THE MASS BRIEF

Saturday, May 09, 2026

THE LEAD

Cape Cod lawmaker now accused of tax evasion and stealing even more money

Federal prosecutors just made Chris Flanagan's legal troubles considerably worse. The Dennis Port Democrat — already facing charges for allegedly stealing from his former employer to fund his state House campaign and pay a psychic — is now accused of taking an additional $8,000 and failing to report any of it on his taxes for three years.

The new indictment brings the total alleged theft to more than $44,000 from the Home Builders Association of Cape Cod, money prosecutors say Flanagan wired from the organization's account to his personal account between 2021 and 2023. He also allegedly failed to report thousands in rental income on his 2023 returns. Flanagan, who remains in office, has a hearing scheduled for Tuesday on his motion to dismiss one of the original charges. His attorney declined to comment on the new allegations.

This is the kind of case that makes voters wonder how someone stays in the Legislature while facing federal charges. The answer: there's no automatic mechanism to remove a state lawmaker unless they're convicted or expelled by their colleagues. Meanwhile, Flanagan continues to represent Dennis Port as his legal problems compound. Boston Globe →

WHAT ELSE YOU SHOULD KNOW

Abortion pills are in legal limbo until Monday — Healey urges stockpiling

The abortion medication mifepristone remains widely available in Massachusetts, but that could change Monday at 5 p.m. when the Supreme Court's temporary stay expires. Governor Maura Healey is encouraging people to consider stocking up on the pills just in case, though she emphasized that whatever the Court decides, she'll ensure access continues in Massachusetts. The uncertainty is particularly acute here because Massachusetts has become a national hub for abortion care that relies heavily on mailing medication to patients through telehealth. A lower court ruling would ban mailing the pills and require in-person doctor visits — a restriction that would upend how half of all abortions are currently provided nationwide. Boston Globe →

Senate passes stronger immigrant protections, heads to conference committee

The Senate voted 37-3 Thursday to approve its version of the PROTECT Act, bringing Massachusetts one step closer to enacting new safeguards for immigrants amid widespread fear over federal enforcement activities. The bill now heads to a conference committee to reconcile differences with the House version, which passed 134-21 in March. The biggest gap to bridge: where warrant requirements for civil immigration arrests will apply. Senate President Karen Spilka framed it as supporting people "who work hard, raise families and contribute to our communities every single day." Republicans questioned the bill's constitutionality, while immigrant advocates sang in the State House hallways and erupted in cheers from the gallery when the vote was announced. GBH News →

Smith College students fear for safety as feds investigate trans admissions policy

Federal investigators are examining whether Smith College violated Title IX by admitting transgender women and allowing them access to dorms and locker rooms. The probe has left students shaken. "As a trans woman in the United States, I don't feel safe at all," one student told reporters, requesting anonymity. The Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights argues the women's college violated gender protections under Title IX — the same law originally designed to protect women's access to education. Messages supporting trans students have appeared in chalk across campus. The investigation is part of a broader Trump administration effort to restrict transgender rights, and it's landed with particular force at Smith, a historically progressive institution where inclusion has been a core value. GBH News →

Moulton closing the gap on Markey in new Senate primary poll

Ed Markey still leads Seth Moulton in the Democratic Senate primary, but his advantage is shrinking. A new Emerson College poll shows Markey at 37% and Moulton at 32% among likely voters — down from a 17-point Markey lead in last month's Suffolk/Globe poll. The 79-year-old Markey maintains a 13-point edge among registered Democrats, but Moulton leads by six points with unenrolled voters. Interestingly, Markey is winning younger voters (under 50) despite Moulton's campaign focus on generational change, while voters over 50 are nearly split. The primary is shaping up as a real contest, and with Moulton gaining momentum, Markey can't coast to reelection. Boston.com →

AG Campbell wins court fight over Trump tariffs

Attorney General Andrea Campbell scored a victory against the Trump administration's tariff policies when a federal court invalidated the latest round of import taxes. The Court of International Trade granted summary judgment to a 24-state coalition, ruling that President Trump exceeded his authority. After the Supreme Court struck down his first attempt using emergency economic powers, Trump tried invoking Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974 — a never-before-used provision — to impose 10% tariffs on most products worldwide. The court said no. Campbell framed the win as protecting Massachusetts consumers and businesses from higher costs: "The President cannot raise costs on hardworking residents by imposing yet another round of unlawful tariffs." State House News Service →

World Cup will bring late-night T service — and major Commuter Rail cuts

Get ready for some major MBTA disruptions this summer. With Gillette Stadium hosting seven World Cup matches between June 8 and July 9, the T is extending subway service until 4 a.m. on game nights (and select bus routes, too). That's the good news. The bad news: Commuter Rail service will be "reduced on most lines throughout the five weeks of the tournament," with additional cuts on match days affecting all lines running through South Station. The T says it will maintain most peak-hour service, but if your commute depends on off-peak trains, check the schedule carefully. Special World Cup trains to Foxboro will run up to 14 times per match — round-trip tickets cost $80. WBZ / CBS Boston →

WORTH YOUR ATTENTION

Tuesday, May 13: Cape Cod state Representative Chris Flanagan has a federal court hearing scheduled on his motion to dismiss one of the charges related to allegedly falsifying expense reports. Boston Globe →

Monday, May 12, 5 p.m.: Deadline when the Supreme Court's temporary stay on the abortion medication ruling expires — the Court will decide whether to keep mifepristone widely available or restrict access nationwide. Boston Globe →

June 2: The Rhode Island Ethics Commission will hold an initial review of the complaint against former House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi, who's accused of violating the state's "revolving door" prohibition by applying for a Supreme Court seat immediately after stepping down as speaker. Boston Globe →

AG Andrea Campbell just launched a $500,000 grant program to help Massachusetts schools go phone-free from bell to bell. The idea is to create "distraction-free learning environments" where students can actually focus on, you know, learning — instead of TikTok. Campbell made the announcement at Ipswich High School, which already implemented a no-phone policy successfully. Her pitch: "Students and teachers deserve environments where the focus is on learning and building relationships — not constant notifications and distractions." Hard to argue with that. State House News Service →