People, Power and Politics

Merrimack College and Suffolk University (Sargent Hall pictured, above) secured state approval Friday to experiment with three-year bachelor's degrees, as education officials embrace new strategies to boost affordability for students. Students earning a traditional four-year bachelor's degree must pay for and take 120 credits. The Board of Higher Education approved regulations in February creating a pathway for sub-120 credit "applied" bachelor's degrees, joining a trend unfolding at colleges across the country.

FRANKLIN

New
Town Website Does Not Support “Cut and Paste” of calendar
entries. Go to https://franklinma.gov/Calendar.aspx
to view directly. Steve Sherlock from Franklin Matters has kindly
compiled and and shared the below information. Thanks Steve!

Franklin is off to a great start to the summer of 2026.

Several thousand folks had a grand time with the MetroWest Fan Zone World Cup watch parties on Wednesday & Thursday. No matter which teams won or lost, a good time was had by all.

The weather continued to cooperate for the Farmers Market on Friday and Celebrate with Pride on Saturday.

Word has it that the heat will be here for the 4th of July Celebration on the Town Common beginning Wednesday, July 1 and running through Sunday, July 5.

There is a light schedule of meetings this week, and an even lighter schedule the week of July 6.

Stay cool, stay hydrated, and be kind to one another.

For all the meetings and cultural events, check out the calendar at Franklin.news where each day, that day's events are posted on the top of the page, the TV and radio schedules are on the bottom, and all the other goodness falls in-between.

*** Event & Meeting schedule (with agendas) as of Town pages 6/26/26, 8:00 PM ***

4th of July celebration schedule - https://www.franklin4th.com/

Franklin Agricultural Committee Meeting

Monday, June 29 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_06292026-2383

Franklin School Committee (virtual only)

Monday, June 29 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_06292026-2389

250th Anniversary Celebration Historical Significance Subcommittee Meeting

Monday, June 29 Time: 7:30 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_06292026-2379

Board of Health Meeting

Wednesday, July 1 Time: 5:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_07012026-2387

Franklin Commission on Disability

Thursday, July 2 Time: 4:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_07022026-2386

Conservation Commission Meeting

Thursday, July 2 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_07022026-2388

*** Looking back at the week that was ***

Town/ School meetings

School committee meeting on Tuesday, June 23 - recap and video link - https://www.franklinmatters.org/2026/06/franklin-school-committee-approves.html

The Ad-hoc Charter Review committee meeting scheduled for Wednesday was canceled and will be rescheduled

The Zoning Board of Appeals met on Thursday, June 25, the video can be found https://www.youtube.com/live/GHhLAzuXP4c?si=fD5cGzAHj0QLPZAk&t=98

New All-Access Programing

Lincoln St 5th Grade https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YwwzwNpbvp0

World Cup Watch Party entertainment day 1 - https://www.youtube.com/live/N3SefP0AyZ4?&t=472

World Cup Watch Party entertainment day 2 -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YBeo1QqI4iM

For all the meetings and cultural events, check out the calendar at Franklin.news where each day, that day's events are posted on the top of the page, the TV and radio schedules are on the bottom, and all the other goodness falls in-between.

Town calendar -> https://www.franklinma.gov/Calendar.aspx

Community calendar -> https://bit.ly/FranklinCommunityCalendar

Subscribe for the daily dose of information -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/p/welcome.html

Subscribe for the weekly dose of information -> https://www.franklinmattersweekly.org/p/subscribe-for-email.html

MEDWAY

Medway’s
new website, likewise, does not readily support cut and paste. Go to
medwayma.gov

STATE
HOUSE and BEYOND

As elected officials flood inboxes with late-month, election year fundraising appeals, it's worth taking a look at what's still on the legislative plate this session, and there's a lot. House and Senate Democrats are poised to run late again on delivering an annual state budget, and an interim budget will be needed to keep payrolls and programs funded into the new fiscal year, which starts Wednesday. If the past is prologue, look for a temporary budget to zip through the branches without fanfare. And if there is an agreement on an annual budget, it usually comes in the form of an announcement that there's an agreement, with details to follow sometimes days later. As of Friday, 11 states besides Massachusetts had yet to enact a budget for the fiscal year starting July 1, according to the National Association of State Budget Officers. Lawmakers and Gov. Maura Healey still haven't delivered on their efforts to address rising utility bills, and the Senate on Wednesday is set to pass its plan for that. Legislators are assigning big long-term savings numbers to their proposals but are conspicuously steering clear of putting estimates on how much an individual ratepayer can expect to save, and when they will see the savings in their monthly bills. Healey and the Legislature this year have teamed up to pass new cannabis, transportation and early literacy laws. The weeks and months ahead appear likely to bring new laws covering economic development, energy, data privacy, immigrant protections and public higher education infrastructure improvements. Interest groups and voters are angling to put their own major imprint on state law this year. Unless eleventh hour compromises are reached, as many as nine ballot questions could appear on the Nov. 3 ballot. Wednesday, July 1 is the deadline for ballot campaigns to file their last round of signatures with the state elections division to secure ballot access. In addition to deciding whether to repeal the state's most recent firearms regulation law, ballot question topics that remain in the mix include all-party primaries, election day voter registration, public records law expansion, land and water conservation, union rights for public counsel employees, capping state tax collections, starter home construction, and recreational cannabis repeal. The week ahead brings an acceleration of America 250 events leading up to and beyond Saturday, July 4 – the penultimate World Cup match in Foxborough (Monday, June 29) and preparations for the arrival of the tall ships which are due here from July 11 through July 16.

Storylines in Progress

... Family childcare educators assemble Monday and deliver a petition to Gov. Healey seeking increased funding to prevent their programs from closing ... U.S. Department of Energy Deputy Secretary James Danly is the featured speaker Monday in Boston at a lunch hosted by The New England Council ... Anti-poverty bills filed by House and Senate leaders last year will finally get a public hearing Wednesday as lawmakers embark on their last month of scheduled formal sessions ... A Mystic River port development bill also gets a public hearing Wednesday ... Gov. Healey's economic development bill gets another public hearing Thursday, ahead of its expected advancement in the Legislature ...

Sunday, June 28, 2026

PAPPAS ON @ ISSUE: Democratic New Hampshire Senate candidate Rep. Chris Pappas joins NBC 10 reporter Matt Prichard on his weekly "@ Issue Sit Down" segment. (Sunday, 9:30 a.m., NBC 10 Boston)

WARREN "ON THE RECORD" | U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren joins WCVB's weekly political talk show "On the Record." (Sunday, 11 a.m., WCVB-TV)

EXPANDING 250TH NARRATIVES ON CITYLINE: WCVB's weekly urban magazine program "CityLine" looks at "Expanded Narrative of America at 250." Guests include muralist Rixy, who created "The Midnight Ride" mural on display at Dewey Square Park, Brazilian artist Rosângela Rennó, and co-founders of the Design Studio for Social Intervention Kenny Bailey and Lori Lobenstine. (Sunday, 11:30 a.m., WCVB-TV)

Monday, June 29, 2026

COMMUNITY LIVING: Healey administration celebrates the first year of the Massachusetts Community Living Initiative, which expands opportunities for people with disabilities and older adults to stay in their communities rather than institutional settings like nursing homes. Attendees include Health and Human Services Secretary Kiame Mahaniah, Aging and Independence Secretary Robin Lipson and Department of Developmental Services Commissioner Sarah Peterson. Officials will also release a report about efforts to ensure Bay Staters understand their rights. (Monday, 10 a.m., Grand Staircase)

NATIONAL GRID RATES: Department of Public Utilities kicks off 19 days of evidentiary hearings on National Grid's petition to increase base distribution rates for gas service. National Grid's proposal would generate approximately $342 million in new revenue. DPU is not taking public comments during the hearings, but the public can watch them. (Monday, 10 a.m., 1 South Station, 3rd floor, Boston | More Info and Calendar)

HEALTH INFORMATION EXCHANGE: Executive Office of Health and Human Services holds a public hearing on updating and modernizing the state's health information exchange. The changes will require additional provider types to participate in the exchange, including psychiatric hospitals, behavioral health entities, long-term care facilities and home health agencies. (Monday, 10 a.m. | More Info and Access)

CHELSEA FORBES PURCHASE CELEBRATION: Mass Audubon, The Neighborhood Developers and GreenRoots gather with local and state officials to show off a property Mass Audubon purchased in March that the partner organizations plan to transform into an "urban sanctuary" addressing community needs like access to Chelsea's waterfront and open space, affordable housing, a climate-resilient waterfront park and more. The site is the former location of the Forbes Lithograph Manufacturing Company. Sen. DiDomenico and Energy Secretary Tepper are slated to speak, per Mass Audubon, which said the event serves as the first time in 25 years the public will be able to view the property. Media tour runs from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. (Monday, 10:30 a.m., 405 Crescent Ave., Chelsea | RSVP)

HOUSE: House meets. Representatives on Thursday adjourned until a planned informal session Monday, but Speaker Mariano's office said Friday the session could be a full formal. (Monday, 11 a.m., House Chamber | Livestream)

SENATE: Senate meets without a calendar. (Monday, 11 a.m., Senate Chamber | Livestream)

MISSING CHILDREN'S DAY: Attendees at Massachusetts Missing Children's Day will advocate for missing and unresolved children's cases. Legislation before the House and Senate Ways and Means committee (H 2671 / S 1755) would require the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security to develop policies and procedures for missing and abducted children investigations. Additional proposals would eliminate the statute of limitations for child sex abuse claims, and strengthen protections for children who are sexually abused by adults in positions of power. (Monday, 11 a.m., Great Hall)

FAMILY CHILDCARE: Family childcare educators assemble and deliver a petition to Gov. Healey seeking increased funding to prevent their programs from closing. Childcare provider wages have increased by 1.5% over the last two years, according to SEIU Local 509. A recent survey of 3,200 childcare providers represented by the union found 40% would have to close without additional money, translating into 1,200 programs shutting down and 10,000 families losing access to childcare. Family childcare educators run programs from their home, with the model offering culturally appropriate care and flexible hours. The Department of Early Education and Care announced a pilot program this week to grow family childcare enrollment from 10 children to 12. (Monday, 11:45 a.m., Hooker Entrance)

U.S. DEPUTY ENERGY SECRETARY: U.S. Department of Energy Secretary James Danly is the featured speaker at a lunch hosted by The New England Council. There's also a panel discussion exploring how energy sector stakeholders ensured reliability during New England's "coldest winter in two decades," organizers say. Panelists include ISO New England CEO Vamsi Chadalavada, New England Power Generators Association President Dan Dolan, JERA Americas CEO John O'Brien and Eversource Energy President of Transmission Bill Quinlan. (Monday, 12 p.m., UMass Club, One Beacon St., 32nd floor, Boston)

CELEBRATING THE INSPECTOR GENERAL: Gov. Healey presents Inspector General Jeffrey Shapiro with a gubernatorial citation recognizing the 45th anniversary of the Massachusetts Office of the Inspector General. The Legislature established the country's first statewide office of the inspector general following "a widespread state building contracts corruption scandal," per the OIG's office. (Monday, 1 p.m., Governor's Ceremonial Office)

WORLD CUP: Germany plays the third place team from Groups A/B/C/D/F for match 74 of the FIFA World Cup. (Monday, 4:30 p.m., “Boston Stadium,” 1 Patriot Place, Foxborough)

MAGAZINE BEACH: Department of Conservation and Recreation gives construction updates on Magazine Beach improvements in Cambridge that are aimed at boosting public access to the Charles River. Officials say they are "installing a permanent observation deck and dock, restoring the shoreline with native plantings, and creating new lawn and landscaped areas." (Monday, 6 p.m. | Zoom)

Tuesday, June 30, 2026

SAIL BOSTON FERRY TICKETS: MBTA begins offering tickets for the roundtrip Spectacle Island ferry, which will run between Hingham and Spectacle Island for the July 11 "Parade of Sail" hosted by Meet Boston. The event will involve vessels parading in flotillas from Broad Sound into the main channel of Boston Harbor and along the city's waterfront before turning at Charlestown and proceeding to assigned berthing areas. The ships will be led by the USCGC "Eagle," known as "America's Tall Ship," per Sail Boston. All other MBTA ferry routes will be suspended until the evening to accommodate the event, per the agency, which said tickets can be bought "exclusively" at its Hingham ticket office weekdays between 6 a.m. and 9 p.m. and on weekends between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m. while supplies last. (Tuesday, 10 a.m.)

LOTTERY COMMISSION: Massachusetts Lottery Commission meets remotely. The agenda includes a report from the executive director and a vote to allow the executive director to change regulations so the terms "instant," "instant ticket" and "instant game" have the same meaning as "scratch," "scratch ticket" and "scratch game" respectively. (Tuesday, 10:30 a.m., for access email jgoggin@masslottery.com or call 857-208-8030)

POTENTIAL HOUSE FORMAL: House could meet in a formal session, per Speaker Mariano's office. The speaker's office has alerted reps of potential formals every day but Wednesday, when a formal is set in stone. (Tuesday, 11 a.m., House Chamber)

UXBRIDGE BRIDGE REPLACEMENT: MassDOT hosts a virtual design public meeting for the proposed project in Uxbridge that would replace an existing superstructure located on Homeward Avenue over Providence Worcester Railroad due to its deteriorating condition. (Tuesday, 6:30 p.m. | More Info and Register)

Wednesday, July 1, 2026

CHILDREN, FAMILIES AND PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES COMMITTEE: Joint Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities holds a public hearing on a trio of bills. Proposals from Rep. Decker and Sen. DiDomenico (H 5085 / S 3095) would increase cash assistance payments to reach 50% of the federal poverty level, ensure access to free menstrual products at places like schools and jails, boost the Earned Income Tax Credit match from 40% to 50% of the federal credit, establish a monthly $1,000 cash stipend for five years for individuals formerly in foster care, require the probation commissioner to implement an automated criminal record sealing process, and more. A Rep. Murray bill (H 5286) enables medical providers to evaluate whether DCF-involved children have symptoms of suspected abuse or neglect that were likely caused by a medical condition. (Wednesday, 10 a.m., Room B-2 | Agenda and Livestream)

ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE: Joint Committee on Environment and Natural Resources holds a public hearing on about a dozen bills, with many focused on banning the use of second generation anticoagulant rodenticides in Newbury, Topsfield, Holyoke, Williamstown, Andover, North Andover and Maynard. A Sen. DiDomenico proposal (S 3137) would authorize a land swap involving a Charlestown parking lot within a designated port area along the Mystic River. The property is just over a mile away from the proposed site of the professional soccer stadium in Everett. A summary from DiDomenico says the "reconfiguration will allow companies to provide more efficient and expanded DPA operations, and would allow use of the site for climate resiliency projects that benefits the City of Boston." (Wednesday, 10 a.m., Room B-1 | Agenda and Livestream)

GAMING COMMISSION: Massachusetts Gaming Commission holds a virtual open meeting. (Wednesday, 10 a.m. | More Info and Access)

SENATE DEMS CAUCUS: Senate Democrats meet in a caucus ahead of debate on an energy bill and 183 amendments filed to it. (Wednesday, 10 a.m., Senate President’s Office and Virtual)

STATE LIBRARY: State Library of Massachusetts celebrates the country's 250th anniversary with an event featuring its copy of the Declaration of Independence, which was printed in Salem on July 17, 1776. The library is also launching its new exhibit, "Raising the Alarm: Revolutionary Broadsides at the State Library." The event runs through 1 p.m. (Wednesday, 11 a.m., State Library, Room 341)

SENATE FORMAL: Senators plan to take up an energy bill (S 3143) they say will save ratepayers – who have been facing expensive utility bills - more than $14 billion over a decade. Sen. Michael Barrett, the bill's main author, told reporters the proposal addresses "a number of issues involving the gas and electric utilities" because "that is where the money is." The Senate's energy bill differs from a version (H 5175) the House passed in February that representatives say will offer $9 billion in savings over a decade. Senators did not include an approximately $1 billion cut to the Mass Save budget - a provision that representatives leaned on for ratepayer savings. Instead, senators are proposing a cap on the program's planning and administration spending along with banning mid-term budget increases without offsets and making mandatory "performance incentives" paid to utilities optional. The Senate's bill is more focused on the Gas System Enhancement Program and the legislation calls for phasing out the program by 2030 - a move that's expected to save $1.46 billion. Also, around half ($7.1 billion) of the bill's projected $14 billion in savings comes from provisions allowing utilities to securitize, or refinance at a lower cost, certain grid modernization, storm recovery and gas transition expenses. (Wednesday, 11 a.m., Senate Chamber)

HOUSE FORMAL: House meets in a formal session. Roll call votes are scheduled to begin after 1 p.m. (Wednesday, 11 a.m., House Chamber)

HOUSE DEMS CAUCUS: Ahead of a formal session, House Democrats meet in a caucus. (Wednesday, 12 p.m., Hearing Rooms A-1 and A-2)

DCR STEWARDSHIP: DCR Stewardship Council Finance Committee hears a fiscal presentation from agency staff and discusses fiscal issues. (Wednesday, 3 p.m. | More Info and Access)

INITIATIVE PETITION SIGNATURE FILING DEADLINE: Deadline for petitioners to file their second round of locally-certified initiative petition signatures with the office of Secretary of State William Galvin. His office will then certify the petitions at the state level. Each petition must have at least 12,429 signatures. No more than 3,107 can come from any one county. There are nine remaining initiative petitions in the running to go before voters in November, including an already-certified measure that would repeal Massachusetts' 2024 gun reform law. The others include measures that would implement all-party state primary elections, subject the records of the Legislature and governor's office to the public records law, permit Election Day registration, legalize "starter homes," repeal the legalization of recreational marijuana, permit Committee for Public Counsel Services employees to collectively bargain, generate annual funding for land conservation via the sporting goods sales tax, and limit state revenue and return the surplus to taxpayers. (Wednesday, 5 p.m.)

FIREFIGHTER GRADUATION: Massachusetts Firefighting Academy holds a graduation ceremony for 26 recruits. They represent fire departments in Belchertown, Brookfield, Dalton, Hampden, Huntington, Leicester, Palmer, South Hadley, Spencer, Three Rivers, Ware, Warren and West Brookfield. (Wednesday, 7 p.m., 100 Grochmal Ave., Springfield)

Thursday, July 2, 2026

SENATE SESSION: Senate meets in an informal session. (Thursday, 11 a.m., Senate Chamber)

POTENTIAL HOUSE FORMAL: House could meet in a formal session, per Speaker Mariano's office. (Thursday, 11 a.m., House Chamber)

BOSTON HARBORFEST: Kickoff ceremony is held for Boston Harborfest, which features music, live performances, fireworks and activities around the city ahead of July 4. Ceremony attendees include civic leaders, maritime dignitaries and military representatives. The commander of the USS Constitution will also cut the Harborfest cake with a "ceremonial saber," organizers say. (Thursday, 12 p.m., Summer Street stage, Downtown Crossing, Boston | More Info)

BONDING, CAPITAL EXPENDITURES AND STATE ASSETS COMMITTEE: Joint Committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets hold a hearing on Gov. Healey's economic development bill (H 5527), dubbed the MassWins Act. The proposal cleared the Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies on June 22 on a 18-0 vote, with two Republicans -- Sen. Durant and Rep. Sweezey -- reserving their rights. Healey filed her initial proposal, which contains $305 million in capital authorizations, on April 16. The bill includes $25 million for a capital grant program for businesses that are building or expanding commercial, industrial or manufacturing facilities; $75 million for grants to support the development and application of AI technologies; $20 million for capital grants to support site development to attract international companies; and $100 million for defense sector innovation. (Thursday, 1 p.m., Room A-1 | Agenda and Livestream)

MINOGUE FIRST PITCH: Republican gubernatorial candidate Mike Minogue throws out the first pitch at the Lowell Spinners game against the Norwich Sea Unicorns. The game celebrates the country's 250th anniversary and will feature a post-game fireworks show. (Thursday, 7 p.m., LeLacheur Park, 450 Aiken Ave., Lowell)

HARBORFEST FIREWORKS: Harborfest Fireworks are launched from a barge at Long Wharf. Organizers say the best vantage points are at Christopher Columbus Waterfront Park, Fan Pier, Flagship Wharf, Piers Park LoPresti Park,-Griffin's Wharf (Thursday, 9:15 p.m., Long Wharf, Boston Inner Harbor)

Friday, July 3, 2026

POTENTIAL HOUSE FORMAL: House could meet in a formal session, per Speaker Mariano's office. If it does not, House will be closed in observance of Independence Day. (Friday, 11 a.m., House Chamber)

NATIONAL GUARD BAND: The 215th Army Band of the Massachusetts Army National Guard performs as part of Boston Harborfest. (Friday, 12 p.m., Downtown Crossing, Boston)

Saturday, July 4, 2026

USS CONSTITUTION UNDERWAY: USS Constitution gets underway from the Charlestown Navy Yard in honor of Independence Day and the nationwide celebrations of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The ship will render a 21-gun salute off Fort Independence on Castle Island at approximately 11:30 a.m., followed by a 17-gun salute as she passes U.S. Coast Guard Base Boston, the former site of the shipyard where she was built and launched in 1797. The world's oldest commissioned warship afloat, USS Constitution served from 1797 to 1855 and played a role in the Barbary Wars and the War of 1812. The underway will be visible from the Boston Harborwalk, Castle Island, and the Charlestown Navy Yard, and the ship reopens for free public tours at approximately 3 p.m. following her return. (Saturday, July 4, 10 a.m., Charlestown Navy Yard, Boston)

BOSTON POPS FIREWORKS SPECTACULAR: Billed as the state's "signature" MA250 event, the Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular is at the Hatch Shell on the Charles River Esplanade for its 52nd year. Musical guests include Lainey Wilson, Chance The Rapper, Trombone Shorty and Megan Hilty. The program features the premiere of a new work that transformed state Poet Laureate Regie Gibson's "Song of Massachusetts" into a score. There's also a drone show at 9 p.m. The event wraps up with a fireworks display at 9:15 p.m. Public access to the lawn in front of the Hatch Shell opens at 12 p.m. "It is going to be an incredible, memorable, unforgettable blockbuster of an event on the Esplanade this summer, July 4th," Gov. Healey said last November as she promoted the event. "It's going to be fantastic. I want you to know this thrilling concert and fireworks show — we know has been long known around the world and celebrated, and so many people come it to every year — but I can tell you, Massachusetts, that July 4th, 2026, is going to be like something we have never, ever, ever seen before." The concert and fireworks display will be broadcast on WHDH-TV Channel 7 and streamed on the CNN app. (Saturday, July 4, Hatch Shell, Charles River Esplanade, Boston)

FREE MBTA SERVICE: MBTA transit is free after 8:30 p.m. to accommodate "hundreds of thousands" of attendees expected at the Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular for July 4. Fares will be free across MBTA bus and subway service, as well as commuter rail and the RIDE. The Red, Orange, Blue and Green lines will operate on a Saturday schedule, with increased service after 3 p.m. The bus and Silver Line will run a modified Sunday schedule with extended evening service, and the commuter rail is on a weekend schedule. There will be enhanced Transit Police presence, the MBTA said. "The MBTA stresses the importance of celebrating responsibly on public transit," the agency said. "Vandalism and disorderly conduct can create safety hazards, delays, and additional cleaning costs—which can divert valuable resources away from essential maintenance services and improvements that benefit all riders." (Saturday, July 4, 8:30 p.m.)

DECLARATION READING: A reading of the Declaration of Independence is held from the balcony of the Old State House. An Independence Day oration will follow at 11 a.m. at nearby Faneuil Hall. (Saturday, 10:15 a.m., Old State House, 206 Washington St., Boston)