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Massachusetts State House working last minute to pass bills ahead of Wednesday deadline

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Massachusetts State House working last minute to pass bills ahead of Wednesday deadline


BOSTON – The Massachusetts State House is typically quiet on Fridays but not this week, as state lawmakers work to push major pieces of legislation to the governor’s desk, including a possible return of Happy Hour.

“This place is going to be buzzing”

“I think for the next five days, this place is going to be buzzing,” State Sen. Barry Finegold told WBZ-TV from his Statehouse office. Buzzing with fellow legislators, lobbyists and stressed-out staffers racing to beat the Wednesday deadline. “We’re very hopeful that it’s going to get done.”

Republican State Rep. Marc Lombardo is frustrated by the procrastination, pointing to the House, Senate and corner office being dominated by Democrats. “It’s a tornado of activity that really doesn’t have to wait until the last week of July,” he said.

The House and Senate have until Wednesday to hammer out their differences on key bills. Bills that don’t get voted out of conference committee essentially “die” on Beacon Hill.

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Finegold heads the Joint Economic Development Committee, working on a multi-billion-dollar package that could pave the way for a new soccer stadium in Everett for the New England Revolution.

Will Happy Hour come back to Massachusetts?

How about bringing Happy Hour back to Massachusetts?

“We’re hopeful to get that passed as well,” Finegold explained. “We do have a lot of younger people in our city and throughout Massachusetts and we want to do things that we think they’ll like.”

While Rep. Lombardo can see how this could help the economy, he’s not a fan of the last-minute rush to the finish line.

He said lawmakers are “expected to read bills very quickly as they come out of conference committee…hundreds of pages of documents and yet forced to get a vote because we’ve waited to the last moment to put things on the floor.”

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Complex legislation, packed with all sorts of line items.

The CEO of Boston Pads is watching the housing bill closely as lawmakers debate whether or not to ban broker’s fees for renters.

“These agents spend a lot of timing calling all day. It’s not uncommon for them to show an apartment at eight or even nine o’clock at night,” said Demetrios Salpoglou.

It’s a vote that he said could have crippling impacts on the real estate industry in Massachusetts.

This is just a glimpse of the mad rush and closed-door negotiations at the State House.

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“This is what it takes,” Finegold said. “We have to get things done.”



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Massachusetts

Driver charged in Plymouth hit-and-run

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Driver charged in Plymouth hit-and-run


Authorities said a driver is facing charges after a hit-and-run crash left a pedestrian badly hurt this weekend in Plymouth, Massachusetts.

The crash happened around 6:30 p.m. Saturday on Court Street. Police said the driver briefly stopped before fleeing the scene.

The victim was airlifted to a Boston hospital with critical injuries. Plymouth police said Monday that the patient is in stable condition and faces a long road to recovery.

The driver, identified as Francis Kelly of Plymouth, is charged with negligent operation and leaving the scene of a crash causing personal injury.

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“We would like to sincerely thank the public for the tips provided and for sharing surveillance footage that proved critical to this investigation,” Plymouth Police Capt. Marc Higgins said in a statement. “Incidents like this underscore the strength of community cooperation in supporting victims and ensuring accountability.”



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Massachusetts

White Christmas chances rise in western Massachusetts

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White Christmas chances rise in western Massachusetts


CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP) – There is a chance for snow leading up to Christmas. 

In western Massachusetts, the chances for a white Christmas go up the farther north you are or the closer you are to the Berkshires. In Springfield, the chance for at least one inch of snow on Christmas Day is around 40 to 50 percent.

In Pittsfield, the chances are over 75 percent. In the extreme northwest corner of Massachusetts, near North Adams, the historical chance for a white Christmas is over 90 percent. So, it definitely helps your chances for snow if you’re in one of the higher-elevation areas.

How much snow is expected Tuesday

Light snow will begin on Tuesday around sunrise and continue on and off for much of the day until the evening.  A minor accumulation is expected in the Pioneer Valley with a few inches in the hills and Berkshires. Slick roads and sidewalks are possible, especially if not treated. High temperatures will be in the low to mid-30s.

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What’s the chance of a white Christmas in western Mass?

As of right now, the chances for a white Christmas this year are definitely higher than in the past few years, with some snow on Tuesday. Of course, the best chance for the snow to stick around until Christmas Day without melting will be back in the Berkshires. 

December 25 2025 12:00 am

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day both look dry and comfortable.

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