Published July 26, 2010
Here are the most important stories to watch this week in the Hub:
Casinos. Gov. Deval Patrick is back from the Middle East and ready to tackle this last, big hurdle of the legislative session. He may well make or break the negotiations. House Speaker Robert DeLeo is the most vocal supporter of legalizing resort-style casinos in Massachusetts, including two within his district. The governor supports it, too, with one major exception: Patrick doesn’t want slots. Some people on Beacon Hill are calling for state lawmakers to table issue for the next session.- The Probation Department. This story won’t go away. After reporting on a culture of patronage at the state’s Probation Department, the Globe followed up Sunday and Monday with more reporting. Expect more fallout on Beacon Hill. Radio Boston will talk with Globe reporter Marcella Bombardieri today at 3.
- The governor’s race. We’re expecting the results of a new Rasmussen poll on Guberfest 2010 today at 5 p.m. Rasmussen is a polling organization that WBUR trusts. The last poll showed Republican Charlie Baker making gains on Patrick, the Democratic incumbent. Watch this week for an in-depth profile of Baker from reporter David Boeri. And we’re waiting to hear from Massachusetts Citizens for Life, an anti-abortion PAC, to see if they still support independent candidate Tim Cahill, who is an abortion rights supporter.
The John Odgren case. An autistic teenager — convicted of murdering a classmate when he was 16 — goes to court Monday to ask for a reduced sentence. He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility for parole. Today Radio Boston asks, Should the state be trying juveniles as adults? Many advocates argue the brains of adolescents are not as developed as adults, that they are more prone to act impulsively and should not be judged the same way as adults.
What stories are you following this week?