THE MASS BRIEF

Wednesday, October 7, 2026

The Lead

Brigham nurses are one week from an indefinite strike, and Gov. Maura Healey is publicly leaning on Mass General Brigham to blink.

Nearly 4,000 nurses at Brigham and Women's Hospital are set to walk out October 14 unless a deal materializes. This isn't a repeat of July's five-day work stoppage, which failed to break the stalemate. This one has no end date. The Massachusetts Nurses Association has filed its required 10-day notice for an "unfair labor practice" strike, and the nurses are asking for cost-of-living raises, affordable health insurance, limits on temporary travel nurses, and patient-care protections. MGB says its nurses already get annual raises and that it has proposed a new increase for those at the top of the wage scale.

Healey, who tried and failed to broker peace behind closed doors in July, is now going public. "MGB needs to reopen negotiations now," she told reporters in Everett, adding that health care workers "need to be treated fairly." Note what she's not doing: threatening anyone or announcing a plan. That's a governor applying pressure from the podium because her private diplomacy already struck out once.

What to watch: whether MGB reopens talks before the 14th, and what contingency planning looks like for one of the state's flagship hospitals. An open-ended strike at this scale would ripple through the entire Boston-area health system, from patient transfers to surgery schedules. Both sides know the clock is ticking, and both know the governor is watching.

Full story at CommonWealth Beacon →

What Else You Should Know

Hopkinton assisted living death raises hard questions. An 86-year-old resident of Golden Pond Assisted Living & Memory Care was found dead September 30 in a room where the thermostat read 99 degrees. The facilities manager said the building had just switched from A/C to heat and suggested she may have mistakenly used the "cool" setting. But employees who spoke anonymously to WBZ say many rooms were dangerously hot after the switchover. Multiple authorities are investigating. Boston Globe → | WBZ →

Mass Save's future is up in the air. The House wanted to slash next year's budget for the energy-efficiency program by $1 billion; the Senate said no. Now lawmakers are haggling over whether to cut it, cap it, or leave it alone as part of a larger energy bill aimed at lowering ratepayer costs. Meanwhile, planners are drafting the next three-year Mass Save plan without knowing whether the Legislature will blow it up before January 5. CommonWealth Beacon →

Lawrence council punts on the mayor. City councilors considered a no-confidence vote on Mayor Brian DePeña, who faces 26 state and federal charges, but decided Tuesday night to hold off. DePeña has pleaded not guilty and says he won't resign. A separate resident-led recall effort is underway, and a no-confidence vote could help it. WBZ →

Trump's school choice plan splits Massachusetts. Under the proposal, taxpayers could donate up to $1,700 to scholarship organizations and claim a federal tax credit. Teachers unions call it a voucher scheme that will drain district budgets. Supporters, including the Eos Foundation, say public school families could use the money for tutoring, extended-day programs, and special education services. Boston Globe →

HubSpot cuts 660 jobs. The Cambridge tech company is laying off about 7% of its staff as it pivots toward an AI-focused strategy. CEO Yamini Rangan said the cuts are "not driven by AI-related efficiencies," though the shift is reshaping product and pricing. Laid-off workers get at least 20 weeks of severance. WBZ →

Worcester diocese echoes an old playbook. Newly reported details show the Diocese of Worcester planned to transfer Rev. Alan Martineau to another parish after a girl accused him of inappropriate touching, until a diocesan social worker called the state instead. Martineau became the lone priest prosecuted from the attorney general's multi-diocese investigation. Boston Globe →

Worth Your Attention

• Nine ballot questions are coming. That ties the state record, and election officials warn of longer waits and ballots running up to four pages in some towns. Plan accordingly on November 3. WBZ →
• Question 1 would open the governor's office and Legislature to public records requests. Massachusetts is one of just two states where both branches claim a blanket exemption. Boston.com →
• Question 6 would dedicate existing sales tax revenue to land conservation, somewhere between $65 million and $100 million a year depending on who's counting. WBUR →

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Yesterday's Biggest Contributions

Big Spending This Week

Data from the MA Office of Campaign & Political Finance

Full hearing schedule →

Recent filings with the Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance:

Candidates

• Warren Samuels — City Councilor, New Bedford — Filed: 10/6/2026
• William Falcetano (Republican) — Governor's Council, 5th District — Filed: 10/2/2026

OCPF →

One More Thing

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