Gov. Maura Healey has turned to 76 hotels and motels to bulk up the number of beds available under the state’s emergency shelter program. Dozens of contracts with social service organizations show nights at those sites can often run up to $300, a cost that includes food and supportive services.
The changes to the Massachusetts Senate staff's pay structure includes stipends for some non-English speakers, reimbursements for seeking licenses to practice social work or law, and salary re-evaluations for staff who earn Master’s degrees.
At least a dozen state lawmakers have so far announced that they will not seek reelection in the fall and will instead run for another office or move on to jobs in the private sector almost none announced plans to retire.