State Politics
MassDOT Adds Unpopular Train Layover to Allston I-90 Project in Sudden Reversal
A massive project to realign the I-90 highway in Allston will include a train layover for Amtrak and the MBTA, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation announced last week, an unexpected reversal after the MassDOT secretary said the layover would not be included in the project in April.
Cambridge Will Ask State Legislature to Allow Use of Traffic Cameras
The Cambridge City Council unanimously voted on Monday to draft a petition asking the Massachusetts State Assembly to allow the city to implement automatic traffic enforcement.
Massachusetts Voters Weighed in on 5 Ballot Questions. Here’s What They Chose.
Voters approved a ballot measure to eliminate the MCAS exam as a high school graduation requirement but rejected pushes to legalize psychedelics and raise the minimum wage for tipped workers. The election also saw votes in favor of expanding the state auditor’s power to investigate the state legislature and allowing rideshare drivers to unionize.
Cambridge, Allston Voters Send Uncontested State Representatives Back to Beacon Hill
Cambridge and Allston voters sent nine uncontested Democratic incumbents back to Beacon Hill, according to the Associated Press — including State Rep. Marjorie C. Decker, who narrowly won re-election in the 25th Democratic Party against her progressive challenger Evan C. MacKay ’19.
Massachusetts Voters Approve Proposition to Eliminate MCAS Graduation Requirement
Massachusetts voters approved a contentious ballot question to eliminate the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System exam as a graduation requirement on Tuesday, marking a major victory for the state’s teachers union.
Elizabeth Warren Glides to Victory, Returns to Senate for Third Term
Senator Elizabeth A. Warren (D-Mass.) cruised to reelection on Tuesday, according to the Associated Press, winning a third six-year term and roundly defeating her Republican opponent John Deaton in deep-blue Massachusetts.
Matt Damon, Mike Bloomberg Weigh In On MCAS Ballot Question
In a sprint to the finish line, celebrities, elected officials, and millions of dollars in new donations have flooded the hotly-contested race over Ballot Question 2 over the last two weeks.
Mass. Education Secretary, Teachers Association President Debate MCAS Ballot Question at HGSE
State Secretary of Education Patrick Tutwiler said he opposes eliminating the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System high school graduation requirement without an alternative state-wide requirement at a Harvard Graduate School of Education event Tuesday.
With Ballot Question 1, A Test of Trust in the Massachusetts State Legislature
The Massachusetts State Legislature is facing a referendum of sorts on Nov. 5 after a chaotic last two years has sparked a drumbeat of negative headlines.
Massachusetts to Vote on Rideshare Driver Unionization in Ballot Question 3
As Massachusetts voters head to the polls, Ballot Question 3 will let them decide whether Uber and Lyft drivers will be able to form unions to negotiate their wages, benefits, and working conditions.
Your Guide to the 5 Massachusetts Ballot Questions
On Nov. 5, Massachusetts residents will cast their votes on five ballot questions, each with the potential to have a massive impact. From the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System exams to the minimum wage to legalizing psychedelics, The Crimson gives you everything you need to know about each proposal before you vote.
Ballot Question 4 to Legalize Psychedelics Draws National Attention — and Dollars
Medical professionals, billionaires, and activists from around the country are watching Massachusetts voters closely as they decide Ballot Question 4 — a complex proposal on the legalization of psychedelic substances.
Protesters Interrupt Mass. Chief Climate Officer at Radcliffe Institute Talk
Six climate protesters interrupted a conversation featuring Massachusetts Climate Chief Melissa Hoffer at the Radcliffe Institute Monday evening to challenge the proposed expansion of Hanscom Field, a publicly owned airport in Bedford, Mass.
Former Gov. Doug Ducey Says Trump Will Win Arizona at Harvard IOP Forum
Doug Ducey, the former Republican governor of Arizona, predicted that former President Donald Trump will win the key swing state in the upcoming U.S. presidential election during a Harvard Institute of Politics forum Wednesday evening.
Cambridge City Council Declines to Endorse Eliminating MCAS Requirement
The Cambridge City Council rejected a policy order to endorse a ballot question to remove the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System standardized test as a graduation requirement for high schoolers at a meeting Monday evening.
