State Politics
Cambridge’s Weed Policy Prioritized Social Justice. Some Dispensary Owners Say It’s Left Them High and Dry.
Since legalizing marijuana for adult recreational use in 2018, Massachusetts has seen nearly $6 billion in recreational marijuana sales. But to some, Cambridge has failed to capitalize on this momentum.
Despite Federal Grant, Mass. Turnpike Realignment Project Still Short $165 Million
Though the federal government granted Massachusetts $335 million to divert the Massachusetts Turnpike earlier this month, the project is still short $165 million.
HLS Election Law Clinic Files Brief Supporting Lawsuit Against New Jersey Ballot Design
Harvard Law School’s Election Law Clinic filed an amicus brief last Tuesday supporting a lawsuit brought by Rep. Andy Kim (D-N.J.) against the state of New Jersey’s ballot design.
Harvard Prof. Danielle Allen Loses Democratic State Committee Election
Harvard University Professor Danielle S. Allen lost an election for Democratic State Committee Woman for the Middlesex and Suffolk district to former Cambridge Mayor Henrietta J. Davis in Tuesday’s primary elections.
Nikki in Needham: Haley Holds Rally Ahead of Decisive Super Tuesday Vote
NEEDHAM, Mass. — Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley discussed abortion laws, immigration reform, and rising national debt during a campaign stop in the Commonwealth as part of a last-ditch effort to mobilize support ahead of a crucial Republican primary on Tuesday.
Pro-Palestine Organizers Slam Harvard’s ‘Repression’ of Student Protest in Sunday Rally
Harvard pro-Palestine organizers slammed the University’s “repression” of student activism during a rally in Cambridge Common demanding U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) vote against U.S. military aid to Israel.
Proposed Mass. Bill Would Impose 2.5% Tax on Harvard Endowment
The Massachusetts Joint Committee on Revenue held a hearing Wednesday on a bill which would introduce a tax on Harvard’s endowment.
Former HGSU-UAW President Launches Campaign for State Representative
Evan C. MacKay ’19 launched a campaign for Middlesex District State Representative on Dec. 7 after stepping down as the president of Harvard Graduate Students Union-United Auto Workers.
As Cambridge Educators Remain Without Contract, Proposed Mass. Bill Would Grant Teachers Right to Strike
Locked in a contract battle with Cambridge Public Schools, the city’s teacher’s union lacks a weapon in the arsenal of nearly every other labor union: the right to strike. A bill co-sponsored by one of Cambridge’s state legislators could soon change that.
‘We Feel Overwhelmed’: Allston Struggles to Support Migrant Families Amid Record Influx
As the Massachusetts shelter system strains to accommodate record numbers of arriving families, Allston expanded services in June with the opening of a new family welcome center — though the neighborhood continues to struggle to meet the needs of all.
‘Not a Normal Court’: Biden, Mass. Leaders Condemn Supreme Court After Anti-Affirmative Action Decision
The Biden administration, Massachusetts state officials, and local Cambridge leaders have condemned the Supreme Court’s decision to effectively ban affirmative action in higher education admissions.
Several Harvard Medical School Affiliates Condemn State-Level Restrictions on Gender-Affirming Care
Following recent state-level restrictions on gender-affirming care for transgender youth, several Harvard Medical School affiliates and medical professionals expressed concerns that such laws could have potentially harmful ramifications for patients.
Proposed Mass. Bill Seeks to End Legacy and Donor Preferences in Higher Ed Admissions
The Massachusetts House is considering a bill that would require higher education institutions like Harvard to pay a fee for admissions processes that consider legacy status or relationships to donors or that include an early decision plan.
Mass. Lawmakers Consider Bill Guaranteeing Medical Civil Rights in Police Encounters
Massachusetts legislators reintroduced a bill Friday to establish a civil right to request medical care during encounters with police.
Current, Former Secretaries of State Discuss Election Denial at IOP Forum
Following the 2022 midterm elections, Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger and former West Virginia Secretary of State Natalie Tennant discussed election security, former U.S. President Donald J. Trump, and the politicization of their office at an Institute of Politics forum held Tuesday evening.
Anti-Gerrymandering Tool Developed by Harvard Researchers Used in Supreme Court Proceedings
Redist — a tool developed by Harvard undergraduates, graduate students, and faculty — could impact the fate of a Supreme Court case involving allegations of racial gerrymandering in Alabama.
Cambridge Rindge and Latin Poll Site
Voters enter a polling site at the Cambridge Rindge & Latin School.
Mass. Gov. Charlie Baker Calls for a Social Media ‘Timeout’ at IOP Godkin Lecture
Massachusetts Governor Charlie D. Baker ’79 called for a “timeout” on social media during a Harvard Institute of Politics forum Thursday evening.
Healey Rakes in Cambridge Cash in Massachusetts Gubernatorial Race
Maura T. Healey ’92 has raised more money in the race for Massachusetts governor from the ZIP code encompassing Harvard Square than almost any other, raking in more than $89,000 from the area since the start of the year.
Massachusetts Voters Will Head to the Polls Tuesday. Here’s What You Need to Know.
Here’s what you need to know going into the Massachusetts midterms.
Advocates Discuss Voting Rights at Harvard Panel Hosted by Vice Provost for Advances in Learning
Voting rights advocates discussed ongoing litigation at the intersection of racial justice and voting rights at a virtual event hosted by the Office of the Vice Provost for Advances in Learning on Tuesday.
Senator Markey Discusses the Future of American Democracy at IOP Forum
Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) called for young voters to participate in the upcoming midterm elections in a Harvard Institute of Politics forum on Tuesday, saying that “democracy is on the ballot in 2022.”
Healey Holds Commanding Lead Over Diehl in Massachusetts Governor’s Race
Two weeks after the Massachusetts state primary, Maura T. Healey ’92 appears to be the governor-in-waiting.