A double-edged sword

Also: Quincy shuts down church's makeshift shelter; Brockton Hospital reopens today [❤️ Donate]( [View in Browser](   August 13, 2024  ☀️ Sunny, with a high near 83. Good Morning Boston, We're following [Gov. Maura Healey's live Radio Boston interview from yesterday]( with another live interview today - this time with Mayor Michelle Wu. [Get your questions in here]( before 11 a.m. But before you get texting, let's first go through the news: - A double-edged sword: The start of the first fall semester of free community college in Massachusetts is just three weeks away. The new initiative -[implemented as part of this year's state budget]( - covers tuition and fees for all Massachusetts residents, regardless of age. WBUR's Amy Sokolow reports campuses are bracing for the new year with a mix of excitement and mild concern. - The good news: Nate Mackinnon, the executive director of the Massachusetts Association of Community Colleges, says they're bracing for another influx of new students. After [Massachusetts eliminated tuition for those over the age of 25]( last year, the state's 15 community colleges saw enrollment spikes ranging from 12% to 56%. And the news that tuition will be free for everyone generated "huge interest," Mackinnon said. "[It] opens doors to students who never thought college was possible in the first place," he said. - The flip side: Community college staff [were already being stretched thin]( by last year's enrollment spike. Mackinnon says the extra $117 million the system got in the budget is short of what they'll need to support a growing student population. For example, the state's largest school, Bunker Hill Community College, is reporting a 20% increase in students, according to Mackinnon. "It's gonna be a big operational challenge for them to pivot," he said. - What's next: Mackinnon hopes they get more money in future budgets to address staff shortages and turnover. "You can get a better starting salary as a high school teacher in most cities and towns in the commonwealth," he said. - Go deeper: WBUR's Carrie Jung[recently spoke with two local community college administrators on Radio Boston]( about how they're preparing for the potential wave of new students. - At long last: Brockton Hospital is set to reopen today, 18 months after it was [forced to close by a fire](. WBUR's Priyanka Dayal McCluskey reports the long-awaited reopening is [being cheered by medical workers both inside - and outside - the hospital](. - Zoom in: The hospital now has a renovated emergency department and a new outpatient surgical facility. - Zoom out: The reopening is also expected to ease stress on other medical facilities on the South Shore, which have struggled with higher-than-usual crowding since the 2023 fire. For example, South Shore Hospital in Weymouth had 564 patients on a recent afternoon - far more than its 374 licensed hospital beds. - The latest: Steward Health Care has reached a deal to sell its 5,000-doctor physicians network to Tennessee-based Rural Healthcare Group. The finalized agreement, which was [announced last night]( still needs approval from regulators and from a bankruptcy judge. Steward's next bankruptcy hearing is scheduled for this Friday in Houston. - Movin' on up: The Boston Red Sox' top three prospects - shortstop Marcelo Mayer, outfielder Roman Anthony and catcher Kyle Teel - are slated to make their Triple-A debuts in Worcester tonight, after [getting called up from Portland together]( over the weekend. - Psst: [Here's the WooSox schedule this month]( if you want to catch the "Big Three" for cheap before they head to Fenway Park. - Meanwhile: The Red Sox have suspended Jarren Duran for two games, after the All-Star outfielder [responded to a heckling fan with a homophobic slur]( Sunday. His salary from the two games will be donated to the LGBTQ+ advocacy group PFLAG. - A win for Wu: The Boston Parks Commission unanimously approved yesterday Wu's plan to demolish and rebuild Franklin Park's White Stadium to serve as [the home of a new women's professional soccer team](. - Up next: Demolition is set to start this fall. In the meantime, opponents of the project are [calling for state officials to step in](. P.S.- Looking for ways to enjoy these [near-perfect]( summer nights? Boston's free outdoor summer movie series kicked off last night - and continues tonight and tomorrow with kid-friendly screenings in [Roslindale ("Elemental")]( and [West Roxbury ("Wonka!")](. Shows begin at dusk and include free popcorn, while supplies last. [Check out the full 10-night schedule]( to see when it's coming to your neighborhood. Nik DeCosta-Klipa Editor, Newsletters The Rundown [Quincy shuts down church's makeshift shelter for migrants]( Quincy officials issue "cease and desist" notice against a church allowing migrants to sleep in tents in a private garden. [Read more.]( [Quincy shuts down church's makeshift shelter for migrants]( Quincy officials issue "cease and desist" notice against a church allowing migrants to sleep in tents in a private garden. [Read more.]( [Here are the major health bills advocates wish lawmakers passed]( In a state that prides itself on health care access, quality and innovation, some advocates say they're dismayed by how little the Massachusetts Legislature accomplished before wrapping formal business last month. Legislators can point to a few budget items as accomplishments. But the list of bills they did not send to the governor's desk is long and sweeping. [Read more.]( [Here are the major health bills advocates wish lawmakers passed]( In a state that prides itself on health care access, quality and innovation, some advocates say they're dismayed by how little the Massachusetts Legislature accomplished before wrapping formal business last month. Legislators can point to a few budget items as accomplishments. But the list of bills they did not send to the governor's desk is long and sweeping. [Read more.]( [Light on news, heavy on personality in Elon Musk and Donald Trump X interview]( It was typical Trump fare in an X conversation between the former president and Tesla CEO Elon Musk Monday night. Starting late due to technical issues, the friendly political chat lasted two hours. [Read more.]( [Light on news, heavy on personality in Elon Musk and Donald Trump X interview]( It was typical Trump fare in an X conversation between the former president and Tesla CEO Elon Musk Monday night. Starting late due to technical issues, the friendly political chat lasted two hours. [Read more.]( [Why brutalist buildings should stay, even if people think they're ugly]( Architects are making the case for why the brutalist buildings like Boston City Hall shouldn't be torn down - including for environmental reasons. [Read more.]( [Why brutalist buildings should stay, even if people think they're ugly]( Architects are making the case for why the brutalist buildings like Boston City Hall shouldn't be torn down - including for environmental reasons. [Read more.]( [New military recruits to undergo baseline 'cognitive assessments' to detect later brain injuries]( An analysis released earlier this year suggested that the gunman in last October's mass shooting in Lewiston had traumatic brain injuries that could have been caused by repeated exposures to blast shockwaves as part of his Army Reserve service. The Pentagon announced Friday new policies to test for and protect against brain injuries. [Read more.]( [New military recruits to undergo baseline 'cognitive assessments' to detect later brain injuries]( An analysis released earlier this year suggested that the gunman in last October's mass shooting in Lewiston had traumatic brain injuries that could have been caused by repeated exposures to blast shockwaves as part of his Army Reserve service. The Pentagon announced Friday new policies to test for and protect against brain injuries. [Read more.]( Anything Else? - Wake up early tomorrow! Mars and Jupiter will be at their closest proximity to each other from Earth's perspective since 2018. It's a celestial optical illusion, known as conjunction, that will be visible to the naked eye. [Here's what it will look like and how to see it](. - Nearly 30 years after it closed, the Old Vienna Kaffeehaus - a tiny suburban Boston venue that saw major musical figures like Bill Monroe, Kris Kristofferson, Gil Scott-Heron and Townes Van Zandt - is [being celebrated with a reunion this Saturday.]( It will bring together many of its regulars, from a Taylor Swift collaborator to a Bonnie Raitt bandmate. - The popular Utah rock formation known as the "Double Arch" has collapsed, according to [photos released by the National Park Service](. - Morehouse College will introduce AI teaching assistants in some classes this fall. Joelle Renstrom [writes in this commentary]( that replacing human TAs with the same AI technology many schools prohibit seems hypocritical at best, and irresponsible at worst. What We're Reading 📚 - Cambridge spent years - and $1.4 million - hiding harassment claims against high-profile police officer ([The Boston Globe]( - Yes, Trump Was in a Scary Helicopter Ride. But Not With That Politician. ([The New York Times]( - Netflix dating show 'Love is Blind' is casting in New England ([NBC Boston](   Tell Me Something Good [This new trail network is the first in Vermont that's fully accessible to adaptive mountain bikes]( Nestled in the Green Mountains, the Driving Range features four miles of gnarly climbs, twisting curves and adrenaline-pumping drops. And with the help of volunteers, several nonprofits and 256 acres offered up by a Bolton landowner, the trail network is fully accessible to adaptive mountain bikes. [Read more.]( [This new trail network is the first in Vermont that's fully accessible to adaptive mountain bikes]( Nestled in the Green Mountains, the Driving Range features four miles of gnarly climbs, twisting curves and adrenaline-pumping drops. And with the help of volunteers, several nonprofits and 256 acres offered up by a Bolton landowner, the trail network is fully accessible to adaptive mountain bikes. [Read more.]( Play: [WBUR's daily mini crossword.]( Can you keep your streak going? Before you go: [A welcome interruption to the meteor shower.]( 😎 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.](   [Donate](   # # 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](. Trustees of Boston University on behalf of WBUR, 890 Commonwealth Ave Boston, MA, 02215, US Copyright 2024 WBUR-FM, All rights reserved.