"The Jesse James Of Community Theater": One Man's Path Of Deception

Also: A new WBUR poll on remote work; your local blueberry picking guide ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  [Donate [WBUR]]( [View in Browser](  [WBUR]( August 14, 2020 Good Morning Boston, 🌞 Mostly sunny, with a high near 84. Deadlines, deception, calculated political moves and climate change. No, this is not the making of a thrilling 2020-inspired novel (though, I'd read it). It does, however, speak to the contents of today's newsletter (I'd read that, too, but I'm biased). Here's your local news rundown: - Today is the deadline for schools to submit their reopening plans to state education officials. So far we know at least five of the largest school districts in Mass. plan to start their year remotely. As of last night, this includes Worcester, Revere and Lynn. - Earlier this week Gov. Charlie Baker released a color-coded map of the state to show community spread. When it was released, there were only four cities in the red. As of yesterday, there were [11 "red" communities]( Fall River, Granby, Holyoke, Hull, Lawrence, Saugus and Salem being the new additions. The map will continue to update on Wednesdays, when the state typically releases [town-by-town data](. - As Massachusetts fights to control upticks in coronavirus cases, a few other New England states, like Vermont, are reporting steady numbers. And New Hampshire is even seeing declines. Health commissioners from both states joined WBUR to talk about why they're faring well others falter. [Give it a listen]( (or skim the highlights from the conversation). - Good news for Zone 1 commuter rail riders: You'll be able to travel between Lynn and Boston at the [same price as a subway ride]( through the end of 2020. - There's some more drama around Elizabeth Nabel, the president of Brigham and Women's hospital. She resigned from the board of Cambridge-based Moderna last month after questions around a potential conflict of interest emerged (the hospital is involved with testing the company's coronavirus vaccine). But apparently this isn't the first time Nabel has found herself in that kind of a situation. The Boston Globe [reported]( that she faced similar questions six years ago from the Brigham's parent company after she became a paid board member of a medical device company that also did business with the hospital. - And a local politics update: There's one less candidate vying for U.S. Rep. Joe Kennedy III's seat. Dave Cavell, one of the nine (yes, nine) Democrats running in the Fourth Congressional District, announced yesterday that he was [suspending his campaign]( and endorsing Jesse Mermell in an attempt to make it harder for another candidate — Jake Auchincloss — to take advantage of a crowded field that would splinter the primary vote. P.S.– When the state released its community risk map earlier this week, my first thought was, "man, this is more of a Massachusetts geography pop quiz." And apparently my fellow Meghan in the newsroom had the same thought. So she [made her own risk map]( actually labeling the towns and cities. Fair warning: Her version is now out-of-date since the state has released new data. But still, Me(a)g(h)an's for the win! — Meagan McGinnes [@meaganmcginnes]( newsletters@wbur.org The Rundown [1.](url)[A Community Theater Leader Disappears And Leaves A Path Of Deception In His Wake]( People will tell you Richard Bento is a good actor. On and off the stage. Which is why many in New England's community theater scene think he's been able to do what he's done for so long – trick people and take their money – repeatedly in different states. [Read more.](   #%23%23[Twitter](  #%23%23[Facebook](    2. [Remote Work Has Cushioned The Pandemic's Blow, But WBUR Poll Reveals Inequalities]( Nearly 58% of respondents in a new WBUR-MassINC poll said they'd like to keep working from home at least part of the time even after the state fully reopens. But there's a big educational divide in who got to test out working from home during the pandemic. [Read more.]( 3. [Fishermen And Scientists Join Forces To Track Effects Of Climate Change]( The Shelf Research Fleet brings scientists and fishermen together to share data on ocean health and fisheries. [Read more.]( 4. [Boston Liquor License Holders Attend Mandatory 'Educational' Zoom Meetings With Licensing Board]( Restaurants operators with liquor licenses reviewed these and other pandemic-related policies during one of several online sessions with the Boston Licensing Board scheduled for Thursday and today. [Read more.]( 5. [Joe Biden: For The Next 3 Months, All Americans Should Wear A Mask When Outside]( The former vice president said he would use the power of the executive branch to do everything possible to make mask-wearing in public a requirement — though mandates have come at the state level, and many governors have opted against such measures. [Read more.]( - Poll: [Biden Expands Lead, A Third Of Country Says It Won't Get Vaccinated]( Support the news Anything Else? - Beat the pandemic blues with blueberries! Here's [a guide on how and where to pick safely.]( - You want to expand your social bubble. [Should you get a coronavirus test first?]( It's not a simple "yes or no" answer. - Lara Wilson survived a stage III breast cancer diagnosis, in part by spending time in nature and practicing mindfulness. This spring, as she faced her third surgery, she turned to those comforts again. [Read her essay]( navigating this all amid a pandemic. [WBUR] Your Daily Must Listen [50 Years After Janis Joplin's Final Concert, A Fan Is Still Missing A Piece Of His Heart]( [Listen]( LOCAL ELECTIONS [Fact Checking Kennedy And Markey On Their Black Lives Matter Claims]( How Markey And Kennedy Are Working For Workers. [Read more.]( We Asked, They Answered: 4th District Candidates Vying For Kennedy's Seat Tell Us Why They're Running. [Read more.]( Mass. 2020 Primary: What To Know About Voting By Mail Or At The Polls. [Read more.]( What We're Reading - The Paper Mill Was Everything To The People Of Jay, Maine. Then It Exploded ([Boston Globe Magazine]( - Cancel College ([The Atlantic]( Tell Me Something Good [Ocasio-Cortez's 2nd Grade Teacher Tells Her 'You Got This' Ahead Of DNC Speech]( The former BU grad and New York congresswoman got some words of encouragement from her second grade teacher on Twitter earlier this week. No matter your political beliefs, this interaction is extremely wholesome and heartwarming. Before you go: This was the [early lunch time]( support I needed. 😎 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. You signed up for this newsletter at wbur.org. Our mailing address is: WBUR-FM 890 Commonwealth AveBoston, MA 02215-1205 [Add us to your address book](