Michael Norton

3 weeks ago | statehousenews.com | Michael Norton

JUNE 5, 2025.....Citing empty offices, the durability of remote work and the impacts of persistently high interest rates, a new report paints a dire picture of commercial real estate in Boston, with potentially negative consequences for residential property taxes, those dependent on city spending and services, and public officeholders who appear unlikely to be able to escape politically unpopular choices.

3 weeks ago | statehousenews.com | Michael Norton

Following the unexpected death of Phil Johnston in April, the lobbying firm he founded has merged with the politically wired Massachusetts government affairs company Smith, Costello and Crawford. A former state representative, state health and human services secretary, and state Democratic Party chair, Phil Johnston founded Johnston Associates in 1996 and it represented nonprofit organizations, including hospitals, community health centers, and disability and educational groups.

3 weeks ago | statehousenews.com | Michael Norton

Researchers at the Pioneer Institute are promoting a new and free platform that they hope will serve as an objective source of data across nine major policy areas. Michael Walker, a Pioneer senior fellow specializing in analytics, on Wednesday walked potential users through the options available at usdatalabs.org. The free site enables users to compare and contrast states, including peer states, and features data visualizations, graphs, rankings and heat maps.

3 weeks ago | nbcboston.com | Michael Norton

Former Massachusetts state Sen. Dean Tran of Fitchburg pleaded guilty to three state charges Monday in connection with stealing a firearm from an elderly constituent and misleading investigators about it, according to the attorney general's office. With his trial scheduled to begin Monday, Tran, 49, pleaded guilty to larceny of a firearm, misleading law enforcement in a criminal investigation, and filing an application for a license to carry containing false information, the AG's office said.

3 weeks ago | wwlp.com | Michael Norton

BOSTON (SHNS) – Interest in electric vehicle purchases among U.S. adults drifted to its lowest level since 2019, according to a new AAA survey. The automobile group reported Tuesday that 16% of adults reported they were either likely or very likely to buy a fully electric vehicle as their next car. That’s down from 18% in 2024, 23% in 2023, and 25% in 2022.