Happening Today
Nangle sentencing, committee hearings, and more
10 a.m. | Financial Services Committee holds virtual public hearing on a docket of bills regarding auto insurance.
10 a.m. | Legislation related to the Department of Children and Families’ work in adoption and abuse cases is up for consideration at a Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities virtual hearing.
11 a.m. | Housing Committee holds a virtual public hearing on 21 bills related to public housing.
11 a.m. | Self-advocates and legislators speak at a rally outside the State House held “to recognize that people & families with disabilities deserve the right to live in the community with needed disability services and supports.”
12 p.m. | Health Policy Commission meets to discuss and release its 2021 Health Care Cost Trends Report, which includes new research and policy recommendations for health care reform in Massachusetts.
2 p.m. | Former Rep. David Nangle, a Lowell Democrat, is set to be sentenced in a federal court hearing held via video conference before Judge Rya Zobel.
Today’s Stories
The dust has settled in Boston’s preliminary mayoral election
After the dust settled from Tuesday’s preliminary mayoral election in Boston, it was City Councilors Michelle Wu and Annissa Essaibi George who appeared to emerge victoriously.
Their wins guarantee that Boston is set to make history when residents head to the polls in November: the next mayor of Boston will be a woman of color. It’s a historic contest and moment for the city and it is accentuated by the fact that the two candidates stand at opposite ends of the political spectrum, reports Boston Globe’s Milton J. Valencia.
Wu was the first to declare victory just after 10 p.m. — only two hours after the polls closed — as results slowly trickled in from the city, reports Boston Herald’s Sean Philip Cotter and Erin Tiernan. It’s worth pointing out that the vote count is still unofficial, the city is still in the process of tallying.
Acting Mayor Kim Janey, who made history as the first woman and person of color to hold the top office, will not have a shot at a full term. WBUR’s Todd Wallack and Lisa Creamer report that Janey struggled to stand out in the field of candidates even though she had been on the job for several months.
Now, the city holds its breath as it sprints to the Nov. 2 general election, and Essaibi George and Wu battle it out to become the next chief executive of Boston.
Think outside the box on health care reform
You just have to think outside the box. That’s what Gov. Charlie Baker said yesterday morning as he expressed a want to take another shot at health care reform legislation, reports State House News Service’s Katie Lannan. Baker filed a bill two years ago focused on primary and behavioral health care.
Who owns the staircase the BU professor fell through? There’s not a lot of answers
It still isn’t clear who was responsible for maintaining a set of stairs in Dorchester that a Boston University professor fell to his death through, reports Boston Globe’s Travis Andersen, John R. Ellement and Elizabeth Koh. According to the Globe trio, records suggest the Department of Conservation and Recreation may have some responsibility for the rusted structure.
More from Andersen, Ellement, and Koh: “An August 2020 DCR report noted the Old Colony Avenue and Columbia Road intersection next to the staircase was especially dangerous and recommended making nearby crosswalks and surrounding paths safer for pedestrians. An MBTA official also said Monday that DCR was responsible for the stairwell. A DCR representative did not respond to questions Tuesday about the report or the agency’s oversight role.”
A new search begins in Worcester
A committee in Worcester will hold its first meeting Thursday as it starts to find the city’s next superintendent of schools, reports Scott O’Connell for the Telegram & Gazette. The objective of the first meeting? Develop a timeline and request for proposals for a consultant to help the committee members with the process. Worcester School Committee members voted to not renew Superintendent Maureen Binienda’s contract two weeks ago.
Incumbents in trouble? Framingham, Gloucester mayors distant second in prelims
File under: Warning signs? Framingham’s first-ever Mayor, Yvonne Spicer finished a distant second to challenger Charlie Sisistsky in Tuesday’s preliminary election, Susan Manning of Framingham Source reports, setting up a rematch in November. Meanwhile, in Gloucester, incumbent Romeo Theken looks likely to come in second to challenger Gregory Verga as results trickle in, the Globe’s John Hillard reports.
Wide open: Fields culled in races for open mayoral seats on Lynn, Somerville
Somerville is one step closer to having its first new mayor in 20 years. Alex Newman of Somerville Patch reports two city councilors will face off in November after Will Mbah and Katjana Ballantyne emerged atop a four-candidate field. In Lynn, it will be School Committee member Jared Nicholson going head-to-head against City Council President Darren Cyr for the right to replace outgoing Mayor Thomas McGee, Trea Lavery of the Lynn Item reports.
Tailgate or not, UMass Amherst students wanted to celebrate game
Even though the tailgate lot was closed, it didn’t stop students at the University of Massachusetts Amherst from gathering last week for a game against Boston College. MassLive’s Cassie McGrath reports that hundreds of students congregated outside of Townehouse of Amherst to celebrate game day.
More from McGrath: “UMass canceled the student tailgate after the university reported more than 150 cases of COVID after the first week of classes. Around 97 percent of the student population is vaccinated against COVID and there are currently no public health prohibitions about outdoor gatherings off campus, according to the school.”
BPD clerk pleads guilty to overtime fraud
A former clerk with the Boston Police Department pleaded guilty to overtime fraud after authorities said she sometimes forged the signature over her supervisor to increase her overtime pay by about $30,000 over a two-year period, reports the Associated Press’ Boston Bureau.
BHC donation to help fund cardiovascular research
Boston Children’s Hospital just found itself flush with cash. Boston Business Journal’s Jessica Bartlett reports that a foundation overseen by a BCH trust board member donated $20 million to the hospital, the largest in its history. The money will be used to help fund discoveries within pediatric heart disease. A new combined cardiovascular program will be called the Benderson Family Heart Center at Boston Children’s Hospital in honor of the Benderson Family Foundation, the group that sent the money.
Biddy Martin to step down as president of Amherst College
Amherst College President Biddy Martin plans to step down at the end of the next academic year after 11 years on the job, reports the Associated Press. Martin started at the college in 2011 as the first woman to lead the institution and is the longest-serving president in 50 years.
Sold (almost): Leicester town meeting approves Becker College campus buy
One more step. A packed-to-the-rafters Leicester Town Meeting has endorsed a plan to spend nearly $20 million to purchase much of the campus of the now-shuttered Becker College, the Telegram’s Kim Ring reports. The plan now just needs voter approval at the ballot box next Tuesday.
Area firefighters save a home in Louisiana
A group of Dalton Fire Department firefighters who went to Louisiana to help out local crews responded to a house fire Tuesday and helped put out the fire before it completely destroyed the home, reports Berkshire Eagle’s Larry Parnass. The group is among 10 Massachusetts firefighters who travled down south together.
‘Elevated alert:’ UMass Memorial say Covid spike hampering emergency services
UMass Memorial Hospital says its emergency room is experiencing longer wait times amid a 50 percent spike in the number of Covid patients and the ongoing medical labor shortage, Katherine Hamilton of the Worcester Business Journal reports.
Need parking? How about $375K for a spot in the South End
Do you have $375,000 laying around and a really urgent need to park your car? Well, in that case, you’re in luck. Boston Herald’s Meghan Ottolini reports that one luxury residential real estate broker is selling an underground parking spot in the South End for $375,000. At that price, it better come with free gas or something.
Today’s Headlines
Metro
Rats running roughshod: Cambridge looks to hire a rat liaison – Universal Hub
Massachusetts
Haverhill mayor appoints affordable housing task force – Eagle-Tribune
Lowell fire stations ‘woefully outdated’ – Lowell Sun
WPI, Clark ranked among best national universities – Worcester Business Journal
Bon Voyage, Boncore…but Who Will Fill the Gap on Transportation Panel? – WMASSPI
Nation
Newsom Survives California Recall Vote and Will Remain Governor – New York Times
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