SPRING 2009
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VOLUME 14 | NUMBER 2 | SPRING 2009
 

Articles

EDUCATION
Spending spiral: Massachusetts is funneling more and more money into special education, even as regular education students face big spending cuts. But there is little evidence that this huge investment is paying off. By Jack Sullivan and Bruce Mohl
POLITICS
Strings attached: With the speaker calling all the shots, freewheeling debate and dissent have all but vanished from the Massachusetts House of Representatives. Is there any hope for democracy in the General Court? By Michael Jonas
ENERGY
The shape of watts to come: Energy efficiency and renewable power sources may be the future of electric power, but fossil fuel plants haven’t run out of steam. By Gabrielle Gurley
INVESTIGATION
High-tech breakdown: Government websites in Massachusetts are behind the curve in replying to citizen emails. By Colman M. Herman

Discussion

WHAT WORKS

Students work as their own maintenance staff at a North Carolina college. By Alison Lobron

CONVERSATION

Producer Lynda Obst likes the Bay State’s film tax credit but worries about our lack of qualified crew members. By Alison Lobron

Departments

CORRESPONDENCE

Letters

EDITOR'S NOTE

Editor's Note

INQUIRIES

Beacon Hill pols share their bounty. By Christina Prignano
IBM offers transition to teaching careers. By Alison Lobron
Banks balk at short sales of underwater homes. By Michael Jonas
School mergers in Maine hit snags. By Matthew Stone
Email exchanges reveal Wilkerson's tenacity. By Colman M. Herman

STATISTICALLY SIGNIFICANT

Prison vs. probation; Bay State agriculture; etc. By Robert David Sullivan

STATE OF THE STATES

Migration within the US By Robert David Sullivan

HEAD COUNT

A Cahill vs. Patrick primary By Robert David Sullivan

WASHINGTON NOTEBOOK

Obama taps Bay State scientists. By Shawn Zeller

PERSPECTIVES

We must pay more attention to kids outside school hours. By Jay Ash
The GIC is no panacea for municipal health care costs. By John Coughlin
Massport is government that works. By John Quelch

REAL TALK

There's opportunity, and frustration, in New Orleans. By Alison Lobron