The US Supreme Court and a Mass. court have ruled it’s illegal for municipalities to seize homes for nonpayment of taxes and keep the entire sales price even if it’s more than what the person owed. So why isn’t the Legislature addressing home equity theft? commonwealthbeacon.org/government/des…

New Hampshire robocalls using an artificial intelligence version of President Biden’s voice stir yet another firestorm of controversy over the new technology. commonwealthbeacon.org/politics/new-h…

Responding to Senate President Karen Spilka’s proposal for a statue of a woman at the State House, Joyce Linehan suggests Frances Perkins, the secretary of labor under Franklin Roosevelt. commonwealthbeacon.org/opinion/france…

In rejecting a ballot question that would authorize an audit of the Legislature, a special legislative committee said Auditor Diana DiZoglio is not objective because she is a former legislator herself. commonwealthbeacon.org/government/sta…

Mark T. Williams, a lecturer at Boston University’s business school, outlines a game plan for addressing the state’s worsening outmigration problem. commonwealthbeacon.org/opinion/what-t…

The Boston Municipal Research Bureau pans Mayor Wu’s plan to hike tax rates on commercial property owners. The watchdog urges her to cut spending and tap reserves to deal with expected falloff in tax revenue caused by a decline in office building values. commonwealthbeacon.org/government/wat…

The Massachusetts higher ed sector, a key driver of the state’s economy, is facing declining enrollment because of a demographic shift and growing alarm that the cost may outweigh the benefits. commonwealthbeacon.org/education/mass…

The state GOP scrambles to find a challenger against Rep. Chris Flanagan of Dennis after the state Office of Campaign and Political Finance fines the lawmaker for financing a campaign mailing from a fictitious group and lying about his role. commonwealthbeacon.org/politics/gop-s…

Milton residents backing the town’s fight with Attorney General Andrea Campbell over the MBTA Communities Act strengthen their hold on town government by electing like-minded people to key posts. commonwealthbeacon.org/politics/milto…

Jingwen Hu of the University of Michigan says electric vehicles are safer for their users than most other cars but because of their greater battery weight pose a danger to others. commonwealthbeacon.org/opinion/evs-ar…

Legislative panel recommends none of the pending ballot questions should be passed as laws – particularly the one being pushed by Auditor Diana DiZoglio to give her office the power to audit the Legislature. The panel accuses DiZoglio of 'clear prejudice.'
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Cape Cod District Attorney Robert Galibois II pays a $5,000 fine for directing an employee to write a positive press release about an automobile incident he was involved in and notifying employees about apartments a donor was renting. commonwealthbeacon.org/government/cap…

State Auditor Diana DiZoglio conducts a hypothetical audit that seeks to determine how much Uber and Lyft would owe the state for public benefit programs if their workers were deemed employees. commonwealthbeacon.org/ballot-questio…

As state officials try to get all of the I-90 Allston puzzle pieces to fit, Bruce Mohl reports some are suggesting the best approach may be to do away with lanes on the Massachusetts Turnpike or Soldiers Field Road. commonwealthbeacon.org/transportation…

Todd Brown, the executive director of the Massachusetts Independent Pharmacists Association, says the greed of pharmacy benefit managers needs to be reined in at the state and federal level. commonwealthbeacon.org/opinion/greed-…

Rep. Chris Flanagan of Dennis stalled a probe of his misuse of campaign cash right up to the filing deadline for his seat, meaning he currently has no opponent. But state GOP is looking for someone who can take him on via write-in primary campaign. commonwealthbeacon.org/politics/gop-s…

With Milton and Attorney General Andrea Campbell preparing to square off over the MBTA Communities Act, Milton residents opposed to the rezoning effort vote to take control of key town boards. commonwealthbeacon.org/politics/milto…

Suffolk County DA Kevin Hayden says no charges will be filed in the case of four frozen babies. His office lays out its investigation into a couple that had four children, with one being adopted and four ending up in a refrigerator freezer. commonwealthbeacon.org/criminal-justi…

Suffolk Cty DA Kevin Hayden says no charges will be filed in case of 4 frozen babies. Investigators say women gave birth to 5 babies - 1 was put up for adoption and other 4 put in freezer. commonwealthbeacon.org/criminal-justi…

Mark Erlich, the former head of the New England Carpenter’s Union, explores whether the UAW’s victory at a VW plant in Tennessee signals a comeback by the union movement. commonwealthbeacon.org/opinion/is-thi…