"Why Don't We Have Body Cameras?"

Also: COVID hospitalizations increasing across the state; Boston's rental relief fund gets a $50M boost ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  [Donate [WBUR]]( [View in Browser](  [WBUR]( March 31, 2021 Good Morning Boston, ☁️ Mostly cloudy, with a high near 65. Rain after 8 p.m. The next time you stumble or stutter on your work Zoom call, just remember, [it could always be worse](. Here is what's cooking locally this morning: - CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky was in Boston yesterday to take a tour of the Hynes Convention Center, which is now a Federal Emergency Management Agency vaccination site. (The partnership will increase capacity from 1,000 to 7,000 shots a day!) If you remember from yesterday's newsletter, Walensky said earlier this week that she had a feeling of "impending doom" with the rise of COVID cases nationally. She explained that it's the same fear she's felt before any surge in cases, and she urged Massachusetts residents to continue distancing and wearing masks. - One important thing not said during yesterday's press conference: Walensky refused to criticize states, including Massachusetts, for rolling back some COVID restrictions, even though she stressed her discomfort about governors across the country and the speed of their reopening plans in the days prior. - So, should we really feel "impending doom" about the rise in cases here? I'm getting a little nervous. Here's what we know: COVID-19 hospitalizations are increasing, with the highest number of people hospitalized since early this month and the most patients in the ICU in more than two weeks. Less than 30% of the intensive care beds are open statewide. And in terms of active infections, we're at more than 31,000 cases. That's up 23% from two weeks ago. It's not the prettiest of pictures. - [How are we doing with vaccinations?]( Nearly 3.5 million vaccine doses have been administered here, with over 1.3 million residents fully vaccinated. Overall, vaccinations are moving ahead at a steady pace, but still less than 25% of Massachusetts residents ages 18 and older are fully vaccinated. This means it's even more important to stick to the safety protocols, like distancing and mask wearing – we're nowhere close to herd immunity yet! - Boston is putting an additional $50 million into its rental relief fund to help people struggling during the pandemic. Those eligible can get up to $15,000 for rent, utilities and some moving expenses. A majority of this funding has come from the feds. - The Whittier Street Health Center is holding a vaccine clinic for immigrant domestic and construction workers in Brighton today. It's among weekly clinics for immigrants, which will take place in Roxbury, Mattapan and the South End through the end of April. P.S.– Reporter Martha Bebinger is looking for people who've postponed a pregnancy during the pandemic. If you're open to speaking with her, please [send her an email](mailto:marthab@wbur.org?subject=Postponed%20pregnancy%20story). Thanks! — Meagan McGinnes [@meaganmcginnes]( newsletters@wbur.org The Rundown [1.](url)[Police Dash Cams, Body Cams Remain The Exception In Massachusetts]( Among Massachusetts' roughly 480 law enforcement agencies, only about a dozen have body cameras and even fewer have dashboard cameras, though that number is slowly starting to increase. So, why haven’t more departments in the state embraced the technology? [Read more.](   #%23%23[Twitter](  #%23%23[Facebook](    2. [Mass. AG Pays Law Firms $1M To Defend Ex-Prosecutors In Drug Lab Scandal]( The Board of Bar Overseers, the panel that disciplines lawyers, has been investigating accusations that three former assistant attorneys general failed to alert defense lawyers about key exculpatory evidence involving disgraced chemist Sonja Farak. [Read more.]( 3. [Kim Janey Faces Challenges And Opportunities As 'Acting' Mayor In Boston]( Kim Janey faces both challenges and opportunities as acting mayor often Boston. For instance, the position gives her a unique platform to show she can run the city, potentially giving her an edge over other candidates if she decides in coming weeks to run for mayor. But there are also limits on an acting mayor's powers. [Read more.]( 4. [Legislation Would Support Fare-Free Public Transit Systems]( The bill would invest “heavily in our public transit systems so that states and localities can offer safe, high-quality, and fare-free rides to all to ensure everyone" can access jobs, food and essential services, U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley said in a written statement Tuesday. [Read more.]( - Related: [Biden Set To Unveil Expansive $2 Trillion Infrastructure Plan]( 5. [Firefighter Testifies: 'I Was Desperate To Help ... And This Human Was Denied That']( Rather than allow her to help, Genevieve Hansen said, then-officer Tou Thao "said something along the lines of, 'If you really are a Minneapolis firefighter, you would know better than to get involved.' " [Read more.]( Support the news Anything Else? - It's time to face the music: artists of all genres have endured an economic year like no other. [This local piano tuner's experience]( is a good barometer for Boston's battered music scene. - [This exclusive song premiere]( from local artist Stash Wyslouch is described as a "zany" and "whimsical" deconstruction of a bluegrass standard. IMHO, it's very much worth the listen! - Dr. Michael P.H. Stanley thinks it's important to talk to patients and their families, even when there's nothing to say. [In this commentary]( he explains how he called the wife of his cancer patient every day with updates. Then he missed a day. [WBUR] Your Daily Must Listen ['Where Madness Lies' Traces Family History Of Mental Illness From Nazi Germany To Massachusetts]( [Listen]( VACCINES [What To Know About Coronavirus Vaccine Distribution In Mass.]( Immunocompromised And Concerned About The Vaccine? Here's What You Need To Know. [Read more.]( Low Vaccination Rates Among Latinos Raise Concerns In Chelsea, Ravaged By The Pandemic. [Read more.]( Latest Mass. Map And Case Count: Breaking Down Coronavirus Here In Charts. [Read more.]( 📬 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 - When Can We Make Out With Strangers Again? ([The New York Times]( - Why People Keep Asking Which Vaccine You Got ([The Atlantic]( - The Coal Plant Next Door ([ProPublica]( Tell Me Something Good [A Spring Season That Beckons, Even If Theaters Aren't Quite Ready To Reopen]( What’s enticing about this season’s offerings is how bountiful it feels, not just in the number of shows but in the diversity of experiences explored. Before you go: More [#mapoli food names]( please! 😎 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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