Coronavirus Vaccine Distribution In Mass., Explained

Also: The latest on the Christmas Eve wind and rain storm; what one actor thinks we can learn from Scrooge ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  [Donate [WBUR]]( [View in Browser](  [WBUR]( December 24, 2020 Good Morning Boston, ☁️ 🎅 Mostly cloudy, with a high near 56. Intense rain and wind tonight. I'm happy to be back in your inboxes right ahead of the holiday weekend! A quick programming note before we get into the news of the day: We won't be sending this newsletter tomorrow on Christmas Day. But you can expect a special edition of the WBUR Weekender sent bright and early Saturday morning. If you don't get the Weekender (it's also written by me!), you can [sign up here.]( And for next week, WBUR Today may be hitting your inbox a little later than usual, but we promise to get it to you before 8:30 a.m. Now, onto the news! - ["The storm of storms"]( may be coming, meaning Santa will have some hazardous flying conditions tonight. There's a [significant wind and rainstorm]( on the way for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Some of us may see gusts over 40 mph and up to 60 mph – and that could create some tree damage and subsequent power issues. Not ideal. The wind will be strongest from roughly midnight Thursday, to an hour or two after sunrise on Friday morning. - Gov. Charlie Baker yesterday announced restaurants, retailers and other small businesses hurt by the pandemic will be eligible for grants through a [new $668 million small business relief fund]( operated by the state. The grants give struggling owners up to $75,000 or three-months of operating expenses to help pay for salaries, utilities, rent, debt or other expenses. - Here's a final reminder that the safest way to celebrate the holidays this year is at home with only members of your own family. It's been the message on repeat from state leaders and health officials for the past few weeks as case numbers continue to go up. The latest data show more than 4,500 new cases were reported in Massachusetts. Nearly 2,100 people are now hospitalized with COVID across the state, and 85% of non-ICU beds are occupied. - Lawmakers yesterday rushed a [compromise health care bill]( to Baker's desk. There's a lot of important stuff in it: It aims to keep telehealth accessible to patients after the pandemic ends, steer more financial support to community hospitals and broaden the scope of practice for some nursing professionals. It also tries to limit surprise medical bills and improves COVID-19 testing and treatment coverage. - And in non-coronavirus news: Bills to [expand abortion access]( to [overhaul the local law enforcement system]( are back on Baker's desk, just in time for the end of the year. Baker had asked for changes on both bills when they originally hit his desk. Lawmakers rejected changes to the abortion bill, but did address some of Baker's concerns on the police reform bill. P.S.– We have a little holiday gift for you! If you missed [WBUR's reading of "A Christmas Carol,"]( you can listen tonight on air from 7-8:30 p.m. The 90-minute broadcast will feature some very familiar voices: Meghna Chakrabarti, Tiziana Dearing, Jack Lepiarz, Bob Oakes and Robin Young. — Meagan McGinnes [@meaganmcginnes]( newsletters@wbur.org The Rundown [1.](url)[What To Know About Coronavirus Vaccine Distribution In Mass.]( Here’s what we know, so far, about who will be first in line, where and when. All of these estimates assume vaccines in the pipeline will be authorized for emergency use and that supplies will be available as promised. [Read more.]( - Related: ['Trusted Messengers, Trusted Messages': How To Overcome Vaccine Hesitancy](   #%23%23[Twitter](  #%23%23[Facebook](    2. [Search Is On To Replace Lelling As U.S. Attorney For Mass.]( Incoming President Joe Biden will appoint the next U.S. attorney for Massachusetts, but a local advisory committee expects to begin reviewing applications as early as next week. [Read more.]( 3. [Program Offers A Lifeline To Fishermen, And A Home For Unwanted Oysters]( The Nature Conservancy and the Pew Charitable Trusts have stepped in to help the struggling oyster industry, launching a program that aims to buy 5 million oysters from struggling farms in seven states, and plant the shellfish into degraded coastal waters. [Read more.]( 4. ['It's Really Hard': Former Hotel Worker Navigates Months Of Unemployment In Mass.]( Hotel occupancy in Greater Boston was at just 29% in October, compared to 90% the same time last year, according to the latest data from the Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau. And statewide hotel occupancy was 38.9% in October, compared to 75.6% the same time last year. [Read more.]( 5. [Millions Of Christmas Gifts May Arrive Late Due To Overload At The Postal Service]( "The warehouse is packed. Boxes from wall to wall and trucks waiting to get into dock for like three hours, waiting in line just to unload." [Read more.]( Support the news Anything Else? - If you only read one thing today: Our photographers, Jesse Costa and Robin Lubbock, captured hundreds of photos that tell the stories of a year rich in devastating loss and anxiety. They also showed us moments of solidarity – even levity – in Massachusetts. [These are the photos that helped us tell the stories of 2020.]( - Feeling a little "bah humbug" this pandemic Christmas? One actor thinks [communing with Scrooge]( may help. - From a Club Passim performance to an evening with Boston Lyric Opera, here are [five things to do this weekend.]( [WBUR] Your Daily Must Listen [Adam Weiner's New Song, 'Christmas Makes Me Cry,' Channels Holiday Loneliness]( [Listen]( HOLIDAY ART GUIDES [Local Artists Of Color To Shop This Holiday Season]( A Gift Guide For Beer Geeks That Helps Support Local Breweries.[Read more.]( 'Tis The Season For Streaming: 7 Local Productions Go Virtual To Celebrate The Holidays. [Read more.]( Boston Pops Go To Fenway To Bring Their Big Holiday Concert To The Screen. [Read more.]( See all of our [holiday art guides here.]( What We're Reading - Our 28 Best Christmas Cookies ([The New York Times]( - The Year Flour Was King ([Eater]( - This local YouTube star built a display of 3,000 dominoes that says ‘2020’ — and soon you can watch her topple it ([The Boston Globe]( Tell Me Something Good [A local actor thought he was just doing stand-in work for a Cam Newton commercial. Then he got to play the lead (Boston.com)]( "This was honestly a blessing to happen, just because of how hard the film industry has been hit with this pandemic." Before you go: [This Market Basket]( is on point with its decorating. 😎 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? 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