People, Power, and Politcs

State universities are seeing a surge in transfer students this fall, plus their first overall enrollment boost in more than a decade, according to new estimates from higher education officials that point to persistent struggles around degree completion.  Across the state's public higher education system, enrollment is up by 2.2% compared to last fall. Enrollment is up by 3.9% at community colleges (Middlesex Community College above) — marking the fourth consecutive year of growth — and up by 2.2% at state universities, which is the first increase since 2013, according to data presented to the Board of Higher Education Tuesday. Enrollment is "level" for the University of Massachusetts system. Department of Higher Education staff zeroed in on transfer student trends, with their enrollment increasing by 16.6% at state universities and by 3.8% at UMass.

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!

From charter review to 250 event brainstorming to Administrator Evaluation to Tax Rate workshop and a bunch of other items in between are on tap this week.

The Ad-hoc charter review subcommittee is scheduled to meet early on Monday. Let’s hope nothing happens like the prior two causes for meeting cancellation.

The 250 Celebration Committee holds a session at the Senior Center Monday morning to outline plans for the events in 2028 to seek feedback, additional ideas and perhaps some volunteers to help with the effort.

The Town Administrator evaluation Subcommittee, the Agricultural Committee, the Library Board of Directors, and the 250 Subcommittee on historical significance are also scheduled to meet on Monday.

The School Committee is scheduled to meet Tuesday to get an update on the October 1 enrollment, hear about a potential new international trip for FHS, and get an update from Liz Harkins, the new Executive Director at Franklin TV.

The Franklin High School Auditorium is the setting for the 2nd of three tax rate workshops being held by the Town Council. Hopefully many folks will come out for this session.

The Economic Development subcommittee and the Zoning Board of Appeals are scheduled to meet on Thursday to close out the week of meetings.

The last Farmers Market for the season comes around on Friday, Oct 30 at the Town Common. The Winter Farmers Market at Fairmount Fruit Farm has two dates each month from Nov to March scheduled.

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 10/23/26 5:00 PM ***

Ad Hoc Town Charter Review Committee Meeting

Monday, October 26 Time: 10:00 AM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_10262026-2534

Franklin 250 Brainstorming

Monday, October 26 Time: 10:00 AM

No agenda for this interactive session

Town Administrator Evaluation Ad Hoc Committee Meeting

Monday, October 26 Time: 4:30 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_10262026-2571

Franklin Agricultural Committee Meeting

Monday, October 26 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_10262026-2578

Library Board of Directors Regular Meeting

Monday, October 26 Time: 7:00 PM 

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_10262026-2580

250th Anniversary Celebration Historical Significance Subcommittee Meeting

Monday, October 26 Time: 7:30 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_10262026-2579

Franklin School Committee

Tuesday, October 27 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_10272026-2581

Council on Aging Board Meeting

Wednesday, October 28 Time: 11:00 AM

No agenda available at this time

Town Council Meeting - at Franklin High School Auditorium

Wednesday, October 28 Time: 6:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_10282026-2583

October 29, 2026 - Economic Development Subcommittee Meeting

Thursday, October 29 Time: 6:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_10292026-2582

Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) Meeting

Thursday, October 29 Time: 7:30 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_10292026-2574

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

There were several video productions by Franklin TV during the past week both broadcast live and pre-recorded for publication via YouTube.

Town & School meetings

Planning Board meeting on 10/29 Recap & video link https://www.franklinmatters.org/2026/10/planning-board-reviews-traffic-parking.html

Finance Committee on 10/21 Recap & video link

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2026/10/finance-committee-gets-insights-on.html

Conservation Commission on 10/22 video link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8JptqXV8ksM

FHS Sports

FHS boys soccer vs Mansfield on 10/21

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FdmhvY0L9Gg

FHS volleyball vs Stoughton on 10/23

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0224oSody8

All Access Channel

Franklin Senior Expo held at the Senior Center on 10/02

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bzdbgW0wOo

Franklin Matters

MA State Senator Becca Rausch 10/14/26 -

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2026/10/senator-rausch-provides-legislative.html

Town of Franklin's Boston Post Cane Presented to Lydia Dolitka 10/22/2026

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2026/10/town-of-franklins-boston-post-cane.html

---------

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

The last full week before Election Day means Massachusetts is on the cusp of what is shaping up to be a historic lame-duck session. New rules adopted this session were intended to even out the flow of legislation through the House and Senate and prevent the logjams of sessions past. But old habits are hard to break and the Democratic-controlled Legislature is on the verge of just pushing its unfinished business off until after the election. In 2024, the last year when July 31 was the election year deadline to wrap up substantive business, the Legislature had nine conference committees that had been unable to merge House- and Senate-approved bills by the end of scheduled formal sessions that bled into Aug. 1. Bending their rules to extend serious legislating, negotiating panels two years ago came up with five major accords in August, September and October. By late October 2024, lawmakers had just four conference committees remaining in closed-door negotiations. Lawmakers reported agreements for legislation related to maternal health on Aug. 14; long-term care on Aug. 28; Boston liquor licenses on Sept. 3; federal matching funds on Sept. 18; clean energy on Oct. 21; economic development on Nov. 12; opioid crisis response on Dec. 17; prescription drugs on Dec. 27; and hospital oversight on Dec. 30. This session, under the new rules, there are 12 negotiating panels still in play and lawmakers have had little to say about the issues that are dividing Democrats and keeping popular bills on hold. With many lawmakers not facing any challengers, the Legislature appears content with its new deadline to just kick more of its work down the tracks rather than reach compromises and try to show voters they are serious about delivering on promises related to economic development, data privacy, primary care access, environmental and higher education investments, and social media regulation. Agreements on these bills are expected by early January and the Legislature is also about to find out which of the nine ballot questions pass and whether to carry forth with the will of the voters or intervene and try to alter the implementation of ballot questions that they disagree with. In particular, lawmakers have knocked proposals calling for all-party primary elections, an expansion of the public records law to the Legislature and the governor's office, and a new formula to trigger more frequent tax rebates. Alternatives to the records law expansion and the tax rebate formula are featured in the conference committee pileup that gives legislative leaders an opportunity to trade priorities across bills during lame-duck sessions. With ballot questions already percolating for 2028, top Democrats also may soon embark on an effort to revisit the underpinnings of the process that lets voters go around the General Court and put initiative petitions on the ballot — a monumental task that could further inflame the segment of mistrustful voters who want a more transparent and responsive Legislature. The House this week approved a $2.35 billion bill to close the books on fiscal 2026; Senate leaders haven't said when they will take up their version of the bill but final passage is holding up the timely completion of required reporting on the state's fiscal status. Republican Sen. Ryan Fattman, a member of the Senate Ways and Means Committee, told the News Service on Thursday that he thinks the chamber is taking it up on Nov. 5.

Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026

QUESTION 8 ON KELLER: Political analyst Jon Keller hosts a mini-debate on Question 8, the ballot measure that looks to end recreational marijuana sales. Ryan Dominguez of the No on 8 campaign and Harvard professor Bertha Madras, director of the Laboratory of Addiction Neurobiology at McLean Hospital, join Keller's weekly political talk segment "Keller at Large." (Sunday, 8:30 a.m., WBZ-TV)

DEATON FIRST PITCH: U.S. Senate candidate John Deaton throws out the first pitch at the Miracle League of Western Massachusetts' closing game. (Sunday, 8:45 a.m., Aschermann Family Field, Springfield College, 263 Alden St., Springfield)

HEALEY ON NBC: Gov. Healey joins NBC 10 reporter Matt Prichard for his weekly "@ Issue" sitdown. (Sunday, 9:30 a.m., NBC 10)

CARNEVALE 'ON THE RECORD': Massachusetts Republican Party Chair Amy Carnevale and UMass Amherst political science professor Jesse Rhodes join WCVB's weekly political talk show "On the Record." (Sunday, 11 a.m., WCVB-TV)

VETERANS FILM SCREENING: Free film screening of "Brothers After War" to support local veterans is hosted by the Volunteers of America of Massachusetts and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Department of Massachusetts. (Sunday, 12 p.m., Regal Independence Mall & RPX, 101 Kingston Collection Way, Kingston)

DRISCOLL AT DIWALI: Lt. Gov. Driscoll joins a Diwali celebration in Andover. (Sunday, 12:15 p.m., West Middle School at 70 Shawsheen Road, Andover)

DRISCOLL CAMPAIGNS: Lt. Gov. Driscoll launches a get-out-the-vote canvass in Methuen. (Sunday, 1:20 p.m., Laborers Local 175 at 55 Union St., Methuen)

HEALEY IN ARLINGTON: Gov. Healey stops by an Arlington Brownie troop's Democracy Badge ceremony. (Sunday, 1:30 p.m., Arlington Police Department at 112 Mystic St., Arlington)

DEATON MERRIMACK VALLEY: U.S. Senate candidate John Deaton joins unspecified local lawmakers and business owners for a series of stops in Haverhill and Lawrence. Media RSVP to Hunter@johndeatonforsenate.com for precise locations. (Sunday, 1:30 p.m., Haverhill and Lawrence)

DRISCOLL CAMPAIGNS: Lt. Gov. Driscoll attends a meet and greet in Methuen. (Sunday, 2:05 p.m., Yalla Grill at 169 Merrimack St., Methuen)

HEALEY-DRISCOLL RALLY: Gov. Healey and Lt. Gov. Driscoll headline a "Team Massachusetts" get-out-the-vote rally in Cambridge. (Sunday, 4 p.m., Contact kerry@maurahealey.com for precise location, Cambridge)

Monday, Oct. 26, 2026

WOMEN'S CONFERENCE: Bethel AME Church hosts its annual women's conference "Every Season of You." Attorney General Campbell and Dr. Gloria White-Hammond participate in a conversation and Rev. Thema Bryant and Shareefah Al'Uqdah are set to deliver keynote addresses. There will also be panels focused on aging, self-care, relationships, health and wellness and finding purpose throughout different life stages. (Monday, 8 a.m., Simmons University at 300 Fenway, Boston | More Info and Registration)

CONSUMER PROTECTION, PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE COMMITTEE: Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure accepts written testimony on a Rep. Garballey bill dealing with alcohol licenses in Arlington. (Monday, 9 a.m. | More Info)

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

SENATE: Senate meets. (Monday, 11 a.m., Senate Chamber | Livestream)

DPU TRANSPORTATION AGREEMENT: Department of Public Utilities holds a virtual public hearing on a transportation service agreement involving National Grid and Amrize Northeast's fuel plant in Peabody. (Monday, 2 p.m. | More Info and Access)

LIVING HISTORIES OF COLOR: Reception for Marcia Kimm-Jackson, an artist in residence at Embrace, who is hosting a Living Histories of Color exhibit on the fourth floor of the State House, including work from "trailblazers and history making contributors in the Greater Boston Area." Exhibit runs through Friday. (Monday, 2:30 p.m., 4th Floor, State House)

AMETHYST BROOK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: Amherst holds a groundbreaking ceremony for its new Amethyst Brook Elementary School. Treasurer Goldberg attends. (Monday, 3:30 p.m., 70 South East St., Amherst)

Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026

AI SUMMIT: UMass Boston Chancellor Marcelo Suárez-Orozco, the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences and the Latin American AI Network for Integral Human Development host a summit on artificial intelligence. (Tuesday, 8:30 a.m., University of Massachusetts Boston, 100 Morrissey Boulevard, Campus Center, 3rd Floor, Rm 3550 - 3545, Boston | More Info)

BOARD OF ED: Board of Elementary and Secondary Education meets. It plans to discuss and vote to solicit public comment on new early literacy regulations, stemming from a literacy bill the Legislature passed earlier this year. Members will also discuss and vote on a performance evaluation for DESE Commissioner Pedro Martinez. (Tuesday, 9:30 a.m., Anne T. Dunphy School, 1 Petticoat Hill Road, Williamsburg | Livestream)

DPU NET CREDITING: Department of Public Utilities hold a technical conference on expanding access to net crediting solutions for net metering facilities and solar facilities, based on a directive from the 2024 clean energy law. Discussions will dive into costs and timeframes, customer transparency, the allocation of administrative cost savings and ratepayer impacts. (Tuesday, 9:30 a.m., One South Station, 3rd floor, Boston | More Info and Access)

MANUFACTURING AWARDS: The annual Manufacturing Awards Ceremony is hosted by the Massachusetts Legislative Manufacturing Caucus, MassTech Collaborative and Massachusetts Manufacturing Extension Partnership. Speakers include caucus co-chairs Sen. Paul Feeney and Rep. Jeff Roy, Economic Development Secretary Eric Paley and Kraft Group President Jonathan Kraft. Honorees this year include Corning Life Sciences in Tewksbury, New England Biolabs in Ipswich and MACOM Technology Solutions Inc. in Lowell. The ceremony is also accompanied by the Massachusetts Manufacturing Mash-Up, a conference hosted by the Center for Advanced Manufacturing. (Tuesday, 10 a.m., Gillette Stadium, Cross Insurance Club, 1 Patriot Place, Foxborough)

MASS SAVE IMPACT AWARDS: Mass Save Impact Awards will honor 17 organizations and communities for energy efficiency, electrification, building modernization, and other sustainability and resiliency initiatives. The projects that are being recognized are collectively "expected to deliver net lifetime CO2 emission reductions equivalent to the annual energy use of nearly 30,000 homes or more than 50,000 gasoline-powered passenger vehicles driven for one year," organizers say. Awardees include Cambridge, Fall River, Quincy, Springfield, Lowell General Hospital, Athol, Townsend, Westwood and UMass Amherst. Amy Vavak of National Grid and Katherine Peters of Eversource speak at the ceremony. (Tuesday, 10:30 a.m., Great Hall)

LOTTERY COMMISSION: Massachusetts State Lottery Commission meets remotely. For access email gpolin@masslottery.com or call 781 917 6057. (Tuesday, 10:30 a.m. | Agenda)

EARLY ED, CARE: Data Advisory Commission on Early Education and Care meets. Agenda includes updates on fiscal 2026 recommendations. (Tuesday, 1 p.m. | Agenda and Zoom)

TRANSPORTATION FIRST: Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce continues its "Transportation First" series with an event focused on how transportation infrastructure, workforce access and economic development are influencing the commonwealth's future. Speakers include A Better City CEO Kate Dineen, Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce CEO Timothy Murray and Western Mass Economic Development Council CEO Aaron Vega. (Tuesday, 2:45 p.m., 265 Franklin St., 17th floor, Boston | Register)

SPRINGFIELD COURTHOUSE COMMUNITY MEETING: Liberty Junction, the developer awarded a preliminary contract for a new Hampden County Justice Center, hosts a community meeting on the project alongside the NAACP, the Urban League and Hope CDC. Those hosting also include Rep. Williams; City Council President Tracye Whitfield; City Councilors Justin Hurst, Malo Brown, and Melvin Edwards; and school committee members. There has been intense local pushback against the choice of developer, though a judge ruled against losing local bidders who tried to halt the project claiming the procurement process was flawed. A release from Liberty Junction about Tuesday's meeting says, "While competitors are trying to delay and question the project, we’re setting the record straight. If you haven’t already, check out our website with all the facts about the new building at newcourthousefacts.com." (Tuesday, 6 p.m., Rebecca M. Johnson School, 55 Catherine St., Springfield)

DCR STEWARDSHIP: DCR Stewardship Council Stakeholders Committee holds a listening session. (Tuesday, 6:30 p.m. | Zoom)

DCR FLOOD RESILIENCE: Department of Conservation and Recreation presents its report on strategies for reducing flooding along Nantasket Avenue and Hull Shore Drive. (Tuesday, 6:30 p.m., Oceanfront Hotels, 45 Hull Shore Drive, Hull | More Info)

POTENTIAL HARVARD STRIKE: Deadline for more than 4,000 unionized Harvard graduate and undergraduate students to go on strike if they do not reach a contract agreement with the university. Another union representing about 2,500 non-tenure track teachers and researchers have set a strike deadline for Nov. 10, raising the possibility of two simultaneous labor actions. The unions are seeking safe working conditions, fair wages and benefits and claim that Harvard Corporation has failed to compromise. "Our students depend on us, our research depends on us, and Harvard depends on us," said Denish Jaswal, president of Harvard Graduate Students Union-UAW Local 5118. "Yet the administration continues to deny us the pay and protections we need to keep doing this work." (Tuesday)

Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026

BIZ UNDERSECRETARY: Undersecretary of Business Strategies Zenobia Moochhala is the featured speaker at an event hosted by the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce's Women's Network. Moochhala will discuss her journey to state government, including founding Care.com and working as group vice president of marketing at Bright Horizons. She'll talk with Caitlin Dodge, CEO of marketing and advertising agency Argus. (Wednesday, 9 a.m., John Hancock, 200 Berkeley St., Boston | Register)

ZAPATOS ROJOS: Lawyers for Civil Rights unveils "Zapatos Rojos" - translated to red shoes, which is an international public art piece by Mexican artist Elina Chauvet. The installation includes more than 150 red-painted shoes on Brewer Fountain recognizing women and girls lost to gender-based violence. Boston's unveiling is in collaboration with 10 community groups focused on helping survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault.(Wednesday, 9:45 a.m., Brewer Fountain in Boston Common)

SCHOOL BUILDING AUTHORITY BOARD: Massachusetts School Building Authority Board meets remotely. For access, email maria.puopolo@massschoolbuildings.org. (Wednesday, 10 a.m. | Agenda)

HEATING ASSISTANCE BRIEFING: Reps. Donaghue, Gregoire, Lewis and Sousa join Citizens Energy Corporation President Joseph Kennedy III, Housing Undersecretary Chris Kluchman and community action agency officials for a briefing on the state's Home Energy Assistance Program. The program is part of the federal home energy assistance program and funded through the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities. It is administered by 20 community-based organizations. Other speakers include Assistant Attorney General Jessica Freedman, MASSCAP Executive Director Joseph Diamond, South Middlesex Opportunity Council CEO Susan Gentili, Massachusetts Energy Marketers Association President Michael Ferrante, Theresa Washington of Eversource Energy, and Sheryl Hedlund of the Department of Fire Services. (Wednesday, 10:30 a.m., South Middlesex Opportunity Council, 7 Bishop St., Framingham)

OLMSTEAD POLICY BRIEFING: Disability Policy Consortium and the Arc of Massachusetts hold a legislative briefing looking at ways to protect the U.S. Supreme Court's Olmstead v. L.C. decision that found unjustified institutionalization of people with disabilities is considered discrimination and violates the Americans with Disabilities Act. The briefing will also assess shifting federal guidance on the topic and the status of community-based infrastructure. (Wednesday, 11 a.m., Room 428)

VETERANS EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES COMMISSION: Veterans Employment Opportunities Commission holds an event. The commission is directed to investigate whether veterans are subjected to employment discrimination on the basis of their status as veterans. It reports its findings annually. (Wednesday, 11 a.m., Grand Staircase)

ROXBURY AFFORDABLE HOUSING: Ribbon-cutting ceremony is held to mark the opening of a five-story affordable housing development. It's hosted by nonprofit Urban Edge and affordable housing developer Nuestra Communidad. The property, 59 Bartlett Station, features 44 affordable housing units and community space. It's also part of a transformation of the former MBTA Bartlett Yard. Speakers include Boston Chief of Housing Sheila Dillon, CEDAC Executive Director Ethan Handelman and JP Morgan Chase & Co. Executive Director Nick Hoffer. (Wednesday, 11 a.m., 59 Bartlett Station Drive, Roxbury)

JOINT SESSION: House and Senate meet in a joint session. There are three constitutional amendments on the calendar: S 11, filed by Sen. Comerford of Amherst, relative to agricultural and horticultural lands; S 12, filed by Sen. Tarr of Gloucester, capping the state income tax at 6.25%; and S 13, also filed by Sen. Tarr, requiring a supermajority vote for the use of rainy day funds. In April 2025, the Revenue Committee voted 5-1 to shoot down both of Sen. Tarr’s proposed amendments. Senate Democrats who preside over the constitutional convention have shown no interest in taking up pending amendments this session. (Wednesday, 12 p.m., House Chamber | Livestream)

PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES: Massachusetts Permanent Commission on the Status of Persons with Disabilities meets. Agenda includes a feedback discussion on the fiscal 2026 report. (Wednesday, 12:30 p.m. | Agenda and Zoom)

BOOK AWARDS: Massachusetts Center for the Book honors winners of the 2026 Massachusetts Book Awards, including Cambridge author Jill Lepore and Boston novelist Stuart Nadler. Lepore won the nonfiction prize for "We the People: A History of the U.S. Constitution." She also won the Pulitzer Prize this year. Nadler won the fiction category for "Rooms for Vanishing," a multigenerational novel following a Jewish family originally from Vienna. (Wednesday, 1 p.m., Great Hall | More Info)

MASSDOT GREENFIELD: MassDOT holds a public meeting about a proposed bridge preservation project in Greenfield involving I-91 over the Route 2 Rotary Bridge. Construction is expected to span from 2029 to 2032. (Wednesday, 6 p.m. | More Info and Register)

Thursday, Oct. 29, 2026

MHA COMMUNICATIONS SUMMIT: Massachusetts Health and Hospital Associations hosts the 2026 Communications Summit. Healthcare communicators will discuss shared challenges and opportunities, crisis management, the role of AI and the shifting policy landscape. A panel about lessons learned from the past year includes Kelly Brennan of Brown University Health, John Looney of UMass Memorial Health and Beth MacNeill of Signature Healthcare Brockton Hospital. John Wihbey, a Northeastern University professor of media and communications technology, gives the keynote speech about how AI is shaping public communications. (CLOSED PRESS) (Thursday, 8:30 a.m., MHA Conference Center, Burlington | Register)

RETIREMENT BOARD: Massachusetts Retirement Board meets remotely. For access, email msrbcommunications@tre.state.ma.us. (Thursday, 10 a.m. | Agenda)

FAMILY ADVISORY COUNCIL: Orientation is held for the Department of Early Education and Care's Family Advisory Council. Agenda includes a team-building activity and overviews of the agency and its divisions. (Thursday, 11 a.m. | Agenda and Zoom)

MIDTERMS ON EDUCATION POLICY "PRE-MORTEM": Rick Hess, senior fellow and director of policy studies at American Enterprise Institute, and Andy Rotherham, co-founder and partner of Bellwether Education Partners, discuss the upcoming midterm elections' impact on federal education policy along with policy at the state and municipal level. The conversation is part of the Harvard Kennedy School's Program on Education Policy and Governance Colloquium Series and will be moderated by a former state education secretary, James Peyser. (Thursday, 12 p.m., Room T-135 CPL Darman Seminar Room, 79 John F. Kennedy St., Cambridge | RSVP)

CITIZENS FOR LIFE: Massachusetts Citizens for Life holda an advocacy event, a "Truth About Choice." (Thursday, 12 p.m., Great Hall)

EARLY LITERACY LAW: Sen. DiDomenico, Reps. Gordon and Cataldo, Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Senior Associate Commissioner Erin Hashimoto-Martell, and Rennie Center Executive Director Chad d'Entremont speak at legislative briefing on implementing the state's new early literacy law. Rennie Center hosts the briefing, which will focus on data about where districts stand ahead of the law's 2027-2028 curriculum deadline. (Thursday, 1 p.m., Room 428 | Register)

CABO VERDEAN CULTURAL CENTER: Special Commission on Cabo Verdean Cultural Center meets. Agenda includes a debrief about a visit to the Toussaint Louverture Cultural Center and subcommittee updates. (Thursday, 4 p.m. | Agenda and Livestream)

MASSDOT CHICOPEE, HOLYOKE AND WESTFIELD: MassDOT holds a public hearing about proposed accessibility improvements in Chicopee, Holyoke and Westfield. The projects deal with the intersection of Route 116 and Granby Road in Chicopee, the intersection of the I-91 Northbound Exit 15B off-ramp and Route 141 in Holyoke, and on Route 202 in Westfield. (Thursday, 7 p.m. |Register)

Friday, Oct. 30, 2026

MMA LEGISLATIVE BREAKFAST: Massachusetts Municipal Association hosts a legislative breakfast in Lowell, bringing together local leaders, lawmakers and MMA staff. Discussion topics include the fiscal 2027 budget, the fiscal 2026 supplemental budget and the PROTECT Act, plus legislation in conference committees. (Friday, 8:30 a.m., Lowell City Hall, Mayor's reception room, 375 Merrimack St., Lowell | Register)

MMA LEGISLATIVE BREAKFAST: Massachusetts Municipal Association hosts a legislative breakfast in Northampton. (Friday, 9:15 a.m., Northampton Senior Center, 67 Conz St., Northampton | Register)

PLACEMENT, SUPPORT, SHARED LIVING SERVICES: Executive Office of Health and Human Services holds a public hearing on increasing rates for certain placement, support and shared living services. The services are purchased by the Department of Children and Families, the Department of Youth Service, the Department of Developmental Services, MassAbility and the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind. The total annualized cost is about $594,000. (Friday, 10 a.m. | More Info and Access)

YOUTH SHORT-TERM STABILIZATION, EMERGENCY PLACEMENT: Executive Office of Health and Human Services holds a public hearing on increasing payment rates for youth short-term stabilization and emergency placement services, which are purchased by the Department of Youth Services and the Department of Public Health. The total annualized cost is about $1.4 million. (Friday, 11 a.m. | More Info and Access)

HEALTH SAFETY NET: Executive Office of Health and Human Services holds a public hearing on the emergency adoption of regulations tied to Health Safety Net eligible services. The change looks to implement a cap stemming from the fiscal 2027 budget. "These amendments effectuate the adult dental service maximum of $1,750 per individual per state fiscal year as a collective total maximum amount paid for an individual across MassHealth and HSN," the hearing notice says. (Friday, 12 p.m. | More Info and Access)

TOXIC, HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCE LIST: Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs holds a public hearing on adding a PFAS to the Toxic or Hazardous List under the Toxics Use Reduction Act. The change would align Massachusetts with the federal government. (Friday, 1 p.m. | More Info and Zoom)

Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026

MARIANO'S 80TH BIRTHDAY: House Speaker Ron Mariano turns 80. Voters first sent Mariano to the House in a 1991 special election. On the ballot this November, it is the 19th time the Quincy Democrat has asked voters to elect him to the seat, counting the special election, and he faces no opponent in his bid for an 18th full term. (Saturday, Oct. 31)