Black Friday, 2015
Welcome to Black Friday, the non-holiday that is essentially a holiday.
Some MBTA lines are operating on a reduced schedule and Gov. Baker has waived all parking and entrance fees at state parks this extended weekend, as a thank you to the state's veterans.
Stores in Massachusetts opened in the pre-dawn darkness. Despite early reports of long lines and heated competition for the best deals, Massachusetts shoppers can probably rest easy: MassLive reports on a new study that shows the Bay State is the safest place in the country for Black Friday deal-seeking. http://bit.ly/1Okakxe
It's mostly quiet on Beacon Hill today. Gov. Baker has no public events on his schedule and the legislature remains in vacation mode.
Some pols will be out and about, helping to usher in the next holiday season.
At 11 am, Department of Agricultural Commissioner John Lebeaux, DAR Assistant Commissioner Jason Wentworth, and Rep. Nicholas Boldyga participate in the annual Christmas tree cutting ceremony at Coward Farms in Southwick.
Boston Mayor Marty Walsh will attend the Macy's tree lighting ceremony in Downtown Crossing at 5:30. He will then travel to English High School to address Mu'tamar, an annual conference bringing together members of the Somali community.
Flow of legislation a bone of contention
Legislative action in the last few days before the holiday break suggests the House and Senate are still at odds over the pace at which legislation is moving on Beacon Hill, State House News Service reports. "Generally speaking, House members have appeared fine with taking a slower approach to legislating, while senators seem more eager to tee up bills for debate and passage," Andy Metzger reports. Frustration continues to grow over inaction on solar caps, a public records overhaul and legislation addressing the opioid crisis. http://bit.ly/1ImlkUf (subscription required)
UMass spending more on downtown digs
Even as it battles with the legislature over additional funding and student fee hikes, the University of Massachusetts recently its downtown offices to a more expensive location, the Herald reports. Documents the Herald obtained through a public records request show the system now paying $3.15 million a year for its new space in One Beacon, $1.5 million more than its old location cost annually. UMass tells the Herald the move is cost-effective in the long run, that it allows a small educational component to be included along with executive offices and an alumni club and that rents at its old location were scheduled to rise as well. http://bit.ly/1MI7j7p
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Meehan wants change at Dartmouth
In other UMass news, the Globe reported Thursday that President Marty Meehan wants to remove UMass Dartmouth Chancellor Divina Grossman from her position. The Globe says Grossman's latest contract has a provision that would reduce the amount of severance she'll get if removed for cause, language inserted as a result of declining enrollments and falling private fundraising. The Dartmouth campus has also gone through three chief financial officers during Grossman's three-and-a-half-year tenure, the Globe notes. http://bit.ly/1ljkbHN
Will Polito be the exception?
With Gov. Baker's popularity sky-high, the Globe looks ahead to the possible future political aspirations of Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito, noting that it has been 60 years since a sitting lieutenant governor was directly elected to the corner office. Frank Phillips also talks in depth with Polito about her political evolution away from the Tea Party and toward Baker's more moderate positions. http://bit.ly/1XkDC4F
Bill would offer choice of treatment or jail
With Gov. Baker's proposals for addressing the state's opioid crisis still awaiting lawmaker action, Rep. Tom Golden plans to file his own legislation that would give first-time drug offenders a choice of jail time or treatment, the Sun reports. The Lowell Democrat's bill would double the penalties for first-time drug possession offenses to two years in prison and $2,000 in fines, while also authorizing the courts to revoke drivers' licenses. But it also give offenders the option of choosing a structured outpatient treatment program-at their own expense if they can afford it. http://bit.ly/1LDccea
As much as shopping, Black Friday is about leftovers. Here's a few stories you may have missed while on planes, trains and automobiles or in a tryptophan-induced coma.
Herald wins libel suit
The Herald prevailed in a libel lawsuit filed by the founder of rock bank Boston, who claimed the paper defamed him by suggesting he caused lead singer Brad Delp to commit suicide in 2007, the Boston Business Journal reports. The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court on Wednesday upheld lower court rulings in favor of the Herald and Delp's former wife, Micki. The suit was sparked by a series of articles from gossip columnists Gayle Fee and Laura Raposa. http://bit.ly/1MIcRyM
Mike Dukakis wants your turkey carcass
Speaking of leftovers, Gov. Mike Dukakis says he'll take your turkey carcass. In a Globe story that includes the onetime presidential candidate's home address, the Duke says it's "absolutely sinful" to toss a turkey carcass in the trash. "It's a terrible thing to do," he says.http://bit.ly/1MENb6g
NY Judge to rule "very soon" on DraftKings
The New York judge who heard arguments Wednesday from daily fantasy sports sights DraftKings and FanDuel, which are trying to halt Attorney General Eric Schneiderman's efforts to bar the sites from operating in the Empire State, declined to rule immediately after hearing oral arguments but says he will render a decision "very soon," Sports Illustrated reports. http://on.si.com/1ThyFDR
Meanwhile, the New York Times reports that just a day before the hearing, DraftKings closed a loophole that enables users to play its games even in states where it has been declared illegal by using proxy servers. http://nyti.ms/1ImqYWt
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