Government & Politics

After a major personal loss reignited his dream of owning a barbecue business, Jordan El-Qasem launched the HaBBQ (pronounced ha-bibi-cue) food truck in March.

Law enforcement and some municipal voices have called for strict regulations for consumption sites. But advocates warn overregulating these businesses will make them stiff and sterile, killing their viability and leaving social equity participants out in the cold

Realizing federal cuts will impede nonprofits’ ability to respond in time of crisis, the United Way of Central Massachusetts launched the United Response Fund in August.

Equity work has never been easy, and its often uphill battle has been compounded by the President Donald Trump Administration’s crusade to uproot DEI.

The lab is expected to open for more than 250 employees in early 2028, the Healey administration said. The Marlborough site will consolidate existing facilities in Maynard and Sudbury under one roof.

"This legislation is going to end the Wild West of data collection in Massachusetts," Senate President Karen Spilka told reporters.

Goldberg's decision to stop pressing the O'Brien matter in court comes days after she announced that she plans to seek a fourth four-year term next year.

The vote was 148-1 in favor of the bill (H 4530) aimed at providing financial relief to hospitals and community health centers. Rep. Nicholas Boldyga, Republican of Southwick, cast the dissenting vote.

Joe Baerlein, a spokesman for O'Brien, said Goldberg "should stop her wasteful spending of taxpayer dollars in a continued attempt to smear Shannon O’Brien’s excellent reputation."

The House budget committee on Tuesday advanced a $234 million spending bill aimed at providing financial relief to hospitals and community health centers, reviving proposals that were left out of a broader agreement earlier this summer.