Why are utility costs rising for Massachusetts energy consumers even as gas usage declines? Enter the state’s Gas System Enhancement Plan (GSEP).

#OPINION Massachusetts is the only New England state that has not banned the toxic chemicals known as PFAS. Unless the Legislature acts, residents will be exposed to the health risks of PFAS and will be forced to shoulder the cost of cleaning them up. buff.ly/HMGYXfJ

As heat waves grow longer and more frequent, many renters are left exposed to conditions that public health researchers increasingly describe as life-threatening. Local groups are racing to make cooling infrastructure more accessible. buff.ly/jTBliSF

As housing affordability remains the single biggest financial pressure point for Massachusetts residents, a new survey of homeowners highlights a clash between how people feel about homeownership and what it ultimately means for their finances. buff.ly/Nk57Lyg

About 70 percent of Boston’s greenhouse gas emissions come from buildings, according to city data, and hospitals are among the city’s largest sources. As Boston works to meet its 2050 net-zero goal, hospitals struggle to curb emissions while meeting energy demands.

MASSterList and the State House News Service, in partnership with Axios Boston and CommonWealth Beacon, invite you to Meet the Media on Thursday, July 16. A roundtable discussion will feature CommonWealth Beacon editor Laura Colarusso. Purchase tickets: buff.ly/d3A9B3J

What’s the Massachusetts angle on last session’s US Supreme Court rulings? Jennifer Smith breaks down the Bay State impact in the federally decided cases: buff.ly/CGjdlQT

Vineyard Wind I, the country’s first commercial-scale offshore wind project located off the coast of Martha’s Vineyard, is finally up and running after years of starts and stops — just not at full capacity. Hallie Claflin has more: buff.ly/qvJBnSQ

The House announced plans for a controversial bill that would subject lawmakers to public records requirements while also curbing the state auditor’s power to probe the Legislature, earning surprising support from a trio of government transparency groups. buff.ly/7wCTuif

A new study finds that Massachusetts has the fewest child care deserts of any state, a remarkable turnaround since the Commonwealth was ranked 34th in 2018. But as one of the most expensive states in the country for child care, accessibility remains a barrier. buff.ly/EyYymWn

As lawmakers in Massachusetts search for solutions to lower highest-in-the-nation child care prices, New Mexico is at the forefront of a massive policy experiment: making child care essentially cost-free to all families.

As heat waves grow longer and more frequent, many renters are left exposed to conditions that public health researchers increasingly describe as life-threatening.

Half of a record number of potential ballot measures landed in front of the Massachusetts high court this year, and three of them hit the wall. How did the buzziest ballot measures of the cycle get tripped up in court? Jennifer Smith explains.

A federal lawsuit filed Monday alleges that a Massachusetts law allowing students without legal status to pay in-state tuition rates amounts to “blatant unequal treatment” compared to American citizens in other states. buff.ly/19X9Uwm

As the nation’s first cabinet-level state climate chief, Melissa Hoffer sits at the heart of a “whole-of-government approach” to fighting climate change in Massachusetts. But in an era of Trump and energy affordability, does she still get a say? buff.ly/Ox0BRzw

As measles cases rise across the country, Mass. legislators face a decision on a key vaccine bill that would eliminate a parent’s ability to claim a “religious exemption” from school vaccine requirements. buff.ly/8V6vpCF

On this month’s edition of Health or Consequences, hosts John McDonough and Paul Hattis ask Point32Health CEO Patrick Gilligan to take a deep dive into the current state of health insurance.

At a time when energy affordability is a top household concern and Bay Staters are confronting power prices at double the national average, Senate Democrats plan to advance a new energy bill next week. buff.ly/42fpluN

The state's new housing secretary, Juana Matias, joined The Codcast this week to discuss Massachusetts's need for 222,000 new housing units by 2035. With nine years to go, and a federal government stepping back from several long-time partnerships, can the state reach its goal?

#OPINION Seeing the same familiar strangers every day can contribute to a sense of belonging in an increasingly individualistic world. By that logic, your morning bus commute is ripe for human connection, writes Chuck Tanowitz. buff.ly/ZVi6nae

Three ballot measures are dead because they violated Article 48 — the part of the state Constitution that governs the ballot process. A bad summary, a forbidden subject, and an attempt to direct the Legislature kept them from voters. Jennifer Smith breaks it down: buff.ly/iINE9KM

The move drew criticism from local officials and state transit advocates. “The point of fare-free rides is that you can just get a ride,” said Shanique Rodriguez, a Springfield resident and executive director of the Massachusetts Voter Table.

#BREAKING Weeks of tense negotiations over a potential compromise on rent control are now essentially dead, after the state’s high court kept a strict statewide rent control cap from the November ballot. buff.ly/2Y24Yox

Massachusetts has for years hosted the least competitive state elections in the country. This cycle, roughly three in five House and Senate races feature a single candidate on the ballot.

Efforts to address Massachusetts’s crippling housing crunch have come in fits and starts. Juana Matias, the state’s new housing secretary, joins The Codcast to reflect on MBTA Communities, accessory dwelling units, and what other policies can chip away at the crisis.

Amid the growing divide separating haves and have-nots, Harvard economist Raj Chetty says "social capital" is the most significant factor driving — or inhibiting — economic mobility.

#BREAKING A proposal to lower income taxes by one-fifth will not appear on voter ballots this fall, after the SJC ruled the proposal is ineligible to advance because of an error in the attorney general’s summary.

#OPINION In a country where housing is scarce and land is scarcer, we cannot be confined only to what we can build on the ground. By making use of air rights and building up instead of out, Boston might find a solution to both. buff.ly/7a904gv

Tuesday featured a flurry of proposals aiming to avoid a messy ballot fight over a controversial one-size-fits all rent control mandate. With Gov. Maura Healey wading into the debate, the Legislature is still a wild card.

Health experts agree that primary care in Massachusetts is in crisis. A new bill would more than double investments in primary care – at the expense of other sectors like specialty care. Lawmakers expect a political fight with hospital systems. buff.ly/35iOQBO