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Steward buys time, seeks buyers as state makes plans amid hospital crisis – The Boston Globe

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Steward buys time, seeks buyers as state makes plans amid hospital crisis – The Boston Globe


In a statement, Steward said it was continuing to work with state regulators. “We welcome their interest and collaboration as we continue to provide high quality care for our patients.”

The health care system, with 33 hospitals in nine states, has been struggling financially for some time. In January, Steward’s landlord disclosed the health system hadn’t paid its full rent for months and was contemplating selling some hospitals.

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What that would mean for Massachusetts remains deeply uncertain, with Steward at points requesting aid from the state, voicing a desire to transfer ownership of some hospitals, and warning that it may have to close some facilities, The Boston Globe has reported. Steward has already announced it will close its rehabilitation hospital New England Sinai in April.

Steward had told state officials it had until the end of January to make a plan to satisfy lenders. On Friday, the health system suggested it had found a temporary way forward.

In a memo to Massachusetts employees, Steward Executive Vice President Dr. Michael Callum said the company had entered into “a significant financial transaction” that would stabilize operations, including allowing operations at all of its Massachusetts hospitals to continue.

“To be clear, we have no current plans to close any of our hospitals in Massachusetts,” Callum wrote.

The company also said it received bids for an equity stake in its physician organization, which is a separate line of business from its hospitals.

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“The bridge financing will get the company to the closing of the [mergers and acquisitions] process, and will provide the necessary capital for a robust national physician group and the time needed for Steward to consider transferring one or more of our hospitals to other operators,” Callum wrote.

Steward declined to specify its partner in the financing, saying the parties had signed a nondisclosure agreement.

Health care analysts were skeptical the financing announced by Steward would necessarily result in a longer-term reprieve.

“I question how bridge financing at this point can help solve the underlying financial problems that run so deep in the system and have accumulated over many years,” said Rosemary Batt, a professor who teaches management at Cornell University and has spent a decade researching Steward Health.

Even in the midst of financing discussions, Steward’s efforts to sell off hospitals in the state had already begun.

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According to documents reviewed by the Globe, Steward hired investment bank Cain Brothers to advise the company on the sale of hospitals in the southern part of Massachusetts. South of Boston, Steward has locations in Brockton, Fall River, and Taunton. It also has a hospital in Norwood, though it has been closed since 2020 due to flooding. New England Sinai, in Stoughton, is slated to close.

Hospital executives of other health systems were asked to sign nondisclosure agreements to enter into discussions with Steward, which included a general commitment not to solicit, hire, employ, or engage employees of Steward for a period of two years.

A Steward spokesperson declined to comment on the sale efforts, saying the company does not talk about its consultants. A representative of Cain Brothers also declined to comment.

While Steward has previously said it was interested in transferring ownership of some hospitals in its overall system, the documents are the clearest indication to date that it has the sale of specific Massachusetts properties in mind.

As the financial maneuvering continued, Massachusetts officials acknowledged they are working with other health care providers in the state on a comprehensive understanding of regional needs, to determine capacity for patients and staff.

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Officials from the state Department of Health and Human Services also said they were keeping close tabs on Steward’s day-to-day operations. As of Jan. 31, surveyors from the Department of Public Health were conducting daily on-site monitoring visits at Good Samaritan Medical Center, St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center, and the Methuen and Haverhill campuses of Holy Family Hospital. Such monitoring included a review of hospital staffing, daily patient volume, and the supplies and services being provided.

Dr. Eric Dickson, chief executive of UMass Memorial Health, said his system has offered two solutions if the state were to immediately need more beds. Dickson said his organization could either open a field hospital or send hospital staff to nursing homes to provide acute care using any empty beds that are available.

UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester is approximately 30 miles from Steward’s Nashoba Valley Medical Center in Ayer.

But should that facility or others nearby close, UMass has limited capacity to take on more patients. Dickson said the medical center is declining almost all requests from other hospitals to transfer their patients to UMass. The medical center counts 750 medical and surgical beds, and was caring for 860 daily patients on average through the month of January.

Even during the peak of COVID, the medical center’s patient numbers only got as high as 790.

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“We are completely full, in every surge area,” Dickson said.

Even at hospitals that have received assurances from Steward that closure is not imminent, officials are making plans.

Brockton Mayor Robert Sullivan said he hosted a meeting with executives from Steward’s Good Samaritan Medical Center, Signature’s Brockton Hospital, South Shore Health, and Brockton Neighborhood Health Center this past Tuesday. In those and other discussions, Steward officials told him that its North Shore hospitals are largely the ones that are troubled, and that Good Samaritan Hospital in Brockton is not closing.

Steward said in response that it has no current plans to close more hospitals.

But challenges in the region persist, particularly as Brockton hits the one-year anniversary of the fire that has kept Signature Healthcare’s Brockton Hospital temporarily closed.

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Sullivan said he was told during that meeting that the reopening of Signature is expected in June, which would help alleviate pressure on the surrounding health systems.

But that was still five months away.

“I’m concerned about long-term stability,” Sullivan said. “But I’m relying on good faith on what I’m being told.”


Jessica Bartlett can be reached at jessica.bartlett@globe.com. Follow her @ByJessBartlett. Suchita Nayar can be reached at suchita.nayar@globe.com.

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Canadian hydropower line to Massachusetts expected to be running in January

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Canadian hydropower line to Massachusetts expected to be running in January


The long-awaited hydropower line delivering electricity from Québec to New England is expected to be running in January after years of hurdles and delays, the company Hydro Québec stated.

“We have been actively testing the line and the transformers for the past several weeks and are making good progress,” a spokesperson for Hydro Québec said, adding the teams were actively working on both sides of the U.S.-Canada border and “expect to be ready begin energy deliveries in January.”

The New England Clean Energy Connect (NECEC) transmission line, initiated nearly in 2017 under the Baker administration and under construction since 2021, is set to deliver 1,200 megawatts of hydropower from Québec to New England over 20 years, becoming one of the largest sources of baseload power in the region.

Avangrid, the company behind the NECEC, announced in November it had secured the final permit to get the power line running after years of regulatory and legal hurdles. The company estimated the line would be running by the end of 2025 at the time.

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The project to bring Canadian hydropower to the New England power grid, estimated to cost about $1 billion, is expected to provide Massachusetts with approximately 20% of it overall electricity.

The clean energy line will deliver about $3 billion in net benefits to Massachusetts residents paying for electricity, including “reducing in ratepayer bills by around $50 million each year,” state officials said.

“This transmission line will deliver affordable, stable power from our partners in Canada to our residents and businesses,” Gov. Maura Healey said in November. “More energy means lower costs. The NECEC line is a key part of our all-of-the-above approach to lowering energy costs and delivering the power our economy needs.”

On average, officials estimated, residents can expect to save $18 to $20 a year over the contract term.



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NESN’S Tom Caron, Dave O’Brien Named 2025 NSMA Massachusetts Co-Sportscasters Of The Year

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NESN’S Tom Caron, Dave O’Brien Named 2025 NSMA Massachusetts Co-Sportscasters Of The Year


New England Sports Network (NESN) on Monday announced that Boston Red Sox broadcast leaders Tom Caron and Dave O’Brien have been named 2025 Massachusetts Co-Sportscasters of the Year by the National Sports Media Association (NSMA).

Caron and O’Brien serve as the cornerstone voices of NESN’s Red Sox coverage, leading the network’s studio and game productions, respectively. Together, they anchor NESN’s comprehensive Red Sox broadcasts, delivering in-depth analysis, trusted storytelling and championship-caliber coverage to fans across New England.

“Tom and Dave represent the gold standard of sports broadcasting,” said David Wisnia, President & CEO of NESN. “Their credibility, storytelling, and deep connection to Red Sox fans elevate every broadcast. This recognition by NSMA is a well-deserved honor and a reflection of their impact on New England sports media.”

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This recognition continues NESN’s tradition of broadcast excellence, following Jack Edwards’ selection as the 2024 NSMA Massachusetts Sportscaster of the Year for his work as the play-by-play voice of the Boston Bruins.

Tom Caron joined NESN in 1995, recently celebrating 30 years with the network. For the past 24 seasons, he has been a central figure in NESN’s Red Sox coverage, serving as the network’s first baseball sideline reporter before becoming host of the Red Sox pregame and postgame shows during the club’s historic 2004 championship season. In addition to leading NESN’s Red Sox studio programming and hosting the “310 To Left” VODcast, Caron has served as studio host for Boston Bruins hockey and as play-by-play announcer for premier New England college hockey events, including the Beanpot Tournament and Hockey East Championship. A nine-time New England Emmy Award winner, Caron was inducted into the Maine Sports Hall of Fame in 2021 and is deeply involved in numerous charitable organizations throughout the region, including serving as Co-Chair of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute’s Jimmy Fund.

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Dave O’Brien has served as NESN’s primary play-by-play voice of the Red Sox since 2016, following nine years with the Red Sox Radio Network. In addition to leading NESN’s game broadcasts, O’Brien is also the lead play-by-play announcer for college football and basketball on ESPN’s ACC Network. His career includes Major League Baseball postseason broadcasts, international World Series coverage, and play-by-play roles with the Florida Marlins, New York Mets, and Atlanta Braves. A Boston native, O’Brien is a recipient of multiple national and regional broadcasting honors and is widely respected as one of the sport’s premier voices.

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The National Sports Media Association annually recognizes excellence in sports media across the country, honoring broadcasters who demonstrate outstanding professionalism, longevity, and impact in their markets.

About NESN
NESN is consistently one of the top-rated regional sports networks in the country with award-winning Red Sox and Bruins coverage, and recently named RSN of the Year by Cynopsis. NESN and NESN+ are delivered throughout the six-state New England region and are available anytime, anywhere, on any device on the NESN 360 app via direct subscription or TV authentication. The network is also distributed nationally as NESN National. NESN’s free ad-supported streaming (FAST) channel, NESN NATION, offers 35+ hours of weekly live and original programming, including exclusive sports content, interviews, and behind-the-scenes features, available on Samsung TV Plus, Prime Video, Roku, LG, Twitch, Plex, and TCLtv+. NESN.com is one of the country’s most visited sports websites with dedicated digital video production and always-on news coverage. NESN’s social responsibility program, NESN Connects, is proud to support and connect its employees with charitable organizations in the Greater Boston community. NESN also manages SportsNet Pittsburgh, home of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Pittsburgh Pirates for all regionally televised games in and around Pittsburgh, as well as other local sports content. NESN is owned by Fenway Sports Group (owners of the Boston Red Sox) and Delaware North (owners of the Boston Bruins).

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Mass. weather: How much snow is expected across the state on Monday

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Mass. weather: How much snow is expected across the state on Monday


All of Massachusetts is predicted to see some snowfall in the latter half of the day on Monday, with most of the state getting 1 to 2 inches of accumulation, according to the National Weather Service.

Temperatures are expected to dip into the teens overnight on Sunday before rising into the mid to high 20s on Monday, the weather service said. Clouds are predicted to increase throughout the day before the snow begins in the afternoon.

Berkshire County could see some light snow Sunday night and Monday morning, but heavier precipitation is expected to begin by 1 p.m. Monday, according to the weather service. Most of the rest of the state is predicted to start seeing snow between 3 and 6 p.m., first in western Massachusetts, then spreading across the state.

The snowfall is expected to stop between 10 p.m. Monday and 1 a.m. Tuesday in most of Massachusetts, according to the weather service. Much of the state may also experience patchy fog Monday night.

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The northwestern half of Worcester County and most of Berkshire County is expected to get the most snow — up to 3 inches, according to the weather service. The Cape, Islands and South Coast are predicted to get less than an inch, and the rest of the state is expected to get 1 to 2 inches.

Most of Massachusetts is predicted to get 1 to 2 inches of snow Monday afternoon and evening, according to the National Weather Service.National Weather Service

Overnight lows on Monday are predicted to drop into the low to mid 20s, according to the weather service. Temperatures on Tuesday are expected to be warmer, reaching the mid 30s to low 40s.

There is a chance of rain in most of Massachusetts Tuesday afternoon, with precipitation more likely after 4 p.m., according to the weather service. Tuesday night is predicted to be rainy across the state, though the precipitation may come down as freezing rain or snow at higher elevations.

Temperatures overnight on Tuesday are expected to dip into the high 20s and low 30s before rising into the mid 40s on Wednesday, according to the weather service. Communities in the central and western parts of the state are predicted to see the rain cease by 10 a.m., while Eastern Massachusetts can expect to experience rain until midday.

Sunny skies are predicted across the state following the rain on Wednesday, according to the weather service.

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