governor patrick

Bristol County Sheriff Tom Hodgson expects some of the thousands of migrant children who crossed the southwest border into the U-S will find their way to Massachusetts, and New Bedford. Hodgson is visiting processing and detention centers along the border with a delegation of Sheriffs to get a first hand look at the immigration crisis...

A group pushing for an increase in the state's minimum wage is ending its bid to put a question on the November state ballot. Raise Up Massachusetts said Monday the ballot question is no longer necessary since the Legislature has approved a bill that would raise the $8-per-hour minimum wage to $11 by 2017...

Gov. Deval Patrick is praising an economic development bill proposed by Democratic House leaders but says he will urge legislators to restore a provision that would discourage non-compete agreements in the private sector. Patrick had proposed eliminating the agreements that some claim stifle competition among technology companies, and instead beef up trade secret protections...

More than 50 social workers from the New Bedford office on North Front Street marched during their lunch hour on Tuesday, calling on the Dept. Of Children and Families to hire more social workers and reduce caseloads. Union official Julie Cardoza-Patreska says social workers in New Bedford are handling well over 20 cases per worker, and that has to stop...

Residents from across Cape Cod are planning to converge on the Statehouse to call on Gov. Deval Patrick to help shut down the Pilgrim nuclear power plant in Plymouth.       Activists are tying their visit Monday to the eve of the third anniversary of the meltdowns at the Fukushima nuclear power plants in Japan...

Rep. Chris Markey of Dartmouth says the Legislature will be digging into the day-to-day operations of the State Department of Children and Families.  The Investigation  following a series of high-profile cases, including a five year old Fitchburg boy whose disappearance went unnoticed by social workers for months...

Firefighters from across the state are being honored Thursday for their bravery and heroism.  The 24th annual Firefighter of the Year Awards will be handed out at the Mass. Institute of Technology.  Among those in line for awards are three firefighters from Acushnet.  T...

The Legislature's Joint Committee on Transportation has given its approval to a $12-billion transportation bond package, which includes $2 billion for the permitting and construction of Southcoast Rail. The spending plan now heads to the House where debate is expected to begin next week. ...

A revised casino compact between Gov. Deval Patrick and the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe faces a test in the Legislature.

Gov. Deval Patrick has signed into law a bill placing 17-year-olds accused of crimes under the jurisdiction of the state's juvenile courts.       Currently in Massachusetts, 17-year-olds are treated as adults, regardless of the circumstances or severity of the offense.  ...