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Massachusetts begins accepting applications for E-Bike Voucher Program

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Massachusetts begins accepting applications for E-Bike Voucher Program


Massachusetts offers incentives to purchase E-Bikes

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Massachusetts offers incentives to purchase E-Bikes

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A new state program aims to get more people out of their cars and onto a bike. The Massachusetts E-Bike Voucher Program went live on Monday. 

The state said it will accept applications over the next two weeks for the chance at a voucher to purchase an electric bike. 

The program is designed to help moderate to low-income people as well as some with certain physical challenges where cycling could be beneficial. 

$800-$1,200 vouchers

The vouchers range from $800 to $1,200 depending on eligibility. The state said they plan to grant 3,000 vouchers over the next six months. 

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Boston tried this program last fall and local bike shops said the program was a success. 

“It’s been extremely beneficial because it’s given access for more people to ride e-bikes,” said Landry’s Bicycles general manager, Mark Vautour. “Last year it was just the city and now it’s going to be the state as well. There was definitely a pick-up in business in the fall from a couple of different demographics, whether it be students or seniors.” 

The Charlestown shop sells the e-bikes the state is giving out vouchers for. The partially motorized bikes can hit speeds up to 28 miles per hour. And for some, they serve as an alternative way to get to work or run errands. 

“Most people don’t enjoy sitting in traffic so it’s an opportunity for people to get on a bike and see how much fun it is,” said Vautour. 

A full list of qualifications and eligiblity can be found here. 

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Massachusetts

Is it really going to snow in New England tomorrow? Here’s what to expect from storm

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Is it really going to snow in New England tomorrow? Here’s what to expect from storm


We’re still on the good side of the forecast today. We’ll see a good supply of sun to start, then the clouds will increase and a few showers will sink down from the north in the afternoon. We still manage to make it near 70. (Yay.)

Tomorrow’s high temperatures, however, comes after midnight tonight — before falling toward Saturday morning. If you think that’s confusing, try explaining the snow that’ll be flying in the higher elevations across New England (with solid accumulation above 4k feet).

Yes, the weather is upside down for late May.

We can blame an intense, compact upper-level pool of cold air that broke loose from a larger pool near the Arctic Circle days ago.

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The pattern across North America has dropped it in our laps for a day, with cold, rainy, windy consequences.

Rain, wind and… snow?

This will be a sneaky storm. Early on, there might even be a calm, bright sky (very) early Saturday morning. Then the clouds move in and the wind intensifies from the northeast. Gust will briefly peak at 50+ along the coast (40+ inland).

Rain will mix with snow in northern New England, and perhaps in the highest elevations of southern New Hampshire and central Massachusetts.

This also depends on the intensity of the precipitation. Heavier bursts of rain can drag down colder air aloft, helping the snowflakes make it from cloud base to your home place (if you live above 1k feet).

Ironically, we’re not expecting a deluge from this storm. Most spots keep near a half inch, with higher amounts near an inch in northeast Mass./southern NH.

And then just like that, it’s over. The storm pulls away Saturday evening, the skies clear and we’re back to sun Sunday. Highs recover to near 70 with the slightest chance for a shower late day.

Better chances – and cooler temps – come both Monday and Tuesday.

Will summer ever take hold? We know from past years that June can really struggle. It appears that the start of the month may not live up to expectations. Although we are at least climbing back to the 80s late next week.

Have a good weekend.

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Massachusetts Top Cop Off the Hook for Secret Recording Program

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Massachusetts Top Cop Off the Hook for Secret Recording Program


The head of the Massachusetts State Police can’t be sued for an alleged program that secretly recorded officers’ phone conversations with civilians and used them to bring criminal charges, the First Circuit said Thursday.

A group of Massachusetts residents filed a putative class against against Superintendent Geoffrey Noble, as well as Motorola and other companies, over the secret recordings, which were used to propose criminal charges in at least 181 cases without prosecutors’ knowledge, the three judge panel said.

The opinion by Circuit Judge Seth Aframe said the residents, led by Jason Courtemanche, failed to show how they’d be directly …



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How Hard Health Care Hits MA Family Budgets

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How Hard Health Care Hits MA Family Budgets


Massachusetts families are spending 8% of their monthly income on health care, according to a new study. That puts the Bay State toward the higher end of the scale, coming in at No. 12 in the country.

The analysis from personal finance website WalletHub examined where people are spending the most and the least on health care.

Alaska was No. 1 in the U.S., spending over 10% of their income on health care. On the other end of the scale, Utah residents spend 5% of their income on health care.

“Sharp increases in health care costs in recent years have made it difficult for some people to seek essential care,” WalletHub Analyst Chip Lupo said. “Even in states with lower-than-average health care prices, residents’ incomes may not be enough to keep up with the cost, especially since virtually every part of Americans’ budgets have been impacted by inflation over the past few years.”

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To determine how much families are spending, WalletHub analyzed the prices of five key health care components across all 50 states, then combined those costs and compared them with each state’s median household income.

Read more: 1 MA Town Among 250 Best Places To Live In US News Ranking

Massachusetts spends the most on health care compared to other states in the region, according to the study. Vermont is the next-highest state in the Northeast, ranking at No. 14 with residents spending 7.98% of their income on health care.

Here are the top 10 states where people are spending the most on health care:

  1. Alaska
  2. Oregon
  3. Maine
  4. Mississippi
  5. West Virginia
  6. New Mexico
  7. North Carolina
  8. Montana
  9. South Dakota
  10. Louisiana

Check out the full study at WalletHub.





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