The most recent news is this from April: State House News Service April 08, 2015 at 8:25 PM By GINTAUTAS DUMCIUS BOSTON - Actor Mark Wahlberg's pardon request remains on the back burner, a top state official said Wednesday. "His petition is pending," said Charlene Bonner, chair of the Parole Board, which also handles pardon and commutation recommendations and decides whether to send them to the governor. Bonner on Wednesday appeared before the Governor's Council -- an eight-member panel that votes on commutations and pardons recommended by the governor -- as part of a "public policy forum." Pardon and commutation requests rarely make it to the Statehouse, and when they do, they tend to occur towards the end of a governor's tenure. Pardons are forgiveness of the offense, while commutations reduce the period of incarceration. Governor's Councilor Jen Caissie asked about Wahlberg's application, referring to him as "Marky Mark." ... Wahlberg, who grew up in Dorchester, is one of 300 people who have a pending application for a pardon or commutation, according to Bonner. Wahlberg submitted his request to the Parole Board in November, asking them to wipe away an assault and battery and drug possession conviction. Governors hand down the guidelines for the Parole Board to follow when processing applications. Asked by Governor's Councilor Michael Albano if the board's process was on hold due to the governor not issuing any guidelines so far, Bonner said, "Correct." Bonner said new governors often come in, review the guidelines and apply their own. Governor Charlie Baker's chief legal counsel, Lon Povich, said that the guidelines will be disseminated in "due course."...