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BEACON HILL

• State Rep. Marc Lombardo is challenging Rep. Brad Jones for the minority leader post, but most of the small band of House Republicans seem to be sticking with Jones, who has held the position for more than 20 years. (Boston Herald) 

• The USA Today New England network recaps three new laws going into effect in 2025: the parentage act, salary transparency laws, and changes to the Paid Family and Medical Leave Act.

MUNICIPAL MATTERS  

• Boston Mayor Michelle Wu defended her plan for a remake of White Stadium in Franklin Park against calls by City Councilor Ed Flynn to abandon the project, saying she’s been a strong critic of “bad deals for Boston” but insisting that this isn’t one of them. (Boston Herald) 

• Beverly has ruled that documents signed by more than 1,500 residents seeking to recall Mayor Mike Cahill and two other officials are invalid because they were incorrectly submitted. (Salem News)

• While Norwell reversed course and decided to comply with the MBTA Communities Act, Marshfield is now part of a half-dozen towns in the South Shore region that will not pass rules to meet the end-of-year deadline and potentially face legal action from the state. (The Patriot Ledger)

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

• The federal government is careening toward a shutdown at midnight after President-elect Donald Trump and Elon Musk called on Republicans to redo a spending agreement they had reached with Democrats. (Washington Post)

BUSINESS/ECONOMY

• With news that incoming President Donald Trump is looking to scrutinize the National Institutes of Health, Sen. Elizabeth Warren said she plans to reintroduce legislation that would create a $10 billion funding stream to underwrite basic research and so-called “disruptive innovation.” (MassLive)

EDUCATION

• Looking to address long standing problems in Massachusetts’ early education and care system, Gov. Maura Healey is calling on the state to use available grant money to raise the reimbursement rates for providers who care for poor children. (Boston Globe)

• Brockton’s financial woes have a new casualty: the annual holiday party for homeless students. Vendors, many of which are owed money by the school district, declined to participate this year by donating time and food. (The Enterprise)

• Boston Public Schools will roll out new multilingual programming for English-language learners in seven of its schools this fall, as there has been an influx of students who speak languages other than English. (GBH News)

ENERGY/ENVIRONMENT

• Framingham’s geothermal pilot program could be headed for expansion, funded by a Boston-based clean energy nonprofit with a $7.8 million grant to support an Eversource geothermal partnership. (MetroWest Daily News)

• Haverhill city councilors are considering a proposed 23.2-acre solar farm on Ayers Hill. (The Eagle-Tribune)

• The anti-offshore wind movement has been gaining momentum in the fishing community with conservative backing. The nonprofit The New England Fishermen's Stewardship Association has been very “anti-wind, anti-government” with a message that resonates amongst fisherman. (WBUR)

• This year, Massachusetts received $144 million in federal funding for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program which is lower than the state has received in previous years when there was funding through the American Rescue Plan Act. (The Bay State Banner)