The Rush To Find New COVID Variant In Mass. Before It Spreads

Also: Continued fallout over locals in D.C.; House to vote on 25th amendment resolution against Trump ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  [Donate [WBUR]]( [View in Browser](  [WBUR]( January 12, 2021 Good Morning Boston, 🌞 Mostly sunny, with a high near 42. New England may have a reputation for voting blue but we're still dealing with the fallout of locals who went to D.C. to storm the Capitol last week. Here's what you need to know: - The town hall in Troy, New Hampshire limited its hours to the public yesterday after receiving threats because Police Chief David Ellis went to Washington last week. There are [calls for him to resign](. And at least two other New England communities are investigating local officials' involvement. - An FBI bulletin is warning of "peaceful armed protests" at all 50 state capitol buildings leading up to next week's inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden. But Massachusetts officials said they're confident that our [State House is secure](. State police added that they're not aware of a specific threat to government venues or to public safety generally across the state, and that they're continuing to monitor the situation. - New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick says he won't receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom, turning down the offer due to the insurrection at the Capitol last week. You can read his[full statement here.]( especially noteworthy because Belichick and Trump have known each other since before Trump's White House win, and Belichick once said that he had "a friendship and loyalty to Donald." - The number of people hospitalized due to COVID across Massachusetts is going down. Just over 2,200 people are hospitalized – down 200 patients from last week. But we're not in the clear when it comes to lessening the strain on hospitals. About 84% of ICU beds are still full, and though the positive test rate is down slightly, the number of active cases statewide is increasing (92,000 active cases, up 11,00 from a week ago). - If Mayor Marty Walsh leaves for D.C. before March 5, then under Boston city rules a special election would be held this summer. However, Sec.of State William Galvin said he's open to bypassing it since there is already an election scheduled for November. The city councilors running for mayor would also be pretty pleased with that move. - Did you opt for mail-in voting last year? There's a push on Beacon Hill to make it a regular option. Sen. Rebecca Rausch has filed a bill to automatically enroll people who voted by mail in the primary or general election in order to get the program rolling. Republican lawmakers aren't fans. - Massachusetts may be getting a new seal and motto. Gov. Charlie Baker yesterday approved a state commission to begin working on the effort. Indigenous people in the state have long pushed for this change. P.S.– Trying to figure out how to add a little joy to your home office set up? An associate director on WBUR's development team recently shared that her new favorite work-time activity is to keep the [New England Aquarium's penguin exhibit livestream]( up on her second monitor. I think she's really on to something. — Meagan McGinnes [@meaganmcginnes]( newsletters@wbur.org The Rundown [1.](url)[House To Vote On 25th Amendment Resolution Against Trump]( Democrats and some Republicans have called for President Trump's removal from office for his role in inciting the deadly mob that overtook the U.S. Capitol last week. [Read more.]( - The Local Angle: [Continued Fallout Over Locals In D.C. During Storming Of The Capitol](   #%23%23[Twitter](  #%23%23[Facebook](    2. [Scientists Hope To Find New Coronavirus Variant In Mass. Before It Spreads Too Far]( “If it’s not already in circulation in Massachusetts, we know that it’s knocking on our door because it’s been identified in New York and Connecticut.” [Read more.]( 3. [Boston Aims To Bring Back All Students By April Under Hybrid Model]( The agreement with the Boston Teachers Union calls for phasing in groups of students for hybrid learning, starting with high needs students in February and the youngest grades beginning in March. [Read more.]( 4. [Methuen Police Chief Will Resign Amid Investigation Into Labor Contracts]( Last month, a report issued by the state found that Chief Joseph Solomon helped draft labor contracts that benefited himself and his allies. He has been on paid leave since then. Solomon's $300,000 a year contract made him one of the highest paid police chiefs in the country. [Read more.]( 5. [How Inauguration Day Is Shaping Up: Beefed Up Security, Limited Public Access]( The event is set to go ahead as scheduled, with several security modifications that will restrict public access to what is usually a very public event, altering a day that was already scaled back due to the coronavirus pandemic. [Read more.]( Support the news Anything Else? - Heart disease is a second toll of the pandemic. In New York City this spring, heart disease deaths more than doubled. Nationally, heart-related deaths rose by 11% compared to the same three-month period the year before. But [Massachusetts was spared](. Why? - Hyde Square Task Force, a Jamaica Plain non-profit that blends music and civic engagement, has been [awarded a $500,000 grant]( by the The Lewis Prize for Music. - America can still demonstrate that an inclusive democracy based on civic ideals is possible, writes Governor Deval Patrick [in this commentary](. But it won't happen without accountability for Trump and his enablers, and fixing the flaws in our system that make the rise of demagogues so easy. [WBUR] Your Daily Must Listen [On Point | Online Extremists And Law Enforcement: Lessons From The Capitol Hill Insurrection]( [Listen]( VACCINE NEWS [Pace Of Coronavirus Vaccination Lags Supply In Mass.]( What To Know About Coronavirus Vaccine Distribution In Mass. [Read more.]( Here's How The U.S. Can Jump Start Its Sluggish COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout. [Read more.]( Latest Mass. Map, Case Count & Vaccine Numbers: [Breaking down coronavirus here in charts.]( 📬 Get the latest on vaccine safety protocols, side effects, local distribution plans & more in your inbox. Sign up for our [coronavirus newsletter and alerts.]( What We're Reading - We Worked Together on the Internet. Last Week, He Stormed the Capitol ([The New York Times]( - Vogue got too familiar, too fast ([The Washington Post]( - We asked some of Boston’s leaders (who aren’t running for mayor) what the city’s next mayor should do. Here are their answers ([The Boston Globe]( Tell Me Something Good [Ben & Jerry’s debuts frozen dog treats, a passion project inspired by its pet friendly workplace (CNBC)]( The company’s headquarters in Vermont is dog-friendly. Before the pandemic, about 40 dogs would spend their days at the office and curl up under desks. The four-legged coworkers were a ready-made focus group and the inspiration for this project. Before you go: [End scene.]( 😎 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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