CommonWealth Beacon

06/11/2026

It took almost 30 years for the first phase of the South Coast Rail project to come to fruition, connecting the Gateway Cities of Taunton, Fall River, New Bedford, and Brockton to Boston, and bringing passenger rail back to the region for the first time since 1958.

State and local leaders say the project has since helped bolster the region’s economic competitiveness, tourism, and housing growth. A second phase, which would add new stops and provide faster, electrified service, remains in limbo.
https://buff.ly/GK2L4wT

Map courtesy of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation

06/10/2026

The world’s biggest sports spectacle kicks off this week. With Boston as one of 16 host cities, Massachusetts will be in the spotlight as thousands of international fans flock to the Commonwealth. Are we ready? And is hosting these sorts of mega-events worth it?

This week on The Codcast, Chris Dempsey, the former co-chair of “No Boston Olympics,” joins CommonWealth Beacon reporter Jordan Wolman to discuss whether this time is any different from more than a decade ago when Dempsey successfully fought against Boston’s bid to play home base for the 2024 Olympics.

Listen at the link below, on Apple Podcasts, or Spotify: https://buff.ly/WKsVubX

06/09/2026

A transmission line from Canada had not delivered any hydropower into New England for two weeks before it flickered back to life on Tuesday. Meanwhile, the wind farm off the coast of Martha’s Vineyard is producing power at less than half of its expected capacity.

The two setbacks signal continued challenges ahead as Massachusetts works to shift off fossil fuels while meeting growing power needs and maintaining reliability. https://buff.ly/hg1nssQ

06/08/2026

Massachusetts voted to ban rent control 32 years ago. Could voters restore the practice this November – with what would be one of the strictest rent control polices in the country – or will compromise legislation move instead?
Chris Lisinski and Jennnifer Smith have the latest on where the issue stands: https://buff.ly/UkgAAUE

Plus, more on why the rent control referendum is splitting progressives: https://buff.ly/Uk9cKYq

06/08/2026

OPINION: Massachusetts should not have to choose between expanding primary care and protecting affordability. The CVS-Mass General Brigham affiliation can advance both goals—but only if regulators ensure that the benefits of more access are not overwhelmed by higher prices.

Massachusetts should not have to choose between expanding primary care and protecting affordability. The CVS-Mass General Brigham affiliation can advance both goals—but only if regulators ensure that...

06/08/2026

New on the Codcast: The World Cup has arrived, but how are the vibes?

Matches in the world’s biggest sports spectacle will kick off this week across North America. With Boston as one of the host cities — seven matches will be played at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, which will be renamed Boston Stadium for the World Cup tournament — Massachusetts will be in the spotlight as it hosts thousands of international fans and will need to safely move people between the city and a stadium some 22 miles away by rail. Are we ready? And is hosting these sorts of mega-events even worth it? This week on The Codcast, Chris Dempsey, the former co-chair of “No Boston Olympics” joins CommonWealth Beacon reporter Jordan Wolman to discuss whether this time is any different from more than a decade ago when Dempsey successfully fought against Boston’s bid to play home base for the 2024 Olympics.

Listen now:

Matches in the world’s biggest sports spectacle will kick off this week across North America. With Boston as one of the host cities — seven matches will be played at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough,...

06/08/2026

New in OPINION: The House’s anti-transparency bill

This bill is not transparency. It is a legislative workaround dressed up as reform.

06/08/2026

Co-chair of the successful 2024 No Boston Olympics campaign Chris Dempsey sits down with Jordan Wolman on this week’s Codcast. To hear his answer to Jordan's question, listen Monday when the new episode drops at 6 a.m.
Listen at the link, on Apple Podcasts, or Spotify: https://buff.ly/2MOlvyt

06/06/2026

New in OPINION: When it comes to CVS proposal, Massachusetts needs more primary care – but without Mass General Brigham prices

Massachusetts should not have to choose between expanding primary care and protecting affordability. The CVS-Mass General Brigham affiliation can advance both goals—but only if regulators ensure that...

06/05/2026

In its redraft of a Senate bill, House lawmakers signed off on frameworks to limit collection and sale of private data, ensure consumers have a right to know about what data is being collected, opt-out of some data collection, and have their data deleted on request.

Jennifer Smith breaks down the details: https://buff.ly/MwKXxnh