Hello Valley Patriot Readers, Recently in the State Senate, I called for greater transparency around Massachusetts’ unemployment insurance (UI) trust fund. The state UI trust fund collects assessments from businesses and uses those funds to provide benefits to workers who lose their jobs through no fault of their own. The fund nearly ran out of […]
Administration Has Not Issued Financial Report on the Fund Since June BOSTON – State Senator Diana DiZoglio (D-Methuen) is calling on the Baker Administration to provide greater transparency around the Commonwealth’s unemployment insurance trust fund. In a letter dated December 3rd, DiZoglio and fellow legislators called on the Baker Administration to produce a financial report on […]
(BOSTON) – At the start of the Massachusetts State Senate’s debate over a $3.6 billion American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) spending bill, State Senator Diana DiZoglio (D-Methuen) called on lawmakers to finally get a plan in place around a reopening of the State House to the public. The Massachusetts State House closed to the public in […]
Oct. 2021 Hello Valley Patriot Readers, The state Division of Professional Licensure (DPL) licenses and regulates more than 580,000 individuals, businesses, and schools to engage in over 150 trades and professions in Massachusetts, from plumbers and electricians to psychologists and optometrists. Its mission is supposed to be to protect the public through the establishment of […]
Hello Valley Patriot Readers, This past February, the consulting firm McKinsey & Co. settled a lawsuit brought by Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey and 46 other state Attorneys General after admitting to their role in helping pharmaceutical companies, including Purdue Pharma, bolster the sale of opioids like Oxycontin to increase profits. The settlement, which saw […]
Aug, 2021 Hello Valley Patriot Readers, As a member of the Legislature’s Elder Affairs Committee, one of my top focuses this session is assessing bills filed that impact our older adults. Among these pieces of legislation is an important bill I have co-sponsored, Senate Bill 1823, An Act relative to property tax deferral for estates. […]
Hello Valley Patriot Readers, Massachusetts people have too often been left in the dark due to the secretive and inaccessible culture of centralized power on Beacon Hill. Recently, I announced my candidacy for Massachusetts State Auditor to bring greater transparency and accountability to our government. As State Auditor, I will begin by auditing the Administration’s […]
“The Governor “forgot” who he hired (Walsh) and a head had to roll, so he sent the Lawrence kid packing. Our purple Heart veteran Francisco Urena should certainly receive a public apology.” ~ State Senator Diana DiZoglio By: Tom Duggan – June 1, 2021 Massachusetts State Senator Diana DiZoglio (D-Methuen) is calling for a full […]
Hello Valley Patriot Readers, In late March, we were all devastated to learn of the tragedy involving David Almond, the 14-year-old autistic boy who died last October after being found living in abhorrent conditions. Fall River police went to the Almond house after receiving a report of an unresponsive person. There, officers found David, bruised, […]
Hello Valley Patriot Readers, We have been under an indefinite state of emergency, declared by the Governor, for one year now – a challenging period in which we have witnessed countless small businesses close their doors for good and all too many individuals scramble and struggle to obtain a vaccine appointment. More now than ever, […]
Feb. 2021 Hello Valley Patriot Readers, Beyond the physical and financial anxiety that countless of us have felt since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, many have also experienced feelings of loneliness and isolation. While many of us have gone through life without the internet and mobile devices in the past, we haven’t gone through […]
Hello Valley Patriot Readers, 2020 was a challenging year to say the least, with our communities facing hardships that COVID-19 brought to our economy, families, health care system and many other facets of our lives. At the same time, it was amazing to see the people of the Merrimack Valley come together during an unprecedented […]
Hello Valley Patriot Readers, The Legislature recently passed a budget for Fiscal Year 2021. The package includes important investments in sectors impacted by COVID-19, including public health, education and childcare, food security and housing supports. Locally, the budget includes $200,000 toward the establishment of a first-ever Methuen Youth and Community Center, bringing us one step […]
Help The Valley Patriot Stay in Business Your Donation of ANY Amount helps Hello Valley Patriot Readers, In Massachusetts, we have seen many of our local restaurants adversely impacted by COVID-19, with mom and pop establishments fearful that lost revenue from reduced capacity requirements and lingering hesitation by the public to dine out will prevent […]
By: Senator Diana DiZoglio – July 2020 Hello Valley Patriot Readers, Now more than ever, it is important that we explore new ways to make our health care system more affordable and accessible for Massachusetts residents. In that spirit, the Massachusetts Senate recently passed the Patients First Act, comprehensive health care legislation to increase access […]