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Massachusetts border tolls idea another way to ‘unnecessarily’ take money, New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu says

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Massachusetts border tolls idea another way to ‘unnecessarily’ take money, New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu says


New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu is not taking kindly to the idea of tolling drivers entering Massachusetts at the state border, a proposal that was floated last week by Bay State Transportation Secretary Monica Tibbits-Nutt during an advocacy event.

Tibbits-Nutt said a group tasked with developing recommendations for a long-term, sustainable transportation finance plan was discussing charging drivers at the state border in an effort to support road, rail, and transit systems throughout Massachusetts.

The concept has since drawn criticism from conservatives.

“Looks like Massachusetts has found yet another way to unnecessarily take your money,” Sununu, a Republican, said in a statement to the Herald on Friday.

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“All the more reason for more Massachusetts residents to make the permanent move to New Hampshire,” the Granite State governor added. “The Live Free or Die state continues to be the place to be.”

The self-described “unfiltered” remarks from Tibbits-Nutt pricked up some ears on Beacon Hill, where reports from task forces and commissions can often come and go with little fanfare. The transportation secretary said this group is “actually different because we’re not censoring” conversations.

During an event hosted by WalkMassachusetts, she also touched on charging transportation network companies like Uber and Lyft more, upping the cost of package deliveries, tackling speeding on local roads, and charging more for the state payroll tax.

“When I’m talking tolling, I’m talking at the borders. I’m not talking like within Massachusetts. I pay the tolls so it is one of those … where people are like ‘you just want tolls.’ I’m like ‘I pay the toll. This is not in my best interest to raise it.’ But we’re going after all the people who should be giving us money to make our transportation better and our communities better,” she said during remarks first reported by CommonWealth Beacon.

In response to a Herald inquiry, a MassDOT spokesperson said Tibbits-Nutt “was conveying that we need to have difficult conversations about how to make our transportation system work best for everyone.”

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“This task force is in its early stages and no decisions have been made about its potential recommendations. Any proposals would be made in collaboration with the Legislature and other stakeholders and would carefully consider any affordability and competitiveness implications,” the spokesperson said in a statement.

The transportation funding task force first met at the end of February and is scheduled to provide a final written report to Gov. Maura Healey by the end of the year.

Tibbits-Nutt also took a shot at pickup truck drivers when asked by an attendee at the event if MassDOT can do anything “to help protect us a little bit from them, or at least disincentivize people from buying them.”

“We can’t price them high enough or put enough fees on them … that’s going to stop the type of person who wants to buy that car, and I am 100% passing judgment on someone who wants to drive basically an 18-wheeler as their personal car, we have no control over it,” Tibbits-Nut said. “We can’t. There’s nothing we can do. At least legally, there’s nothing we can do about it.”

But the transportation secretary did not bat down the idea of raising the vehicle excise tax.

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“Oh, I’m going after that,” she said when asked if the state would “touch” the fee. “That’s already on my list. You don’t need to worry about that. That might do it. That’s not a bad idea. I did not agree to it. I just said it’s not a bad idea that I will actually look and see if any other state’s done it.”

Local conservatives criticized Tibbits-Nutt’s remarks.

Massachusetts Republican Party Chair Amy Carnevale said Tibbits-Nutt showed the “true nature” of the Healey administration.

“Already grappling with the burden of unaffordability, the prospect of more tolls, increased taxes on Uber and Lyft rides, Amazon deliveries, and payroll taxes only adds to the struggle of Massachusetts residents. No Massachusetts resident wants that. It’s abundantly clear that the Healey-Driscoll administration’s approach to governance is government versus taxpayer,” Carnevale said in a statement.

Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance spokesman Paul Craney said Tibbits-Nutt’s comments during the event were “simply reprehensible.”

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“Decisions to raise taxes, fees, or adding tolling should be made by our elected legislature, not announced by an overzealous, unelected bureaucrat before a special interest advocacy organization,” Craney said in a statement. “The people she’s villainizing are just ordinary people trying to go about their everyday lives. Our state government should make life easier for people, not harder.”

New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu hit back at the toll idea. (Matt Stone/Boston Herald, file)



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Smoke from North Attleborough fire visible for miles

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Smoke from North Attleborough fire visible for miles


Fire broke out at an apartment building in North Attleborough, Massachusetts, on Monday afternoon, sending a column of smoke high into the air.

NBC affiliate WJAR-TV reports the smoke was visible from miles away from the building on Juniper Road.

More details were not immediately available.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

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Life Care Center of Raynham earns deficiency‑free state inspection

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Life Care Center of Raynham earns deficiency‑free state inspection


Life Care Center of Raynham has received a deficiency‑free inspection result from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, a distinction awarded to a small share of the state’s licensed nursing homes, according to a community announcement.

The inspection was conducted as part of the state’s routine, unannounced nursing home survey process overseen by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. These comprehensive, multi‑day inspections evaluate multiple aspects of facility operations, including staffing levels, quality of care, medication management, cleanliness, food service and resident rights.

State survey records show that Life Care Center of Raynham met required standards during its most recent standard survey, with no deficiencies cited, based on publicly available state data.

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The announcement states that fewer than 8% of Massachusetts nursing homes achieve deficiency‑free survey results. That figure could not be independently verified through state or federal data and is attributed to the announcement.

In addition to the state survey outcome, the facility is listed as a five‑star provider for quality measures on the federal Medicare Care Compare website. The five‑star quality measure rating reflects above‑average performance compared with other nursing homes nationwide, according to federal rating methodology.

Officials said the inspection results reflect ongoing compliance with state and federal standards designed to protect resident health and safety. According to the announcement, the outcome is attributed to staff performance and internal quality practices.

This story was created by Dave DeMille, ddemille@gannett.com, with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at cm.usatoday.com/ethical-conduct.

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Brian Shortsleeve 'On The Record' about GOP run for governor of Massachusetts

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Brian Shortsleeve 'On The Record' about GOP run for governor of Massachusetts


Republican gubernatorial candidate Brian Shortsleeve joins “On the Record” to discuss his case for the corner office, the war in Iran and Massachusetts’ $63 billion budget. Hosts Ed Harding and Sharman Sacchetti also press him on a ballot question that would cut the state income tax rate.



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