How One Clinic 'Got To Yes' On (Most) Staff Vaccinations

Also: An early look at the state's plan to vaccinate first responders; ways to celebrate NYE from home ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  [Donate [WBUR]]( [View in Browser](  [WBUR]( December 30, 2020 Good Morning Boston, ☁️ Mostly cloudy, with a high near 38. We're only two days away from closing the door on 2020 (thank goodness). A quick programming note: This is the last WBUR Today of the year! We won't publish Dec. 31 and Jan. 1, but I'll be back in your inboxes on Monday morning. Until then, stay safe and well. I'll see you on the other side. Now, onto the news of the day! - Firefighters, police, EMTs are next in line for vaccinations, which could start as early as Jan. 11. The latest distribution plans for first responders are focused on using local resources: they can go to a regional, state-run clinic or receive vaccines from local nurses, possibly at police and fire departments. The Professional Firefighters of Massachusetts [isn't convinced]( local health departments can handle this rollout plan on their own, and suggests that EMTs and paramedics are better positioned to vaccinate their fellow firefighters. - The seven-day positive test rate across the state is now up to 7.6%. That's up one percentage point in the last week. We'll know more about the latest numbers and spread in this week's report from the state, but that's coming on Saturday, not Friday, because of New Year's Day. Head to [wbur.org]( for the latest numbers. - Boston is extending its moratorium on non-essential evictions for a second time. Now, most evictions in the city will be paused until at least February. - PSA: If you received an extension this year from the RMV for an expired driver's license or ID, that extension likely expires tomorrow. There's some good news though: most renewals can be done online. - If you hear bells at noon today, it's because Catholic churches across Boston will be ringing them to honor the more than 330,000 Americans killed by COVID-19. It's part of a national bell-ringing tribute. - Zoom out: Health officials in the U.K. [authorized the AstraZeneca-Oxford University COVID-19 vaccine]( this morning. Now Britons have two vaccine options – and this one is inexpensive and easy to store. P.S.– [Here's all the information you need]( how to celebrate First Night 2021 in Boston, virtually. It'll be different from normal years – for starters, there will be no fireworks for the first time since 1975 – but there are some perks. It'll be warmer, likely from the comfort of your couch and you never have to change out of your slippers. Want to watch a movie instead? Here are [six films to stream from home on New Year's Eve.]( — Meagan McGinnes [@meaganmcginnes]( newsletters@wbur.org The Rundown [1.](url)[How One Mass. COVID-19 Clinic 'Got To Yes' On (Most) Staff Vaccinations]( Though they have far more experience than most with COVID-19, many staffers at a special coronavirus clinic had reservations about the coming vaccines – until they looked into the data and helped educate each other. [Read more.](   #%23%23[Twitter](  #%23%23[Facebook](    2. [DeLeo Reflects On Record-Setting Run As Speaker]( Speaker Robert DeLeo took to the House floor one last time Tuesday to reflect on a three-decade Beacon Hill career that he said he tried to center around one overarching philosophy: that "what this job is all about, very simply, is helping people." [Read more.]( 3. [Controversial Emancipation Statue Is Removed From Its Pedestal In Boston]( Boston Art Commission members in June voted unanimously to remove the depiction of a Black man breaking free of the chains of slavery kneeling below President Abraham Lincoln. [Read more.]( 4. [Why Some Local Officials Want To Divest From Fossil Fuels]( Ashland Town Manager Michael Herbert is among more than 80 officials, representing roughly three dozen municipalities, who are pressing the state Legislature to pass a local-option bill that would free them to divest from firms in the business of non-renewable energy. [Read more.]( 5. [Outlook Unclear For $2,000 COVID-19 Relief Payments As Action Shifts To Senate]( Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell acknowledged when the chamber convened that Trump had called attention to a few big issues, including the disbursements. McConnell said the Senate would "begin a process to bring [those] priorities into focus," without saying how or when. [Read more.]( Support the news Anything Else? - Not sure how to make your New Year's Eve dinner special this year? Here & Now resident chef Kathy Gunst has some [recipes for an intimate celebration.]( - Seasonal depression, end of year blues and attempts to cope start to amplify around this time every winter, but it seems especially true in 2020. Artists are feeling it, too, and it's [showing up in their work.]( [WBUR] Your Daily Must Listen [It's 'Overwhelming': How COVID Has Impacted A Malden Man And His Family]( [Listen]( 2020 IN REVIEW [The Photos That Helped Us Tell The Stories Of 2020]( Best TV Of 2020: Great Shows Brought Us Together In A Difficult, Distanced Year. [Read more.]( 12 Standout Nights At The Virtual Theater, Even If We Weren't In The Room Where They Happened. [Read more.]( Our Favorite Massachusetts Albums From A Year Like No Other. [Read more.]( What We're Reading - Where Year Two of the Pandemic Will Take Us ([The Atlantic]( - Separated by Design: How Some of America’s Richest Towns Fight Affordable Housing ([ProPublica]( - What the Hole Is Going On? The very real, totally bizarre bucatini shortage of 2020 ([Grub Street]( Tell Me Something Good [A Farm Family’s Business Caved In. Then the Neighbors Showed Up (The New York Times)]( "It was so astonishing that you couldn’t process it. It really did feel like people were just coming in and throwing money at you. There were people who came in and were just like, yeah, here, keep the change. I’m going to take a $3 bag and I’m giving you a $10 bill, keep the change. There were a gazillion people." Before you go: Do you love me [now that I can dance]( 😎 Forward to a friend. They can sign up [here](. 📣 Give us your feedback: newsletters@wbur.org 📨 Get more WBUR stories sent to your inbox. 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