Two commissioners from Massachusetts' quasi judicial labor relations board have accused Governor Deval Patrick's chief labor aide of interfering with the agency on cases involving two unions that endorsed Patrick. The allegation from the commissioners - Paul T. O'Neill and Hugh L. Reilly - is that Suzanne M. Bump made an "inappropriate" call regarding the case, which involved the Boston Teachers Union, according to the Boston Globe. During her call, she pressured the commission to approve a pending petition by Service Employees International Union, Local 1199. Bump has acknowledged the discussions, but denied that she made any attempts to influence the commission.
LOCAL Four schools given the chance to improve their performance Yesterday, the state Board of Education approved plans by four schools, including those in the Boston area, as part of an experiment to give failing schools more latitude to devise their own strategies to improve, according to The Boston Globe. Because of constant poor performance on statewide tests, English High and three other schools in in the area have seen state intervention. The state, however, having little success with the remedial plans it has imposed on failing schools, has decided to give the schools more autonomy by turning them into pilot schools. They will be to able lengthen school days, pick their staffs, and decide how they spend their budgets, overseen by the school system.
ON CAMPUS Yearly Boston Beanpot Cycling Classic to be held this weekend The seventh annual Boston Beanpot Cycling Classic will be held on March 31 and April 1, and is expected to host over 500 collegiate student-athletes from 60 colleges and universities from Delaware to Maine. During the two-day and three-race event, the athletes will compete in a team time trial and road race through Westborough and Grafton on Saturday. On Sunday they will then make their way to the Tufts University campus in Somerville for the classic six-corner 6/10-of-a-mile race course, which will be completed up to 45 times per category.
UNDER REPORTING Jews asked to 'just pass on grass 'for upcoming Passover holiday According to a pro-cannabis advocacy group, marijuana is not kosher for Passover, advising Jews who observe the holiday to take a break from smoking pot. The Green Leaf Party said on Wednesday that products of the cannabis plant have been grouped by rabbis within a family of foods that is considered to be off-limits to Jews of European descent during Passover. Other items in this family of foods include peas, beans, and lentils. "Logic dictates that if the rabbis say cannabis is non-kosher for Passover, it is apparently kosher during the rest of the year," said Michelle Levin, a spokeswoman for the party, told YNet news.
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