Government & Politics

After nearly 90 minutes of debate about financial burdens on patients, pharmaceutical industry lobbying, and legislative process, the Senate voted 34-5 to attach to the budget policy reforms authored by Health Care Financing Committee Co-chair Sen. Cindy Friedman.

The board of education voted 8-1 on Tuesday to approve new interim regulations overhauling the state's competency determination (CD) requirements for high school graduation — a temporary move to create uniform graduation standards after use of the MCAS exam was struck down by voters in the fall.

The state will close its remaining motel and hotel shelters this summer, Gov. Maura Healey announced Monday, as the governor and lawmakers have imposed restrictions on the emergency housing system over the past year and family enrollment has declined.

Ashland saw the largest estimated percentage growth of any Central Massachusetts community.

It was the fourth straight month that both the labor force and the unemployment rate grew.

“Power is the ability to get people to listen to you, even when you're mostly just talking about beer.” - Sam Hendler, Hendler Family Brewing

Story by Jon Weaver, CEO of Massachusetts Biomedical Initiatives

Story by Gardner Mayor Michael Nicholson

In February, WBJ asked the 400+ people who have ever been on a WBJ power list (Power 100, Power 50, Power Players) to vote for the professionals they believed are the most influential in the region. Nearly 600 votes were cast

The Power 100 edition is an annual report on how power is shared and expended in Central Massachusetts each year, as told through the 100 people who are most effectively wielding their influence, with a special focus on those creating change and bringing new ideas to the forefront.