DA: Bristol County motor vehicle fatalities rising sharply

By Herald News Staff

Posted Nov 26, 2019

As the holidays near, Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III is calling attention to an increasing number of motor vehicle fatalities

Since Sept. 12, 24 people have died in motor vehicle crashes throughout the county, according to state police statistics. Six fatalities occurred on interstates, including two on I-195. The other 17 happened on local roads and state highways, including three on Route 24 in the past few weeks. From Jan. 1 to Sept. 2, there were 25 motor vehicle deaths in the county.

According to the National Safety Council, motor vehicle fatalities in Massachusetts rose by 46% between 2013 and 2017.

“Based upon the rash of motor vehicle fatalities recently, it is becoming increasingly clear that people are very distracted while driving and are simply driving too aggressively,” Quinn said in a news release. “Unfortunately this can have tragic consequences that families and friends have to live with forever.”

Quinn said he was hopeful that legislation passed by the Legislature last week banning handheld devices by drivers will have an impact.

The district attorney’s office is the lead investigatory agency on all fatalities in the county, including all motor vehicle-related fatalities, and is also responsible for prosecuting all criminal charges that arise from motor vehicle deaths.

“Personally, I find it increasingly dangerous to be driving on the highway trying to respond to distracted, aggressive and reckless drivers,” Quinn said. “I implore people to slow down and pay attention to what they’re doing on the roadways. This would clearly result in fewer accidents and tragic deaths. If you have had too much to drink, please call a friend or family member so a potential tragedy can be avoided.”

In the release, the DA also said there are many potential scenarios where a driver would not be charged with a crime even when death or injury results. But once a driver flees from a crash and does not contact police, the incident automatically becomes a serious crime that carries mandatory minimum jail or prison sentences.

Quinn said his office is also investigating two recent fatalities.

Investigators are seeking the public’s assistance in locating a vehicle believed to be involved in a fatal hit-and-run crash on I-95 in Attleboro Sept. 16. Police believe that a woman who was driving a large white SUV struck the victim while the victim was attempting to cross the highway at around 10 p.m. The driver of the SUV is believed to have stopped on the left side of the highway, briefly exited her vehicle and then drove off. The driver was described as being about 5 feet, 4 inches tall and approximately 160 pounds. The vehicle may have exited the highway into Pawtucket. It is believed the large white SUV is either a white Chevy Suburban or a white Cadillac Escalade ESV (extended version), with damage to the passenger-side headlight. Anyone with information is urged to contact State Police assigned to the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office at 508-993-2016.

Investigators also are seeking witnesses who were driving in the area of 305 Middleboro Ave. in Taunton Nov. 6 around 5:30 p.m. and either saw the victim, Jose Ferreira, walking prior to the crash or saw the crash itself. Anyone with information is urged to contact State Trooper Brock Morrissette at 508-961-1904 or Taunton Police Detective Robert Swartz at 508-821-1475 (ext. 3133).

POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: Big day for EDUCATION on Beacon Hill — 2020 FORECAST — CLARK’S new bill

POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: Big day for EDUCATION on Beacon Hill — 2020 FORECAST — CLARK’S new bill

BY STEPHANIE MURRAY GOOD MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. NEW: POLITICO'S ELECTIONS FORECAST — Massachusetts Democrats are likely to extend their dominance over the state's congressional delegation in 2020, according to a new elections forecast put together by my excellent colleagues at POLITICO. POLITICO rated every House, Senate and gubernatorial race in the nation next year, along with the Electoral College, and offered an early forecast of all the contests. In Massachusetts, every race is rated "solid Democratic" except for Rep. Bill Keating's seat, which is rated "likely Democratic." Unless something drastic happens, most of the Massachusetts action will be on primary day in September. Few other states are this blue. Maryland, which has eight House seats, is in the same ballpark as Massachusetts, — every race is rated "solid Democratic." The other thing the two states have in common: extremely popular Republican governors. Check out all the race ratings here. FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: CLARK'S BABIES BILL — Rep. Katherine Clark and Georgia GOP Rep. Buddy Carter are rolling out a new bill today. The BABIES Act would expand access to freestanding birth centers for Medicaid recipients. Over half of the counties in the United States don't have a hospital maternity unit, according to Clark's office. To bridge the gap, stand-alone birth centers can make it easier for women and families to get medical care in less affluent areas. A number of existing licensed birth centers don't accept Medicaid, but Clark and Carter's bill would create a program that uses a new payment model for Medicaid recipients. "We have seen clear evidence that birth centers have positive outcomes for mothers and babies. By enabling innovation to guide the critical work that birth centers do every day, we can extend essential care to moms where they are," Clark said in a statement. Freestanding birth centers resulted in lower rates of pre-term birth, low birth weight and fewer C-section procedures, according to a report from the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services that studied CHIP beneficiaries from 2013 to 2017. Families who used the centers saved an average of $2,000, according to the report. POLL: VOTERS DON'T BLAME TRAFFIC ON UBER AND LYFT — Massachusetts voters are opposed to higher fees on ride sharing services like Uber and Lyft, according to a new poll commissioned by the companies, and say they don't blame ride shares for the state's mounting traffic problem. Fifty-eight percent of those surveyed opposed a ride share fee increase from 20 cents to $1, according to the poll. More than half — 54 percent — of those surveyed said they had used ride sharing services, and 60 percent said they have a favorable view of them. While 94 percent of people surveyed said they view traffic congestion as a problem in Massachusetts, 57 percent disagreed that ride sharing services were to blame. Global Strategy Group surveyed 640 likely 2020 general election voters in Massachusetts from Nov. 1 to Nov. 6. IMPEACHMENT WATCH — Ahead of Gordon Sondland 's testimony before Congress today, someone distributed fliers to homes in Boston yesterday encouraging people to boycott his hotels. Sondland, the ambassador to the E.U., founded the Provenance Hotels chain. Pic sent to me by a source. Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for the Playbook? Get in touch: smurray@politico.com. TODAY — Gov. Charlie Baker attends a Republican Governors Association conference in Florida. Acting Gov. Karyn Polito attends farewell addresses by outgoing state Sens. Vinny deMacedo and Don Humason in the Senate. Polito makes a MassWorks funding announcement in North Andover. Boston Mayor Marty Walsh speaks at the Turn Off the Red Light Summit in Roxbury. Rep. Katherine Clark is a guest on WGBH's "Morning Edition." The Senate meets in formal session. The House meets in formal session. DATELINE BEACON HILL - "Agreement reached on ed funding bill," by Michael Jonas, CommonWealth Magazine: "LAWMAKERS HAVE REACHED agreement on a long-awaited education funding bill, setting the stage for the most significant update to the formula for financing Massachusetts school districts since the landmark 1993 Education Reform Act. The bill, which emerged after less than three weeks of closed-door negotiations by House and Senate members, would steer $1.5 billion in new state aid to local school systems, with those educating lots of low-income students poised to see the largest increases in funding." - "Police chiefs back bill cracking down on distracted driving," by Travis Andersen, Boston Globe: "Police officials in Boston and West Bridgewater, a community that's made headlines in recent years for crackdowns on distracted driving, on Tuesday backed a bill pending on Beacon Hill that would ban the use of handheld devices behind the wheel. "Any effort to enhance the safety of motorists and pedestrians is supported by the Boston police," Boston Police Commissioner William G. Gross said in a statement. His words were echoed by West Bridgewater Police Chief Victor Flaherty, who said in a phone interview that the measure "is definitely going to save lives" if it becomes law." - "Tribal leaders seek changes to state flag," by Christian M. Wade, The Salem News: "Native Americans say the imagery on the Massachusetts state flag is symbol of the brutal suppression of the region's indigenous people at the hands of colonial governments. On Tuesday, members of the Legislature's Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight heard testimony from tribal leaders, lawmakers and others who want to create a commission to consider changes to the emblems of government." - "Rodrigues Shrugs Off House Chair's Criticism," by Matt Murphy, State House News Service: "After being accused by one House Democrat of setting a "dangerous precedent" by circumventing the committee process to advance a plastic bag ban bill, Senate Ways and Means Chairman Michael Rodrigues on Tuesday dismissed the House's concerns. "We are comfortable with the process and look forward to the Senate debating and voting on this very important issue tomorrow," Rodrigues told the News Service on Tuesday in a statement. Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture Committee Co-Chair Rep. William "Smitty" Pignatelli on Monday expressed "grave concern" with the Senate's ' complete disregard towards the legislative process.'" FROM THE HUB - We're hooked on cars, despite the gridlock. Only powerful incentives will change that, but major employers make it too easy to drive." Boston Globe Spotlight Team: "It's become a persistent refrain for the booming biotech companies of Kendall Square. Yet, sit in traffic is what many of their employees do, fighting their way through some of the country's worst rush-hour congestion to get on with the work of changing the way we live, and maybe saving lives. They are miserable about it — miserable, fed up, and increasingly tempted to give up. A recent state survey from the Massachusetts Biotechnology Council found that 60 percent of biotech workers were so unhappy with their commutes that they would change jobs for a better one, with nearly a quarter considering moving out of state because of the problem." - "DOC launching unit for young inmates who are fathers," by Sarah Betancourt, CommonWealth Magazine: "THE MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTION is planning to open a special unit for incarcerated fathers between the ages of 18 to 24, with the goal of helping them straighten out their lives and become better parents while in prison and once they are released. Similar units have been launched at some of the county jails, but this is the first time the state prison system has decided to separate young fathers, who account for about a quarter of inmates ages 18 to 24, from the rest of the prison population." - "Study Finds Mass. Worst In Nation For Elder Economic Security," by Adrian Ma, WBUR: "Single, older people in Massachusetts are more likely to face economic insecurity than their peers in any other state, according to a new UMass Boston report. The study estimates that 61.7% of state residents older than 65 and living alone do not have enough income to cover basic expenses such as housing, food, health care, transportation, clothing and household supplies." - "Southie pols call for affordable housing as project lands at Gillette property," by Sean Philip Cotter, Boston Herald: "A developer specializing in pricey high-end apartments and condos is planning more than a million square feet of housing, offices and labs on land bought from Gillette in South Boston — as Southie pols say what the booming area needs is affordable housing. Related Beal filed a letter of intent with the Boston Planning & Development Agency on Monday to build on the 5.5-acre parcel it paid $218 million in May to shave off of Gillette's South Boston headquarters. The project comes as Gillette considers selling off more land." - "40 Ambitious Ideas to Save Transportation in Boston," Boston Magazine: "Once upon a time, Boston's transit system was the envy of every metropolis from Chicago to DC: The subway running between Park and Tremont streets, unveiled in 1897, was the first in the United States; 3,500 miles of railroad track, meanwhile, once stretched across the state, connecting the hinterlands to the big city. Flash-forward more than a century, and commuting by car from the exurbs can take upward of two hours, the commuter rail is pretty much never on time, and many of our T cars are so old that the MBTA can't even order parts anymore." - "By 2022, highways, routes across Massachusetts will have new exit numbers, MassDOT says," by Aram Boghosian, Boston.com: "Over the next two years, exit numbers along Massachusetts' highways and routes will change under a federal mandate, MassDOT officials said Monday. Exits, which currently use sequential numbering, will shift to mileage-based numbering, according to Neil Boudreau, the department's assistant administrator for traffic and safety. The switch comes as the commonwealth adopts federal policies that spell out required uniform traffic features, he said. So far, all but three states have begun to put those changes in place: Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Delaware, Boudreau said at a MassDOT board meeting ." PRIMARY SOURCES - "Kennedy holding Senate fundraiser in RI next month," by Ted Nesi, WPRI: "Massachusetts Congressman Joe Kennedy III will cross state lines next month to raise money for his U.S. Senate primary bid against incumbent Democrat Ed Markey. Kennedy will be in Providence at noon on Dec. 3 for a lunch reception featuring former Rhode Island Congressman Patrick Kennedy, his cousin, as a 'special guest,' according to an invitation obtained by WPRI 12." - MARKEYCHUSETTS: Sen. Ed Markey's reelection campaign just rolled out three new endorsements from state lawmakers. Sen. Pat Jehlen, Sen. Mike Barrett and Rep. Natalie Higgins and announced they are backing Markey yesterday. - "Shack Exploring Run for Congress in 4th District," by Matt Murphy, State House News Service: "Former state Comptroller Thomas Shack announced Tuesday that he was forming an exploratory committee to run for Congress in the 4th District, taking a step toward joining a Democratic field that already includes six candidates vying to succeed U.S. Rep. Joseph Kennedy III in the House. Shack left his position as comptroller earlier this year after more than six years working in the office, including four years as the comptroller overseeing more than $60 billion and government spending and other funding each year." ALL ABOARD - "T notes: Commuter rail on-time performance takes dive," by Bruce Mohl, CommonWealth Magazine: "THE ON-TIME PERFORMANCE of the commuter rail system took a sharp dive in late September and October, particularly on the Fitchburg, Franklin, and Providence lines. According to statistics released at a meeting of the Fiscal and Management Control Board on Monday, the system as a whole was on-time (defined as within five minutes of the scheduled arrival time) 84.6 percent of the time in October, the lowest level in at least a year. The worst-performing line was the Franklin Line, with 79.2 percent on-time performance, followed by the Fitchburg and Providence lines, both at 80.2 percent." PATRICK PRIMARY - "Will Deval Patrick's ties to drug companies help or hurt his 2020 bid?" by Ron Leuty, San Francisco Business Times: "As former Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick last week entered the race to be the Democratic Party's nominee for president, his experiences with two Bay Area drug companies could prove to be a boost or a drag. Patrick still serves on the board of Global Blood Therapeutics Inc., whose sickle cell disease drug could be approved by the Food and Drug Administration by late February. The South San Francisco company (NASDAQ: GBT) has't publicly set a price of the drug, called voxelotor, but Patrick's involvement on the board could give him additional insight into the national debate on drug pricing." - "Deval Patrick finds voters across US receptive to his campaign, but they say he has little chance of getting nominated," by Laura Krantz, Boston Globe: "As Deval Patrick sprinted around the country the past few days on a hastily assembled trip kicking off his presidential campaign, he discovered something both encouraging and disheartening: People liked him. But at this eleventh hour in the Democratic race, they don't think he has a chance to win. At a veteran's home in Las Vegas, a bakery in Cedar Falls, Iowa, and a county Democrats meeting in Des Moines, voters said they found the former Massachusetts governor funny, relatable, and experienced. They described him as a moving orator and a good listener — with a bad sense of timing." WARREN REPORT - "Warren's private equity crusade faces resistance at House hearing," by Zachary Warmbrodt, POLITICO: "A high-profile House hearing Tuesday designed to showcase the dangers of private equity instead revealed that the industry enjoys bipartisan backing in Washington despite a wave of attacks from Sen. Elizabeth Warren and other critics. The tone of many members at the Financial Services Committee hearing titled "America for Sale?" suggested that the Massachusetts Democrat will struggle to rally her party against the industry in the 2020 presidential campaign." - "Sen. Elizabeth Warren issues plan to combat white nationalism 'stoked' by President Donald Trump," by Benjamin Kail, MassLive.com: "Citing more than 7,000 hate crimes logged by the FBI last year and hundreds of thousands more that go unreported, Democratic presidential contender and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren on Friday released a plan to combat the rise of extremism and white nationalism. Warren, who mentioned a series of violent attacks since 2015, including shootings of black worshippers, Jewish worshippers and immigrants, called for an "interagency task force to combat white nationalist crime." DATELINE D.C. - "A Mass. politician is fighting MLB's proposal to split the Lowell Spinners from the Red Sox," by Hayden Bird, Boston.com: "In the wake of a new proposal from Major League Baseball to cut down its minor league system, a U.S. representative from Massachusetts is trying to help lead a bipartisan response. The MLB proposal, which first became known in October, would cut the Major League affiliation with 42 minor league teams (out of 160 in total). The teams in question would become independent after the current Professional Baseball Agreement between MLB and MiLB expires in 2020, and possibly join the Dream League (with rosters composed of un-drafted players and free agents)." - "Mass. lawmakers decry SNAP rule change," by Colin A. Young, State House News Service: "The entire Massachusetts congressional delegation signed a letter urging the Trump administration to reconsider a proposed regulation that the lawmakers said would result in Massachusetts losing about 9%, or about $100 million, in annual nutrition funding. The administration's proposed rule would remove flexibility around how states set the "Standard Utility Allowances," based on local utility costs, for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as food stamps." THE CLARK CAUCUS - "House Democrat discusses impeachment inquiry," MSNBC: "House Dem Caucus Vice Chair, Rep. Katherine Clark, D-Mass., discusses a letter from House Speaker Pelosi to Democratic leadership on Trump's actions." ABOVE THE FOLD — Herald: "CANCEL CULTURE," "AWAY GAME," — Globe: "LATE, AS ALWAYS," "Deal is reached on school funding." THE LOCAL ANGLE - "Worcester colleges offer free tuition for 3 children of fallen Worcester Fire Lt. Jason Menard," by Melissa Hanson, MassLive.com: "Residents, restaurants, organizations and sports teams around Massachusetts, and in Worcester especially, have stepped up to help out or make donations to assist the family of fallen Worcester Fire Lt. Jason Menard in the days since tragedy struck the city's fire department once again. Some Central Massachusetts colleges and universities have extended that offer of support. Nine institutions have offered to pay tuition for Menard's three children -- Joshua, Hailee and Morgan -- if they are accepted into the school's programs." - "Owner says he's turning controversial Weymouth billboard back on," by Jessica Trufant, The Patriot Ledger: "With no alternative plan in place, the owner of a controversial digital billboard on Route 3 plans to turn the two-faced billboard back on, cut down trees blocking it and begin building a second further south on the highway. Ed O'Sullivan of Cove Outdoor LLC said in a memo to officials that he has been working with the town to come up with a plan that will satisfy neighbors infuriated by the digital billboard on the northbound side of Route 3 and generate the revenue the company is entitled to." MAZEL! to Hanna Switlekowski, legislative director to state Sen. Paul Feeney, who was elected to the Sharon Select Board last night. ALSO MAZEL! to UMass Amherst grad Jackson Cote, who joins MassLive.com as a reporter in Springfield. Cote just finished an internship at CNN. Tweet. HAPPY BIRTHDAY - to Rep. Jim McGovern, who is 6-0; state Rep. Jack Patrick Lewis, community organizer and political operative Samuel Gebru, and Ethos CEO Valerie Frias (I was a day early on her birthday yesterday). DID THE HOME TEAM WIN? Yes! The Bruins beat the Devils 5-1. Want to make an impact? POLITICO Massachusetts has a variety of solutions available for partners looking to reach and activate the most influential people in the Bay State. Have a petition you want signed? A cause you're promoting? Seeking to increase brand awareness among this key audience? Share your message with our influential readers to foster engagement and drive action. Contact Jesse Shapiro to find out how: jshapiro@politico.com.   Follow us on Twitter Stephanie Murray @StephMurr_Jour   Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook family Playbook  |  Playbook PM  |  California Playbook  |  Florida Playbook  |  Illinois Playbook  |  Massachusetts Playbook  |  New Jersey Playbook  |  New York Playbook  |  Brussels Playbook  |  London Playbook View all our politics and policy newsletters FOLLOW US

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A GRAND BARGAIN show of force – BAKER, TRUMP back WARREN pot bill – MAYORS speak out on trans discrimination ballot question

CHARLIE BAKER'S MBTA FAIL! WE'RE STILL WAITING CHARLIE! 

- "Baker says he does have a vision for the T: 'Making it work,'" by Matt Stout, Boston Globe: "Governor Charlie Baker defended the scale of his vision for the state and its transportation network on Friday and knocked calls to infuse it with more tax-created revenue, offering a likely preview of the rhetoric awaiting his reelection bid this fall. 'Big vision does not equal tax increase, OK?' Baker, a Republican, said."

- "Democratic candidate for Governor tell us what Gov. Baker is doing wrong: On The Record," by WCVB Channel 5 Boston: Jay Gonzalez got the nomination from the Democratic Party for Massachusetts governor. He tells On The Record what's wrong with Gov. Charlie Baker."

- "US Rep. Richard Neal, House Democrats call DOJ's refusal to defend Obamacare provisions 'stunning attack on the rule of law,'" by Shannon Young, MassLive.com: "U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, D-Springfield, and other House Democrats condemned the Trump administration Friday after the Justice Department announced it would not defend key provisions of the Affordable Care Act. They further cast the administration's brief, which was filed in federal court Thursday, as an 'attack' on both the rule of law and the stability of the United States' health care system."

MASSterList: Backtrack | Wiggly nightcrawler bait | CORI blowback

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By Jay Fitzgerald and Keith Regan 03/21/2017 Backtrack | Wiggly nightcrawler bait | CORI blowback

Happening Today

Fighting sexual assault and domestic violence Attorney General Maura Healey speaks at the Jeanne Geiger Crisis Center's Annual White Ribbon Breakfast about the office's priority to address sexual assault and domestic violence, Ipswich Country Club, 148 Country Club Way, Ipswich, 8:30 a.m.

Criminal record discussion MassINC, Boston Federal Reserve's New England Public Policy Center and the Massachusetts Bar Association hold a breakfast forum on the impact of criminal record information reform on employment and recidivism rates, with panelists including Sen. William Brownsberger, John Adams Courthouse - Great Hall, Pemberton Square, Boston, 9 a.m.

Marathon banner Mayor Martin Walsh joins representatives from John Hancock and Boston Athletic Association to unveil the 2017 John Hancock Marathon Banner, Marathon Sports, 671 Boylston Street, Boston, 10 a.m.

Gonzalez on the radio Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jay Gonzalez is a scheduled guest on Boston Herald Radio, Boston Herald Radio, 10 a.m.

Board of Higher Ed Board of Higher Education meets to hear a presentation about learning outcomes assessments, Salem State University, Central Campus, Marsh Hall, Room 210 (second floor), 352 Lafayette St., Salem, 10 a.m.

Ways and Means hearing House and Senate Ways and Means committees hold a hearing on Gov. Charlie Baker's fiscal 2018 budget proposal focusing on the Office of Health and Human Services, Medicaid, the departments of public health, mental health, developmental services and other health agencies, Reggie Lewis Center, 1350 Tremont St., Boston, 10 a.m.

Task force on integrity Members of the State Ethics Commission attend a hearing of the Legislature's Task Force on Integrity in State and Local Government as the task force nears the end of its review of state ethics laws, Room A-1, 11 a.m.

Roads and bridges hearing The annual local road and bridge repair bill will be before the House Committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets for its second public hearing, Room B-2, 11 a.m.

Anti-gas pipelines Environmental activists from Massachusetts Power Forward unveil a list of more than 450 Massachusetts businesses that want Gov. Baker to stop supporting gas pipelines, Holiday Brook Farm, Dalton, 11:15 a.m.

Orange Line cars Gov. Baker, Secretary of Transportation Stephanie Pollack, Acting MBTA General Manager Brian Shortsleeve and MBTA Chief Operating Officer Jeff Gonneville tour the new MBTA Orange Line cars, Wellington Yard, 37 Revere Beach Parkway, Medford, 12 p.m.

Firefighter wake A wake will be held for Watertown firefighter Joseph Toscano at St. Mary's Catholic Church, 211 N. Main St., Randolph, 4 p.m.

Today's News

Baker backtracks on cutting weekend commuter rail From the Globe’s Nicole Dungca: “Governor Charlie Baker said Monday his administration has shelved a proposal to eliminate all weekend commuter rail service, an abrupt shift that follows an outcry from riders and political leaders. ‘Our administration is exploring alternatives to last week’s MBTA budget proposals to make weekend commuter rail more efficient and will not pursue proposals to eliminate weekend service altogether,’ Baker said. ”  What else can you say? It’s a full retreat by the Baker administration. It was a lazy, poorly thought out plan at a time when people are demanding improved T services, not reduced T services. Next challenge for the T: Where to find nearly $1 billion to eventually replace aging Green Line trolley cars, not to be confused with the ongoing $1 billion push to replace the aging Orange and Red line cars, the Herald's Dan Atkinson reports.

NRC gives Pilgrim green light The Nuclear Regulatory Commission says despite a rash of problems found during an intensive safety review, Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station is safe enough to continue operating until its planned shutdown date in 2019, David Abel of the Globe reports. “They are clearly a plant with problems, but they are making strides to improvement and are currently safe to operate,” said Donald E. Jackson, who oversees reactor safety for the NRC and led the investigation. The NRC’s report is to be unveiled Tuesday at a meeting in Plymouth.  Boston Globe

Pot tax could raise up to $100 million -- and Goldberg wants a 10 percent commission The State House battle over regulating and taxing pot officially commenced yesterday, as the Legislature’s new marijuana committee heard a wide range of opinions, complaints, estimates and pleas on how to oversee the nascent weed industry in Massachusetts, according to multiple media reports. The Globe’s Joshua Miller reports that state revenue officials say a tax on pot could raise up to $100 million, but Treasurer Deb Goldberg says she’ll need about $10 million to properly regulate the new industry. But, wait, it’s far from clear whether lawmakers even want Goldberg overseeing marijuana regulations, as a “tug of war” has broken out over future pot oversight, reports the Herald’s Marie Szaniszlo. The BBJ’s Jessica Bartlett and MassLive’s Gintautas Dumcius have more on projected tax revenues and other issues aired at yesterday’s hearing. In all, the legislative panel is now considering 44 marijuana-related bills, ranging from “minor tweaks to an outright repeal of the voter-approved law,” Steve Brown at WBUR reports.

City and town officials demand the power to outlaw pot shops Yet another issue raised at yesterday’s Marijuana Committee hearing, via SHNS’s Colin Young at Wicked Local: “Cities and towns are urging lawmakers to let them restrict or prohibit commercial marijuana sales within their borders by a vote of the municipal legislative body, rather than a community-wide referendum as is called for under the law. ‘The new law ... makes it impossible for selectmen, mayors, councils or Town Meetings to make this decision,’ the Massachusetts Municipal Association wrote in a letter to the Legislature's Committee on Marijuana Policy.” Wicked Local

DiCara: Sorry, pot lobbyists, it’s now ‘Grown-Up’s Hour’ Lawrence S. DiCara, a partner at Nixon Peabody and a former president of the Boston City Council, says there’s plenty of precedent for lawmakers tinkering with referendum initiatives after they’ve been passed, no matter what marijuana-industry officials claim. “Now that democracy has worked its magic in Massachusetts with the legalization of recreational use of marijuana, I suggest it is time for the Grown-Up’s Hour when it comes to the details of the new law,” he writes at CommonWealth magazine. CommonWealth

Republican Baker urges Democrats to fight Republican health-care plan As they say, politics makes strange bedfellows. From the AP’s Steve LeBlanc, whose wire story is going national (this one at the Charlotte Observer): “Gov. Charlie Baker is urging the state's congressional delegation to fight a Republican-backed health care bill that he said could undermine Massachusetts' efforts to maintain its highest-in-the-nation rate of insured residents. The Republican governor is including his concerns in a letter he's planning to send to the all-Democratic delegation Tuesday. Baker also will outline potential federal revenue losses for Massachusetts if the bill becomes law.” Charlotte Observer

Study: Trumpcare could mean higher subsidies in Bay State Many Massachusetts communities would see more health care subsidies under the Republican plan making its way through Congress than they do under the Affordable Care Act, Jessica Bartlett of the Boston Business Journal reports, citing analysis conducted by WalletHub. However, the tax credit differences do not take into account the expected cuts to Medicaid, which state officials says would hit neediest residents the hardest. That's a pretty big caveat. BBJ

Immigration debate casualty: Worcester refugees center lays off 20 people Worcester’s Ascentria Care Alliance, which helps foreign refugees and immigrants resettle here, is laying off 20 employees, blaming the ongoing debate and high tensions in Washington over immigration and travel issues, reports Walter Bird Jr. at Worcester Magazine. Worcester Magazine

It’s not looking good for summer H-2B workers in New England Speaking of refugees and immigrant issues, Fred Bever at WBUR has more on how summer resort communities across New England are getting nervous about filling jobs this summer with temporary foreign workers – and how many Americans, left and right, are no fans of the H-2B season visa program. WBUR

Report: CORI reforms have not helped ex-offenders find jobs – just the opposite Despite reforms of the state’s Criminal Offender Record Information system, the employment rate of ex-offenders has actually declined compared with those without criminal records, according to a new study by Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, reports Katie Johnston at the Globe. Specifically, the “ban the box” change – in which job applicants no longer have to check off whether they have a criminal record – has “not resulted in the policy outcome anticipated,” the study says. What a surprise: Restricting information doesn’t work. Who would have thought? Boston Globe

Gonzalez’s welcome vows on gubernatorial transparency Speaking of access to public information, the Herald’s Jaclyn Cashman isn’t sure how seriously she should take Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jay Gonzalez’s vow to run a less secretive and more open Corner Office. But the promises of more gubernatorial transparency are nevertheless welcome and better than what we have now, she concludes. Boston Herald

Weld to media: Stop taking Trump’s wiggly nightcrawler bait Former Gov. William Weld, also the former Libertarian vice presidential candidate, thinks the media is hanging too much on President Trump’s every tweet, writes the Herald’s Olivia Vanni. “One of the rules in politics is don’t go for the bait,” Weld says. “When someone drags a wiggly nightcrawler in front of you, don’t snap at it every time.” Boston Herald

Warren road show hits Springfield Matt Szafranski at Western Massachusetts Politics and Insight has a round-up of Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s stop yesterday in Springfield, where she denounced President Trump’s Supreme Court nominee and his proposed budget cuts to education programs, community block grants and NIH research. “I’m sorry, don’t you understand it’s not just poor people who get cancer, it’s rich people, too?” she said of the NIH cuts. WMPI

O’Neill: Massachusetts gives, gives, gives to Washington – and now it’s going to get even less back Thomas P. O’Neill III, chief executive at O’Neill and Associates and the former lieutenant governor, says Massachusetts cities and towns are about to take it on the chin due to President Trump’s budget cuts, even though the state consistently gives more than it gets from Washington in terms of tax dollars. “Under this budget we give and give and give – as always – but now there is no return,” he writes at CommonWealth magazine. “The people of Massachusetts cannot afford to accept it.” CommonWealth

Our poor are better off than their poor This probably won’t last long if President Trump gets his budget-cut requests. From the Globe’s Evan Horowitz: “While Massachusetts is unquestionably riven by divides, low-income and minority residents are doing vastly better than their peers around the country. When it comes to boosting pay for low-wage workers, providing educational opportunities for all, even guaranteeing affordable housing — Massachusetts is already outperforming most of the nation.” Boston Globe

Don’t forget Rev. Monan’s contribution to court reforms Margaret Marshall, former chief justice of the Supreme Judicial Court and Robert J. Cordy, a retired associate justice, remember the late Rev. Donald Monan not only for his achievements at Boston College but also for his court-reforms work on what became known as the ‘Monan Commission.’ “His leadership helped change the path of the Massachusetts judiciary at a critical time in its 300-year history,” the two write at the Herald. Boston Herald

James Comey: A very strange Patriots hater FBI director James Comey intervened in the November election in a strange way. He’s now using a strange New England Patriots analogy to explain the Russians’ intervention in the November election, which he described yesterday as being more about the Russians hating Hillary Clinton than liking Donald Trump. As reported by Spencer Buell at Boston Magazine, Comey said: “I think it’s two closely related sides of the same coin. To put it in a homely metaphor, I hate the New England Patriots and no matter who they play, I’d like them to lose. And so I’m at the same time rooting against the Patriots and hoping their opponent beats them because there’s only two teams on the field.” What the ...? From the Globe’s Joan Vennochi: “Who did more to hurt Hillary Clinton’s quest to become president and help Donald Trump’s — Vladimir Putin or FBI director James Comey?” Good question.  Boston Magazine

Hampshire College student faces charges over ‘culturally appropriated’ hair-braid fight A 20-year-old Hampshire College student is pleading not guilty to charges that she attacked a visiting basketball player over her "culturally appropriated" hair braids, reports Emily Cutts at the Daily Hampshire Gazette. At MassLive.com, Lucas Ropek provides some important context: “Defined loosely, (‘culturally appropriated’) refers to the adoption of a culturally specific item by someone not directly involved in that culture. In 2015, students at the private liberal arts school Oberlin College protested the school’s cafeteria's ‘cultural appropriation’ of Vietnamese cuisine after the school used the ‘wrong ingredients’ to cook a banh mi sandwich.” Gazette

Harvard shakes up law-school landscape by accepting GRE tests And now Harvard Law School, the “gold standard” of law schools, is now accepting a generic graduate school exam for law school applicants, as opposed to the LSAT, in a move that could lead to a ‘larger and more diverse group of lawyers entering the field,” writes Michael Levenson at the Globe. Boston Globe

Distracted driving gets state attention A surge in traffic fatalities is undoubtedly tied to distracted driving, which the state is tackling with a two-pronged approach focusing on awareness and enforcement, Jeff Larason, director of the state’s Highway Safety Division tells Dusty Christensen at the Hampshire Gazette. Grants are helping local departments enforce the state’s ban on texting while driving while a new awareness campaign is set to launch in April.  Gazette

Will Feds deliver opioid help as promised? Despite promises made on the campaign trail by candidates on both sides of the aisle, senators from Massachusetts and New Hampshire may have trouble bringing home federal funds to fight the opioid crisis, David S. Bernstein reports at WGBH. While President Trump has repeatedly decried the toll opioids have taken on the region, lawmakers say repealing Obamacare and cutting Medicaid will actually set back efforts to curb opioid abuse.  WGBH

Not bad: Break the rules, win $250,000 There’s always a catch. Natasha Mascarenhas at BostInno reports that MIT has begun accepting applications for its new “Disobedience Award” that will fork over $250,000 to any person or group “ethically pushing boundaries” (so far, so good), breaking rules “across a variety of disciplines” (our specialty), taking personal risks (not sure about that one), all “in order to affect positive change for greater society” (the catch we warned you about). BostInno

Today's Headlines Metro Things could get ruff at DCR dog park meeting in Hyde Park - Universal Hub City Year says Trump cuts would devastate programs - Boston Globe Officials say Green Line in need of state, federal money - Boston Herald Massachusetts Quincy Center developer changes apartments to condos, citing apartment glut - Patriot Ledger As traffic deaths rise, state steps up campaign against distracted driving - Hampshire Gazette Amherst select board backs sanctuary initiative - Hampshire Gazette Nine Mass. residents make Forbes billionaires list - Boston Business Journal Mercantile Center replacing long-dead Worcester Galleria - Worcester Business Journal NRC expected to reveal findings on Pilgrim at Tuesday meeting - Brockton Enterprise BCC, New Bedford schools get life sciences boost - Standard-Times Ex-offenders still having trouble getting jobs - Boston Globe Bill Weld: Media taking bait on Trump tweets, ever time - Boston Herald Charlie Baker rejects rail cuts - Boston Herald Former councilor Jason Ferreira pulls papers to run for mayor in Holyoke - MassLive Billboard zoning, marijuana freeze on Auburn town meeting agenda - Telegram & Gazette Nation FBI’s Russia probe knocks White House on its heels - Politico Trump is dealt his hardest truth: That he was wrong - Washington Post Rex Tillerson will visit Russia but skip NATO meeting next month - Washington Post