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Laura Colarusso @LauraColarusso

Editor @NiemanReports. Formerly of WGBH News, The Boston Globe, Newsweek/The Daily Beast and lots of other publications.

Joined January 2010
  • Tweets 1,059
  • Following 152
  • Followers 643
297 Photos and videos
Laura Colarusso retweeted
Hallie Claflin@HallieClaflin
May 11
Stories like this (and incredible colleagues like Chris) make me proud to work for CommonWealth Beacon! Give this a read: “We’re the richest state in the nation. So why does the American dream seem to be slipping away, especially for the next generation?” commonwealthbeacon.org/middl…

It’s hard work making it in the middle class

If there’s a single unifying theme to the Massachusetts middle-class outlook in 2026, it’s contradiction: We have more than ever, and in many cases, that’s not enough to enjoy the stability of prior...

commonwealthbeacon.org
Chris Lisinski@ChrisLisinski
May 11
Thirty years ago, @CWBeacon launched by examining the middle class in Massachusetts as revealed by one neighborhood in Billerica. I've spent the past month back where we started, trying to figure out: what even *is* the middle class in 2026? #mapoli commonwealthbeacon.org/middl…
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Thank you for the kind words @cpuja. Your expansive reporting and commitment to this story made it easy.
Puja Changoiwala@cpuja
20 Nov 2025
Replying to @cpuja
My editors, especially @LauraColarusso: thank you for your vision, warmth, and guidance through the six months we spent on this story together. It would've been impossible without you. And of course, many, many thanks, @Laadli_PF & @UNFPAIndia. The story: niemanreports.org/the-lonely…
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Laura Colarusso retweeted
CommonWealth Beacon@CWBeacon
17 Nov 2025
NEW: House punts on sweeping energy bill that would dial back state climate commitments commonwealthbeacon.org/energ…

House punts on sweeping energy bill that would dial back state climate commitments

After intense blowback to a draft House bill to weaken the state’s 2030 clean energy target, the chamber’s budget chief says the topic is on hold until next year.

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Laura Colarusso retweeted
CommonWealth Beacon@CWBeacon
11 Nov 2025
📈 POPULAR NOW House moves forward with bill to weaken 2030 climate goals commonwealthbeacon.org/energ…

House moves forward with bill to weaken 2030 climate goals 

The plan reverberating around Beacon Hill, as first reported by CommonWealth Beacon last week, is sure to put lawmakers in a politically difficult position and test their willingness to defend the...

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Laura Colarusso retweeted
CommonWealth Beacon@CWBeacon
7 Nov 2025
ICYMI: Unions: Buyout talks could affect 2,000 state workers buff.ly/ndsjxXm
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Laura Colarusso retweeted
CommonWealth Beacon@CWBeacon
5 Nov 2025
NEW: Unions: Buyout talks could affect 2,000 state workers commonwealthbeacon.org/gover…

Unions: Buyout talks could affect 2,000 state workers

Labor leaders say the Healey administration approached them to begin conversations about a buyout program that could reduce the state workforce by roughly 2,000 positions, the latest attempt at...

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Laura Colarusso retweeted
CommonWealth Beacon@CWBeacon
1 Nov 2025
ICYMI: Looming federal food aid cuts put state Democrats in the hot seat buff.ly/oIjJ9wI
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Laura Colarusso retweeted
CommonWealth Beacon@CWBeacon
1 Nov 2025
ICYMI: Randolph lawmaker seeks to loosen Gateway City eligibility criteria buff.ly/Kg7nz5S
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Laura Colarusso retweeted
CommonWealth Beacon@CWBeacon
29 Oct 2025
TRANSPORTATION: Drawbridge, Green Line investments top narrower MBTA capital plan buff.ly/K8esCUU
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Laura Colarusso retweeted
CommonWealth Beacon@CWBeacon
29 Oct 2025
NEW: Drawbridge, Green Line investments top narrower MBTA capital plan commonwealthbeacon.org/trans…

Drawbridge, Green Line investments top narrower MBTA capital plan

Boxed in by prior commitments, inflation, and federal uncertainty, the MBTA is narrowing its approach to its five-year capital plan to focus on projects such as replacement of the North Station Draw...

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Laura Colarusso retweeted
CommonWealth Beacon@CWBeacon
26 Oct 2025
📈 POPULAR NOW When communities lose trust: One year after Steward Health’s bankruptcy and the death of two hospitals buff.ly/MXDX441
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Laura Colarusso retweeted
CommonWealth Beacon@CWBeacon
20 Oct 2025
New on the Codcast: The profit and price of October in Salem Listen now: commonwealthbeacon.org/the-c…

The profit and price of October in Salem

This week on The Codcast, CommonWealth Beacon reporter Hallie Claflin talks with Dominick Pangallo, Mayor of Salem. Every year in October, Salem experiences a massive tourism boom as more than a...

commonwealthbeacon.org
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Laura Colarusso retweeted
CommonWealth Beacon@CWBeacon
16 Oct 2025
NEW: Tibbits-Nutt out, Eng elevated in abrupt shakeup at MassDOT buff.ly/dEF4Pee
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Laura Colarusso retweeted
CommonWealth Beacon@CWBeacon
7 Oct 2025
EDUCATION: State school building program favors wealthier districts, leaving lower-income urban students in aging, dilapidated buildings, according to new study buff.ly/mJo10nL
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Laura Colarusso retweeted
CommonWealth Beacon@CWBeacon
3 Oct 2025
ENVIRONMENT: New FEMA flood maps prompt questions, concerns across Massachusetts buff.ly/9ZC1mVn
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Laura Colarusso retweeted
CommonWealth Beacon@CWBeacon
30 Sep 2025
NEW: ‘No margin for error’: State economic check-in spotlights tricky balancing act commonwealthbeacon.org/econo…

‘No margin for error’: State economic check-in spotlights tricky balancing act 

With the “One Big Beautiful Bill” and a state economic lag colliding, Massachusetts budget-writers weigh options to balance the outlook.

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Laura Colarusso retweeted
CommonWealth Beacon@CWBeacon
12 Sep 2025
New poll shows high satisfaction with health insurance in Mass., even as residents delay or skip care for cost reasons via @CWBeacon commonwealthbeacon.org/healt…
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Laura Colarusso retweeted
Joe Kriesberg@JKriesberg
10 Sep 2025
Healey holds her head above water in new poll  commonwealthbeacon.org/by-th… via @cwbeacon

Healey holds her head above water in new poll 

Asked how they thought Healey is doing as governor, 20 percent of residents said they strongly approve of her performance, 36 percent say they somewhat approve, 15 percent somewhat disapprove, 18...

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Laura Colarusso retweeted
CommonWealth Beacon@CWBeacon
2 Aug 2025
📈 POPULAR NOW Boston struggles to find takers for green roof grants commonwealthbeacon.org/energ…

Boston struggles to find takers for green roof grants

The Boston Water and Sewer Commission has had a hard time persuading residents to take them up on their offer to help subsidize green  roofs to reduce stormwater runoff. 

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Laura Colarusso retweeted
Joe Kriesberg@JKriesberg
16 Jul 2025
So excited to see Hallie Claflin's first of many articles in CommonWealth Beacon about our Gateway Cities! Hallie is our new Report for America corp member and will help us cover these critical cities across the state. commonwealthbeacon.org/envir… via @cwbeacon

‘The ultimate underdog’: Chelsea named 2025 All-America city for sustainability projects

The city of Chelsea was named a 2025 "All-America" city by the National Civic League. The low-income, majority Hispanic city has faced a disproportionate share of environmental hazards and was...

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