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The Massachusetts legislation is holding a hearing Tuesday morning regarding a proposed bill that would prohibit the use of Native American mascots by public schools. But at least one local tribe representative is more upset about being left out of the discussion than about the appropriation of Native names and imagery...

A new bill heading to a public hearing at the statehouse could ban all Native American mascots from Massachusetts schools.

BOSTON, MA — The House on Wednesday voted to prevent the use of inmate labor beyond the borders of Massachusetts over the objections of Republicans who argued that existing law addresses the issue and questioned why it was a priority. Massachusetts prisons and jails have never sent inmates to work on projects in another state, lawmakers said...

Working in concert with State Representatives Christopher Markey and Antonio Cabral, Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III announced the filing of three new pieces of legislation aimed at fighting the ongoing opiate abuse crisis, cracking down on reckless driving and creating a new criminal statute for leaving the scene of automobile crashes that result in serious bodily injury... R

Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker says he plans to sign a bill that would require men and women to be paid equally for comparable work. The Republican told reporters on Monday that he would sign the legislation sometime next week. Supporters say women are currently paid on average about 82% of what their male counterparts make for comparable work in Massachusetts...

A bill being filed on Beacon Hill could make make it a hate crime to target police officers.

The Massachusetts State Senate unanimously passed a bill on Monday that seeks to address animal abuse and neglect.

A Southcoast business leader says the state's proposed renewable energy bill is fool's gold. The Massachusetts House recently passed a bill calling for 1,400 megawatts each of Canadian hydropower and offshore wind. Rob Mellion, President of the Fall River Area Chamber of Commerce, says that won't come close to covering the state's energy needs over the next decade...

Westport State Representative Paul Schmid was grilled Thursday on WBSM over his vote on the transgender anti-discrimination bill. WBSM's Barry Richard repeatedly asked Schmid if the bill was necessary, considering that it is already illegal to discriminate against anyone because of their race, creed, religion, sex, or sexual orientation...

With the commitment from Governor Charlie Baker to sign into law a transgender anti-discrimination bill, some businesses and organizations may have to change their policies. The YMCA serves as a place where the public can exercise, shower, and relax, and YMCA Southcoast President Jim Scherer tells WBSM News there will be little change to current policy...