In the News

Bill would make athletes at public colleges employees, allow them to collectively bargain By Steve Berkowitz Two members of the U.S. Senate and three members of the House are introducing legislation Thursday that would make college athletes at public schools employees of the schools and give them the right to collectively bargain. The measure would amend the National Labor Relations… Read more »

Congresswoman Trahan announces nearly $82 Million in American Rescue Plan funding for area colleges and students LOWELL — Congresswoman Lori Trahan announced $81,819,954 in emergency funding for colleges, including Fitchburg State University and Mount Wachusett Community College, and students in Massachusetts’ Third Congressional District under the American Rescue Plan. The relief… Read more »

Democrats urge Facebook to reverse WhatsApp privacy update by Rebecca Klar  Members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus on Tuesday urged Facebook to reverse plans for a required update to its messaging platform subsidiary WhatsApp over concerns about data privacy. WhatsApp is issuing an update to its terms and services as it allows users to talk to businesses on the… Read more »

Congressional Hispanic Caucus members ask Facebook to reverse WhatsApp terms of service update by Justin Hendrix Congressional Hispanic Caucus members released a letter today calling on Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg to reverse terms of service updates to messaging platform WhatsApp that they say diminish privacy protections for users. The letter comes ahead of a May 15th deadline for… Read more »

Massachusetts federal delegation calls on Tenet Healthcare to expedite COBRA benefits to striking nurses at Saint Vincent Hospital in Worcester by Michael Bonner Nearly ever member of Massachusetts’ federal congressional delegation signed a letter on Wednesday urging Tenet Healthcare to expedite the COBRA benefits that are entitled to nearly 800 striking nurses at Saint Vincent… Read more »

Members Of Mass. Congressional Delegation Request $100 Million For 'Community Projects' by Ken Cooper The nine Democratic members of the U.S. House from Massachusetts have requested a total of nearly $100 million in federal funding for local projects, ranging from education and human services to drinking water and climate resilence. During periods of Republican control over the last… Read more »

'Bold and ambitious': Massachusetts Democrats react to President Joe Biden's plans by Todd Kazakiewich  BOSTON — President Joe Biden’s plans for education and infrastructure received support from the state's all-Democrat lawmakers.  Biden delivered his first address to a joint session of Congress on Wednesday night, as he marks 100 days in office.   The… Read more »

Help coming to end sewage in river by Bill Kirk  Federal lawmakers in Massachusetts and New Hampshire are cheering a recent announcement by the Environmental Protection Agency that an additional $67 million from the federal government will address the chronic problem of raw sewage being dumped into rivers and coastal areas across the country during periods of heavy rain. The Sewer… Read more »

Nurses: Tenet offer 'insulting' as strike enters eighth week of unresolved staffing issue by Cyrus Moulton  WORCESTER — A day after an attempt to restart negotiations between striking nurses and management at St. Vincent Hospital fizzled, U.S. Rep. Lori Trahan joined the nurses on the picket line Tuesday and urged the hospital to return to negotiations. “We need… Read more »

Rep. Trahan pushes President Joe Biden on recognizing Overdose Awareness Day by Christopher Scott LOWELL –  Rep. Lori Trahan on Thursday announced she is among the leaders of a bipartisan group of 21 of other representatives in pushing the federal government to recognize and support the goals of Overdose Awareness Day – a day held in remembrance of the lives lost to… Read more »