The opening statements of the prosecutors and defense attorneys in the federal corruption trial of former Probation commissioner John O’Brien and two of his top aides offered a tantalizing preview of coming attractions.

Assistant US Attorney Fred Wyshak laid out his theory that O’Brien was operating a criminal enterprise that swapped jobs and promotions for bigger budgets and more autonomy. The defense attorneys countered with their theory that steering jobs to the politically connected is standard practice on Beacon Hill and legislative bodies across the country.

  

But what really grabbed the attention of those in the packed courtroom were the references to what might lie ahead. Wyshak indicated one of Senate President Therese Murray’s referrals got a Probation job even though he was a heroin addict and a washout in the interview process. He also dropped the bombshell that Sen. Mark Montigny secured a job for his then “21-year-old girlfriend who’s barely qualified.” And then there’s the court document indicating 34 of the government’s witnesses — none of them identified so far — are unindicted co-conspirators.

The lawyers will go on and on about whether Probation was really a criminal enterprise and whether O’Brien was the Beacon Hill equivalent of Al Capone. But the big draw for everyone else is what the trial will reveal about how business is done on Beacon Hill. Wyshak’s opening statement indicated he not only has detailed records on patronage hiring but also the testimony of people inside the rooms when the deals were cut.

It will be interesting to watch how Beacon Hill responds over the next two months to the stories emerging from the federal courthouse. Early indications are that lawmakers are headed for the bunker. Murray on Thursday brushed aside efforts by the Herald to get a comment. And Montigny was in a meeting, unavailable for comment.

Coming attractions at the movie theater often are better than the movie itself, but if the previews offered by Wyshak measure up to the advanced billing it will be hard for Beacon Hill lawmakers to ignore what’s going on in the federal courthouse.

–BRUCE MOHL  

BEACON HILL

The #BringBackOurGirls effort landed at the State House yesterday, where more than two dozen protesters rallied to call for the release of the 270 Nigerian schoolgirls abducted by the Islamic militant group Boko Haram.

Suspended Suffolk County Register of Probate Patricia Campatelli brought her case for reinstatement before the Supreme Judicial Court yesterday.

Oystergate: ML Strategies reveals that Mashpee homeowner Charles Clough, head of the investment firm Clough Capital Partners, asked the lobbying group to work on getting an amendment filed that would keep an oyster farm out of the waters near their property.

The total cost of folding the state’s health connector into Obamacare has crossed the half-billion dollar mark.

MUNICIPAL MATTERS

Taunton firefighters approved a contract that will reduce their wages in exchange for lessening planned layoffs by the city and an agreement to rehire and increase staffing over the next three years.

Quincy police discovered a security videotape that shows city records of military veterans that were found blowing behind Quincy High School had fallen off the back of a truck of an independent vendor hired to shred the documents.

NATIONAL POLITICS/WASHINGTON

The New Hampshire Senate rejects a hike in the minimum wage that would have been significantly less than what lawmakers in Massachusetts are considering, the Eagle-Tribune reports.

CASINOS

The state gambling commission unanimously rejected Boston’s bid to be considered a “host community” for the proposed casinos in both Revere and Everett, a tough blow to Mayor Marty Walsh who has taken a big stand on the issue.

The commission made its decision without the input or vote of its chairman, Steve Crosby, who announced he is recusing himself from all matters pertaining to the Boston area license because of questions that have been raised about his impartiality.  A Globe editorial wonders whether Crosby should consider resigning and let Gov. Deval Patrick appoint a new chairman who can lead the panel in the most consequential decision it has to make.

Boston isn’t the only city giving Everett and Steve Wynn heartburn: Somerville is fighting the proposed casino tooth and nail as well.

ELECTIONS

Ersatz gubernatorial candidate Mark Fisher, who is suing the state Republican Party to get on the ballot, says GOP officials offered  “a bribe” of $1 million last December to drop his challenge, though he claimed a gag order, which doesn’t seem to exist, prevented him from naming names.

The US Chamber of Commerce begins airing ads supporting Richard Tisei in his challenge of Rep. John Tierney.

The Wall Street Journal previews the White House’s midterm election strategy.

An association of civil engineers forms a committee to oppose reductions in the state gas tax, which will appear on the ballot in November.

BUSINESS/ECONOMY

The FCC commissioners appear unusually split over a so-called “net neutrality” proposal to allow carriers to charge higher fees to some companies for access to faster Internet speeds, a measure some say would allow providers to dictate who has high-speed access and result in higher bills for consumers.

EDUCATION

New Bedford Schools Superintendent Pia Durkin, who is instituting harsh turnaround plans in some of the city’s failing schools, received support from city and state officials after she vowed to remain on the job despite a no-confidence vote from the teachers’ union.

Brockton officials have instituted an age limit on students in middle school after a fight between a 16-year-old eighth grader and a 14-year-old classmate.

The principal and four teachers at a Philadelphia elementary school are indicted for helping students cheat on standardized tests, Time reports. Apparently, this problem is the tip of the iceberg in the city’s long-troubled school district, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer which provides details about the “culture of cheating” at the school.

Genevieve Johnson,  94, expects to finally earn her high school degree this year at Westford Academy, the Sun reports.

HEALTH CARE

Replacing the state’s failed health insurance marketplace website will cost $120 million, WBUR reports.

Edible marijuana comes under scrutiny in Colorado after two deaths linked to powerful products. Meanwhile, Centennial state lawmakers create uninsured financial cooperatives for  work for marijuana businesses to house their proceeds.

TRANSPORTATION

Some dummy got nabbed with a dummy riding shotgun as he tried to zip through the HOV lane on I-93.

ENERGY/ENVIRONMENT

Salem Power Station shuts down its final coal boiler as the facility prepares to close and be replaced by a gas-fired plant, the Salem News reports.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE

State officials go to court again in a bid to avoid having to pay for a sex-change operation for convicted murderer Michelle Kosilek, the Associated Press reports.

Wayland may not have problems with gangbangers beefing over turf issues, but you don’t want to get in the middle of trouble between dogwalkers there.

MEDIA

A report prepared internally at the New York Times calls for a new digital-first approach at the newspaper.