MassDOT encourages travelers to plan ahead and travel safely during the Memorial Day holiday weekend.  The heaviest traffic is expected Thursday, Friday, and Monday afternoons and early evenings.  Drivers are encouraged to make travel plans accordingly and if possible avoid peak traffic volumes between 1pm and 7pm on those days.

Falls are the leading cause of injury to children, and falls from windows involving young children are especially serious. Window falls are preventable.

The Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development today reported that the April 2012 seasonally unadjusted unemployment rates were down in 21 labor areas and up in one area, Amherst.  The labor force, unemployment rates and jobs estimates, for Massachusetts and for every other state, are based on statistical methodologies specified by the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Honor, remember, and celebrate.  Plan your Memorial Day weekend.

The MBTA has announced its service schedule for Memorial Day, Monday, May 28, 2012.

Don't drive if you have been drinking at all. Your ability to operate a motor vehicle can be compromised even if your blood alcohol content is below the legal limit.

Governor Deval Patrick announced that the Obama Administration has approved $628 million to support the Patrick-Murray Administration’s initiative for integrated care and alternative payment models at Massachusetts safety net hospitals.

Massachusetts is honored as the 3rd most "Bicycle Friendly State" by the League of American Bicyclists.  The state's rank has gone up dramatically from 9th in 2011 and 19th in 2010.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau took its first step toward adopting consumer protections for the fast-growing prepaid card market.

Massachusetts Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rick Sullivan and Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) Executive Director Fred Laskey today announced a new policy for public access to open space along historic aqueducts in 14 communities across the state.

Take a moment to see what Massachusetts teens have to say about “Safe Jobs for Youth.”

Resolving allegations that it unlawfully removed naturally occurring cobble on Nantasket Beach, the Town of Hull has agreed to a settlement that will protect this natural resource in the future, Attorney General Martha Coakley announced.

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) Transit Police Department announced the release of the See Say smartphone app. With this new iPhone App, riders are able to easily and instantly report suspicious activity on the MBTA to Transit Police. In just a few clicks, riders can share pictures, text, and incident location details.

Although the first official day of summer is one month away, it already feels like it’s arrived here in Massachusetts! When most of us think about summertime in the Commonwealth, images of lobsters, beaches, family barbeques, and rising temperatures come to mind. However, it’s also important to remember that the job market also tends to heat up during the summer months. For many employers, the summer months signal a time to hire both seasonal and long-term staff members.

Responding to a Supreme Judicial Court decision issued on Thursday, Attorney General Martha Coakley, State Senator Katherine Clark (D-Melrose), and House Judiciary Chairman Eugene L. O’Flaherty (D-Charlestown) announced today that that they are taking action to close an important loophole in an effort to toughen the laws against repeat drunk drivers.

May 19-26 is Safe Boating Week and with Memorial Day approaching, we at the Massachusetts Environmental Police are urging boaters to make this a safe boating season.

Warmer temperatures are finally upon us, and it’s a great time to think of ways to be physically active with our families. Being active as a family helps children feel confident about themselves and their bodies as they grow, and seeing you as a parent being physically active reinforces the importance of exercise for your kids. 

Governor Deval Patrick joined legislators and family members to sign Senate Bill 2132, “An Act Relative to Medical Emergency Response Plans for Schools.” Local school districts will now be required to develop efficient written medical response plans to be better prepared to respond to life-threatening emergencies.

The Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development today reported that the Bureau of Labor Statistics' preliminary April 2012 estimates show that Massachusetts added 2,500 jobs over the month, for a total of 3,242,900 jobs. The April job gain follows a revised 7,500 job gain in March. The total unemployment rate dropped to 6.3 percent, 0.2 percentage points below the March rate of 6.5 percent and well below the national rate of 8.1 percent.

With Memorial Day and Safe Boating Week approaching, the Massachusetts Environmental Police urge boaters to make this a safe boating season. In addition to wearing lifejackets, state officials recommend that boaters take a boating safety course, operate boats only while sober and make sure their boats have the required safety equipment onboard.

Fire and Environmental Officials warn residents about the handling of pool chemicals.  Every year more than 5,000 people nationwide are sent to the hospital with pool chemical related injuries.

The Department of Public Utilities (DPU) approved NSTAR’s lowest electric rates since 2004, the latest example of how falling natural gas prices have benefited Massachusetts ratepayers. Driven by lower prices for natural gas used to fuel power plants, electricity prices have dropped significantly from their peak in 2008 and 2009, resulting in total household bills reduced by almost 25 percent. Average bills for residential customers have dropped from about $150 per month to about $112 today. 

Governor Patrick often talks about the importance of governing at the place where policy touches people.  Nowhere can that interaction be seen more clearly than in the work of the Child & Youth Readiness Cabinet.

Operators under 18 years of age must take the OHV Safety and Responsibility Course to legally operate in Massachusetts. In order to obtain an OHV Safety and Responsibility Course completion certificate, you must complete two distinct courses.

MassDOT crews will begin road work on the Anderson Memorial Bridge onTuesday, May 29, at 7 a.m.  During work on the bridge, which carries North Harvard Street over the Charles River between Cambridge and Boston, the downstream sidewalk will be closed and traffic will be reduced to one lane in each direction until further notice. Bicyclists will share the eastbound and westbound lanes.

This week's flu report shows that rates of flu-like illness have dropped slightly since last week, as measured on a geographic basis.

Lieutenant Governor Timothy Murray announced a $300,000 grant for DevelopSpringfield to aid in the implementation of the Tornado Rebuilding Master Plan. Since the June 1 tornadoes, the Patrick-Murray Administration has been committed to supporting the rebuilding efforts in all of the affected communities.  

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) is encouraging residents to stay vigilant against tick bites when they’re outdoors this spring and summer. Ticks are present in our environment anytime temperatures are above freezing, but they’re especially active as temperatures get warmer in spring and summer. If not removed promptly from the skin, ticks can transmit Lyme disease, a serious but treatable illness.

The Massachusetts Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation announced the creation of several fictional websites that warn internet users of the increasing amount of scams across cyberspace and how to avoid becoming a victim.

Asthma affects people of all ages. Yet, while there is a lot of literature out there about asthma in children, there’s a huge lack of information available on asthma in older adults (those aged 65 and older). And with an overall lack of knowledge about asthma in this age group, older adults continue to be under-diagnosed and under-treated.

The 2012 NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship is being held the weekend of May 26-28, 2012, at Gillette Stadium. The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) Commuter Rail is pleased to provide special event train service from South Station in Boston to Gillette Stadium to accommodate passengers.

On Wednesday, May 16, 2012, the Senate Ways & Means committee released their Fiscal Year 2013 budget. The final budget (after it is enacted by the Legislature and approved by the Governor) will take effect on July 1, 2012 and run through June 30, 2013.

Settling allegations that it made unsubstantiated health-related claims in the marketing of its line of rocker-bottom shoe products, Skechers USA, Inc., entered into a consent judgment  with Attorney General Martha Coakley, the Federal Trade Commission and Attorneys General from 44 other states. Skechers will pay $40 million for consumer refunds and an additional $5 million to the states, with Massachusetts receiving $106,000.

Lieutenant Governor Timothy Murray  announced the state’s Military Asset and Security Strategy Task Force will expand to include four subcommittees: Business, Industry and Military Alignment; Education, Innovation and Workforce Development; Community and Municipal Support and Engagement; and Military Mission, Operations, Opportunities and Efficiencies.  

Mental health affects all of us in everything we do. Yet few people actually talk about it. That’s about to change. One reason people don’t discuss mental health or seek the help they need is because of the shame and societal discrimination attached to mental health problems. How can something that all of us experience be regarded as socially unacceptable?

Each year, 45 agricultural fairs are held all across the Commonwealth, from Cape Cod to the Berkshires. While fair activities differ from event to event, most include live music, farm exhibits, arts and crafts shows, garden demonstrations, 4-H and children’s activities! These family friendly events offer something for everyone.

Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Richard K. Sullivan Jr. and Department of Energy Resources (DOER) Commissioner Mark Sylvia today presented a $206,475 grant to the city of Beverly, one of the state's newest Green Communities, to fund clean energy projects at city schools.

Seventy-seven western Massachusetts municipalities recycled more than 31,000 tons of plastic, paper, metals and glass during 2011, with the communities receiving more than $1.4 million in payments for the recyclables delivered.

To help save you time at the grocery store, WIC has designed shelf tags that have the WIC logo on them. These shelf tags can be used by grocery stores to help you identify WIC approved foods easily and quickly – making trips to the grocery store short and sweet.

Joseph G. Murphy, the Commissioner of the Patrick-Murray Administration's Division of Insurance, issued an order disapproving the Massachusetts Property Insurance Underwriters Association (“MPIUA”) proposed rate filings for home insurance policies across the state through the FAIR Plan.

MassDOT Secretary and CEO Richard A. Davey joined Congressman Mike Capuano along with state and local officials to celebrate the opening of the new Chelsea Street Bridge carrying Chelsea Street over the Chelsea Creek at the Boston/Chelsea line.  The bridge reopened to traffic on Saturday, May 12.

Lieutenant Governor Timothy Murray joined Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) Commissioner Edward Lambert at Quinsigamond State Park to launch DCR’s Summer Recreational Season. 

Here is the planned schedule of events for the 2012 Becoming An Outdoorswoman Program.

Using the sun to power our homes, businesses, and government buildings has come a long way in Massachusetts. Solar capacity has increased 30-fold since 2007, when Governor Patrick set his goal of installing 250 megawatts by 2017. We’re now at 105 MW installed, with solar arrays in at least 334 of our 351 cities and towns.

Welcome to the 2012 season of free, fun-filled events at the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation’s (DCR) Hatch Memorial Shell on the Charles River Esplanade in Boston.

State Treasurer Steven Grossman announced the kickoff of “Operation Safe Spring,” an enhanced intervention and enforcement effort aimed at reducing the incidence of underage drinking.  The initiative is timed during this potentially dangerous time of year when classes end and high school proms and graduations take place throughout the Commonwealth.

With the mosquito season approaching, officials from the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (DAR) are advising horse owners to take preventative measures to protect animals against mosquito-borne diseases like West Nile virus (WNV) and Eastern Equine Encephalitis virus (EEE).

Nearly half of all employed people in Massachusetts are working in small businesses, and these small businesses represent the best opportunities for economic growth and prosperity in the Commonwealth. To ensure that state government is creating the conditions for small businesses to thrive, the Patrick-Murray Administration has implemented the most significant and impactful regulatory reform initiative in Massachusetts history. The initiative has four parts aimed at reducing small business impacts of new regulations, reviewing and reevaluating the continued need for “old” regulations, increasing awareness of state government regulators, and maintaining open lines of communications with the business community on the topic of regulation.

Governor Deval Patrick proclaimed the month of May to be Asian Pacific Heritage Month during a celebration in the State House. Governor Patrick was joined by members of the Governor’s Asian American Commission, elected officials and members of the Asian Pacific American community.

MassDOT contractors are making major progress this week in the reconstruction of the Holloway Street Bridge over Route 140 in Taunton.

Artesani Park in Brighton (Boston), Saturday, June 9th from 10:00AM–3:00PM.

The Department of Public Health (DPH) announced that it will pass emergency amendments to regulations that will eliminate provisions in the Nutritional Standards for Competitive Foods in Schools that pertain to foods and beverages in classroom and school-sponsored events and fundraising activities such as bake sales.

This week's flu report shows a slight decline in rates of flu-like illness since last week's report.

High blood pressure is known as “the silent killer,” and with good reason — there are usually no symptoms. Fact is, about one-third of American adults have high blood pressure and don’t know it. When people don’t know they have high blood pressure, it means they aren’t taking the medicine that could drastically reduce their risk for heart disease, a heart attack or stroke.

MBTA riders will have a new and innovative way to get around the system. The MBTA is excited to announce that the T is the first U.S transit agency to have indoor maps of its stations in Google Maps for Android. 

With spring upon us, many people are looking to get out and enjoy the outdoors. One of the best ways to see some of the most beautiful scenery in Massachusetts and enjoy hiking, swimming, biking, fishing, and other activities is to reserve a campsite at one of the Department of Conservation and Recreation’s campgrounds that are located all around the state.

In keeping with the Patrick-Murray Administration's commitment to responsible fiscal management, the Executive Office for Administration and Finance today released the Commonwealth’s first formal policy to ensure long-term fiscal sustainability. The Long-Term Fiscal Policy Framework includes five-year budgetary forecasts, identifies the fiscal challenges to sustaining vital government programs, and articulates specific policies to address these challenges.

As warmer spring weather draws outdoor enthusiasts to the Commonwealth's waterways, officials from the Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game (DFG) announced its springtime calendar marking May and June as "Massachusetts Rivers and Wetlands Months" with outdoor events across the state.

Lieutenant Governor Timothy Murray broke ground at the site of the new Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical High School in Danvers. The new regional high school, slated to open in September 2014, will maximize educational and workforce development opportunities for nearly 1,500 high school students and adult learners across the North Shore.

MassDOT begins a change of all signage at toll plazas on the Turnpike, Tobin Bridge and Airport Tunnels to improve safety and meet federal highway guidelines. Drivers will see E-ZPass signs go up and ‘Fast Lane’ signs come down.   

“Driver hesitation and confusion can jeopardize safety at our toll plazas,” said MassDOT Secretary and CEO Richard A. Davey. “We want the general public and our 1.7 million transponder holders to know that E-ZPass and Fast Lane are now one in the same.”

This year, the Older Americans Month theme is: Never Too Old To Play. Many seniors, particularly baby boomers, already keep fit with some form of regular exercise – yoga, Zumba, ballroom dancing, golf, tennis, walking, swimming, bowling, weight-training – all of which promote longer, healthier, more satisfying lives. There are other ways to play as well: hobbies - painting, singing, acting, sewing, gardening, crafts.  The point is that there are endless numbers of ways to enjoy yourself and stay connected.

Governor Deval Patrick, Massachusetts Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Richard K. Sullivan and Department of Agricultural Resources (DAR) Commissioner Greg Watson joined students, school officials and members of the state’s horticulture industry at the Mather Elementary School in Dorchester to launch the “Plant Something” campaign to spotlight local flower and nursery growers and encourage residents to shop at local garden centers.

Plans for Becoming an Outdoorswoman (BOW) weekend are in full swing! Happening June 1-3, this is a great opportunity to have a fantastic weekend learning new outdoors skills and spend some quality time with girlfriends, siblings, daughters or other women in your life.

Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) Secretary Richard K. Sullivan Jr. honored 24 energy and environmental education programs at the 18th Annual Secretary's Awards for Excellence in Energy and Environmental Education. 

Treasurer Steven Grossman announced that the Massachusetts State Lottery’s projected profit for 2012 has increased to $947 million following strong sales for the first ten months of the fiscal year, providing a sure sign that the Lottery will surpass the past record of $951 million in profit set in 2006.  The new figure, based on game sales-to-date and budget projection estimates, is $53 million higher than the $894 million on which the Commonwealth’s Fiscal Year 2012 budget is based.

Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Richard K. Sullivan Jr. announced $2 million in grants to Massachusetts’ newest Green Communities – 12 cities and towns that earned the designation in December, making them eligible for renewable power and energy efficiency project funding.

This week's flu report shows that rates of flu-like illness in Massachusetts have trended downward since last week's report.

Lieutenant Governor Timothy Murray announced formation of the Ports of Massachusetts Compact agreement to boost economic development and capitalize on resources in the Commonwealth’s seaports.

The product of several years of work amongst the HIV advocacy community, clinicians, service providers and others, this bill removes what physicians describe as a barrier to HIV screening: written consent. Removing this requirement puts Massachusetts in line with the majority of other jurisdictions. 

From time to time we all have nutrition questions, especially if we’re pregnant or raising children.  Families struggle every day to eat healthy and make food choices that are acceptable to picky eaters – all while staying within a budget. The best way to get answers and ideas to these challenges is to turn to a trusted source of nutrition information. The WIC Nutrition Program is that trusted source – and that’s what the “Ask Mass WIC” blog is all about.

Fire Safety Topic of the Month – May is National Electrical Safety Month.

There are no greater natural scientists and engineers than young children, inquisitive learners who learn STEM concepts through play. High-quality early learning environments provide children a structure in which to build upon their natural inclination to explore, to build, and to question.  We must continue to connect these two agendas as we drive policy forward in each.

The new bridge carrying Chelsea Street over the Chelsea Creek at the Boston/Chelsea line is scheduled to reopen to traffic on Saturday, May 12. 

From the Mass Department of Agricultural Resources.  

Effective May 4th, 2012.  The CORI reform legislation from 2010 has another key deadline next week. Major changes go into effect that will affect people with criminal records, and most importantly, employers. Jackson Lewis has written a 15 page summary that focuses on the changing requirements for employers.

MassDOT contractors have begun the $14.1 million rehabilitation of the historic Rocks Village Bridge carrying Main Street over the Merrimack River at the Haverhill/West Newbury line.  The project is funded by the Patrick-Murray Administration's Accelerated Bridge Program to repair structurally deficient bridges across the Commonwealth.  The bridge is scheduled to be closed to all traffic on approximately June 18, 2012 and will remain closed through August 2013.

Governor Deval Patrick joined Lieutenant Governor Timothy Murray, legislators and advocates to sign S. 2017, “An Act Designating World Voice Week.” The legislation requires the Governor to annually issue a proclamation establishing the week beginning April 16 as World Voice Week, to recognize and support individuals suffering from voice disorders.

Public comment period open from May 19 until June 18.   The Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER) today released the proposed final Massachusetts Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) Class I regulations, which implement changes to biomass energy eligibility.  

This week's flu report shows a slight uptick in the amount of flu-like illness currently happening in state, as compared to the previous week.

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) announced that its electronic infectious disease reporting system has been certified by the Obama Administration as a federally recognized system to help hospitals save time and expense when reporting cases of infectious disease.

The Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development today reported that the March 2012 seasonally unadjusted unemployment rates were down in all twenty-two labor areas.  The labor force, unemployment rates and jobs estimates, for Massachusetts and for every other state, are based on statistical methodologies specified by the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Lieutenant Governor Timothy Murray, Chair of the Interagency Council on Substance Abuse and Prevention, hosted the first in a series of statewide Town Hall Meetings that will examine what can be done to prevent underage alcohol use, prescription and other forms of drug abuse in the Commonwealth.  Lieutenant Governor Murray was joined by Commissioner John Auerbach of the Department of Public Health, state legislators and student representatives from Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD), the state's recovery high schools, and schools across the Commonwealth.

Attorney General Martha Coakley launched a groundbreaking new initiative to prevent unnecessary foreclosures by increasing the number of loan modification specialists available to help distressed borrowers and providing a wide range of grant opportunities aimed at easing the foreclosure crisis in Massachusetts.  Joined by Boston Mayor Thomas Menino in front of a Dorchester home saved through a successful loan modification, AG Coakley unveiled details of her new HomeCorps program, funded by the Massachusetts’ share of a nationwide settlement involving the nation’s five largest mortgage servicers and their connection with unlawful foreclosures and loan servicing.

The Electric Vehicle Plates will be available for any passenger or commercial vehicle that is either electric-powered or a hybrid vehicle.  There is no special annual fee for the electric vehicle plate.  The normal one-time plate replacement fee of $20 will apply.  

DOR has just posted on its website a report on the amount of MA personal income tax paid and the number of taxpayers who paid it from across the 50 states.

Veterans' Services Secretary Coleman Nee renewed his driver's license as MassDOT RMV Registrar Rachel Kaprielian looked on.  Secretary Nee's new license includes the word "Veteran" as part of a new RMV option announced in November 2011 by Lieutenant Governor Timothy Murray.  

We have completed our eighth eBook of court rules for your smart phones and tablets. Our page of instructions walks you through the process of installing a reader app, then downloading the books. After they are downloaded to your device, you will have instant access to the rules and the Guide to Evidence, complete with search capabilities, note taking and highlighting.

Governor Deval Patrick has signed an executive order establishing the Commonwealth’s Council for Innovation, continuing the Administration’s ongoing efforts to change the way government does business, while achieving savings for taxpayers. The council will advise Governor Patrick on the best opportunities to improve government efficiency and use technology to streamline delivery of services to people, businesses and local governments. 

Massachusetts environmental officials announced more than $400,000 in federal grants to help private firms fund the purchase of 11 diesel hybrid heavy-duty trucks - bringing cleaner air quality to Massachusetts. The funding comes from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) and the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) federal grant programs, and an environmental enforcement settlement between the American Electric Power Service Corporation and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Governor Deval Patrick flipped the switch on a new 4.5 megawatt solar project in Westford and received an honor for his Administration’s support of the growing solar industry in Massachusetts. 

If you have already been out paddling, you may have noticed an increase in the amount of downed trees and branches in and along the river, perhaps resulting from last year’s weather events like Tropical Storm Irene or the pre-Halloween snowstorm.  Working your way through all the wood in the river might have made your paddle feel more like an obstacle course, as you clambered in and out of your boat to avoid numerous fallen logs and overhanging branches.  

A report by the Patrick-Murray Administration's Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation reviewed the first four years of data breach notifications and found that encryption is a key - but often lacking - component in information security.

Calling amateur photographers! Enter our Massachusetts Agriculture Calendar Contest! Deadline: 6/1/12.

DOR Commissioner Amy Pitter wrote that she is committed to improving the settlement and appeals processes currently in place.

The Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development reported that the Bureau of Labor Statistics' preliminary March 2012 estimates show that Massachusetts added 8,700 jobs over the month, for a total of 3,241,600 jobs. The March job gain follows a revised 7,200 job gain in February. The total unemployment rate dropped to 6.5 percent, 0.4 percentage points below the February rate of 6.9 percent and well below the national rate of 8.2 percent.

Why the hubbub about aspirin? It’s known to many that aspirin can reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke for people with heart disease, high blood pressure, or high cholesterol. Aspirin can also help maintain normal circulation when arteries stop working as well as they should.  The only hard and fast rule on taking a daily aspirin is this: Consult your doctor or healthcare provider first. 

The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) announced the "RecyclingWorks in Massachusetts" program, a new initiative to provide Massachusetts businesses and institutions with the information and assistance they need to reduce waste and recycle more.

MassDOT became the first transportation agency in the nation recognized as a “Bicycle Friendly Business” by the League of American Bicyclists.  The League announced 67 awards nationally to businesses, cities, non-profits, and government agencies, including a Bronze medal to MassDOT for encouraging a bike-friendly atmosphere for customers and employees.

The Massachusetts Land Court Rules ebook is now available for no charge from our ebooks page. This new title is the most extensive yet, including not just the Rules, but also Land Court Standing Orders, the Manual of Instructions and the Guidelines on Registered Land.

The Massachusetts Probate Court has posted a variety of resources on a single page that may be useful to anyone addressing the changes to the probate code in Massachusetts. The page includes links to forms, fee schedule, a new MUPC Procedural Guide, the transitional standing order and links to the statutes as well. In addition it has as a list of newspapers for informal publication, priority of appointment checklist, an heirs chart, settlement & distribution chart, list of local experts for MUPC.

MassDOT this past weekend successfully completed the latest "Heavy Lift" project as part of the Patrick-Murray Administration's Accelerated Bridge Program to rebuild structurally-deficient bridges across the Commonwealth. 

Consumers have little choice in the cellular phone marketplace except to pay this new activation fee when upgrading to a new phone. With the announcement this week by Verizon, all four cellular phone carriers are charging upgrade fees – in addition to the price of a new phone.

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) and Massachusetts Bay Commuter Railroad Company (MBCR) announced schedule adjustments to the Providence, Greenbush, and Old Colony commuter rail lines beginning Monday, April 23, 2012.

We've added a new page on the Law About Testimonial and Non-Testimonial Evidence in Criminal Cases. This page is designed to get you started on your research on the topic, with links to both cases and print sources.

Governor Deval Patrick, Attorney General Martha Coakley and Auditor Suzanne Bump announced the process they will follow to select a successor to Inspector General Gregory Sullivan, whose term expires on August 2, 2012. The Governor, Attorney General and Auditor are statutorily charged with selecting, by majority vote, an Inspector General for a term of five years.

As part of the effort to reach Governor Patrick's goal of 250 megawatts (MW) of solar power installed by 2017, Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Richard K. Sullivan Jr. announced the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) and the Department of Energy Resources (DOER) selected 17 communities to participate in the 2012 Solarize Massachusetts (Solarize Mass) Program, which helps residents and business owners adopt solar photovoltaic (PV) technology.

Lieutenant Governor Timothy Murray joined federal, state and local officials at the Community Economic Development Center of Southeastern Massachusetts to announce four grant awards from the Massachusetts Broadband Institute totaling $600,000 to enhance broadband adoption and support for small businesses and non-profit organizations across the Commonwealth.

On Wednesday, April 11, 2012, the House Ways & Means committee released their Fiscal Year 2013 budget. The final budget (after it is enacted by the Legislature and approved by the Governor) will take effect on July 1, 2012 and run through June 30, 2013.

Lieutenant Governor Timothy Murray visited the Fall River Heritage State Park Boardwalk to highlight $1,544,000 in funding to support the boardwalk’s replacement project. The funding was approved last week by the Patrick-Murray Administration's Seaport Advisory Council.   

Governor Deval Patrick addressed the South Shore Chamber of Commerce, discussing the Patrick-Murray Administration’s efforts to invest in infrastructure, reduce regulations for small businesses and grow jobs on the South Shore and across Massachusetts.

In advance of the sixth anniversary of the Commonwealth's landmark health care reform law, Governor Deval Patrick joined a diverse group of business, health care and community leaders to discuss why the law is working for Massachusetts residents. The group reconvened at historic Faneuil Hall, the location where the bill was signed into law on April 12, 2006.

Since the Green Communities Act was passed in 2008, 86 cities and towns in the Commonwealth have been officially designated as a Green Community - that means more than 2.7 million Massachusetts residents are living in a municipality that has met five clean energy criteria.

Starting on April 17th, 2012, customers at above-ground stations on the Green Line's D-branch will board at the front door only during weekends, holidays, and off-peak hours. Front door only fare collection is already in effect on other branches of the Green Line. During peak hours, which are defined as 6:30 a.m.- 9:30 a.m. and from 3:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m., customers will be able to board at the side and rear doors with a pre-loaded CharlieCard, CharlieTicket, or valid pass.

DOR released its March revenue report yesterday in which there were two story lines. The monthly revenue report includes both a review of the month, with a comparison to the same month a year ago, as well as a review of revenue collection year-to-date(YTD) along with a comparison to the previous year's YTD. While the press releases presents a written summary of the numbers, the one-page tax collection summary presents the actual revenue numbers.

Treasurer Steven Grossman announced that the Massachusetts State Lottery’s projected profit for 2012 has increased to $936 million following strong sales for the first nine months of the year.  The new number, based on game sales-to-date and budget projection estimates, is $42 million higher than the $894 million on which the Commonwealth’s Fiscal Year 2012 budget is based.

This week's flu report shows a decline in the rate of flu-like illness in the state, as compared to last week. Please click on either of the attached documents to see the full report.

Governor Deval Patrick joined legislators and family members to sign House Bill 3638, “An Act Designating a Certain Bridge in the Town of Dalton as the Second Lieutenant Michael J. Casey, Sr. Memorial Bridge.” This bill will designate the bridge spanning the Housatonic River on Route 8 between the towns of Dalton and Hinsdale as the Second Lieutenant Michael J. Casey, Sr. Memorial Bridge.

As part of Governor Deval Patrick’s initiative to streamline regulations for small businesses to keep Massachusetts ahead of its economic competitors, the Division of Professional Licensure announced new rules that give funeral homes greater flexibility in hiring workers and give workers expanded employment opportunities.

Massachusetts Gaming Commission website launched creating open & transparent process for gaming expansion.

MassDOT is scheduling complete overnight lane closures twice each month on I-93 beginning tonight, Tuesday April 3, at 11:00pm.  The closing schedule follows:

I-93 Southbound closed on the 1st Tuesday of each month from 11:00pm to Wednesday at 5:00am

I-93 Northbound closed on the 3rd Tuesday of each month from 11:00pm to Wednesday at 5:00am.  

The overnight closures are part of MassDOT's enhanced maintenance schedule of Interstate 93 through Boston and will impact overnight traffic on Interstate 93 and inside the O’Neill Tunnels two overnights each month.  

In Massachusetts, there are almost 1 million laying hens in which 36 million eggs were produced.  Find a retail egg producer near you.

MWRA to begin work on project to provide emergency back­up water service to Reading.

Sexual violence is everyone’s issue: in fact, a new national study found that one in three women and one in five men in Massachusetts have experienced sexual violence, typically starting at a young age. April is National Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM).

The country is abuzz with the recent Supreme Court case Florence v. Burlington. (It's actually Florence v. Board of Chosen Freeholders of County or Burlington, but...) The decision makes it legal to perform strip searches when any person is taken into custody, regardless of the circumstances.

Boat access to Boston Harbor from the Mystic Basin will not be possible between now and May 31, 2012 due to work being done by the Department of Transportation (DOT) on the Alford Street Bridge. 

February is usually the T’s slowest month, but the unseasonably warm weather, along with escalating gas prices and what the T says is improvement in services were factors in the increased ridership.

The Patrick-Murray Administration has filed transportation reform legislation that addresses the MBTA FY 2013 budget and builds on the success of the Transportation Reform Act of 2009.  The legislation would authorize several steps to allow the MBTA to close its FY13 structural deficit, including a shift of Motor Vehicle Inspection Trust Fund surplus funds.

The one mile stretch of Route 139 between School Street and Furnace Street narrows to one travel lane in each direction. For years, that configuration has slowed traffic and starved businesses along the corridor.  The project now under way will widen the roadway to two lanes in each direction and install a traffic signal at Route 139 and Enterprise Drive along with new sidewalks.

Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) Secretary Richard K. Sullivan Jr. submitted an application to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to designate the Massachusetts portion of Mt. Hope Bay as a No Discharge Area (NDA).

Continuing through September 28, The Green Streets Initiative is redefining the phrase “healthy competition” in the workplace.  The 2012 Walk/Ride Corporate Challenge calls on Boston and Cambridge area organizations to abandon their cars the last Friday of every month in exchange for a healthier and more eco-friendly commute to work.

WIC is a free nutrition program that provides healthy foods, nutrition education, breastfeeding support, and referrals to healthcare and other services to Massachusetts families who qualify. WIC stands for Women, Infants and Children. 

It is because of your overwhelming engagement that our final recommendation to the MBTA board includes what we believe are modest fare increases and limited service changes. While both are necessary to close the $185 million gap we face next year, the proposals we released in January would have had a significantly greater impact than our final plan.

The Commonwealth has collected more than $800 million in revenue from the sale of motor vehicles ($422 million) and the gasoline excise tax ($391.6 million) in the first eight months of FY12.  But the two sources of revenue have been trending in opposite directions: sales tax revenue from motor vehicles is up $33 million for the first eight months of FY12, while gasoline excise tax revenue is down almost $5 million in that same period.  Taxpayers are buying motor vehicles, but they are also pumping less gasoline into them.

In Massachusetts, colon cancer is the third leading cause of cancer death. Colon cancer often can be prevented. Regular screening tests can find precancerous polyps so that they can be removed before they turn into cancer. Screening can also find colon cancer early, when treatment can be very effective. Polyps and colon cancer may not cause symptoms, especially at first.

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) and Massachusetts Bay Commuter Railroad Company (MBCR) today announced schedule adjustments to the Worcester commuter rail line and the Fairmount commuter rail line beginning Monday, April 2nd.

The Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development today reported that the February 2012 seasonally unadjusted unemployment rates were down in sixteen labor areas, up in four and unchanged in two. The labor force, unemployment rates and jobs estimates, for Massachusetts and for every other state, are based on statistical methodologies specified by the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics.

After requests from many readers, we have added another ebook to the Mass. Court Rules collection: the Massachusetts Guide to Evidence. This is the complete text of the Guide to Evidence formatted for your mobile device or ebook reader.

With spring hopefully just around the corner, it’s (almost) time put away heavy sweaters and coats and take out your lighter outfits, and replace the ice melt and shovel in the trunk of your car with baseball and soccer equipment. In short, it’s time to get ready for all the pleasures of spring.   This season is also a good time to take a closer look at how well you and your family are taking care of yourselves.  Many people tend to hibernate in the cold weather, and you and your children may not have been as physically active as you would have liked.  Besides, winter comfort food can be high in fat and calories…eggnog or hot chocolate, anyone??

The MBTA is looking for an outside company to design, build, and maintain solar panels at the Wonderland parking garage in Revere and the Readville Yard 5 in Dedham.

Governor Deval Patrick signed House Bill 3963, “An Act Relative to Community Housing and Services,” legislation that will promote supportive housing for the Commonwealth’s homeless, individuals with disabilities and elders. The legislation calls for the development of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) across state agencies to create housing opportunities that combine affordability with voluntary services for the most vulnerable populations.

Four individuals, including a husband and wife, have been arrested and charged in connection with allegedly running a sophisticated human trafficking operation in and around the Boston area, Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office announced.

The Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development today reported that the preliminary February 2012 estimates show that Massachusetts added 9,100 jobs over the month, for a total of 3,234,800 jobs. The total unemployment rate remained at 6.9 percent for the third consecutive month and well below the national rate of 8.3 percent. It is the lowest monthly rate since December 2008.

Over the last nine weeks we have engaged in a public process to allow our riders to weigh in on recommendations for closing a $159 million budget gap next year. As we conclude that process, we want to take a minute to thank you for the unprecedented level of engagement you demonstrated over this period.  
Since January, nearly 6,000 of you attended our 31 public meetings, with nearly 2,000 individuals offering public comment. In addition, we received 5,850 emails from you about the importance of the MBTA in your lives. By comparison, the last time the MBTA raised fares in 2007 just 800 people attended a public hearing.

Funding is now available for local consumer and mediation programs through grants available from Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office.  The application period for Local Consumer Aid Fund Grants (LCAF) is now open for new or existing grantees throughout the Commonwealth.

Treasurer Steven Grossman praised the passage of a bill he has advocated for that will allow his office to offer a tax-deferred retirement savings plan to employees of non-profit organizations.  The bill was signed by Governor Deval Patrick.

Energy & Environmental Affairs (EEA) Secretary Richard K. Sullivan announced that applications for tax year 2012 are now being accepted for the EEA’s Conservation Land Tax Credit Program. This new initiative, launched in 2011, offers refundable state income tax credits in exchange for conservation land donations.    

Returning from war and readjusting to civilian life is no easy task. For veterans and their families, both physical and mental health challenges are great, and navigating the complex systems of care is even more so. That’s where the SAVE Program comes in.  SAVE stands for Statewide Advocacy for Veterans’ Empowerment. It’s an innovative program run through the Massachusetts Department of Veterans’ Services in partnership with the Department of Public Health Suicide Prevention Program. SAVE Outreach Coordinators assist veterans and their families with getting the benefits and services they have earned.

When Massachusetts passed its smoke-free workplace law in 2006, most residents saw their exposure to secondhand smoke all but disappear.  But that’s not true for everyone.  People who live in multi-unit housing, including apartment buildings and elderly housing, still face an elevated risk of exposure.  In fact, non-smokers living in multi-unit housing are twice as likely to report secondhand smoke exposure than non-smokers living in single family homes.

Sodium is the main ingredient in salt. Too much sodium can raise your blood pressure and put you at risk for heart disease and stroke. And believe it or not, the salt from our salt shakers isn’t the biggest culprit. Nearly all (80%!) of our sodium intake comes from the pre-packaged, processed, and prepared foods from stores and restaurants. This is why it is so important to check and compare food labels for low sodium.

With little more than four weeks left until the April 17 tax filing deadline, about half of the expected 3.4 million tax returns have been filed. Lest you think that unusual, that is 105,996 or 7 percent higher than a year ago. More than 1.3 million refunds totaling $634.9 million have been paid to taxpayers, up $33 million from a year ago, when 1.27 million refunds had been paid at this point.

MassDOT is now accepting applications for the Francis B. Francois Scholarship. Ten $1000 scholarships are available to students pursuing a transportation-related, graduate degree at a state university. The deadline to apply is April 30, 2012.

MassDOT is able to offer these scholarships because the Accelerated Bridge Program's "93Fast14" project received AASHTO's Francis B. Francois Award for Innovation. With the award, came a $10,000 graduate fellowship for a state university student or students pursuing a transportation-related degree.

This month's meeting of the Public Health Council featured an informational presentation from the DPH Medical Director, the consideration of two Determination of Need requests from Massachusetts health care facilities. and a vote on proposed amendments to regulations governing fluoride application in dental care offices.

The Washington Post reported this week that the U.S. Senate has approved language that would classify tobacco shops and convenience stores that offer roll-your-own (RYO) cigarette machines as manufacturers.  Slapping the label of manufacturer on these RYO stores would subject them to a series of federal and state regulations that would in all probability put an end to the RYO machines by making them too expensive to license and operate.

Governor Deval Patrick, Attorney General Martha Coakley and Treasurer Steve Grossman today announced the final two appointments to the Massachusetts Gaming Commission, rounding out the five member independent body which is responsible for implementing and overseeing the expanded gaming industry in the Commonwealth. The final two appointees are James F. McHugh, retired associate justice of the Massachusetts Appeals Court; and Bruce Stebbins, business development administrator for the City of Springfield. Both appointees will serve as full time commissioners.

This spring, the Department of Agricultural Resources (DAR), in partnership with the Department of Public Health (DPH) and the Massachusetts Animal Coalition are encouraging pet owners to take advantage of low-cost rabies vaccination clinics taking place in communities across the Commonwealth.

DOR takes every opportunity to warn taxpayers about the phony baloney this company and other such companies (two of them, Roni Deutch and JK Harris, are now happily out of business) have spun to lure anxious taxpayers desperate for a way to solve their tax issues.  Companies that advertise they can make tax liabilities go away for pennies on the dollar are engaged in deceptive advertising practice. They frequently advertise a roster of tax attorneys, former IRS agents, or accountants, but you are just as likely to be talking with a marketer who gets paid based on the number of clients enticed to use the service.

Lt. Gov. Timothy Murray and Secretary for Administration and Finance Jay Gonzalez today announced the 28 recipients of the $4 million Community Innovation Challenge (CIC) grant program.  The CIC is designed to promote innovative regionalization and other cost saving initiatives that will help local governments increase cost efficiency while maintaining service delivery. In addition to the $4 million, $1 million was provided through the 2012 supplemental budget signed in February for projects in Norfolk County.

The best time to form lifelong healthy eating habits is when kids are young. This means offering a variety of foods on a regular basis.  Some of these foods will be new to your child. I’m sure every parent can agree that introducing new foods to a child may be easier said than done. Do not fear, there are ways to go about this process that will be fruitful and start them eating better for life.

The Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development today reported that the January 2012 seasonally unadjusted unemployment rates were up in all twenty-two labor areas.

Over the last nine weeks we have engaged in a public process to allow our riders to weigh in on recommendations for closing a $159 million budget gap next year. As we conclude that process this week, we want to take a minute to thank you for the unprecedented level of engagement you demonstrated over this period.

Treasurer Steven Grossman has appointed Enrique A. Zuniga to the Massachusetts Gaming Commission. Zuniga presently serves as the Executive Director of the Massachusetts Water Pollution Abatement Trust (MWPAT) and will bring his extensive financial background in both the public and private sectors to the Commission.

We are delighted to announce that we have reformatted Massachusetts court rules as eBooks, so that you can use them even when you don't have Internet access. Thus far, we have the Massachusetts Rules of Civil Procedure, Criminal Procedure, Appellate Procedure and Domestic Relations Procedure. The files are available for no charge in both epub and kindle formats.  See our eBooks page for links to the rules and directions for downloading.

The Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development today reported that the preliminary January 2012 estimates show that Massachusetts added 6,600 jobs over the month, for a total of 3,218,400 jobs. The total unemployment rate was 6.9 percent, unchanged from the revised December 2011 rate and well below the national rate of 8.3 percent. It is the lowest monthly rate since December 2008.

Despite recent positive news on declining unemployment, veterans as a whole remain unemployed at a much higher rate than national and state averages. Unemployment rates are even higher among young veterans and women veterans.  As part of the state’s many initiatives to help our returning veterans become employed, Lieutenant Governor Tim Murray and the Department of Veterans’ Services (DVS) reached out to major trade associations to encourage them to hire veterans and circulate information about veterans’ benefits. 

The MBTA is underway with the final phase of weekend work along the Old Colony’s Middleborough branch. Beginning the weekend of March 17 and continuing each weekend through July, work crews will begin track and alignment work along the corridor. This work is necessary to restore track to its original geometry and reinstate operating speeds, in accordance with Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) requirements.

Smoke alarms - the single most important means of preventing fatal fires.

DOR released the February revenue report showing a monthly collection of $1.011 billion that was a $79 million increase over February 2011 and $38 million over the monthly benchmark.  Year-to-date tax collections total $12.895 billion, up $315 million or 2.5 percent over a year ago, and $58 million below the revised FY12 revenue estimate of $21.010 billion.

The Patrick-Murray Administration submitted to the Legislature a one-year $1.5 billion Transportation Bond Bill that maintains transportation-related infrastructure investments through Fiscal Year (FY) 2013.

In the latest of a series of steps to keep Massachusetts ahead of its economic competitors, Governor Deval Patrick announced the initial results of a systematic review of state regulations and new steps to streamline regulations for small businesses. After reviewing 200 regulations that were each more than 12 years old, Governor Patrick has approved changes to nearly 150 regulations. In addition, the Governor launched a new effort to make sure that no new regulation is issued without serious consideration of its impact on small businesses. 

Under direction from Governor Patrick, state inspectors this week are stepping up oversight efforts at gasoline stations throughout the Bay State to guard against potential price gouging, false advertising and other improper practices during this winter run-up in gasoline prices.

As of Friday, March 2, the Commonwealth has refunded $509.6 million to 1.07 million taxpayers.  Refunds are up $38 million from the same period a year ago, with the average refund $477, a dollar higher than a year ago.

MassDOT is currently conducting a study, "Grounding McGrath" to determine the future of the Route 28 Corridor.

MassDOT and the MBTA has announced a new “real-time” travel information collaborative initiative designed to provide I-93 Southbound commuters information about a nearby commuter rail option on the Lowell Line.

MassDOT along with public safety partners announced a public awareness campaign to inform motorists of the steps they should take in the event of an accident or breakdown inside the Metropolitan Highway System Tunnels.

The Massachusetts Office for Refugees and Immigrants (ORI), in conjunction with the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition (MIRA) and English for New Bostonians (ENB), has been awarded a three-year $399,000 grant from the Corporation for National Community Service to launch the AmeriCorps New American Integration Program (NAIP).

The Justices of the Supreme Judicial Court announced the approval of a new SJC Rule 1:19 governing Electronic Access to the Courts. The Court order amends the former Rule 1:19 governing cameras in the courts and replaces it with the new rule, effective on July 1, 2012.  After the new rule has been in operation for a year, the Court will review it to determine whether further revisions are needed.

Read about an Act Reforming Alimony in the Commonwealth Effective March 1, 2012.

The Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) has awarded a $953,000 grant to the Aspire Institute at Wheelock College, to develop a resource center on assessment, screening and measurement that supports quality improvement in early education and care and out of school time programs across Massachusetts.

Being active isn’t just for maintaining a healthy weight. It also reduces your risk for all kinds of chronic diseases and helps you feel more confident. What’s more, being physically active is a fun and effective way to boost your mood.

The Map, Compass and Survival Course is one of the "advanced skills" courses offered by the MA Hunter Education Program.  Courses are traditionally held once/month all day on a Saturday from April - October.

The Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education voted to grant charters to the founders of four proposed charter schools.

Attorney General Coakley and an interagency coalition of law enforcement officials, state and community representatives, advocates, and survivors appointed to the Human Trafficking Task Force convened for the first meeting of the task force after the new human trafficking law went into effect. 

Each winter, I create a wish list of which Massachusetts rivers and streams I’m itching to fish once the spring flows recede and aquatic insect activity perks up.  Here are some of the rivers on my fish list, in no particular order.

Since 2008, 86 Massachusets cities and towns have received a combined total of $17,689,893 in Green Communities grant awards for clean energy projects in their community.   These grants have helped fund projects that are creating local Massachusetts jobs and developing cleaner, safer and more sustainable energy options for these communities.

DOR has scheduled a new series of information sessions designed to educate senior taxpayers about the potential benefits of the Senior Circuit Breaker Tax Credit.