Latest news with #BayState
CBS News
2 days ago
- Science
- CBS News
Warming water globally leads to changes off the coast of Massachusetts
By AARON PARSEGHIAN As ocean temperatures continue to rise, the water around Massachusetts is warming with it and scientists said the changes are becoming increasingly visible along our coast. Colleen Bowie, who has visited Revere Beach for decades, said she has noticed differences over the years. "It's still beautiful, we're lucky to be here," Bowie said. "I appreciate it, but I wish it wasn't changing so much." Researchers said this summer's ocean temperatures in the Bay State are part of a clear climate change trend. That warmth may be behind recent unusual sightings and health advisories — from a manatee spotted in Mashpee earlier this month to an alert in Falmouth about vibrio vulnificus, a bacteria that can cause a flesh-eating disease typically found along the Gulf Coast. Dr. Kristina Dahl, Vice President of Science at Climate Central, said warming waters are allowing new species to migrate north and creating conditions for harmful bacteria and algal blooms to thrive. "With future global warming, we'll continue to see the oceans warm," Dahl said. "And we'll continue to see this poleward march of many species and the sorts of things you're seeing with respect to bacteria, or harmful algal blooms offshore. I lived on Cape Cod for years and the idea that you would see a manatee is just nuts. Obviously, animals are unpredictable. So you get things like isolated one-off animals showing up in weird places just somewhat naturally. But given that manatees are a warm water species, you don't expect to see them in Massachusetts normally but it could be a sign or symptom of our warming temperatures." The warming trend is already driving traditional Massachusetts marine life, such as cod and lobster, further north in search of colder waters, according to researchers in Woods Hole. "One of the remarkable things is just how quickly the oceans are changing," said Glen Gawarkiewicz, senior scientist at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. "It's absolutely important that we keep up our ocean observations." Over the last two decades, the frequency of warm salty water breaking off from the Gulf Stream and making its way up the east coast has increased 70%, according to Gawarkiewicz. "We're fortunate now to be working more closely with the commercial fishing industry. And we have more and more fishing vessels that are taking temperature and salinity profiles," he added. "But a lot of these changes have been unexpected."
Forbes
5 days ago
- Politics
- Forbes
Proposed Massachusetts Ballot Measures Would Recriminalize Weed Sales
Two proposed ballot measure in Massachusetts would end legal sales of recreational marijuana, despite the widespread popularity of regulated adult-use cannabis in the Bay State. If passed, the ballot measures would prohibit sales of recreational weed in Massachusetts while retaining regulated sales of medical cannabis. The two similar ballot proposal were filed by Caroline Cunningham, who campaigned against a proposal to legalize psychedelics in Massachusetts, according to a report from online cannabis news outlet Marijuana Moment. The psychedelics initiative was opposed by nearly 57% of voters in the November general election last year. Proposals Outlaw Weed Sales, But Not Possession Of Small Amounts Of Pot Under both proposed ballot measures, titled 'An Act to Restore A Sensible Marijuana Policy,' the possession of up to one ounce of marijuana including up to five grams of cannabis concentrates would continue to be legal for adults aged 21 and older. Adults would also be permitted to gift cannabis to other adults without compensation. Possession of between one ounce and two ounces of weed would be decriminalized, although offenders would be subject to civil fines of up to $100 for the infraction. The measures would repeal sections of Massachusetts' cannabis legalization law, which was approved by nearly 54% of voters in 2016, that authorize recreational cannabis retailers. The proposals would also repeal access to regulated cannabis products by adults and provisions that legalize the home cultivation of marijuana. The two proposed ballot measures differ only slightly, with one setting potency limits on medical cannabis. If that version is approved, state regulators would be required to limit the potency of marijuana flower to 30% THC, while cannabis concentrates would be capped at 60%. Concentrates with more than 5mg THC per metered dose would also be banned. Concentrate products that 'fail to clearly provide metered, or otherwise measured, standard delivered servings' of 5 mg THC would also be prohibited, as would products that contain more than 20 5mg doses. Massachusetts Recriminalization Initiatives Face Hurdles To Appear On Ballot The two ballot proposals face a long road to approval in next year's general election. The petitions for the initiative must first pass muster with the state attorney general's office to ensure they meet constitutional requirements, with a decision due on September 3. If the initiative petitions are approved, backers would be required to gather at least 75,574 signatures from registered voters to file with the Secretary of the Commonwealth by December 3, according to a report from the Telegram & Gazette. If enough verified signatures are submitted, the proposals will be sent to the Massachusetts state legislature for consideration. If the legislature declines to do approve the initiatives, the supporters of the proposal would be given until July 1, 2026, to collect an additional 12,429 signatures to place the proposal on the ballot for next year's general election. The initiatives would then need the approval of a majority of voters to become law. Massachusetts Cannabis Regulator Faces Challenges The proposed ballot measures come as the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission struggles to effectively regulate that state's cannabis industry and protect public health. Just last week, the agency issued a public health and safety advisory announcing that more than 500 different products that had already entered the market were contaminated or potentially contaminated with mold or yeast. Steve Reilly, head of government relations at Massachusetts-based licensed cannabis multistate operator Insa, says that problems with the state's cannabis regulator are not sufficient grounds to scrap recreational cannabis legalization. 'The voters in Massachusetts have already made their decision clear when choosing to legalize adult-use cannabis,' Reilly writes in an emailed statement. 'It is important not to conflate the shortcomings of the Cannabis Control Commission with the fundamental merits of the program itself. The existence of regulatory challenges does not mean the program is flawed in principle; it means oversight must improve. 'The ballot questions propose to effectively legalize cannabis through illegal operators while shutting down the legal framework in place. Elected representatives on Beacon Hill are actively working to address industry-related issues and strengthen the system,' he continues. 'The solution is not to abandon a voter-approved program simply because regulators have fallen short, it is to ensure that those tasked with oversight are held accountable and that reforms are implemented to make the industry fair, transparent, and effective.' Nearly Two-Thirds Of Massachusetts Residents Support Weed Legalization The proposed ballot measures will have to change the minds of voters to be successful at the ballot box. In April 2024, a survey from MassINC Polling Group found that 65% of Massachusetts residents think that legalizing marijuana in the state was the right decision.
Yahoo
08-08-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Mass. student turns terrifying choking incident into legislative action
For Madeleine Elizabeth Jackman, the only thing scarier than choking as members of her family looked on was realizing that 'no one sitting around me knew what to do.' 'In a whole restaurant full of people, only one customer, a registered nurse, had the proper training to save my life,' Jackman, of Newburyport, said. That fateful moment brought Jackman, the president of her Red Cross Club at Newburyport High School, and a rising senior, into contact with state Senate Minority Leader Bruce E. Tarr. And together, they hatched a plan that would become a bill, and, they hope, eventually, the law of the land in the Bay State. Namely, making CPR training and training on defibrillators a high school graduation requirement. And last week, Jackman and Tarr, R-1st Essex/Middlesex, made the case for the bill before the Legislature's Joint Committee on Education. 'There's a lack of CPR training amongst the population, and though I was lucky, it can cost lives,' Jackman told the panel during a public hearing in Gardner Auditorium at the State House last week. 'Now, here's an even more shocking statistic: Massachusetts is one of only seven states in all of America in which CPR is not already a high school graduation requirement,' Jackman continued. 'We are a state that prides itself on providing the best access to health care in the world, and yet we are not granting the same access to our students,' she continued. 'CPR itself is a straightforward yet immeasurably impactful skill that can be taught in under two hours.' Right now, such training is a part of the curriculum in Massachusetts's public schools, Tarr, of Gloucester, told his colleagues. 'But certification in CPR and the use of an AED is not required, making us an outlier among the states,' he said. 'So this bill, and others like it that are before the committee, seek to codify that and ensure that it is a graduation requirement." One of those bills was filed by Rep. Carol Doherty, D-3rd Bristol, a veteran lawmaker who died, at 82, earlier this year after a battle with pancreatic cancer. Doherty's successor, newly elected Rep. Lisa Field, also a Democrat, has taken up the baton and is pursuing passage of that bill. Like Jackman, Tarr dived into the data to make the case for the legislation. Of the more than 350,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests that occur nationwide every year, only 41% of the victims receive CPR from passersby before EMTs arrive, Tarr noted. But when that life-saving care is administered, 'it increases the chance of survival by a factor of two to three times.' 'And so it's imperative that we have a trained group of bystanders in our communities to be able to respond to these situations, which happen every day,' Tarr told his colleagues. Kyle McWilliam-Lopez, the executive director of the American Red Cross' northeastern Massachusetts office, underscored the urgency of CPR and AED training. 'With an AED, every second counts, so it's so important that people of all ages learn how to perform CPR and use an AED,' he told lawmakers. 'Now, we have a long history at the Red Cross of training people to save lives. And we continue to address today's most urgent needs,' he continued. 'Last year in Massachusetts, we trained more than 145,000 people in health insurance safety skills. It is our hope that that number continues to rise and that it will carry through to the next generation of lifeguards, EMTs, paramedics and health professionals.' And while she's waited for Beacon Hill to act, Jackman said she took matters into her own hands, starting a group called 'The Heart Stars' initiative, a program where she and her classmates teach CPR. 'I've seen a real community interest in learning CPR and making training more accessible,' Jackman told lawmakers. 'But the reality is that it is a struggle for adults to fit a CPR class amid their busy lives.' 'The solution is our youth,' she said, noting that making CPR certification a graduation requirement is an 'incredible opportunity to ensure that every future adult in Massachusetts can adequately perform CPR.' Markey plays the endorsement game Normally, we regard political endorsements in much the same way that we view baseball cards: They're fun to collect and trade with your friends, but only a handful have any lasting value. That has not stopped U.S. Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., from gallivanting around the state and sewing up key endorsements as he runs for reelection on Capitol Hill. And, of course, to head off any more potential primary challengers. Markey, 78, of Malden, has faced questions about his age: He'll be 80 on Election Day, as some Democrats push for a generational change in Washington. Alex Rikleen, 38, of Acton, is so far the only Democratic candidate to throw his hat in the ring for 2026. He has never sought elected office before, according to his campaign's website. Last week, Markey claimed the support of key Boston Democrats in the State House, including the very clout-y state Rep. Aaron Michlewitz, the North End Democrat who chairs the budget-writing House Ways and Means Committee, our friends at MASSterList report. That comes on top of key endorsements from U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, D-1st District, the ranking Democrat on the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, and a roster of influential Western Massachusetts pols. Markey also swung through Newton, the home turf of U.S. Rep. Jake Auchincloss, D-4th, who is often mentioned as a possible 2026 contender — though he insists (without actually saying 'No' to a bid) he's running for reelection to his House seat. When the Moon Hits Your Eye, etc. What's the most iconic pizza style? Ask 10 people, and you're going to get 10 different answers. Some will insist it's the thin-crusted New York-style pie. Others? They'll swear by the pillow-y Grandma pizza. If you're west of the Mississippi, get ready to brawl over Chicago-style deep dish. Or maybe Detroit-style is more your speed. And you have to come from Pennsylvania to fully appreciate the joint conundrums of Old Forge and Altoona-style pizza. But the Bay State? There's a plethora of pizza, but none that can lay claim to being the signature style. Enter state Sen. Michael Brady, D-2nd Plymouth/Norfolk, who's got a bill in the oven that would make the iconic South Shore bar pizza the state's official pie. As Axios notes, the bill could face a fight. What with the North End being a redoubt for New York-style and the legendary Neapolitan-style pie. Whatever happens, the debate will likely be ... delicious ... What's your fave style? Whose pizza reigns supreme? Let me know at jmicek@ Mass. Senate passes 'Blue Envelope' bill Lawmakers in the majority-Democrat state Senate have approved legislation designed to avert potentially difficult interactions between law enforcement and people living with autism spectrum disorder. The 'Blue Envelope' bill, sponsored by Sen. Joanne M. Comerford, D-Hampshire/Franklin/Worcester, authorizes special blue envelopes for people with autism spectrum disorder that hold the driver's license and registration. The front of the envelopes includes specific instructions for law enforcement officers on the driver's diagnosis, impairments, triggers, emergency contact information, as well as best practices for communicating, Comerford's office said in a statement. The program is voluntary. And in other states where it's in place, such as Connecticut, it's been shown to reduce stress and improve safety during traffic stops — which are pretty stressful, in general. 'The Blue Envelope bill makes our commonwealth a safer place for people who are neuro-diverse,' the Northampton lawmaker said. 'It moves us closer to equal opportunity and access for people of all abilities.' The bill now heads to the state House for further action. Monday Numbers Last week's Boston Globe/Suffolk University poll provided some interesting insights into the mood of the voters in the state's largest city when it comes to such key issues as education, affordability and housing. (And, oh yeah, that whole mayoral campaign thing, too). The poll found Boston voters pretty bullish on the Boston Police Department, with more than two-thirds (66%) saying they believed the department 'generally [does] a good job and [treats] people of different races fairly, even if there are a few bad apples on the force.' Which doesn't mean, however, that a majority of city voters wouldn't like to see some changes. More than half of the poll's 500 likely voter respondents (52.2%) said they'd support 'cutting some funding from the police and using the money for social services — for instance, to help the homeless and the mentally ill." Thirty-eight percent of respondents opposed the proposition, while 9.2% were undecided. The poll, conducted from July 13 to July 16, had a margin of error of 4.4%. Read more MassLive Politics coverage The 3 big numbers to care about in the new Boston mayoral poll — and one bonus ADL says it's tracking group that took credit for State House vandalism 4 rich Mass. colleges dodged a big Trump tax, and may have an unlikely ally to thank Mass. Dems to use summer break to hit GOP on Epstein, 'Big Beautiful Bill.' Will it work? Boston kicks Republic to the curb; will start imposing fines over trash strike Mass. House approves massive $1.2B roads and bridges bill. Here's what's in it for you Mass. reps meet with ex-Columbia grad student detained by ICE, later released Gabriel House fire ratchets up state's assisted living probe; here's what might come of it They Said It 'That Harvard education is paying off for you.' — U.S. District Court Judge Allison D. Burroughs jabs a Trump administration attorney during a hearing on canceled government funding for Harvard University. What Goes On Hundreds of renters from across Massachusetts are expected to converge on the State House on Tuesday as a legislative panel hears testimony on a bill that would impose new limits on rent increases. The proposal sponsored by Sen. Patricia Jehlen, D-2nd Middlesex, would limit those hikes to the inflation rate, with a cap of 5%. It's set to get an airing before the Legislature's Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government at 1 p.m. on Tuesday in the Gardner Auditorium in the State House. Those renters are expected to start the day with an 11:30 a.m. rally on the State House steps on the Beacon Street side of the building, organizers said in an email. 'Out-of-control housing costs driven by corporate real estate investors make it impossible for hundreds of thousands of Massachusetts residents to make ends meet,' they argued. Turned up to 11 The Goo Goo Dolls and Dashboard Confessional co-headline a show at the Leader Bank Pavilion in Boston's Seaport neighborhood at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday (tickets and more information here). From 1995, here's 'Name,' the tune that put the Goo Goo Dolls on a path to stadium-sized popularity. Your Monday Long Read If you're one of the millions of people who log onto Reddit every day, congratulations, you're helping to keep one of the last vestiges of the delightfully weird, non-corporate, old internet alive. But thanks to the rise of AI, the site is facing new challenges, even as its popularity explodes thanks to folks who've just had it with algorithm-driven social media. Writing for NYMag's Intelligencer, John Herrman, explains the tension. Here's the germane bit: 'According to Similarweb, it's one of the largest properties online; if you take away social apps like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, and utilities like Google and ChatGPT, its closest competition among websites is Wikipedia. 'In 2023, according to the company, Reddit had around 60 million unique visitors a day; its latest earnings report puts the number at 108 million a day, 400 million a week, and, according to conservative estimates, well over a billion different people using it every month. About those earnings reports: In 2024, Reddit went public. Its stock price popped, then climbed alongside its traffic. Revenue is way up, and after years of losses, the company eked out a slim profit in the last quarter.' 'Why now? Reddit's co-founder and current CEO, Steven Huffman, suggests the answer is obvious. 'When we started Reddit, it was a web page of 25 links from around the internet,' he says. 'Now, 20 years later, you're stumbling into some thread where people are telling stories they've never told before and it drifts into life advice for someone who lives 2,000 miles away.' He didn't see that coming, he says, but 'in hindsight, it actually makes a lot of sense.' That's it for today. As always, tips, comments and questions can be sent to jmicek@ Have a good week, friends. Read more analysis from John L. Micek A nicotine-free Mass.? These lawmakers say 'yes' | Bay State Briefing She got out. Then she gave back: How a Boston woman went from incarceration to inspiration The Revolution started here. These Mass. lawmakers think the Democrats' reboot should too Read the original article on MassLive. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
04-08-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Sports betting brought trouble for gamblers, not jobs for Mass., UMass research finds
SPRINGFIELD — More Massachusetts gamblers are reporting harm to their personal lives than before sports betting was legalized in the Bay State. That's negative repercussions to financial status, health, emotional and physical well-being, family and relationships, work and school performance, according to research detailed Thursday by gambling behavior expert Rachel Volberg, a research professor of epidemiology in the University of Massachusetts Amherst School of Public Health and Health Sciences. 'The main thing that changed between 2022 and 2024 was the introduction of sports betting,' Volberg said in an interview. 'We can't prove causation. We certainly can say there is a correlation.' Researchers called for harm reduction measures, like education and more awareness efforts, as well as budgeting tools. At the same time, sports betting is not driving economic growth, according to her fellow UMass economists who, like Volberg, work in the Social and Economic Impacts of Gambling in Massachusetts research team at the Donahue Institute in Hadley. Both SEIGMA teams presented their intertwined findings Thursday to the Massachusetts Gaming Commission. Ninety-five percent of sports gaming is done online. That means fewer economic ripples in the real world. Sports betting has generated just 118 jobs in the state since online and in-person sports books opened in 2023, UMass researchers said. There are 5,341 jobs generated by the three casinos: MGM Springfield, Encore Boston Harbor and Plainridge Park. MGM accounts for 1,562 employees alone. MGM's Springfield Sportsbook employs 13, according to the casino's most recent report to the Gaming Commission. Economists found that sports betting reallocated $333 million a year in betting away from casinos and into sports books, costing jobs at the resorts. Volberg said she and the social impact team track reactions from gamblers since 2013, surveying about 1,500 of them at any given time. The project, funded by the Gaming Commission, gives her insight into changes in gambling behavior over time. 'Between 2022 and 2023, we saw a decline in the proportion of monthly gamblers who believed that all types of gambling should be legal and a small increase in the proportion who believed that all types of gambling should be illegal,' she said. Rates of those reporting harm in the area of finances rose from 18% in 2022 to 25% in fall 2024, and harmed family or relationships went from 13.9% to 27.2% in the same time period. Stories by Jim Kinney After word of potential Mercy sale, Baystate CEO reassures staff but points to nondisclosure, confidentiality Pridelands on Main St., outdoor beer garden funded through ARPA, drawing crowds Electric rates will rise Friday Read the original article on MassLive. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
30-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Sun Life U.S. now offering Family Leave Insurance in Massachusetts
WELLESLEY, Mass., July 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Sun Life U.S. now offers Family Leave Insurance (FLI) in Massachusetts, allowing employers based in the Bay State to offer family leave benefits to all employees across their organization, even those located in other states. FLI supports those taking leave to care for a family member or bond with a new child, similar to how short-term disability (STD) insurance supports those taking leave for their own illness or injury. While STD insurance provides income replacement during a medical leave, FLI comparably provides income replacement for family leave, filling a substantial gap by creating a more comprehensive policy for employees, and broadening access to those working outside of Massachusetts. While Massachusetts also has mandated paid family and medical leave (PFML), FLI complements this program by filling income replacement gaps for higher-wage earners. Employees working in other PFML mandated states, such as Connecticut or Maine (upcoming in 2026), would receive similar income gap coverage. "FLI is valuable across state lines, whether there are mandated leave programs or not, because it provides an important benefit to all employees equally," said Sheila Sokolski, vice president, Product Strategy and Portfolio Management, Group Benefits, Sun Life U.S. "As a fully insured offering, FLI is especially meaningful for small and mid-size employers who want to offer the benefit without the risk of self-funding, and they get an insurance product built using Sun Life's decades of disability leave and absence management expertise." Sun Life has long been an advocate for paid leave, working with multiple state legislatures over the last several years to include a private plan option alongside mandated programs. More recently, Sun Life has championed the federal paid leave tax credit for employers, which was made permanent in recent tax legislation. Sun Life FLI aligns with the current tax credit and will align with upcoming changes in the new legislation. Sun Life offers FLI in 14 other states: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Wyoming, and will begin quoting in Michigan and West Virginia next month. With Sun Life FLI, employees have the benefit of Sun Life's online claims submission, and employers can track employees' leave details, supporting overall health and productivity management. A recording of Sun Life's recent webinar on FLI can be found here. Sun Life FLI will be available for quoting in Massachusetts, Michigan and West Virginia on August 1, with additional states expected to approve filing throughout 2025. For more information visit About Sun LifeSun Life is a leading international financial services organization providing asset management, wealth, insurance and health solutions to individual and institutional Clients. Sun Life has operations in a number of markets worldwide, including Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Japan, Indonesia, India, China, Australia, Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia and Bermuda. As of March 31, 2025, Sun Life had total assets under management of C$1.55 trillion. For more information, please visit Sun Life Financial Inc. trades on the Toronto (TSX), New York (NYSE) and Philippine (PSE) stock exchanges under the ticker symbol SLF. Sun Life U.S. is one of the largest providers of employee and government benefits, helping approximately 50 million Americans access the care and coverage they need. Through employers, industry partners and government programs, Sun Life U.S. offers a portfolio of benefits and services, including dental, vision, disability, absence management, life, supplemental health, medical stop-loss insurance, and healthcare navigation. Sun Life employs more than 8,300 people in the U.S., including associates in our partner dental practices and affiliated companies in asset management. Group insurance policies are issued by Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada (Wellesley Hills, Mass.), except in New York, where policies are issued by Sun Life and Health Insurance Company (U.S.) (Lansing, Mich.). For more information visit our website and newsroom. Media contacts Devon FernaldSun Life Connect with Sun Life U.S. Facebook: Linkedin: View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Sun Life U.S. Melden Sie sich an, um Ihr Portfolio aufzurufen.
