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Day two of David Pecker testimony wraps in NY Trump trial; Supreme Court hears arguments on Idaho's near-total abortion ban; ND sees a flurry of campaigning among Native candidates; and NH lags behind other states in restricting firearms at polling sites.

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The Senate moves forward with a foreign aid package. A North Carolina judge overturns an aged law penalizing released felons. And child protection groups call a Texas immigration policy traumatic for kids.

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The urban-rural death divide is widening for working-age Americans, many home internet connections established for rural students during COVID have been broken and a new federal rule aims to put the "public" back in public lands.

A New Year’s Energy Revolution for MA

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Wednesday, January 9, 2008   

Boston, MA – The Massachusetts Senate is expected to pass an all-encompassing energy bill today dealing with everything from fuel-efficient cars to utility safety. As oil prices flirt with the $100 mark, the lawmakers are considering laws to require that 25 percent of the state's electricity come from cleaner resources by 2020, and cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent from 1990 levels.

Senator Stephen Brewer says he and his peers first will have to sift through more than 100 amendments to the bill, so there may be some minor objections along the way. But he believes the state ultimately will end up with laws that make the nation less dependent on foreign oil, help preserve the planet and save consumers money.

"I think anybody who's paying oil bills and gasoline prices is abundantly aware of what a crisis we have out there."

The bill (S. 2457) directs government agencies to replace state-owned vehicles with more fuel-efficient cars and trucks. It also establishes an overall annual energy consumption target and brings buildings up to code with strict efficiency standards.

Brewer thinks the bill's passage would put Massachusetts at the forefront of energy policy.

"We have the ability here to think out of the box, to create jobs, create tax revenue and do what needs to be done both for our planet and for our economy."

Once this energy bill passes, the Senate and House must work out differences before sending energy legislation to the governor's desk.




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