DIMASI TO GET PENSION CASH, via John R. Ellement on BostonGlobe.com: “Former House speaker Salvatore F. DiMasi will collect $127,010 plus about five years in interest from the state retirement board after the Supreme Judicial Court ruled Thursday he should get his pension contributions despite his conviction on federal corruption charges. In a unanimous ruling, the state’s highest court said DiMasi was entitled to the money, which he contributed into the state’s retirement system during his years as a member of the House of Representatives, and ultimately, as speaker. ...” http://bit.ly/1SeedFy


DONALD TRUMP TRANSGENDER STAND, via Jill Colvin of the Associated Press in Jersey: “Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump said Thursday that transgender people should be able to use whichever bathroom they choose, voicing opposition to part of a far-reaching North Carolina law that critics says is discriminatory.

Speaking at a town hall event on NBC’s ‘Today’ Thursday, Trump was asked about North Carolina’s so-called ‘bathroom law,’ which, among other things, requires transgender people to use bathrooms corresponding to the gender on their birth certificate in state government buildings as well as public schools and universities. Trump said the law had caused unnecessary strife for the state, which he said had paid ‘a big price’ economically. ...” Link via Yahoo! News: http://yhoo.it/26hfOAw

VIDEO OF TRUMP ON NBC: https://youtu.be/ZpHt1W95ff4

I WONDERED WHAT GOVERNOR CHARLIE BAKER HAD TO SAY ABOUT THIS. The Republican has avoided taking a position on a Massachusetts bill that would prohibit discrimination against transgender people in restaurants, malls, and other public accommodations. And he’s taken some heat for it.

That said, it doesn’t take a Baker-ologist to read between the lines (my bold below) in this statement that just came over the transom from spokeswoman Lizzy Guyton on the governor’s thoughts on what Trump said:


“Governor Baker is pleased Massachusetts public schools adhere to policies that accommodate transgender students’ needs and believes employers should also accommodate transgender individuals’ needs. The governor supports 2011 transgender protections and believes no one should be discriminated against based on their gender identity, and looks forward to reviewing a bill should the legislature act. Lastly, Governor Baker believes people should use the restroom facility they feel comfortable using.”

ALSO, CHECK OUT THIS EXCHANGE FROM BAKER’S APPEARANCE ON WGBH-FM TODAY (Again, the bold is mine). CO-HOST JIM BRAUDE: “I can’t imagine a circumstance in which you veto something that provides civil rights to a part of this pop — I just don’t see it! Can you see yourself vetoing a piece of legislation that gives the same rights to people that already exist in 17 states — people who have a real serious problem in this society. I mean can you imagine yourself vetoing such a thing? I mean as a human being! I mean I know you a little bit. I mean, I can’t even imagine it. Can you?”

BAKER: “Well, as I’ve said, I want to give the Legislature the ability to deliberate this. And the Senate said they’re going to take it up in May. The House has said they’re going to take it up in May. We’re going to be in May in a matter of weeks here. And I look forward to what comes out of that —”


BRAUDE: “You can’t see yourself vetoing —”

BAKER: “But I take tremendous pride in the fact that on many of these issues I’ve been on what I would describe as the right side of history.”

LISTEN TO BAKER ON WGBH-FM: http://bit.ly/1Wg0kIt

WINNERS AND LOSERS ON KINDER MORGAN DECISION, via Shirley Leung on BostonGlobe.com: “At times, there seem to be so many natural gas pipeline proposals that it was hard to keep track of them all. Now the most controversial plan – the $3.3 billion, 188-mile pipeline by Kinder Morgan – has bitten the dust, unable to sign enough utility customers as it faced NIMBYs and political opposition. Here are the winners and losers as the Houston company gets run out of town.

WINNERS Spectra Energy. ... Maura Healey and Stan Rosenberg. ... Combo platter. ... Conservation Law Foundation. ... Energy newcomers. ...

LOSERS Maine Governor Paul LePage. ... Kinder Morgan lobbyists. ... Berkshire Gas. ... Industrial ratepayers ...” http://bit.ly/1rpUAAS

WHAT’S THE PLAN B? via Chris Villani on BostonHerald.com: “Senate President Stanley Rosenberg says he will push for Western Massachusetts natural gas companies — particularly Berkshire Gas — to come up with a ‘plan B’ after Texas-based Kinder Morgan scrapped plans for a multibillion dollar natural gas pipeline through Pennsylvania, New York, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts. ...” http://bit.ly/211u2l6

BACKGROUND ON THE BIG ENERGY NEWS OF THE DAY, from Jon Chesto on the front page of today’s Globe: “The energy giant Kinder Morgan Inc. has pulled the plug on its controversial natural gas pipeline proposed through parts of Massachusetts and Southern New Hampshire, after failing to sign up enough utility customers and facing stiff consumer and political opposition. ...” http://bit.ly/211uoZ6


PRINCE IS DEAD, via Jon Pareles of the New York Times: “Prince, the songwriter, singer, producer, one-man studio band and consummate showman, died Thursday at his residence, Paisley Park, in Chanhassen, Minn., according to a statement from his publicist, Yvette Noel-Schure. He was 57. ...” http://nyti.ms/1XLdQCA

OBAMA SAYS: “Today, the world lost a creative icon. Michelle and I join millions of fans from around the world in mourning the sudden death of Prince. Few artists have influenced the sound and trajectory of popular music more distinctly, or touched quite so many people with their talent. As one of the most gifted and prolific musicians of our time, Prince did it all. Funk. R&B. Rock and roll. He was a virtuoso instrumentalist, a brilliant bandleader, and an electrifying performer. ‘A strong spirit transcends rules,’ Prince once said — and nobody’s spirit was stronger, bolder, or more creative. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, his band, and all who loved him.”‎

SKY HIGH IN BOSTON, via Tim Logan on BostonGlobe.com: “The race is on for the right to build the tallest building in downtown Boston. Six major developers filed proposals Thursday for towers they want to put on the site of the Winthrop Square Garage, filling the sky above a tiny park in the heart of the Financial District with an array of condos, apartments, office space, and hotel rooms. ...” With a rendering of a futuristic building: http://bit.ly/211zVPf


YOUR MBTA-DELAY LONG READ, “Mount Impossible: How a Disabled Veteran Conquered Kilimanjaro,” by Davy Rothbart in GQ: “Let’s say your grandfather, he was a soldier. And you grow up hoping somehow to follow in his footsteps. So, right after high school you join the Marines and you train like crazy and get yourself shipped to Afghanistan, plunged into battle.

After years of prepping for this, you’re finally there, fighting Taliban soldiers so near to you that you can smell their acrid sweat just across the tree line. And then let’s say, just to imagine it, that three weeks in you step on an IED, and in a blast of light and sound, your legs are gone—and something more than that, too. Your days as a soldier are done; the things you’ve built your life around, evaporated. It’s possible, don’t you think, that one night, five years later, you might find yourself on your couch at 3 A.M. feeling a phantom pain, not for your missing legs, but for your missing life?

Maybe that’s the moment when you dig through your pockets for an e-mail address one of your buddies at the rehab clinic slipped you a few weeks ago. And maybe you pull out your phone to send a long, desperate message to a guy you’ve heard is a lifesaver—an ex-con named Tim Medvetz who trains wounded vets to climb mountains—an unlikely savior who now seems like the only person on the planet who can help. Maybe you say, ‘I need this, Tim. Listen. I’m your guy.’ And when Tim hits you right back, maybe you’re beyond thrilled but at the same time belted by the notion: Holy shit. What have I gotten myself into? ...” http://bit.ly/1rpT5CD

CHECK TWICE, TRASH ONCE, via Fred Hanson of the Patriot Ledger in Braintree: “Cecelia Callahan heard the trash truck coming and quickly scooped up a few items to put in one final trash bag to go out with the weekly collection. A few hours later, the Norwell woman was tracking down the same trash truck. That last bag, it turns out, contained three pieces of diamond jewelry. With the help of neighbors, Waste Management and the staff of the Covanta transfer station in Braintree — along with a little digging on her own — she was able to find the jewelry amid 5.5 tons of trash. ...” http://bit.ly/1r2poXK

Political lost and found can go to @jm_bos and joshua.miller@globe.com

I’ll be back tomorrow, which has the added bonus of being Friday.

Joshua Miller can be reached at joshua.miller@globe.com.