Correction Officers Union vs. Baker On Vaccine Mandate

Also: Scientists troubled by new lowered oxygen zone in Mass. waters; meet the BSO's new president and CEO ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  [Donate [WBUR]]( [View in Browser](  [WBUR]( September 30, 2021 Good Morning Boston, 🌞 Mostly sunny, with a high near 61. I promise to never send you a blank newsletter titled "Take The Local News And Run." Though, [artist Jens Haaning would maybe call it a commentary]( on the plight of local newsrooms. Don't worry; I prefer to stick with words on the page. Here are more of the stories we're talking about: - Another state employee group is taking issue with Gov. Charlie Baker's COVID vaccine mandate. The union representing 4,000 Massachusetts correction officers yesterday [filed a federal complaint]( to try to block the mandate, saying it violates their collective bargaining agreement. We'll be watching closely to see what happens. The State Police recently lost their legal challenge to the state vaccine mandate in Superior Court. - More news for state employees: The program giving up to one week of paid COVID sick leave will [extend]( through April 1. Baker approved the bill with just one day left to spare before it expired. - Vaccine mandate deadlines aren't just coming fast for state employees. Let's zoom in on Boston, which is also requiring city workers to get vaccinated or submit weekly testing by mid-October. New data shows that three-quarters of Boston employees have complied with the city's vaccine mandate. - What about [the numbers]( The statewide seven-day average positive test rate has been holding steady at just below 2%. That's an improvement from when it was nearly 3% earlier this month. Also this week, 21,000 more residents became fully vaccinated. Cue your weekly reminder: Getting vaccinated is the best way to keep you and your loved ones safe from serious illness and death due to COVID. - Take two: A Senate committee will today consider Suffolk County District Attorney Rachael Rollins to become the next U.S. attorney for Massachusetts. This was originally scheduled for last week, but it got delayed by Republican Sen. Tom Cotton, who wanted to block her nomination over her criminal justice reform work. - It's Eric Rosengren's last day on the job at the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston. He's retiring nine months earlier than expected amid some controversy around potential conflicts of interest for transactions he made last year. He's since said he will sell his stocks and stop trading. - The Mass Pike through Allston is officially going to get an upgrade. The State Transportation Department said it's moving forward with its $1.7 billion plans, which include tearing down the viaduct that carries the pike past Boston University. That would be replaced with surface-level highway. Soldiers Field Road, the commuter rail tracks and the path along the Charles River will also all get rebuilt. - Today is the first day for the vaccine mandate at TD Garden. Fans 12 and over must show they're fully vaccinated or a recent negative COVID test – and no, at-home tests don't count. P.S.– If you listen to WBUR on the weekends, we have some [schedule changes]( for you. Starting this Saturday at 11 a.m., "It's Been a Minute with Sam Sanders" will replace "Car Talk." You can listen to Sanders again at 6 p.m. that same day. It's replacing "Ask Me Another." I think you'll really like the switch, and if you've never listed to Sanders' show before, you're missing out! His most recent episode is our must-listen included below. You can [hear more episodes here.]( — Meagan McGinnes [@meaganmcginnes]( newsletters@wbur.org The Rundown [1.](url)[The House Passes A Bill To Avoid A Debt Default, But It's Mostly Symbolic]( The measure passed 219-212, largely along party lines, but is expected to fail in the Senate. And there's a more pressing problem: a looming partial government shutdown. [Read more.](   #%23%23[Twitter](  #%23%23[Facebook](    2. [Scientists Are 'Troubled' By A New Lowered-Oxygen Zone In Coastal Mass. Waters]( The Massachusetts Water Resources Authority is reporting an area of lowered oxygen saturation near the ocean floor about 10–15 miles outside Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary. The MWRA reports "no adverse impact to marine life." [Read more.]( 3. [As Symphony Hall Finally Reopens, Meet The BSO's New President And CEO Gail Samuel]( For more than 25 years she played a variety of executive roles at the Los Angeles Philharmonic, most recently as chief operating officer and as president of the Hollywood Bowl. [Read more.]( 4. [Are You Pregnant? The CDC Really Wants You To Get Vaccinated Against COVID-19]( A low percentage of pregnant people in the U.S. – only 31% – have received the COVID-19 vaccine. [Read more.]( - Related: [YouTube Is Banning All Content That Spreads Vaccine Misinformation]( 5. [A Judge Suspends Britney Spears' Dad From Her Conservatorship]( According to The Associated Press, the judge said during the hearing, "The current arrangement is untenable. It reflects a toxic environment which requires the suspension of James Spears." [Read more.]( Support the news Anything Else? - Getting a religious exemption to a vaccine mandate may not be easy. [Here's why.]( - From King Richard's Faire to a zombie walk, here are [five things to do this weekend.]( - In this essay, we hear from Kate Peltz. Her back trouble gave her [precious time with her aging Labrador]( Connor, and reminded her of a promise she'd made to him. [WBUR] Your Daily Must Listen [There Was Nothing Like 'Soul Train' On TV. There's Never Been Anything Like It Since]( [Listen]( ARTERY 25 [Meet The ARTery 25 — Artists Of Color Transforming The Cultural Landscape]( Restaurateur Biplaw Rai Creates Community Through Food. [Read more.]( For Multimedia Artist Nicole L'Huillier, Sound Is A Portal For Change. [Read more.]( Mezzo Soprano Haydee Irizarry Is Shifting The Sound Of Heavy Metal. [Read more.]( The ARTery's weekly newsletter is your essential connection to Boston's arts and culture scene. [Sign up here.]( A MESSAGE FROM WBUR CITYSPACE On Friday, October 1st, WBUR’s Endless Thread podcast team is launching a new series of episodes all about... *drumroll* ... MEMES! And [TONIGHT]( Thursday, Sept. 30 at 7 p.m. they’re having a [special sneak preview event at WBUR CitySpace](. They’ll be joined by meme experts (yes, those exist!) and by some of the real-life memes featured in the series. In-person attendees will receive FREE Endless Thread SOCKS, but socks – and seats – are limited. [Learn more and purchase tickets to attend virtually or in person here.]( What We're Reading - Why Is Every Young Person in America Watching ‘The Sopranos’? ([The New York Times Magazine]( - It's Time For Men To Start Talking About Male Infertility. I'll Go First ([Inverse]( - Opinion: We can’t arrest our way out of Mass. and Cass ([The Boston Globe]( Tell Me Something Good [Some Original Staffers Say They're Still Happy To Work At Disney World After 50 Years]( The park, which celebrates its anniversary on Friday, says it has a couple of dozen employees who were on the job when the gates opened on the first day in 1971. Before you go: The [truth hurts.]( 😎 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? [Stop getting this newsletter by updating your preferences.]( I don't want to hear from WBUR anymore. [Unsubscribe from all editorial newsletters.]( Interested in learning more about corporate sponsorship? [Click here.]( Copyright © 2021 WBUR-FM, All rights reserved. You signed up for this newsletter at wbur.org. Our mailing address is: WBUR-FM 890 Commonwealth AveBoston, MA 02215-1205 [Add us to your address book](