Well, it's precipitating again. Massachusetts officials are urging residents to stay off the roads as today's nor'easter sweeps across the state. The Boston area is projected to get around 20 inches of snow, according to the National Weather Service. And the wet snow and high winds are expected to cause widespread power outages. According to meteorologist Danielle Noyes, heavy bands of snow are expected through early afternoon and the storm isn't expected to fully end until 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Gov. Maura Healey has declared a state of emergency and activated the National Guard to assist with the storm response. "This is one to take seriously," Healey said Sunday. Here's a look at the impacts so far: - Power outages: As of 7 a.m., more than 128,00 homes in Massachusetts were without power according to the state's outage map. "The hardest-hit areas right now are concentrated on the Cape," Olessa Stepanova, a spokesperson for Eversource, told WBUR's Miriam Wasser. Healey says any residents who lose power should call 211 and their utility company for assistance.
- MBTA: Trains, buses and the commuter rail are all running at reduced, Sunday-like schedules today due to the storm — and all ferry service is canceled. The T says service on Tuesday is also likely to be slower than usual as crews dig out.
- Closures: Hundreds of schools are closed across Massachusetts today. (WCVB has the full list here.) During a press conference yesterday, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu didn't rule out the possibility that Tuesday could also be a snow day. Boston City Hall, city libraries and all state RMV branches are also closed today.
- Up in the air: Boston's Logan Airport is effectively shut down today. While it's not an official ground stop, Massport spokesperson Jennifer Mehigan said they don't expect any flights today. FlightAware shows nearly 1,000 cancellations.
Click here for more updates on the storm's impacts Monday. Turning the table on tariffs: Massachusetts' top politicians and business leaders are applauding the Supreme Court decision Friday that struck down most of President Trump's new tariffs. Democrats, including Healey, Sen. Ed Markey and Rep. Richard Neal, said the tariffs were raising costs on local residents and small businesses. Brooke Thomson, the president of the Associated Industries of Massachusetts, the state's largest business association, said in a statement Friday that she hoped the ruling would "reinvigorate international trade and confirm the status of our commonwealth as a global center of economic growth and opportunity." - Catch up: The court ruled that Trump exceeded his authority imposing tariffs under the the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). That includes Trump's sweeping "Liberation Day" tariffs and his border security tariffs on Canada, China and Mexico. Other sector-specific tariffs, like on steel and lumber, remain in place. Additionally, on Saturday, Trump announced 15% global tariffs under a different statute that allows tariffs for up to 150 days.
- What's next: Right now, there's no definitive plan to refund the $130 billion the federal government has made in revenue from IEPPA tariffs. That's something a lower court may have to figure out. Veteran trade lawyer Robert Leo told NPR he believes it can be done, since customs receipts and records are digital now. But it's unclear if individual consumers will be able to access any refunds. "Will it be set up in a way that it really gets back into the pocketbooks of our consumers? Or will those rebates more or less stay in the pockets of the importers," Jon Hurst, president of the Retailers Association of Massachusetts, told WBUR's Kevin Vu.
- Go deeper: The latest episode of NPR's Planet Money podcast has more on the post-ruling tariff and refund landscape.
Ice gold: For the first time since the 1980 "Miracle on Ice," the U.S. men's hockey team are Olympic gold medal winners. Team USA beat Canada 2-1 yesterday on an overtime goal by forward Jack Hughes. But they only made it to overtime thanks to former UMass Lowell River Hawk goalie Connor Hellebuyck's 41 saves, as well as Massachusetts native Matt Boldy's tricky opening goal and a game-saving play on the goal line by Boston Bruins defenseman Charlie MacAvoy. (Bruins goalie Jeremy Swayman made some important off-the-ice contributions, too.) P.S.— Boston's semi-annual restaurant week, Dine Out Boston, is back for its winter season with 20 new participating restaurants, including Sulmona Restaurant & Bar, The Block at Woods Hill and Row 34 in Kenmore Square. The two-week event includes more than 200 local restaurants total and runs through March 7. Click here to see what else is on the menu, and to view the fixed pricing for lunch and dinner. |
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