EV RETEVT V Vol. 35, No.3 20th E ER T -FREET www.advocatenews.net Your Local News & Sports Online! Scan & Subscribe! ADDOCCO TEAT Free Every Friday Annual MLK Scholarship Breakfast Honors Dr. King’s Legacy 617-387-2200 Friday, January 23, 2026 Mass. Senate passes bill to boost campaign fi nance transparency for statewide ballot questions Financial reporting bill provides openness amid onslaught of special interest funding IN HONOR AND REMEMBRANCE: The Zion Church Ministries celebrated the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday during their 20th Annual Scholarship Breakfast at the Connolly Center on Monday morning. Deacon Trevon Carrington is a MLK Spirit Award Winner and last year’s scholarship recipient from EHS, senior Danica Pham is active in many clubs and organizations. The guest speaker was Superintendent of Bureau of Field Services for the Boston Police Dept. Lanita Cullinane. Shown from left to right, are: Ward 1 Councillor Michelle Capone, Ward 5 Councillor Vivian Nguyen, Ward 3 Councillor Anthony DiPierro, Mayor Robert Van Campen, guest speaker BPD Supt. Lanita Cullinane, Bishop Robert Brown, Ward 4 Councillor Holly Garcia, and Ward 2 Councillor Stephanie Martins. See inside for photo highlights. (Advocate photo by Tara Vocino) F. J. LaRovere Insurance Agency, Inc. 492 Broadway Everett, MA 02149 617-387-9700 phone 617-387-9702 fax INSURANCE FOR AUTO, HOME, AND BUSINESS We offer very competitive rates, and by representing many different companies we can shop for the best price for our customers. Call us today! Open Monday – Friday 9am-5pm and Saturdays 9am-12pm Messinger Insurance Agency 475 Broadway Everett, MA 02149 617-387-2700 phone 617-387-7753 fax Senator Sal DiDomenico speaks on the fl oor of the Mass. Senate in favor of his bill.(Courtesy photo) Special to Th e Advocate O n January 15, 2026, the Massachusetts Senate passed legislation fi led by Senator Sal DiDomenico (D-Everett) to require ballot campaigns to provide monthly reports to the public on who is funding their campaigns and how the money is being used. The measure increases transparency in campaign fi nance, gives voters access to the information they need to make informed choices and guards against a rise in special interests paying millions to put their own priorities on the ballot. The Senate passed the bill on a bipartisan 38-0 roll call vote, sending it to the House for further consideration. “Statewide ballot questions BILL | SEE PAGE 2 Schools move toward full-day “We believe it will have a great T he School Department is taking steps towards expanding preschool and pre-Kindergarten to full-day programs by September. “Students would benefi t from this,” Superintendent William Hart said at the School Committee meeting on Tuesday, January 20. “It would be an essential part of a strong learning environment and outcomes would be stronger. Numerous studies indicate that.” impact on student achievement,” Assistant Superintendent for Teaching, Learning and Student Success Margaret Adams added. The programs would be free, similar to those in Boston and unlike Chelsea, which charges $15 a day, and Revere, which charges $10 per day. “This is all free,” Adams said. Current half-day programs of preschool, pre-K and a multi-age FULL-DAY | SEE PAGE 7 pre-K, preschool programs by fall By Neil Zolot
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