POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: CAVELL announces — SAGA on the House floor — Cape Cod SHARK study sighting

CAVELL announces — SAGA on the House floor — Cape Cod SHARK study sighting

BY STEPHANIE MURRAY Presented by the American Heart Association GOOD MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. NEW: CAVELL FOR CONGRESS — Dave Cavell announced he's running for Congress this morning, bringing the race to replace Rep. Joe Kennedy III to six candidates. Cavell, who lives in Brookline, recently stepped down from his role as assistant attorney general in AG Maura Healey's office to prepare a campaign. He was on Healey's senior leadership team and played a role in the office's more than 50 lawsuits against President Donald Trump. Before that, Cavell was a speechwriter for President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama, and for Gov. Deval Patrick. "I'm running for Congress because we need to restore the rule of law in Washington and deliver bold, transformational change for people in this entire district," Cavell said in a statement. Cavell's first stops on the trail will be in Attleboro and Taunton, where he will talk about the opioid epidemic, an issue he says will be a focus during his campaign. Covering all his bases in the 4th District, Cavell's campaign website is available in English, Spanish and Portuguese. FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: DUNN EYES SENATE SEAT — Vinny deMacedo hasn't officially resigned from his post as a state senator, but news that the Republican lawmaker is taking a new job at Bridgewater State University has many buzzing about who will run to replace him. DeMacedo's career move was reported by the State House News Service. Brian Dunn, political and legislative organizer at the Massachusetts AFL-CIO, tells me he is among the potential candidates considering a run. Dunn, 30, is a lifelong resident of Plymouth and serves on the town's advisory and finance committee. "I've gotten a lot of calls. It obviously just happened today, but it's definitely something I'm looking at," Dunn told me yesterday. "I think we still have a little bit of time to go before we have to make those decisions. I have a lot of people that I'd like to talk to before I do that." Dunn said he spoke with deMacedo to congratulate him on his new role at the university, where he will serve as director of regional partnerships. "I haven't talked to him about the seat in particular," Dunn added. Before deMacedo took office, former state Senate President Therese Murray, a Democrat, held the seat for more than two decades. SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET SAGA — A dispute between several state lawmakers played out on the House floor yesterday when members voted on a supplemental budget bill to handle the state's $400 million surplus. The flare up illustrates a clash that has been brewing for months between some new lawmakers and more senior House members over how the Legislature does business. It all started with an amendment to the budget bill filed by first-year state Rep. Maria Robinson, which had to do with the federal tax code. When Robinson spoke on the amendment, state Rep. Denise Garlick asked her to yield for a question. Robinson declined and continued speaking, which was a shock to Garlick. "It is not my experience, in nearly four terms in the House, that a colleague would not yield for a question," Garlick said. "I was surprised by that, I have to tell you ... This is a colleague who would not yield to a woman colleague for a question." But in first-year state Rep. Lindsay Sabadosa's view, there was no promise the floor would go back to Robinson if she yielded for Garlick's question, and Garlick should not have interrupted in the first place. Sabadosa, a co-sponsor on Robinson's amendment, slammed Garlick's behavior as "atrocious" in a phone call last night. "We're feeling a little bit like the women of the State House are being treated rather poorly — the young, new women," Sabadosa told me. Sabadosa says she and fellow new lawmaker and co-sponsor state Rep. Tami Gouveia tried unsuccessfully to speak before members voted it down in a roll call. Sabadosa says she made leaders aware she wanted to speak ahead of time, and even waved her arms and yelled to get the attention of state Rep. Paul Donato, who was presiding over the session. "Even though we represent the exact same number of constituents, for some reason our voices matter less. There's something to be said about seniority, but if we cannot have an actual robust debate about something as important giving corporations $37 million in tax breaks, why are we even here?" Sabadosa said. "It's not only disrespectful to us, but disrespectful to our constituents." She also blasted the move on Twitter. But according to Garlick, the problem was in the process. Garlick says the roll call on the amendment had already begun before Sabadosa tried to speak. "People weren't shut down — they didn't speak up in time," Garlick told me last night. "There are real rules, and you can't interrupt a roll call. And even though it might feel bad for an individual, your perception of that doesn't change the rules." "And if you allow your perception to be the statement that you make, it is disruptive to the House of Representatives. We've got 160 people who have to play by the rules. You've got to know the rules and you've got to use the rules appropriately," Garlick added. 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 and state Senate President Karen Spilka speak at the Massachusetts Cybersecurity Forum. Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito visits AIS in Leominster. Boston Mayor Marty Walsh makes a special child care announcement at Inquilinos Boricuas en Acción, speaks at the Catherine Hardaway Residences naming ceremony. Baker and Walsh speak at a ribbon cutting for the Valina N. Jackson Center. Rep. Ayanna Pressley launches a new caucus focused on the future of transportation in Washington, D.C. A message from the American Heart Association: Sugary drinks are a major contributor to the increasing rates of diabetes and heart disease. And with our country already spending $190 billion per year treating these preventable diseases, we need to address the problem. Healthy drinks should be priced at an equal or lower cost than less healthy options. Learn more here.     INTRODUCING POLITICO's ENERGY PODCAST sponsored by Chevron: Your daily, five-minute update on the latest in energy and environmental politics and policy from POLITICO's expert ten-person team. Ways to listen: Via your email - click the link in the POLITICO Morning Energy newsletter, or subscribe for free - click here and follow the link for your podcast player.     DATELINE BEACON HILL - "House Uses FY19 Surplus To Shore Up Reserves And Pad Ed Spending," by Colin A. Young and Chris Lisinski, State House News Service: "The House moved to close the fiscal year 2019 books Wednesday with near-unanimous approval of a $723 million supplemental budget that would stash $400 million of last year's surplus in reserves and spend millions more on the MBTA and other priorities, while also setting a schedule for voting in 2020. Members voted 151-1 Wednesday night to pass the bill (H 4127) after a lengthy session dotted with hours of public inactivity. Boston Democrat Rep. Russell Holmes cast the lone dissenting vote." - "Baker shrugs off transparency complaints in RMV investigation," by Mary Markos, Boston Herald: "Gov. Charlie Baker is shrugging off complaints that his administration is veiled in secrecy and trying to avoid a paper trail in the RMV scandal, saying Wednesday that his staff did "exactly" what they "should have been doing" when ordering RMV employees not to email about important issues. "Calling for meetings, creating a sense of urgency and focus in the aftermath of a tragedy like that one is exactly what people in my administration should have been doing and were doing," Baker told reporters Wednesday, 'and that's why we moved so quickly on so many files and unopened letters.'" - "DeLeo: Too Early for Subpoenas in RMV Probe," by Chris Lisinski, State House News Service: "Despite a top deputy complaining that the Baker administration has withheld documents, House Speaker Robert DeLeo threw cold water on the idea of issuing subpoenas to advance the Transportation Committee's investigation into the Registry of Motor Vehicles. DeLeo said he believes it is "a little bit too early" to play the subpoena card. Rep. William Straus, who co-chairs the committee that's exploring problems at the RMV, held a press conference Tuesday where he produced emails he said he acquired from an outside source after the Department of Transportation failed to provide them." FROM THE HUB - "Walsh Vows 'More Than Tweaks' To Zoning Board Of Appeal," by Isaiah Thompson, WGBH News: "Mayor Marty Walsh says change is coming to the Boston Zoning Board of Appeal. Walsh did not offer details, saying he will wait until he reviews the findings of an ongoing review of the board, commissioned by the mayor and being conducted by an outside law firm. "There are probably going to be some changes, and I think they're probably going to be more than tweaks," Walsh told WGBH News at an unrelated press event Wednesday." - "City pulls $248m in pension money from firm after CEO's off-color comments on women," by Shirley Leung, Boston Globe: "The City of Boston on Wednesday terminated its relationship with billionaire money manager Ken Fisher, pulling about $248 million in pension fund money from his firm following lewd comments he made last week. The Boston pension board voted 5 to 0 at a regularly scheduled meeting to drop Fisher Investments, joining a growing number of government pension funds that have cut ties with the Washington state company." - "Flynn, Janey plan hearing on 'health disparities' in Communities of Color," by Katie Trojano, Dorchester Reporter: "Boston City Councillors Ed Flynn and Kim Janey will be hosting a hearing next week to discuss public health disparities in communities of color in the City of Boston. The hearing will take place next Friday, Oct. 25 at 10 a.m. in the Boston City Council's Iannella Chamber. The hearing will be facilitated by the Committee on Healthy Women, Families, and Communities. "The lack of equity in our public health systems has dire consequences for the residents I serve, especially communities of color. We must do more to remove implicit and explicit racial bias from our health care system," said Councillor Janey." - "Wynn brings in new managers in Everett," by Bruce Mohl, CommonWealth Magazine: "WYNN RESORTS shuffled its top management team at Encore Boston Harbor on Wednesday, removing president Robert DeSalvio and elevating Brian Guilbrants, the head of food and beverage, to replace him. Rumors have circulated for months that DeSalvio was not going to be the long term leader of the hotel and casino in Everett and that Wynn Resorts CEO Matt Maddox had concerns about the way Encore Boston Harbor was being led." - "No easement? No problem. Condos rise in a backyard," by Yawu Miller, Bay State Banner: "When Nashira Baril moved to Taylor Terrace just three years ago, she and her husband were drawn to the quiet dead-end row of single-family homes off of River Street in Mattapan. A single-family and a duplex lay just beyond her back yard. Then, in a scenario that's playing out in neighborhoods throughout Boston, the single-family was torn down to make way for a seven-unit condo development. "It came down in hours," she said." - "City breaks ground on new $30 million police station in East Boston," by Alyssa Lukpat, Boston Globe: "City officials broke ground in East Boston on Wednesday on a $30 million police station — the first new police facility in almost a decade, officials said. Mayor Martin J. Walsh, state politicians, and Boston police hosted a groundbreaking ceremony for the new A-7 police station, which is set to open in 2021 at 338 East Eagle St. "It's the first complete new station that we're building in Boston in a decade. B-2 in Dudley Square opened in 2011," Walsh said. 'When I first got elected mayor, I thought we were going to be breaking ground. I was all excited. And here we are six years later, breaking ground.'" PRIMARY SOURCES - "Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley holds off on presidential endorsement as colleagues back Bernie Sanders," by Benjamin Kail, MassLive.com: "A day after the fourth Democratic presidential debate and following reports that Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders could pick up endorsements from three progressive congresswomen, U.S. Rep Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts held off from backing any candidate. The Washington Post and others reported that freshman Reps. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York said they would support Sanders, who has consistently polled in third place behind former Vice President Joe Biden and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren." DAY IN COURT - "Suspended Judge Shelley Joseph ready for trial if motion to dismiss fails," by Andrew Martinez, Boston Herald: Suspended state Judge Shelley Joseph is ready to go to trial if her motion to dismiss federal obstruction charges fails, lawyers on both sides of the controversial case stated Wednesday. The Newton District Court judge on paid leave from her $184,000-a-year post, and retired trial court officer Wesley MacGregor, are fighting charges of obstruction of justice and aiding and abetting for allegedly helping an illegal immigrant escape the courthouse in April 2018 to avoid a federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent." - "John H. Nardozzi, accountant for former Sen. Brian Joyce, convicted on fraud charges in federal court," by Scott J. Croteau, MassLive.com: "John H. Nardozzi, the certified public accountant for former state Sen. Brian Joyce, was convicted by a federal jury for conspiring with the late senator to defraud the IRS from 2011 through 2014, the U.S. Attorney's Office announced Wednesday. Nardozzi, 67, of Waltham, was convicted after a seven-day trial of defrauding the IRS of approximately $600,000. He was found guilty on charges of conspiring to defraud the IRS and aiding and assisting in the filing of false tax returns."       WARREN REPORT - "Warren's blasts at tech leave Biden in the shadows," by Nancy Scola, POLITICO: "Elizabeth Warren is setting the Democratic field's hostile tone on tech — and Joe Biden is struggling to find his voice. That's one upshot from Tuesday night's debate. The former vice president was the quietest person on stage on the question of how to handle Silicon Valley. His rivals, echoing Warren, expressed degrees of unease with companies like Facebook, Google, Amazon and Twitter and how they're reshaping everything from elections to news to jobs to privacy." FROM THE DELEGATION - "Pressley holds town hall in Randolph," by Yawu Miller, Bay State Banner: "The constituents who came to Stetson Hall in Randolph brought questions about immigration, impeachment, women's rights and growing inequality to 7th District U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley's town hall meeting Saturday. In her speech and her responses to audience members' questions, Pressley brought a message of hope. "I didn't come here to talk to you about how sobering the landscape is, because at this moment, all that I feel is hope," she said at the beginning of her address." IT'S NOT EASY BEING GREEN - "Gas Compressor Opponents Dealt Setback With Wetlands, Waterways Appeals," by Chris Lisinski, State House News Service: "A proposed natural gas compressor station cleared two more major hurdles Wednesday when a state adjudicator recommended upholding wetlands and waterways permits that opponents had appealed. Jane Rothchild, a hearing officer who rules on appeals cases for the Department of Environmental Protection, disagreed with petitioners who claimed the project would violate environmental regulations. She suggested the department uphold its initial approval of wetlands and waterways permits." MARIJUANA IN MASSACHUSETTS - "Holyoke marijuana company Positronic Farms plans bankruptcy filing after board resigns," by Shira Schoenberg, MassLive.com: "The entire board of Holyoke company Positronic Farms has resigned, and the company is considering filing for bankruptcy, as the secretary of state investigates the company's role in violating state securities laws. "Now that the company does not have a ... practical path forward ... myself and the entire board of Positronic Farms have submitted our resignations to the secretary of state," said former President Morriss Partee. Positronic Farms, a company founded by David Caputo, had rented space in a former paper mill at 5 Appleton St. in Holyoke. Caputo planned to lease that space to a separate company, Holyoke Gardens, which applied for a state license to grow marijuana." ABOVE THE FOLD — Herald: "SURPRISE PARTY," "WOULDN'T THIS BE FUN!" — Globe: "Warren quiet on health care specifics," "Fury over Syria aligns parties vs. president." BEHIND THE TOFU CURTAIN - "'No majors, no departments': Hampshire College votes to shape academics around modern challenges," by Jacquelyn Voghel, Daily Hampshire Gazette: "As Hampshire College prepares to defend its credentials to the New England Commission of Higher Education accreditation agency next month, the board of trustees has voted to reshape the college's academic model around challenges in today's world. "We are restructuring ourselves to move questions and projects to the center of every student's education," Hampshire College President Ed Wingenbach said at The Red Barn on Wednesday." THE LOCAL ANGLE - " Officials: Racist post at Framingham High was faked," by Zane Razzaq, MetroWest Daily News: "An investigation found that a high school student's Instagram account was hacked to post racist comments online, a school official said Wednesday. "What's important for people to know is simply that this is an unfortunate incident in terms of a young person unfairly being targeted and that the way in which this person was targeted also harmed communities of color by using such a vitriol word," said Joseph Corazzini, the assistant superintendent for Equity, Diversity, and Community Engagement, in an interview." - "'No silver bullet solutions' in long-awaited Cape shark study," by Doug Fraser, Cape Cod Times: "Six Outer Cape towns, along with Cape Cod National Seashore and Atlantic White Shark Conservancy, released a long-awaited report Wednesday on shark detection, deterrence and exclusion technologies. The $50,000 study by the Woods Hole Group reinforces the efforts by towns and the Seashore to educate the public on reducing the risk of attack and upgrade emergency communications and trauma response at beaches. But the report also downplays hopes in emerging technologies and alternative strategies, saying they need more research and testing before deployment." MAZEL! to the wonderful and capable Katie Holzman, who is joining the Meredith Corporation as a PR coordinator in New York City. HAPPY BIRTHDAY - to retired Amherst state Rep. Ellen Story and Marcus Gadson. 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. A message from the American Heart Association: Consuming sugary drinks, such as fruit drinks with added sugar, sports drinks, and soda, poses a real health risk to kids. Sugary drinks are a major contributor to the increasing rates of diabetes and heart disease. And with our country already spending $190 billion per year treating these preventable diseases, we need to address the problem. Every child deserves to grow up at a healthy weight, which means promoting healthy beverage options - like water and milk. Healthy drinks should be priced at an equal or lower cost than less healthy options. Learn more here.     SPECIAL EDITION POLITICO PULSE: We will bring a special edition of the POLITICO Pulse newsletter to the Milken Institute Future of Health Summit—the most influential gathering of industry leaders and innovators of the year. Dan Diamond will take you inside the summit and keep you apprised of the key takeaways and the most important conversations each day. Sign up today to receive exclusive coverage of the Summit in Washington, D.C. from October 28 - 30.       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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POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: Former PATRICK aide backs MARKEY reelect — Shakeup in TAUNTON — The company supplying DNA kits to ICE

Former PATRICK aide backs MARKEY reelect — Shakeup in TAUNTON — The company supplying DNA kits to ICE

Aug 06, 2019 View in browser   BY STEPHANIE MURRAY GOOD MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. I'm in Nashville for the National Conference of State Legislatures 2019 Legislative Summit. I'm operating on Central Time, so your newsletter is coming a little later than usual. Drop me a line if you're here in Tennessee: smurray@politico.com. FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: FORMER PATRICK AIDE BACKS MARKEY'S REELECT — John Walsh, former campaign manager to Gov. Deval Patrick, will throw his support behind Sen. Ed Markey in a message to his email list this morning. Markey is up for reelection in 2020 and already has two Democratic primary challengers. "I am proud to publicly declare my support for the re-election of US Senator Ed Markey in 2020 and I promise to do what I can to help him win," Walsh will write to his email list. "I'm proud every day to have Senator Markey be my voice in the Senate on so many issues and to have his vote be recorded representing mine. But I choose to make an early endorsement because I am certain what he does today and has done over so many yesterdays is less important than what I trust him to do in the future." Walsh has served as chair of the state Democratic Party , and is a co-founder of the Reason to Believe PAC, an organization that promotes Patrick's vision. Walsh plans to share his statement supporting Markey on social media as well. "Ed Markey is a leader with principles. He has wisdom. He has experience and he has guts. He has my support and I urge others to join me in assisting his campaign," Walsh will write. Markey faces two primary challengers in 2020: executive Steve Pemberton and labor attorney Shannon-Liss Riordan. Pemberton is working with political consultant Doug Rubin, the former Patrick chief of staff and another co-founder of the Reason to Believe PAC. Liss-Riordan has several former Patrick aides on her staff, too. And there's speculation that a bigger-name candidate could be eyeing the 2020 Senate race. A mysterious telephone poll testing Rep. Joe Kennedy III against Markey in a head-to-head matchup was in the field last month. A Kennedy spokesperson declined to comment on whether the congressman commissioned that poll. Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for the Playbook? Get in touch: smurray@politico.com. TODAY — Boston Mayor Marty Walsh attends National Night Out. Rep. Jim McGovern tours Curaleaf in Worcester. Attorney General Maura Healey is a guest on "Greater Boston." Rep. Seth Moulton tours Raytheon in Andover, Arc Technologies in Amesbury and visits Cape Ann Lobstermen. State Rep. Shaunna O'Connell talks about her plan to run for mayor of Taunton.   POLITICO AT #TRIBFEST19 — We are excited to partner with The Texas Tribune Festival to bring some of the top journalists from our newsroom to downtown Austin on September 28 for the premier gathering of policymakers and citizens engaged in the most pressing issues of our time. From fixing America's broken politics to understanding how immigration and border policies are shaping the 2020 landscape, join us for big-thinking conversations with top leaders and experts in the field. Learn more about the festival HERE. Interested in sponsorship opportunities? Email Us     DATELINE BEACON HILL — "Amid criticism it is skirting requirements, RMV to meet with local police," by Matt Stout, Boston Globe: "Registry of Motor Vehicles leaders are meeting with local law enforcement this week to discuss how the agency notifies authorities about trouble drivers, weeks after dozens of police chiefs said the RMV wasn't regularly alerting them as required by state law. The meeting, scheduled for Thursday at the Department of Transportation's Park Plaza headquarters, comes as the Registry faces intense scrutiny over a raft of other administrative failures, namely that for years it ignored notices from other states about traffic violations by Massachusetts drivers." — "Why didn't Deveney sound the alarm?" by Andy Metzger, CommonWealth Magazine: "IN MID-MAY, Erin Deveney was at a regional conference of registrars when she bumped into Elizabeth Bielecki, her counterpart in New Hampshire. The two registrars started talking about information-sharing, and Deveney urged Bielecki to resume sending notifications to her office about Massachusetts drivers who commit violations in New Hampshire electronically rather than by mail. "I didn't have any authority to compel New Hampshire to resume their electronic sharing of information with Massachusetts," Deveney told lawmakers at an oversight hearing last week. "I did raise it as an issue and concern with New Hampshire." But Deveney apparently did not mention why electronic notification was such a priority." — "Taunton Mayor Hoye to step down for new job; O'Connell announces bid to replace him," Taunton Gazette: "After eight years in office, Mayor Tom Hoye will be stepping down to accept an appointment as Bristol County Register of Probate, he said Monday. Hoye said it was a difficult decision but in the end he wanted to be able to spend more time with his family. He and his wife, Stephanie, have three children, ages 14, 12 and 8. "This has certainly been a job I love, but it's secondary to my family. ... I don't want to keep missing things," said Hoye. "I've loved the ups and downs, more ups than downs, but it's time to do something different. I'm extremely grateful to the citizens of Taunton to have given me this opportunity." Gov. Charlie Baker on Monday announced Hoye's appointment. The appointment still needs to be ratified by the Governor's Council, which meets again on Aug. 21, Hoye said." — "Merrimack River task force gets a second chance," by Christian M. Wade, The Salem News: "Lawmakers are moving ahead with plans to create a commission to study how to improve the health of the Merrimack River by reducing sewage discharges. On Monday, the state Senate approved a proposal to create a Merrimack River District Commission to study contamination from sewage treatment plants and report back to the Legislature with recommendations for dealing with it. The commission must also be approved by the House and Gov. Charlie Baker. "We are looking for ways to update infrastructure and need to make sure we receive help from the federal delegation while also working for funds at the state level," said Sen. Diana DiZoglio, D-Methuen, primary sponsor of the bill creating the commission. Lawmakers set aside $50,000 in the current budget to get the commission up and running, but the amendment creating it didn't survive budget negotiations." — "Watchdog: Ethics Commission should scrub Speaker DeLeo's P-card spending," by Mary Markos, Boston Herald: "A watchdog group is calling on the Ethics Commission to investigate Robert DeLeo's state-issued credit card to see if the House Speaker is spending more on food for lawmakers after the Herald reported last week the Winthrop Democrat billed taxpayers almost $5,000 for Chinese food during a budget debate in April. "There doesn't seem to be many lawmakers who have an appetite to take on the Speaker and this is another tool the Speaker uses to keep everybody in lockstep with what he wants to do," MassFiscal Alliance spokesman Paul Craney said of the takeout feast. Craney also said that in past years, the Speaker used his campaign committee to fund "lavish meals" for legislators. But after comparing DeLeo's yearly spending through campaign finance records, Craney is questioning if DeLeo is shifting the cost of meals to the taxpayers." FROM THE HUB — "Waltham company supplying DNA test kits to ICE," by Sarah Betancourt, CommonWealth Magazine: "FEDERAL OFFICIALS ARE USING RAPID DNA testing kits produced by a Massachusetts biotechnology company to verify the family connections of immigrants at the US-Mexico border. The kits, developed by Waltham-based ANDE Corp., were tested by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement in a three-day trial in May in El Paso, Texas, that was extended for several months in July at a total cost of $52,000. The kits are now being used at five more locations along the southwest border. Britney Walker, a spokeswoman for the Department of Homeland Security, said members of 84 families suspected of fraud were tested over the initial three-day period. The DNA tests indicated 16 of the families included children who were not related to their alleged parents." ON THE STUMP — "Rep. Aaron Michlewitz endorses Kenzie Bok for Boston City Council," from the Bok campaign: "State Representative Aaron Michlewitz (D - 3rd Suffolk) endorsed Kenzie Bok for Boston City Council, to represent the District 8 neighborhoods of Beacon Hill, Back Bay, Fenway, Audubon Circle, Mission Hill, and the West End. Rep. Michlewitz represents parts of Beacon Hill, Back Bay, and the West End." DAY IN COURT — "Lawyers for Newton judge, ex-court officer seek evidence to decide on separating cases," by Gal Tziperman Lotan, Boston Globe: "Attorneys for a Newton District Court judge and a former court officer who are accused of helping an undocumented immigrant evade a federal agent asked for more evidence from prosecutors on Monday to decide whether they want to separate the cases. Judge Shelley M. Richmond Joseph could face up to 20 years in prison if convicted of charges of conspiracy to obstruct justice and obstruction of a federal proceeding. She and her co-defendant, former court officer Wesley MacGregor, have both pleaded not guilty. They were not in court Monday, but their attorneys requested transcripts from grand jury testimony and notes federal agents took during their investigation." — "Judge 'very likely' to let immigration suit continue as a class action," by Aidan Ryan, Boston Globe: "Chief Judge Patti B. Saris of US District Court in Boston is "very likely" to allow a complaint that the government has denied due process to detained immigrants to proceed as a class-action lawsuit, she said Monday. The ACLU of Massachusetts and the ACLU of New Hampshire filed suit in June, alleging the federal government had unlawfully detained three plaintiffs after flawed detention hearings. The civil liberties groups said the detainees were unconstitutionally required to show they posed neither a threat to others nor a flight risk." — "Former police commissioner testifies in Boston Calling case," by Maria Cramer, Boston Globe: "In 2014, when Crash Line Productions was trying to set up its second music festival of the year on City Hall Plaza, Boston Police Commissioner William Evans wasn't aware of the tensions bubbling between the company and the stagehands union that wanted jobs at the concert, he testified Monday. "I had no clue that was even going on," Evans said via video in federal court as testimony wrapped up in the extortion trial of two City Hall aides accused of strong-arming Crash Line into hiring members of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees Local 11 for the Boston Calling festival ." WARREN REPORT — "These are the winners of the post-debate media competition," by Elena Schneider, POLITICO: "Joe Biden and Elizabeth Warren bounced out of the second round of debates in Detroit with the most name-mentions in network and cable news coverage last week, according to an analysis by a digital analytics firm shared first with POLITICO. Deep Root Analytics, a Republican-aligned consulting firm, tracked the number of times Democratic presidential candidates were mentioned in the 48 hours after the two debates last week. The firm modeled those mentions against their projections for the number of swing voters watching the six network and cable stations during that time." FROM THE DELEGATION — "President Donald Trump 'morally responsible' for inciting racial violence, U.S. Sen. Ed Markey says in remarks on El Paso, Dayton mass shootings," by Shira Schoenberg, MassLive.com:"In the wake of two deadly mass shootings this weekend in Texas and Ohio, U.S. Sen. Ed Markey, a Massachusetts Democrat, called President Donald J. Trump "morally responsible" for inciting racially motivated violence. "It is no coincidence a disturbed individual thought that he should open fire on a community at our border, a community of color," Markey said at a press conference in Dorchester on Monday." — "Despite mass shootings, gun control still hot topic," by Christian M. Wade Statehouse Reporter, The Salem News:"Members of the state's congressional delegation want tougher gun control and are criticizing President Donald Trump's response to this weekend's shootings in Dayton, Ohio, and El Paso, Texas, that left 31 dead and dozens wounded. Sen. Ed Markey said the shootings are another example of the need for Congress to pass comprehensive background checks for gun sales and ban military-style weapons. The Democrat blamed Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell for blocking gun control measures from coming up for a vote in the Republican-controlled Senate and called on his colleagues to cancel their August recess to take up the proposals." TRUMPACHUSETTS — "Trump Calls For A 'Red Flag' Gun Law, Which Mass. Has Had For A Year," by Ally Jarmanning, WBUR: "Speaking Monday in response to two mass shootings over the weekend, President Trump pushed one gun control measure that's been adopted by Massachusetts and more than a dozen other states: a so-called "red flag" law. "We must make sure that those judged to pose a grave risk to public safety do not have access to firearms, and that if they do, those firearms can be taken through rapid due process," Trump said in prepared remarks. "That is why I've called for red flag laws, also known as extreme risk protection orders." Red flag laws aren't new; Connecticut enacted its version in 1999, according to The Associated Press. As of earlier this year, 14 states have laws allowing gun seizures, including Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Vermont." ABOVE THE FOLD — Herald: "A mother's love," — Globe: "Trump urges action, skips details." FROM THE 413 — "Amherst trustee raises environmentalist ire," by Dusty Christensen, Daily Hampshire Gazette: "An Amherst College graduate and current trustee at the school is drawing the ire of an environmentalist advocacy group. The organization Mighty Earth recently took aim at the agricultural behemoth Cargill in a report titled "Cargill: The Worst Company In the World," which slams the corporation's record on deforestation, labor exploitation and other abuses. And David MacLennan, Cargill's CEO who began a six-year tenure as an Amherst College trustee last July, was not spared criticism." —"State sweetens deal for towns building own fiber networks," by Larry Parnass, The Berkshire Eagle: "From state offices in Boston, the unexpected cost Windsor faced, in its quest to build a fiber-optic network, might seem paltry. After all, $450,000 represents just more than one hundred-thousandth of this year's $43.3 billion state budget. But that shortfall in what Windsor officials thought it would cost to prepare utility poles to receive new fiber cables would have been felt by taxpayers, in one of about 20 Western Massachusetts communities that opted to build their own broadband networks with state help. Rather than have to dig in local pockets, Windsor secured an additional $450,000 from the state Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development to cover "make-ready" costs not anticipated years ago, when a study badly miscalculated how much small towns would need to invest in utility poles. In all, the state office has so far marshaled $3.5 million from a contingency fund to cover unforeseen costs for seven towns, including three in Berkshire County: Alford, Becket and Windsor." THE LOCAL ANGLE — "State delays key review for Weymouth compressor station," by Jessica Trufant, Patriot Ledger: "A state agency has further delayed its review of a proposed 7,700-horsepower compressor station, making it even less likely that the gas company will start construction on the project this year. The state Office of Coastal Zone Management was scheduled this month to wrap up its review of the compressor station proposed by Algonquin Gas Transmission, a subsidiary of Spectra Energy-Enbridge. But in a letter to the company, Robert Boeri, acting assistant director for the state agency, said vetting is still ongoing to determine whether the proposal is consistent with the federal Coastal Zone Management Act." — "Methuen mayor accuses city councilor of break-in," by Breanna Edelstein, Eagle-Tribune: "City Councilor James McCarty said he was taken aback by the subject line of an email from City Hall that flashed across his phone Thursday evening: "McCarty incident." He said he thought it might be about a lawsuit filed by his stepfather, Daniel Tulley, against Mayor James Jajuga several days prior. McCarty was mentioned in the lawsuit, but the problems spelled out were between Tulley, who is a city employee, and the mayor. Jajuga and McCarty have publicly disagreed about how to address the economic consequences of a pricey contract between the city and the superior police officers' union. The agreement, if fulfilled, would have paid high-ranking officers enormous salaries requiring layoffs of patrolmen. McCarty objects to the agreement, which would apply to Jajgua's son, who is a police captain."   Artificial intelligence. Facial recognition. Lightning fast networks. Rapid technological change is transforming the consumer experience, upending entire industries, and challenging the way lawmakers craft policy. How are some of the world's leading companies innovating to avoid extinction? Tune into POLITICO's "Global Translations" podcast to hear from Stephen Bird, the CEO of Citi's Global Consumer Bank and Thomas Kurian, CEO of Google Cloud, in a special branded episode by Citi. Subscribe and listen now: Apple Podcasts -Spotify - Stitcher     MEDIA MATTERS — "GateHouse-Gannett merger will have ripple effect in Mass." by Jon Chesto, Boston Globe: "The country's two largest newspaper publishers consummated their long-rumored courtship on Monday, unveiling plans to merge into one behemoth by the end of the year. The implications could be significant for New England: GateHouse owns 15 dailies in the six-state region — including the main papers for Worcester, Providence, Portsmouth, N.H., Fall River, Quincy, and Framingham — and dozens of weeklies. (Gannett's only daily in the region is in Burlington, Vt.) GateHouse parent New Media Investment Group is acquiring a controlling interest in Gannett, for an estimated $1.4 billion worth of cash and stock. The deal values Gannett's stock at $12.06 a share, a 12 percent premium to the closing price on Friday." TRANSITIONS — Ryan Migeed, communications director to state Sen. Eric Lesser, leaves his role on Friday to attend George Washington University Law School in the fall. HAPPY BIRTHDAY — To Maeve Duggan, research director of the MassINC Polling Group; and Evan Ross, a member of the Amherst Town Council (h/t Max Clermont). DID THE HOME TEAM WIN? Yes! The Red Sox beat the Royals, 7-5. 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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