A key piece of the state budget signed this summer flew under the radar: a new program to boost legal services for low-income immigrant families.

Massachusetts State Senator
The Hall of Flags in the State House features the official flags of every city and town in Massachusetts. Well, almost. Turns out, Carlisle’s flag was never put up. Until now. Carlisle residents Barbara and Alan Lewis, Marybeth Stevenson, and Beverly Heath helped create a replica flag to present to the Commonwealth so it could take its rightful place in the Hall of Flags.
I joined Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll, Rep. Simon Cataldo, Select Board Chair Scott Triola, Select Board members Barney Arnold and Travis Snell, Town Administrator Ryan McLane, and dozens of Carlisle residents at the flag raising ceremony. The event included remarks from state and local officials, a telling of the flag’s history by Scott Evans, and a terrific musical performance.
Rat poison can do serious harm to local wildlife like owls and hawks. MassAudubon and MSPCA brought advocates — and even some gorgeous owls — to the State House. People turned out from every town in my district to push for a bill that limits the use of damaging rodenticides. I’m with them.
Waltham residents turned out and stirred up some “Good Trouble” as they protested the callous actions of ICE and Trump. ICE’s tactics were meant to scare us. This worked, for a while. But now we’re organizing.