Morning News Digest: Monday, November 10, 2008

With the PolitickerMA.com Wake-Up Call e-mailed to your inbox, phone, Blackberry or PDA first thing in the morning, you can get a rundown of Massachusetts's top political headlines. Sign up to get the Wake-Up Call delivered every morning.

Wilkerson reportedly ID's FBI source

Only slivers of him are visible in grainy FBI surveillance photographs: the crisp white cuff of a dress shirt, a close-up of a palm, hands pressing neat folds of cash toward state Senator Dianne Wilkerson. (The Boston Globe)

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2008/11/10/wilkerson_reportedly_ids_fbi_source/

A House divided

The jockeying to succeed House Speaker Salvatore F. DiMasi is well documented, but that’s not the only power struggle on Beacon Hill. A movement is under way to oust Rep. Bradley H. Jones (R-N. Reading) as Republican Minority Leader and replace him with Rep. Jeff Perry (R-Harwich). (Dave Wedge, Boston Herald)

http://www.bostonherald.com/news/politics/view/2008_11_09_A_House_divided/

If Kerry gets nod, it's back to polls

State voters could be heading back to the polls in the coming weeks if, as speculated, U.S. Sen. John Kerry, is named President-elect Barack Obama's secretary of state. (Jake Berry, Cape Cod Times)

http://www.capecodonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081110/NEWS/811100306

Former UMass professor reportedly being eyed for Obama administration post

AMHERST - An Amherst woman who describes herself as a moderate Republican is a dark-horse candidate to become President-elect Barack Obama's new Treasury secretary, according to several news sources. (Diane Lederman, The Republican)

http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2008/11/former_umass_professor_sheila.html

Patrick OKs $350M in cuts

Gov. Deval Patrick signed an emergency budget yesterday, slashing $350 million, but he vetoed a $2.5 million cut to a pet project targeted by Republicans. (Hillary Chabot, Boston Herald)

http://www.bostonherald.com/news/politics/view/2008_11_08_Gov__Deval_Patrick_OKs__350M_in_cuts/

Ban reignites slots debate

It didn't take long for the state's gambling proponents to seize on the greyhound racing ban as a reason to put slot machines at the state's racetracks. (Steve DeCosta, The Standard Times)

http://www.capecodonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081110/NEWS/811100309

AG to argue before Supreme Court

In her first appearance before the United States Supreme Court, Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley will argue today that prosecutors should not be required to bring forensic scientists to court to defend their work in drug cases. (John C. Drake, Boston Globe)

http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2008/11/10/ag_to_argue_before_supreme_court/

Greyhound vote incites bitterness
xtraFacts=xtraFacts+"%3Cdiv%20id%3D%22factBox%22%3E%0D%0A%09%3Ch2%20class%3D%22bdyTitle%22%3EWagering%20at%20Raynham%3C%2Fh2%3E%0D%0A%09%3Cp%20class%3D%22articleGraf%22%3EHere%27s%20a%20look%20at%20the%20amount%20of%20money%20wagered%20at%20Raynham%20Greyhound%20Park%20in%20the%20last%20two%20years%2C%20both%20on%20live%20greyhound%20races%20and%20simulcasts%20from%20other%20greyhound%2C%20horse%20and%20trotter%20around%20the%20country%3A%3C%2Fp%3E%3Cp%20class%3D%22articleGraf%22%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%3Cp%20class%3D%22articleGraf%22%3E%092006%092007%3C%2Fp%3E%3Cp%20class%3D%22articleGraf%22%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%3Cp%20class%3D%22articleGraf%22%3ELive%20handle%09%2426%2C890%2C424%09%2424%2C943%2C232%3C%2Fp%3E%3Cp%20class%3D%22articleGraf%22%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%3Cp%20class%3D%22articleGraf%22%3ESimulcast%20handle%09%2493%2C722%2C033%09%24104%2C036%2C069%3C%2Fp%3E%3Cp%20class%3D%22articleGraf%22%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%3Cp%20class%3D%22articleGraf%22%3ETotal%09%24120%2C613%2C457%09%24135%2C364%2C417%3C%2Fp%3E%3Cp%20class%3D%22articleGraf%22%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%3Cp%20class%3D%22articleGraf%22%3E%09Source%3A%20State%20Racing%20Commission%3C%2Fp%3E%0D%0A%3C%2Fdiv%3E";

It's a gray, dismal day outside Raynham Park, matching the mood inside the grandstand of the greyhound racetrack. "It's been very somber here," said Gary Temple, general manager of the track that's been in operation for almost 80 years. (Steve DeCosta, The Standard-Times)

http://www.capecodonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081110/NEWS/811100308

Frank zings Bill O'Reilly

U.S. Rep. Barney Frank (D-Newton) celebrated the 2008 election last week in a most unusual way - by answering trivia questions about his “BFF,” Fox News talk show host Bill O’Reilly. (Laura Crimaldi, Boston Herald)

http://www.bostonherald.com/news/politics/view/2008_11_09_Barney_Frank_zings_Bill_O_Reilly__GOP_foes/

Faculty at Massachusetts colleges decry salary levels

For years, faculty at the state's colleges and the University of Massachusetts have argued for raises they say they need to keep up with their peers. (The Republican)

http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2008/11/faculty_at_massachusetts_colle.html?category=Education

Dozens protest gay marriage ban

About 75 people huddled at Jill Brown-Rhone Park in Central Square to voice their solidarity with advocates of gay marriage in California, where voters last week approved a state constitutional amendment to define marriage as only between a man and a woman. (John M. Guilfoil, Boston Globe)

http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2008/11/10/dozens_protest_gay_marriage_ban/

With the PolitickerMA.com Wake-Up Call e-mailed to your inbox, phone, Blackberry or PDA first thing in the morning, you can get a rundown of Massachusetts's top political headlines. Sign up to get the Wake-Up Call delivered every morning.