The Massachusetts legislature wrapped up formal sessions for the year this week. In a flurry of 11th-hour activity, lawmakers were able to agree to bills on opioid treatment and economic development.
But they could not work out deals on health care or education funding. And the legislature inadvertantly let the state's horse racing laws lapse. The House and Senate did go back in an informal session later this week and fixed that.
The president of Smith College said the school will hire an independent investigator to look into an incident this week involving a black student eating her lunch at a common area of campus. A Smith employee called the police to check on the woman and according to the officer who responded, the staffer saw the student in the building, but did not recognize her.
Also, the Council on Islamic Relations says Islamaphobic flyers have been sent to some western Massachusetts homes targeting a candidate for Congress. Tahirah Amatul-Wadud is challenging Richard Neal in Democratic primary next month. The executive director of the council's Massachusetts chapter said the flyers try to connect Amatul-Wadud to Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood.
Guests:
- Rick Hurst, Af-Am Point of View
- Dave Eisenstadter, Daily Hampshire Gazette
