Week In Review: Democratic Leadership, Merrimack Valley, Amazon

In-fighting in the U.S. House of Representatives over Democratic leadership is creating new questions about the future of the Democratic Party. Massachusetts Congressman Seth Moulton is calling for new leadership, but Nancy Pelosi, says she'll be "speaker of the House no matter what Seth Moulton says."
Also, two months after an overpressurized Columbia Gas pipe caused explosions in the Merrimack Valley, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) issued new safety recommendations that would require engineers on gas projects to have licenses. More than 4,000 customers in the Merrimack Valley still have no gas, and for many, that means they are going without heat or hot water.

Lastly, after months of speculation, Amazon announced it will split its headquarters between locations in New York and northern Virginia. Boston — together with Somerville — was the among the 20 finalists Amazon named for its "HQ2" earlier this year.

Rev. Mariama White-Hammond, activist and pastor at the New Roots Bethel AME Church in Dorchester. She tweets @RevMariama.

Joe Battenfeld, political columnist at the Boston Herald and host of "Battenfeld" on Boston Herald Radio. He tweets @joebattenfeld.