Ben Downing

With the state Senate on the verge of voting to make mail-in balloting permanent in Massachusetts, advocates and some lawmakers are trying to expand access to eligible voters behind bars.

Democratic candidates for governor Sonia Chang-Diaz and Ben Downing are promising massive expansions of government programs and new taxes to pay for them.

The SouthCoast is of growing importance statewide, so let's put party loyalty aside and get what we can.

Once the most popular governor in America, Massachusetts' Charlie Baker has yet to announce whether he'll seek another term next year.

Downing, of East Boston, was a Berkshire County state senator for a decade.