BOSTON, Mass. (SHNS)--Nearly 10 years after the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge spurred global awareness about the neurodegenerative disease, patients and doctors on Thursday stressed the need for additional funding from Beacon Hill as they touted promising treatments under development from Massachusetts-based researchers. But many of their legislative priorities, aimed at removing insurance coverage barriers and easing steep out-of-pocket expenses, have already been sent to study or are stuck in committee with just three months remaining for formal sessions. Steve Kowalski, an advocate who has ALS ..read more

Former President Trump’s ex-political adviser Hope Hicks is on the witness stand in his hush money trial in Manhattan where she is detailing the chaos that enveloped his 2016 campaign. Hicks, once a close confidant of Trump’s campaign and after he entered the White House, has testified behind closed doors before in other investigations involving Trump, but she’s said little publicly of her former boss since he left office after Jan. 6, 2021. Follow below for live updates from New York. Current witness: Hope Hicks, Trump White House communications director Attorney questioning: Matthe ..read more

BOSTON (SHNS) - The next phase in the fight over half a dozen major and pressing policy proposals kicked off Wednesday with a common feature on Beacon Hill: lawmakers recommending that the Legislature not to take action. A special committee tasked with overseeing the House and Senate's biennial analysis of ballot questions concluded none of the measures warrant legislative approval, potentially clearing the way for voters to make decisions on major policies affecting high school graduation requirements, gig economy workers, legislative oversight and more. The eight-member panel filed reports W ..read more

President Biden was sharply critical Thursday of aspects of protests that have swept across college campuses nationwide in response to the war in Gaza, condemning vandalism and trespassing even as he defended the right to peacefully demonstrate. “In moments like this, there are always those who rush in to score political points. But this isn’t a moment for politics. It’s a moment for clarity. So let me be clear … Violent protest is not protected. Peaceful protest is,” Biden said in prepared remarks from the White House. He called out what has occurred at Columbia University and on other colleg ..read more

BOSTON (WWLP) - Massachusetts has become the 27th state to officially make cocktails to-go permanent in support of local businesses and consumers. Will it be a hot summer? Odds are yes for Massachusetts, NOAA says According to the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States, Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey signed the supplemental budget bill on Tuesday. This bill includes allowing cocktails to-go in the state permanently. “Massachusetts consumers, restaurants and bars can all toast to the fact that cocktails to-go are here to stay,” said Andy Deloney, senior vice president &am ..read more

(NEXSTAR) – Former President Donald Trump maintains a lead over President Biden in multiple key swing states, according to a new poll from Emerson College Polling and The Hill. Voters favored the leading Republican candidate – who is currently balancing court and rally appearances – over Biden in Arizona (48% to 44%), Georgia (47% to 44%), Michigan (45% to 44%), Nevada (45% to 44%), North Carolina (47% to 42%), Pennsylvania (47% to 45%) and Wisconsin (47% to 45%). The poll, which has a margin of error of +/- 3%, did, however, find that Biden gained ground among some undecided voters. “The stat ..read more

NEW YORK (AP) — New York’s highest court on Thursday overturned Harvey Weinstein’s 2020 rape conviction, finding the judge at the landmark #MeToo trial prejudiced the ex-movie mogul with “egregious” improper rulings, including a decision to let women testify about allegations that weren’t part of the case. Weinstein, 72, will remain imprisoned because he was convicted in Los Angeles in 2022 of another rape and sentenced to 16 years in prison. But the state Court of Appeals ruling reopens a painful chapter in America’s reckoning with sexual misconduct by powerful f ..read more

The Biden administration on Thursday cracked down on planet-warming emissions and other pollution from power plants, aiming to make these power sources more environmentally friendly. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced on Thursday it had finalized a suite of rules that aim to cut the plants’ pollution.  One such rule, which regulates greenhouse gas emissions from existing coal and new gas plants, will require them to install technology that prevents 90 percent of their carbon emissions.  It also finalized rules that aim to reduce coal plants’ releases of toxic substan ..read more

BOSTON (SHNS) - As the Senate prepares to take on the state's competitive electricity supply sector, it has an enthusiastic supporter in Attorney General Andrea Campbell. Asked by the News Service for a reaction to the Senate's plan to take up legislation Thursday essentially outlawing electric supply competition for residential customers, Campbell initially responded, "Yay!" The bill senators will vote on Thursday (S 2738) would prohibit competitive electric suppliers from signing up new residential customers, effectively limiting them only to larger commercial clients. Supporters s ..read more

CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP) - Congressman Richard Neal made a special visit to 22News this week. Neal sat down with 22News to discuss a series of topics ranging from immigration to the West-East Rail. Following a series of votes in Washington for war and humanitarian aid, the Congressman discussed that and other local issues impacting us here in western Massachusetts. Full Interview Here Biden signs ‘vital’ Ukraine, Israel foreign aid bill Funding for Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan and Gaza civilians A total of $95 billion in war aid is being sent from Washington to Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan and civilians ..read more