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Massachusetts

Massachusetts lawmakers have 6 weeks to wrap their work. Court rulings, tax talks are complicating it. – The Boston Globe

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Massachusetts lawmakers have 6 weeks to wrap their work. Court rulings, tax talks are complicating it. – The Boston Globe


The glut of proposals, each identified and unknown, just about ensures there shall be a torrent of main new legal guidelines placed on the books this summer time. It additionally raises the potential for a cluttered chopping room flooring come Aug. 1.

“Once you’re making an attempt to make issues occur and also you don’t have the power to only say, ‘Do it,’ it’s irritating as hell,” Mariano stated in an interview. The timing of the Supreme Court docket choices — due inside days — is “terrible,” he stated. “It’s the worst. As a result of we’re gone July 31. Folks have elections. Nobody needs to come back again within the midst of a battle if they’ve one. It’s a problem.”

Senate President Karen E. Spilka stated the Senate is prepared for a “busy and productive” closing six weeks, together with confronting “occasions outdoors our management.”

Maybe of the very best curiosity to many on and off Beacon Hill: a possible tax reduction package deal.

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Lawmakers have been pressed for months by Governor Charlie Baker, enterprise leaders, and others to ease the burden on taxpayers at a time when inflation is working at a 40-year excessive and state revenues have far exceeded expectations. For Baker, who’s not looking for reelection, it’s additionally topped his final-year agenda: He tied a $700 million package deal of tax breaks onto his closing funds proposal, and has repeatedly, and publicly, prodded the Legislature to take motion.

They’ve signaled they’ll, but when they’ve a plan, it’s nonetheless hiding below the golden dome. Mariano has indicated he’s fascinated by a proposal that mixes reshaping elements of the tax code with offering quick reduction.

He and different legislative leaders have repeatedly rejected suspending the state’s gasoline tax, however the Quincy Democrat stated addressing different gasoline prices, reminiscent of dwelling heating oil, may very well be on the desk. He, like Baker, has additionally expressed assist for revising Massachusetts’ property tax and its $1 million threshold, the bottom within the nation.

Jon Hurst, president of the Retailers Affiliation of Massachusetts, stated at a New England Council occasion final week that ought to the Democratic-controlled Legislature not act, it might be a poor take care of final 12 months advancing a constitutional modification generally known as the “millionaires tax.”

The proposal, which is on the November poll, would impose a 4 % surtax on annual earnings above $1 million, and has drawn steep opposition from throughout the enterprise group, together with Hurst’s group.

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“If [Democrats] don’t do it,” Hurst stated of offering tax reduction, “that’s giving the voters extra cause to say: ‘Who’s extra vital right here, the taxpayer or the tax collector?’ ”

Mariano stated failing to succeed in a tax reduction deal can be a “missed alternative,” and given the few weeks remaining, urged the chambers should work collectively to form its particulars.

“The very last thing you wish to do is have that die on the desk,” Mariano stated. “We’d look silly. You’ll be able to’t even give cash away.”

Home and Senate leaders are additionally weighing a bunch of main spending choices earlier than the tip of July. State Consultant Aaron Michlewitz, the Home funds chief, and his Senate counterpart, Senator Michael J. Rodrigues, are main negotiations over the $50 billion state funds, the sprawling spending plan for the fiscal 12 months that begins July 1.

The 2 are additionally discussing what to do with greater than $2 billion in unused federal stimulus support. And so they’re in talks about find out how to spend what may very well be a multibillion-dollar funds surplus.

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“That is nonetheless quite a lot of completely different balls within the air right here that we’re making an attempt to juggle,” Michlewitz informed reporters final week.

In most years, the funds proposal eats up a lot of the oxygen on Beacon Hill, the place lawmakers view it not solely because the one positive factor to cross — lawmakers are constitutionally obligated to take action — however a car for any variety of priorities.

This 12 months, that might embrace a response to the Supreme Court docket doubtlessly overturning Roe v. Wade. A provision added to the Senate’s model of the spending invoice goals to guard these right here who carry out abortions or gender-affirming care from being prosecuted in states which will prohibit such procedures. That features shielding them from penalties, spikes in medical insurance coverage, or being extradited to states that might search to punish them.

However Mariano final week raised the prospect of pursuing a separate, extra sprawling invoice relying on how the Supreme Court docket in the end guidelines instead of “piecemeal and patchwork” effort.

State Senator Jamie Eldridge, the Senate chairman of the judiciary committee, solid doubt on that, saying the time crunch and “vary of views” amongst lawmakers make it unlikely the chambers would debate an abortion protections invoice separate from what the Senate already handed.

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The Supreme Court docket may additionally quickly rule on — and, many authorized observers anticipate, strike down — a New York regulation that places strict limits on folks carrying a handgun outdoors their dwelling.

Such a ruling may additionally invalidate elements of Massachusetts’ equally written regulation, and a high Home lawmaker stated the Legislature may “transfer in a short time in response to” a choice. However what a legislative package deal may seem like relies upon closely on how, precisely, the court docket guidelines.

A lot else stays unsettled. The Home final month voted to criminalize so-called revenge porn, one thing 48 different states have already outlawed, however the Senate has but to take up what, too, has been a Baker precedence. That chamber additionally has not taken motion but on one other Home invoice — considered one of Mariano’s high pursuits — that might give the state well being fee extra authority to scrutinize hospital enlargement plans.

Eldridge stated typically, he feels assured that payments which have handed not less than one department of the Legislature, and have “a number of advocacy,” have a shot. These embrace a Senate prescription drug pricing invoice, differing variations of psychological well being laws that cleared each chambers, and a reshaping of the state’s marijuana legal guidelines.

There’s extra, in fact. Laws that might ban discrimination on the premise of an individual’s pure coiffure handed each chambers with fanfare, however it has sat in limbo since April, sidelined amid the springtime churn.

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The Legislature can also be charged with shepherding extra frequent payments that cross just about each legislative session, like a wide-ranging financial improvement package deal and borrowing payments.

Earlier than the tip of the session, legislative leaders additionally might attain offers on payments to reform the administration of the Holyoke Troopers’ House, in addition to legalize sports activities betting.

There may be additionally a rising sense of uneasiness — “nearly panic” — a couple of package deal of local weather payments crossing the end line, Eldridge stated. The Home handed a a lot narrower invoice than the Senate, and Mariano stated he has grow to be a “little involved that progress is gradual” on talks and prodded Consultant Jeffrey Roy, the Home’s lead negotiator, to speed up negotiations.

“I really feel assured,” Roy stated, “we’ll get there.”


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Matt Stout will be reached at matt.stout@globe.com. Comply with him on Twitter @mattpstout. Samantha J. Gross will be reached at samantha.gross@globe.com. Comply with her on Twitter @samanthajgross.





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Massachusetts

This Bedroom Activity is Very Risky in Massachusetts

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This Bedroom Activity is Very Risky in Massachusetts


Massachusetts is home to some strange laws. Many of the laws were passed years, and years ago so they don’t hold up or are enforced today, yet they are still on the books.

There’s One Bedroom Activity That’s Technically Illegal in Massachusetts

One particular Massachusetts law I found interesting is something that people do every day in the privacy of theirhomes: snoring. Believe it or not, there’s a law in Massachusetts (according to multiple sources) that prohibits snoring in your home unless all bedroom windows are closed and securely locked.

Is There Any Logic Behind This Massachusetts Law? 

Okay, in one small way I get that you don’t want to disturb the peace hence, the closing of the windows, but does one snore so loudly that neighbors throughout the neighborhood are disturbed by it? I find that hard to believe but then again maybe it has happened. Laws are formed for a reason. Furthermore, is the locking of windows really going to make that big of a difference?

Another question I have about this is what if I fall asleep in my kitchen, living room and/or basement and those windows are open but the bedroom windows are closed and locked? Is the act of snoring still illegal? Technically the state of the bedroom windows would be following the law.

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This is a lot of silliness but it is fun to examine these strange Massachusetts laws and poke holes in them. Residents of Boston, Worcester, the Berkshires, and everywhere in between better take note and keep the snoring to a low roar.

Could you imagine if this Massachusetts snoring law was strictly enforced? Oh, my word. Many of my family members would be paying a fine or spending a night in the big house. This includes me. I wonder if it would be illegal for them/us to snore in jail…lol.

LOOK: 15 formerly popular foods in America that are rarely eaten today

Stacker researched the history of popular foods, from Jell-O salads to Salisbury steak, and highlighted 15 that are no longer widely consumed.

Gallery Credit: Stacker

LOOKS: Things you’d likely see in an awesomely ’80s garage

From scandalous bikini calendars to your dad’s AMC Gremlin, ’80s garages were a treasure trove of adventure, good fun, and sometimes downright danger.

Gallery Credit: Stephen Lenz

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LOOK: 35 Vintage Cereals That Perfectly Captured Pop Culture Moments

Movies and TV shows have always found ways to partner with cereal companies as part of their promotion strategy. While some may have come up with a giveaway in boxes, others went big by having their own cereal connected to the movie or TV show title. Here are vintage cereals that were used to promote some of pop culture’s biggest moments (and some you probably forgot about).

Gallery Credit: Rob Carroll





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Massachusetts

California man charged with threatening to ‘shoot up’ Massachusetts businesses in explicit voicemails

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California man charged with threatening to ‘shoot up’ Massachusetts businesses in explicit voicemails


A California man is charged with threatening to shoot up Massachusetts companies over five extremely explicit phone calls.

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Massachusetts

Treasure mystery: Who found the gold statue in Mass. woods — and who gets the bounty?

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Treasure mystery: Who found the gold statue in Mass. woods — and who gets the bounty?


We now know the identity of the clever treasure hunter who tracked down a gold statue worth more than $25,000 — though whether he gets to keep tens of thousands more in bounty money apparently remains up in the air.

Dan Leonard, a meteorologist in Andover, Massachusetts, was identified as the winner, not by the founders of Project Skydrop, but by NBC affiliate News Center Maine, which actually introduced Leonard and the people whose puzzle he solved in the woods of Wendell State Forest.

Leonard described the moment to founders Jason Rohrer and Tom Bailey like this: “I’m kind of in disbelief that this is happening. I see the camera so expertly hidden in that stump, and I think, ‘Oh my god.’”

The digital treasure hunt for the gold statue whose value was appraised at $26,536.25 sparked widespread speculation from puzzle enthusiasts and more. The founders created clues to make the search hard, but not too hard, specifying an area where the 10-ounce, 24-karat gold statue could be that shrank every day. People could also pay $20 to receive a daily clue, which helped fund the bounty.

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People are searching for a golden statue worth more than $25,000.

The circle was centered roughly on Greenfield, Massachusetts, north along the Connecticut River from Springfield.

The person who tracked the statue down was seen on cameras grabbing the puzzle off the floor, but the Skydrop organizers didn’t hear from him until News Center Maine reached out. Leonard explained that he narrowed down where the treasure could be based on the temperature recorded in the camera, plus the cloud cover and plant life seen in the stream.


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Project Skydrop

The winner claiming the gold statue at the heart of Project Skydrop’s treasure hunt on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024, at 5:19 p.m.

When they did meet, Leonard learned there was a catch to claiming the bounty, as News Center Maine reported: the prize could only be accessed by solving clues written onto the trophy itself, which technically meant that anyone with access to the statue could crack the code and claim the money.

Leonard was surprised, but not particularly bothered, saying, “Let’s say I don’t get it: I still had a really good time and got a treasure out of it.”

Rohrer shared more about the circumstances around Leonard’s victory in a message to the game’s official Discord server, a social media chat site where players were able to get more information about what happened.

The winner’s name is Dan Leonard. A news channel up in Maine figured out who he was, based on their meteorologist connections. They connected us with him, and we got to talk to him on camera yesterday. That encounter should appear on the news soon.

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Dan joined Project Skydrop for $20 on October 25. He explained how he solved it. Along with weather patterns, temperature data, and cloud cover stuff from the trail cameras, he also depended heavily on the aerial image clues. He said it would have been impossible to solve if:

  1. He had no aerial clues
    or
  2. We had cropped the temperature sensor data off the camera images.

The aerial clues helped him in two ways. First, they showed him that the treasure was in a large, deciduous beech grove, and there aren’t many large beech groves in the Erving area. Second, they showed him a “map” of what the scene looked like around the treasure (the logs, etc.)

He never had an exact GPS coordinate figured out. He was simply walking the (few) large beech groves in Wendell, looking for the distinctive logs that he saw in the clues.

The temperature sensor data and weather patterns just helped him narrow down the area.

Also, he actually stared right at the treasure and didn’t see it. He walked away, thinking he had found the wrong logs. He was about to leave (he walked off-camera for 1 min and 30 seconds), and then he came back to take one more look, because those logs looked like such a close match. Then, staring at the leaves in the spot he had already checked, he suddenly saw that the treasure was there after all. He said it was almost impossible to see.

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