CommonWealth Beacon answers the local political question of the year: Why is one of the Supreme Judicial Court's two clerks elected by voters in Boston, Chelsea, Revere and Winthrop?

It's a fascinating historical story involving voter anger over the way the SJC back in the day refused to stand in the way of a fugitive slave being re-captured in Boston to be sent back into slavery down south in 1850. Doesn't explain why the post is still elected, but then again, this is Massachusetts, where if we did something once, we are often compelled to do it forever and ever.

CommonWealth Beacon reports that Boston City Councilor Erin Murphy, who now cares about Winthrop, too, appeared at a rally against a state mandate there that would require the town to rezone some land to allow for higher density development because it's served by the T. Read more.

Politico reports (scroll way down for "Yahd Signs and Bumpah Stickahs") that current City Councilor Erin Murphy on Saturday announced endorsements by nine labor unions for her bid to get elected clerk of the Supreme Judicial Court for Suffolk County - in a press release that showed the logos of 49 labor unions and groups, at least one of which says, no, it's not endorsing her this time around. Read more.