POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: Where the competition is PRIMARY DAY! POLLS OPEN 7 AM - 8 PM

By Kelly Garrity PARTY TIME — A trio of Republicans are fighting for the chance to take on Sen. Elizabeth Warren in November today in a race that’ll give a glimpse into where the Republican electorate in the state stands. In the past few years, many of the GOP’s most prominent candidates have abandoned former Gov. Charlie Baker’s brand of bipartisan politicking for pro-Donald Trump rhetoric. But two candidates running for Senate would represent a turn to the more moderate appeal Republicans in the Bay State have historically needed to win statewide general elections in the deep-blue bastion. While Bob Antonellis, an engineer and political newcomer, has taken the conservative – and occasionally conspiratorial – lane, touting his ardent support for Trump, Quincy City Council President Ian Cain and attorney and Marine veteran John Deaton have both kept the former president at arm's length (for the most part ). Cain, a relatively recent convert to the Republican party, has played up his Massachusetts roots and pitched himself as part of a new generation of leadership. And Deaton has the backing of some power players in the crypto world and a campaign operation buoyed by former political aides to Baker. Public polling on the race has been limited – a UMass Amherst/WCVB poll conducted in late May showed Antonellis slightly ahead. A more recent poll paid for by the PAC backing Deaton showed him with a sizable lead, but just over half of GOP voters were still undecided as of mid-August, according to the survey. Whoever wins tonight faces unlikely odds heading into the general election against Warren. Without any Democratic primary opposition, the senator has spent her time and money helping congressional colleagues in swing states while still managing to stash more than $5 million in her campaign coffers. A Republican presidential ticket topped by Trump – plus a Democratic party buzzing with excitement for its new nominee – will make it even more challenging. GOOD TUESDAY MORNING. It’s good to be back in your inbox. Polls open at 7 a.m. and stay open until 8 p.m., and you can find your polling place here . Send your election tips, scoops, predictions and takes my way: kgarrity@politico.com . And keep scrolling for more races to watch today. TODAY — Gov. Maura Healey and Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll hold a press conference celebrating the launch of the MBTA income-eligible reduced fare program at 9:30 a.m. in Malden. Secretary of State Bill Galvin casts his ballot at 9:30 a.m. in Brighton. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu appears on SparkFM’s “Politics & Prosecco” at 1:15 p.m. Rep. Lori Trahan and state and local officials celebrate new affordable housing projects at 10:30 a.m. in Fitchburg and at noon in Clinton. Rep. Ayanna Pressley votes this morning before joining a canvass for Governor’s Council candidate Stacey Borden and SJC clerk candidate Allison Cartwright at 10 a.m. in Jamaica Plain. Sen. Ed Markey holds a press conference with Amazon warehouse workers calling for the passage of the Warehouse Worker Protection Act at 11 a.m. in Revere. BALLOT BATTLES GRUDGE MATCHES — You’ve probably heard: There’s little competition in legislative races this year. But there are still some matchups drawing outsized intrigue from Boston to Springfield, up and down (and way down) the ballot. The left is duking it out in Cambridge and Somerville in two races that pose big questions about what effective liberal legislating looks like. State Rep. Erika Uyterhoeven, a democratic socialist, is facing a challenge from Kathleen Hornby, a progressive who previously worked as State House staffer, most recently for state Rep. Marjorie Decker. The Somerville Democratic Party , which is backing Hornby, knocked Uyterhoeven for holding “inflexible positions” that blunt progress. But Uyterhoeven has the backing of some of the state's most prominent progressives, including Rep. Ayanna Pressley, who spent the weekend defending the incumbent’s record. Rep. Ayanna Pressley joined state Rep. Erika Uyterhoeven at a campaign event Sunday. | Kelly Garrity/POLITICO Decker, meanwhile, is facing a challenge of her own from democratic socialist candidate Evan MacKay, who has made inaction and the lack of transparency on Beacon Hill central to their campaign. Decker boasts support from several of the state's top electeds, including Gov. Maura Healey, who is featured in a Decker ad that’s popped up on Facebook. More on that matchup from CommonWealth Beacon’s Gintautas Dumcius.  In Springfield, state Rep. Bud Williams and state Sen. Adam Gomez are both facing Democratic challengers, in what local election officials predict will be a low-turnout election day, per The Springfield Republican’s Jeanette DeForge . In somewhat of a rarity for a state legislative race, Gomez and challenger Springfield City Councilor Malo Brown have both hit the airwaves with ads ahead of today’s vote, per Matt Szafranski of Western Mass. Politics & Insight . Down the ballot, Boston’s political class has its eyes on a race for a position so obscure it has people asking why it’s even an elected office (CommonWealth Beacon's Michael Jonas has the answer ). Boston City Councilor Erin Murphy is competing against Allison Cartwright , a longtime public defender, to become the next clerk of the Supreme Judicial Court in Suffolk County. Cartwright has leveraged the support of some of the city and state’s most prominent progressives – Pressley, state Sen. Lydia Edwards , Boston Mayor Michelle Wu , and Sen. Ed Markey , to name a few – as well as more than half of the current members of the city council. Several showed out over the weekend to get out the vote for Cartwright, who is running on her resume as a longtime lawyer. “It is a no brainer. She is the best, the most qualified, in this race,” Attorney General Andrea Campbell, one of Cartwright’s earliest endorsers, said ahead of a canvass in Jamaica Plain Sunday. Several Boston-based politicians joined longtime attorney Allison Cartwright for a canvass in Jamaica Plain over Labor Day weekend. | Kelly Garrity/POLITICO Murphy has support from Boston’s moderate wing, including Rep. Stephen Lynch , state Sen. Nick Collins and Councilors Ed Flynn and John FitzGerald , and argues her experience as citywide elected in Boston and her past as a teacher qualify her for the role. But she’s faced heat for touting some endorsements from unions who backed her in her council bid but who aren’t playing in this race,– and for using a Boston EMS logo in a graphic highlighting her supporters. “I am currently a citywide elected official who has 70 endorsements for the race I have now. Some of the unions didn't want to weigh in [on the clerk’s race] because it's a race they've never weighed in on,” Murphy told Playbook over the weekend. “They in no way don't want to continue supporting me in my role as Councilor.” “People will be haters,” she added. “How can you lie about an endorsement?” If she loses, Murphy does intend to stay on the council and run for reelection for her seat next year, she said, though added that “I’m going to win.”More on the SJC clerk’s race from WBUR’s Walter Wuthmann.  Another down-ballot bare-knuckle battle that will be decided tonight: the Governor’s Council rematch between Mara Dolan , a public defender, and incumbent Marilyn Devaney . Dolan lost to Devaney by a slim margin last cycle, and is back with a slew of endorsements from members of Massachusetts' congressional delegation and several of Devaney’s colleagues on the council, which is responsible for vetting judicial nominees. The Boston Globe’s Matt Stout has more on that race and the other Governor’s Council competitions that have been heating up.  OPEN SEASON — A handful of candidates will effectively earn their spots in the incoming legislative class tonight. It’s only Democrats running to fill the voids left by state Reps. Dylan Fernandes , Ruth Balser , and Peter Capano and state Sen. Walter Timilty , so whoever wins in those districts should sail through November’s general election. And in the Cape and to the west, Hadley Luddy and Easthampton City Council President Homar Gomez already appear to have their seats locked down – neither is facing an opponent in their races today to replace state Reps. Sarah Peake and Daniel Carey respectively. IT ALL COMES DOWN TO TURNOUT — Secretary of State Bill Galvin expected turnout to exceed primaries in 2012 and 2016, per the Boston Herald’s Chris Van Buskirk. WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW TODAY *****STEWARD***** WHILE WE WERE OFF — Steward Health Care finalized deals to sell four of its hospitals in Massachusetts. Two other Steward hospitals, Carney Hospital in Dorchester and Nashoba Valley Medical Center in Ayer, closed their doors despite pushback from local officials. Here’s what you missed: — A Cape Cod gun store owner is racing to collect signatures for a ballot question that would overturn the state's new gun laws, the Boston Herald’s Chris Van Buskirk reports. — A bill backed by state Rep. Dylan Fernandes that would allow a handful of Martha’s Vineyard towns to impose a real estate transfer tax is on the move in the House, per State House New Service’s Sam Drysdale , just in time for general election campaigning. — Marty Walsh misses being mayor. "I miss the challenges of the job ... but the biggest piece is missing seeing the people in the streets, going to the housing developments, doing the peace walks, going to the events. You miss that. You miss the action of talking to everyday people,” he told WBUR’s Anthony Brooks in an interview focused on his role in helping vet vice presidential candidates for Vice President Kamala Harris. — Break out the bug repellent. The deadly EEE virus has Massachusetts on high alert, Massachusetts Public Health Commissioner Dr. Robbie Goldstein tells GBH News. ON THE STUMP JOB BOARD — Gov. Maura Healey's name is popping up in conversations about who could serve as U.S. Attorney General in a hypothetical future Kamala Harris adminstration. But after sidestepping a question about her interest in a role in a Harris administration during an interview on CBS' "Face the Nation" Sunday, Healey told reporters Monday she's "not interested in any job other than being governor." But she did deliver a passionate pitch for the Democratic ticket during a speech at Boston's annual Labor Day breakfast Monday, urging Bay Staters to lend a hand in New Hampshire. — “Top Trump volunteer in Mass. no longer with campaign after warning New Hampshire is ‘no longer a battleground state’,” by Emma Platoff, The Boston Globe.  — “RFK Jr.’s faithful in Mass. say national media ‘warped’ his message,” by Greg Kerstetter, Masslive. DATELINE BEACON HILL — “State Rep. Bill Straus reflects on 32 years on Beacon Hill,” by Grace Ferguson, The New Bedford Light. MIGRANTS IN MASSACHUSETTS — “Mass. schools spend $27M on migrant costs,” by Christian M. Wade, The Salem News: “Massachusetts school districts have spent more than $27 million to provide classroom instruction and food for migrant students, according to newly released state data. A report by the state Executive Office of Administration and Finance detailed some of the costs to communities from absorbing new students by breaking down how much each school district has received from the state in emergency aid payments.” IT'S NOT EASY BEING GREEN — “Massachusetts has received billions in federal clean-energy dollars, and is on track for more. What if Trump is elected?,” by Sabrina Shankman, The Boston Globe. FROM THE 413 — “Massachusetts thinks building ADUs will help unlock housing opportunities. But what does that mean for Berkshire County zoning laws?,” by Claire O'Callahan, The Berkshire Eagle: “Massachusetts lawmakers say accessory dwelling units can unlock the state's housing crisis one in-law suite at a time. But cities and towns need to move quickly, and zoning rarely does. … Some face one or two tweaks to their bylaws. Others will grapple with extensive changes. The deadline is challenging, too, because communities, planners and lawyers have questions and see gray areas in the law that the state has yet to clarify.” — “Chicopee Housing Authority, former director accused in civil suit of neglect that led to slaying of elder resident,” by Jeanette DeForge, The Springfield Republican: “Family and friends of a man who was stabbed to death by his neighbor are suing the Chicopee Housing Authority and its former director for neglect and discrimination, saying they put tenants in danger by failing to follow their own rules.” THE LOCAL ANGLE — “Chelsea residents angry over handling of Tobin Bridge construction project ,” by Bhaamati Borkhetaria, CommonWealth Beacon: “More than a year after Chelsea residents sounded the alarm over lead paint chips falling from Tobin Bridge, the state has stepped in with a new mitigation plan to help address the problem, but some residents and environmental advocates say it’s not enough.” HEARD ‘ROUND THE BUBBLAH HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to state Rep. Andy Vargas, state Rep. Dawne Shand, state Sen. Jo Comerford, The Boston Globe’s Dan McGowan, former Boston City Councilor Kendra Lara, Scott Bosworth, Leo Stella, Caroline Lehman, and Nick Andersen. Want to make an impact? POLITICO Massachusetts has a variety of solutions available for partners looking to reach and activate the most influential people in the Bay State. Have a petition you want signed? A cause you’re promoting? Seeking to increase brand awareness among this key audience? Share your message with our influential readers to foster engagement and drive action. Contact Jesse Shapiro to find out how: jshapiro@politico.com .   Follow us on Twitter Kelly Garrity @KellyGarrity3   Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook family Playbook  |  Playbook PM  |  California Playbook  |  Florida Playbook  |  Illinois Playbook  |  Massachusetts Playbook  |  New Jersey Playbook  |  New York Playbook  |  Ottawa Playbook  |  Brussels Playbook  |  London Playbook View all our politics and policy newsletters Follow us

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Middleborough Health Department Offers Safety Reminders After Horse Dies from EEE

MIDDLEBOROUGH — Town Manager James McGrail and the Middleborough Health Department would like to provide safety tips after a horse recently died from being infected with Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE).August 29, 2024 Benjamin Paulin Client News, City/Town News

For immediate release

MIDDLEBOROUGH — Town Manager James McGrail and the Middleborough Health Department would like to provide safety tips after a horse recently died from being infected with Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE).

Town officials were notified today that the unvaccinated horse died on Aug. 24 after falling ill with EEE.

There are currently no human cases of EEE or West Nile Virus in Middleborough. Town officials will be monitoring the situation closely and recommend that community members adhere to the below safety tips.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, EEE is a rare but serious infection. EEE causes very few human cases each year, but can be fatal. The risk of infection is highest among individuals under the age of 15 and over the age of 50.

Avoid Mosquito Bites

• Limit outdoor activities during peak mosquito hours. Consider canceling or rescheduling planned outdoor evening events and activities. The hours from dusk to dawn are peak biting times for many mosquitoes. If you are outdoors at any time and notice mosquitoes around you, take steps to avoid being bitten by moving indoors, covering up and/or wearing repellent.
• Clothing can help reduce mosquito bites: Although it may be difficult to do when it’s hot, wearing long sleeves, long pants and socks while outdoors will help keep mosquitoes away from your skin.
• Apply insect repellent if you do go outdoors. Use a repellent with DEET, permethrin, picaridin, IR3535 or oil of lemon eucalyptus according to the instructions on the product label. DEET products should not be used on infants under two months of age and should be used in concentrations of 30 percent or less on older children. Oil of lemon eucalyptus should not be used on children under three years of age. Permethrin products are intended for use on items such as clothing, shoes, bed nets and camping gear and should not be applied directly to your skin.

Mosquito-Proof Your Home

• Drain standing water: Many mosquitoes lay their eggs in standing water. Limit the number of places around your home for mosquitoes to breed by either draining or getting rid of items that hold water. Check rain gutters and drains. Empty any unused flowerpots and wading pools and change water in bird baths frequently.
• Install or repair window and door screens: Some mosquitoes like to come indoors. Keep them outside by having tightly-fitting screens on all of your windows and doors.

Information about EEE and reports of current and historical EEE virus activity in Massachusetts can be found on the MDPH website here.

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Carver, Middleboro Now at High Risk Level for EEE Read More: Carver, Middleboro Now at High Risk Level for EEE

 

BOSTON (WBSM) — The towns of Carver and Middleboro are now considered to have a high risk of Eastern Equine Encephalitis after the Massachusetts Department of Public Health raised the risk level of both communities today.

In addition, the towns of Bridgewater, Lakeville and Rochester had their risk levels raised to moderate.

The new designations come after EEE was detected in additional mosquito levels collected in Abington, Middleboro, Wareham and Whitman.

Previously, 12 Massachusetts were already designated as moderate risk for EEE: Amesbury, Groveland, Halifax, Haverhill, Kingston, Merrimac, Newburyport, Plymouth, Plympton, Salisbury, Wareham and West Newbury.

The first EEE-positive mosquitoes in Massachusetts in 2024 were announced on July 3 from Carver.

READ MORE: Carver Has Massachusetts' First EEE Sample of 2024

EEE-infected mosquitoes were also found in Halifax and Kingston in Plymouth County, Barnstable in Barnstable County, and Amesbury and Haverhill in Essex County.

“Summer is a time for people to be outside and enjoy themselves. We want people to have fun and keep themselves safe by being informed about where EEE is being found in mosquitoes,” said Public Health Commissioner Robbie Goldstein, MD, PhD.

“Everyone should take the recommended steps to prevent mosquito bites. We recommend that people in high-risk areas use mosquito repellents any time they are outside and consider rescheduling outdoor activities that occur during the evening or early morning,” Dr. Goldstein said.

READ MORE: West Nile Virus Found in New Bedford Mosquito Sample

There have been no human cases in Massachusetts since 2020, when one person died from the virus and four other people contracted it. That was after six people died as a result of EEE in 2019, out of a total of 12 human cases that year.

“The mosquitoes that are most likely to spread EEE are most active between the hours of dusk and dawn,” said State Epidemiologist Dr. Catherine M. Brown. “They are also more active during hot and humid weather. We all want to enjoy this last month of summer but also want people to take steps to be safe from mosquitoes.”

In addition to EEE, mosquitoes can also carry West Nile Virus, which has recently been found in mosquito samples taken in New Bedford, Dartmouth and Fairhaven, among other Massachusetts communities.

Plant Some Of These In Your Garden to Keep Mosquitoes Away

As we previously told you, mosquitoes are the most dangerous creatures on earth. If you want to keep them away from you're yard, these plants can help!

WBSM 1420 MOSQUITOES

NEMASKET WEEK: EEE risk ‘moderate’ in Middleboro, parts of Plymouth County

 

EEE risk ‘moderate’ in Middleboro, parts of Plymouth County

By Sawyer Smook-Pollitt

news@nemasketweek.com

Jul 5, 2024

Middleboro is at a “moderate” risk of EEE, according to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. File photo.

MIDDLEBORO — Middleboro and five other Plymouth County municipalities are at a “moderate” risk of Eastern equine encephalitis, also known as EEE, after a mosquito in Carver was found carrying the disease on Sunday, June 30.

Wareham, Carver, Kingston, Plymouth and Plympton are also at “moderate” risk of EEE, according to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. Data collected by the Department shows every other municipality in the state either has a “low” or “remote” risk of the disease. 

Eastern equine encephalitis is a rare and potentially fatal mosquito-borne illness that can affect people of any age, according to the Department of Public Health. There were 12 human cases of EEE in Massachusetts in 2019 with six deaths; in 2020, there were five human cases and one death.

“The last EEE outbreak cycle in Massachusetts occurred in 2019-2020 and since then, there have been no human cases of EEE reported in the state,” said Massachusetts Public Health Commissioner Robbie Goldstein.

According to State Epidemiologist Catherine Brown, early detection of EEE can lead to a riskier summer. 

“EEE activity in Massachusetts tends to occur in outbreak cycles,” said Brown. “When EEE is found in mosquitoes like this at the start of the season, the risk may increase throughout the rest of the summer. We rely on our mosquito surveillance program to monitor for the presence of virus to let people know when and where the risk is occurring.”

This year’s discovery of EEE on June 30 is the earliest it has been detected since at least 2014, according to data collected by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health from 2014 to 2020.

When spending time outdoors this summer, the Department of Public Health recommends wearing insect repellent, long sleeves, pants and socks. The hours of dusk until dawn are “peak mosquito hours” according to the state and standing water left outdoors can be a literal breeding ground for mosquitos. 

NEMASKET WEEK

 

 

West Nile virus found in mosquitos in Raynham and Middleboro. What to know and do

Daniel Schemer

The Taunton Daily Gazette

RAYNHAM — West Nile virus has been found in mosquito samples in Raynham and Middleboro — including mosquitoes that bite humans — changing the towns’ risk level from low to moderate, according to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.   

Mosquitoes from Aug. 8 and Aug. 14 collections from the towns were tested by the state’s Department of Public Health (DPH), and multiple samples were found to be positive for West Nile virus (WNV).

The DPH says that moderate risk level means infection with WNV is a possibility, or has already occurred. 

Raynham Health Director Paula Rossi-Clapp explained that, according to communications she’s received from Bristol County Mosquito Control, the reason the town was changed to moderate risk is that Middleboro had positive samples identified at the same time. 

One of the mosquito samples is the kind that bites humans. Because mosquitoes do not stay within town borders, several communities with swampland have changed to moderate risk. 

What risk level are Taunton, Dighton and Berkley?

Currently, other area communities, including Taunton, Dighton, and Berkley, are at low risk for WNV, meaning no mosquito samples have tested positive, according to the state's most recent data, which dates to Thursday Aug. 17, as of Friday afternoon. 

Rossi-Clapp said Bristol County Mosquito Control wants more testing and data, to see if more than one human-biting mosquito tests positive over the next week.

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Are there any restrictions on outdoor activities in Raynham?

In the meantime, there won’t be any restrictions placed on public outings. 

Has there been any aerial pesticide spraying?

Aerial spraying has been occurring regularly at the Senior Center and recreational athletic fields on King Phillips Road in Raynham. 

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What is West Nile virus?

WNV is part of group of viruses known as arboviruses, which are most commonly transmitted to humans by the bite of an infected mosquito. The mosquitoes that carry this virus are common throughout the state and are found in urban as well as more rural areas.

Who is at most risk for severe illness from West Nile virus?

While WNV can infect people of all ages, people over the age of 50 are at higher risk for severe infection.

How many people experience severe illness from WNV?

According to the state’s Department of Public Health, 80% of people infected with WNV show no systems, do not feel sick and will be fine. Less than 20% infected will develop symptoms, like fever, vomiting, nausea, and body aches. 

The CDC stated 1 out of 150, or less than 1%. of the infected will experience severe illness and symptoms, like encephalitis, meningitis, paralysis, vision loss or could even go into a coma or even death.

How common is West Nile virus?

The state’s Department of Public Health also said that even though cases have been identified all over the state, it’s difficult to record the number of people exposed due to the lack of symptoms for the majority. From 2011–2020, 148 cases were reported with severe illness. Seven of these people died. 

How can I avoid West Nile virus and EEE?

Raynham's and Middleboro’s health departments recommend taking the following measures to avoid mosquito bites that might cause WNV or Eastern equine encephalitis, also known, as EEE — which tends to be rarer but has a much higher incidence of severe illness than WNV:

1. Apply insect repellent when spending time outdoors. Use a repellent with DEET (N, N-diethyl-m-toluamide), permethrin, picaridin (KBR 3023), IR3535 or oil of lemon eucalyptus [p-methane 3, 8-diol (PMD)] according to the instructions on the product label. DEET products should not be used on infants under 2 months of age and should be used in concentrations of 30% or less on older children. Oil of lemon eucalyptus should not be used on children under 3 years of age. Permethrin products are intended for use on items such as clothing, shoes, bed nets and camping gear and should not be applied to skin.
2. Wear long clothing. Long-sleeved shirts, pants and socks will protect your skin from mosquitoes. 
3. Be aware of peak mosquito hours. The hours from dusk to dawn are peak periods for mosquitoes. Think about rescheduling outdoor activities for outside these peak periods. 
4. Drain any standing water you find on or near your home. Mosquitoes lay their eggs in standing water. Check rain gutters and drains, check your lawn for puddles, empty unused flowerpots and wading pools, and change the water in birdbaths frequently.
5. Install or repair screens for your doors and windows. 
   
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