Good news, commuters: The Green Line shutdown is over, and service has been restored to the system's B, C, D and E branches. But don't get too comfortable: The Orange Line is next on the list for a partial closure, beginning this Thursday, Aug. 20. But first, let's get to today's news: Primary numbers: We're just two weeks away from the Massachusetts primary, and a new poll released this morning by WCVB and the University of Massachusetts Amherst shows incumbent Sen. Ed Markey with a big lead over Rep. Seth Moulton among likely voters in the Democratic race for Senate. Among 445 registered voters interviewed for the poll, 60% of respondents said they would vote for Markey if the primary was being held that day, compared to just 32% for Moulton. - Why? Among those polled, 66% of respondents said they trusted Markey to represent them on the issues they cared about, compared to 34% for Moulton, who was perceived as more moderate by most respondents. Moulton has highlighted the 80-year-old senator's age throughout his campaign. But the poll found that the theme that resonated most among Markey supporters was his progressivism.
- Where the differences lie: The two Democrats are mostly aligned on policy. But they still found plenty to disagree on during their most recent debate earlier this month. WBUR's Anthony Brooks has more here on where they differ, from foreign policy to healthcare.
- What's next: Markey and Moulton will face off in one final debate — co-hosted by WBUR, WCVB and The Boston Globe — this Thursday, Aug. 20, before in-person early voting begins on Saturday, Aug. 22. The state primary is Sept 1.
- Learn more about how to vote and what's on the ballot in our primary voter guide.
Lawyered up: Three New England chapters of the ACLU are celebrating a legal win against the Trump administration. As WBUR's Amy Sokolow reports, a federal appeals court sided with the ACLU chapters of Massachusetts, Maine and New Hampshire last week when it declared the Trump administration's attempts to deny bond hearings to people detained by ICE to be unlawful. "This decision is a tremendous victory for immigrants' rights and for the rights of all people in the United States," ACLU of Massachusetts Managing Attorney Dan McFadden told Amy. - The administration bucked nearly 30 years of precedent when it announced in 2025 that noncitizens living in the U.S. would have no opportunity to ask for release on bond if detained by ICE. The recent federal appeals court decision is in line with those of six other appeals courts and hundreds of lower courts, according to McFadden. "It's a bedrock principle of our Constitution and our legal system that people should not be denied their liberty without being provided fair due process in court," he said.
- Now what? The legal battle is not over yet. The federal government is appealing to the Supreme Court on the issue this fall, McFadden said.
New life for an old light: The historic Bakers Island lighthouse in Salem has a new gig. WBUR's John Bender reports that the light station — which has guided vessels through Salem Sound for nearly 230 years — has been equipped with technology that will alert boats to slow down when endangered marine mammals, like North Atlantic right whales, are in the area. Bakers Island Light is now among 11 sites in Massachusetts helping provide speed warnings to passing ships. - Bob Trapani, who is head of the American Lighthouse Foundation in Maine, helped install the tech at Bakers Island. "I always like to tell people that lighthouses are not done making history," he told John. "Sure, they're automated, but they're very much a part of who we are. They have a connection to the sea, and when you can integrate this type of cutting edge technology, it gives them new life, new purpose."
P.S.— The Big E won't hit West Springfield for another month, but you can enjoy all the flavors of the fair at our Curated Cuisine event this Wednesday at CitySpace. We'll be munching on fried dough with butter and sugar, apple cider whoopie pies and Craz-E Burgers (that's a burger between two glazed donuts). Plus, former WBUR midday host Jack Lepiarz will talk to fair food purveyors about the stories behind the snacks. Sound like your kind of night? Grab your tickets here. |
