The right prescription for biomed innovation

Stronger intellectual property protections needed to safeguard research and development

By Patrick Kilbride Biomed, Cancer research, copyright law, intellectual property, Technology 0 Comments Jun 5, 2018

JUST AS ATLANTA has a booming film industry and Silicon Valley has become synonymous with technology, Boston has earned its place as America’s hometown for biomedical innovation. With a hyper-educated workforce, a cutting-edge biopharma and medical device sector, and massive investments in research and development, it’s no wonder Beantown has seen such a surge in(...)

Making book on Beacon Hill

Supreme Court ruling on sports betting ban opens door for state to cash in

By Colin A. Young Boston Bruins, Boston Celtics, Boston Red Sox, Fantasy Sports, Governor Baker, Massachusetts Legislature, New England Patriots, Online gambling, sports wagering, Supreme Court, Taxes and Budget Issues, Technology 0 Comments May 14, 2018

MONDAY’S RULING FROM the U.S. Supreme Court that states are free to legalize sports betting opened the door to the possibility of a further expansion of gaming in Massachusetts, a topic Gov. Charlie Baker is planning to talk about with legislative leaders Monday afternoon. The decision in Murphy v. National Collegiate Athletic Association, which the(...)

Opinion

Time to update state’s appliance standards

Energy efficiency makes economic and environmental sense

By Robert Rio and Charlie Harak Cost of Living and Consumer Affairs, Energy, Environment 0 Comments May 12, 2018

MASSACHUSETTS HAS MADE great strides in reducing electric and gas usage through state policies and our nationally recognized energy efficiency programs. These programs have provided billions of dollars in rebates to thousands of residential and business customers for investments in boiler upgrades, motor replacements and lighting changes. But there is more to be done, particularly(...)

Spring 2018

Tax that dirty water

Communities impose new stormwater fees to deal with pollution

By Jack Sullivan Environment, EPA, Municipal Government, pollution, Taxes and Budget Issues 0 Comments Apr 10, 2018

LISA MURPHY DOESN’T have any control over how much rain or snow falls on her property in Milton, but she is nevertheless being charged a special fee for stormwater runoff. The fee is calculated based on the amount of impervious surface on her property—her paved driveway and patio as well as the footprint of her(...)

Pot board high on Worcester

Cannabis commission to locate main office in central Mass.

By Jack Sullivan Cannabis Control Commission, Commuter rail, Economy, Legal marijuana, Tim Murray, Worcester, Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce 0 Comments Apr 3, 2018

THE STATE BOARD regulating the legal marijuana industry will set up permanent shop in Worcester as its headquarters with a satellite office in Boston. The five-member Cannabis Control Commission on Tuesday voted unanimously to seek a 13,000-square foot office space in the state’s second largest city and find a smaller, 5,000-square foot office in the(...)

Police body cameras are coming

Segun Idowu weighs in on The Codcast

By Michael Jonas body-worn cameras, Boston Police Camera Action Team, Boston Police Department 0 Comments Apr 2, 2018

It’s been a long march for the Boston Police Camera Action Team, but nearly four years after the community-based group set out to push Boston police to have officers deployed with body-worn cameras it looks like victory is in sight. In recent days, Mayor Marty Walsh and Police Commissioner Bill Evans have both signaled that(...)

Social media maelstrom

By CommonWealth Staff Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg, Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association, privacy rights 0 Comments Mar 22, 2018

Facebook’s billionaire founder Mark Zuckerberg finally stepped out yesterday to try to stanch the bleeding that has his empire under full-scale assault after revelations that information on 50 million users was improperly harvested and used by the political data firm Cambridge Analytica in its work on Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign. “We have a responsibility(...)

Autonomous car hits, kills pedestrian

By CommonWealth Staff autonomous vehicles, self-driving cars, Uber 3 Comments Mar 20, 2018

An autonomous car operating in self-driving mode hit and killed a pedestrian in Tempe, Arizona, on Sunday night, but police officials say their initial investigation suggests the Uber test vehicle was not at fault. Sylvia Moir, the police chief in Tempe, said a review of videos taken by the vehicle and interviews with the emergency(...)

RMV offices going dark Thursday night

In-person visit to RMV needed to obtain new license

By Bruce Mohl State Government 0 Comments Mar 19, 2018

WAIT TIMES at the Registry of Motor Vehicles are likely to go up starting next week as the state installs a new software system and begins complying with new requirements for obtaining a federally approved driver’s license. The new requirements require Massachusetts residents seeking a federally approved license to appear in person with a US(...)

Opinion

Severe storm effects are the new norm

Rising sea levels and urban flooding will wreak havoc without immediate fixes

By Deanna Moran Climate change, Environment, Growth and Development 1 Comment Mar 2, 2018

ONLY TWO MONTHS after surging tides and high winds flooded MBTA stations, knocked out power and sent three feet of water into the streets of Boston, it’s all happening again. The governor and the mayor call press conferences to lay out preparations, urge caution and call up the National Guard. Schools close. Businesses get out(...)


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