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Public Policy Tipoffs Involving Massachusetts Newsletter for 2026-01-10 ( 39 items )  
'If we in academia don't go after the hardest challenges, nobody else will': U of T researcher aims to do it all (10)
TORONTO, Ontario, Jan. 9 -- The University of Toronto posted the following news: * * * 'If we in academia don't go after the hardest challenges, nobody else will': U of T researcher aims to do it all * Molly Shoichet always wanted to be a doctor - until she made her first polymer. "I thought that was the coolest thing," says Shoichet of her first encounter with polymers - large molecules made of smaller repeating units found in materials ranging from proteins to plastics - during an underg more PR

3 Questions: How AI could optimize the power grid (10)
CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts, Jan. 9 -- The Massachusetts Institute of Technology posted the following news: * * * 3 Questions: How AI could optimize the power grid * Artificial intelligence has captured headlines recently for its rapidly growing energy demands, and particularly the surging electricity usage of data centers that enable the training and deployment of the latest generative AI models. But it's not all bad news some AI tools have the potential to reduce some forms of energy consumpt more PR

AG Campbell Asks Court To Enforce Order Blocking Trump Administration's Demands For Personal Data Of SNAP Recipients (10)
BOSTON, Massachusetts, Jan. 9 -- Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell issued the following news release: * * * AG Campbell Asks Court To Enforce Order Blocking Trump Administration's Demands For Personal Data Of SNAP Recipients * Boston Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell today asked the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California to enforce its preliminary injunction blocking the Trump Administration's renewed demand that states turn over persona more PR

Attorney General Bonta Challenges Further Transfer of Core Functions Away from U.S. Department of Education (10)
SACRAMENTO, California, Jan. 9 -- California Attorney General Rob Bonta issued the following news release: * * * Attorney General Bonta Challenges Further Transfer of Core Functions Away from U.S. Department of Education * OAKLAND California Attorney General Rob Bonta today led a multistate coalition in filing an amended complaint expanding its ongoing legal challenge to the Trump Administration's attempt to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education (ED). The amended complaint, filed in the more PR

CAIR-MA Welcomes Sentencing of Man Who Threatened Anti-Genocide Protesters with an Axe, Advocated for 'More Serious Punishment' (10)
WASHINGTON, Jan. 9 [Category: Sociological] -- The Council on American-Islamic Relations posted the following news release: * * * CAIR-MA Welcomes Sentencing of Man Who Threatened Anti-Genocide Protesters with an Axe, Advocated for 'More Serious Punishment' * The Massachusetts chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MA) welcomed the sentencing of Matthew Freeman, who was charged with civil rights and assault offenses after threatening pro-Palestinian demonstrators with an  more PR

Can Plant Biotechnology Save the Disappearing Seagrass? (10)
WOODS HOLE, Massachusetts, Jan. 9 [Category: Biology] -- The Marine Biological Laboratory, an affiliate of the University of Chicago, posted the following news: * * * Can Plant Biotechnology Save the Disappearing Seagrass? * As underwater seagrass meadows continue to decline worldwide, scientists are seeking new approaches to strengthen restoration efforts. On Nov. 19-20, 2025, researchers from the United States and Europe gathered at the Marine Biological Laboratory to examine whether advan more PR

Chairman Arrington Calls Out "Intellectual Dishonesty" by Democrats on COVID-era Obamacare Subsidies, Urges Passage of Real Reforms (10)
WASHINGTON, Jan. 10 -- Rep. Jodey Arrington, R-Texas, chairman of the House Budget Committee, issued the following news release on Jan. 8, 2026: * * * Chairman Arrington Calls Out "Intellectual Dishonesty" by Democrats on COVID-era Obamacare Subsidies, Urges Passage of Real Reforms House Budget Committee Chairman Jodey Arrington (R-Texas) today delivered remarks on the House floor slamming the Democrats' proposal to extend COVID-era subsidies for insurance companies as a "con job" that double more PR

Cornell College of Agriculture & Life Sciences: AI Improves Flood Projections Under Climate Change (10)
ITHACA, New York, Jan. 10 -- The Cornell University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences issued the following news: * * * AI improves flood projections under climate change By Krisy Gashler, College of Agrulculture and Life Sciences When engineers and planners design roads, bridges and dams, they rely on hydrological models intended to protect infrastructure and communities from 50- and 100-year floods. But as climate change increases the frequency and severity of floods, existing models more PR

Effects of Beech Leaf Disease on Falmouth Trees Revealed in MBL Student's Publication (10)
WOODS HOLE, Massachusetts, Jan. 9 [Category: Biology] -- The Marine Biological Laboratory, an affiliate of the University of Chicago, posted the following news: * * * Effects of Beech Leaf Disease on Falmouth Trees Revealed in MBL Student's Publication * Much like the human body recycles vital nutrients to stay healthy, trees reabsorb nitrogen from their leaves before they fall, storing it for the next growing season. But beech leaf disease (BLD) disrupts this natural process in infected bee more PR

EPA's Repeal of Endangerment Finding, Vehicle Standards Appears Imminent (10)
CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts, Jan. 9 [Category: Environment] -- The Union of Concerned Scientists posted the following news release: * * * EPA's Repeal of Endangerment Finding, Vehicle Standards Appears Imminent * WASHINGTONThe U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has sent its final rule to undo the 2009 foundational scientific finding that global warming emissions endanger public health and the environmentreferred to as the Endangerment Findingto the Office of Management and Budget's Offi more PR

Federal Reserve Board announces the designation of the Chairs and Deputy Chairs of the 12 Federal Reserve Banks for 2026 (10)
WASHINGTON, Jan. 9 -- The Federal Reserve issued the following news release: * * * Federal Reserve Board announces the designation of the Chairs and Deputy Chairs of the 12 Federal Reserve Banks for 2026 * The Federal Reserve Board on Friday announced the designation of the chairs and deputy chairs of the 12 Federal Reserve Banks for 2026. Each Reserve Bank has a nine-member board of directors, representing a wide range of business and community leaders across each regional district. By la more PR

Former Executive from Marlborough Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Defraud the IRS and Obstruction of Justice (10)
BOSTON, Massachusetts, Jan. 9 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts posted the following news release: * * * Former Executive from Marlborough Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Defraud the IRS and Obstruction of Justice * BOSTON - A former accounting and real estate executive in Sudbury pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to a multi-year scheme to cheat the Internal Revenue Service by getting paid more than $1.6 million in compensation and fringe benef more PR

General Contractor Sentenced for Tax Evasion (10)
BOSTON, Massachusetts, Jan. 9 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts posted the following news release: * * * General Contractor Sentenced for Tax Evasion * BOSTON - The former owner of JMS Contracting, a general contracting business based in South Boston and Quincy, was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for concealing business income from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). John Michael Sacco, 54, formerly of Quincy, was sentenced by U.S. Senior  more PR

Georgetown Law Journal Hosts Symposium on Labor Rights and Civil Rights Challenges (10)
WASHINGTON, Jan. 9 (TNSjou) -- Georgetown University Law Center issued the following news: * * * Georgetown Law Journal Hosts Symposium on Labor Rights and Civil Rights Challenges Mark Gaston Pearce, former NLRB Chair and former Georgetown Law Workers' Rights Institute Director, moderating a panel at the Georgetown Law Journal's 2025 symposium. Tackling such topics as federal employee layoffs, challenges to the National Labor Relations Board, and attacks on workplace diversity initiatives, 1 more PR

Healey-Driscoll Administration Awards $13 Million to Support State University Degree Completion (10)
BOSTON, Massachusetts, Jan. 9 -- Gov. Maura Healey, D-Massachusetts, issued the following news release: * * * Healey-Driscoll Administration Awards $13 Million to Support State University Degree Completion * Boston The Healey-Driscoll Administration has awarded $13 million across Massachusetts' nine state universities to support student degree completion services. Funds will be used to support supplemental tutoring for students at-risk of not completing their degrees and pay for case workers more PR

Leader of Violent Gang Pleads Guilty to Racketeering Involving Attempted Murder and Drug Trafficking (10)
BOSTON, Massachusetts, Jan. 9 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts posted the following news release: * * * Leader of Violent Gang Pleads Guilty to Racketeering Involving Attempted Murder and Drug Trafficking * BOSTON - A Boston area man pleaded guilty today to his role in Cameron Street, a violent Boston gang. Anthony Centeio, a/k/a "Wheezy," 37 of Boston and Rehoboth, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to participate in a racketeering enterprise; conspiracy to d more PR

League of Conservation Voters: This Week in Climate Action - Jan. 9, 2026 (10)
WASHINGTON, Jan. 10 [Category: Environment] -- The League of Conservation Voters issued the following news wrapup, This Week in Climate Action - Jan. 9, 2026: * * * Happy New Year! We're back with your weekly resource to learn what the environmental movement is saying about the news of the day and the political fight of our generation. This week, we're covering major steps backwards from the administration on the fight to protect our environment and lower energy bills, and state legislation to more PR

MBTA Wins $2.23 Million Federal Grant to Improve Road, Bus Safety (10)
BOSTON, Massachusetts, Jan. 9 -- Gov. Maura Healey, D-Massachusetts, issued the following news release: * * * MBTA Wins $2.23 Million Federal Grant to Improve Road, Bus Safety * Boston The Healey-Driscoll Administration is today celebrating that the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) has been awarded $2,234,325 in federal funding through the U.S. Department of Transportation's Fiscal Year 2025 Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) program to advance bus safety across the regio more PR

Nadler Introduces Resolution Opposing Elective Cat Declawing (10)
WASHINGTON, Jan. 9 -- Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-New York, issued the following news release: * * * Nadler Introduces Resolution Opposing Elective Cat Declawing * Today, Representative Jerrold Nadler (NY-12) introduced a resolution opposing elective cat declawing, reflecting the growing consensus among veterinarians, public health experts, and animal welfare advocates that the practice is inhumane and unnecessary. Declawing is an invasive procedure where the last bone of each toe is amputated, more PR

Neal Calls Out Trump's Illegal Child Care Revenge Ploy (10)
WASHINGTON, Jan. 10 -- Rep. Richard E. Neal, D-Massachusetts, ranking member of the House Ways and Means Committee, issued the following news release: * * * Neal Calls Out Trump's Illegal Child Care Revenge Ploy Ways and Means Committee Ranking Member Richard E. Neal (D-MA) blasted the Trump Administration for endangering children by attempting to exact political revenge against Democratic Governors: "The Trump Administration's reckless decision to interrupt child care funding nationwide an more PR

Neal Statement on December 2025 Jobs Report (10)
WASHINGTON, Jan. 10 -- Rep. Richard E. Neal, D-Massachusetts, ranking member of the House Ways and Means Committee, issued the following news release on Jan. 9, 2026: * * * Neal Statement on December 2025 Jobs Report Ways and Means Committee Ranking Member Richard E. Neal (D-MA) released the following statement after the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released the December 2025 jobs report (https://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.nr0.htm): "Trump and Republicans are ringing in 2026 the sam more PR

Northeastern University: Will local TV news survive? This guide could be a lifeline (10)
BOSTON, Massachusetts, Jan. 10 -- Northeastern University issued the following news: * * * Will local TV news survive? This guide could be a lifeline * With local TV news viewership struggling, Northeastern's Reinventing Local TV News Project created a survival guide designed to get newsrooms onboard with digital and social media. By Cody Mello-Klein For the past decade, Mike Beaudet was a familiar face for Boston-area TV news viewers. Beaudet and the hard-hitting investigative team at  more PR

Operator of Sober Homes Sentenced to Six Years in Prison for Fraud Schemes Involving Sober Home Client, Sober Homes Mortgages, Mass Save Program and COVID-19 Business Loans (10)
BOSTON, Massachusetts, Jan. 9 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts posted the following news release: * * * Operator of Sober Homes Sentenced to Six Years in Prison for Fraud Schemes Involving Sober Home Client, Sober Homes Mortgages, Mass Save Program and COVID-19 Business Loans * BOSTON - The operator of numerous sober homes in Massachusetts, who also operated insulation companies receiving funds through the Mass Save Program, was sentenced yesterday in fede more PR

Rep. Neal Issues Statement on Rep. Hoyer Retirement (10)
WASHINGTON, Jan. 9 -- Rep. Richard E. Neal, D-Massachusetts, ranking member of the House Ways and Means Committee, issued the following news release: * * * Neal Statement on Hoyer Retirement Ways and Means Committee Ranking Member Richard E. Neal (D-MA) released the following statement after Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-MD) announced he would not seek reelection, retiring after a career in public service that spans decades in the House and in Democratic leadership: "There are few who can match the re more PR

Ropes & Gray Named a Finalist for Three 2026 Legalweek Leaders in Tech Law Awards (10)
BOSTON, Massachusetts, Jan. 9 [Category: BizLaw/Legal] -- Ropes and Gray, a law firm, issued the following news: * * * Ropes & Gray Named a Finalist for Three 2026 Legalweek Leaders in Tech Law Awards * Ropes & Gray has been named a finalist in three categories as part of the 2026 Legalweek Leaders in Tech Law Awards. The annual awards honors individuals and organizations who have been at the forefront of legal innovation over the past year. Ropes & Gray was named a finalist in the followi more PR

Senator Warren Statement on December 2025 Jobs Report (10)
WASHINGTON, Jan. 10 -- Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Massachusetts, ranking member of the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee, issued the following news release on Jan. 9, 2026: * * * Senator Warren Statement on December 2025 Jobs Report Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Ranking Member of the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee released the following statement: "Today's report shows that more than 600,000 additional people are unemployed today than before Presid more PR

Senator Warren Statement on President Trump Posting Unreleased Jobs Data to Social Media (10)
WASHINGTON, Jan. 10 -- Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Massachusetts, ranking member of the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee, issued the following news release on Jan. 9, 2026: * * * Senator Warren Statement on President Trump Posting Unreleased Jobs Data to Social Media Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Ranking Member of the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee released the following statement: "Job growth under Trump has stalled to levels not seen in more than more PR

Statement From Senator Warren on President Trump Calling for a One Year Cap on Credit Card Interest Rates (10)
WASHINGTON, Jan. 10 -- Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Massachusetts, ranking member of the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee, issued the following news release on Jan. 9, 2026: * * * Statement from Senator Warren on President Trump Calling for a One Year Cap on Credit Card Interest Rates Today, U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Ranking Member of Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, released the following statement on President Trump calling for a one yea more PR

Statement From Senator Warren on Russ Vought Requesting Funds for the CFPB (10)
WASHINGTON, Jan. 10 -- Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Massachusetts, ranking member of the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee, issued the following news release on Jan. 9, 2026: * * * Statement from Senator Warren on Russ Vought Requesting Funds for the CFPB Today, U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Ranking Member of Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, released the following statement on Russ Vought requesting funds for the CFPB from the Federal Reserve:  more PR

Study Finds More Than a Quarter of Adults Worldwide Could Benefit from GLP-1 Medications for Weight Loss (10)
BOSTON, Massachusetts, Jan. 8 [Category: BizHospital] -- Mass General Brigham issued the following news release: * * * Study Finds More Than a Quarter of Adults Worldwide Could Benefit from GLP-1 Medications for Weight Loss * The worldwide prevalence of obesity has more than doubled in the last three decades, bringing with it an increase in weight-related diseases like diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancers. This public health crisis strains global healthcare systems and economies, bu more PR

Trahan Supports Bipartisan Legislation to End the GOP Health Care Crisis (10)
WASHINGTON, Jan. 8 -- Rep. Lori Trahan, D-Massachusetts, issued the following news release: * * * Trahan Supports Bipartisan Legislation to End the GOP Health Care Crisis * WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03), a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee's Health Subcommittee, voted to pass the bipartisan Breaking the Gridlock Act, legislation that would end the Republican-driven health care price hike by extending Affordable Care Act premium tax credits for thre more PR

U.S. Appeals Court Thwarts NIH Research Funding Cuts (10)
WASHINGTON, Jan. 8 [Category: Education] -- The National Association of College and University Business Officers posted the following news: * * * U.S. Appeals Court Thwarts NIH Research Funding Cuts * A federal court of appeals has ruled that the National Institutes of Health's (NIH) policy to cap indirect cost reimbursement rates at 15 percent is unlawful. The court of appeals for the First Circuit in New England upheld an earlier ruling from a federal judge in the U.S. District Court for more PR

UMass-Amherst: Rudd Adoption Research Program to Host Webinar Series on 'Adoption Across the Life Course' (10)
AMHERST, Massachusetts, Jan. 10 -- The University of Massachusetts issued the following news: * * * Rudd Adoption Research Program to Host Webinar Series on 'Adoption Across the Life Course' The Rudd Adoption Research Program in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences will this spring present "Adoption Across the Life Course: The Needs and Experiences of Adult Adoptees in the USA and UK," a multi-date webinar series. The webinars, which will feature five recent research studies fro more PR

University of Houston: More Flexible Future (10)
HOUSTON, Texas, Jan. 10 -- The University of Houston issued the following news: * * * A More Flexible Future UH engineers are stretching the way we shape and arrange materials. The implications are massive. By Tyler Hicks One day, not long ago, Maksud Rahman found himself unable to get an image out of his head: his son folding a sheet of paper this way and that, practicing the ancient art form of origami. Rahman is an assistant professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering at the Unive more PR

Walpole Man Convicted of Smuggling Gold Out of Colombia and Laundering Related Funds (10)
BOSTON, Massachusetts, Jan. 9 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts posted the following news release: * * * Walpole Man Convicted of Smuggling Gold Out of Colombia and Laundering Related Funds * BOSTON - A Walpole man was convicted yesterday by federal jury in Boston for his role in a 2018 scheme to smuggle gold, platinum and other precious metals into the United States from Colombia and to launder money. Thomas Cataloni, 46, was convicted of one count of mo more PR

Warren Statement Ahead of Trump Meeting With Big Oil CEOs (10)
WASHINGTON, Jan. 10 -- Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Massachusetts, ranking member of the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee, issued the following news release: * * * Warren Statement Ahead of Trump Meeting With Big Oil CEOs U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Ranking Member of the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee, issued the following statement ahead of President Donald Trump's meeting with representatives of the largest U.S. oil companies and other domes more PR

Wash. State Health Dept.: State Disciplines Health Care Providers (10)
OLYMPIA, Washington, Jan. 10 -- The Washington State Department of Health issued the following news release on Jan. 9, 2026: * * * State disciplines health care providers The Washington State Department of Health has taken disciplinary actions or withdrawn charges against the following health care providers in our state. The department's Health Systems Quality Assurance Division works with boards, commissions, and advisory committees to set licensing standards for more than 80 health care pr more PR

Welch, Moore, Reintroduce Bicameral Bill to Bolster SNAP Benefits for Social Security Recipients (10)
WASHINGTON, Jan. 9 -- Sen. Peter Welch, D-Vermont, issued the following news release: * * * Welch, Moore, Reintroduce Bicameral Bill to Bolster SNAP Benefits for Social Security Recipients * WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, this week joined U.S. Representative Gwen Moore (D-WI-04) in reintroducing the COLAs Don't Count Act, bicameral legislation to allow households utilizing Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)know more PR

While Trump Administration Pushes Make America Sick Agenda, Senator Markey, Rep. Stansbury Reintroduce Legislation to Bolster and Maintain Public Health Nursing Infrastructure (10)
WASHINGTON, Jan. 9 -- Sen. Edward J. Markey, D-Massachusetts, issued the following news release: * * * While Trump Administration Pushes Make America Sick Agenda, Senator Markey, Rep. Stansbury Reintroduce Legislation to Bolster and Maintain Public Health Nursing Infrastructure * Public Health Nursing Act Authorizes $5 Billion to Boost Workforce Bill Text (PDF) Washington (January 9, 2026) - Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), top Democrat on the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (H more PR