Massachusetts Most Liberal State, According to Recent Poll

A recent Gallup poll says that Massachusetts is the most liberal.

In a recent poll released by Gallup, Massachusetts ranked as the most liberal state with 31 percent of the population identifying themselves as liberal. The state trailed only the District of Columbia, which ranked at 41 percent. Following Massachusetts were Oregon and Vermont, each at 29 percent. The most conservative, you ask? That would be Alabama, North Dakota and Wyoming. Massachusetts ranked fifth in the percentage of moderates, according to the poll, trailing Alaska, Rhode Island, Ohio and Maryland.

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Gov. Patrick Names William “Mo” Cowan Interim Senator

Markey is in, Lynch is set to make an announcement and Brown is reportedly considering throwing his hat into the race for John Kerry's seat.

With Tuesday's official nomination of U.S. Sen. John Kerry to the post of Secretary of State, the field is opening up with folks vying for Kerry's seat in his unexpired term in the U.S. Senate. But before that even happens an interim senator has to be named. On Wednesday, Gov. Deval Patrick announced his former chief of staff William “Mo” Cowan will be the interim senator and will serve until a new senator is elected in the June 25 special election. Patch reported in December that Cowan, a Stoughton resident, would be stepping down this month and returning to the private sector. Besides being Patrick’s former chief of staff, Cowan also served as chief legal counsel to Governor Patrick, having served in the Patrick-Murray administration …

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Barney Frank Reportedly Told Governor He Wants To Be Interim Senator

Frank reportedly wants to stay to be part of the fiscal cliff debate.

One day after leaving the U.S. Congress, former Democratic Congressman Barney Frank said he asked Gov. Deval Patrick to appoint him as the interim senator to fill John Kerry's seat, according to the Boston Herald. Frank made the remarks during an appearance on MSNBC on Jan. 4. If appointed, Frank would fill the seat Kerry will likely vacate if he is confirmed as the next Secretary of State. Frank said he wanted to stay in politics for now because he wanted to be part of the fiscal cliff debate, according to the Herald. Tweets from Boston Globe political reporter Glen Johnson confirmed the news.  "But [the fiscal cliff deal] now means that February, March and April are going to be among the most important months in American financial …

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State House Employees Get 3 Percent Raise

Although the state is expected to fall short of projected revenue, the raises are justified since staff hasn't had a raise in four years, some say.

Despite recent news that the state is projected to take in less than expected in tax revenues, State House leaders last week announced 3 percent salary raises for staff of representatives and some senators, the Globe reported.  But the increases are justified since the lawmakers' staff haven't had a raise since 2008, says Seth Gitell, a spokesman for House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo.  "It’s been more than four years since the last cost-of-living adjustment,” Gitell said Monday, according to the Globe. “Previously, employees received cost-of-living increases every one or, in many cases, every one or two years. There hasn't been one in a long time.” Last week DeLeo gave raises to all 460 people who work in the House, and Senate President …

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Moore Beats Simonian for Senate Seat

The incumbent is "excited to get started in January."

Incumbent Michael Moore has retained his seat in the state senate, trumping Republican challenger Steve Simonian in the Second Worcester District. Simonian recently conceded to Moore, according to campaign manager Keith Mitchell. Sen. Moore, D-Millbury, was elected in Nov. of 2008 and represents the towns of Auburn, Grafton, Leicester, Millbury, Wards 2 and 4 in Northbridge, Shrewsbury, Upton and Wards 5-7 and Precincts 1 and 5 in Ward 8 in Worcester. “I’m honored by the overwhelming show of support I’ve received throughout this election," said Moore, celebrating at Calabria in Millbury, "but behind every campaign is a team of selfless volunteers, giving their heart and soul to our cause. We are joined together by a common belief in good …

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New Ping4alerts! App Sends Emergency Alerts to MA Residents

The first in the nation emergency alerting application is introduced.

Submitted by the Patrick-Murray administration Gov. Deval Patrick held his weekly cabinet meeting at the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) Headquarters in Framingham, where he joined Lt. Gov. Timothy Murray and members of his cabinet to tour the newly renovated State Emergency Operations Center and received a demonstration of Ping4alerts!, a new public alerting technology for smartphone users. “We are determined to be prepared to meet any emergency this Commonwealth may face,” said Patrick. "This facility will help." “This newly added and innovative technology will allow Public Safety entities throughout the Commonwealth to not only alert citizens of an impending problem, but also push out many forms of specific information …

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Man Breaks In To Sachs With An Axe, Runs From Police

Shrewsbury police are investigating a break-in at Sachs Jewelers that happened early Friday morning.

Shrewsbury police are investigating a break-in at Sachs Jewelers that happened early Friday morning. At 12:40 a.m., police responded to an alarm call at the business and discovered the break. The suspect possibly entered the store with an axe and then smashed the glass jewelry display inside, according to police. He then stole jewelry from the display case and fled the store. Police are still determining the value of the jewelry. Shrewsbury police searched the area for several hours but the suspect eluded police. The suspect is described as a six-foot white male, medium build, and wore dark colored clothing. Also, according to the report, police received information the suspect fled the scene on a motorcycle described as a “dirt bike” …

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Daily Patchcast

VIDEO: Drug Deal Gone Bad, Neighborhood Dog Fight and the Shrewsbury Road Race

Here are some highlights from the region's Patches.

Follow the links below for more on today's featured PatchCast stories. Shrewsbury Road Race Northborough Residents Complain About "Vicious" Dogs New Shop Opens in Westborough  Natick Farmer's Market's Got Wine Now Drug Deal Gone Awry in Marlborough

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