Colonialism, Patriarchy & Family Drama: Inside The Dot Sinkhole

Also: Mass. ranks last in NE for vaccine rollout; state loosens biz restrictions today as COVID numbers begin to trend down ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  [Donate [WBUR]]( [View in Browser](  [WBUR]( January 25, 2021 Good Morning Boston, 🌞 Sunny, with a high near 35. Let's start with the national news everyone is talking about today: - Big steps are being taken to put Trump's second impeachment trial in motion. At about 7 p.m. tonight, the [House will deliver to the Senate]( an article of impeachment against the former president. The trial itself will begin on Feb. 9, giving the Democratic House impeachment managers and Trump's defense team two weeks to prepare. - Now, onto the current administration. Starting today, President Biden will [reimpose a ban]( on many non-U.S. citizens attempting to enter the country in order to limit the spread of COVID-19 and its new variants. The ban will affect the U.K., Ireland, and 26 countries in Europe, as well as Brazil and South Africa. If this all sounds familiar, you're right. This ban is very similar to one under the Trump administration, but it was lifted two days before Trump left office. - The strengthening of COVID restrictions and rules comes as the country has now reached [25 million confirmed infections](. The U.S. is by far the most coronavirus-riddled country in the world – and it has been for months. And in local news: - As state COVID numbers begin to trend down, local restrictions are being loosened. Starting today, the stay-at-home order asking people to stay home between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. has been lifted. Businesses are also now allowed to stay open past 9:30 p.m. - The trend: The seven-day positive test rate for the state is below 5% for the first time since late November (now at 4.9%). And in terms of hospital capacity, fewer than 2,000 people are hospitalized with COVID, the lowest number in a month. Still, health officials are urging residents to stay vigilant in their safety protocols – mask wearing, avoiding indoor gatherings, hand washing... you should know the drill at this point. They want to keep the trend going in the right direction while the state works to vaccinate as many residents as possible. - When it comes to the number of vaccine doses delivered per capita, Massachusetts ranks last compared to other New England states, according to the CDC. Not great. To help speed up the phase one rollout, Massachusetts is adding about 40 pharmacies – including Wegmans, Stop & Shop and Hannaford – to its list of vaccination sites this week. - Attention commuters: Today is the first weekday commute with the MBTA's reduced schedule in place. You can see the [service updates here.]( - PSA: The Massachusetts Health Connector is continuing [open enrollment until March 23](. This means if you need insurance, you have extra time to get affordable coverage. P.S.– If you've been taking a lot of winter walks to get outside or catch up with friends, you'll want to [save this Twitter thread](. There are a lot of great suggestions for favorite local spots to get some fresh air. — Meagan McGinnes [@meaganmcginnes]( newsletters@wbur.org The Rundown [1.](url)[NPR Investigation: Fatal Police Shootings Of Unarmed Black People Reveal Troubling Patterns]( Since 2015, police officers have fatally shot at least 135 unarmed Black men and women nationwide, an NPR investigation has found. NPR reviewed police, court and other records to examine the details of the cases. At least 75 percent of the officers were white. [Read more.](   #%23%23[Twitter](  #%23%23[Facebook](    2. [Colonialism, Patriarchy And Family Drama: Boston Archeologists Dig Up The Story Beneath Ronan Park Sinkhole]( Colonization, patriarchal laws, deadly disease, and family drama flow through a city agency's dig into the sinkhole's history. Yes, this abridged historical record goes from very scant to very confusing in a hurry. [Read more.]( 3. [Local Food Bank Welcomes Biden Action On Expanding Hunger Assistance]( The local need for food assistance has increased substantially since people began losing their jobs almost a year ago. The Greater Boston Food Bank went from distributing 1 million pounds of food a week before the pandemic to 2.5 million during COVID. [Read more.]( 4. [House Poised To Transmit Article Of Impeachment Against Trump To Senate]( The formal step comes just over a year after the House last transmitted an impeachment measure against Trump to the upper chamber. The latest rebuke alleges that the former president incited the Jan. 6 insurrection at the Capitol. [Read more.]( 5. [The Vaccine Rollout Will Take Time. Here's What The U.S. Can Do Now To Save Lives]( Despite widespread COVID-19 fatigue, public health experts say practicing mitigation strategies is as crucial as ever to save lives. But which strategies have proven most effective? [Read more.]( Support the news Anything Else? - Massachusetts should be nailing the vaccine rollout, writes Miles Howard [in this commentary](. But it has vaccinated a smaller percentage of the population than most other states. What's going on? - Charles Wheelan’s book, "We Came, We Saw, We Left," follows a nine-month, global grand tour with his wife and their three children as they leave their New Hampshire home and routine in search of greater meaning. But whether the book captures that or not is up for debate. You can [read the full review here.]( - Are you more into reading romance novels instead? Here are [three books that prove love is ageless.]( [WBUR] Your Daily Must Listen [Biden Is Catholic. He Also Supports Abortion Rights. Here's What That Could Mean]( [Listen]( VACCINES [Vaccine Delivery Speeds Up In Mass.]( What To Know About Coronavirus Vaccine Distribution In Mass. [Read more.]( Complete Coverage Of Vaccines In Mass. [Find it here.]( COVID-19 Immunity: How To Get It, How Long It Lasts, And How To Detect It. [Listen.]( 📬 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 - Two patients, one week in the hospital, and a world of change ([The Boston Globe]( - How Many Vaccine Shots Go to Waste? Several States Aren’t Counting ([ProPublica]( - Is Mask-Slipping the New Manspreading? ([New York Times]( Tell Me Something Good [Puffin Stuff: Herring Rules Could Benefit Maine's Most Beloved Birds]( Atlantic puffins, known for their colorful beaks and waddling walks, were once nearly gone from Maine, the only U.S. state where they nest. Decades of conservation work have brought Maine's population of the birds to about 1,300 pairs that nest on small islands off the coast. Before you go: Life is just one big [balancing act.]( 😎 Forward to a friend. 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