In the News

Fitchburg State theater project gets $2 million in federal funding By: Matthew Bruun FITCHBURG — Fitchburg State University’s downtown theater restoration project has received $2 million in federal support thanks to the efforts of the regional congressional delegation. The funds will go toward the development of a “black box” theater to be constructed adjacent to the main theater… Read more »

Rep. Trahan on McCarthy's failed attempts to become House speaker By: Dan Guzman and Rupa Shenoy Members of the U.S. House will try again Wednesday to elect a speaker. Republican Kevin McCarthy of California failed on Tuesday to get a majority on three ballots because a small group in his own party blocked his nomination. For more on what it's like to be inside the House… Read more »

New Law, Pushed by Trahan, Establishes Pilot Program to Prepare Experts for Next Pandemic By: WHAV News Staff A new federal law, Bolstering Infectious Outbreaks (BIO) Preparedness Workforce Act, seeks to ensure the U.S. is never caught off guard again as it was during the COVID-19 pandemic. Last week, Congresswoman Lori Trahan, a co-founder of the bipartisan Pandemic Preparedness… Read more »

Lori Trahan celebrates passage of Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Reauthorization Act By: Shane Rhodes  The U.S. has long faced a mental health crisis, a problem that has been exacerbated in recent years, in part because of COVID-19 pandemic-related restrictions. Often stigmatized, it can prove difficult for those that struggle with their mental health to find the necessary resources… Read more »

Trahan Secures Renewal of Federal Youth Suicide Prevention Act By: WHAV News Staff  A youth suicide prevention bill, championed by Congresswoman Lori Trahan was signed into law by President Joe Biden last Friday as part of the year-end omnibus package. Trahan a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Health Subcommittee, hailed the passage of the Garrett Lee Smith… Read more »

Federal Lawmakers Introduce Bill To Strengthen Title IX By: Amanda Christovich On Tuesday, Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and Rep. Alma Adams (D-N.C.) introduced a bill called “The Fair Play for Women Act” that would, in effect, make the NCAA subject to Title IX for the first time.  Title IX, which turned 50 in June, requires that any institution of higher education that… Read more »

Mass. leaders react to Jan. 6 criminal referrals: 'Trump must never again hold public office' By: CBS/AP WASHINGTON - The House Jan. 6 committee is urging the Justice Department to bring criminal charges against former President Donald Trump and his allies. It is finishing its investigation of the violent 2021 Capitol insurrection with what lawmakers call a "roadmap to… Read more »

State to get more federal money for sewer outfalls By: Christian M. Wade  BOSTON — Massachusetts could be getting a windfall of federal funding to fix aging outfalls that spew sewage into the Merrimack River and other waterways. A two-year reauthorization of the $38 billion Water Resources Development Act, which is tucked into a military spending bill approved by Congress last… Read more »

Lori Trahan, Sokhary Chau team up for Sun Santa By: Melanie Gilbert  LOWELL — U.S. Rep. Lori Trahan, a woman who never seems to sleep, joins Lowell’s equally indefatigable Mayor Sokhary Chau on Saturday to raise money for Sun Santa. The formidable duo will co-host the Third Annual Holiday Drive & Drop event that takes place in the parking lot of the Boys & Girls Club of… Read more »

Democrats criticize Elon Musk for suspending journalists covering Twitter By: Theodoric Meyer and Leigh Ann Caldwell  Several Democratic members of Congress expressed outrage Thursday night after Twitter suspended the accounts of several reporters who cover the company or its owner, Elon Musk, including our colleague Drew Harwell.   Musk has cast his… Read more »