4 big Beacon Hill budget items to watch

Also: History denied for the Celtics; the best photos from Boston Calling [Donate ❤️]( [View in Browser](  May 30, 2023 🌤️ Sunny but hazy, with a high near 71. Good Morning Boston, President Joe Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy [reached a debt ceiling deal over the weekend]( but negotiations are just about to get underway back here on Beacon Hill. While you were busy planning your Memorial Day weekend, the state Senate passed its $56 billion budget proposal late last week. However, the proposal includes some notable policy disagreements with the [House's spending plan]( beyond the line items and earmarks. Now, as the two sides work out the differences in closed-door meetings over the next month, here are the four big issues to watch: - Free community college: The House adopted Gov. Maura Healey's proposal to [offer tuition-free community college]( to residents 25 and older who haven't yet gotten a college degree. But the Senate's plan goes even bigger, [proposing to cover costs for community college nursing students]( too. - In-state tuition: The Senate budget would also [extend in-state tuition at the state's public colleges to undocumented immigrants]( (as long as they went to a Massachusetts high school or have a GED, along with [some other requirements](. Healey has been a vocal supporter of the idea, but the House hasn't gotten on board. - Online lottery: The House [wants to let the Massachusetts Lottery take its products online]( in order to compete with mobile sports betting. So does Healey. But the Senate [rejected an attempt to add the proposal to its budget]( last week. - Free school meals: The House budget would extend the state's pandemic-era [universal free school meal program]( through the next academic year, following suit with Healey's [initial proposal](. But it wasn't in the plan passed last week by the Senate. (Senate leaders reportedly want to tackle the issue in a different bill.) - What's next: Lawmakers technically have until July 1 (the beginning of the next fiscal year) to pass the annual budget — but don't necessarily expect action by then. It's become commonplace in recent years for a deal to not get done until [weeks]( even [months]( after that deadline. - History denied: After becoming just the fourth team in NBA history to force a Game 7 after falling behind 3-0 in a playoff series, the Celtics ultimately fell short, [losing 103-84 to the Miami Heat last night](. It was a deflating end to a day — and a season — that began with [lots of fanfare and optimism]( about a possible return to the NBA Finals. - Listen: From injuries to a weak defense, WBUR's Simón Rios [breaks down what went wrong for the Celtics]( last night. - What's next: The Celtics [now enter an offseason of questions]( including whether to offer a big contract extension to star Jaylen Brown, who led the team in scoring but also turnovers last night. - A different kind of history: With the Celtics and Bruins playoff exits, Boston [became first city to lose a home Game 7 to an eight-seed]( in both hockey and basketball in the same season. - To the polls: There's a special election today in parts of Boston (and a little of Brookline), though it's missing the thrill. Democrats in both races are running uncontested. - In the [9th Suffolk House district]( John Moran is slated to replace former state Rep. Jon Santiago. - In the [10th Suffolk House district:]( Bill MacGregor is expected to win the seat formerly held by former state Rep. Ed Coppinger. - Speaking of Boston elections: A federal judge is expected to review Boston's new City Council district map today, after Mayor Michelle Wu [signed off on the redrawn boundaries late Friday](. - Out of service: Deer Island remains closed to the public today, after an out-of-service wind turbine started [spinning uncontrollably yesterday](. Crews were able to stop it, but the area is still off limits out of an "[abundance of caution]( - What happened: Officials [say]( yesterday's strong winds broke a braking mechanism in the turbine. - Back in service: The ferry to and from Winthrop resumes for the summer today — and there's a new stop at Logan Airport. Proponents of the new route say it will help hundreds of Winthrop residents commute to jobs at Logan without clogging neighborhood roads. - Get familiar: The ferry also makes stops in Quincy, the Seaport and Boston's downtown waterfront. Check out the schedule [here](. P.S.— Love food? Hate food waste? Then [come to CitySpace tonight](. Margaret and Irene Li, the chef-sisters behind Mei Mei Dumplings, will join us to talk about their "totally achievable" zero-waste approach to home cooking. [General admission tickets are $15]( — but they include some gazpacho and citrus cake after the conversation. Nik DeCosta-Klipa Editor, Newsletters [Follow](  Support the news  The Rundown [Proposed task force would address Mass. domestic violence records law found to shield abusers]( A WBUR investigation revealed that by keeping records secret, a statute designed to protect victims instead protects alleged abusers. 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[Check out some of the best moments]( WBUR photographers were able to capture at the three-day festival. - A new study from UMass Amherst suggests [beauty pageant news worsens body image]( among teens and young women. While the study period ended in 2010, researchers are now looking at how internet exposure affects adolescent mental health and self-image. - Dan Payne, a Massachusetts political consultant and regular presence on WBUR's Morning Edition, recently died at the age of 79 after a battle with cancer. Former Morning Edition host Bob Oakes returns to [remember Payne and his sage advice in this commentary](.  What We're Reading 📚 - What my autistic son’s cold cheeseburgers taught me about bureaucracy ([The Boston Globe]( - In Provincetown, Mass., a Matchmaker Helps the Desperate Find Housing ([The New York Times]( - In middle age, they realized they were trans: ‘A lightbulb went off’ ([The Washington Post](  Sound On [Musician Noah Kahan reflects on 'Stick Season,' New England and his Boston Calling debut]( The singer-songwriter rose to fame thanks to a song about Vermont. On Saturday, the 26-year-old took the stage at Boston Calling. Ahead of his performance, he shared how New England became a muse for his music. [Read more.]( [Musician Noah Kahan reflects on 'Stick Season,' New England and his Boston Calling debut]( The singer-songwriter rose to fame thanks to a song about Vermont. On Saturday, the 26-year-old took the stage at Boston Calling. Ahead of his performance, he shared how New England became a muse for his music. [Read more.]( Listen: The Common walks us through [what new findings mean for the plan to release radioactive wastewater in Cape Cod Bay](. Play: [WBUR's daily mini crossword.]( Can you keep your streak going? Before you go: [At least we'll always have Charles Barkley attempting a Boston accent.]( 😎 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 © 2023 WBUR-FM, All rights reserved.