PODCAST State Senate Debate with Senator Kathleen O’Connor Ives & Jessica Finocchiaro – Paying Attention Radio Program with Tom Duggan (8-16-14)

PODCAST State Senate Debate with Senator Kathleen O’Connor Ives & Jessica Finocchiaro – Paying Attention Radio Program with Tom Duggan (8-16-14)

Paying Attention is hosted by Tom Duggan, Co-host Paul Murano and is produced by Chris Poublon. Paying Attention and airs on 980WCAP in Lowell on Saturday’s from 10am to noon. 1st Essex Senate Debate CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD DEBATE  SEGMENT 1 Senator Katheen O’Connor Ives and Jessica Finocchiaro begin their debate talking about what it means to […]

State Senator Ives Advocates for Key Priorities in State Budget

State Senator Ives Advocates for Key Priorities in State Budget

The Massachusetts State Senate debated the Fiscal Year 2015 state budget last month where I advocated for key provisions that will be beneficial to the constituents of my district. Below are some of the notable district specific priorities that were included in the final budget: • $300,000 for the Methuen Stadium This funding is vital […]

The PAWS ACT Presented By State Senator Bruce Tarr

The PAWS ACT Presented By State Senator Bruce Tarr

By: Tracey Zysk – May, 2014 The Valley Patriot is once again praising Senator Bruce Tarr for his endless efforts to keep our pets safe in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. On April 24, 2014 Senator Tarr presented his Animal Protection Bill to the Joint Committee on the Judiciary. The room was filled with several legislators, […]

Senator Kathleen O’Connor Ives Invites Senate Committee on Drug Addiction Treatment to Methuen for Hearing

Senator Kathleen O’Connor Ives Invites Senate Committee  on Drug Addiction Treatment to Methuen for Hearing

By Senator Kathleen O’Connor Ives The Massachusetts State Senate has formed a special committee to study drug addiction and treatment options in Massachusetts and aims to address an epidemic of opiate addiction in the state. In response to rising levels of drug addiction, the committee plans to review current treatment options and will make recommendations […]

Local Resident Provides Hope For Homeless Children

Local Resident Provides Hope For Homeless Children

By: Cheryl Hajjar – April 26, 2014  As some of you know my company, Indigo Magic was a recent Merrimack Valley Sandbox Winter Accelerator winner in February. Here ,17 finalists gathered for 3 months in a grant program that helped us all accelerate our businesses. At the first class, I sat down next to Mickey […]

Protecting Kids – In Your Corner with Katy Ives

Protecting Kids  – In Your Corner with Katy Ives

By: Senator Kathleen O’Connor Ives April, 2014 April is Child Abuse Prevention Month. I’m glad to report two recent developments that will strengthen safety for our children in the Commonwealth. There have been significant discrepencies in child services this past year; one being the serious challenges at the Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) […]

We must Remove the Most Vulnerable Children in Danger

We must Remove the Most Vulnerable Children in Danger

By: Joe D’Amore – April, 2014 There are heroes who work with foster families and children in Massachusetts and are on the front line of caring for children at risk and I met one of them recently. She related her daily experiences of witnessing deplorable conditions in most foster homes where the standard of protection […]

Unfair taxation looming in Massachusetts again

By Selectman Joe D’Amore – March, 2014 On February 25th the State’s wire services released a report that a committee known as the Tax Fairness Commission appointed by the Massachusetts legislature is expected to make recommendation for a graduated taxed to levy an increasing burden on high wage earners and supposedly a lesser burden on […]

Joint Committee Supports Reforming State Public Records Law, Add Penalties for Officials Who Refuse to Release Public Records

March 16, 2014 The days of public officials refusing to comply with the state’s public records law are almost over. So says State Senator Kathleen O’Connor Ives (D), Newburyport who told the Valley Patriot on Wednesday that a Massachusetts joint House and Senate Committee on Public Administration has given a favorable recommendation to House Bill H2846, an […]

IN YOUR CORNER with KATY IVES – A Response to Court Rulings on Sentencing Juveniles Convicted of 1st Degree Murder

IN YOUR CORNER with KATY IVES – A Response to Court Rulings on Sentencing Juveniles Convicted of 1st Degree Murder

By: Senator Kathleen O’Connor Ives – February, 2014 Senators Barry Finegold, (D-Andover), Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester), Richard Moore (D-Uxbridge), Eileen Donoghue (D-Lowell), James Timilty (D-Walpole), Joan Lovely (D-Salem), Richard Ross (R-Wrentham), and Don Humason (R-Westfield), recently filed legislation to require juveniles convicted of first-degree murder to serve a minimum of 35 years before becoming eligible for […]

Highlights from 2013: A Year in the Massachusetts State Senate – IN YOUR CORNER WITH KATY IVES

By: Senator Kathleen O’Connor Ives – January, 204 A year ago I was sworn in as the State Senator of the First Essex District, representing the communities of Amesbury, Haverhill, Merrimac, Methuen, Newburyport, North Andover and Salisbury. It has been a very busy and productive year, during which I have advocated for initiatives that have […]

January 2014 Valley Patriot Edition #123 – A NEW DAY IN LAWRENCE, Maloney to be Fired

January 2014 Valley Patriot Edition #123 – A NEW DAY IN LAWRENCE, Maloney to be Fired

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE JANUARY 2014 VALLEY PATRIOT!

The challenge of Growing Wages, Jobs and our Small Business Economy – IN YOUR CORNER with Senator Ives

The challenge of Growing Wages, Jobs and our Small Business Economy –  IN YOUR CORNER with Senator Ives

By: Senator Kathleen O’Connor Ives – December, 2013 At the end of this year’s legislative session, the Senate took up a bill to increase Massachusetts’ minimum wage rate from the current $8.00/hr. to $9.00 in 2014, with automatic increases to $10 in 2015 and $11 in 2016. These increases would also be tied to the […]

UPDATED: Senator Tarr on Puppy Doe Case – Inspires ‘PAWS Act’ – Legilsation Will Create Animal Abuser Registry

UPDATED: Senator Tarr on Puppy Doe Case – Inspires ‘PAWS Act’ – Legilsation Will Create Animal Abuser Registry

Senate Republicans Fight for Animal Cruelty Law October, 2013 | Updated 10-28-013 Massachusetts State Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester) released the following statement today, following the arrest of 32-year-old Radoslaw Czerkawski on multiple charges of animal cruelty in connection with the infamous “Puppy Doe” case:  “The prosecutors and the police in this case deserve […]