How inflation impacts the local food industry

Also: Hospitals see surprising number of breakthrough cases; students struggle with shortage of special ed staff [Donate ❤️]( [View in Browser](  December 13, 2021 🌞 Sunny and breezy, with a high near 51. Good Morning Boston, We need to talk about the state of the pandemic in Massachusetts. - Let me start by saying this: If you get COVID-19 after getting vaccinated, the chance you’ll get seriously sick and need hospital care is still very rare. (We're talking around .05%.) However, we're starting to see an[uptick in the number of breakthrough cases]( making up hospitalizations because of waning immunity. - Even though Massachusetts has a high level of vaccination, we're still experiencing a surge – right as families are gathering for the holidays. Health experts say the best way to protect yourself is to get boosted and test regularly to minimize spread. - Amid this rise in cases and a staffing shortage, hospitals are getting full. Last month, Gov. Charlie Baker called on hospitals to reduce non-life-threatening procedures by 30%. But now the administration is [boosting that to 50%.]( That means if you have an elective procedure, like a hip replacement, scheduled at a Massachusetts hospital, you may get a call that it's going to be delayed. - Baker is expected to make an announcement this morning about COVID testing. You can watch the livestream [here](. - Boston [has an edit]( to the number of unvaccinated employees that were placed on unpaid leave. Officials in October reported that more than 800 employees didn't comply with the new requirement, but now they've stated only 23 city employees were placed on unpaid leave for missing the deadline to get vaccinated or agree to weekly testing. - Methuen received $4 million in pandemic aid. The city is being [told to return $650,000](. What happened? Some of it was used for purposes not deemed eligible, like hazard pay stipends for those who didn't experience physical hardship related to their employment or reimbursements for restaurant licensing fees. Methuen says it needed – and actively sought – more guidance from the state on the regulations around spending the money, but didn't get it. - Speaking of pandemic aid money, today is the deadline for Baker to take action on lawmakers' proposed plan for spending $4 billion in federal pandemic aid money. Here are his options: sign the whole package, veto it or amend sections. We'll let you know his decision in tomorrow's newsletter. P.S.– My timeline is made up of "Succession" reactions right now. If you missed it or want to relive the season three finale, check out [NPR's recap.]( Meagan McGinnes Senior Editor, Newsletters [Follow](  Support the news  The Rundown [A shortage of special education staff leaves many students without services they need]( School leaders say a shortage of special education staff is reaching crisis levels. Students with significant needs are facing long wait times to get services. [Read more.]( [A shortage of special education staff leaves many students without services they need]( School leaders say a shortage of special education staff is reaching crisis levels. Students with significant needs are facing long wait times to get services. [Read more.]( [How inflation is impacting food nonprofits and restaurants in Massachusetts]( Inflation rose 5.3% in Greater Boston over last year. Most of the increase is to goods like food and gas, with energy prices increasing by over 30% in the city. All of this means more pressure on an economy already strained by worker shortages and supply chain woes. [Read more.]( [How inflation is impacting food nonprofits and restaurants in Massachusetts]( Inflation rose 5.3% in Greater Boston over last year. Most of the increase is to goods like food and gas, with energy prices increasing by over 30% in the city. All of this means more pressure on an economy already strained by worker shortages and supply chain woes. [Read more.]( [Companies promise new benefits for drivers under Mass. ballot proposal. Labor advocates see attempt to skirt wage laws]( The question, which could appear on the ballot in 2022, would ask voters whether to define ride-hailing and delivery drivers as independent contractors rather than employees. Its backers promise added benefits for workers, but some labor advocates see a very different picture. [Read more.]( [Companies promise new benefits for drivers under Mass. ballot proposal. Labor advocates see attempt to skirt wage laws]( The question, which could appear on the ballot in 2022, would ask voters whether to define ride-hailing and delivery drivers as independent contractors rather than employees. Its backers promise added benefits for workers, but some labor advocates see a very different picture. [Read more.]( [Chris Wallace announces abrupt departure from Fox News to join CNN streaming service]( The respected journalist, who kept the news of his exit secret from colleagues, will head to CNN's new streaming service. [Read more.]( [Chris Wallace announces abrupt departure from Fox News to join CNN streaming service]( The respected journalist, who kept the news of his exit secret from colleagues, will head to CNN's new streaming service. [Read more.]( [Authoritarians are using migrants as weapons. The White House frets it's on the rise]( The White House is concerned migrants will be increasingly used as a geopolitical tool as migration increases because of instability and climate change. [Read more.]( [Authoritarians are using migrants as weapons. The White House frets it's on the rise]( The White House is concerned migrants will be increasingly used as a geopolitical tool as migration increases because of instability and climate change. [Read more.]( Anything Else? - There are a lot of distractions out there for Olympic athletes, from pandemic restrictions to boycotts. But our local hopefuls are just [trying to focus on training]( and their craft. - Our thoughts are with Kentucky after [multiple tornados]( parts of the state over the weekend. Emergency rescues remain in effect, and volunteers from Massachusetts are headed there to help with relief efforts. That includes two members from Massachusetts Task Force One. - When men view women as the only beneficiaries of abortion rights, they conveniently ignore that safe access directly helps men, too, writes Kaivan Shroff [in this commentary](. What We're Reading 📚 - At a wolf sanctuary in Ipswich, a changing mission: humans coexisting peacefully with coyotes ([The Boston Globe]( - Enes Kanter Freedom Is Letting Himself Be Used ([The Atlantic]( - I Was Sexually Harassed by a Co-worker. My Boss Let My Harasser Stay to “Keep an Eye” on Him. ([Mother Jones]( Tell Me Something Good [This year was rough. Tell us about a moment that made 2021 a little brighter]( Tell us about a memory that sparks joy: It could be a situation where you showed resilience during adversity, a time when you were overcome with gratitude or simply a moment when you couldn't help but smile. [Read more.]( [This year was rough. Tell us about a moment that made 2021 a little brighter]( Tell us about a memory that sparks joy: It could be a situation where you showed resilience during adversity, a time when you were overcome with gratitude or simply a moment when you couldn't help but smile. [Read more.]( Before you go: And just like that, [Bob spotted a tote bag](. 😎 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.](   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 WBUR editorial newsletters [here](.  Interested in learning more about corporate sponsorship? [Click here.]( Copyright © 2021 WBUR-FM, All rights reserved.