Steward on blast

Also: Hiring heroes; Healey's pot pardons are officially a go [Donate ❤️]( [View in Browser](  April 4, 2024 😑 Rain, possibly mixed with snow and sleet. Turns to all rain after 10 a.m. High near 39. Good Morning Boston, The wind is howling and sleet is still coming down this morning. But, fingers crossed, the T so far seems to be running per usual (minus some [some ferry cancellations]( and power outages are somewhat limited (there were about 12,800 customers [without power]( as of 7:30 a.m.). Let's get to the news: - Hire a vet: If you go to Gillette Stadium today, you'll see some real patriots (and no, not the football players). The Boston Veterans Job Fair, hosted by nonprofits Disabled American Veterans and RecruitMilitary, will run from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Registration is free for all transitioning military, veterans, military spouses and dependents. Here's what to know: - What kind of jobs will be there? RecruitMilitary Event Director Allen Von Plinsky told WBUR over 70 organizations will be at the fair, with fields like manufacturing, law enforcement, education, government and logistics. Jobs also range from entry level positions to those needing years of experience. Some of the biggest opportunities will be for highly skilled workers like technicians, electricians, mechanics and avionics, according to Plinsky. "I think that's just naturally in short supply around the United States, not even just in the veteran community," he said. - Do I have to preregister? Nope! Those not already signed up can register in person. The only requirement is that folks have some sort of veteran background. Plinsky said he expects close to 300 veterans to attend. - Zoom out: In February, the national veteran unemployment rate was 2.8%. Massachusetts is under that, at 1.7%, but still has work to do when it comes to supporting veteran residents. In [last year's homeless census in Boston]( 190 veterans were found to be experiencing homelessness — a 6% increase from the previous year. And a [February report found one in nine of all people who died by suicide in Massachusetts]( were current or former military personnel. - It's official: The Governor’s Council yesterday [unanimously approved]( Gov. Maura Healey's request to pardon all simple marijuana possession convictions in Massachusetts, following a hearing about the proposal. That means the pardon is effective immediately, and the state is starting to update records. Healey said the change could affect tens of thousands of people. - Heads up: If you want to proactively request a marijuana pardon certificate, fill out a [online form here.]( - Going home: Richard Slayman, the first living person in the world to receive a kidney transplant from a pig, was discharged from Massachusetts General Hospital yesterday afternoon. Slayman, a state transportation department manager from Weymouth, said he's had kidney disease for years and left the hospital with "one of the cleanest bills of health [he's] had in a long time." "I wished [a kidney] would come for many years,” Slayman said. “Now, it’s a reality and one of the happiest moments of my life.” - To learn more about how doctors transplanted the genetically modified kidney from a pig into a human body and why they're so jazzed about this first-of-its-kind operation, [read the full story from WBUR's Priyanka Dayal McCluskey here.]( - Siri, cue "Pomp & Circumstance March No. 1": It's about that time of year when we get word on who will give the commencement speeches at colleges and universities across Massachusetts. Yesterday, Endicott College announced Chris Christie, former New Jersey governor and presidential candidate, as its 2024 speaker. It's still early, but here's a look at who else we know will address graduates this spring: - Brandeis: Ron Liebowitz, award-winning documentary filmmaker - Harvard: Maria Ressa, journalist and advocate for freedom of the press - Smith: There's actually have five speakers, including journalist Jill Lepore and Bay State-bred costume designer Ruth Carter - Tufts: Fiona Hill, foreign intelligence advisor and author - UMass Chan Medical School: Gov. Maura Healey - Worcester Polytech Institute: Nancy Pimental, actress and award-winning TV writer, and Greg Tucker, leader in flexible packaging - Eat your heart out: The 2024 James Beard Award finalists dropped yesterday and there are two names on the list Bostonians will recognize. Dorchester darling Comfort Kitchen is up for Best New Restaurant. Conor Dennehy, of Cambridge's Talulla, is in the running for Best Chef: North East. To see all the James Beard noms from around New England, check out [this roundup from Eater Boston.]( Winners will be announced on June 10. P.S.— The latest episode of Beyond All Repair — which [just made Vulture's list of the best podcasts of 2024]( — is up. The [sixth episode]( of our true crime podcast brings us inside the sentencing hearing room and introduces a turning point in the case. [Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts](. Meagan McGinnes Assistant Managing Editor, Newsletters  The Rundown [Markey, Warren blast Steward and its CEO at congressional hearing in Boston]( The lawmakers criticized the growth of for-profit health care and said they have questions about who profited from business deals involving Steward hospitals, and how the company became bogged down by financial difficulties that jeopardize operations in Massachusetts. [Read more.]( [Markey, Warren blast Steward and its CEO at congressional hearing in Boston]( The lawmakers criticized the growth of for-profit health care and said they have questions about who profited from business deals involving Steward hospitals, and how the company became bogged down by financial difficulties that jeopardize operations in Massachusetts. [Read more.]( [For young offenders in Maine, justice varies with geography]( Maine has tried to send fewer teenagers to prison, emphasizing rehabilitation programs instead. But the rural north of the state shows the effort has played out unevenly. [Read more.]( [For young offenders in Maine, justice varies with geography]( Maine has tried to send fewer teenagers to prison, emphasizing rehabilitation programs instead. But the rural north of the state shows the effort has played out unevenly. [Read more.]( [Bringing dental care to kids in schools is helping take care of teeth neglected in the pandemic]( There's a renewed push to meet kids where they are when it comes to seeing a dentist. School-based care centers and nonprofits, like those working in Massachusetts and New Hampshire, are trying to shore up teeth that may have been neglected during the pandemic or haven't received routine dental care. [Read more.]( [Bringing dental care to kids in schools is helping take care of teeth neglected in the pandemic]( There's a renewed push to meet kids where they are when it comes to seeing a dentist. School-based care centers and nonprofits, like those working in Massachusetts and New Hampshire, are trying to shore up teeth that may have been neglected during the pandemic or haven't received routine dental care. [Read more.]( [AG: Competitive electric suppliers missed 'perfect' savings opportunity]( Over the last eight years, customers of competitive electric suppliers have paid $577 million more than they would have had they stayed on basic service, Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell said. [Read more.]( [AG: Competitive electric suppliers missed 'perfect' savings opportunity]( Over the last eight years, customers of competitive electric suppliers have paid $577 million more than they would have had they stayed on basic service, Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell said. [Read more.]( [Healey administration announces hiring limits amid tax revenue shortfalls]( Gov. Maura Healey is imposing tighter controls on state government hiring as a way to manage spending. With some exceptions, all new Executive Branch hiring between April 3 and June 30 will need to be approved based on time-sensitivity and the importance of positions, the office said. [Read more.]( [Healey administration announces hiring limits amid tax revenue shortfalls]( Gov. Maura Healey is imposing tighter controls on state government hiring as a way to manage spending. With some exceptions, all new Executive Branch hiring between April 3 and June 30 will need to be approved based on time-sensitivity and the importance of positions, the office said. [Read more.]( Anything Else? - Don't let a little wet weather keep you inside. From Firelei Báez at the ICA to nasturtiums at the Gardner, here are our [arts and culture team's picks for fun around Boston this weekend](. - Hellablack is back for its sixth iteration on Monday. Curated by poet and artist Amanda Shea, the night centers nuanced and unapologetic Black art. Learn more about how the artist showcase will be bigger than ever this year with a [preview from WBUR's Arielle Gray.]( - Moving past tragedy, the Lewiston bowling alley that was one of two targets for the worst mass shootings in Maine history [announced it plans to reopen in May](. - The six-figure threshold:[A recent pair of studies]( say you have to earn more than $100,000 annually to be able to buy a typical American home. And in Boston, the minimum threshold is twice that amount. What We're Reading 📚 - A Black pastor retired and started driving for a car service on the Cape. Quickly, he started getting pulled over. ([The Boston Globe]( - Jon Stewart Says Apple ‘Wouldn’t Let Us Do’ an Anti-AI Segment and ‘Asked Us Not’ to Have Federal Trade Commission Chair as a Guest: ‘What Is That Sensitivity?’ ([Variety]( - This Concord man loves eclipses so much, he turned his car into an “Eclipse Mobile” ([NHPR](  Tell Me Something Good [Boston Marathon's official dog, Spencer, honored with statue along route]( Following the 2013 marathon bombings, Spencer became a fixture of the marathon as he stood alongside the race holding a "Boston Strong" flag in his mouth to support the runners. Now, Spencer will permanently sit on marathon route in Ashland in the form of a bronze statue made by artist Jeff Buccacio. [Read more.]( [Boston Marathon's official dog, Spencer, honored with statue along route]( Following the 2013 marathon bombings, Spencer became a fixture of the marathon as he stood alongside the race holding a "Boston Strong" flag in his mouth to support the runners. Now, Spencer will permanently sit on marathon route in Ashland in the form of a bronze statue made by artist Jeff Buccacio. [Read more.]( Listen: The Common is featuring weekly conversations for Earth Month with people across Greater Boston working to build our region’s climate resilience. [First up? Kannan Thiruvengadam]( the Executive Director of Eastie Farm, a nonprofit that focuses on food insecurity and climate justice. Play: [WBUR's daily mini crossword.]( Can you keep your streak going? Before you go: Bring on the [giant trolls](. 😎 Forward to a friend. They can sign up [here](. 🔎 Explore [WBUR's Field Guide]( stories, events and more. 📣 Give us your feedback: newsletters@wbur.org 📧 Get more WBUR stories sent to your inbox. [Check out all of our newsletter offerings.]( Support the news    Want to change how you receive these emails? Stop getting this newsletter by [updating your preferences.](  I don't want to hear from WBUR anymore. 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