In the Massachusetts Legislature, leaders are everywhere—followers, not so much. Laura Crimaldi & I found that 75% of #mapoli lawmakers earned "leadership pay" last year for roles ranging from House speaker to assistant ranking minority committee member bostonglobe.com/2024/08/05/met…

New: CCC acting chair Ava Callender Concepcion is taking medical leave for at least the next four weeks, adding to the vacancies at the cannabis regulatory agency. It is unclear who will take her place. bostonglobe.com/2024/08/13/bus…

The CCC failed to pass four (!) motions to appoint a new acting chair to replace Concepcion this morning. The remaining commissioners eventually voted unanimously to name Kimberly Roy for today and next week’s meeting.

Highlights from today’s CCC meeting: - Calls for an internal audit 📈 - Multiple motions to appoint a new acting chair 🤝🏾 - Revisions to the draft governance charter 📜 bostonglobe.com/2024/08/14/bus…

NEW: The DNC Is Officially the Influencer Convention With yacht parties, free snacks, and multiple lounges, influencers are getting the VIP treatment at the DNC. wired.com/story/dnc-infl…

So great to see independent bookstores like this one expanding. There was a time when I never thought I would see this again. bostonglobe.com/2024/08/20/bus… via The Boston Globe

I wrote about the legacy of Koda Farms, California rice growers for nearly 100 years, creators of the rice I've been eating all my life: latimes.com/california/sto…

I really enjoyed my time during this seminar. I learned that I already had the power, I just needed the tools to express it. It was such a breath of fresh air to be surrounded by a new community who supported me without judgement. A really life changing experience.

Boston is officially getting more liquor licenses — 225, to be exact 🥃 The latest from Matt Stout: bostonglobe.com/2024/09/03/met…

Enrollment at Mass. community colleges is exploding after the state debuted free tuition for all. But the burden of the boom is falling on professors and faculty, who are woefully underpaid compared to similar schools. bostonglobe.com/2024/09/05/bus…

hello foia request fall

NEW from Matt Stout: Shannon O'Brien is officially out at the CCC, after state Treasurer Deborah Goldberg fired her today following a year-long suspension. bostonglobe.com/2024/09/09/met…

Cannabis industry insiders say they are split on whether Deborah Goldberg's decision to fire Shannon O’Brien as the state's top regulator will turn a new page for the marijuana market or drive it deeper in chaos. bostonglobe.com/2024/09/10/bus… w/ Diti Kohli

NEW: Deborah Goldberg indicated Thursday that allegations that Shannon O’Brien made racially “inappropriate” comments ultimately helped lead her to fire O’Brien as the state’s top cannabis regulator. O'Brien has denied the accusations. bostonglobe.com/2024/09/12/met… via The Boston Globe

Crucial research from MassBudget this morning: it's not the wealthy leaving Massachusetts. It's young people and low-/middle-income households. If policymakers aren't laser focused on affordable housing, childcare, education and transportation, they're missing the plot. #mapoli

NEW: The chief of research at the Cannabis Control Commission — who was charged with studying in social equity, impaired driving, and more — is taking medical leave, adding to the seemingly-endless vacancies at the embattled agency. bostonglobe.com/2024/09/18/bus…

Do you read New York Magazine? Did you know that the company did a deal w/ OpenAI (yes, them) & now won’t protect our jobs? We're asking New York Magazine & @Voxdotcom to stand up for the values they profess. Human beings make quality journalism. Support New York Mag Union in our fight for job protections:

The Cannabis Social Equity Trust Fund is open again! 🍃 $25K - $500K in grants available new and existing social equity operators 🍃 Up to $25 million available in total 🍃 Applications close Oct. 17 bostonglobe.com/2024/09/24/bus…

great reporting from the boston globe and Diti Kohli about the massive problems in marijuana product testing in massachusetts, where apparently state regulators lied about having a "secret shopper" program to find contaminated weed cleared for sale bostonglobe.com/2024/09/27/bus…

🇺🇸 Testing The Limits Of Cannabis Testing ▫How a ‘well-known secret’ in Massachusetts cannabis testing is obscuring what’s in your weed ▫Diti Kohli Scooty Nickerson 👉is.gd/UqiPXS👈 #frontpagestoday #USA The Boston Globe 🇺🇸