| Today's News |
| | | Reminder to readers: SHNS Coronavirus Tracker available for free | | | A reminder to our readers as the coronavirus crisis unfolds: The paywalled State House News Service, which produces MASSterList, is making its full Coronavirus Tracker available to the community for free on a daily basis each morning via ML. SHNS Coronavirus Tracker. | | | |
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| | | The coronavirus numbers: 20 new deaths, 10,319 total deaths, 2,225 new cases | | | WCVB has the latest coronavirus numbers for Massachusetts. | | | |
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| | | Help on the way: State issues guidelines to hospitals on distributing vaccines, possibly starting next month | | | WBUR’s Martha Bebinger reports that doses of Pfizer’s new coronavirus vaccine could arrive in Massachusetts as early as next month, in batches of 975 doses, and state officials and others are issuing guidance on how the vaccines should be stored and urging hospitals to identify the first front-line workers to get vaccinations. The Globe’s Martin Finucane, meanwhile, reports on national efforts to establish vaccination priorities, if and when doses become available. Experts have recommendations on who should get shots first: health care workers and residents of long-term care facilities. WBUR | | | |
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| | | Not soon enough: Elderly continue to perish as pandemic rages on | | | A new coronavirus vaccine couldn’t come soon enough for elderly residents, who have borne the brunt of COVID-19 deaths in Massachusetts and across the nation during the pandemic. The latest tragic example, via CBS Boston: “6 Residents Die After COVID Outbreak In Andover Assisted Living Facility.” And here’s another shocking fact, via the BBJ’s Jessica Bartlett: “So many Massachusetts seniors died (last) May that the state’s Medicare enrollment decreased for a month, new state data shows.” Meanwhile, the state’s Medicaid program for the poor has seen a major surge in enrollment during the pandemic, reports SHNS’s Katie Lannan (pay wall). | | | |
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| | | Another pandemic casualty: Public schools see enrollment plunge by 37,000 | | | This isn’t exactly a vote of confidence in public schools’ ability to handle the pandemic. From the Globe’s James Vaznis: “Public school enrollment across Massachusetts dropped by nearly 4 percent this fall, a significant decrease that largely reflects a wave of families who have pulled their children out of public schools, frustrated that classrooms remain closed because of the pandemic, state officials announced Tuesday.” MassLive’s Melissa Hanson and SHNS’s Katie Lannan (pay wall) have more on the decline in enrollment by more than 37,000 students. CommonWealth’s Shira Schoenberg reports Brookline has lost 11 percent of its student population since the start of the pandemic. But it’s not all about in-person versus remote/hybrid learning. Schoenberg explains. | | | |
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| | | Take-home MCAS tests? It may happen | | | Speaking of pandemic-era education, SHNS’s Katie Lannan reports that state officials are “exploring the possibility of administering some MCAS tests in a take-home format in the spring and are looking into options for exams scheduled for this winter.” But MassLive’s Melissa Hanson reports some are skeptical about holding MCAS tests, with one teacher saying it would be a “logistical nightmare” for districts that have been fully remote. SHNS (pay wall -- free trial subscription available) | | | |
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Sponsored Taxing Drinks by Sugar Content Reduces Consumption by 25% The facts on sugary drinks are simple. They pose a real health risk. Kids especially are drinking too many of them. All those sweet drinks contribute to major health problems, like diabetes and heart disease. And with Massachusetts already spending nearly $2 billion per year treating obesity-related diseases, we need to address the problem. Massachusetts should take a page from a growing number of places across the country and adopt a tax on sugary drinks. Learn how a sugary drink tax would improve the health of Massachusetts. |
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| | | Thanksgiving 2020: Food banks overwhelmed by demand this year | | | The Globe’s David Abel reports on the surge in the number of people who don’t have enough money for the basic ingredients of a Thanksgiving dinner this year, thanks to the pandemic and economic downturn. The result: Food banks are struggling to meet the huge demand. Boston Globe | | | |
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| | | Legal workout: Healey sues Boston Sports Clubs over pandemic membership fees | | | The BBJ’s Gintautas Dumcius has the latest on one of the least popular area companies during the pandemic: “Town Sports International LLC, the owner of Boston Sports Clubs, allegedly violated state consumer protection laws after failing to honor membership cancellations and refund requests, according to a complaint from Attorney General Maura Healey’s office.” BBJ | | | |
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| | | Coronavirus updates: Another prison outbreak, spitting incident, ‘testing desert’ and exhausted nurses | | | As usual, there’s a lot happening on coronavirus front, so we’re going with quick summaries and headlines in this post, starting with MassLive: “MBTA Transit Police officers start handing face coverings out to passengers after New Balance’s massive, 100,000-mask donation.” ... From SHNS (pay wall): “’Testing Desert’ on Cape fueling frustration.” ... WBUR reports on another virus outbreak at a state prison, this time at MCI-Shirley Medium. ... From the Globe: “Man, 71, arrested for allegedly spitting at women in Ashburnham and telling them he has COVID-19.” ... From the Herald: “Massachusetts nurses’ union calls for help for ‘exhausted’ frontline heroes.” ... And from the Globe: “Six New Bedford bars fined for violating COVID-19 orders.” | | | |
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| | | Biden: Warren and Bernie are needed more in the Senate, not his cabinet | | | Bottom line: They’re staying put. President-elect Joe Biden isn’t ruling out possibly appointing U.S. Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders to his new cabinet, as many progressives dearly want. But yesterday he seemed to be gently closing the door on Warren and Sanders joining his team, saying it would be ‘difficult’ to lose the two Dems in the Senate, reports Vaessa Romo at GBH. GBH | | | |
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| | | Believe it or not: Trump made small gains in urban areas across Massachusetts | | | President Trump got an overall shellacking in most urban areas across the state in the Nov. 3 election. Still, he did make small gains three weeks ago, compared to 2016, among voters in many urban areas, some of them in highly unlikely places, such as Boston’s predominantly Black neighborhoods of Roxbury, Dorchester and Mattapan. CommonWealth’s Michael Jonas reports. CommonWealth | | | |
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| | | Globe readers to newspaper: Oh, we want Trump dragged out of the White House, all right | | | They aren’t demanding President Trump be tarred and feathered as he leaves the White House in January. But they do want him dragged out of the White House, kicking and screaming if need be, according to the Globe’s Beth Teitell, who has a fun follow-up story this morning about readers’ reaction to her previous piece about how the president might be coaxed, tricked and lured out of the White House, short of dragging him out the front door. Boston Globe | | | |
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| | | Shocking poll: Trump would wipe out Baker in a GOP presidential primary in 2024 | | | A Politico/Morning Consult survey shows strong support among Republican voters for Donald Trump should he decide to run for president again in 2024, reports Benjamin Kail at MassLive. And in hypothetical matchups with potential GOP primary contenders – including our very own Charlie Baker – Trump would wipe ‘em all out. We’re not surprised at the results. We are surprised, though, that Baker is even mentioned as a potential contender. MassLive | | | |
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| | | Last seat taken: Dropped recount means Oliveira will join Legislature | | | And then there were none. Democrat Jacob Oliveira has been declared winner of the open 7th Hampden District House seat after GOP challenger James "Chip" Harrington dropped his recount request, Chris Lisinski at State House News Service reports. The seat is the last to be awarded after the Nov. 3 election because Harrington had initially pursued a recount after one of the town clerks in the district briefly posted incorrect results. SHNS (pay wall -- free trial subscription available) | | | |
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| | | If BPD won’t do it, the Globe will: Newspaper creates its own public database of police disciplinary actions | | | Good luck getting information from the Boston Police Department regarding alleged misconduct by city cops. The city doesn’t have a comprehensive, transparent database that the public can access on police disciplinary actions. But now the Globe has one – and they’re inviting the public to search away. Boston Globe | | | |
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Sponsored The pandemic has tragically demonstrated that terminally ill Massachusetts residents need access to all end-of-life care options, including medical aid in dying, to peacefully end unbearable suffering. Lawmakers must pass the End of Life Options Act without delay. Visit CompassionAndChoices.org/Massachusetts for more. |
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| | | Pot retailers issue blunt warning to regulators: We’ll sue if you pass new marijuana delivery rules next week | | | SHNS’s Colin Young reports that an attorney representing marijuana retail shop owners has sent a letter to the Cannabis Control Commission bluntly warning that they’ll take legal action if regulators next week, as expected, pass a new rule that would allow some delivery companies to sell pot directly to consumers, saying the commission is overstepping its legal bounds. SHNS (pay wall -- free trial subscription available) | | | |
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| | | Finally: After two years, Pittsfield mayor’s home-improvement plan approved by council | | | It took two years and an election cycle that revamped the City Council, but Pittsfield Mayor Linda Tyer has finally won approval for her plan to use GE cleanup funds to create a forgivable loan program to encourage homeowners to spruce up run-down properties, reports Larry Parnass at the Berkshire Eagle. Berkshire Eagle | | | |
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| | | Wake-up call: Lowell council pledges action after fatal fire highlights department’s woes | | | Members of the Lowell city council are promising action to improve the city’s fire department after a fatal blaze in the city that firefighters were delayed in responding to because of an out-of-service fire truck, Robert Mills at the Lowell Sun reports. The first order of business: Finding more funds for the department, either in the municipal budget or from federal grants. Lowell Sun | | | |
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| | | Not just the Pats: Sox, Celts, Bruins and Revolution also push for sports betting | | | We knew the New England Patriots were backing efforts to pass legalized sports betting in Massachusetts. But SHNS’s Colin Young (pay wall) reports all five professional sports teams in the state – the Red Sox, Celtics, Bruins and Revolution, as well as the Pats – recently signed a letter urging lawmakers to act on sports-betting legislation. Young has the details. | | | |
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| | | Tear it down: Worcester’s Greendale Mall to face wrecking ball | | | Talk about a sign of the changing times. A developer is seeking permission to raze the long-struggling Greendale Mall in Worcester and replace it with a distribution center, Nick Kotsopolous at the Telegram reports. The new owners of the 37-year-old mall said plans for a mixed-use development were shelved in part due to the coronavirus pandemic. Telegram | | | |
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| | | Have a wonderful Thanksgiving – and see you Monday | | | We’d like to wish all our MassterList readers a happy and safe Thanksgiving. We’ll be taking the long holiday weekend off, but we’ll be back in your inbox on Monday morning. | | | |
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