The Story Behind The Black Lives Matter Mural In Nubian Square

Also: Live in one of the state's coronavirus hotspots? Here's when & how you can get tested. Plus, info on a free, virtual tie-dye event tonight. ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  [Donate [WBUR]]( [View in Browser](  [WBUR]( July 9, 2020 Good Morning Boston, 🥵 Hazy, [hot and humid](. Chance of showers. Highs 85-90. We love data and numbers here in the WBUR newsletter "office" (also known as my dining room). Today's email is focused on parsing out the data to better understand the local virus spread and where the city sees room for improvement. Here's what you should know: - The Baker administration announced yesterday that it's rolling out a new summer testing initiative targeting eight hotspots where cases and positive test rates far exceed the statewide average. The volume of testing being done in these towns and cities has declined significantly over the past two months. - Where exactly are these hotspots? Chelsea, Everett, Fall River, Lawrence, Lowell, Lynn, Marlborough and New Bedford. - The new testing initiative dubbed ["Stop the Spread"]( will launch on Friday and run through Aug. 14 to make testing available for people with or without symptoms in those areas. Testing will be available in brick-and-mortar locations and via mobile testing vans. Here are the [locations and hours for those sites.]( - We know the state rolling weekly averages for newly reported coronavirus cases and deaths are [trending down.]( what about the rates in long-term care facilities? While the positive test rate is still above the state average, the[gap is closing.]( seven-day rolling average of new daily cases among residents and staff of skilled nursing facilities and rest homes was 31 on June 30, down from 212 on May 30. - There's some less hopeful news on the job front. From airlines to paper mills, [layoffs across the country keep coming]( and there are growing signs it won't be getting better anytime soon. P.S.– I don't want to send you off to start your day on a downer. If you have 10 minutes, give [this interview with Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Gail Caldwell]( a listen. She talks about what it was like to write her new book in Cambridge, Mass., and shares the lessons she learned from her 5-year-old neighbor. — Meagan McGinnes [@meaganmcginnes]( newsletters@wbur.org The Rundown [1.](url)['This Is Just The Beginning': Roxbury Artists Paint Black Lives Matter Mural In Nubian Square]( "Art changes attitudes, and that is a complement to the forward movement of our society. It's an affirmation of Black presence in a neighborhood that has a long legacy of Black excellence, Black activism, Black creativity and is now currently being gentrified." [Read more.](   #%23%23[Twitter](  #%23%23[Facebook](    2. [Harvard And MIT Sue To Block Tougher ICE Policy On Student Visas]( In a suit filed jointly Wednesday morning in U.S. District Court, attorneys for the two universities said the rule “leaves hundreds of thousands with no educational options within the United States,” just weeks before fall classes were set to begin. [Read more.]( 3. ['First Step' Mass. Research Turns Off Key Gene In ALS That Runs In Families]( The method uses small molecules called "micro-RNAs," delivered by a virus into the spinal fluid, to block a gene key in the fatal nerve disease ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. [Read more.]( 4. [Supreme Court Undercuts Access To Birth Control Under Obamacare]( The opinion upheld a Trump administration rule that significantly cut back on the Affordable Care Act requirement that insurers provide free birth control coverage as part of almost all health care plans. [Read more.]( 5. [When It Comes To Reopening Schools, 'The Devil's In The Details,' Educators Say]( States, districts and the federal government are pushing and pulling in different directions. Scientists are updating their advice to reflect emerging research and the changing course of the pandemic. And parents and educators are finding it hard to make decisions in the murk. [Read more.]( ➡️ Related: [Top Pediatrician Says States Shouldn't Force Schools To Reopen If Virus Is Surging]( Support the news Anything Else? - You'll want to bookmark this: We’ve compiled a list of [New England drive-ins and outdoor movie pop-ups]( to help keep you entertained this summer. - From a short film festival to Bow Market's reopening, here are some suggestions for [things to do this weekend.]( - Robert Morris was a Black Bostonian who fought for freedom. So why don't we have a statue of him, asks Kabria Baumgartner [in this commentary.]( [WBUR] Your Daily Must Listen [Here & Now | Coronavirus Pandemic Compounds Another Ongoing Crisis: The Opioid Epidemic]( [Listen]( ANTIRACISM RESOURCES [A Reading List On Race For Allies Who Want To Do Better]( Protesting? Here's How To Help Keep Your Family Safe From COVID-19 When You Go Home. [Read more.]( 5 Podcasts To Listen To If You Really Want To Know About Race In America. [Read more.]( Having Difficult — But Important — Conversations About Race. [Listen.]( What We're Reading - As Boston Councilors Promote A Big Policing Shift, Worcester's Past Shows How It Could Succeed — Or Fail ([WGBH]( - San Quentin’s Breakthrough Prison Newsroom ([Politico]( - The Pandemic Experts Are Not Okay ([The Atlantic]( Tell Me Something Good [T]( At-Home Fabric Dyeing With Stephen Hamilton]( Have old fabrics or clothes that need a refresh? Join The ARTery for an at-home dyeing workshop with artist and The ARTery 25 member Stephen Hamilton. The free workshop will start at 4 p.m. and will be particularly fun for kids. Register now – and then go grab some of the materials you'll need before this evening! Before you go: WBUR's Kimberly Atkins has ["great pillow game."]( No wonder she's still a fan favorite on Room Rater. 😎 Forward to a friend. They can sign up [here](. 📣 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 [WBUR]( [95289b97-66e8-43d4-a174-3bc3520a79a9.png]( [Instagram](  [Twitter]( [Facebook]( 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 editorial newsletters.]( Interested in learning more about corporate sponsorship? [Click here.]( Copyright © 2020 WBUR-FM, All rights reserved. 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