New England Has Highest Rate Of Fentanyl-Linked Deaths

A new report looks at the demographics of people dying from fentanyl overdoses. Having trouble viewing this email? [Click here]( [Like us on Facebook]( [View on Instagram]( [Follow us on Twitter]( [View our videos on YouTube]( [Listen]( Good morning, Boston. There are 13 days until the [WBUR Marathon](. We need to raise over $1 Million in 26.2 hours so that WBUR can keep bringing you publicly-funded news and programming all summer long. Here's what you can do to support #teamWBUR: - Share a pre-written message on social media. - Take a selfie wearing WBUR gear. Tag it #teamWBUR. - [Donate early]( to support shorter fundraisers. The rundown 1. [Fentanyl-Linked Deaths: The U.S. Opioid Epidemic's Third Wave]( Research shows a 113 percent average annual increase from 2013 to 2016. A report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention looks into the demographic characteristics of those people dying from fentanyl overdoses. 2. [Trump Carries On Criticism Of McCain, As A Republican Calls His Words 'Deplorable']( "I gave him the kind of funeral that he wanted, which as president I had to approve. I don't care about this. I didn't get [a] thank you. That's okay. We sent him on the way, but I wasn't a fan of John McCain." 3. [New Zealand Banning Weapons Like Those Used In Mosque Attacks In Christchurch]( The government will create a buy-back program to pay owners "fair and reasonable compensation," which could cost the country between $100 million and $200 million. 4. [College Admissions Scandal Troubles Disadvantaged Students]( Programs designed to expand college access give students from low-income backgrounds a place to strategize, celebrate and vent. But now students in those programs are raising questions of fairness after last week's indictments. 5. [Lawsuit: Harvard 'Shamelessly' Profits From Photos Of Slaves]( Tamara Lanier, of Connecticut, is suing the Ivy League school for "wrongful seizure, possession and expropriation" of images she says depict two of her ancestors. What's it like outside? [Spring Rainstorm Overnight]( It looks like we'll see anywhere from 1/2 to 1 inch of rainfall, most of it over by the early to middle part of the commute Friday. Give me more [Prosecutors Disclose New Details In Boston Kidnapping Case]( Victor Pena was held without bail at his Superior Court arraignment Wednesday. [Boston Councilors Eye Real Estate Transfer Tax To Boost Affordable Housing]( The proposal would allow the city to place a tax of up to 6 percent on all real estate transactions over $2 million. [5 Things To Do This Weekend]( There's plenty happening this weekend with the MFA's brand new exhibition and women-centered narratives on stage to continue Women's History Month celebrations. [Commentary: Voting Is Often Futile. Massachusetts Can Make It Matter]( The Legislature is considering a solution: ranked-choice voting, which Maine and a growing number of cities have adopted, writes Mac D'Alessandro. Bookmark this [Celebrating 40 Years Since C-SPAN's First Broadcast]( The nonprofit television network aired its first broadcast back in 1979, offering America a window into the world of Washington. Other stories we're reading - How Rhode Island's Emergency 911 System Failed Baby Alijah ([ProPublica and The Public's Radio]( - Seeking A Second Opinion On Pain Podcast ([NPR]( - How Google's Bad Data Wiped A Neighborhood Off The Map ([Medium]( - Good Enough To Eat? The Toxic Truth About Modern Food ([Guardian]( We value your feedback so [let us know what you think of the new look](. Love this newsletter? Forward it to a friend and have them sign up [here](. Want more stories from WBUR delivered to your inbox? Sign up for some of our other newsletters [here](. [Like us on Facebook]( [Follow us on Twitter]( [View on Instagram]( WBUR, 890 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, MA 02215 [SafeUnsubscribe™ {EMAIL}]( [Forward this email]( | [Update Profile]( | [About our service provider]( Sent by wburtoday@wbur.org in collaboration with [Constant Contact]( [Try it free today](