Total employment in Massachusetts has returned to pre-pandemic levels nearly three years after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in Massachusetts. Government data from January shows total statewide employment at 3,743,500.
On Thursday night, all MBTA lines were immediately ordered to obey speed restrictions between 10 mph and 25 mph. On Friday morning, MBTA officials narrowed the scope of speed restrictions to specific slow zone areas and announced that the systemwide slowdown resulted from a lack of documentation of repairs. By Monday morning, speed restrictions are still in place on the Green line and the Mattapan trolley. Riders were encouraged to plan for an extra 20 minutes in their commuter systemwide.
Mobile sports betting launched on Friday morning in Massachusetts with six approved operators, Barstool Sportsbook, BetMGM, Caesars Sportsbook, DraftKings, FanDuel, and WynnBET. Betting by mobile app is taxed at 20% and is expected to bring in tens of millions in revenue to Massachusetts.
This week:
On Wednesday, the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing joins the Health Policy Commission to hold a public hearing on potential modifications to the 2024 cost growth benchmark for the average growth in total health care expenditures for calendar 2024. Join the hearing in person or via livestream.
The Center for Health Information and Analysis (CHIA) reported on Monday that health care expenditures per capita rose 9 percent in 2021 in Massachusetts. Health care expenditures were $9,715 per resident in 2021, according to the agency’s annual report.