Masschusetts Driving/Cell Phone Ban Gains Momentum

Driving/Hand-Held Cell Phone Ban Unanimously Approved. The bill approved yesterday by the Legislature’s Joint Transportation Committee would ban drivers from using hand-held cellphones behind the wheel. “If that’s an inconvenience for people, tough,” said Sen. Mark C. Montigny of New Bedford, the Senate sponsor of the bill. “The inconvenience of the death and destruction on the road far outweighs any very minor inconvenience.” [Globe]

Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich Debate Taxes, Immigration … and the Moon. Last night’s GOP debate in Florida quickly disintegrated into a mouth-foaming, nostril-flaring hell of a good time, where Romney and Gingrich went head-to-head on taxes, immigration, and, of all things we’d thought our politicians would be discussing right now, colonizing on the moon. [Washington Post]

Breathe Easy! The Super Bowl Will Be on TV in Boston! Crisis/mutiny/rebellion/secession averted. [Ad Week]

Community Colleges: The Great Massachusetts Equalizer. All in all, it’s been a pretty great week for community colleges in Massachusetts. Ever since Deval Patrick announced his plan to improve them with a unified system during his State of the Commonwealth address on Monday night, the ripple effect has been that community colleges can save everything from the economy, jobs, people, and downtrodden downtowns. [Herald News]

Barney Frank and Jim Ready Are Gettin’ Hitched. The couple will wed after Frank retires from Congress. Congrats, you two! [Roll Call]