MassAction

Governor Deval Patrick makes public his endorsement of presidential contender Barack Obama at 6:30 p.m. on Boston Common on Tuesday. The two Democrats will appear at the Parkman Bandstand for a public rally. Gates open an hour earlier and guests are asked for security reasons not to bring bags, signs or banners.

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The state's legally mandated "buffer zone" around abortion clinics would expand under legislation the Senate plans to take up on Tuesday. The bill would institute a 35-foot no-protest zone around the clinics. Current law calls for an 18-foot "floating" zone that moves as patients and employees enter and leave the clinic.

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House Minority Leader Bradley Jones's proposal to reinstitute capital punishment in Massachusetts gets a hearing on Tuesday. Efforts at making the death penalty the law in Massachusetts have fared poorly in recent years, after a one-vote margin a decade ago.

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State officials say flu vaccine is "plentiful" this year and Department of Public Health and Brookline health officials plan to kick off flu prevention efforts Tuesday with a reminder that influenza results in 5,000 hospitalizations and 800 deaths each year in Massachusetts. DPH will also announce new public education materials called Flu: What You Can Do - Caring for People at Home.

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A report due out Wednesday from the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation will analyze the revenue side of Gov. Deval Patrick's plan to allow three resort-style casinos in Massachusetts.