The latest MassGOP turmoil, explained

Also: Harvard reverses course on controversial fellowship decision; Mass. turns to in-home care for children's mental health [Donate ❤️]( [View in Browser](  January 20, 2023 🌨️ A mix of snow and rain likely through the afternoon, with a high around 37. Good Morning Boston, Today's storm looks like some much-needed good news for ski country — and it could end up leaving [an inch or more of snow across Massachusetts]( by the end of the day. You also might want to leave your shovels by the door. There are at least two other winter storms on our radar for next week, including one arriving Sunday night. Read the [full forecast here](. To the news: - The Massachusetts Republican Party is kicking off 2023 with [even less power on Beacon Hill]( a [pile of unpaid bills]( and a [growing number of names]( vying to challenge chair Jim Lyons. And now, Lyons and company appear to have a legal problem on their hands. WBUR's Steve Brown reports that the party's treasurer is sharing emails showing that Lyons coordinated with an independent political action committee — a violation of state campaign finance laws. - The specifics: Brown reports that MassGOP Treasurer Pat Crowley shared emails exchanged between Lyons and the head of a PAC as part of an effort to get a third-party opposition research firm to dig up dirt on then-gubernatorial candidate Maura Healey's personal life and private relationships. The emails indicate that Lyons tried to get the PAC to pick up the $52,000 tab for the investigation. (That tab is a big chunk of those unpaid bills.) - Why is that illegal? [State law]( forbids PACs — which can accept unlimited donations — from coordinating with candidates or state parties. (Otherwise, campaigns could use PACs as a workaround to legal limits on the size of donations they can accept.) [According to The Boston Globe]( campaign finance violations are punishable by fines and even prison time, depending on the severity. - Back up: This isn't the first time Crowley and Lyons have clashed. Last year, Lyons sued Crowley for [locking him out of the MassGOP bank account]( amid an intra-party fight between more moderate members and the Trump-aligned chair. - What's next: MassGOP committee members will vote for the party's next chairman on Jan. 31. Brown reports that Lyon has said he intends to seek reelection. - Massachusetts regulators approved mobile sports betting licenses yesterday for all six gambling companies that applied, including Boston-based DraftKings and its rival FanDuel. They'll join the five "tethered" mobile sports betting companies that are partnering with the state's approved three casinos. (You can read the full list of approved mobile sports betting companies [here]( - Up next: The Massachusetts Gaming Commission is expected to announce today the exact time that in-person sports betting will begin at the three casinos on launch day, Jan. 31. - Regulators are still aiming for early March to begin mobile sports betting, but haven't settled on an exact date. - Remember when Boston [shut down a section of Dartmouth Street for 10 days to create an extra-large pedestrian plaza]( in Copley Square? City officials are moving forward with plans to make some permanent changes to the area. [A new study]( found the temporary pilot last summer attracted more visitors to Copley and didn't have a huge impact on traffic for the surrounding streets. - Next steps: The Boston Planning and Development Agency voted yesterday to approve a design consultant. BPDA senior planner Ted Schwartzberg said they will study how the city could make alterations to nearby streets (i.e. making Exeter Street a two-way street) to continue to lessen the "relatively minimal traffic impacts that we saw over the summer." - Reminder: The Green and Orange Lines will be [bypassing Haymarket station]( this weekend due to demolition work on the Government Center parking garage. (Riders can instead get off at North Station, State Street or Government Center — all of which are a short walk away.) We also got updates yesterday on two issues plaguing MBTA service: - Part one: Officials say most new Orange Line cars are back in service after an electrical issue forced the agency to [remove nine cars for repairs]( and [cut back service]( just before New Year's. Officials say the problem was caused by faulty materials and they're now checking the cars on a weekly basis. - Part two: Despite some progress recruiting, the T is still [having a hard time fielding enough bus drivers to meet its schedules]( due to retirements and other departures in the tight job market. P.S.— Six environmental activists were arrested Tuesday in East Boston. Do you know why? Then [take our Boston News Quiz](. Nik DeCosta-Klipa Editor, Newsletters [Follow](  Support the news  The Rundown [As ER waits stretch for days, Mass. turns to in-home care for children's mental health]( Thirty-seven hospitals in Massachusetts have started offering intensive home-based mental health care to the families of children stuck in emergency rooms. Counseling at home instead of admission to a psychiatric hospital doesn't work for everyone. But the state says the vast majority of youth who've used this option have not returned to the hospital in a mental health crisis. [Read more.]( [As ER waits stretch for days, Mass. turns to in-home care for children's mental health]( Thirty-seven hospitals in Massachusetts have started offering intensive home-based mental health care to the families of children stuck in emergency rooms. Counseling at home instead of admission to a psychiatric hospital doesn't work for everyone. But the state says the vast majority of youth who've used this option have not returned to the hospital in a mental health crisis. [Read more.]( [Harvard changes course, offers fellowship to rights activist]( Harvard University announced Thursday that it plans to offer a fellowship to a leading human rights activist after its initial denial sparked widespread criticism. [Read more.]( [Harvard changes course, offers fellowship to rights activist]( Harvard University announced Thursday that it plans to offer a fellowship to a leading human rights activist after its initial denial sparked widespread criticism. [Read more.]( [More Mass. residents ask for help with rising fuel costs this winter]( The number of new applicants for heating assistance is up by 76% so far this year compared to this time last year in Massachusetts. [Read more.]( [More Mass. residents ask for help with rising fuel costs this winter]( The number of new applicants for heating assistance is up by 76% so far this year compared to this time last year in Massachusetts. [Read more.]( [Early jockeying for Senate seats foreshadows competitive 2024 elections]( Lawmakers are already setting their sights on 34 Senate seats that will open up in 2024, indicating a busy election season. [Read more.]( [Early jockeying for Senate seats foreshadows competitive 2024 elections]( Lawmakers are already setting their sights on 34 Senate seats that will open up in 2024, indicating a busy election season. [Read more.]( [Is it time for a reality check on rapid COVID tests?]( At-home rapid tests have become a staple of COVID-19 precautions, but some experts worry that people are relying too much on these tests and that's creating a false sense of security. [Read more.]( [Is it time for a reality check on rapid COVID tests?]( At-home rapid tests have become a staple of COVID-19 precautions, but some experts worry that people are relying too much on these tests and that's creating a false sense of security. [Read more.]( Anything Else? - Bob Odenkirk is coming to Boston (or Cambridge, at least)! The award-winning “Breaking Bad" and “Better Call Saul" actor has [been named Hasty Pudding's 2023 Man of the Year]( and the Harvard theatrical group says it's "cooking up a lot of surprises to celebrate." - This Sunday is Lunar New Year. Ahead of the holiday, NPR's All Things Considered [spoke with chefs around the U.S. about the recipes they're making celebrate]( — from dumplings, to soup, to dessert. - It's ["Snacktime" on the Endless Thread podcast]( — in which the hosts share two Very Internet stories with each other. One reveals the truth behind a 10-year-old viral Reddit post, while another looks at how a Trivial Pursuit question launched a mystery of its own. - The latest victim of climate change: small snow plow businesses. NHPR [reports on the struggling plow owners who have made their livelihood charging neighbors per visit]( to take care of their driveways when it snows. But as one driver notes: "You can’t plow a puddle."  What We're Reading 📚 - The gas stove culture war, explained ([The Boston Globe]( - The lights have been on at a Massachusetts school for over a year because no one can turn them off ([NBC News]( - Jane Swift and Me, 20 Years Later ([Boston Magazine](  Tell Me Something Good [Mass. 12-year-old reels in 400-pound great white shark off Florida (Boston.com)]( Campbell Keenan was expecting to catch a tuna — or maybe a grouper — during his Florida fishing trip.Instead, the Southampton native spent an hour reeling in and de-hooking an 11-foot-long great white. [Read more.]( [Mass. 12-year-old reels in 400-pound great white shark off Florida (Boston.com)]( Campbell Keenan was expecting to catch a tuna — or maybe a grouper — during his Florida fishing trip.Instead, the Southampton native spent an hour reeling in and de-hooking an 11-foot-long great white. [Read more.]( Listen: The Common talked to Eater Boston editor Erika Adams about [the city's most anticipated restaurant openings of 2023](. Before you go: All hail [the Methuen Community Studios ninja](. 😎 Forward to a friend. They can sign up [here](. 📣 Give us your feedback: newsletters@wbur.org 📧 Get more WBUR stories sent to your inbox. [Check out all of our newsletter offerings.]( Support the news   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 © 2022 WBUR-FM, All rights reserved.