Today's poll: Has Mitt Romney's health care mandate infringed on your economic freedom?
View full size06.08.2011 | HOLYOKE - Lightning cuts a path across the sky above Mater Dolorosa Church during Wednesday evening's storm.The Forecast
The National Weather Service has issued the following Special Weather Statement for Today:Some thunderstorms will likely become severe this afternoon and Evening in southern New England...
Various ingredients appear to be coming together to set the stage for a round of strong to severe thunderstorms from mid afternoon into the evening. Threats will include damaging straight line winds and large hail. In addition...very heavy rainfall may cause localized urban and poor drainage flooding. Some poor drainage locations such as underpasses may fill up with water quickly and be unsafe to drive through.
These thunderstorms will likely also contain frequent cloud to ground lightning...a very serious threat to anyone caught outdoors on land or water.
The thunderstorms are most likely to hit the Pioneer Valley between 3 and 7 p.m.
We're looking at 97 degrees for a high temperature today.
Find the full forecast here.
Today's Poll
A report released by the Mercatus Center at George Mason University ranking freedoms in the 50 states puts Massachusetts at number 46. New Hampshire took the number one spot.
Massachusetts ranked 43 for economic freedoms and 47 for personal freedoms.
The rankings, compiled by authors William Ruger and Jason Sorens, were based on three categories of measurements:
- Measures of social and personal freedoms such as peaceable citizens’ rights to educate their own children, to own and carry firearms, and to be free from unreasonable search and seizure;
- More than 150 distinct public policies;
- Careful measurements of fiscal policies in a way that reflects the true cost of government to the citizen.
The authors explained that Governor Mitt Romney's individual health care mandate contributed to the Massachusetts ranking for economic freedoms.
What do you think -- has Romney's health care mandate infringed on your economic freedom? Vote in our poll and check back tomorrow for the results.
Last Wednesday's results: On June 1 we asked, "Can Mitt Romney beat Barack Obama in the 2012 election? " 21 people voted. 57.14% said "Yes"; 42.86% said "No".
Wednesday's Top 5
The top 5 headlines on MassLive.com on June 8 were:
- Aerials of tornado destruction [photo gallery]
- MassLive.com prom contest 2011 [photo gallery]
- Photo retrospective: Tornadoes ravage Western Mass. [photo essay]
- 2011 Chicopee High School prom [photo gallery]
- 2011 Putnam High prom
Quote of the Day
“She lost a pet and she has another one badly injured. Her attitude is that the house is replaceable.”
&mdash Jason Kass, on the havoc the June 1 tornado wreaked at his mother's Hill Side Farm in Brimfield. One horse was killed during the storm and other, Cajun, was badly injured. Read Brian Steele's story here.