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Healey backs Frank's Democratic warning

The governor aligns with his push for pragmatic politics over progressive litmus tests.

Politics

Gov. Maura Healey is backing Barney Frank&#x27;s dying message to the Democratic Party to focus primarily on the economy over social issues.Why it matters: Frank, now in hospice care in Ogunquit, Maine, is using his final days to push a blunt argument: Democrats are losing voters because the party&#x27;s left flank imposes &quot;litmus tests&quot; on issues most Americans don&#x27;t support.

Mass. biotech firms join alliance to counter competition from China

China's fast biotech growth has prompted 27 U.S. companies to join forces.

Business

A group of biotech leaders, including three based in Massachusetts, have joined forces to try to maintain the nation&#x27;s lead on biotech innovation.Why it matters: Unlike China, the United States has no national strategy on biotech innovation — and competitors in China are <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="catching up quickly," data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/05/29/china-biotech-boom-us-drug-trials" data-vars-content-id="262a1e72-a4c3-4423-8d3c-c627331e490b" data-vars-headline="Mass. biotech firms join alliance to counter competition from China" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/05/29/china-biotech-boom-us-drug-trials" target="_self">catching up quickly,</a> Patroski Lawson, CEO of the firm KPM Group DC, tells Axios.

Mass. income tax cut ballot question faces legal threat

The SJC could pull the question from the November ballot entirely.

News

Massachusetts voters may be asked this November to decide whether to cut the state <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="income tax" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2025/03/28/state-tax-rates-massachusetts" data-vars-content-id="0501ee62-92f0-42a7-bf1a-a72617c4a0d4" data-vars-headline="Mass. income tax cut ballot question faces legal threat" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2025/03/28/state-tax-rates-massachusetts" target="_self">income tax</a> rate from 5% to 4%, a move that would have huge consequences for state spending.<ul><li>But a legal challenge heard Monday could pull the question from the ballot entirely.</li></ul>

The MAGA millionaire looking to turn deep blue Massachusetts

Mike Minogue's landslide win sets up a high-stakes 2026 race, testing if a MAGA-aligned Republican can win in Massachusetts.

Deehan here with Spill of the Hill, my column unraveling Massachusetts politics.Biotech multimillionaire <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Mike Minogue" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2026/04/28/minogue-governor-campaign-ad-massachusetts-gop-momentum" data-vars-content-id="3bfc90ff-6837-4f63-8e6a-be484fc15648" data-vars-headline="The MAGA millionaire looking to turn deep blue Massachusetts" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2026/04/28/minogue-governor-campaign-ad-massachusetts-gop-momentum" target="_self">Mike Minogue</a>&#x27;s landslide victory at the Mass. Republican Convention last month set up what promises to be a costly and very unlikely run to unseat Gov. Maura Healey in November.The big picture: Minogue&#x27;s win goes a long way to settle the GOP field and lays bare one of the central questions of the 2026 cycle: Can a Trump-aligned Republican come anywhere close to winning in Massachusetts?

Mass. races to regulate the "Wild West" of e-bikes and scooters

State officials propose a new four-tier speed system to bring order to the growing wave of electric micromobility devices.

Massachusetts officials are racing to bring some legal clarity to e-scooters, e-bikes and other new electric vehicles that are growing in popularity faster than the rules meant to govern them.Why it matters: Massachusetts ranks <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="fifth" data-vars-click-url="https://www.bostonglobe.com/2025/12/04/metro/boston-traffic-delays-congestion/" data-vars-content-id="d5021a7b-84da-4af5-ae22-7ab22a25bec0" data-vars-headline="Mass. races to regulate the &quot;Wild West&quot; of e-bikes and scooters" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.bostonglobe.com/2025/12/04/metro/boston-traffic-delays-congestion/" target="_blank">fifth</a> in the nation for road congestion, while <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="57% of all in-state trips" data-vars-click-url="https://www.massbike.org/micromobility_commission_report" data-vars-content-id="d5021a7b-84da-4af5-ae22-7ab22a25bec0" data-vars-headline="Mass. races to regulate the &quot;Wild West&quot; of e-bikes and scooters" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.massbike.org/micromobility_commission_report" target="_blank">57% of all in-state trips</a> are three miles or shorter.<ul><li>80% of those short trips are still made by car, but small, cheap, personal electric vehicles are beginning to fill the gap.</li></ul>

Massachusetts housing market's spring thaw begins

Still, the total number of houses on the market remains lower than this time last year.

Massachusetts saw more new homes for sale listed last month, per data released Monday by the state&#x27;s real estate agents association.The intrigue: Listings and sales typically increase in the spring, but the increase comes amid persistent high interest rates and rising costs.

King family demands body cam video release as both sides lawyer up

King family demands body cam video release as civil rights attorney Ben Crump and Karen Read defense attorney David Yannetti take opposite sides of the Stephenson King shooting case.

The family of Stephenson King Jr., the Dorchester man fatally shot by a Boston police officer last month, demanded body camera footage of the incident be released.State of play: The case is drawing high-profile legal firepower on both sides.

Critics warn social media ban goes too far, could ban YouTube, Wikipedia

A sweeping definition of "social media" has critics warning it could rope in nearly the entire internet — including sites children rely on every day.

The Massachusetts House wants the Commonwealth to become <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="the most restrictive state in the country" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2026/04/08/massachusetts-house-senate-cellphone-ban-social-media-youth-children-schools-healey-bill" data-vars-content-id="ca294bc7-c03c-477f-9644-fa6f102fbbb7" data-vars-headline="Critics warn social media ban goes too far, could ban YouTube, Wikipedia" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2026/04/08/massachusetts-house-senate-cellphone-ban-social-media-youth-children-schools-healey-bill" target="_self">the most restrictive state in the country</a> for young people on the Internet, but some worry the bill goes much too far.Why it matters: Critics argue the House&#x27;s bill trades child safety for a surveillance state and may accidentally ban platforms children use every day.

Less than 1% of Greater Boston nonprofit revenue helps women of color

Less than 1% of revenue for women's nonprofits went to groups serving women and girls of color.

Less than 1% of the revenue that Greater Boston nonprofits serving women, girls and gender-expansive people reported in 2024 went to groups prioritizing girls and women of color.Why it matters: Those groups&#x27; leaders reported being understaffed, overworked and less supported than other nonprofits, according to a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="new report" data-vars-click-url="https://www.bostonwomensfund.org/carryingtheweight" data-vars-content-id="d5991ea0-3ceb-4bb3-95e5-94bc39177dd1" data-vars-headline="Less than 1% of Greater Boston nonprofit revenue helps women of color" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.bostonwomensfund.org/carryingtheweight" target="_blank">new report</a> from the Boston Women&#x27;s Fund and UMass Boston.<ul><li>The findings come six years after U.S. business, philanthropic and political leaders pledged to address racial inequities.</li></ul>

Haymarket station in limbo as Bulfinch Crossing project drags on

The transit hub has been torn apart for over four years and there's no word on when the project will be done.

One of downtown Boston&#x27;s busiest <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="transit" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/transit" data-vars-content-id="5d2b4d09-6b81-4786-ae5a-daf754b3d9a5" data-vars-headline="Haymarket station in limbo as Bulfinch Crossing project drags on" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/transit" target="_self">transit</a> hubs has been torn apart for over four years and there&#x27;s no word on when the project will be finished.Why it matters: The demolition of the former Government Center Garage has repeatedly disrupted Orange and Green Line service at the Haymarket station and shuttered the bus terminal indefinitely, forcing riders onto a makeshift busway for years.

Mass. House pushes nation's toughest youth social media ban

Mass. House pushes nation's toughest youth social media ban — while the Senate version stops at the schoolhouse door. Here's where the two chambers and Gov. Healey agree, and where they don't.

Beacon Hill is moving toward some of the nation&#x27;s toughest restrictions on young people using technology, but the &quot;Big 3&quot; Democrats in charge aren&#x27;t entirely on the same page.Why it matters: Unless Senate President Karen Spilka, House Speaker Ron Mariano and Gov. Maura Healey align, there won&#x27;t be a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="youth tech law" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2026/01/28/cell-phones-in-schools-ban-social-media-healey-massachusetts" data-vars-content-id="74b09ffb-06e7-41a3-aeca-0ed8a33edda5" data-vars-headline="Mass. House pushes nation&#x27;s toughest youth social media ban" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2026/01/28/cell-phones-in-schools-ban-social-media-healey-massachusetts" target="_self">youth tech law</a> passed before the start of the next school year.

Healey's other opponent goes after "dark money" group

Independent Andrea James is making Gov. Healey's ties to dark money the centerpiece of her long-shot campaign.

Deehan here, back with Spill of the Hill, my column unraveling Massachusetts politics.<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Gov. Maura Healey" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2026/01/26/healey-massachusetts-governor-primary-2026" data-vars-content-id="828e5251-f3cf-4922-b18d-8da6e7cd418f" data-vars-headline="Healey&#x27;s other opponent goes after &quot;dark money&quot; group" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2026/01/26/healey-massachusetts-governor-primary-2026" target="_self">Gov. Maura Healey</a> has more than just Republican opponents this year.<ul><li>An independent candidate is going after her connections to a so-called &quot;dark money&quot; group funneling donations from corporations with business before the state.</li></ul>Why it matters: Andrea James, an independent running for governor, is making a point of telling voters exactly who she thinks is bankrolling the powers-that-be on Beacon Hill.

We tried Dunkin's new banana lineup so you don't have to

Here is how the new cold foam treats actually taste.

Dunkin&#x27; has a new <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="banana-based lineup" data-vars-click-url="https://news.dunkindonuts.com/blog/banana-lineup-2026" data-vars-content-id="fc19061a-d87f-43f5-a989-5ea6c5193467" data-vars-headline="We tried Dunkin&#x27;s new banana lineup so you don&#x27;t have to" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://news.dunkindonuts.com/blog/banana-lineup-2026" target="_blank">banana-based lineup</a> for Spring 2026 and as a diehard banana Stan, I tried out some oft he new flavors on tap.What I&#x27;m saying: &quot;Wow, that is not what a banana tastes like,&quot; I blurted out to the dog, who has never had a banana and did not dispute my claim.

News 🗞

Mass. income tax cut ballot question faces legal threat

BTMU: Abortion divides GOP candidates

Boston World Cup organizers will allow tailgating

Boston-area office vacancies drop slightly in Q1 2026

Mass. races to regulate the "Wild West" of e-bikes and scooters