BOSTON — Farmers are worried about their crops, firefighters are battling wild fires burning 8 inches underground, some streams have been reduced to a trickle and homeowners have watched their lawns dry to a pale brown color.
Environmental science experts on Thursday agreed: much of Massachusetts is in the midst of a serious drought and its impact could be felt long after the hot weather gives way to autumn.
STATE HOUSE — Embedded in the $1 billion economic development bill Gov. Charlie Baker signed Wednesday was a measure that could affect when morning begins in Massachusetts.
Under the law, a bipartisan commission would spend some of the fall and winter studying the impacts of permanently shifting Bay State clocks onto eastern daylight time. The panel of lawmakers and executive branch officials must look at impacts of a time zone alteration on local and regional economies, education, public health, transportation, energy consumption, commerce and trade.
