"We’re Relying On Workers To Protect Themselves"

Also: The Pfizer vaccine is here; why Deval Patrick is a contender for Attorney General ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  [Donate [WBUR]]( [View in Browser](  [WBUR]( December 14, 2020 📢 Due to the Google outage this morning, the newsletter was delayed. We appreciate your patience and hope you enjoy today's issue! Good Morning Boston, ❄️ Rain and snow with a high near 35. It's finally happening: coronavirus vaccines have shipped up to Boston. The first doses of the Pfizer vaccine at Boston area hospitals overnight so health care workers can be among the first to receive the shots. The vaccination process could begin as early as tomorrow. Here's what else you need to know this morning: - Today, 28 Boston Public Schools are reopening their doors to 1,700 students with complex learning needs. But, just hours before, the Boston Teachers Union took a [vote of no confidence]( in Superintendent Brenda Cassellius’ efforts to reopen school buildings. Even with the vote, teachers will report to work today. - The MBTA could vote today on whether they should or should not make major cuts to service. The initial plan to try to reduce a major budget gap includes canceling all ferry service, reducing the number of trains and cutting some bus lines. But many riders have opposed this plan. Of note: The T has said it will [reconsider]( some of the cuts, but there has yet to be another proposal from officials. - And in other transportation news: Starting today, the MBTA is cutting commuter rail service by more than half for at least two weeks. [Plan accordingly.]( - Attention parents or those who are kids at heart: The Boston Children's Museum is temporarily closing starting today because of the rise in COVID cases. It won't reopen before Jan. 7. And in non-coronavirus news: - Electors from all 50 states are convening today to cast their ballots for president. In Massachusetts, that means 11 electors gathering at the State House to vote for President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris. But it will be without its normal fanfare: no large groups of observers, no musical performances and no formal attire. You can learn more about this entire process below. P.S.– A Boston astronaut may be among the[first women to walk on the moon]( as part of NASA's new Artemis program. I'm honestly geeking out over this news and interview; it's a must listen. — Meagan McGinnes [@meaganmcginnes]( newsletters@wbur.org The Rundown [1.](url)[Hundreds Of Businesses In Mass. Violated COVID-19 Rules, Putting Workers At Risk]( In the most egregious cases, employers allegedly failed to alert people that their coworkers had tested positive, while others failed to promptly respond to inquiries by local health officials. Some symptomatic employees also felt pressured to work. [Read more.]( - Know Your Rights:[What Your Employer Must Do To Keep You Safe At Work Amid The Pandemic](   #%23%23[Twitter](  #%23%23[Facebook](    2. [The Vaccine Is Almost Here. Up First To Receive It, Health Care Workers Have Mixed Feelings]( Some employees say their sleeves are rolled up, ready for an injection. Others say they are wary — if not deeply mistrustful — of what’s inside that syringe. [Read more.]( 3. ['The Right Temperament': Why Deval Patrick Is A Contender For Attorney General]( If nominated, Patrick would confront some of the same challenges he faced when President Clinton tapped him to lead the Justice Department's civil rights division in the mid-1990s. [Read more.]( 4. [With COVID-19 Vaccines On The Way, BMC Doctor Discusses Future Plans For Distribution]( Dr. Cassandra Pierre, an infectious disease physician at Boston Medical Center who serves as the acting hospital epidemiologist, told WBUR when doses of the vaccine will arrive at Boston Medical Center, how the hospital plans to distribute the vaccine, and how health care workers are feeling about receiving the new vaccine. [Read more.]( 5. [Electors Across The Country Vote For President: What You Need To Know]( Today, 538 electors in all 50 states and the District of Columbia will cast their votes for president, marking a key next step for Joe Biden as he gets closer to officially becoming the 46th president of the United States. [Read more.]( Support the news Anything Else? - Cold weather have you feeling trapped indoors? Adventurer Blair Braverman, a dog musher, has some [tips for staying warm during outdoor fun]( – even if you're not about to dogsled across Alaska. - ICYMI: An opinion column in The Wall Street Journal got a lot of[heat this weekend]( for asking educator and incoming first lady Jill Biden — who holds two master's degrees and a doctorate in education — to stop using the title "Dr." - Slogging through nine months of a pandemic requires you to hold the ordinary and the unfathomable in your hands, writes Sara Shukla [in this commentary](. Even when it’s steady, it’s work, but we've learned to carry it. [WBUR] Your Daily Must Listen [Radio Boston | Boston Globe Columnist Illustrates The 'Beautiful Resistance' In Black Life]( [Listen]( COVID-19 VACCINE [Mass. Vaccine Rollout Plan Will Be In 3 Phases. Here's When You Could Get Yours]( State-Run Data System Will Track Mass. Vaccine Patients And Remind Them When To Get Their 2nd Dose. [Read more.]( 'The Perfect Storm': How Vaccine Misinformation Spread To The Mainstream. [Read more.]( Pfizer Is Already Producing Millions Of Doses Of Its Vaccine. A Crucial Ingredient Comes From Mass. [Read more.]( Get the latest vaccine news and understand what it means for you. [Sign up for our weekly coronavirus newsletter.]( What We're Reading - Seth Rogen Has a New Pot Habit ([The Cut]( - Meet the Electoral College, America’s Most Important Voters ([The Wall Street Journal]( - Military-grade camera shows risks of airborne coronavirus spread ([The Washington Post]( Tell Me Something Good [Chinese Lunar Probe Is On Its Way Back To Earth, Carrying Moon Rocks]( It's been more than 40 years since the Soviet Union last brought pieces of the moon back to our planet. The other country to bring back moon rocks is the U.S., which collected several lunar samples during the Apollo program before it ended in 1972. Before you go: I'm not sure if my lease allows [sugar gliders.]( 😎 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](