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House wants to spend Fair Share cash on the MBTA, schools

House wants to spend $1.8B in Fair Share cash and tax dollars on the MBTA and schools — here's where every dollar would go.

News

The state has over $1 billion in &quot;Millionaire&#x27;s Tax&quot; money to spend and House leaders want it to go the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="MBTA" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/transit" data-vars-content-id="ee839a21-85bf-4f0e-b240-bd79c152bfb5" data-vars-headline="House wants to spend Fair Share cash on the MBTA, schools" 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">MBTA</a>, special education and early childcare.Why it matters: If passed into law intact, it would be one of the largest single deployments of Fair Share revenue since voters approved <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="the income surtax" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2025/04/29/millionaires-massachusetts-income-surtax-increase" data-vars-content-id="ee839a21-85bf-4f0e-b240-bd79c152bfb5" data-vars-headline="House wants to spend Fair Share cash on the MBTA, schools" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2025/04/29/millionaires-massachusetts-income-surtax-increase" target="_self">the income surtax</a> in 2022.

What we know about The Croft School's financial troubles

A month ago, The Croft School was planning to expand. Now, it's struggling to keep its doors open.

Education

A month ago, The Croft School was <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="discussing expansion plans" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2026/02/10/foodies-market-south-end" data-vars-content-id="ffd83883-b38a-40ca-a47d-2c15a406e25f" data-vars-headline="What we know about The Croft School&#x27;s financial troubles" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2026/02/10/foodies-market-south-end" target="_self">discussing expansion plans</a> in the South End.<ul><li>Now, the private school is struggling to keep its doors open amid allegations that its founder hid $13 million in debt.</li></ul>

AI-generated attack ads are already slopping up Mass. races

AI attack ads are already showing up in Massachusetts races — and the 2026 cycle is just getting started.

Politics

Deehan here with Spill of the Hill, my column unraveling Massachusetts politics.<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Artificial intelligence" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/24/ai-biggest-threats-2028-election" data-vars-content-id="5ae6c8eb-8ab5-4404-af1a-e50396c6af3a" data-vars-headline="AI-generated attack ads are already slopping up Mass. races" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/24/ai-biggest-threats-2028-election" target="_self">Artificial intelligence</a> is becoming an active political weapon in Massachusetts.Why it matters: Two recent cases show that candidates are willing to use the technology as lawmakers struggle to regulate it.

Mass. startup aims to bring archival work into 21st century

Archives nationwide face decades-long backlogs. A startup aims to modernize their preservation.

Business

Countless records that shed light on this <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="250-year-old nation" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/07/black-history-250-who-decides" data-vars-content-id="1089d381-1de9-45cb-a76f-cf64bc3ec76f" data-vars-headline="Mass. startup aims to bring archival work into 21st century" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/07/black-history-250-who-decides" target="_self">250-year-old nation</a> have languished in boxes and warehouses for decades.<ul><li>A Massachusetts-based startup wants to modernize the cataloguing process to help preserve those items before it&#x27;s too late.</li></ul>

Boston's noncitizen voting push faces Beacon Hill roadblock

The Legislature's aversion to the issue dates back to the 19th century

As Boston leaders weigh letting noncitizens vote in local elections, the idea was effectively killed by a panel of Massachusetts Democrats last week.Why it matters: Beacon Hill&#x27;s aversion to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="the issue" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2018/07/09/boston-non-citizens-vote-immigrants-local-elections" data-vars-content-id="d2a8c29d-6ee6-43eb-84ef-31479c41e5c2" data-vars-headline="Boston&#x27;s noncitizen voting push faces Beacon Hill roadblock" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2018/07/09/boston-non-citizens-vote-immigrants-local-elections" target="_self">the issue</a> dates back to the 19th century, when Massachusetts first imposed a literacy test to keep foreigners from casting ballots.

Boston gets $46.6 million for FIFA World Cup preparations

The funds help shore up World Cup preparations in Boston and Foxborough.

Sports

Boston has secured nearly $47 million in federal funds for the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="2026 FIFA World Cup" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/16/team-usa-world-cup-kits-unveiled" data-vars-content-id="777fdb45-cebd-4384-bf30-f56222e0cb79" data-vars-headline="Boston gets $46.6 million for FIFA World Cup preparations" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/16/team-usa-world-cup-kits-unveiled" target="_self">2026 FIFA World Cup</a>.The big picture: Boston is among 11 U.S. cities that received $625 million in federal funding to support public safety and operational investments for the international tournament.

Mass. House to advance bill preserving due process for local immigrants

House leaders said they expect a vote on the bill in the next few weeks.

Immigration

Massachusetts House lawmakers plan to advance a bill Friday that would limit how police forces, jails and state agencies work with <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/13/ice-immigrant-detention-warehouses-spending" data-vars-content-id="46bf6208-3510-40f3-8026-58bbbfb216dd" data-vars-headline="Mass. House to advance bill preserving due process for local immigrants" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/13/ice-immigrant-detention-warehouses-spending" target="_self">U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement</a>.The big picture: Massachusetts Democrats are trying to preserve the state&#x27;s due process protections for all residents, regardless of immigration status or criminal history. <ul><li>That would defy the Trump administration&#x27;s nationwide efforts to limit due process rights and other protections to citizens.</li></ul>

SJC sends bar advocate pay issue back to Beacon Hill

CPCS wants to hike bar advocates' pay to recruit more lawyers to represent indigent defendants.

The fight for increased <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="attorney pay" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2025/07/30/lawmakers-deal-bar-advocates-pay" data-vars-content-id="e68330db-3fe7-4cfc-8084-5b883bb798d0" data-vars-headline="SJC sends bar advocate pay issue back to Beacon Hill" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2025/07/30/lawmakers-deal-bar-advocates-pay" target="_self">attorney pay</a> on Beacon Hill may not be over.The big picture: The Legislature allocated millions of dollars last year for the Committee for Public Counsel Services to hire more public defenders and raise wages for volunteer lawyers, known as bar advocates.

Here's how much the Dubliner, Carrie Nation owed workers, per AG

Two Boston restaurants settled with the state to resolve allegations of wage law violations.

Two downtown Boston restaurants owed workers thousands of dollars in unpaid wages before the eateries settled with the state attorney general&#x27;s office, per the settlement agreement.Catch up quick: The AG&#x27;s office investigated allegations that <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="The Dubliner and Carrie Nation" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2026/03/10/carrie-nation-dubliner-settle-wage-theft-violations-with-mass-ag" data-vars-content-id="67daa121-98a2-4bb5-bfef-4b73de93a35d" data-vars-headline="Here&#x27;s how much the Dubliner, Carrie Nation owed workers, per AG" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2026/03/10/carrie-nation-dubliner-settle-wage-theft-violations-with-mass-ag" target="_self">The Dubliner and Carrie Nation</a> charged customers a 3% service fee and pocketed the money instead of giving it to its restaurant workers.

The uphill fight for a SNAP fraud hearing in Massachusetts

State Republicans are demanding oversight.

Deehan here with Spill of the Hill, my column unraveling Massachusetts politics.Massachusetts GOP senators are trying to get the state to cough up more information about potential benefit fraud.Why it matters: It&#x27;s tricky political ground for the genteel and mostly <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="moderate" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2026/01/08/why-the-bay-state-is-too-moderate-for-socialism" data-vars-content-id="ae84cca0-523d-448c-a80a-5a4b54f64dfb" data-vars-headline="The uphill fight for a SNAP fraud hearing in Massachusetts" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2026/01/08/why-the-bay-state-is-too-moderate-for-socialism" target="_self">moderate</a> Republicans of the state Senate.

32BJ, airport workers sue Trump admin. for revoking security clearances

The workers are TPS holders, asylum seekers and green card applicants.

The union 32BJ SEIU is suing <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="U.S. Customs and Border Protection" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/11/noem-dhs-contracts-backlog" data-vars-content-id="ac1c0e3f-000a-4a39-87ef-0fc1216ea602" data-vars-headline="32BJ, airport workers sue Trump admin. for revoking security clearances" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/11/noem-dhs-contracts-backlog" target="_self">U.S. Customs and Border Protection</a> after workers with temporary immigration protections were kicked off their jobs at Boston&#x27;s Logan International Airport.Why it matters: Union leaders say the Trump administration is ostracizing foreign-born workers with legal permission to work in the U.S.

Boston-area refugees in limbo as Trump admin. upends program

One refugee says he applied for a green card early last year. He's still waiting for a response.

When Abdulrahmn came to Boston, he told his case specialist he wanted to learn everything he could about American culture.<ul><li>The Sudanese refugee sought to explore the city&#x27;s museums, master English and find work in his new country.</li></ul>

FIFA, Kraft Group agree to cover World Cup security costs at Gillette Stadium

Foxborough has refused to issue World Cup organizers an event license without a funding commitment.

FIFA and the Kraft Group have reached a deal to cover security costs for the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="2026 World Cup matches" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2026/02/18/world-cup-foxborough-funding-security" data-vars-content-id="e4b67d5c-2057-498c-a0c6-d71250c73d36" data-vars-headline="FIFA, Kraft Group agree to cover World Cup security costs at Gillette Stadium" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2026/02/18/world-cup-foxborough-funding-security" target="_self">2026 World Cup matches</a> at Gillette Stadium.Why it matters: Foxborough officials refused to issue World Cup organizers the license to host the seven soccer matches without an assurance that the town wouldn&#x27;t be stuck footing the $7.8 million bill, threatening the future of the Massachusetts games.

Politics 🇺🇸

Boston's noncitizen voting push faces Beacon Hill roadblock

AI-generated attack ads are already slopping up Mass. races

Boston gets $46.6 million for FIFA World Cup preparations

Mass. House to advance bill preserving due process for local immigrants

SJC sends bar advocate pay issue back to Beacon Hill