“It is disgusting and abhorrent that an out-of-state governor has decided to engage in what is tantamount to a form of human trafficking for pure political games.” — Senate President Karen Spilka
Author Archives: Chris Lisinski / State House News Service
Posted inImmigration
Yes on 4 campaign launches effort in support of immigrant license law
“All of us will be safer if all drivers on the road passed a driving test, have insurance and have a license.” It’s “just common sense.” — Lawrence Police Chief Roy Vasque, VP of the Mass. Major Cities Chiefs of Police Association
Posted inImmigration
Effort to repeal new immigrant license law gets 100,000-plus signatures
Clerks have already certified about 78,000 of those signatures, organizers said — nearly double the 40,120 required for a referendum to be placed on the Nov. 8 ballot.
Posted inImmigration
Opponents of immigrant licenses planning ballot question to repeal new law
A campaign filed paperwork Monday to create a committee called “Fair and Secure Massachusetts,” seeking to repeal the immigrant license law enacted over Baker’s veto last week.
Posted inImmigration
Lawmakers override Gov. Baker’s veto, enacting law to allow immigrant driver’s licenses
When the new law takes effect in July of 2023, immigrants without legal status will be eligible for standard state driver’s licenses if they show documents proving their identity, date of birth and residency in Massachusetts.
Posted inCOVID-19
COVID-19 cases rising in New Bedford and across the state
“Public health data reveal that positive cases in Massachusetts communities and in our schools have been climbing over recent weeks, fueled by Omicron variant BA.2 and the subvariant BA.2 12.1.” — Mass. Medical Society President Dr. Carole Allen
Posted inImmigration
Activists cheer as Mass. Senate approves immigrant licenses
Lawmakers have several more steps to complete before the bill can become state law. House and Senate leaders need to agree on final language, either informally or by appointing a conference committee.
Posted inCrime and courts
Thomas Koonce, convicted in 1987 murder of New Bedford man, to be released from prison
The Parole Board said Koonce has “taken responsibility for the death of Mr. Santos and has spent his incarceration working towards his rehabilitation,” describing him as “remorseful and empathetic towards the Santos family and the community.”
Posted inCOVID-19
State health officials report ‘overcount’ of Mass. COVID deaths
The Baker administration will begin using a new public health surveillance definition next week, narrowing the time between a confirmed diagnosis and a death required for the fatality to be attributed to COVID-19.
Posted inCrime and courts
New Bedford murder victim’s family opposes killer’s commutation
About a dozen speakers testified in favor the commutation bid, including Bristol District Attorney Thomas Quinn and Conan Harris, a formerly incarcerated man who today is married to Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley.