Skipping town

Also: Meet the judge assigned to Steward's bankruptcy case; a delay on shelter time limits [Donate ❤️]( [View in Browser](  June 3, 2024 ☀️ Today is partly cloudy, with a high near 75. Good Morning Boston, Welcome to the first WBUR Today of June, aka Pride Month! In case you missed it, here are a [few ways you can celebrate in Boston this month.]( Let's get rolling with today's news: - Skipping town: Salem's government-owned ridesharing service, [the Salem Skipper]( is expanding. On Thursday, city officials announced the service will begin offering rides out of town to its neighboring communities, [Danvers and Beverly](. Since its inception in 2020, the program has provided more than 260,000 local rides to Salem residents. - How's it different than the big ride-hailing apps? An average ride with the Salem Skipper costs around $2 (and just $1 for students, senior citizens and people with disabilities). Mayor Dominick Pangallo said people of all ages use the service to get to school, doctors appointments and more. "This is a really strong case study for an innovative model for a regional transportation option, that isn't a fixed route, like a bus or a train," Pangallo told WBUR's Amy Sokolow. "It fills that unmet need, especially for people who may not be able to bike or walk easily." - How is Salem paying for it? The service expansion is funded by a $2.3 million Federal Transit Administration grant secured by U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton in 2022. - A Texas bankruptcy judge is scheduled to review Steward Health Care's plans to sell its hospitals today as a part of the company's ongoing bankruptcy proceedings. Steward's debt and rental obligations currently top $9 billion, according to the company's attorneys. - What's happening today: Judge Christopher Lopez will consider how and when the hospitals — including seven in Massachusetts — might be sold. Steward has proposed a quick timeline to have its hospitals go to auction by the end of June, but Ross Martin, a professor of law at Boston College, told WBUR's Deborah Becker he thinks the geographic diversity of the hospitals and the complicated nature of the auctions could result in delays. - What's next? We wait. After the hearing, "we're going to have a much clearer idea of where this case is going," University of Texas Law professor Jay Westbrook told Deb. "And I would be surprised if the judge doesn't slow things down a little bit." In the interim, Steward is seeking extra funds to keep facilities running through the bankruptcy. Deb has more on this and Lopez's background as a well-known bankruptcy judge below. - A new time limit for families staying in the state shelter system that was originally slated to take effect this past Saturday [has been delayed.]( state's Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities says families who've been in a shelter for nine months will start receiving notices in early July that they have 90 days to leave. - Why the delay? Gov. Maura Healey's administration said it had not finalized regulations or formal guidance for the length of stay policy approved by the state legislature, so they need a little more time. - The big picture: Lawmakers and Healey [instituted the nine-month restriction to help ease strain and control spending]( on the family shelter system. The system has been capped at 7,500 families since last year, and hundreds of families are on a waitlist. - You can now visit the birthplace home of John F. Kennedy in Brookline. This past Saturday, the John F. Kennedy National Historic site opened its doors to the public for its first full season since 2019, following [a series of renovation]( and updates]( to make the house more accessible. Visitors can swing by to learn more about JFK and his upbringing from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursday through Sunday, until October 30. P.S. — Attention Connecticut natives living in Greater Boston: It will soon be easier to get your hands on New Haven-style charred pies. Sally's Apizza is opening two new locations [in Dorchester and Concord.]( We'll wait to see if these spots are as sauce-cessful as the chain's Woburn location. (Sorry.) Hanna Ali Associate Producer, Newsletters Nik DeCosta-Klipa Editor, Newsletters  The Rundown [What do Steward Health Care and Alex Jones have in common? A bankruptcy judge]( The judge, in the Southern District of Texas Bankruptcy Court, will play a critical role in determining the timeline for the sale of the Steward's 30-plus facilities across the country, and how to distribute any assets to Steward's creditors. [Read more.]( [What do Steward Health Care and Alex Jones have in common? A bankruptcy judge]( The judge, in the Southern District of Texas Bankruptcy Court, will play a critical role in determining the timeline for the sale of the Steward's 30-plus facilities across the country, and how to distribute any assets to Steward's creditors. [Read more.]( [Former women staffers allege they were bullied at embattled Cannabis Control Commission]( The reports of bullying by now-suspended Communications Chief Cedric Sinclair are the latest example of chaotic and bitter dealings at an agency tasked with overseeing the state’s $6 billion marijuana industry. [Read more.]( [Former women staffers allege they were bullied at embattled Cannabis Control Commission]( The reports of bullying by now-suspended Communications Chief Cedric Sinclair are the latest example of chaotic and bitter dealings at an agency tasked with overseeing the state’s $6 billion marijuana industry. [Read more.]( [Mexico elects its first female president]( History is made as Claudia Sheinbaum wins the election by a landslide. [Read more.]( [Mexico elects its first female president]( History is made as Claudia Sheinbaum wins the election by a landslide. [Read more.]( [Trump's conviction could change the presidential race in New Hampshire and other swing states]( "My first reaction is to be circumspect and cautious because we've never seen anything like this happen before," said Dante Scala, a professor of politics at the University of New Hampshire. "This will take time to play out over the next few months." [Read more.]( [Trump's conviction could change the presidential race in New Hampshire and other swing states]( "My first reaction is to be circumspect and cautious because we've never seen anything like this happen before," said Dante Scala, a professor of politics at the University of New Hampshire. "This will take time to play out over the next few months." [Read more.]( [What to make of the new COVID variants, FLiRT]( As much as we would all love to ignore COVID, a new set of variants that scientists call “FLiRT” are here to remind us the virus is still with us. [Read more.]( [What to make of the new COVID variants, FLiRT]( As much as we would all love to ignore COVID, a new set of variants that scientists call “FLiRT” are here to remind us the virus is still with us. [Read more.]( Anything Else? - This week at CitySpace: The stage will be busy all week — and you can still snag tickets! [Tuesday]( we've got an installment of Curated Cuisine with James Beard Award nominee Conor Dennehy. On [Wednesday,]( three guests join WBUR's Anthony Brooks to discuss the "third act" of their lives. And [Friday,]( got the hosts from the "Vibe Check" podcast in house for a live chat.  - While in recovery himself, former Rhode Island congressman Patrick Kennedy was inspired by the stories of resilient people "surviving and thriving" while battling addiction or mental illness. [Kennedy joined WBUR's Weekend Edition]( to discuss healing and his new book, which is a compilation of stories from resilient people dealing with mental illness.  - Spelling trubble trouble? Don't worry, there's hope for you yet. Here's some sage advice from [the winner of this year's Scripps National Spelling Bee]( 12-year-old Bruhat Soma, who spoke with Here & Now about what it takes to become a great speller.  - Oh, all the places you'll go: Cognoscenti contributor Miles Howard has a bonus musing on [MBTA adventures]( specifically [ones that can take you to the beach.]( What We're Reading 📚 - What Is Really Going On With Charlotte the Stingray? ([The Assembly]( - The Gannett editor fired for talking with me has engineered a soft landing ([Poynter]( - Town Meeting tables ceasefire resolution, bypassing vote with no debate ([Brookline.News](  Food For Thought [Grill up seafood, vegetables and even fruit at this year's summer barbecues]( Summer is officially off and running, and that means more time outdoors and more time cooking simple, seasonal meals over a hot fire, be it charcoal, gas, or wood. [Read more.]( [Grill up seafood, vegetables and even fruit at this year's summer barbecues]( Summer is officially off and running, and that means more time outdoors and more time cooking simple, seasonal meals over a hot fire, be it charcoal, gas, or wood. [Read more.]( Listen: The Common [brings you another episode from the archives.]( This time, it's a chat with WBUR’s José Massó, host of ¡Con Salsa! Play: [WBUR's daily mini crossword.]( Can you keep your streak going? Before you go: [Congrats, Ciara, on your Mass-ive achievement!]( 😎 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. 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