Mass. takes on hair discrimination

Also: How to fix Boston's homeownership gap; the debate over debates [Donate ❤️]( [View in Browser](  April 1, 2022 🌧️ Rainy this morning, then most cloudy, with a high around 61. Good Morning Boston, If you're looking for Friday night plans, WBUR CitySpace is hosting a fun quintet of virtuoso string musicians tonight at 7:30 p.m. Both in-person and virtual tickets are [still available](. Now, to the news (and we promise: no April Fools jokes): - Massachusetts may very soon join over a dozen other states that ban hair discrimination, after the Senate[unanimously passed the so-called CROWN Act]( on Thursday. The House also unanimously approved a similar bill in mid-March. - What exactly is hair discrimination? The bill takes aim at workplace or school policies that prohibit "natural or protective" hairstyles like braids, locks or twists — which advocates say is basically a form of racial discrimination. (The effort comes after a Malden charter school [punished two Black students for violating its ban on hair extensions]( - Since the Senate did make a few small tweaks to the CROWN Act (such as extending the hair discrimination ban to religious schools), those changes will have to get hashed out with the House before the bill makes it to Gov. Charlie Baker's desk. Baker generally declines to say whether he'd sign a bill before he sees the final version. However, he did tell reporters earlier this week that "conceptually" he'd be "very happy to sign a bill" addressing the subject of hair discrimination. - Go deeper: Here & Now had a [good segment yesterday]( explaining the long history of hair discrimination, the norms around Black hair and the potential impact of the Crown Act. - As of today, the Baker administration has closed 30 of its "Stop the Spread" COVID-19 testing sites, which offered free PCR tests, due to a sharp drop in demand in the wake of the omicron surge. - Eleven sites are staying open — at least until May 15 ([you can read the full list here](. And they don't require insurance, even as federal subsidies [run out for other programs](. - The closures come amid a slight uptick in local COVID rates — both in Boston-area wastewater and statewide positivity — albeit still at relatively low levels. - Test site operators told WBUR's Gabrielle Emanuel they're confident they'd be able to scale up in the case of a surge, but not everyone is so sure. Some medical experts have concerns about access, especially with only two Stop the Spread sites remaining in Western Massachusetts (both in Springfield). - PSA: You can also still order [free rapid COVID tests from the federal government]( (even if you already did it once, you can [now order a second round of tests](. - Attorney General Maura Healey [says she's willing to debate fellow Democratic gubernatorial candidate state Sen. Sonia Chang-Diaz twice]( before the primary election this September, plus two forums this month. And Chang-Diaz is not pleased. - Chang-Diaz had called for three in-person debates before the Democratic convention in June. And [in a statement last night]( she criticized the "arrogance of dodging debates" and accused Healey of hypocrisy, since she had challenged her opponents in the attorney general's race in 2014 to five debates. - Heads up, soccer fans: We'll find out this afternoon who the United States' initial opponents will be in this fall's World Cup. The tournament's group stage draw is [today at noon](. - April 1 also means the beginning of Boston's outdoor dining season ([except in the North End]( where the program has been delayed until May 1). That means restaurants in most neighborhoods can open their patios and use parkings spots for seating. So, once the rain clears, get out there! P.S.— A statue in Harvard Square was wrapped in a black tarp this week. Do you know why? Then take [our Boston News Quiz]( and test your knowledge of the local stories we covered this week. Nik DeCosta-Klipa Editor, Newsletters [Follow](  Support the news  The Rundown [Boston's racial homeownership gap has widened. What will it take to fix it?]( Boston has long seen a racial gap among homeowners. Since homeownership is the main way most Americans build wealth, some local organizations are working to make Boston’s real estate market more equitable. [Read more.]( [Boston's racial homeownership gap has widened. What will it take to fix it?]( Boston has long seen a racial gap among homeowners. Since homeownership is the main way most Americans build wealth, some local organizations are working to make Boston’s real estate market more equitable. [Read more.]( [Mass. teachers increasingly called it quits as pandemic wore on, study shows]( Teacher turnover in the state was at least 15% higher over the last two years compared to 2019, according to a study by Boston University. Early career teachers left in the highest numbers. [Read more.]( [Mass. teachers increasingly called it quits as pandemic wore on, study shows]( Teacher turnover in the state was at least 15% higher over the last two years compared to 2019, according to a study by Boston University. Early career teachers left in the highest numbers. [Read more.]( [How the student loan safety net has failed low-income borrowers]( Income-driven repayment plans were intended to help low-income student loan borrowers eventually cancel their debt. New documents paint a breathtaking picture of the program’s failure. [Read more.]( [How the student loan safety net has failed low-income borrowers]( Income-driven repayment plans were intended to help low-income student loan borrowers eventually cancel their debt. New documents paint a breathtaking picture of the program’s failure. [Read more.]( [Seafood biz braces for losses of jobs and fish due to sanctions]( Russia is a world leader in exports of cod — the preference for fish and chips in the U.S. — as well as a major supplier for fast-food fish sandwiches and processed products like fish sticks. [Read more.]( [Seafood biz braces for losses of jobs and fish due to sanctions]( Russia is a world leader in exports of cod — the preference for fish and chips in the U.S. — as well as a major supplier for fast-food fish sandwiches and processed products like fish sticks. [Read more.]( [In bid for service sooner, South Coast Rail takes the long way to Boston]( The MBTA is reviving train service from Boston to Fall River and New Bedford, but a series of cost-saving decisions will lead to slower, less frequent service than commuters were initially promised. [Read more.]( [In bid for service sooner, South Coast Rail takes the long way to Boston]( The MBTA is reviving train service from Boston to Fall River and New Bedford, but a series of cost-saving decisions will lead to slower, less frequent service than commuters were initially promised. [Read more.]( Anything Else? - Did you know that we don't actually really know when and how Aprils Fools' Day first began? NPR [explains its possible origins](. - This week's episode of Endless Thread is a look at [the untold story of one of the largest meteorites to ever hit earth]( and what it revealed about American exploration and exploitation abroad. - Marianne Leone [makes the case in this Cognoscenti commentary]( that "Godfather" author Mario Puzo's best work is actually his second book, "The Fortunate Pilgrim." What We're Reading 📚 - Fenway Park is going carbon neutral. What does that actually mean? ([The Boston Globe]( - Worcester was once a center for manufacturing pre-built diners ([GBH News]( - Every Ben Affleck Performance, Ranked ([The Ringer]( On This Day... [Remembering The "April Fools Day" Blizzard 25 Years Later (National Weather Service)]( This late season blizzard in southern New England occurred on the heels of a stretch of mild weather. It took many people by surprise. [Read more.]( [Remembering The "April Fools Day" Blizzard 25 Years Later (National Weather Service)]( This late season blizzard in southern New England occurred on the heels of a stretch of mild weather. It took many people by surprise. [Read more.]( Before you go: Can I get a [corner office slice]( 😎 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   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 © 2022 WBUR-FM, All rights reserved.