Jan 22
January 22, 2026
Appeals court upholds 8 1/2-year sentence for Stash’s owner
January 22, 2026
South Bay eatery The Pearl to close this weekend
January 22, 2026
In the showdown over local property taxes, the Senate on Thursday advanced a relief bill and delivered a formal rebuke to Boston Mayor Michelle Wu’s tax shift plan.
State senators plan to vote Thursday on whether to allow cities and towns to offer credits and rebates during so-called property tax shock years.
John Barros, a businessman and former economic development chief under former Boston Mayor Marty Walsh, was appointed to lead the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority last Friday (Jan. 9).
With new amendments— including one from Sen. Liz Miranda that would cap residential tax hikes at 6 percent— filed on Monday afternoon and debate set for Thursday, the Senate is fast-tracking the measures after a contentious round of public testimony.
The Senate plans to soon debate a bundle of local tax relief bills, after its Ways and Means Committee voted Thursday to advance four bills meant to give municipalities tools to ease property tax burdens on lower- and middle-income homeowners, seniors on fixed incomes, and others.
The Massachusetts Convention Center Authority plans to tap businessman and former public official John Barros to lead the agency after significant turmoil and turnover of its leadership in recent years, according to sources familiar with the choice.
The Kraft Group and the cities of Boston and Everett have reached community benefit agreements tied to the development of a professional soccer stadium on a former industrial site in Everett.
State House News Service authors on the top ten stories of 2025 from the Beacon Hill perspective.
Mayor Michelle Wu is standing firm behind her proposed tax burden shift as others continue to warn about declining commercial property values and the growing city budget.
Analyst says big drop in commercial values require new approach
City councillors from Boston, Lawrence and Chelsea joined with advocates outside Boston City Hall to condemn federal immigration law enforcement action on Dec. 4, as the Trump administration unveiled a policy slashing the duration of work permits for asylum seekers.
Facing criticism for not addressing steep tax hikes in Boston and a legislative stalemate on Beacon Hill, the Senate plans to sidestep the House and possibly advance its own proposal that could deliver limited relief in any Massachusetts city or town.
Time-sensitive plan to lower tax bills for Boston residents stuck in neutral as Senate won’t assign it to a committee, according to State House News Service.
While housing construction is up and home prices have stabilized, researchers expect home buyers and renters will continue to face affordability headwinds in Massachusetts.
Home prices and rents have flattened in 2025 but are still “historically” high, according to a 108-page Greater Boston Housing Report Card 2025 released by The Boston Foundation and Boston Indicators on Wednesday.