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THE MASS BRIEF
Sunday, April 26, 2026
Your morning briefing on what matters in Massachusetts
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The Lead
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The Republican Party Has a Nominee — and a Lot of Work to Do
After a convention that reportedly tried the patience of even the most dedicated party faithful, Massachusetts Republicans emerged from the DCU Center in Worcester on Saturday with a clear choice for governor: Michael Minogue, a former medical device CEO and first-time candidate who has already written himself a $12.5 million check to make the race competitive. Minogue captured roughly 70 percent of delegate votes — a commanding margin that tells you how thoroughly he's consolidated the party's energy around his outsider-businessman brand. Former MBTA general manager Brian Shortsleeve barely cleared the 15 percent threshold required to stay on the September primary ballot, while former economic development secretary Mike Kennealy got knocked off entirely. The chaos of the day — long lines, vote-tallying delays, and at least one candidate opening bar tabs to keep restless delegates from walking out — is almost beside the point now. What matters is that Massachusetts Republicans head into the fall with a self-funded, politically untested nominee going up against Governor Maura Healey, who enters as a significant favorite in a state that hasn't elected a Republican governor since Charlie Baker in 2018. Minogue's pitch is familiar: affordability, anti-corruption, immigration — the greatest hits. Whether that message cuts through in Massachusetts is the question the next six months will answer. The real subtext here is money. Minogue can fund himself, which solves one chronic problem for a party that's been plagued by debt and thin infrastructure. Whether $12.5 million (or more) is enough to make a Democratic incumbent in Massachusetts sweat is another matter entirely. |
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What Else You Should Know
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A Wellesley Mother Is Charged in the Deaths of Her Two Young Children. Janette MacAusland, 49, was charged Saturday in the deaths of her 6- and 7-year-old children, whose bodies were discovered Friday night during a well-being check at the family's Edgemoor Avenue home. MacAusland was found in Vermont and is being held there pending extradition proceedings. The children attended Schofield Elementary School, and the district says a crisis team will be ready when school reopens Monday. Boston Globe → |
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A Suffolk County Sheriff's Officer Is Accused of Child Rape and Human Trafficking. Richard Kilchevsky, 41, a corrections officer from Hanson, was arrested Friday on charges including child rape, human trafficking, and creating child sexual abuse material — allegations stemming from incidents in Hanson, Halifax, and Middleborough involving a 15-year-old boy. The Suffolk County Sheriff's Department has indefinitely suspended Kilchevsky, who earned over $112,000 in his most recent year on the job. He's being held on $250,000 bail. WCVB → |
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A Federal Judge Expands Protections for Massachusetts Colleges Against Federal Fishing Expeditions. U.S. District Court Judge F. Dennis Saylor has broadened an earlier order to cover virtually every four-year college in Massachusetts, barring the Department of Education from demanding records as part of what the court has characterized as a poorly defined investigation into whether schools discriminate against white students. The ruling now extends beyond the UMass system to include private institutions across the state. Universal Hub → |
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Hampshire College's Closure Is a Warning Sign for Western Mass. The April 14 board vote to shut down Hampshire College in Amherst isn't just the end of an unusual educational experiment — it's a preview of the economic pain that could hit the Pioneer Valley if federal funding cuts continue to squeeze higher education and healthcare, two sectors that prop up the region's economy far more than they do Greater Boston's. Hundreds of layoffs are expected, and analysts say the hit will be felt disproportionately in Hampshire County. Western Mass Politics & Insight → |
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Could Boston Build Market-Rate Homes for $100,000? A proposal from Greater Grove Hall Main Streets, developed with Boston architectural firm Payette, argues yes — by using city-owned "sliver lots," modular construction, and triple-decker design principles to produce entry-level ownership housing at a fraction of typical costs. Boston owns more than 1,200 underutilized parcels, including at least 158 small lots already identified as suitable for infill development. It's an opinion piece, but it's the kind of specific, buildable idea that doesn't show up often enough in the housing debate. CommonWealth Beacon → |
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South Shore Towns Shuffle Their Leadership Boards. Saturday brought local election results across several communities: In Abington, Daniel Eddy Jr. and William Cormier Jr. won three-year Select Board seats ahead of a critical May 4 Town Meeting that includes a $1.6 million school override vote. In Bridgewater, newcomer Michaela Spagone unseated incumbent councilor-at-large John Loretti — and voters there firmly rejected a proposal to give town councilors stipends, 1,422 to 503. In Carver, a Planning Board incumbent lost his seat to newcomer Alan Germaine. WATD → |
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Worth Your Attention
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Abington Town Meeting — May 4: Residents will vote on seven separate funding questions, including a $1.6 million school department override; the new Select Board members elected Saturday will have precious little time to get up to speed. South Shore News → |
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Cambridge Porchfest — July 11-12: Mark your calendars now — Cambridge's second annual Porchfest is expanding to three neighborhoods plus its two largest business districts, giving Somerville's legendary event some genuine local competition. Boston Globe → |
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Plymouth's Shallow Pond Road Dispute: The Select Board is expected to continue weighing whether to accept 40-year-old private subdivision roads as public ways — a decision with real financial consequences for nearly 180 households paying full property taxes with no town maintenance. South Shore News → |
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New on the Ballot
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Recent filings with the Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance: Candidates
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One More Thing
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A Massachusetts ice cream truck operator named Maddie gave a little boy a free cone when he showed up without money — and when the video went viral, her followers responded by funding what she's calling a "No More Tears Fund." Free ice cream all summer, for every kid who needs it. In a week that included some genuinely dark news, that one lands nicely. |
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