Haverhill

$52.7 Billion State Spending Plan Goes to Gov. Baker; Includes Vargas’ Free School Meals Plan

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Both the state House and Senate have signed off on a compromise $52.7 billion annual spending plan Monday that includes Rep. Andy X. Vargas’ priority for free meals for all school children. Vargas took to Twitter Sunday night to celebrate that budget negotiators preserved one of his priorities, universal free school meals for all school children across Massachusetts at a cost of about $115 million. “A huge win that provides economic relief for public school parents, removal of social stigma, and most importantly—less hungry kids and better academic outcomes! So hyped and grateful,” the Haverhill Democrat tweeted. Senate officials agreed universal free school meals provide “immediate relief to working families by saving them up to $1,200 every year.”

Gov. Charlie Baker has up to 10 days to review the budget and send back amendments and vetoes.

Election Central

With Key Legislative Elections Decided in September, Forums Taking Place Wed. and Thurs.

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Election of several state legislators, including a new minority majority Senate district, will be decided in September since there are no opposing party challengers to require November balloting. That means Methuen Community Studios and Lawrence Community Access Television plan what may be the only candidate forums this Wednesday and Thursday. Methuen Community Studios Executive Director Karen L. Hayden explained the urgency. “My biggest concern is that people are not aware that the primary election on Sept. 6 is their only chance to vote on this.

Haverhill

House Economic Development Bill Includes $400,000 for Haverhill’s Dutton Airport Redevelopment

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Plans to redevelop the former Dutton Airport into Haverhill’s newest business park received an unexpected boost last week when the state House of Representatives approved setting aside $400,000 for public portions of the project. As WHAV reported last week, Rep. Andy X. Vargas secured $8 million to pay for public portions of Lupoli Companies’ $160 million downtown housing and retail development plan, and $300,000 for local economic development recovery efforts. Vargas told WHAV Friday that before the House recessed, it approved another Vargas amendment for Dutton Airport redevelopment. The economic development bill still must be approved by the Senate and Gov. Charlie Baker. At a Haverhill City Council meeting in May, Haverhill Economic Development and Planning Director William Pillsbury Jr. gave an overview of plans.

Haverhill

Rep. Vargas Seeks Nominations of Three Students to Attend Red Sox Game July 24

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The song above is sung by Edward Meeker in the first Edison recording of “Take Me Out to the Ball Game,” but it very well could be the call of Haverhill students. Three of them have a chance of watching the Red Sox play a week from Sunday. State Rep. Andy X. Vargas is asking Haverhill residents to nominate exemplary students in Haverhill to go watch the Red Sox play at Fenway Park alongside the representative Sunday, July 24. Vargas is providing tickets for three selected students and their parents or guardians to accompany them. Guardians must be able to provide transportation to and from Fenway Park.

Beacon Hill News

DiZoglio Criticizes State Tax Rebate Plan Because it Leaves Out Lowest Income Earners

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State Sen. Diana DiZoglio is criticizing a plan to send rebate checks to taxpayers because it omits the Commonwealth’s poorest residents. DiZoglio said Saturday she agrees with providing relief from inflation and rising gas prices. She noted, however, the proposed tax rebates of $250 for individual taxpayers and $500 for married taxpayers filing jointly leaves out residents who earned less than $38,000 in 2021. “Those residents were the hardest hit during the pandemic and they continue to recover from the impacts of a healthcare crisis and extensive unemployment. Previous relief provided to help our most vulnerable residents through the pandemic emergency should not preclude them from receiving the proposed rebate to assist them through the current difficult financial environment,” DiZoglio wrote in a letter Saturday to Senate President Karen E. Spilka.

Haverhill

Podcast: Rep. Campbell Says Civics Law Helps Young People Check Their Sources of Information

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Learning the basics of how government works is a lesson that state Rep. Linda Dean Campbell wants to make sure is taught in the schools. Campbell, who represents Methuen and Haverhill and not running for re-election this fall, recently worked with Haverhill state Rep. Andy X. Vargas to advocate for support to further the state’s nearly four-year-old civics education requirement

“It was fantastic because you had the older person, like myself, and you had the younger person, like Andy, really, really pushing for this. He brought so much to the table. He brought a lot of excitement with young people,” Campbell said during a recent appearance on WHAV’s morning show. As previously reported by WHAV, Campbell said the legislature committed $1.5 million for civics education in each of the past three state budgets, with much of the money going directly to schools to help with curriculum implementation.

Going Out

Public Has First Chance to See a Founding Father’s 1780 Letter Stolen During World War II

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Looking for something unique to do today? In observance of Independence Day, the public has an opportunity to view a 1780 letter from founding father and U.S. Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton that was stolen from the state during World War II. Secretary of the Commonwealth William F. Galvin said the Hamilton letter was stolen from the Massachusetts Archives during World War II and resurfaced at an auction house in 2018. It was returned to the people of Massachusetts after a lengthy court battle. The letter, sent by Hamilton to the Marquis de Lafayette regarding Revolutionary War troop movements, made its first public appearance since being recovered on Friday.

Region

Mass. Attorney General Offers Savings Tips and Resources as Home Energy Costs Rise

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With electricity rates set to soar to record high prices this summer, Attorney General Maura Healey has launched a campaign to educate customers about programs available to reduce energy usage and lower bills. Inflation, the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine and other factors are driving up fossil fuel prices and, in turn, energy rates for customers across the country this summer. As part of a new education campaign, the attorney general’s office is airing radio PSAs, including over WHAV; distributing multilingual flyers; updating its website; and conducting trainings and webinars. “As temperatures rise this summer, so will your monthly bills. We want families who are worried about paying their monthly bills to know that help is available to manage these record high energy rates,” said Healey.