Dollars coming from Washington to support survivors of violent crimes have dried up in recent years, and state funds to prop up struggling service providers are held up in a spending bill awaiting legislative action.
Federal funding through the Cri…
Massachusetts
Expansion of Encore Boston Harbor suspended due to impasse over taxes, impact fees
The expansion of the Encore Boston Harbor casino in Everett, Massachusetts, has been suspended as the casino and city can’t come to terms over things like taxes and impact fees, Encore parent company Wynn Resorts said this week.
Wynn had been seeking to build a new facility across Broadway from the $2.6 billion casino that opened in 2019 as the first phase of an expansion meant to contribute to the emergence of a new entertainment district in Everett. The initial expansion planned a dedicated poker room, a second sports betting parlor, a relocated nightclub, a theater, a comedy club, parking garage and more. It had been advancing as the city also works to clear the way for a professional soccer stadium in the same neighborhood.
“We remain optimistic about the project fulfilling the city’s and our shared goal of developing an exciting and vibrant destination district on Lower Broadway with restaurants, hotels, theaters, and other recreational uses. However, it has become apparent that we are unable to negotiate an agreement with the City of Everett regarding property taxes, impact fees, and infrastructure improvements in a timely fashion,” the company said in a statement that replaced the website for the project. “Until these issues are addressed with a financially viable resolution we have a responsibility to our shareholders, and cannot continue to incur project costs.”
The news was announced Tuesday during Wynn Resorts’ earnings call and was previously reported by the Boston Herald. On the call, CEO Craig Billings said that the suspension of the project was “disappointing” but added that Wynn has “numerous other development projects globally where we can redirect the capital we intended to deploy in Boston.”
Everett Mayor Carlo De Maria’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
During a meeting Thursday morning, Gaming Commission Executive Director Dean Serpa mentioned the reports of the project suspension and said the information available publicly is in line with the commission’s understanding of the project’s status.
“Obviously, we’re all prepared and ready to move forward as things develop further,” he said.
Encore’s expansion has been on the commission’s radar for years, and this is not the first time the project has been put on hold. In early 2022, Wynn “decided to pause the permitting process for this development so that they can do some reevaluation on whether the development as proposed is the best use for the site,” a Gaming Commission official said at the time.
The expansion was initially proposed without sports betting or poker components, but Wynn changed course and wanted to expand its gambling operation across the street once Massachusetts legalized sports betting later in 2022.
Mass. RMV once again reminds residents to get their REAL ID: ‘The countdown is on’
The clock is ticking for Massachusetts residents to get their Real ID-compliant driver’s license or identification card or passport if they want to board a plane next year.
Anyone flying in the U.S. or entering a federal building will need a REAL ID or a valid passport starting May 7, 2025, the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles said.
“The countdown is on for REAL ID federal enforcement,” said Registrar of Motor Vehicles Colleen Ogilvie. “And the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles, and its partner AAA Northeast, have successfully been issuing REAL ID credentials and are prepared for interested residents prior to the May 2025 deadline.”
Massachusetts is currently at a 54% REAL ID adoption, the RMV said, with about 3 million credentials being REAL-ID compliant.
“Customers are eligible to renew up to one year in advance of the expiration date printed on their license or ID, and up to two years after the expiration date,” said the RMV.
Before May 7, 2025, residents won’t need a federally compliant REAL ID to travel in the U.S. or to enter federal buildings.
For more information about the REAL ID, visit mass.gov.
Teen charged in shooting that caused driver to crash into a house in Worcester
A 16-year-old has been charged in a shooting that led an injured driver to crash into a house in Worcester, Massachusetts last month.
The teen, who was not identified due to his age, faces charges of armed assault to murder, possession of a loaded…
Home in Duxbury catches fire after lightning strike
A home in Duxbury, Massachusetts, caught fire after it was struck by lightning during Wednesday’s storm.
The fire occurred on Carriage Lane, the Duxbury Fire Department wrote on social media.
Firefighters battled the flames for about…
Cloudy skies and cool temperatures, with scattered showers in some areas
Our weather is trending a bit drier and brighter as our pattern has shifted rain chances a bit more south. This means cool temperatures and clouds are here to stay, but at least it’s not rainy all day!
Thursday began with some sun but clouds …
