![BOSTON – Business confidence in Massachusetts surged to an outright enthusiastic level in March, buoyed by COVID-19 vaccination progress and the final passage of a $1.9 trillion federal spending law. The Associated Industries of Massachusetts’ monthly confidence index shot up by 4.5 points last month, capping a gain of 11.6 points since December. At 60.9 […]](https://www.nashobavalleyvoice.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/low-l-confidence-1.jpg?w=140 "BOSTON – Business confidence in Massachusetts surged to an outright enthusiastic level in March, buoyed by COVID-19 vaccination progress and the final passage of a $1.9 trillion federal spending law. The Associated Industries of Massachusetts’ monthly confidence index shot up by 4.5 points last month, capping a gain of 11.6 points since December. At 60.9 […]")
Employer confidence widespread heading into spring
BOSTON – Business confidence in Massachusetts surged to an outright enthusiastic level in March, buoyed by COVID-19 vaccination progress and the final passage of a $1.9 trillion federal spending law....
![BOSTON – Single-family home sales last month sold at a pace not seen for 17 years in Massachusetts and the median sale price has now sat above $400,000 for a year. The Warren Group on Thursday released its latest market snapshot and reported that sales in February were up nearly 13 percent over February 2020, […]](https://www.nashobavalleyvoice.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/low-l-sales-1.jpg?w=140 "BOSTON – Single-family home sales last month sold at a pace not seen for 17 years in Massachusetts and the median sale price has now sat above $400,000 for a year. The Warren Group on Thursday released its latest market snapshot and reported that sales in February were up nearly 13 percent over February 2020, […]")
![BOSTON – Amid debate over stimulus check use and climate change, gas prices remain on the rise and some recipients of one-time aid from the federal government will find themselves dumping some of that money into their gas tanks. AAA Northeast reported Monday that the average price of a gallon of gas in Massachusetts rose […]](https://www.nashobavalleyvoice.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/LOW-L-gasPrices11-1.jpg?w=61 "BOSTON – Amid debate over stimulus check use and climate change, gas prices remain on the rise and some recipients of one-time aid from the federal government will find themselves dumping some of that money into their gas tanks. AAA Northeast reported Monday that the average price of a gallon of gas in Massachusetts rose […]")
![BOSTON – The state’s cultural sector, which has long thrived on human interaction, has recalculated its significant losses ahead of budget season on Beacon Hill. According to the Massachusetts Cultural Council, which is in line for a 10 percent spending cut under Gov. Charlie Baker’s budget, the state’s nonprofit and municipal cultural organizations reported $588 […]](https://www.nashobavalleyvoice.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/low-l-river02-1.jpg?w=132 "BOSTON – The state’s cultural sector, which has long thrived on human interaction, has recalculated its significant losses ahead of budget season on Beacon Hill. According to the Massachusetts Cultural Council, which is in line for a 10 percent spending cut under Gov. Charlie Baker’s budget, the state’s nonprofit and municipal cultural organizations reported $588 […]")
![BOSTON – A popular child protection bill that fell through the cracks last legislative session is gathering momentum in the new session. Last July, the House and Senate each unanimously approved similar versions of the bill, but it slipped off the Beacon Hill radar screen in the ensuing five months. It briefly surfaced on the […]](https://www.nashobavalleyvoice.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/112219Youfn06-1.jpg?w=132 "BOSTON – A popular child protection bill that fell through the cracks last legislative session is gathering momentum in the new session. Last July, the House and Senate each unanimously approved similar versions of the bill, but it slipped off the Beacon Hill radar screen in the ensuing five months. It briefly surfaced on the […]")
![BOSTON – Confidence among Massachusetts employers continued to build in February, and has risen in seven of the last nine months. Associated Industries of Massachusetts’ business confidence index gained 4 points last month. At 56.4, it is up 18 points from its April 2020 pandemic low point and 5.7 points below its pre-pandemic reading in […]](https://www.nashobavalleyvoice.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/low-z-bizconfidence-1.jpg?w=132 "BOSTON – Confidence among Massachusetts employers continued to build in February, and has risen in seven of the last nine months. Associated Industries of Massachusetts’ business confidence index gained 4 points last month. At 56.4, it is up 18 points from its April 2020 pandemic low point and 5.7 points below its pre-pandemic reading in […]")
![BOSTON – In another sign of the push to return to traditional in-person schooling, the state Board of Education is scheduled to vote Friday on emergency regulations granting the state education commissioner authority to determine when hybrid and remote models will no longer count towards required student learning time hours. “If adopted, they will result […]](https://www.nashobavalleyvoice.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/baker-11-2-1.jpg?w=122 "BOSTON – In another sign of the push to return to traditional in-person schooling, the state Board of Education is scheduled to vote Friday on emergency regulations granting the state education commissioner authority to determine when hybrid and remote models will no longer count towards required student learning time hours. “If adopted, they will result […]")
![BOSTON – A day after President Biden and other public officials ramped up pressure to vaccinate teachers, Gov. Charlie Baker plans to tour an elementary school in Gloucester and make an announcement about COVID-19 vaccinations. Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito, Education Commissioner Jeff Riley, Education Secretary James Peyser and Mayor Sefatia Romeo Theken are scheduled to […]](https://www.nashobavalleyvoice.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/AP21052382458797-1.jpg?w=125 "BOSTON – A day after President Biden and other public officials ramped up pressure to vaccinate teachers, Gov. Charlie Baker plans to tour an elementary school in Gloucester and make an announcement about COVID-19 vaccinations. Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito, Education Commissioner Jeff Riley, Education Secretary James Peyser and Mayor Sefatia Romeo Theken are scheduled to […]")
![BOSTON – With people spending more time at home and a general belief that work-from-home will be a long-term trend for some employees, online shopping and the deliveries it requires have surged during the pandemic. That’s taking a toll on traffic, pollution and industrial rents, according to a new report. The Metropolitan Area Planning Council […]](https://www.nashobavalleyvoice.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Amazon-Parler_46704-1-1.jpg?w=132 "BOSTON – With people spending more time at home and a general belief that work-from-home will be a long-term trend for some employees, online shopping and the deliveries it requires have surged during the pandemic. That’s taking a toll on traffic, pollution and industrial rents, according to a new report. The Metropolitan Area Planning Council […]")
![BOSTON – Six-person criminal and civil jury trials will be conducted in-person at select locations, with priority given to criminal cases where the defendant is in custody, under an order regarding court operations that takes effect on Monday, March 1. The Supreme Judicial Court announced its order on Wednesday, saying it will replace an order […]](https://www.nashobavalleyvoice.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/120216SJCnc16_0-e1551955998700-1.jpg?w=140 "BOSTON – Six-person criminal and civil jury trials will be conducted in-person at select locations, with priority given to criminal cases where the defendant is in custody, under an order regarding court operations that takes effect on Monday, March 1. The Supreme Judicial Court announced its order on Wednesday, saying it will replace an order […]")