Local Afghans Cry For Refugee Policy

Also: Booster shots may be recommended after 8 months; is it time to go back to an elected school committee in Boston? ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  [Donate [WBUR]]( [View in Browser](  [WBUR]( August 17, 2021 Good Morning Boston, 🌞 Partly sunny, with a high near 84. It's shaping up to be one of those weeks when the news Boston is talking about most isn't actually local news. But its impacts are certainly felt here and beyond. Let's start with President Biden's latest news on booster shots and his reaction to what's happening in Afghanistan: - Some fully vaccinated Americans may be eligible for a third COVID vaccine booster shot as soon as next month. NPR reports that the Biden administration is[close to advising]( Americans who received two shots of Pfizer or Moderna to roll up their sleeves again eight months after their last shot. The purpose is to protect against the delta variant and boost any waning effectiveness of the first two shots. Johnson & Johnson folks will need to wait until the company sends the FDA data from its two-dose clinical trial. Biden is expected to officially drop this news as soon as this week. - Biden also made headlines yesterday afternoon when he [defended]( his decision to withdraw the U.S. military from Afghanistan despite the quick Taliban takeover. "I am president of the United States of America, and the buck stops with me," he said. "I am deeply saddened by the facts we now face, but I do not regret my decision." - Still, the withdrawal has been chaotic and the situation on the ground is scary. Many Afghan immigrants in Massachusetts are hoping family back home can soon join them. More on that below. In other news: - The entirety of Massachusetts now meets the CDC threshold of high COVID transmission, which means the agency recommends wearing a mask indoors in public settings, regardless of your vaccination status. But Gov. Charlie Baker is not budging on a mask mandate, saying yesterday that he's ["not considering"]( new masking guidance. It's up to local communities and local school districts to decide where they stand on masking up again. - For the next six weeks, New Hampshire will be offering COVID vaccines at 10 different state parks. First up is Bear Brook in Allenstown, starting tomorrow. Anyone who gets their shots at the park will also get free park passes that can be used until the end of next year. P.S.– Sept. 1 is a big moving day in Boston. While it's definitely more fun to think about your strategy for Allston Christmas, it's much more practical to make sure you know all your rights as a tenant. Whether you're apartment hunting, preparing to move or renewing your lease, [this is a great read]( to bookmark. — Meagan McGinnes [@meaganmcginnes]( newsletters@wbur.org The Rundown [1.](url)[Is It Time To Go Back To An Elected School Committee In Boston?]( The appointed committee was supposed to make the state's largest district run more smoothly by removing the distractions of retail politics. But now, amid a mayoral race, some voters say it committee hasn't lived up to its promise — and that it's time to go back. [Read more.](   #%23%23[Twitter](  #%23%23[Facebook](    2. [6 Political Takeaways For President Biden From The Chaotic Afghanistan Withdrawal]( There are humanitarian concerns facing the Afghan people. But the disorganization and confusion of President Biden's full U.S. military withdrawal of Afghanistan have also put him in a political hole. After doing what three presidents before him didn't — or wouldn't — do even if they advocated for it, Biden is facing a bipartisan backlash. [Read more.]( - Background: [After The Taliban Takeover Of Kabul, Here's What We Know]( - Related: [What Women's Advocacy Groups Worldwide Are Doing For Women In Afghanistan]( 3. [Local Afghans Cry For Refugee Policy Amid Taliban Takeover]( As the Taliban continues to take over Afghanistan, many Afghan immigrants in Massachusetts are hoping family back home can soon join them. Meanwhile, immigration advocates are calling on the Biden administration to act soon to allow more refugees into the country. [Read more.]( - Opinion: [A Veteran Considers America's Moral Failure In Afghanistan — And His Own Culpability]( 4. [Increase In Federal SNAP Benefits May Mean $428 Million Boost In Mass.]( The USDA released its re-evaluated plan on Monday, saying the new version includes more fish and red and orange vegetables along with a "modest increase in calories to reflect the latest data and support an active lifestyle." [Read more.]( 5. [Even Moderate COVID Restrictions Can Slow The Spread Of The Virus — If They're Timely]( There are no clear, simple answers to these difficult questions around COVID restrictions. But for those looking to the scientific evidence for guidance, here are some things a team of researchers have found can slow a surge, if implemented at the right time. [Read more.]( Support the news Anything Else? - Larry Bangor, lead singer for the Zulus, is calling his band’s reunion concert at the Paradise Rock Club on Sept. 3 [“the most postponed show in Boston music history!”]( Why? Read to know. - I love this [global guide for parents]( looks at how your kids can have fun, without stressing you out. It feels extra timely with kids heading back to school and parents transitioning back to the office. - Hundreds of workers have died from heat in the last decade – and [it's only getting worse.]( [WBUR] Your Daily Must Listen [Here & Now | Afghan-Born U.S. Army Vet Desperate To Get Family Out Of Kabul]( [Listen]( WBUR CITYSPACE [7 Must-See WBUR Events This Fall]( Sept. 9 | [Boston Mayor Primary Debate]( Sept. 20 |[Here & Now Presents Trailblazers: Women News Leaders From Katharine Graham To Today]( Sept. 27 | [On Point Presents "Amazon: The Prime Effect"]( Stay updated on who’s coming to CitySpace, get first crack at tickets for upcoming events, enjoy early-bird discounts, and more. [Sign up for WBUR's events newsletter.]( What We're Reading - The White Lotus Was Always Going to End This Way ([Vanity Fair]( - The Co-Founder Of Snopes Wrote Dozens Of Plagiarized Articles For The Fact-Checking Site ([Buzzfeed News]( - The Pain, Shame, and Joy of Learning How to Ride a Bike as a Grown Man ([Esquire]( Tell Me Something Good [‘It’s Not Hard Work For Me’: At 101 Years Old, This Maine Lobsterwoman Still Works The Water (The Boston Globe)]( “It’s not hard work for me. It might be for somebody else, but not me.” Before you go: You'd think [this duck]( was from Massachusetts, right? 😎 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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