MASSterList: More cuts | Cameras don't lie | Baffling moratoriums

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By Jay Fitzgerald and Keith Regan 05/23/2017 More cuts | Cameras don't lie | Baffling moratoriums

Happening Today

Board of Education meeting Board of Elementary and Secondary Education meets at Scituate High School, with an agenda that includes an update on the standard-setting process for the next-generation MCAS, the fiscal 2018 state budget and the state's early college initiative, Scituate High School, 606 Chief Justice Cushing Highway, 9:30 a.m.

Ride-for-hire regulations Department of Public Utilities holds a hearing on draft regulations for transportation network companies like Uber and Lyft, 10 Park Plaza, second floor, Transportation Board Room, Boston, 10 a.m.

Senate budget day The Senate begins deliberations on the Senate Ways and Means Committee's $40.3 billion fiscal 2018 budget, Senate Chamber, 10 a.m.

Correctional employee awards Gov. Baker, Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito, Secretary of Public Safety and Security Daniel Bennett, Undersecretary for Law Enforcement Jennifer Queally, Department of Corrections Commissioner Thomas Turco III, and county sheriffs participate in the Correctional Employee of the Year Awards Ceremony, House Chamber, 10 a.m.

Evans on the air Boston Police Commissioner William Evans is interviewed on ‘Boston Public Radio,’ WGBH-FM 89.7, 12:30 p.m.

Special Senate election deadline Tuesday is the deadline for candidates running for the 4th Middlesex Senate seat, formerly held by the late Ken Donnelly, to file their nomination papers, including enrollment certificate and ethics commission receipt, with Secretary of State William Galvin’s office, 5 p.m.

Fallen Heroes Memorial dinner Gov. Charlie Baker, Boston Mayor Martin Walsh and Gold Star family members speak at Massachusetts Fallen Heroes' 7th annual Memorial Dinner, Westin Boston Waterfront Hotel, 425 Summer St., Boston, 6 p.m.

Today's News

Don’t look now, but Trump’s budget cuts go well beyond slashing Medicaid and NIH Gov. Charlie Baker yesterday reiterated that he’s “worried and disappointed” about possible health-care cuts pushed by the Trump administration and House Republicans, reports SHNS’s Andy Metzger (pay wall). But now it’s no longer just about health-care funding: It’s about $3.6 trillion in proposed across-the-board federal budget cuts, covering dozens of federal programs, in what the Washington Post is calling an “historic budget contraction” proposed by the Trump administration. The Globe’s Evan Horowitz makes an admirable early effort at sifting through the president’s budget plan. But it’s ultimately going to take weeks to determine out its true ramifications for the state. Almost every federal government agency, except defense, would be hit hard.

Local police beef up concert security after Manchester terrorist bombing Boston Police are increasing patrols and taking other security measures at local concert venues – including at this holiday weekend’s Boston Calling music festival -- after the terrible U.K concert bombing yesterday that killed more than 20 people, including children, reports the Boston Globeand Boston Herald. At Universal Hub, Adam Gaffin rips into a local man, apparently a writer, who actually made a joke about the tragedy, prompting an interesting comments debate about idiots and the rights of idiots to make idiots of themselves.

Warren banks $200,000 for book advance U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren nabbed a $200,000 advance for her latest book, ‘This Fight is Our Fight,’ adding to her household wealth of nearly $5 million, reports the Globe’s Victoria McGrane. Curiously, the latest advance is down substantially from the $525,000 advance that she netted for her previous book, ‘A Fighting Chance,’ as reported by The Hill three years ago. Boston Globe

Linda Henry: The Globe’s last hope? Simon van Zuylen-Wood at Boston Magazine has a big piece on Linda Pizzuti Henry, wife of Boston Globe owner and publisher John Henry, and how she’s playing an increasingly major role these days at the Globe – and likely will play an even bigger role in coming months and years. “I think [Linda] will be publisher one day,” says recently departed Globe CEO Mike Sheehan, reportedly echoing what others told van Zuylen-Wood. One thing seems pretty clear: She’ll also likely get a better office when the Globe moves out of Morrissey Boulevard to downtown Boston next month. Simon explains. Boston Magazine

Federal judge ends Sal’s home confinement The same federal judge who ordered former House Speaker Sal DiMasi’s early release from prison has now ruled that his mandatory home confinement is over, according to a report at CBS Boston. DiMasi, who was convicted for corruption and sentenced to eight years in prison, has been suffering from cancer. CBS Boston

The camera doesn’t lie: Police release video of Stefanini removing opponent’s campaign materials Police have released video of Framingham mayoral candidate Jeff Stefanini, a former state representative and town selectman, removing an opponent’s campaign literature at a local library. Jim Haddadin provides the blow-by-blow description of the caper, in an accompanying piece at Wicked Local. Wicked Local (Video)

A look at JFK’s most famous Massachusetts speeches Speaking of videos (of a completely different caliber), Anthony Brooks at WBUR has a piece – and accompanying videos – of some of President John F. Kennedy’s most famous speeches in Massachusetts just prior to and after he won the 1960 presidential race, including his famous 1961 good-bye address to the Massachusetts Legislature. For political and history buffs, it’s fun and moving stuff. WBUR

The tension: Baker re-election announcement waits till fall First, the Game of Throne’s season 7 is delayed till this summer. Now we’ll have to wait till this fall for Gov. Baker’s re-election announcement, after he previously promised a decision by the first part of 2017, as reported by SHNS’s Andy Metzger. The tension is killing us! SHNS (pay wall)

Western Mass.’s Berkshire Bank storms Boston This is a big one in the local business world: Pittsfield-based Berkshire Hills Bancorp, parent of Berkshire Bank, is acquiring the parent company of Worcester’s Commerce Bank and Trust, a merger that would make the combined company the largest state-chartered bank in Massachusetts, according to the Berkshire Eagle, the BBJ and the Globe. The kicker: Berkshire plans to move its headquarters to Boston. It’s a bold move – and a smart move aimed at tapping into dissatisfaction with huge, out-of-state banks with presences here. Berkshire Eagle

About those darling, innocent and sweet Boston jaywalkers Mayor Walsh was criticized last week for daring to suggest that maybe, just maybe, pedestrians and bikers pay more attention as they walk and bike around the city. Today, the Globe’s Maria Cramer takes a look at our darling, innocent and sweet jaywalkers, the Bambis of the roadways. Boston Globe

Wilbraham just says ‘no,’ too What number are we up to in terms of towns rejecting retail pot shops? Must be over 40 by now, with Wilbraham being the latest community to just say ‘no,’ as reported by Conor Berry at MassLive. MassLive

Question 4 advocate baffled by pot-shop moratoriums Jim Borghesani of the Yes on 4 Campaign is baffled why some communities are even taking votes on banning pot shops, reports Brian Lee at the Telegram. “I’ve seen a lot of moratoriums that expire in July of 2018,” Borghesani said. “Legal sales won’t even begin until July 2018 at the earliest. So I don’t quite understand the function of those moratoriums.”   Telegram

Amid the hair-extension controversy, let’s not forget the Malden school’s academic achievements The Globe’s Joan Vennochi is right to point out that, yes, the Mystic Valley Regional Charter School’s ban of, and punishments for, hair extensions was racially insensitive to African-American girls. But let’s not forget the school’s great academic achievements on behalf of African Americans and other minorities, she writes. It’s something that needed to be said – and Joan just said it. Boston Globe

Setti Warren calls for tuition-free public colleges and universities Stealing campaign and public policy pages from Bernie Sanders, Barack Obama and Deval Patrick (and from Andrew Cuomo, for that matter), newly minted Democratic gubernatorial candidate Setti Warren is calling for free tuition for state students attending public colleges and universities in Massachusetts, reports Tori Bedford at WGBH. He doesn’t say how he’d pay for the free higher education other than saying that a “conversation” is needed and that he supports the proposed “millionaire’s tax.” And he also expressed support for a single-payer health care system. No financial details on how to pay for that program, either. WGBH

Marty's massive machine The Globe’s Meghan Irons takes a look at the “massive apparatus” available to incumbent mayors running for re-election in Boston. And it’s not just about City Hall jobs. Boston Globe

Governor shares his regrets of choosing Harvard over Hamilton More than 40 years later, Governor Charlie Baker still regrets having gone to Harvard, not Hamilton College. But he finally did get a degree from Hamilton over the weekend, reports (and explains) SHNS’s Colin Young at the Enterprise Enterprise

Trial to begin in OD death of UMass campus-police informant The trial of a New Hampshire man charged with supplying the heroin that led to the overdose death of a UMass student who had been working as a campus-police informant is slated to begin in Northampton this week, Emily Cutts of the Hampshire Gazette reports. Jesse Carrillo, 28, faces involuntary manslaughter and heroin distribution charges in connection with the death of 20-year-old UMass junior Eric Sinacori in the fall of 2013. UMass has since discontinued its confidential informant program. Gazette

In Western Massachusetts, two votes make all the difference Your latest reminder that every vote counts comes from Washington in Berkshire County, where an incumbent selectman who resigned from the Department of Conservation and Recreation after published reports said pornography was found on his state computer was ousted by a write-in challenger by a margin of just two votes. Patricia LeBoeuf of the Berkshire Eagle reports that Richard Grillon’s 72 write-in votes were enough to unseat Michael Case on the town’s select board. Case, a longtime GOP operative who quit his job at DCR in January, wasn’t exactly devastated by his defeat. “To be honest, I'm going to love having Monday nights off." Berkshire Eagle

Water utility chief racking up travel on taxpayers’ dime The chief engineer at the Boston Water and Sewer Commission has racked up $37,000 in travel expenses since 2015, all of it reimbursed by water and sewer customers, which in some cases means state taxpayers, Eric Rasmussen and Erin Smith of Boston 25 News report. John Sullivan took trips in 11 of 12 months last year, many to industry and advocacy-group events that a watchdog says should not be funded by rate- and taxpayers.  Fox 25

Health Care for All taps advocate and pediatrician as executive director Health Care For All, which has gone eight months without a permanent replacement for former executive director Amy Whitcomb Slemmer, has selected Amy Rosenthal, a Lexington resident and pediatrician, to head the non-profit advocacy group for affordable health care, reports Jessica Bartlett at the BBJ. Rosenthal was most recently director of external affairs and campaigns at Community Catalyst, itself an advocate group for affordable health care. BBJ

T missing out on college student market The MBTA is reaching just a fraction of the city’s massive college student population with its monthly pass program and acknowledges the 11 percent discount offered on the semester-long passes are not enough to generate higher participation, Bruce Mohl of CommonWealth Magazine reports. Transit agencies in other cities offer steeper discounts and see much higher participation rates but in some cases require schools that take part to purchase passes for all of their students.  CommonWealth *********** ************ ************

Today's Headlines Metro Thousands of Boston Haitians can stay - Boston Magazine Full city apparatus at work in in Marty Walsh’s re-election bid - Boston Globe Somebody downtown doesn’t like The Dig - Universal Hub Deportation crisis creates strains for Boston immigration lawyers - WGBH Massachusetts Here’s how police plan to boost safety as MGM Springfield nears completion - MassLive Moratorium on retail pot sales baffle advocate - Telegram & Gazette Former Salem mayor Salvo dies - Salem News Opponents of proposed compressor station want independent air quality review - Patriot Ledger Safety a concern as Pilgrim panel holds first meeting - Cape Cod Times Amherst eyes revisions to liquor license policy - Hampshire Gazette Easthampton attorney to seek mayor’s job this fall - Hampshire Gazette Local roads are a fiscal pothole - Sun-Chronicle From guns to drugs, AG Healey fields questions in Lowell - Lowell Sun Nation Trump’s budget hits his own voters hardest - Politico White House moves to block inquiry into ex-lobbyists - New York Times Trump asked intelligence chiefs to deny collusion between campaign, Russia, officiasl say - Washington Post

To view more events or post an event listing on Beacon Hill Town Square, please visitevents.massterlist.com. Beacon Hill Town Square MAY 23 2017 12:00 PM Author Talk and Book Signing with Gregory N. Flemming Hosted by: State Library of Massachusetts Author talk and book signing with Gregory N. Flemming, author of At the Point of a Cutlass: The Pirate Capture, Bold Escape, and Lonely Exile of Philip Ashton More Information Share on Twitter Share on Facebook MAY 23 2017 5:30 PM Space Spotlight at Clarks Americas, Inc. Hosted by: NAIOP Massachusetts Join NAIOP Massachusetts for a tour of the new Clarks headquarters in Waltham! Hear from Tammy Diorio of Clarks Americas, Inc., Jim LaValley of Stantec, and Steven Kelly of Timberline Construction as they discuss Clarks’ vision for the space, real estate considerations and challenges, and the design and construction process that brought this space to life. More Information Share on Twitter Share on Facebook MAY 24 2017 8:00 AM The New England Employee Benefits Council’s Annual Employee Benefits Summit & Trade Show Hosted by: New England Employee Benefits Council Get insight/guidance on the hottest topics in employee benefits. Register early! Last year’s event sold out. Featuring Dr. Tuckson, one of the 50 Most Influential Physician Executives in Healthcare. More Information Share on Twitter Share on Facebook MAY 25 2017 7:30 AM Update from Governor Baker: Technology and Economic Development in Massachusetts Hosted by: North Shore Technology Council Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker addresses the North Shore Technology Council to share his administration’s economic development successes to date and the future of the technology sector in Massachusetts. More Information Share on Twitter Share on Facebook MAY 25 2017 11:30 AM Salute to Veterans Hosted by: Boston Business Journal The Boston Business Journal presents a new program to recognize veterans and organizations that are making employment and advancement strides with veterans as the nation nears Memorial Day. More Information Share on Twitter Share on Facebook MAY 25 2017 1:00 PM Looking Under the Covers at UTEC Mattress Recycling Hosted by: UTEC and The Boston Foundation At UTEC Mattress Recycling, tearing apart beds and recycling steel and foam is just part of the story. Come learn about the world of mattress disposal and how UTEC is teaming up with the state and other institutional partners to divert tons of materials away from the waste stream. Special guest: Secretary of Energy & Environmental Affairs Matthew Beaton. More Information Share on Twitter Share on Facebook