MBTAAnalysis: A look inside the MBTA

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The MBTA shuttles over a million passengers a day around Greater…

The Clock is Ticking…….

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The clock is ticking towards December 30, 2017.  As part of…

Some Good Bridge News

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You may recall our recent report -- Our Legacy of Neglect --…

Testimony to the Joint Committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures, and State Assets (1/31/08)

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"Testimony to the Joint Committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures, and State Assets (1/31/08)" was provided in January 2008.

More Commuter Rail Chatter

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To make my bias plain, I'm a regular commuter rail user and a…

A bit like asking if we should build the South Coast rail link

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A friend on Friday mentioned her visit to infamous Gravina Island.…

Green Dots in LA and now in NYC

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Steve Barr has become a lightning rod for many in LA and now…

Noble rhetoric, base motives

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Wrap Gov. Patrick’s proposal to overhaul public education governance…

Mother’s wisdom

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I am visiting my mom, who is really nice. Hard to believe, huh?…

State of the State? Skip the speech and check out the budget.

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Almost exactly a year ago, one sage wondered if Governor Patrick…

NEA dollars at work for whom?

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This is a long one. But if you like following the money, it is…

You can still make money in Boston real estate

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In today's Metro, Mayor Menino is asked why the Hynes Center…

Small Things Matter

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We are sometimes so focused on what doesn't work, that we sometimes…

Unemployment Insurance: A Drag on Employment?

Unemployment Insurance in Massachusetts: Burdening Businesses and Hurting Job Creation, a new Pioneer Policy Brief, presents convincing evidence that UI’s problems are serious, but solvable.

Overheated Extrapolation Department

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Ok, maybe I didn't pay as much attention to the NH primary as…

The Week in Review

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It certainly has been a busy one, both nationally and here at…

One reason we do not pay teachers more

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Passed on by a friend is the shocking bulge in hiring for grades…

Minute Clinics are coming

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This space has been a supporter of in-store limited service clinics…

Ever wish….

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that Federico Fellini directed a allegorical history of Yugoslavia…

Urban education on the move… elsewhere

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Passed on by Whitney Tilson of Democrats for Education Reform: Some…

Councilor Feeney, invite some firefighters to your forum.

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The Globe's Juxtaposition Desk is really on the ball this morning.…

Wellness Health Incentive Payment Program

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Sustainable healthcare should always involve an accountable partnership between the payor and the third party insurance administrator. The Wellness Health Incentive Payment (WHIP) Program facilitates better health/wellness outcomes by holding health insurance vendors fiscally responsible for health and wellness activity. The WHIP rewards or penalizes health insurance administrative vendors according to the vendor's wellness activity performance against nationally recognized health and wellness standards.

Massachusetts State Taxpayer Funded School Construction Grants

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Like many other states, Massachusetts has struggled with out-of-control spending on school construction, often putting money into many unnecessary projects at the expense of more deserving ones. State Treasurer Tim Cahill, a long-time entrepreneur who took office in 2003, traced the wasteful spending to poor administrative organization, a lack of oversight, and an antiquated system of reimbursements whose legacy had become exorbitant debt and a backlog of projects. Applying his business acumen and experience, Cahill in 2004 created the Massachusetts School Building Authority, an entity that would bring the rigors of the private sector to eliminate wasteful spending while raising the quality of education offered by the state.

Middle School Aspirations and Pathways to College (MAPS)

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The Roxbury Preparatory Charter School in Boston's Mission Hill neighborhood prepares its students to enter, succeed in, and graduate from college. A public, grades 6-8 school, Roxbury Prep is founded on the philosophy that all students are entitled to and can benefit from college preparatory programs when: 1) the curriculum is rigorous and well-planned; 2) character, community responsibility, and exposure to life's possibilities are emphasized; and 3) a professional network supports a student's academic, social, and physical well-being.

MITS Summer Institute

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The mission of the Museum Institute for Teaching Science (MITS) is to raise science literacy by improving the quality of elementary and middle school (K-8) teaching in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Science literacy is a critical skill that, if learned at an early age, helps develop critical thinking, reading abilities and computation skills needed to make informed decisions in daily life. America's science literacy, however, has suffered in recent years, posing a serious risk to the nation as the world leader in innovation and its economic future.

New Business Creation and The Urban Economy

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Policymakers have long grappled with the challenge of revitalizing cities whose economies have declined as manufacturing jobs moved elsewhere. Older industrial cities’ economic woes have compounded other problems, including municipal budget crises, struggling schools, high crime rates, and persistent poverty.

Unemployment Insurance in Massachusetts

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High unemployment insurance taxes deter job creation and burden Massachusetts businesses. The current system also subsidizes certain workers and business sectors, at the expense of most Massachusetts workers and companies.

New Business Creation and The Urban Economy

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Author(s): John H. Friar — Publication date: 2008-02-28 Category:…

2008 Better Government Competition – Education

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2008 Better Government Competition Compendium of Winning Entries - Education