Revenge porn bill hits Healey's desk

Also: Weight loss drug use skyrockets in Mass.; reviving the Rat [Donate ❤️]( [View in Browser](  June 14, 2024 🌦️ Hot and sticky, with a high of 88 and scattered storms in the afternoon. Good Morning Boston, TGIF! The Celtics could win their 18th NBA championship banner tonight — and the Red Sox even [moved up the start of their game]( against the rival New York Yankees so fans can watch the C's. But first, we have a lot of news to cover: - On Beacon Hill: Following [years of failed efforts]( Massachusetts is on the verge of banning revenge porn. The state Senate voted 38-0 yesterday to send [compromise legislation]( passed unanimously by the House earlier this week to Gov. Maura Healey's desk. Currently, Massachusetts and South Carolina are the only states in the country without laws criminalizing the distribution of sexually explicit media of someone without their consent. "We're recognizing it as a form of sexual assault," said Nithya Badrinath, the policy director of Jane Doe, a local advocacy group for domestic and sexual violence survivors. - The bill would close a loophole in the state's current laws that allow individuals to share nude or semi-nude images of someone else against their will, if the photo or video was originally taken or shared consensually. Those found guilty of non-consensually sharing such images would face criminal penalties of up to two and a half years of prison time and/or a fine of up to $10,000. "Survivors can actually get recourse," Badrinath said. - The bill would also cover AI-created images. Lawmakers say such "[deepfake]( revenge porn can be equally traumatizing for victims, but Massachusetts currently doesn't have a law against it. - Additionally, the bill proposes a more lenient approach toward teens — who can currently be charged with violating child pornography laws and have to register as sex offenders for possessing or sharing images of themselves or other minors. As an alternative, the bill would create a state-run diversion program to teach teens caught sexting about the potential consequences of this behavior. - What's next: Healey still needs to review the bill, but her office says she has "long supported legislation to ban revenge porn." Healey "appreciates the Legislature’s work on moving this important bill forward," a spokesperson for the governor said. - The wait goes on: The MBTA's South Coast Rail project is getting delayed — again. During two meetings last night, T officials revealed that commuter rail service to Fall River and New Bedford won't begin until May 2025. The new timeline comes [eight months after the T delayed the original end-of-2023 start date]( until this summer. - What's the hold up? The Herald News [reports]( that construction of the new East Taunton station is only 75% done, due to material delays and “challenges getting the elevators to work properly." Officials still have to do months of testing and inspections. According to the T, the first test trains will hit the tracks Monday. - Getting the green light: Amid [fears of a weed drought]( on Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket this summer, the Cannabis Control Commission [issued an order yesterday spelling out rules]( to allow the drug to be shipped to the islands for the first time. In order to avoid violating federal laws against cannabis, the order says the shipment must go via approved boats that remain within state territorial waters. (That means dispensaries won't be able to use the Steamship Authority's ferries, but only separate, approved boats.) - Meanwhile at the CCC: The commission also voted yesterday to strip its acting executive director, Debbie Hilton-Creek, of her role overseeing day-to-day operations. WBUR's Walter Wuthmann and Beth Healey [have more on the controversial move here](. - Tip culture: The ballot campaign to raise the minimum wage for tipped employees in Massachusetts is another step closer to going before voters this fall. The state's top court [rejected a legal challenge]( seeking to derail the question yesterday. That means the question is likely headed to the November ballot, as long as supporters clear one final — and relatively small — signature hurdle (assuming legislators don't cobble together another eleventh-hour [grand bargain]( - On the docket: We're still waiting to hear what the Supreme Judicial Court says on [two other ballot question challenges]( regarding rideshare driver classification and unionization — as well as the court's decision on [the state's lawsuit]( arguing that Uber and Lyft are misclassifying drivers as independent contractors. - Save the date: Big news for Bay Staters eyeing a new laptop or pair of shoes in the near future. State lawmakers have set Massachusetts' annual sales tax holiday weekend for Aug. 11-12 this year. The two-day break from the state's 6.25% sales tax is good for most items under $2,500. (Read the [list of excluded items]( plus [other rules here]( P.S.— Who is the New England Aquarium's oldest inhabitant? [Take our Boston News Quiz]( to find out! Nik DeCosta-Klipa Editor, Newsletters  The Rundown [Use of weight loss and diabetes drugs like Ozempic has skyrocketed in Mass.]( Research released by the state's Health Policy commission Thursday showed number of Massachusetts residents prescribed a relatively new class of weight management and diabetes drugs has increased sevenfold over five years. The medications include the brand name drugs Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro. [Read more.]( [Use of weight loss and diabetes drugs like Ozempic has skyrocketed in Mass.]( Research released by the state's Health Policy commission Thursday showed number of Massachusetts residents prescribed a relatively new class of weight management and diabetes drugs has increased sevenfold over five years. The medications include the brand name drugs Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro. [Read more.]( [Healey, Campbell applaud abortion pill decision but caution more challenges could happen]( Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey said the U.S. Supreme Court ruling on Thursday protecting access to medication abortion with mifepristone was a "no brainer" and "the obvious decision." [Read more.]( [Healey, Campbell applaud abortion pill decision but caution more challenges could happen]( Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey said the U.S. Supreme Court ruling on Thursday protecting access to medication abortion with mifepristone was a "no brainer" and "the obvious decision." [Read more.]( [Alex Jones faces day of reckoning over what he owes Sandy Hook families]( A judge is expected to tell Jones to sell off assets. But the families are likely to get only a tiny fraction of the nearly $1.5 billion in damages Jones owes for lies about the 2012 school shooting. [Read more.]( [Alex Jones faces day of reckoning over what he owes Sandy Hook families]( A judge is expected to tell Jones to sell off assets. But the families are likely to get only a tiny fraction of the nearly $1.5 billion in damages Jones owes for lies about the 2012 school shooting. [Read more.]( [Gov. Healey says trooper's 'terrible' behavior in Karen Read case harms law enforcement]( Gov. Maura Healey said the testimony this week of State Trooper Michael Proctor in the Karen Read murder case was "terrible" and tarnishes the integrity of law enforcement. Proctor sent text messages other troopers and friends disparaging Read, using vulgar language and saying he wished Read would kill herself. Healey declined to weigh in further on the case. [Read more.]( [Gov. Healey says trooper's 'terrible' behavior in Karen Read case harms law enforcement]( Gov. Maura Healey said the testimony this week of State Trooper Michael Proctor in the Karen Read murder case was "terrible" and tarnishes the integrity of law enforcement. Proctor sent text messages other troopers and friends disparaging Read, using vulgar language and saying he wished Read would kill herself. Healey declined to weigh in further on the case. [Read more.]( [Large number of whale sightings off New England, including dozens of endangered sei whales]( Scientists say a large number of whales are visiting the waters off New England, and the group includes a high number of an endangered species. Other highlights included two orcas — a uncommon sight off New England — one of which was toting a tuna in its mouth. [Read more.]( [Large number of whale sightings off New England, including dozens of endangered sei whales]( Scientists say a large number of whales are visiting the waters off New England, and the group includes a high number of an endangered species. Other highlights included two orcas — a uncommon sight off New England — one of which was toting a tuna in its mouth. [Read more.]( Anything Else? - The Rathskeller — the famed Kenmore Square music venue known as the Rat — delivered a steady parade of raucous live rock to fans in Boston from 1974 until 1997. On Sept. 21, Medfield's Bellforge Arts Center will [revive the legendary club’s legacy with a celebration](. - Planning a trip abroad soon? You can now get your passport renewed online again. Here's [a guide to how it works](. - The latest exhibition at the Institute of Contemporary Art's Watershed features an installation consisting for 140 mannequins. [Take a look inside]( the brightly colored but vaguely eerie display. - We have two moving Cognoscenti commentaries ahead of Father's Day this weekend. First, Colin Campbell [writes that he won't let grief rob him of his favorite holiday](. Second, Lucas Mann writes that he and his wife feared their 5-year-old daughter would feel left out after they bought a bar and bookstore. Instead, [the opposite happened](. What We're Reading 📚 - The compromise between a billionaire and a Nantucket clam shack we can all learn from ([The Boston Globe]( - Apple brings free call recording and transcription to iPhones; journalists rejoice ([Nieman Lab]( - A Wild Plan to Avert Catastrophic Sea-Level Rise ([The Atlantic](  Tell Me Something Good [Here's what to know about the U.S. team's Cinderella run at the Cricket T20 World Cup]( The U.S. was seen as a longshot to advance in the tournament. But after beating Pakistan and going toe-to-toe with India, they've captured the attention of a country that has long ignored cricket. [Read more.]( [Here's what to know about the U.S. team's Cinderella run at the Cricket T20 World Cup]( The U.S. was seen as a longshot to advance in the tournament. But after beating Pakistan and going toe-to-toe with India, they've captured the attention of a country that has long ignored cricket. [Read more.]( Listen: The Common [joins the search for Boston's best takeout](. Play: [WBUR's daily mini crossword.]( Can you keep your streak going? Before you go: [Maura Healey must be a Bridgerton fan.]( 😎 Forward to a friend. They can sign up [here](. 🔎 Explore [WBUR's Field Guide]( stories, events and more. 📣 Give us your feedback: newsletters@wbur.org 📧 Get more WBUR stories sent to your inbox. [Check out all of our newsletter offerings.](    Want to change how you receive these emails? Stop getting this newsletter by [updating your preferences.](  I don't want to hear from WBUR anymore. Unsubscribe from all WBUR editorial newsletters [here](.  Interested in learning more about corporate sponsorship? [Click here.]( Copyright © 2023 WBUR-FM, All rights reserved.