THE HOUSE AND SENATE. There were no roll call votes in the House or Senate last week. Beacon Hill Roll Call has obtained the official list from the state treasurer's office of the "per diem" travel, meals and lodging reimbursements collected by state representatives in 2011. The list reveals that representatives collected a total of $362,981. Beacon Hill Roll Call reported a few weeks ago that state senators in 2011 collected $63,918 in per diems. The combined 2011 total collected by representatives and senators is $426,899. Under state law, per diems are paid by the state to representatives Continue reading >>>

To the list of annual signs that winter is ending in New England - crocuses, robins, and the Red Sox buzz from Fort Myers - add a new one: Hubway’s return. Officially, the bicycle-sharing docks are not supposed to begin reappearing until Thursday and won’t be stocked with bikes until March 15. But some stations on private property have already begun cropping up, in anticipation of Hubway’s first full season. In an abbreviated inaugural run, Boston’s European-style system of biking-as-public-transit recorded 142,155 station-to-station trips, from its debut Continue reading >>>

Anton’s Cleaners, which has locations in Tewksbury and Wilmington, has launched its eighth annual Belle of Ball program with the continued mission to collect, clean and distribute prom gowns to area high school junior and senior girls who otherwise would not be able to attend their prom. All dresses are cleaned by Anton’s free of charge as a community service. A key component in the campaign is the value of referral partners, who are the direct link to the girls that will be attending the Belle of the Ball boutique in mid-April. Belle of the Ball is looking to enlist community centers, Continue reading >>>

Fit kids  New sessions of Tae Kwon Do are starting for kids ages kindergarten and up! Spaces sell out quickly. Sign up today. Everyone knows Lisa Faia! She’s teaching Hip Hop Jazz for ages 4-8 on Thursdays at 3:30 p.m. Sign up for the new session now!   One-on-one heart healthy food sessions  Stop by the J and enjoy a private, free session with registered dietitian Marianne Heffrin as part of the J’s Heart Health Month. Ask about healthy eating and grocery choices. · Monday, Feb. 27, Noon to 12:30 p.m. · Thursday, March 1, 8:30-10 a.m. · Friday, March 2, 2:30-4 p.m. · Continue reading >>>

Nearly a quarter of working households in Massachusetts and across the United States spend more than half their income on housing, according to a study released yesterday by the Washington, D.C.-based Center for Housing Policy. More than 231,000 Massachusetts households, or 24 percent of working families, suffered from a “severe housing cost burden’’ of spending more than 50 percent of their income on housing in 2010, up from 22 percent in 2009, according to the center, which based its analysis on recent census data. Nationwide, the percentage of working households that spent Continue reading >>>

Take that cute Victorian in one of the suburbs near Boston. Then ponder this: What might cost you $1 million in Newton might put you out $400,000 in some little town beyond the 1-495 beltway.

Are the schools in Newton or Hingham or Manchester really a half a million dollars better? A million dollars better?

Better to get into a community on the rise than overpay to get into one of the status towns. I’ll start the list with Quincy, Medford and Woburn. What are your candidates?

More than 231,000 Massachusetts households, or 24 percent of working families, suffered from a “severe housing cost burden’’ of spending more than 50 percent of their income on housing in 2010, up from 22 percent in 2009, according to the center, which based its analysis on recent census data.

THE HOUSE AND SENATE. There were no roll call votes in the House or Senate last week. Beacon Hill Roll Call has obtained the official list from the state treasurer’s office of the “per diem” travel, meals and lodging reimbursements collected by state representatives in 2011. The list reveals that representatives collected a total of $362,981. Beacon Hill Roll Call reported a few weeks ago that state senators in 2011 collected $63,918 in per diems. The combined 2011 total collected by representatives and senators is $426,899. Under state law, per diems are paid by the state to representatives Continue reading >>>

The Peabody High boys' basketball squad embarks on its tournament journey Monday night in Medford, still hot off a four-game winning streak, last beating Somerville on Thursday night, 68-65, in overtime. The Tanners (No. 17) are pitted against the No. 16 seeded Mustangs in a preliminary round contest -- both teams finished the season 10-10. Medford plays in the Greater Boston League. The MIAA released the basketball north and south sectional brackets on Friday. If the Peabody boys do advance Monday night, they'll be going up against powerhouse Central Catholic on Thursday. The Raiders, ranked Continue reading >>>

Reps. John Tierney (D-MA) and Louise Slaughter (D-NY) announced that they have again introduced legislation that would rein in credit card interest rates capping them at 16 percent and prevent dramatic rate hikes that have badgered consumers, even those with good credit, for years. Tierney and Slaughter are authors of the Renewing America's Commitment to Consumers Act, legislation aimed at helping Americans who have fought unfair credit practices for years. Despite the positive effects of the CARD Act, which the Democratic House majority passed, and President Obama signed into law in 2009, some Continue reading >>>