Published June 22, 2011

The state inspector general says a former director of an education collaborative spent millions of public dollars that were intended to help educate special needs students. Inspector General Gregory Sullivan’s allegations against former Merrimack Special Education Collaborative Director John Barranco come a day after Sullivan detailed a “no-show” job at the collaborative.

We talked to Sullivan this morning:

According to documents obtained by the Globe, gubernatorial candidate and former Treasurer Tim Cahill directed a change in advertising strategy for the state Lottery while running for the corner office. The change stressed the Lottery’s effective management. The Lottery is run by Treasury.

A $2 billion expansion of the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center took a small step forward yesterday when a state panel signed off on the proposed project. In other waterfront development news, this afternoon Vertex Pharmaceuticals breaks ground on its big Fan Pier complex.

Following last month’s bus driver “game of chicken,” a Herald review found that MBTA drivers have been hired despite driving histories that include suspensions and at-fault accidents.

A supplemental budget bill signed yesterday by Gov. Deval Patrick includes $15 million to pay for tornado response and $10 million in youth-violence-prevention grants.

Universal Hub says Borders liquidation won’t start next week, as previously announced, leaving the Downtown Crossing location a bit more in flux.