The Codcast

Sens.-elect Adam Gomez of Springfield and John Cronin of Lunenburg pledge a focus on equity.

Sudders says she is hopeful for the first time by CommonWealth Beacon

Doug Bacon, the founder of the Red Paint Hospitality Group, and Greg Reibman, president of the Newton-Needham Chamber of Commerce, share how COVID-19 is decimating the restaurant industry.

Soon-to-be Assistant House Speaker Katherine Clark by CommonWealth Beacon

Jim Hunt, who is preparing to stop down as president and CEO of the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers, talks with Paul Hattis and John McDonough about the origins of the community health center movement and the current challenges.

Devin Alexander, the co-founder of Rolling Releaf, and Chris Fevry, co-founder of Your Green Package, talk about the nascent marijuana delivery industry, and some of the controversy surrounding the drafting of state regulations. They argue a courier model won't work and push for delivery companies that buy their own marijuana wholesale and sell direct to consumers. Challenges ahead include getting licenses and signing municipal host agreements.

Retiring rep, rep-elect share insights on State House opacity by CommonWealth Beacon

With Gov. Charlie Baker pressuring schools to reopen in-person, no one is arguing that this is the best way for students to learn. Some union officials and parents are worried about sending their kids to school with community-based cases increasing, and have pushed back.

But what metrics should districts be basing their reopening decisions off of, and how can communication improve between local decision-makers and the state?

Mary Beth Miotto, Vice President of the Massachusetts Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, and Glenn Koocher, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Association of School Committees join the Codcast to unpack these questions.

Mass. Democratic Party chair showdown by CommonWealth Beacon

Because of the coronavirus pandemic, Massachusetts allowed no-excuse mail-in voting for the first time this year as well as expanded early voting – and millions of voters took advantage.

By Saturday evening, 2.28 million voters had cast their ballots, either by mail or in person – a number equivalent to more than two-thirds of all ballots cast in the 2016 election.

For Pam Wilmot, vice president of state operations for Common Cause, said that is all the proof needed to retain no-excuse mail-in voting going forward. “This process works, and we should absolutely make it permanent,” Wilmot said.

Wilmot and state Sen. Barry Finegold, an Andover Democrat who chairs the Legislature’s Joint Committee on Election Laws, joined The Codcast to talk about the changes to voting made in this year’s elections and the implications for future elections.