AGP Executive Report

Labor Breakthrough: Massachusetts just certified the nation’s first Uber/Lyft driver union, the App Drivers Union, representing about 70,000 riders and setting up collective bargaining talks with the rideshare giants. Budget Watch: The state’s “millionaires tax” is already pulling in more than $3.1 billion this fiscal year—well above earlier projections—fueling transportation and public education funding debates. Child Safety: A Randolph daycare owner is fighting a DCF finding after allegations she left two 1-year-olds unsupervised in car seats at home. Politics in Maine (and Massachusetts): Democratic Senate nominee Graham Platner’s Nazi-linked tattoo fallout keeps spreading, with Rep. Jake Auchincloss calling it “personally disqualifying” and the campaign also roiled by a Red Sox ad dispute. Culture: Jazz legend Sonny Rollins, the “Saxophone Colossus,” died at 95.

Wayland Playground Raccoon Attack: A 2-year-old boy was bitten by a raccoon at Wayland Town Beach, requiring stitches and starting a rabies vaccination series, with police urging families to stay alert around playgrounds. Massachusetts Sports & Pride: Melrose High alum Frantzdy Pierrot is set to represent Haiti at the World Cup after qualifying for the first time in 52 years. Boston Culture Watch: Copley Square’s renovation is now fully open, but the big concrete centerpiece still sparks backlash even as trees and landscaping fill in the edges. National Spotlight: Jazz legend Sonny Rollins, the “Saxophone Colossus,” died at 95. Memorial Day Tone: Trump’s subdued Memorial Day remarks drew criticism for sounding like denial rather than reflection. Tech/Health/Business: FDA leadership shakeups and a Boston-area biotech trial update (Hansa Biopharma) also kept headlines moving.

Labor & Economy: Massachusetts rideshare drivers just won a historic first-in-the-nation union certification—App Drivers Union says it will represent nearly 70,000 drivers after the state’s Department of Labor Relations found 32% support, clearing the threshold for certification, with a celebration planned at the State House. Civic Life & Protest: Bruce Springsteen’s TD Garden stop turned into a full-throated political statement, with the singer delivering multiple remarks aimed at “hope over fear” and defending democratic norms. Courts & Voting: The DOJ is back in federal court trying to force states to hand over private voter information, and Washington is asking a judge to toss the case as part of a broader push that’s already been rejected in multiple states—including Massachusetts. Public Safety & Regulation: The Cannabis Control Commission is starting audits of THC potency on retail products, and will pull items from shelves if results fall outside the 75%–125% label range. Memorial Day: Massachusetts marked the holiday with ceremonies statewide, including a packed chapel at the Massachusetts Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Winchendon led by Gov. Maura Healey.

Memorial Day in Massachusetts: With weather forcing some plans indoors, towns across the Bay State are still marking the holiday—Milton moved its ceremony to the Council on Aging, while other communities are running parades, flyovers, and veteran roll calls. Juneteenth in Fall River: The Bristol Black Collective is kicking off a weeklong Juneteenth series, including a June 19 brunch/open mic and a June 20 main event at Kennedy Park, with city lights set to red, white, and blue. Public safety & courts: A Boston driver facing OUI charges was arrested after rear-ending a state police vehicle, and the SJC entered a three-year law license suspension for attorney misconduct. Local civic life: Massachusetts lawmakers honored service members at a Military Appreciation Day at the State House, and Old Rochester students are heading to Boys and Girls State. World watch (not Massachusetts, but in the feed): India’s Supreme Court plea targets the “Cockroach Janata Party” over claims it exploited judicial remarks for branding.

Massachusetts Memorial Day & local life: Boston is marking the holiday with 37,000 flags on Boston Common and a somber note after a firefighter and Marine veteran, Robert “Bobby” Kilduff Jr., died from injuries suffered in a fall during a 3-alarm fire. Weather: Rain is moving in for Sunday, with the heaviest downpours late morning through afternoon on the South Coast, Cape Cod, and the Islands, and another round possible early Monday. Veterans memory: The nation’s oldest Pearl Harbor survivor, Freeman Johnson, now lives in Massachusetts and is keeping the story alive at 106. Housing/municipal politics: A Massachusetts angle on housing shows up in coverage of ADU delays and redevelopment tools, underscoring how local rules can stall state goals. Politics beyond MA: A viral India “Cockroach Janta Party” is under legal scrutiny as police tighten security around its founder’s home and the government blocks its website—an international story that’s still driving headlines.

Locker-room Calm: New York Giants linebacker Abdul Carter moved to squash chatter that QB Jaxson Dart’s politics were fracturing the team after Dart introduced President Trump at a campaign event—Carter posted that he and Dart “are good” and “spoke earlier as Men.” Massachusetts Courts: A new lawsuit argues the state is illegally maintaining racially segregated schools by assigning students based on where they live, concentrating Black and Latino students in low-opportunity districts. Memorial Day in Boston: Tens of thousands of flags returned to Boston Common for the annual tradition honoring more than 37,000 Massachusetts service members who died since the Revolution. Immigration Policy: Trump administration changes would require many green-card applicants to go abroad first, with “extraordinary circumstances” needed to apply from the U.S. Viral Politics Abroad: India’s “Cockroach Janta Party” kept roiling social media after claims of account and website takedowns.

Memorial Day logistics: Massachusetts is gearing up for Monday’s holiday with most government offices, schools, courthouses, and banks closed, while online services and some retail may still run. Beacon Hill fight: The legislative audit showdown is getting messier as Auditor Diana DiZoglio presses for access to lawmakers’ records and documents. Farm policy clash: Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey call the House’s “Save Our Bacon Act” in the Farm Bill “poisonous,” arguing it could override Massachusetts animal-welfare rules. Travel pressure: AAA expects a record Memorial Day travel crush, with traffic spikes and gas prices still high. Tech + courts: MIT researchers warn AI-fueled self-filed lawsuits are overwhelming courts. International ripple: India’s “Cockroach Janta Party” meme-politics keeps spreading, with scammers now using fake links to target users.

Massachusetts Courts & Public Safety: Boston police say a courthouse brawl caught on surveillance video led to five arrests, including a 17-year-old facing extra assault charges after an alleged kick and spit attempt. Health Care & Law: CVS is suing Tennessee officials to block a law that would force it to unwind its pharmacy benefit manager and retail pharmacy ownership—another reminder of how PBM rules are colliding with state politics. Cybercrime: In Punjab, police warned that scammers are sending phishing links tied to the viral “Cockroach Janata Party,” aiming to hijack phones and drain financial apps. Immigration & Care: A new report asks how lower immigration rates could ripple into elder care staffing. Tech & Policy: A congressional panel heard that America’s water utilities remain cyber-vulnerable, with fragmented oversight and limited resources leaving systems exposed. International Viral Politics: India is trying to suppress the “Cockroach Janta Party” online after it exploded into a youth protest symbol—then it quickly spawned Pakistan knockoffs.

Black Economic Fight: Rep. Ayanna Pressley says “the Black economy is under attack,” blaming Trump-era affordability and worker-rights cuts for hitting Black communities from groceries to housing to the gas pump. Housing & Zoning: Needham’s MBTA Communities Act momentum continues as Greystar and Haseko break ground on a 189-unit project with 24 affordable homes—while Stoneham residents derail a long-overdue zoning overhaul, forcing a postponement after a public backlash. Boston Politics: A Boston City Council bid to reject Mayor Michelle Wu’s budget failed 6-6, showing how hard it is to turn frustration into leverage. Courts & Rights: A federal court blocks DOJ efforts to force Wisconsin to hand over unredacted voter data. Immigration: Mahmoud Khalil’s attorneys plan to press the U.S. Supreme Court after a ruling reopens the path to detention and deportation. Business/Tech: BOND names Michael Zeppieri vice president and chief technology officer; Quartermaster raises $43M for maritime awareness tech.

Ticket Shock at the World Cup: A Holy Cross sports-economics professor says the cheapest 2026 World Cup tickets are about five times higher than 1994 even after inflation, driven by supply limits and modern dynamic pricing. Election Integrity: A Canadian man in Massachusetts accused of illegally voting in multiple federal elections appeared in court; he’s due back in June. Voter-Rolls Fight: Federal judges in Maine and Wisconsin rejected DOJ attempts to force states to hand over detailed voter registration data, dealing another blow to the administration’s push. Boston Politics: With Mayor Wu’s FY27 budget vote nearing, city councilors are bracing for a power struggle over cuts and spending limits. Public Safety & Health: A Cambridge hotel workforce is picketing over unionization; and Mass General Brigham says AI chatbots often miss possible diagnoses—raising stakes for anyone using them for medical decisions. Local Crime: A Marshfield street investigation closed part of Webster Street, then reopened after police said it was resolved peacefully.

Federal Legal Pressure: A Massachusetts-linked academic group’s fight over indirect research-cost fees is drawing new scrutiny, with the U.S. Department of Energy asking a judge to dig into where legal money came from across related cases. Aviation Incident: At Chicago O’Hare, a United Airlines taxiing plane clipped the tail of an ANA Cargo Boeing 777F in what’s described as a minor “light scrape,” and the aircraft was pulled for inspection. Charity Under Fire: New York AG Letitia James joined a coalition urging donor-advised funds to keep donations flowing to the Southern Poverty Law Center after DOJ action triggered payment restrictions. Health Equity Gap: Lung cancer screening is improving, but only about 1 in 4 eligible adults are up to date—progress is uneven and still leaves big holes. Massachusetts Watch: Cape Cod shark researchers are expanding tracking into Cape Cod Bay and reporting new behavior for dusky sharks; and a Suffolk–BHCC joint admissions/transfer partnership is set to streamline routes to four-year degrees.

Massachusetts State Police Academy Overhaul: After a recruit’s death and an independent review, leaders say the academy will pause new recruit training and spend years fixing management, culture, and safety—while charges are pending for troopers tied to the incident. Massachusetts Politics & Courts: Rep. Seth Moulton filed a bill to let people sue federal officials when voting rights are violated, aiming at threats ahead of the midterms. Federal Education Fight: AGs including Michigan’s Nessel and Whitmer sued the U.S. Department of Education over a rule that narrows access to student loans for professional degree programs. Local Governance: Falmouth voters shifted the town clerk to an appointed role, and Cambridge moved to end its ShotSpotter contract. National/World: Barney Frank—Massachusetts’ liberal icon and Dodd-Frank architect—died at 86; and Nanobiotix temporarily halted trading in Paris as it works through a global share offering.

Massachusetts Courts & Housing: The state’s highest court rejected abutters’ bid to unwind a Cape Cod cranberry bog sale, saying a tax-law change for agricultural land doesn’t give them standing. Public Safety Tech: Cambridge voted to end ShotSpotter citywide, ordering removal within 90 days. Education & Equity: Students and community groups sued Massachusetts over school assignment practices that they say lock Black and Latino students into low-opportunity districts. Politics & Legacy: Former Rep. Barney Frank—Wall Street reform architect and one of the first openly gay members of Congress—died at 86; Massachusetts flags will fly at half-staff. National/World Watch: CFTC sued to block Minnesota’s prediction-market ban; and hotels fear World Cup bookings will underperform amid high prices and politics.

Massport Remote TSA Pilot: Starting June 1, Logan Airport passengers from MetroWest can check in and clear security at a new remote terminal in Framingham, then ride by bus straight to their gate—aiming for a “calmer travel experience.” Cannabis Regulation Overhaul: Gov. Maura Healey has named a former revenue commissioner to chair the reshaped Cannabis Control Commission, replacing the old five-person structure with a three-person panel. Healthcare Worker Loan Fight: Democratic-led states sued the Education Department over new federal student-loan limits that they say illegally narrow which healthcare degrees qualify—threatening access for nurses and other providers. Prediction Markets Clash: The CFTC is suing Minnesota to block its first-in-the-nation ban on prediction markets, arguing states can’t criminalize federally regulated derivatives. Energy Pressure in New England: Enbridge is back with “Project Beacon,” proposing expanded natural gas pipeline capacity into the Northeast, putting Massachusetts in the crosshairs again. Local Watch: Harvard police are investigating an alleged assault at Lowell House after a suspect entered without authorization.

Student Loans Fight: Democratic-led states, including Massachusetts’ AG, sued the Trump Education Department over a new rule that could narrow who qualifies for higher federal loan caps in healthcare and other professional programs—setting up a fast legal showdown over Congress’ intent. Health Policy: TrumpRx is expanding fast: the White House says 600+ generic drugs are being added via deals with Amazon Pharmacy, GoodRx, and Mark Cuban’s Cost Plus, aiming to drive down prices. Local Environment: Boston’s BERDO emissions reporting deadline is extended to Aug. 15, but advocates say operators should still move now to avoid penalties and a backlog of upgrades. Massachusetts Spotlight: A Bronze Star Medal missing for decades was returned to the son of a Mashpee veteran through the state Treasury’s unclaimed property program. Sports/College: Former St. John’s star RJ Luis committed to LSU, but eligibility fights loom after his NBA two-way contract.

World Cup Buzz: Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney is set to travel to Boston to watch Scotland’s opener against Haiti on June 14, with plans still “to be confirmed.” Boston Travel Tech: Massport’s new Logan “remote terminal” pilot lets eligible JetBlue and Delta flyers clear TSA security in Framingham for $9 each way before a secure bus ride to the gate. Antitrust in the Courts: A federal jury in Boston found Takeda liable in a pay-for-delay case over Amitiza, awarding about $885M in damages—potentially tripled under federal law. Local Housing/Planning: Mayor Michelle Wu says a study found the Jackson Mann Community Center site in Allston could feasibly include housing, and she’s calling a community meeting May 28 on the “next chapter.” Public Safety: Massachusetts prisons are preparing for drone contraband threats, training staff to spot “enemy drones” and adding detection tech. Culture: The Smashing Pumpkins announce the “Rats in a Cage” 30th anniversary tour with a TD Garden stop Oct. 2.