…The compromise went with the House’s original plan — $500 million over ten years to reauthorize the initiative as opposed to the Senate’s pitch of $225 million over five years. Another $400 million will head to the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center to fund climate technology and offshore wind initiatives.

Sen. Barry Finegold, an Andover Democrat and lead negotiator of the proposal, said lawmakers need to be prudent about “making sure that we’re comfortable where the economics are in the state.”…

Another effort to grant local cities and towns the option to approve happy hours was left on the cutting room floor.

Finegold said there was “a lot of concern” about happy hours from the Massachusetts Restaurant Association and more conversations to be had on expanding the juvenile justice system.

“I just think it’s something that just needs so much work,” he said of the juvenile justice push. “I think it’s something that will have to come up during the legislative session.”

ANDOVER — Veterans and their families were honored with an outpouring of support by the community at Andover’s annual Veterans Day ceremony Monday.

The town held the ceremony at 11:11 a.m. on the Ballardvale Green. The time is of historical significance for the peace armistice signed in 1918 at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month to bring an end to WWI….

There were about 100 veterans at the ceremony. They were joined by first responders and state and local dignitaries, including town officials, Northern Essex Register of Deeds Paul Iannuccillo, state Rep. Frank Moran, D-Andover and state Sen. Barry Finegold, D-Andover.

By Angelina Berube - 11/12/2024

By Chris Van Buskirk - 11/13/2024

…State Senator Barry Finegold, the lead negotiator on the Senate side, said the bill is intended to grow sectors where Massachusetts is already a leader.

“The areas that we’re winning at, we want to grow that lead,” Finegold said. “Here in Massachusetts, we can’t get comfortable. We have to continue to compete. We have to continue to grow. We have to make this state very attractive for businesses to not only start here but to stay here.”…

By Samantha J. Gross and Jon Chesto - 11/12/2024

In the News