Two Massachusetts legislative heavy hitters are racing to rescind decades-old resolutions they say conservative groups could weaponize to force a new constitutional convention.

Why it matters: The pair, who represent both sides of the Democrat-dominated General Court, warn that conservatives could try to rewrite the constitution and upend fundamental rights and protections.

Threat level: The move would block conservatives from using outdated Bay State resolutions toward the 34-state threshold needed to kick off a rewrite convention.

• An Article V convention could open the entire U.S. Constitution to unpredictable revisions.

State of play: Senate Majority Leader Cynthia Stone Creem and House Assistant Majority Leader Alice Peisch are pushing through a bill to rescind past calls from Massachusetts to open up a convention.

• Massachusetts would be the 17th state with no active Article V petitions.

Flashback: Massachusetts still has active resolutions dating to 1977 (on an abortion ban) and 1931 (on repealing prohibition) that Peisch and Creem say could be used by Trump-aligned groups to help trigger a convention.

What they're saying: "Massachusetts will defend constitutional stability, protect fundamental rights, and stand strong for our democracy," Creem and Peisch wrote in a statement.

The big picture: Conservative activists who want to convene a convention because of the national debt have been trying to leverage dormant state petitions based on past issues.

• The calls for a convention have no expiration date unless they're legally rescinded.

Catch up quick: Sixteen states, including Connecticut, New York and Illinois, have rescinded prior convention resolutions.

• A similar move by Massachusetts would create what anti-convention activists are calling a "firewall" against constitutional rewrites.

What's next: Expect both chambers to act this week and put the resolution-rescinding resolution on Gov. Maura Healey's desk.

Go deeper

The Michelin Guide announced its inaugural Boston selections yesterday, giving one of its coveted star ratings to a South End sushi spot.

Why it matters: It's the region's first-ever appearance in the prestigious dining publication and sets a new level for fine dining in and around Boston.

• It also means the local tourism establishment's estimated million-dollar deal with the tire company to include Boston and its neighbors is finally getting somewhere.

Yes, but: Beantown has a long way to go before becoming a culinary hub — at least according to Michelin.

• The guide only gave one Boston spot a single star rating and merely acknowledged a handful of others.

Who got the star: Sushi hidden gem 311 Omakase in the South End.

Two South Boston restaurants, chef Karen Akunowicz's Bar Volpe and Fox & the Knife, received the "Bib Gourmand" commendation for moderately priced dining.

• Also on the "Bib Gourmand" list: Pagu, Jahunger, Mahaniyom and Sumiao Hunan Kitchen.
• Michelin recommended some well-known dining destinations, including Mooncusser, Urban Hearth, Lenox Sophia, Neptune Oyster, Pammy's and Nightshade Noodle Bar.

Absent from the list were some local foodies' favorites, like Ostra and O Ya.

How it works: The company says anonymous Michelin inspectors evaluated local restaurants based on ingredients, flavor, technical mastery, chef personality and consistency.

The big picture: Meet Boston and the Cambridge Office for Tourism secured the three-year Michelin partnership to boost the region's dining profile.

💭 Deehan's thought bubble: Who needs Michelin when we've already got the Phantom Gourmet to tell us which strip mall in Waltham has the best jalapeno poppers?

Karen Read is suing State Police troopers and several Canton residents, alleging they framed her for Boston Police officer John O'Keefe's 2022 death.

Why it matters: A jury acquitted her of murder charges in June, but the Read saga continues with the new suit again claiming she was set up.

Driving the news: Read's attorneys allege investigators planted evidence, deleted surveillance footage and falsified reports to support a manufactured hit-and-run narrative.

• Read claims O'Keefe died inside the Canton home she dropped him off at, not from being struck by her vehicle as prosecutors alleged.

Zoom in: The 46-page court complaint targets several witnesses anyone who followed the murder case would recognize, including former lead investigator Michael Proctor, supervisors Yuriy Bukhenik and Brian Tully.

• It also names Brian and Nicole Albert, Jennifer and Matthew McCabe and Brian Higgins.

The other side: Several of those targeted by Read have said in court filings they plan to sue her for defamation, arguing she created "a vile work of fiction" to "evade responsibility for her actions," per WCVB.

🚇 The MBTA will shut down a major section of the Green Line for 15 days from Dec. 8 to 22 to replace 130-year-old wooden overhead infrastructure. (MassLive)

• Service will be suspended from North Station to Babcock Street (B Branch), Kenmore (C and D Branches) and Heath Street (E Branch).

💵 Restaurant worker pay is on the minds of some state lawmakers who proposed two bills: one raising the tipped wage from $6.25 to $12 and another requiring 19% minimum gratuity for large parties during peak season. (CBS Boston)

• Restaurant owners and servers fear the higher tip wage could lead customers to tip less overall.

🎢 Story Land in Glen, New Hampshire, says it will bring back two iconic rides— Turtle Twirl and Crazy Barn— for the 2026 season. (Boston.com)

• And the park will stay open to 6pm.

🏗️ Boston leads the nation with 4.45 million square feet of office construction currently underway, according to real estate tech firm Yardi.

• Manhattan ranked second with just under 3 million square feet.

What's going up: Significant lab space, with major projects like Biogen's new Kendall Square tower and Takeda's new building set to open next year.

🧬 The hottest lab building around is in Watertown.

• LabShares leased nearly 58,000 square feet at 66 Galen St., giving the four-story building 95% occupancy. (Boston Globe)
• The coworking company will more than double its current space in Newton.

Yes, but: The region's lab vacancy rate is still the highest in the country — 28% — despite having the nation's highest per-square-foot lease rates.

🏨 The Midtown Hotel on Huntington Avenue reopened after renovations with 160 updated rooms, scrapping plans to convert the building into apartments.

Boston Common welcomed the arrival of the city's official Christmas Tree yesterday, the annual gift from the fine people of Nova Scotia to Boston for when we helped them out with that horrific explosion that one time.

• Mayor Michelle Wu helped chop this one down herself while visiting the Canadian province last week.