MASSterList: Big Dig still leaking money | More heat on DraftKings | Big bucks tied to prison reform

 

Thursday, October 15, 2015

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By George Donnelly (@geodonnelly) with Keith Regan

Today: Baker's opioid bill; Gaming commission to meet - Gov. Baker is set to announce his legislation to combat opioid addiction today at 11:00am. - More thinking on transportation: New England Economic Partnership (NEEP) holds its fall economic outlook conference, "Can we Get There from Here? Transportation, Infrastructure and the Future New England Economy." Secretary of Transportation Stephanie Pollack will give the keynote address, and Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody's Analytics, presents a forecast, Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, New England Room, 8:30am. - Massachusetts Gaming Commission will hold a public meeting to discuss play management, Region C evaluation process and schedule, 2016 racing application and the Wynn site design process. The meeting will begin with an update and discussion about the Plainridge Park Casino after-action review. 101 Federal Street, 12th Floor, Boston, 10:30am Tomorrow: Trump in Tyngsborough The Donald will be in the border town of Tyngsborough tomorrow at Tyngsborough Elementary School, 7:00pm, a campaign rally event not intended to be a civics lesson for 4th graders. NARAL Massachusetts, the pro-choice group that protested at Trump's visit to Ernie Boch Jr.'s place in August, will be back protesting.   Sentencing reform could mean big savings The booming national prison population was a talking point during last night's debate of Democratic presidential contenders. Here in Massachusetts, the focus continues to be on reforming some of the arbitrarily punitive aspects of criminal justice, especially the impact of mandatory minimum drug sentences and low-level felonies. The Judiciary Committee heard testimony yesterday on the need for sentencing reform, and as Katie Lannan of the State House News Service reports, lawmakers would like to direct savings in the criminal justice system (estimated at $118 million annually if reforms pass) for education and job training. http://bit.ly/1G6GSZG   Mass. prisons, by the numbers: - Massachusetts prison population, 2014: 10,973 - Massachusetts prison population, 1993: 11,422 - Increase in the national prison population, 1993-2013: 604,000 (62%) - Massachusetts maximum-security population: 1,762 - Massachusetts minimum/pre-release population: 1,597 - Average cost per year per minimum-security inmate (approximate): $45,000 - Inmates serving mandatory drug sentences: 982 - Percentage of male inmates entering the prison system with less than a 9th grade reading level: 46% - Percentage of criminally sentenced inmates either black or Hispanic: 54% Also at the Judiciary Committee hearing yesterday, a law challenging the use and overuse of solidary confinement was heard, as Shira Schoenberg reports:http://bit.ly/1PuX2xR

Feds probing fantasy football

This is what happens when you spend hundreds of millions of dollars on TV ads urging football fans to win money on your website. The feds are now sniffing around DraftKings, the Wall Street Journal reported last night. The Globe's Shelly Murphy confirmed that US Attorney Carmen Ortiz's office was involved with the probe. The news comes after Attorney General Maura Healey concluded there was nothing illegal about the fantasy sports operation, but some regulation may be called for. http://bit.ly/1GeeR29

 

Finneran entitled to pension, judge rules

Former House Speaker Thomas Finneran, who pleaded guilty to a federal obstruction of justice charge in 2007 and was stripped of his pension, can now receive it, a Boston municipal court judge ruled. Judge Serge Georges "firmly rejected the State Board of Retirement's legal basis for that 2012 decision and ordered the annual pension reinstated, retroactive to 2012," the Globe's Frank Phillips reported.http://bit.ly/1X5Ha7d 

 

Headline of the day (from MassLive): Greenfield police: Drunk driving suspect, asked to step out of car, checks Facebook feed instead

Herald wades into Big Dig leaks

Leaks in the Big Dig tunnels cost taxpayers $5 million to $7 million a year, the Herald reports, and a plan by Gov. Baker to permanently fix the leaks may face roadblocks. The state is on track to pump a record amount of water out of the three tunnels this year, Erin Smith reports, with the state unable to explain the increase. Gov Baker wants to use federal funds to repair the leaks, but the feds have said in the past that the leaks are maintenance issues and therefore the state is on the hook for the costs. http://bit.ly/1PiA3qL

 

MGM: We launched Springfield-PawSox talks 

Executives at MGM say they helped start talks between the city of Springfield and the owners of the Pawtucket Red Sox about moving the Triple-A team there, MassLive reports. MGM Resorts International President Bill Hornbuckle says he made the introductions between the Red Sox' Larry Lucchino and Mayor Domenic Sarno at -- where else -- last week's Globies awards event. 

http://bit.ly/1PuRZxn

Bill envisions a board to end all boards

Today's day: It's National Grouch Day. Please remember to celebrate. http://bit.ly/1jCNRyR REMEMBER: To send your tips to me at gdonnelly@massterlist.com. Op-eds and other commentary invited for publication on Massterlist. TODAY'S TOP STORIES National headlines  Senator Markey Endorses Hillary Clinton for President  Marco Rubio uses Dukakis to slam Democrats, woo GOP voters Why voters might not think Hillary Clinton won the debate - The Boston Globe Feds probe fantasy sports business, Wall Street Journal reports - The Boston Globe State headlines  Four days of deer hunting approved in Blue Hills State Reservation - The Boston Globe PARCC no better than MCAS at measuring college readiness, study shows - The Boston Globe Forecast projects solid job growth for Mass. - The Boston Globe Auto dealer decides to adjust his upside-down billboards - The Boston Globe UMass researchers to discuss impact of MGM Springfield's casino plan on Hampden County and beyond Environmentalists To Get Tough On 'Dirty' Candidates | WGBH News With Closure Of Pilgrim Nuclear Plant On The Horizon, State Leaders Look To Hydropower Pilgrim shifts Beacon Hill energy debate - CommonWealth Magazine $18M project aims to reduce 'heat kinks' on Worcester/Framingham commuter rail Draining the taxpayers Big Dig's drip, drip, drip Baker bill takes on opiate crisis Charlie Baker backs Real IDs meant to thwart terror Bill eyes creating new state commission to get rid of other unnecessary ones - The Boston Globe MGM exec: We introduced Sarno to Lucchino to help launch Springfield-PawSox talks Local headlines  Climate change map shows Boston is an Atlantis in waiting New Bedford parents call for state to lift charter school cap Demolition of vacant Navy buildings marks 'progress' at SouthField Mashpee police wrap up probe of superintendent's home visit Union, town seek ways to cut $220K, save 12 firefighter jobs Foam container ban approved by Pittsfield City Council Framingham city supporters gather 3K signatures Marlborough: Vigeant lauds progress, Bigelow calls for change Verizon to Boston: No FIOS for you Teamsters member arraigned in alleged TV show extort try Holyoke residents oppose possible storm water fee, but also get creative What's life like inside America's most famous dorm room? Cramped, mostly. - The Boston Globe