red Sox to Fenway has activated the fan base to protest the firing of Sox play-by-play announcer Don Orsillo, whom NESN will replace at the after the end of the season. Some 50,000 have signed a petition to save Orsillo, who's in his 15th year. The senselessness of the move has many fuming, and none more than the Globe's Dan Shaughnessey, who writes:  "Game after game, Orsillo continues to deliver the story of the 2015 Red Sox with no acknowledgment that he has been fired by the team. He is killing them with class." http://bit.ly/1JJ2N8p. The story is without a controversial sentenceShaughnessey deleted last night claiming that Fenway employees were told to confiscate pro-Orsillo signs from attendees. The controversy, as it unfolded on Twitter last night, was captured by Dan Kennedy's blog: http://bit.ly/1NUWj8l     Silicon Valley star coming to Hub tech event T.J. Miller, who plays the not so loveable "Erlich" on the hit show "Silicon Valley," will be in Boston for an event called Xively Xperience 2015. hosted by Boston-based tech firm LogMeIn on Oct. 1-2, reports the BBJ's Sara Castellanos. The show, on HBO, was recently renewed for a third season.http://bit.ly/1JuDmEf Oh, yeah, President Obama will be here, too He seemingly can't get enough of the Bay State. President Obama is expected to visit a "union-hosted" Labor Day breakfast in Boston, reports the Globe's Jim O'Sullivan. http://bit.ly/1JxE7P6 Ashley Madison in Mass., city by city With grave misgivings about its statistical accuracy, the Springfield Republican published a city-by-city list of Ashley Madison users. The data are suspect on several levels, as it was posted anonymously on Reddit and the results, in some cases, are too statistically skewed to be believed. So we link to the post with similar misgivings, for it's doubtful it tell us much about the highest concentration of unfaithful hearts in Massachusetts. http://bit.ly/1NTGqiD Big names will skip Democratic convention  Major presidential candidates won't be among the Democrats who gather in Springfield later this month when the state party holds its convention, MassLive reports. Instead, Hillary Clinton and her fellow candidates will be at the New Hampshire state convention scheduled for the same day. Campaigns are expected to send proxies, with former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean standing in for Clinton.  http://bit.ly/1VtbJmp  Deal with AG reduces overdose drug cost   Attorney General Maura Healey announced an agreement with the maker of an anti-overdose drug that will enable cities and towns to stock up on the treatment at reduced rates. According to the Boston Business Journal, the maker of Narcan will kick $325,000 into a state trust fund started by lawmakers, enabling communities to receive the antidote for $33 a dose, well below the going rate since strong demand has boosted prices. http://bit.ly/1EyD8iR   Baker eyes Canadian power  Speaking in Newfoundland on his first trip out of the country as governor, Charlie Baker says he will work to make it possible for more Canadian energy to enter the Massachusetts market, the Herald reports. "They have capacity. We have demand," Baker said. http://bit.ly/1NUJwCO   Walsh proposes pay raises  Mayor Marty Walsh has inserted himself into the debate over Boston City Council salaries, proposing a 13.7 percent increase that would boost pay to $99,500 a year, according to the Globe. That is below the $105,000 level City Council Bill Linehan has proposed. The measure also includes a mayor pay raise-in order to keep in place a tradition where councilors earn half of the what the mayor takes home. The Council will vote Wednesday. http://bit.ly/1N6OltL  Lawrence Mayor target of recall Many of its mills may be silent, but Lawrence is proving it can still produce local political intrigue with the best of them. According to the Globe, a group of residents has begun a petition push to recall Mayor Daniel Rivera. The effort is being led by local police officer William Green, whom Rivera tried to fire last year after he failed to report details he worked at local nightclubs. http://bit.ly/1JJ0TVz  Pittsfield candidate faces December trial  Deep in the Berkshires, Pittsfield Mayoral candidate Craig Gaetani faces a trial in December on charges that he harassed and threatened a town employee, the Berkshire Eagle reports.Gaetani, one of three candidates for the mayor's office slated to square off in a preliminary election on Sept. 22, denies the charges and says he will show in court the threatening calls were made by his brother.  http://bit.ly/1UoNKlW Brady sketch, the sequel Sketch artist Jane Rosenberg got a chance to redraw Tom Brady, with a result that is less controversial. See the fun at #bradysketch. Headlines from the State House News Service: Dorchester Rep Joins Walsh In Pushing For Replica Gun Safety Cost Of Bringing MBTA Into "Good Repair" Climbs To $7.3B Mbta Chief Financial Officer Stepping Down Baker, Ne Guvs Call For More Restrictive Labeling On Opioid Painkillers Healey Strikes Deal To Offset Cost Of Narcan For Cities And Towns  N.E. Governors Talk Hydropower With Canadian Officials  Capuano: New Glx Costs Are "The State's Burden"  Kennedy Latest Mass. Dem To Back Iran Deal  Lottery Sales Growth Slower Around New Slots Parlor  Groups Eye Protections In Water Canyons, Seamounts Off Cape Cod  Prez Candidate O'malley Plans Bay State Fundraising Swing  Warren: "I Want To Hear From The Pope"  Rosenberg Sketches Out Fall Agenda Items  Imagine This Dem Primary - Kennedy, Moulton, Healey, Walsh  How to reach me and MASSterList Nothing makes me happier than comments, tips, suggestions. Also, opinion articles also will be considered. Please don't hesitate to weigh in on what we're missing and where we should look. Reach me at gdonnelly@massterlist.com or on Twitter @geodonnelly. TODAY'S TOP STORIES National headlines State Dept. to release 7,000 pages of emails, 150 censored - The Boston Globe Kennedy endorses Iran deal - The Boston Globe Democratic presidential candidates to skip Springfield convention, attend New Hampshire event State headlines Attorney General says life-saving overdose drug now cheaper for towns - Boston Business Journal MBTA's 'good repair' cost rises to $7.3b - CommonWealth Magazine T control board may hire Green Line consultant - CommonWealth Magazine Foster family shortage stretches existing homes thin Two bills on Beacon Hill take aim at dealers of fentanyl - News - telegram.com - Worcester, MA Gov. Charlie Baker eyes Canada power Local headlines Aquino quits Lawrence City Council Brockton, state police out in force to support cop banned from court Brockton mayoral candidates together for first time at forum At Worcester Democrats' forum, 7 City Council candidates stay in tune Boston residents say council pay not pressing issue AG: Settlement will make anti-opioid drug more affordable - The Boston Globe Group says it will launch effort to recall Lawrence mayor - The Boston Globe Hacker known for work with Anonymous launches digital news service - The Boston Globe Brigham to cut 100 jobs - The Boston Globe Mayor Walsh proposes 13.7 percent City Council pay hike - The Boston Globe Walsh seeks to ban unmarked replica handguns - The Boston Globe MBTA panel: $7.3b needed to fix buses, trains, stations - The Boston Globe Boston Mayor Marty Walsh seeks to ban replica guns in public UMass agrees to continue funding additional ambulances on weekends in Amherst Narcan manufacturer pays $325,000 to reduce prices for Massachusetts municipalities in fight against opiod overdoses Pittsfield mayoral candidate denies making threatening phone calls