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TGIF! Today is the last day of in-person early voting for Boston's preliminary election. And a new poll out this morning shows Mayor Michelle Wu with a growing lead over challenger Josh Kraft. (It's also — importantly — the final day to vote for Somerville's bike path cat mayor.) But first, let's get to the news: Governor's orders: COVID-19 boosters will remain widely available in Massachusetts this fall. Despite the changing federal vaccine policies, Gov. Maura Healey announced several steps yesterday to ensure the shots are covered for local residents who want them. The announcement came as Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, a longtime anti-vaccine activist, clashed with U.S. senators during a congressional hearing over his recent changes at the CDC. "We will not let Donald Trump or Robert Kennedy get in the way of patients and the care and the treatments ... they want and need," Healey told reporters back at the State House in Boston. Here's what to know: - What exactly did Healey change yesterday? Two things. First, her office directed local health insurance companies to continue to fully cover vaccines recommended by the state's Department of Public Health, even if the CDC's coming recommendations don't go as far. It's a step no other state in the country has taken. And it has support from Massachusetts' major health insurers, like Blue Cross Blue Shield and the Massachusetts Association of Health Plans. Second, DPH updated its regulations to allow pharmacists to administer routine vaccines recommended by the state, rather than only what's recommended by the CDC. That change comes after recent reports that CVS and Walgreens were limiting access to COVID shots due to previous rules, which led DPH Commissioner Robbie Goldstein to issue a standing order to allow pharmacies to give COVID shots to anyone 5 and up. "Essentially, what this means — and the commissioner is a doctor — he wrote a prescription for every Massachusetts resident that covers everyone in this state," Healey said.
- Which vaccines does it cover? It's not just COVID. Healey's office says the insurance rules apply to other seasonal vaccines like flu and RSV, as well as routine shots for kids, such as measles, mumps, chickenpox and Hepatitis B.
- When can people get it? Pharmacies like CVS and Walgreens will begin scheduling appointments and administering the new COVID shots today, Healey said. She thanked the pharmacies for moving "quickly over the past week."
- What's next? Healey said her administration is also working with other states in the Northeast to coordinate "science-backed" vaccine recommendations, and collaborate on disease testing, monitoring and emergency preparedness. The regional approach is similar to a vaccine recommendation alliance announced Wednesday by Washington state, Oregon and California. " We'll have more to say about this shortly as we move forward," Healey said.
- Tune in: Healey is scheduled to be live on WBUR's Here & Now today around noon to further discuss the state's vaccine access plan.
On the docket: Former Boston City City Councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson is scheduled to be sentenced this afternoon, after pleading guilty to federal corruption charges in May. Federal prosecutors say Fernandes Anderson orchestrated a kickback scheme involving city funds, in which she gave a $13,000 bonus to a family member who worked on her staff on the condition that $7,000 was given back to her. - What to expect: WBUR's Eve Zuckoff reports prosecutors have requested a sentence of one year and a day in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, plus $13,000 in restitution. However, Fernandes Anderson's court-appointed lawyer is asking the judge for a more lenient sentence, since she's a first-time offender: probation and a "significant amount" of community service.
Heads up, Pats fans: The NFL is back. And for the first time, the MBTA plans to run a second event train between Boston's South Station and Gillette Stadium for several New England Patriots games this year, including this Sunday's season opener. T officials say the extra train will accommodate over 1,200 more passengers. - In addition to this Sunday's game against the Las Vegas Raiders, the second train will run on Sept. 21 (against the Pittsburgh Steelers), Sept. 28 (against the Carolina Panthers), and Dec. 14 (against the Buffalo Bills).
- It leaves South Station at 10 a.m. each Sunday and begins its trip back from Foxborough 30 minutes after each game ends. Roundtrip tickets cost $20.
P.S. — What was the intended purpose of a Salem port project that had its federal funding canceled? Think you know the answer? Take our Boston News Quiz. |
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| | | Nik DeCosta-Klipa Senior Editor, Newsletters | | |
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The Trump administration has sued Boston and Mayor Michelle Wu, saying the city's policy not to cooperate with immigration enforcement officials on non-criminal matters violates federal law. Read more. |
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The developer behind Revolution Wind, a large — and nearly complete — wind farm near Massachusetts and Rhode Island, is suing to overturn the Trump administration's stop-work order. Read more. |
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 It's the second large funding injection by the son of billionaire Robert Kraft, as he looks to make headway in a race against Boston Mayor Michelle Wu. Read more.Boston mayoral candidate Josh Kraft says he gave his campaign about $3.5 million in August, in the final push to the preliminary election as he tries to make headway against Mayor Michelle Wu. The latest cash influx brings Kraft's personal investment in his campaign to roughly $5.5 million so far, in what's shaping up to be the most expensive mayoral race in Boston's history. Kraft, the third son of billionaire New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, explained the new contribution in an interview with WBUR on Thursday. “First of all, I believe in our campaign," he said. “Every neighborhood we go in, people want change and I believe in that and that's what's driving me.” Early voting in the city's preliminary election is underway and polls close at the end of the day Tuesday. The result will narrow the field to two candidates from four for the November race. Kraft is more prominent than the other two rivals to Wu, but faces a 30-point deficit in the race to unseat her, according to a recent poll by the Boston Globe and Suffolk University. He says he is not discouraged by the numbers: “If I paid attention to polls, I wouldn’t have gotten involved in this.” Prior to August’s infusion, Kraft had already contributed $2 million to his campaign. His August donation does not yet appear with his name in the latest report from the Office of Campaign and Political Finance, as the campaign's deposit report is not due until tomorrow. But the campaign’s bank report shows more than $3.5 million in receipts in August, including $6,500 from other donors. Through August, Kraft's campaign has now raised a total of $6.8 million, compared to the $1.8 million Wu's campaign collected, according to OCPF records. In a statement, the Wu campaign said, “It’s more clear than ever: Josh Kraft is relying on his inherited wealth — and the support of Trump donors, millionaires, and billionaires — to prop up his floundering campaign." Kraft has sought to distance himself from his father's support of Trump. According to campaign finance records, Kraft's campaign went into August with less than $150,000 in cash on hand. And the campaign quickly spent a large chunk of the candidate's August cash infusion — on advertisements, canvassing and campaign events — ending the month with $1.3 million in the account.
Under state campaign finance rules, individual donors can give $1,000 directly to candidates per year, but there's no limit on donations from the candidates themselves. Wu, meanwhile, began and ended last month with around $1.4 million, raising just under $250,000, and spending $303,000, according to campaign finance records. She entered September with $2.4 million in cash on hand. ***BECAUSE THE CARPETBAGGING NEWTON NEBBISH ONLY RELEASED A "SUMMARY" THERE IS NO WAY FOR VOTERS TO DETERMINE IF THERE IS A CONFLICT OF INTEREST - NOT EXACTLY FULL DISCLOSURE!*** Kraft has faced questions about campaign contributions and his personal finances since he entered the race in February. In August, after days of pressure from Wu, Kraft released a summary of his tax returns to WBUR. They showed he earned $6.3 million in 2024, and nearly $6.5 million in 2023. The sources of the $6.3 million were not explained, although the income appears to come from the Kraft family businesses. The campaign has said Kraft has “no financial relationship with the Kraft Group other than through a blind trust of which he has no control over.” Kraft, who spent most of his career working for nonprofits and in philanthropy, has not said if he will release his tax returns. News of Kraft’s latest financial injection for his campaign comes on the heels of a shakeup on his staff. In a statement Wednesday, a spokesman said the campaign was "mutually parting ways" with two of Kraft's top advisers — married couple Will Keyser and Eileen O’Connor, political consultants at Keyser Public Strategies. Two other advisors left in late July. “ I don't want to discuss differences, but I will discuss this,” Kraft told WBUR. “I'm very grateful to Will and Eileen. I had never done this before and they got me going. They gave me the basics, and I'm grateful for everything I learned from them." But earlier this week, he said, they came to a mutual decision to part ways. "We did it amicably, professionally and respectfully," he said. "And now our team is just focused on Tuesday, September 9th, preliminary [election] day.” Kraft said the campaign was not planning to make any strategy pivots upon the duo's departure. He didn’t answer whether he would be adding any new advisors to his campaign. He’s now flanked by two longtime Boston political strategists: Jacquetta Van Zandt and Michael Kineavy. - Wu super PAC collects $743K from unions, green groups; Kraft takes in $3M
 Eve ZuckoffReporterEve Zuckoff is WBUR's city reporter, covering Boston politics, breaking news and enterprise stories. More…
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After Congress clawed back public media funding, PBS says it's cutting 15% of its staff, or more than 100 jobs. Read more. |
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State Auditor Diana DiZoglio and the chair of Legislature's Cannabis Policy Committee made renewed calls to bring the Cannabis Control Commission under the purview of the governor and to overhaul it for "much needed accountability." Read more. |
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- At 85, she leads a squad of women who dive deep in ponds for litter (Washington Post)
- ‘Where dreams go to die’: Much-praised CommonWealth Kitchen roiled by toxic workplace allegations (The Boston Globe)
- Is this major Mass. tech company quietly shifting to San Francisco? (MassLive)
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Getting pulled over by police is never fun — and it can be extra nerve wrecking for drivers with autism. The Blue Envelope program can signal to officers that a driver is on the spectrum and might need more help. Read more. |
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