Sarah Birnbaum  

 

Topics by Sarah Birnbaum

MASS DECISION 2010

After Stunning Betrayal, Cahill Moves Ahead


By Sarah Birnbaum

After a rough couple of weeks in his gubernatorial campaign, independent candidate for governor Tim Cahill is pushing forth to election day with a rejiggered campaign strategy.

MASS DECISION 2010

Frank, Bielat Clash Over Foreclosure Crisis


WATCH DEBATE
MORE MASS DECISION 2010
By Sarah Birnbaum
Rep. Barney Frank faces a serious re-election challenge from the GOP's Sean Bielat. The two faced off Thursday night in a debate on WGBH's Greater Boston.
MASS DECISION 2010

In Boston, Obama Rallies Party Faithful


By Sarah Birnbaum
As Gov. Deval Patrick heads into the final stretch of campaign season, he got some help from an old friend – President Barack Obama. The President was in Boston this weekend to fire up the Democratic base and to get out the vote for Governor Patrick in what promises to be a very tight gubernatorial race.
MASS DECISION 2010

Obama, Patrick: Parallel Campaigns, Divergent Numbers


Obama Rallies For Patrick
By Sarah Birnbaum
President Barack Obama and Gov. Deval Patrick have long been close friends and political allies. But a WGBH poll of the 10th Congressional District shows some voters view the two very differently.
Mass Decision 2010

Gubernatorial Candidates Meet For Final Debate


MORE MASS DECISION 2010
TRANSCRIPT: DEBATE LIVE CHAT
By Sarah Birnbaum
With just one week to go before elections, the gubernatorial candidates put forth their well-honed campaign messages one last time during their final televised debate on Monday night.
MASS DECISION 2010

Campaign Snapshot: The Auditor's Race

By Sarah Birnbaum
The race for Governor has been getting all of the attention this election season, but next week, Massachusetts voters will also choose the new auditor – the state’s fiscal watchdog whose job includes rooting out fraud in government programs like Medicaid, housing and welfare. MORE MASS DECISION 2010
Mass Decision 2010

State Pension, Red Sox Plates At Issue In Treasurer's Race


THE AUDITOR'S RACE
MORE MASS DECISION 2010
By Sarah Birnbaum
Democrat Steve Grossman and Republican Karyn Polito are taking aim at each other's fiscal policies -- and baseball preference -- as they close up their contest to be state Treasurer.
Mass Decision 2010

Record-High Turnout Expected On Election Day


VOTING TIPS
JOIN WGBH FOR A LIVE CHAT TONIGHT
By Sarah Birnbaum
Massachusetts officials are expecting more voters to turn out on Tuesday's Election Day than in any other gubernatorial election in the past 20 years.  
Mass Decision 2010

Patrick Wins Second Term


FULL RETURNS
SOUNDS FROM ELECTION NIGHT
By Sarah Birnbaum
Gov. Deval Patrick won a second term Tuesday night, beating back voter frustration over the economy and a resurgent Republican party.  
Mass Decision 2010

As U.S. House Goes Red, Mass. Glows Blue


PATRICK WINS SECOND TERM
FULL ELECTION RESULTS
By Sarah Birnbaum
Democrats in the Bay State won all of Tuesday night's statewide races, bucking a national turn towards the GOP that put the U.S. House of Representatives under Republican control.
LEGAL AFFAIRS

After Mass. Ruling, Lawsuit Challenges DOMA


By Sarah Birnbaum
A new lawsuit is challenging the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which bans gay marriage at the federal level.  The case comes on the heels of the Massachusetts court ruling that found DOMA unconstitutional.
Health Care

Health Care Reform Will Soon Affect Mass. Businesses

By Sarah Birnbaum
New nursing laws and copayment-free health care services were on the agenda as businesses came together for an information session on how health care reform will impact employers in Massachusetts.
Local Politics

Brown Pushes For Pro-Business Policies Over Breakfast


By Sarah Birnbaum
Sen. Scott Brown, Massachusetts' lone Republican Congressional delegate, advocated for pro-business policies and job creation at a Boston Chamber of Commerce breakfast on Monday.
Health

Mass. Is Most Violent Northeastern State

By Sarah Birnbaum
A new report from the non-profit Massachusetts Health Council, released Tuesday morning at the State House, concludes that Massachusetts is the most violent state in the Northeast.
ECONOMY

Mass. May Return To Pre-Recession Job Levels By 2013

By Sarah Birnbaum
The economic outlook is precarious – but New England is weathering the tepid economy better than the rest of the country.
LOCAL NEWS

Lawmakers On The Hot Seat After Probation Report

By Sarah Birnbaum
A scathing report released Thursday about the probation department is renewing concerns about corruption on Beacon Hill.
PROBATION COMMISSIONER DISMISSED
Children’s Health

Keeping Dangerous Toys Out Of The Stocking


By Sarah Birnbaum
A consumer watchdog group has put together a list of toys to avoid just in time for holiday shopping. The list includes a plastic tiara sold at K-Mart and a Dora the Explorer backpack from Claire's.
Education

One Third Of Urban Students At-Risk For Dropping Out


MORE NEWS FROM WGBH
By Sarah Birnbaum
More than one-third of Massachusetts eighth-graders who attended urban schools last academic year are at risk of not earning their high school diplomas, according to state education officials.
Government

Probation Center Stage At SJC Chief's Confirmation Hearing


By Sarah Birnbaum
The Governor's Council is making its final considerations on State Supreme Court Chief Justice Nominee Roderick Ireland after Ireland fielded questions during a confirmation hearing Wednesday.
Boston

Twenty Charged In Dorchester Cocaine Ring


PHOTOS: EVIDENCE OF A DRUG RING
By Sarah Birnbaum
Boston police officials say they’ve penetrated a long-running Dorchester-based drug operation, charging 20 people Thursday with conspiracy and distribution of cocaine and crack.
Economy

Defense Spending In Mass. Rockets Upward


By Sarah Birnbaum
Defense spending in Massachusetts has tripled since 2001, bringing 115,000 jobs to the Bay State.
Government

State Leaders Push Plans For Probation Dept. Reform

By Sarah Birnbaum
The Governor and top lawmakers say they will reform the state's troubled probation department in the new year -- with parallel plans coming from both the Legislature and the Judiciary.
SJC ORDERS DISMISSAL OF PROBATION COMMISSIONER
LAWMAKERS ON THE HOT SEAT AFTER PROBATION REPORT
Education

Report: Health Care Costs Squeezing Education

By Sarah Birnbaum
A new report says hundreds of millions of dollars the state pegged for improvements to classroom education have gone instead  to health-care costs for school employees.
The State House

$2 B Budget Gap Looms; Major Cuts Anticipated


By Sarah Birnbaum
The state Legislature may be out of session – but a looming $2 billion budget gap  for the next fiscal year is worrying lawmakers and interest groups across Beacon Hill, who will be talking dollars during State House hearings on Tuesday.
Local Politics

DeLeo: Casinos Will Be On The Docket

By Sarah Birnbaum
House Speaker Robert Deleo says casinos are on the agenda in the upcoming legislative session after a bill failed at the last minute this past summer.
WGBH SPECIAL REPORT: THE LAST RESORT
Government

Mass. Tax Revenue Will Grow -- But Not Enough

By Sarah Birnbaum
Economists are predicting Massachusetts revenue will grow by as much as $700 million next year, a 5 percent gain over 2010.
CUTS PREDICTED AS MASS. FACES $2B GAP
Local Politics

SJC Nomination Breaks Another Racial Barrier


By Sarah Birnbaum
Gov. Deval Patrick on Tuesday nominated appeals court judge Nan Duffly to be the next associate justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court. Duffly is Asian-American. 
Local Politics

Judge Hears Extra Testimony Against Wilkerson


By Sarah Birnbaum
During what was meant to be sentencing day for former state Sen. Dianne Wilkerson, a U.S. district judge heard testimony from a developer who said she solicited bribes from him. The prosecution hoped this would increase Wilkerson's sentence -- but the judge didn't seem convinced.
BEACON HILL

Mass. GOP Says They'll Make A Mark On New Session


By Sarah Birnbaum
Wednesday begins a new legislative session on Beacon Hill.  As Gov. Patrick swears in the members of the 187th Massachusetts Legislature, the chamber will look a little less blue than in recent years.
Local Politics

State House, Senate Kick Off Session


WATCH LIVE: GOV. PATRICK'S INAUGURATION
By Sarah Birnbaum
The governor is awaiting the formal start of his second term with his inauguration Thursday afternoon — but for Massachusetts' legislators, the year has already begun.
Local Politics

Mass. Congressmen Hope For Giffords' Recovery


By Sarah Birnbaum
The Massachusetts colleagues of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords are expressing shock and sadness after she and nineteen others were shot in Tuscon this weekend.
Local Politics

At The State House, Lawmakers Reflect On Security

By Sarah Birnbaum
Flags are flying at half-staff outside the State House in observation of the attempted assassination of Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords as lawmakers reflect on their own security concerns. LAWMAKERS WEIGH SECURITY, ACCESSIBILITY
Boston

50 Years Later, 'City On A Hill' Speech Resounds


By Sarah Birnbaum
Massachusetts met a new Kennedy on Tuesday, when they gathered to commemorate the 50th anniversary of John F. Kennedy's "City On A Hill" speech.
WEATHER

Outages, Cancelations Linger In Wake Of Snowstorm


By Sarah Birnbaum
Emergency crews and homeowners around Massachusetts are working to shake-off the aftereffects of a snowstorm that knocked out power to 100,000 residents, kept all flights from going in and out of Logan Airport, pushed down branches and trees and caused thousands of school and workplaces to be closed.
Boston

Patrick: Major Changes For Parole Board


By Sarah Birnbaum
Gov. Deval Patrick is calling for major changes to the state's Parole Board after a review of the board's decision to release repeat offender Dominc Cinelli revealed multiple institutional failures. 
BEACON HILL

Patrick Proposes Pension Overhaul

By Sarah Birnbaum
Gov. Deval Patrick filed legislation Tuesday to reform the state’s public employee pension system, saying the reforms will save the state billions of dollars. 
Local Politics

State Revenue Estimates Still Leave Budget Gap

By Sarah Birnbaum
Massachusetts budget-builders agree they will have $20.5 billion to work with for the coming fiscal year. That's $740 million more than their estimate for this year — but it still leaves the state with a budget gap of at least $1.5 billion.
Government

Council Digs Into Duffly At SJC Confirmation Hearing

By Sarah Birnbaum
Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Nominee Fernande Duffly got a bumpy reception at her confirmation hearing on Wednesday.   DUFFLY'S SJC NOMINATION BREAKS RACIAL BARRIER
WGBH Local News

Study Finds Renters' Worries Impacts Health

By Sarah Birnbaum
A study released in Boston Thursday finds that falling behind on rent has a significant impact on health.  Health and housing advocates are calling on the state to provide additional funding to help families stay in their homes.  WGBH's Sarah Birnbaum reports.
Local Politics

Senate Bill Outlines Proposed Parole Reforms

By Sarah Birnbaum
A bipartisan group of Massachusetts senators is calling for reform of the state's parole system following the fatal shooting of a Woburn police officer, allegedly by a violent career criminal out on parole.
Local Politics

$30.5 Budget Plan Includes Deep Cuts

By Sarah Birnbaum
Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick unveiled a lean budget Wednesday. The $30.5 billion spending plan includes deep cuts in human services and other state programs.  
Weather & National Disasters

Towns In The Red After Too Much White


AFTER STORM, SNOWPLOWS VS. SHOVELS
By Sarah Birnbaum
It’s not even midway into the winter season, but communities around the region are already maxing out their snow budgets.
Local Politics

New State House Leadership Gets Started

By Sarah Birnbaum
A new team of leaders in the Massachusetts House gets to work Monday after House Speaker Robert DeLeo brought a major shakeup to his inner circle during a closed-door meeting at the State House on Friday.
Local Politics

Court Won't Dismiss Any Charges Against DiMasi

By Sarah Birnbaum
When former Massachusetts House Speaker Sal DiMasi goes to court next April, he's facing the full list of charges brought against him. That's the decision a U.S. district court judge handed down last Friday, deflating DiMasi's hopes that some parts of the corruption case against him would be dismissed.
Boston

What To Do With The Snow?

By Sarah Birnbaum
Parts of New England will have gotten almost 20 inches of new snow by the end of this week -- and that's on top of about 60 inches that had already fallen. What to do with all the white stuff? State Sen. Jack Hart says it's time to dump it into the harbor. STORM COULD BRING 'FLASH-FREEZING'
Boston

Temperature Drop Makes Roads Icy


IN DAVIS SQURE, BUSINESSES WEATHER SNOW
By Sarah Birnbaum
A sudden drop in temperature is making for a messy afternoon commute. Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick is urging drivers to take extreme caution. 
WEATHER

Latest Storm Further Buries State Snow Removal Budget


STORM LEAVES FROZEN FOOTPRINT ACROSS U.S.
By Sarah Birnbaum
With more than two months of winter left to go, Massachusetts has already blown through its $58 billion snow removal budget for the entire season. The latest bout of winter weather has the commonwealth scrambling to come up with new cleanup funds. 
89.7 WGBH

DeLeo Rejects Fees In Patrick's Budget

By Sarah Birnbaum
Massachusetts House Speaker Robert Deleo says he will keep new fees and taxes out of the House budget -- which means he's rejecting the new fees in Gov. Patrick's budget proposal.
Health Care

Advocates Push For Alzheimer's Group On Beacon Hill


EARLIER: VENTURE CAPITAL FUELS ALZHEIMER'S RESEARCH
By Sarah Birnbaum
Advocates for Alzheimer's patients and their families are pushing for new legislation that would create a specialized group within the Executive Office of Elder Affairs to coordinate the state’s approach to the disease.  
Local Politics

Budget Cuts Could Endanger Services For High-Risk Youth

By Sarah Birnbaum
With state budget cuts looming, advocates are trying to prevent proposed cuts to the state's child welfare system. ADVOCATES PUSH FOR ALZHEIMER'S GROUP
Local Politics

Gov. Patrick Will Lead Trade Mission To Britain, Israel


By Sarah Birnbaum
Gov. Deval Patrick is off to to Israel and England next month, leading a trade mission he says will focus on growing businesses and jobs in the state’s innovation sector. 
Local Politics

Senate Moves To Freeze Unemployment Tax For Third Year Running

By Sarah Birnbaum
The Massachusetts Senate wants to freeze the state's unemployment insurance rate — the tax paid by employers to cover the cost of jobless benefits — for the third year in a row.
This Week On Beacon Hill

Lawmakers Look At Budget; National Grid Under Scrutiny


By Sarah Birnbaum
Action in Massachusetts politics this week will focus on the state budget and a tussle over unemployment insurance rates.
89.7 WGBH

In Bay State, $20 B In Unfunded Retiree Health Costs

By Sarah Birnbaum
A new study says the 50 largest cities in the Bay State owe $20 billion in existing and future retiree health care costs — and they have no plan to pay it down. READ THE STUDY
89.7 WGBH

Despite Skepticism, Patrick Admin. Says Budget Could Save $1 B

By Sarah Birnbaum
The Patrick administration is defending the governor's budget proposal. Gov. Deval Patrick's budget chief, Jay Gonzalez, was in the hot seat on Wednesday during a hearing before the House's and Senate's Ways and Means Comittees. 
Health Care

Gov. Lays Out Health Care Reform Plan

By Sarah Birnbaum
Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick is filing long-awaited legislation that aims to rein in the spiraling costs of health insurance by encouraging health care providers to move to the global payment system, in which doctors would get paid a set amount of money every year for each patient they care for.
This Week On Beacon Hill

Lobbying, Protesting Takes Spotlight On Beacon Hill


By Sarah Birnbaum
Schoolchildren aren’t the only ones off this week. There are no formal sessions planned in the House or Senate. For the most part, Massachusetts lawmakers are staying in their districts and tending the home fires, although there are some hearings around the state on Governor Deval Patrick’s budget blueprint.
89.7 WGBH

Civil Legal Aid In Danger, Advocates Say

By Sarah Birnbaum
Massachusetts attorneys are rallying lawmakers to preserve funding for civil legal aid to poor residents. On Tuesday, over 300 lawyers rallied at the State House, worried lawmakers might try to cut legal services for the poor in order to help close a $1.5 billion budget shortfall.
Government

Mass. Terror Suspect Awaits Bail Decision

By Sarah Birnbaum
A Massachusetts man accused of taking part in a terror plot to kill Americans went to court is seeking bail. At a court hearing on Wednesday, supporters described him as a peaceful man with a right to free speech, but prosecutors said he is dangerous.
Local Politics

SJC Orders Increased Transparency In Probation Dept.

By Sarah Birnbaum
The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court is ordering changes to the state's patronage-ridden probation department. The department will be required to keep records of who it hires and promotes, to conduct annual performance reviews and to keep job recommendations out of the interview process until its final stages. EARLIER: SJC DISMISSED PROBATION COMISSIONER
This Week On Beacon Hill

Charter Schools, Redistricting On The Docket This Week


By Sarah Birnbaum
While the governor continues his trip to Washington, DC this week, the state's board of education will announce its picks for new charter schools. Legislative redistricting and spending bill analysis are on the docket on Beacon Hill.
Local Politics

Patrick Announces Plan To Streamline Children's Services

By Sarah Birnbaum
Gov. Deval Patrick wants to reorganize the state agencies that provide social and health services to children. He says it will make their work more efficient and less confusing for those who use their services — but advocates have reservations about the plan.
Local Politics

Mass. Tea Party: Tone It Down!


By Sarah Birnbaum
The Tea Party has come in for its share of criticism for inflammatory talk. But now, calls to tone down the political rhetoric are coming from the Tea Party -- which liberal activists call "ironic."
This Week On Beacon Hill

Patrick's Trade Mission Begins


By Sarah Birnbaum
Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick arrives in Tel Aviv on Monday for the start of a trip that the administration says will highlight the state's innovation-based industries abroad. While he's away, President Obama swings by the Bay State to stump for his education agenda.
Local Politics

Mass. Unions Say Plan Balances Health Costs, Bargaining Rights


By Sarah Birnbaum
Massachusetts public employee unions outlined a proposal on Monday they say will save cities and towns tens of millions of dollars in health care costs — all while preserving collective bargaining rights.

Lawmakers Renew Push To Speed Turbine Construction


MORE: THE FALMOUTH EXPERIENCE
By Sarah Birnbaum
Gov. Deval Patrick and allied lawmakers are renewing a push to reduce the legal hurdles that have stalled some wind-power projects in Massachusetts.
Local Politics

African-American Union Leaders Rally At State House

By Sarah Birnbaum
A coalition of African-American union leaders from around the state rallied at the Massachusetts State House on Thursday in support of workers' rights. MASS. DEMONSTRATORS WEIGH IN ON WIS. STANDOFF
This Week On Beacon Hill

State Considers Parole Hires, Reforms


By Sarah Birnbaum
Action on Beacon Hill this week will focus on changes in the Bay State's troubled parole oversight system, with confirmation hearings on the governor's nominees for the embattled body followed by hearings on bills for its reform.
Government

Lawmakers Take Up Parole Reform At Emotional Hearing

By Sarah Birnbaum
Massachusetts lawmakers are taking up potential reforms to the state’s parole system. An at-times emotional hearing followed the December shooting death of Woburn police officer John Maguire, allegedly at the hands of a career criminal who was out on parole.
Business

Mass. Lawmakers Demand Answers As Fidelity Departs


EARLIER: LAWMAKER WANTS TO 'CLAW BACK' STATE AID
By Sarah Birnbaum
Massachusetts lawmakers are demanding answers after Fidelity Investments announced this week that it's closing its Marlboro plant and moving its jobs out of state.
This Week On Beacon Hill

Census Data Comes To Mass. This Week


By Sarah Birnbaum
Change in state politics — from term limits to redistricting to remaking the Parole Board — seems to be a theme this week on Beacon Hill.
CENSUS 2010

Census: Greater Diversity Changes Face Of Massachusetts


CENSUS: BIG GAINS FOR BOSTON, WORCESTER
By Sarah Birnbaum
The U.S. Census Bureau released population data for Massachusetts on Tuesday, revealing a distinct trend: The state’s communities of color are growing, while the white population is declining.
Education

Program Aims To Get Comm. College Students To UMass


By Sarah Birnbaum
UMass Amherst is making it easier for graduates of the state’s two-year community colleges to attend and afford the four-year school. A new program unveiled Wednesday offers admission and free tuition to students with certain GPA's -- but critics say the program doesn't do enough to reduce academic fees.
Business

Fidelity To Patrick: It's Not You, It's Me


LAWMAKERS DEMAND ANSWERS AS FIDELITY DEPARTS
By Sarah Birnbaum
Gov. Deval Patrick has confirmed that Fidelity will not reverse its decision to move 1,000 jobs out of Massachusetts — and says the investment company has apologized to him for announcing its decision when he was out of the country.
News

Lawmakers Consider Bill to Allow Food at Funeral Homes

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