By, Boston.com StaffEven with empty roads for much of the year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Massachusetts saw in 2020 as the state saw in 2019.And as more drivers , Gov. Charlie Baker’s administration is introducing a bill to reduce roadway deaths and update the state’s traffic laws, and it goes well beyond cars.The legislation ranges from a crackdown on seat belt scofflaws to red light cameras to new bike safety measures to a potential pathway forward for electric scooters.Here’s a look at all the proposals:Perhaps the most noticeable part of the bill would be a change in how the state...…By, Boston.com StaffEven with empty roads for much of the year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Massachusetts saw in 2020 as the state saw in 2019.And as more drivers , Gov. Charlie Baker’s administration is introducing a bill to reduce roadway deaths and update the state’s traffic laws, and it goes well beyond cars.The legislation ranges from a crackdown on seat belt scofflaws to red light cameras to new bike safety measures to a potential pathway forward for electric scooters.Here’s a look at all the proposals:Perhaps the most noticeable part of the bill would be a change in how the state...WW…

By, Boston.com StaffThe Boston Red Sox are implementing lots of new safety measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 at Fenway Park ahead of the :Dramatically reduced seating capacity. Paperless tickets. Sanitizer stations.Also, robots.In a press release Tuesday, the Wisconsin-based disinfection technology company Surfacide announced that the Red Sox have bought a team of its “COVID-blasting” robots to help clean Fenway Park during the 2021 season. The trio of 6-foot-5 medical-grade robots — which altogether cost roughly $100,000, according to Surfacide CEO Gunner Lyslo — are designed to...…By, Boston.com StaffThe Boston Red Sox are implementing lots of new safety measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 at Fenway Park ahead of the :Dramatically reduced seating capacity. Paperless tickets. Sanitizer stations.Also, robots.In a press release Tuesday, the Wisconsin-based disinfection technology company Surfacide announced that the Red Sox have bought a team of its “COVID-blasting” robots to help clean Fenway Park during the 2021 season. The trio of 6-foot-5 medical-grade robots — which altogether cost roughly $100,000, according to Surfacide CEO Gunner Lyslo — are designed to...WW…

By, Boston.com StaffSen. Ed Markey and other local officials in Massachusetts rebuked Tucker Carlson after he recently singled out the city of Springfield.During focused primarily on in nearby Northampton, the Fox News host decided to use Springfield to make a wrought comparison, calling the city a “tragic place” and “famous for burned-out buildings and murders.”The conservative commentator’s unprovoked slight at Springfield — known more for being the home of basketball and Dr. Seuss than for its socioeconomic challenges – elicited a forceful defense from the city’s elected leaders.to...…By, Boston.com StaffSen. Ed Markey and other local officials in Massachusetts rebuked Tucker Carlson after he recently singled out the city of Springfield.During focused primarily on in nearby Northampton, the Fox News host decided to use Springfield to make a wrought comparison, calling the city a “tragic place” and “famous for burned-out buildings and murders.”The conservative commentator’s unprovoked slight at Springfield — known more for being the home of basketball and Dr. Seuss than for its socioeconomic challenges – elicited a forceful defense from the city’s elected leaders.to...WW…

By, Boston.com StaffThursday marked the first day that companions of Massachusetts residents over the age of 75 with an appointment to get a COVID-19 vaccine could sign up to get vaccinated at the same time at one of the state’s mass vaccination sites.Officials say the , designed to incentivize more people in the 75+ group to get vaccinated, is meant for trusted friends and family members, who might provide some comfort to seniors who would otherwise be worried about the logistics of getting the vaccine by themselves.But it appears to have had some unintended, if predictable,...…By, Boston.com StaffThursday marked the first day that companions of Massachusetts residents over the age of 75 with an appointment to get a COVID-19 vaccine could sign up to get vaccinated at the same time at one of the state’s mass vaccination sites.Officials say the , designed to incentivize more people in the 75+ group to get vaccinated, is meant for trusted friends and family members, who might provide some comfort to seniors who would otherwise be worried about the logistics of getting the vaccine by themselves.But it appears to have had some unintended, if predictable,...WW…

By, Boston.com StaffMassachusetts Secretary of State Bill Galvin is calling for a 30-day suspension of GameStop stock trading, after social media users propelled the brick-and-mortar video game retailer’s share price to nearly implausible heights this week.“It’s dangerous not only to the investors, but it’s dangerous to the marketplace,” Galvin, the state’s top securities regulator, said Wednesday on CNBC.His comments came after GameStop was taken up as the cause of a so-called “,” in which Reddit users rallied to buy stock in the money-losing company in a battle against major investment...…By, Boston.com StaffMassachusetts Secretary of State Bill Galvin is calling for a 30-day suspension of GameStop stock trading, after social media users propelled the brick-and-mortar video game retailer’s share price to nearly implausible heights this week.“It’s dangerous not only to the investors, but it’s dangerous to the marketplace,” Galvin, the state’s top securities regulator, said Wednesday on CNBC.His comments came after GameStop was taken up as the cause of a so-called “,” in which Reddit users rallied to buy stock in the money-losing company in a battle against major investment...WW…

By, Boston.com Staff“I know this isn’t popular, but I really hope that early on we are able, with the vaccine that’s available, to hit the populations for whom life is most at risk, and for whom the health care system relies on and depends on to provide care,” Baker told reporters during a press conference Wednesday afternoon.Despite the directing states to make vaccines available to all individuals over the age of 65, as well as younger individuals with co-morbidities, Baker said that his administration had received no such guidance.In the first phase of the in Massachusetts, officials are...…By, Boston.com Staff“I know this isn’t popular, but I really hope that early on we are able, with the vaccine that’s available, to hit the populations for whom life is most at risk, and for whom the health care system relies on and depends on to provide care,” Baker told reporters during a press conference Wednesday afternoon.Despite the directing states to make vaccines available to all individuals over the age of 65, as well as younger individuals with co-morbidities, Baker said that his administration had received no such guidance.In the first phase of the in Massachusetts, officials are...WW…

By, Boston.com StaffMassachusetts marijuana regulators approved final regulations Monday that pave the way for to deliver adult-use cannabis to residents’ homes.But not if the state’s existing marijuana dispensaries have their say on the matter.“This will not be the final word on delivery,” the Commonwealth Dispensary Association said in a statement Monday, indicating plans to challenge the regulatory changes in court.The , which the state’s Cannabis Control Commission approved by a vote of 3-to-1 during a , include a new license for standalone marijuana delivery companies with their own...…By, Boston.com StaffMassachusetts marijuana regulators approved final regulations Monday that pave the way for to deliver adult-use cannabis to residents’ homes.But not if the state’s existing marijuana dispensaries have their say on the matter.“This will not be the final word on delivery,” the Commonwealth Dispensary Association said in a statement Monday, indicating plans to challenge the regulatory changes in court.The , which the state’s Cannabis Control Commission approved by a vote of 3-to-1 during a , include a new license for standalone marijuana delivery companies with their own...WW…

By, Boston.com StaffGov. Charlie Baker’s office says he has “no plans” to make any additional changes to the rules and restrictions to limit the spread of COVID-19 in Massachusetts, amid concerns about the worsening wave of infections this fall.According to reports by the and , the Massachusetts governor missed an “emergency summit” with New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and several other Northeast governors Sunday due to a scheduling conflict. Cuomo, who , said the intent of the virtual meeting was to “align policies as much as possible” — or at least make neighboring states more aware of their...…By, Boston.com StaffGov. Charlie Baker’s office says he has “no plans” to make any additional changes to the rules and restrictions to limit the spread of COVID-19 in Massachusetts, amid concerns about the worsening wave of infections this fall.According to reports by the and , the Massachusetts governor missed an “emergency summit” with New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and several other Northeast governors Sunday due to a scheduling conflict. Cuomo, who , said the intent of the virtual meeting was to “align policies as much as possible” — or at least make neighboring states more aware of their...WW…

By, Boston.com StaffBe civil. Be kind.Sign up for Boston.com's e-mail alerts and receive coronavirus news and breaking updates, from our newsroom to your inbox.Thanks for signing up!CloseWake up withGet Today’s Headlines every morning and breaking news as it unfolds, right to your inbox.Connect with Facebook- or -Thanks for signing up!Continue to the article…By, Boston.com StaffBe civil. Be kind.Sign up for Boston.com's e-mail alerts and receive coronavirus news and breaking updates, from our newsroom to your inbox.Thanks for signing up!CloseWake up withGet Today’s Headlines every morning and breaking news as it unfolds, right to your inbox.Connect with Facebook- or -Thanks for signing up!Continue to the articleWW…

By, Boston.com StaffMassachusetts is often called a “deep blue” state.When it comes to donations in the 2020 presidential election, it looks even bluer.The New York Times that uses campaign finance data to break down the number of respective donors to Republican President Donald Trump and Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden by zip code. And according to the map, just two of the 351 cities and towns in Massachusetts had more Trump donors than Biden donors over the past six months.In fact, in the sea of varying shades of blue, only three Bay State zip codes stood out as lightly red:...…By, Boston.com StaffMassachusetts is often called a “deep blue” state.When it comes to donations in the 2020 presidential election, it looks even bluer.The New York Times that uses campaign finance data to break down the number of respective donors to Republican President Donald Trump and Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden by zip code. And according to the map, just two of the 351 cities and towns in Massachusetts had more Trump donors than Biden donors over the past six months.In fact, in the sea of varying shades of blue, only three Bay State zip codes stood out as lightly red:...WW…