Massachusetts

Pols & Politics: Three Massachusetts House races that offer glimmers of competition

Published

2 hours ago

August 18, 2024

Pols & Politics: Three Massachusetts House races that offer glimmers of competition

Massachusetts voters are closing in fast on this year’s primary and general elections and many residents have intense local races right in their backyard — from incumbent Democrats facing challengers with money to open seats drawing fierce competition.

Beacon Hill is well-known for lawmakers across the board gliding to re-election every two years. But in a state rife with non-competitive races, there are glimmers of hope this year that elections in Massachusetts can be more than just resigning oneself to voting for the only person on the ballot.

The state primaries are on Sept. 3 and the general election is on Nov. 5, the same day voters head to the polls to pick the next president of the United States.

With the days ticking down, here are a few House races across the state that caught our eye.

1st Plymouth

Rep. Matt Muratore’s decision to pursue an open state Senate seat has set off a mad dash in this South Shore district that covers portions of Plymouth, a town that has consistently sent a Republican to the State House for the last two decades.

Four Democrats and two Republicans have decided to throw their hat into the ring this election cycle.

Plymouth School Committee Chair Michelle Badger, Beacon Hill regular Art Desloges, local businessman Scott Hokanson, and Stephen Palmer, a former member of the Braintree Town Meeting, make up the left.

Dee Wallace Spencer, a business professor at Northeastern University, and Marine Corps veteran Jesse Brown round out the Republican primary ticket.

Spencer has dominated the fundraising game so far, raising more than $68,000 since the start of the year, spending upwards of $34,000 during the same period, and holding onto $34,000-plus as of July 31, according to campaign finance records.

Brown has raised $29,315 between the start of January and the end of July, state data shows.

Desloges has raised $24,224 since January and Badger has brought in $16,557 during the same time, according to state records. Both Palmer, who unsuccessfully ran for the seat in 2022 and 2020, and Hokanson have raised $8,000 or less this year.

27th Middlesex

Rep. Erika Uyterhoeven has not faced an opponent in her past two general elections and easily beat Democratic challengers in her previous primary contests.

But this year, a former Beacon Hill chief of staff is making a well-funded play at unseating the second-term Somerville Democrat.

Kathleen Hornby, who worked for Public Health Committee Chair Rep. Marjorie Decker for almost three years, has outraised Uyterhoeven since the start of the year, according to campaign finance filings last updated July 31.

Hornby, who also worked for former Rep. Alice Wolf for nearly five years, points to affordability in Somerville, substance use, public transportation, workers’ rights, and climate change as some of her top issues, according to her website.

Uyterhoeven said she “acted swiftly” with other colleagues in the Legislature to ensure access to reproductive rights after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade. Uyterhoeven also touches on transportation, public education, and affordable housing on her campaign website.

And speaking of Decker, the six-term Democrat from Cambridge is also facing a Democratic primary opponent this year in Evan MacKay. Decker has raised more than $117,000 since January compared to MacKay’s $48,025, according to state data.

12th Middlesex

Nearly $200,000 has poured in since January into a race for a House seat that covers parts of Newton and Brookline after the incumbent Democrat, Rep. Ruth Balser, announced she was not seeking reelection.

That decision has since spurred three Democrats to jump into the fray — Newton City Councilors Bill Humphrey and Rick Lipof and Greg Schwartz, a former city councilor and doctor who has earned Balser’s endorsement.

Lipof has ticked off public education investments, combating antisemitism, and affordability as priorities on his website. Humphrey also turned to the climate, housing, health care, and education as issues he wants to focus on while Schwartz pointed to health care, antisemitism, climate change, housing, and transportation as his priorities.

Each candidate has pulled in tens of thousands.

Lipof is leading the pack with more than $73,000 raised and $39,787 spent since January, according to state campaign finance filings. Schwartz has pulled in $66,274 this year and spent $51,488, state data shows.

Humphrey has raised $31,462 and spent $23,624 this year, according to the data.

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Massachusetts

Massachusetts couple delivers baby on Cape Cod highway

Published

9 hours ago

August 17, 2024

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Massachusetts couple delivers baby on Cape Cod highway – CBS Chicago

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Summer traffic on Cape Cod can require some patience, but one Massachusetts couple had no time to spare, after a woman’s water broke when she and her husband were still 30 minutes away from the hospital.

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Massachusetts

Massachusetts governor pledges to sign sweeping maternal health bill – Washington Examiner

Published

17 hours ago

August 17, 2024

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Massachusetts governor pledges to sign sweeping maternal health bill – Washington Examiner

BOSTON (AP) — A sweeping maternal health bill has cleared both legislative chambers and is awaiting Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey’s signature.

The bill would create a pathway for midwives and lactation consultants to obtain licenses, encourage the creation of more freestanding birth centers, and establish a grant program to address maternal mental health and substance use disorder.

The legislation would also expand the statewide universal postpartum home visiting program and mandate that insurers provide coverage for postpartum depression and major depressive disorder screenings for perinatal individuals.

“This maternal health bill will save lives for all birthing families in Massachusetts,” said Democratic state Rep. Marjorie Decker, one of the supporters of the bill.

“I am so proud that we continue to lead the nation in safeguarding reproductive health and honoring birthing autonomy by allowing more birthing options, expanding equitable access to midwifery care and postpartum support, and providing better insurance coverage for perinatal individuals,” she added.

The legislation would create a state license that certified professional midwives must receive in order to practice midwifery, and require certain insurance providers, such as MassHealth, to cover doula and midwifery services including prenatal care, childbirth and postpartum care.

The bill would also create the Board of Registration in Midwifery within the Department of Public Health to license and provide oversight of licensed certified professional midwives.

Licensed certified professional midwives would be required to coordinate emergency care if needed and would also be able to issue prescriptions for certain drugs, under regulations to be promulgated by the board and DPH.

To encourage the creation of more freestanding birth centers, which operate independent from hospital systems, the bill would require DPH to draft updated regulations governing the licensure of freestanding birth centers to ensure safe and accessible birth options.

The legislation would also require state health officials to conduct a public awareness campaign about perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, and to develop a digital resource center available to the public. It would also require that perinatal individuals be offered a screening for postpartum depression and major depressive disorder, and that those services be covered by health insurance plans.

To better address barriers in access to care and reduce racial inequities in maternal health, the bill would also expand the universal postpartum home visiting program administered by state health officials and provide coverage for the program’s services.

A 2023 Massachusetts Department of Public Health report showed that maternal morbidity nearly doubled in the state from 2011 to 2020. Black women were 2.3 times more likely than white women to experience labor and delivery complications.

Under the bill, health insurers would also be required to provide coverage for medically necessary pasteurized donor human milk and products derived from it, serving as a critical source of nutrition for the growth and development of babies, particularly for vulnerable premature infants.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

Healey indicated support for the bill when asked Friday

“Of course I’m going to sign it,” Healey said.

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Massachusetts

50+ Massachusetts beaches closed for swimming by Department of Public Health. See where

Published

24 hours ago

August 17, 2024

Press Room

50+ Massachusetts beaches closed for swimming by Department of Public Health. See where

As we enter the last stretch of summer before school starts, there is no better way spend a day than relaxing at one of the Bay State’s beautiful beaches.

However, the number of closed beaches in Massachusetts keeps getting higher. This weekend, over 50 beaches are closed due to unsafe swimming water.

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) states that swimming in the water at these closed beaches poses a threat of illness due to high levels of bacteria. Symptoms can range from nausea and vomiting to a sore throat and fever.

Here’s a full list of closed beaches to avoid when planning your weekend.

What beaches in Massachusetts are currently closed due to bacteria?

The following MA beaches, listed by town, are closed as of Friday, Aug. 16:

Amherst:
- Puffers Pond (Bacterial Exceedance, Other)
- Stanley St. swimming hole at Cushman Bridge (Bacterial Exceedance)
Ashby: Damon Pond Beach (Bacterial Exceedance)
Ashland: Ashland Reservoir Main Beach (Bacterial Exceedance)
Barnstable:
- Wequaquet Lake Town (Harmful Cyanobacteria Bloom)
- Wequaquet Lake Yacht Club (Harmful Cyanobacteria Bloom)
Braintree: Smith Beach (Bacterial Exceedance)
Brewster: Upper Mill Pond (Harmful Cyanobacteria Bloom)
Concord: Walden Pond (Other)
Danvers: Sandy Beach (Bacterial Exceedance)
Dartmouth: Moses Smith Creek (Bacterial Exceedance)
Framingham: Learned Pond Beach (Bacterial Exceedance)
Grafton: Silver Lake Beach (Other)
Harwich: Sand Pond (Harmful Cyanobacteria Bloom)
Haverhill: Plugs Pond (Bacterial Exceedance)
Holland: Collette Drive Beach (Bacterial Exceedance)
Kingston: Gray’s (Bacterial Exceedance)
Lowell: Merrimac River (Bacterial Exceedance)
Lynn:
- Kings (Bacterial Exceedance)
- Lynn Shore Beach (Bacterial Exceedance)
Nahant: Nahant Beach (Bacterial Exceedance)
Nantucket: Sesachacha Pond (Harmful Cyanobacteria Bloom)
Natick: Cochituate State Park Beach (Bacterial Exceedance, Harmful Cyanobacteria Bloom)
North Andover:
- Frye Pond Beach (Bacterial Exceedance)
- Stevens Pond (Bacterial Exceedance)
Northampton: Musante Beach (Bacterial Exceedance)
Oxford: Carbuncle Pond (Harmful Cyanobacteria Bloom)
Plymouth: Nelson Park (Bacterial Exceedance)
Quincy: Norton Beach (Bacterial Exceedance)
Salem:
- Camp Naumkeag (Other)
- Children’s Island (Bacterial Exceedance)
- Ocean Avenue (Bacterial Exceedance)
- Willow Avenue (Bacterial Exceedance)
Saugus: Pearce Lake at Breakheart Reservation (Bacterial Exceedance)
Shutesbury: Lake Wyola (Bacterial Exceedance)
Springfield: Bass Pond (Harmful Cyanobacteria Bloom)
Swampscott: Kings (Other)
Templeton:
- Beamans Pond Campground (Bacterial Exceedance)
- Beamans Pond Day Use (Bacterial Exceedance)
Townsend: Pearl Hill Pond Beach (Bacterial Exceedance)
Truro: Longnook (Other)
Wayland: Wayland Town Beach (Harmful Cyanobacteria Bloom)
West Stockbridge: Card Pond Beach (Bacterial Exceedance)
West Tisbury: Seth’s Pond (Bacterial Exceedance)
Westborough: Lake Chauncy Beach (Harmful Cyanobacteria Bloom)
Westfield: Hampton Ponds Kingsley Beach (Bacterial Exceedance)
Winchendon: Lake Dennison State Park (Bacterial Exceedance)
Winchester: Shannon Beach at Upper Mystic (Bacterial Exceedance)
Winthrop: Halford (Bacterial Exceedance)
Worcester:
- Indian Lake Public Beach at Sherburne Ave (Harmful Cyanobacteria Bloom)
- Lake Quinsigamond-Regatta Point Beach (Bacterial Exceedance)
- Shore Park (Harmful Cyanobacteria Bloom)

Most beaches are closed due to bacterial exceedance, meaning the levels of bacteria in the water are higher than the limits set by the MDPH.

Those in the “other” category can be closed due to a variety of chemical or physical hazards, such as riptides and poor visibility.

Beach weather this weekend: AccuWeather warning about rip currents developing this weekend from storm off coast

When will beaches in Massachusetts re-open?

According to the MDPH website, beaches can only re-open when their bacteria levels are back within the safe range, so there is no set amount of time for a closure.

The status of a closed beach can be checked on the website’s water quality dashboard, which is updated at 9:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. daily.

National Hurricane Center cautioning beachgoers in the Atlantic

Forecasters are warning beachgoers about possible “life-threatening surf and rip current conditions” this weekend because of Hurricane Ernesto. The storm is not predicted to make landfall in New England.

“Even if Ernesto stays well offshore of the U.S. East Coast, beach goers should be aware of a significant risk of deadly rip currents beginning later this week,” the National Hurricane Center said earlier this week.

Riptides or rip currents are powerful currents of water that can pull people away from shore, according to the National Weather Service. They can be deadly: data from the NWS shows rip currents have killed almost 30 people this year alone.

If caught in a rip current, the NWS says to yell for help and remain calm and stay afloat while waiting for help. Do not swim directly against a riptide, rather swim parallel to the shore.

Melina Khan contributed to this report.

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