Dreaming of MDW? Here’s when to drive

Also: More Orange Line disruptions (and shuttles); Quincy's mayor is up for a big pay raise [Donate ❤️]( [View in Browser](  May 20, 2024 ☀️ Today is mostly sunny, with a high near 68. Good Morning Boston, [Whoever's been engineering]( these rainy weekends is taking a bow and saying, "and scene." Yes, we're back to beautiful weather... on a Monday. Perhaps we'll have better luck next weekend. Speaking of which... - Memorial Day weekend is nearly here, and this year, AAA [estimates]( approximately 43.8 million people will travel 50 miles or more to their long weekend destinations. The good news? That's a 4% increase since 2023, and the first time we've exceeded pre-pandemic levels. The bad news? There will probably be a lot of traffic. You don't want to spend the weekend stuck in "bumpah to bumpah," so here are some tips on when to hit the road: - Worst times to drive: According to data from INRIX, a transportation analytics company, travelers will likely hit the most holiday traffic between noon and 7 p.m. on Thursday and Friday. Over the long weekend, you can expect the most traffic between 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday and Monday. - Best times to drive: Hit the road before 11 a.m. or at night if you're leaving Thursday or Friday. When heading back toward Boston, AAA recommends traveling before 1 p.m. on Sunday, and before 3 p.m. or after 7 p.m. on Monday since roads will be busiest in the afternoon. - And don't forget: The annual Boston Calling music festival is also back this weekend at the Harvard Athletic Complex. If you're traveling around Cambridge or Allston, know that N. Harvard Street in Allston and [many streets in and around Harvard Square]( will be closed after 9 p.m. You can also expect delays along Soldiers Field Road. - Quincy's City Council will meet today to discuss a potential raise for Mayor Tom Koch, [who has led the city for the last 17 years.]( An outside consulting firm has suggested that Koch — who currently makes about $159,000 a year — should be paid anywhere from $298,000 to $370,000. That would make him one of the highest-paid mayors in the country. - Since its announcement, the topic of Koch's new salary has been a [topic of controversy](. Koch has not received a raise in nearly a decade, but the suggested salary for being mayor of Quincy (home to just over 100,000 people) would surpass those of New York City's Eric Adams (who made about $258,000 in 2022 and presides over 8.3 million people) and Boston's Michelle Wu (who made around $207,000 last year and presides over 650,000 people). - Dorminson Consulting said its recommendation was based on an income survey of chief administrative officers in the Greater Boston area, as well as an assessment of Koch's responsibilities. Still, it's "just a recommendation," Quincy City Councilor James Devine told [The Boston Globe.]( Koch claims he plans to ask for a salary "below the low number" suggested by the consultants. - What's next: Koch will introduce two ordinances at today's city council meeting that should clarify how his salary — and the salaries of Quincy's city councilors — will be factored into [the 2025 fiscal year's $424 million budget proposal.]( - Massachusetts' struggling emergency shelter system may soon receive some assistance through federal funding, according to state Senate President Karen Spilka. She told [WCVB]( the state "might be able" to secure funding within "a few months" to help "defray" the system's projected [$932 million in operating costs](. The exact amount of aid from the feds is still TBD. - Heads up, Orange Line riders: Starting today, [free shuttle buses will replace service]( between North Station and Oak Grove after 8:30 p.m. The disruption will continue every night through Thursday, May 23, in order to accommodate bridge and track work. On the bright side, the T is making the commuter rail [free to ride]( Oak Grove, Malden Center and North Station during this time. P.S. — [Join us at CitySpace tonight]( at 7 p.m. for a live taping of "Song Exploder," a music podcast that explores how artists bring their songs to life. This episode's guest is folk singer Fenne Lily, who will also perform after the interview. Hanna Ali Associate Producer, Newsletters  The Rundown [With shelter deadlines looming, English classes prepare residents for 'self-sufficiency']( Emergency shelter residents will eventually have to work and pay for their own housing. That's why the state is offering English classes at some shelters, part of a pilot program advocates hope will become available across the shelter system. [Read more.]( [With shelter deadlines looming, English classes prepare residents for 'self-sufficiency']( Emergency shelter residents will eventually have to work and pay for their own housing. That's why the state is offering English classes at some shelters, part of a pilot program advocates hope will become available across the shelter system. [Read more.]( [Iran's president has died in a helicopter crash, state media reports]( Iranian state media reported Monday that no survivors had been found at the site of a helicopter crash and that an acting president has been named. [Read more.]( [Iran's president has died in a helicopter crash, state media reports]( Iranian state media reported Monday that no survivors had been found at the site of a helicopter crash and that an acting president has been named. [Read more.]( [At UMass Amherst, protesters briefly halt graduation, hold their own unofficial ceremony]( After protesters briefly interrupted UMass Amherst Chancellor Javier Reyes during his opening commencement remarks at McGuirk Stadium, a couple hundred people had gathered outside the stadium for an alternate commencement of what they called the “People's University for Gaza.” [Read more.]( [At UMass Amherst, protesters briefly halt graduation, hold their own unofficial ceremony]( After protesters briefly interrupted UMass Amherst Chancellor Javier Reyes during his opening commencement remarks at McGuirk Stadium, a couple hundred people had gathered outside the stadium for an alternate commencement of what they called the “People's University for Gaza.” [Read more.]( [He feared coming out. Now this Mass. pastor wants to help Black churches become as welcoming as his own]( The Rev. Brandon Thomas Crowley had always loved the Black Church, and wanted to become a pastor even as he realized he was gay. After six years of working as a pastor at his church in Newton, he came out to his congregation. He has now written a book that he hopes can serve as a guide for other congregations. [Read more.]( [He feared coming out. Now this Mass. pastor wants to help Black churches become as welcoming as his own]( The Rev. Brandon Thomas Crowley had always loved the Black Church, and wanted to become a pastor even as he realized he was gay. After six years of working as a pastor at his church in Newton, he came out to his congregation. He has now written a book that he hopes can serve as a guide for other congregations. [Read more.]( [At Morehouse, Biden says dissent should be heard because democracy is 'still the way']( Facing potential headwinds with both young voters and Black voters, President Biden's Morehouse College commencement address focused on his view of the importance - and future of - democracy. [Read more.]( [At Morehouse, Biden says dissent should be heard because democracy is 'still the way']( Facing potential headwinds with both young voters and Black voters, President Biden's Morehouse College commencement address focused on his view of the importance - and future of - democracy. [Read more.]( Anything Else? - This week at CitySpace: You can still [reserve a spot]( at our free plant care clinic on Wednesday, May 22, with[Emerald City Plant Shop's Quontay Turner.]( If your houseplants could use a little extra love, bring them in and Turner will show you how to repot, drain and even propagate them so they'll flourish. - Here & Now resident chef Kathy Gunst wants you to embrace this tiny, briny fruit: the olive! [Here are three ways]( to add a punch of flavor to your dishes. - "Nüwa in Fairyland," a modern twist on “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” centers on a high school production of Shakespeare's play and a Chinese transracial adoptee's journey through self-discovery as he prepares to play Puck. Boston University MFA student Brandon Zang, who wrote the play, [says he drew from his surroundings — and even "Glee" — for inspiration.]( What We're Reading 📚 - OpenAI’s Long-Term AI Risk Team Has Disbanded ([WIRED]( - New Editing Layer Adds Angst Inside NPR ([The New York Times]( - A decade ago, Boston tried and failed to fix its broken liquor license system. Will this time be different? ([The Boston Globe](  Tell Me Something Good [Billionaire surprises students at Massachusetts college with big graduation gift (CBS News)]( Students at UMass Dartmouth got an amazing graduation gift from their commencement speaker. [Read more.]( [Billionaire surprises students at Massachusetts college with big graduation gift (CBS News)]( Students at UMass Dartmouth got an amazing graduation gift from their commencement speaker. [Read more.]( Listen: The Common discusses [the pilot program bringing ESL classes to new immigrants in Massachusetts' emergency shelters.]( Play: [WBUR's daily mini crossword.]( Can you keep your streak going? Before you go: [A lineup of local legends.]( 😎 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.](    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. Unsubscribe from all WBUR editorial newsletters [here](.  Interested in learning more about corporate sponsorship? [Click here.]( Copyright © 2023 WBUR-FM, All rights reserved.