7-12-2026 4:27am

People, Power, and Politcs

Alan Earls Editor

Republican attorney general hopeful Michael Walsh (pictured above at GOP convention earlier this year) can appear on September's primary ballot under a Essex County Superior Court judge's ruling issued Friday.The decision, which came from Associate Justice Jeffrey Karp, overrules a State Ballot Law Commission decision to scrub Walsh's name from the ballot over his submission of allegedly fraudulent nomination signatures. In the ruling, Karp said that "despite substantial evidence in the record of voter fraud" the commission lacked jurisdiction to consider the complaint from Massachusetts Democratic Party Executive Director Adam Roof alleging that Walsh had submitted fraudulent nomination signatures and did not have the required 10,000 certified signatures to get on the ballot.

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!

While it is relatively quiet, with no Council or School Committee meetings, other boards and committees are meeting this week to conduct Town and School business.

The Horace Mann Legacy subcommittee will look at a draft of the “campus” plan and plan for a table at a future Farmers Market.

The Planning Board has a review of a preliminary subdivision on Prospect St.

The 250th committee is scheduled to review/discuss their process for finding and submitting to appropriate grants.

The Communications Subcommittee will review a draft of the possible Council process for responding to resident emails as well as weigh in on an elected official policy on participation in social media.

The Conservation Commission amongst its regular business will also potentially authorize expenditure for a table cloth for use at the Farmers Market along with a rehab of three trail crossings in the Franklin Town Forest.

These items may not seem like much but in general these oversight boards and committees are in position to authorize a lot of the day to day business of the Town. By the way, according to the Town vacancies, 7 of the boards & committees have a total of 13 open positions.

You can find the listing of the current openings on the Town page and check the box to filter by “Vacancies” https://franklinmaboards.vt-s.net/boards.php.

If one of the spots seems to fit your interest, the application can be made from a tab on the same page.

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 7/10/26, 7:00 PM ***

Horace Mann Legacy Subcommittee

Monday, July 13 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_07132026-2401

Planning Board Meeting

Monday, July 13 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_07132026-2411

250th Anniversary Celebration Committee Meeting

Monday, July 13 Time: 7:30 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_07132026-2407

Communication Subcommittee Meeting

Wednesday, July 15 Time: 6:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_07152026-2412

Town Council Monthly Office Hours

Thursday, July 16 Time: 8:30 AM

No agenda for this informal discussion

Conservation Commission Meeting

Thursday, July 16 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_07162026-2410

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

The light meeting week that was, resulted in only one broadcast.

Town/ School meetings

Zoning Board of Appeals meeting, Thursday, July 9

https://www.youtube.com/live/YMR5fVrSDnU?&t=112

Pride TV

Winning Ways with the MIAA: Student Athletes Ep1 06-11-26

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPLMvQh3V_w

Winning Ways with the MIAA: Student Athletes Ep2 06-11-26

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDbfSKbPf1M

All-Access Programing

Roots & Branches: History of Soccer in Massachusetts 06-14-26

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

Frank Presents: Joe Pagliarulo (Candidate for Norfolk County District Attorney)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HB1zzQerZbI

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

There are just three weeks left until
the July 31 end of scheduled formal sessions for the House and Senate
this term. But under new rules meant to avoid the kind of messy
midsummer calamities that in the past overshadowed progress and further
perpetuated public dissatisfaction with the state Legislature, the
universe of bills still in serious contention and their paths to July 31
is less clear. Rather than the pressure resting on six-member
conference committees negotiating compromises to finish their work by
the end of the month, the new rules allow those talks to carry on
through the end of the year and instead put urgency on the House and
Senate to get issues into conference talks this month. Talks have been
ongoing around higher education infrastructure improvements, new
protections for immigrants, and a ban on student cellphone use during
school days. Lawmakers launched their talks this week around data
privacy, child welfare and an environmental borrowing bill. Major energy
affordability bills that diverge dramatically are expected to be put to
a negotiating panel soon, and lawmakers suggested they'll need some
time to figure out just how to properly arrange negotiations around
youth social media regulation. The House addressed that issue in its
student cellphone ban bill, so its approach is technically already
before that conference committee while the Senate's newly approved bill
is not yet in the mix. "I think we're all curious" about how that will
happen, Senate Majority Leader Cynthia Creem said last week. She was the
primary sponsor of the Senate's original social media bill. Senate
President Karen Spilka thinks the new joint rules "have been
tremendously successful," she said Thursday, echoing positivity that
came recently from House leadership on the changes. "We have gotten our
bills through the initial phases quicker. Assigned to committees,
committees have gotten them, passed them on, gotten to the floor
faster." What does the Ashland Democrat want done by July 31? "There's a
lot coming up," she said, naming workplace violence and home care
licensing legislation the Senate plans to pass next week, and an
under-development economic development bill as priorities. "We're
looking at economic development ... which even though we haven't gotten
it from the House yet, we are working on our version already to be
prepared to let it out soon." It's still an open question whether the
House will respond to the Senate's primary care bill, another
complicated issue that could factor into the late-month mix. "I don't
know. I'm not sure yet," House Speaker Ronald Mariano said this week.
The Legislature's July 31 work stretched beyond sunrise on Aug. 1 in
2022 and 2024, after years of wrapping up closer to midnight. What are
the chances of another overnight this year? Spilka said she tries "not
to do overnights to begin with ... but we will work 'til the end of the
session, and we'll work very hard."

Tall
ships from around the world will parade into Boston Harbor on Saturday,
staying for most of the week. With Foxborough's seven World Cup games
now in the rearview mirror, the Parade of Sail and tall ships visit caps
off the state's slate of international summer events. On Monday, Gov.
Maura Healey plans to host about 20 of the ships' captains at the State
House after they parade (on foot this time) down Beacon Street and up
the front steps. The governor was around this week, holding meetings
related to the nurses strike at Brigham & Women's Hospital and
attending services for a State Police trooper who died last month. But
it was a quiet week as far as public appearances go for her -- she even
privately signed the $63.4 billion state budget Thursday without
trimming so much as $1. The nurse work stoppage at the Brigham could end
Monday. The union voted for a one-day strike but the hospital then
locked nurses out due to a five-day minimum for contracted temporary
nurses.

Sunday, July 12, 2026

EDITORS
ON KELLER: MASSterList Editor Katie Lannan and Boston Globe reporter
Kelly Garrity join political analyst Jon Keller on his weekly talk
segment "Keller at Large." They'll discuss the Sen. Ed
Markey-Congressman Seth Moulton debate, budget deliberations on Beacon
Hill and MassGOP's "signature debacle," per Keller. (Sunday, 8:30 a.m.,
WBZ-TV)

PUBLIC
BOARDING OF TALL SHIPS: Members of the public are able to board the
tall ships visiting Boston Harbor berthed at piers across the city.
Boarding of ships at Boston Fish Pier will begin at 12 p.m on Sunday and
2 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, per Sail Boston. (Sunday through
Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. | Pier Details)

MARKEY ON THE RECORD: U.S. Sen. Ed Markey joins WCVB's weekly political talk show "On the Record." (Sunday, 11 a.m., WCVB-TV)

"A
WATERFRONT FOR ALL" ON CITYLINE: WCVB's weekly urban magazine program
focuses on how local groups are making Boston Harbor "a waterfront for
all." Piers Park Sailing Center Executive Director Alex DeFronzo and
sailing instructors Yassir Blanco and Charis Neave join, along with
Boston Harbor Now Communications Director Christian Merfeld and Boston
Harbor Women of Color Coalition co-Founder Maya Smith. (Sunday, 11:30
a.m., WCVB-TV)

DEATON
AT PEABODY CONCERT: U.S. Senate candidate John Deaton attends the
Peabody Summer Concert Series at Leather City Common. (Sunday, 6 p.m.,
Leather City Common, 53 Lowell St., Peabody)

Monday, July 13, 2026

BRIGHAM
STRIKE: The five-day work stoppage of more than 4,000 nurses at Brigham
and Women's Hospital is expected to end. Nurses represented by the
Massachusetts Nurses Association authorized a one-day strike for
Wednesday, July 8, but Mass General Brigham said it needed to bring on
replacement nurses for at least five days as part of its emergency
preparedness plans. MGB has said the hospital has remained "open and
fully operational" and urged patients to continue seeking care there.
"During the work stoppage we are focused on patient care and ensuring
our clinical teams have the resources they need to continue providing
our excellent standard of patient care," MGB said Friday. "We respect
and value our nurses and remain committed to reaching a fair agreement."
(Monday, 6:59 a.m., 75 Francis St., Boston)

BRISTOL
COUNTY MOSQUITOES: Bristol County Mosquito Control Commission holds a
hybrid meeting. (Monday, 7 a.m., 38R Forest Street, Attleboro | More Info and Access)

MCCA
DEVELOPMENT MEETING: Massachusetts Convention Center Authority
Development & Construction Committee meets. Members plan to discuss
PA speaker system upgrades at Springfield's MassMutual Center and board
room AV upgrades at the Menino Convention and Exhibition Center in
Boston. (Monday, 9 a.m. | Agenda and Access)

HEARING
ON NATIONAL GRID PETITION: Department of Public Utilities conducts an
evidentiary hearing on National Grid's petition for an increase in base
distribution rate for gas service. The public is able to observe the
proceedings but not provide comment. The hearings began on June 29 and
are being held over the span of 21 days. (Monday, 10 a.m., One South
Station, Floor 3, Boston| More Info)

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

HOUSE SESSION: House meets in an informal session. (Monday, 11 a.m., House Chamber | Livestream)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY ADVISORY: Energy Efficiency Advisory Council's Equity Working Group meets. (Monday, 11 a.m. | More Info and Register)

CREW
AND CADET STREET PARADE: About 1,000 sailors and crew members of tall
ships from around the world will march in a 1.3-mile parade route from
the Seaport to the North End. (Monday, 12 p.m., Leader Bank Pavilion to
Christopher Columbus Park, Boston)

AMENDMENT
DEADLINE: Deadline for senators to file amendments to bills that aim to
prevent healthcare workplace violence (S 3171) and address home care
licensure (S 3170). (Monday, 2:30 p.m.)

CABO
VERDEAN CENTER: Special Commission on Cabo Verdean Cultural Center
meets. Agenda includes subcommittee updates, a debrief from President
Jose Neves' visit to Massachusetts, and planning for listening sessions
in the fall. (Monday, 4 p.m. | Agenda & Virtual Access)

SAIL
BOSTON CAPTAIN RECEPTION: Gov. Healey welcomes captains who took part
in the tall ships "Parade of Sail" for a large reception at the State
House. About 20 captains from different countries will march down Beacon
Street and walk up the State House steps to be greeted by the governor,
according to Gov. Healey's office. The march begins around 4:45 p.m.
(Monday, 5 p.m., State House steps)

Tuesday, July 14, 2026

HEARING
ON NATIONAL GRID PETITION: Department of Public Utilities conducts a
virtual evidentiary hearing on National Grid's petition for an increase
in base distribution rate for gas service. The public is able to observe
the proceedings but not provide comment. The hearings began on June 29
and are being held over the span of 21 days. (Tuesday, 10 a.m. | More Info and Access)

SPILKA
IN FRAMINGHAM: Senate President Spilka delivers remarks at the grand
opening of the Reintegration House on the MCI-Framingham campus.
(Tuesday, 10 a.m., MCI-Framingham)

PUBLIC
SERVICE: Joint Committee on Public Service holds a public hearing on
miscellaneous matters. Bills would exempt certain firefighters from
maximum age requirements, create sick leave banks for public employees,
and add teachers from certain school districts to the Massachusetts
Teachers' Retirement System. (Tuesday, 11 a.m., Room A-1 | More Info & Virtual Access)

MIDDLESEX
DA CAMPAIGN LAUNCH: David Solet, Democratic candidate for Middlesex
District Attorney, officially launches his campaign. After a speaking
program, Solet will take questions. Solet, former chief of the office's
Cold Case Homicide Unit, is challenging incumbent Marian Ryan who has
been in office since 2014. According to OCPF filings, Solet organized a
committee for the seat in September 2025. (Tuesday, 11 a.m., Riverside
Press Park at 2 Blackstone St., Cambridge)

STATE HOUSE INTERNS: Rep. Murray hosts a program for State House interns. (Tuesday, 11 a.m., Gardner Auditorium)

MUNI ZONING
WEBINAR: Barrett Planning Group holds a webinar on best and worst
practices in drafting municipal zoning ordinances and bylaws. (Tuesday,
12 p.m. | Register)

LGAC:
Local Government Advisory Commission meets. Agenda includes an update
from the Executive Office for Administration and Finance on revenue
collections and the state budget. Gov. Healey signed the fiscal 2027
budget Thursday without vetoing a single dollar from the $63.4 billion
package. The Healey administration will also discuss its "data center
framework." Healey recently put applications on hold for data center tax
incentives as she released guidelines for data center projects to bring
their own clean energy, avoid shifting or increasing costs on
consumers, protect environmental health, and contribute meaningfully to
the local and state economy. The commission will also hear an update
from the Federal Funds and Infrastructure Office. (Tuesday, 1 p.m., Room
157 | Zoom)

MASSABILITY
CONVERSATION: Massachusetts Permanent Commission on the Status of
Persons with Disabilities, in partnership with MassAbility, hosts a
"community conversation and resource fair" as a part of a statewide
series of gatherings of people with disabilities and their families.
This session will focus on issues affecting the disability community,
including housing, employment, transportation, long-term services and
supports, and health equity. The event will also have a resource fair
with over 30 organizations offering information and services. (Tuesday, 1
p.m., Northampton Senior Services, 67 Conz St., Northampton | More Info)

GOLDBERG
AND HEALEY MEET: Treasurer Deb Goldberg and Gov. Maura Healey hold
their monthly meeting. (Tuesday, 2 p.m., Governor's Office Room 360)

TRANSPORTATION
COMMITTEE: Joint Committee on Transportation accepts written testimony
on various legislation. Bills would allow for a land transfer in Hingham
for highway purposes (H 5504), create a Legion of Merit license plate
(H 5529), designate a bridge in Gardner as the Rep. Robert L. Rice, Jr.
Bridge (H 5503), and allow the Department of Transportation to take land
easements in Woburn and Burlington (S 3169). (Tuesday)

Wednesday, July 15, 2026

PRIM
STEWARDSHIP AND SUSTAINABILITY: Massachusetts Pension Reserves
Investment Management's Stewardship and Sustainability Committee meets
remotely. (Wednesday, 9:30 a.m. | More Info and Access)

BOCH
CENTER CITY SPOTLIGHTS: Advocacy day for Boch Center City Spotlights
Leadership program, a summer and school-year employment program for
Boston teens in the performing arts. Teens create original artistic
pieces in acting, dance and music and lead interactive arts workshops.
(Wednesday, 10 a.m., Grand Staircase)

DEATON
TOWN HALL: Republican candidate for U.S. Senate John Deaton holds a
town hall forum, as part of a statewide listening tour. (Wednesday, 11
a.m., Worcester Senior Center, 128 Providence St., Worcester)

SENATE DEMOCRATS CAUCUS: Senate Democrats meet in a caucus. (Wednesday, 11 a.m., Senate President's Office and Virtual)

HOUSE SESSION: House meets in a full formal session. Roll calls are set to begin at 1 p.m. (Wednesday, 11 a.m., House Chamber)

HOUSE DEMOCRATS CAUCUS: House Democrats meet in a caucus. (Wednesday, 12 p.m., Rooms A-1 and A-2)

CHAMBER
ON HOUSING CRISIS: Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce hosts a free,
hybrid event focused on the state's "housing affordability crisis and
the policy tools available to confront the housing market challenges
facing residents, employers, and developers across the state," according
to organizers. Housing Secretary Juana Matias, Chamber Director of
Research Emily Bear and Arnold Ventures' Vice President of
Infrastructure and Housing Jenny Schueyz will give presentations. They
will then join a panel with NAIOP Massachusetts CEO Tamara Small and
Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation President Doug Howgate, moderated by
Chamber President Jim Rooney. Press should RSVP to cbaines@bostonchamber.com and mholloway@bostonchamber.com. (Wednesday, 11:30 a.m., Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, 265 Franklin St., Suite 1701, Boston | More Info and Register)

MARIJUANA
REPEAL OBJECTION: State Ballot Law commission holds a hearing on an
objection disputing the validity of signatures filed in support of the
initiative petition seeking to repeal the state's adult-use recreational
marijuana laws. The objection - lodged by Kevin Gilnack - is the second
one the ballot question has faced this year surrounding the
authenticity of nomination signatures that petitioners gathered. If
needed, the commission will continue hearings on July 16 and July 17.
(Wednesday, 2 p.m., 17th floor conference room at 1 Ashburton Place,
Boston)

MEETING
ON SEASONAL PILOT CLOSURE: Department of Conservation and Recreation
hosts a presentation on an upcoming seasonal pilot closure of two major,
scenic roadways in the Blue Hills Reservation in Milton and Quincy. DCR
plans to close Chickatawbut and Wampatuck roads for weekends from July
through early September, citing conservation efforts in the reservation
and public safety. (Wednesday, 6 p.m. | More Info and Register)2ND
MARINE DIVISION BAND: U.S. Marine Corps' 2nd Division Band performs in a
free patriotic concert finale to celebrate the conclusion of Sail
Boston. (Wednesday, 6:30 p.m., DCR Hatch Memorial Shell | More Info)

Thursday, July 16, 2026

MEET
THE MEDIA: MASSterList and the State House News Service host the fourth
annual Meet the Media event, in partnership with Axios Boston and
CommonWealth Beacon. The gathering is focused on how regional media is
adapting to economic pressure, new business models and shrinking
newsrooms. One panel features Boston Globe Power Play newsletter
co-authors Shirley Leung and Jon Chesto, moderated by MASSterList
columnist Jon Keller, followed by a reporter roundtable with Axios
Boston's Mike Deehan, GBH News Rooted host Paris Alston, CommonWealth
Beacon Editor Laura Colarusso, NBC10 Boston politics reporter Matt
Prichard, and MASSterList Editor Katie Lannan. Doors open at 8 a.m. for
networking, program at 9 a.m. (Thursday, 8 a.m., MCLE Conference Center,
10 Winter Pl., Boston | Register)

MASSPORT:
Massachusetts Port Authority's Board meet. An agenda is not yet
available. (Thursday, Time TBD but board members usually meet at 9 a.m.,
email remoteaccess@massport.com for access | More Info)

MBTA
AUDIT AND FINANCE: MBTA Audit and Finance Subcommittee meets.
(Thursday, 9 a.m., State Transportation Building, 2nd Floor, Boston | More Info)

MBTA
PLANNING AND WORKFORCE: MBTA Planning, Workforce Development &
Compensation Subcommittee meets. (Thursday, 10 a.m., State
Transportation Building, 2nd Floor, Boston | More Info)

GAMING COMMISSION: Massachusetts Gaming Commission holds an open meeting. (Thursday, 10 a.m. | More Info and Livestream)

SENATE
FORMAL: Senate meets in a formal session to tackle a pair of bills
aimed at preventing violence against healthcare workers and creating a
licensure process for home care workers. The House passed both measures
in November. People who assault healthcare workers, including in
hospitals and doctor's offices, could be charged with a misdemeanor
under the Senate Ways and Means Committee redraft (S 3171). That could
translate into up to two and half years in a house of correction, with
no financial penalty. Meanwhile, the House bill would classify assaults
as a felony that could lead to up to 10 years in state prison or a fine
of up to $5,000. Bill sponsor Sen. Joan Lovely said the Senate pursued a
lower penalty based on feedback from behavioral health and disability
advocates, though Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan said
prosecutors could still pursue felony charges in violent attacks
regardless of the Senate language. The Senate will also vote on a bill
to license home care workers, who help older adults with daily tasks
such as bathing, dressing and meal prep (S 3170). (Thursday, Time TBA,
Senate Chamber)

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

YOGA
AT THE STATE HOUSE: Ivy Child International leads a Youth Voices yoga
event in the Great Hall, to celebrate the organization's 15th
anniversary. (Thursday, 11 a.m., Great Hall)

MBTA
SAFETY AND HEALTH: MBTA Safety, Health & Environment Subcommittee
meets. (Thursday, 11 a.m., State Transportation Building, 2nd Floor,
Boston | More Info)

SOMERVILLE
DEVELOPMENT: Groundbreaking ceremony is held for a mixed-income
community in Somerville's Winter Hill neighborhood at 299 Broadway and
15 Temple St. A vacant site will be developed into 319 rental homes,
including 136 affordable units, along with retail stores, a public
plaza, playground and enhanced pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure.
Somerville Mayor Jake Wilson attends, along with representatives from
the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities. (Thursday,
11:30 a.m., 299 Broadway St., Somerville)

MBTA BOARD: MBTA Board of Directors meets. (Thursday, 1 p.m., State Transportation Building, 2nd Floor, Boston | More Info)