Charlie Baker Archives

GOVERNING IN DARKNESS: Part 3

Who are the Massachusetts governor’s councilors? What professional baggage do they bring to the body? And can this motley crew stumble toward reform?

JEAN TROUNSTINE August 29, 2024

GOVERNING IN DARKNESS: Part 2

With its hollow rules, ethical dilemmas, and reluctance to address a lack of transparency and other problems, the Governor’s Council has no clothes

JEAN TROUNSTINE August 14, 2024

GOVERNING IN DARKNESS: Part 1

For centuries, critics have questioned whether the Governor’s Council, rife with conflict, should exist. In 2024, is the body obsolete?

JEAN TROUNSTINE July 25, 2024

THE YEAR IN GLX DEBACLES

A timeline of the new but troubled Green Line Extension’s opening … and closing … and opening … and slowing …

NIYA DOYLE December 12, 2023

THE MBTA’S REVOLVING DOOR

The MBTA pays former T workers millions to fix longstanding problems, but transit advocates say inside hiring isn’t getting riders or the system where they need to go.

DAN ATKINSON October 4, 2023

TRAGEDY STILL LINGERS OVER LAWRENCE

A Merrimack Valley Natural Gas Explosion Time Capsule: Putting the extensive damage done in focus five years after a preventable fatal disaster disrupted northeast Massachusetts

CHRIS FARAONE September 13, 2023

TRAGEDY STILL LINGERS OVER LAWRENCE

A Merrimack Valley Natural Gas Explosion Time Capsule Putting the extensive damage done in focus five years after a preventable fatal disaster disrupted northeast Massachusetts Research and reporting by Chris Faraone, Emilia Perez, and Sophie Yarin | Interactive timeline by Zhaozhou Dai In his comments introducing new federal emergency response

BOSTON INSTITUTE FOR NONPROFIT JOURNALISM September 13, 2023

MERRIMACK RECAP: THE FIRST RESPONDER

“The first thing that came to my mind is that this was a terrorist attack.” This interview with Andover Fire Department Lt. Bob Dalton (excerpted and edited below for clarity) is part of a Boston Institute for Nonprofit Journalism series retracing the Merrimack Valley gas explosions five years after the

EMILIA PEREZ September 13, 2023

MERRIMACK RECAP: THE PUBLIC HEALTH RESPONDER

“People of means were certainly able to take care of themselves better.” This interview with Andover Director of Public Health Thomas Carbone (excerpted and edited below for clarity) is part of a Boston Institute for Nonprofit Journalism series retracing the Merrimack Valley gas explosions five years after the tragedy shook

EMILIA PEREZ September 13, 2023

COMMUTER COMMUNICATION

Amid Multiple Crises, MBTA Fields Pitches For New Agency Marketing Campaign “You don’t want to be too rosy but I actually think they can do a better job of highlighting the work they have done.” After paying a politically-connected consulting firm more than $4 million to come up with slogans

DAN ATKINSON March 30, 2023