Mass Legislature

Massachusetts legislative leadership on Monday announced more than $1 billion in tax cuts aimed at countering the effects of rising costs in the state.

With contested races for statewide, county and legislative offices little more than three months away from mail-in balloting, candidates are under pressure to raise funds and get their messages out on the airwaves.

When City Councilor Lydia Edwards entered Spinelli’s in East Boston, where she held her election night party, it was with tears of joy on her face and her campaign team in tow to announce victory in the special primary election for the vacant First Suffolk and Middlesex seat in the state Senate.