Why are so many in Mass. running for second?

Also: Why Seth Moulton isn't speaking out against the VA plan; William Allen granted parole [Donate ❤️]( [View in Browser](  April 21, 2022 ☁️ Cloudy with a high near 61. Good Morning Boston, Happy Thursday! It's a bit chilly out there this morning — though not as cold as the Celtics defense [has made Kevin Durant]( (Boston now has a 2-0 lead against the Nets [after last night's comeback win](. Anyhow, those temperature should warm up, and we'll have a sunny end to the week. To the news: - Last week, nearly the entire Massachusetts congressional delegation [signed a letter opposing the Department of Veterans Affairs' proposal]( to close the VA medical center in Northampton. But the operative word was "nearly." There was one name curiously missing: Rep. Seth Moulton, a veteran himself, who often notes that he still relies on the VA for healthcare. Why? Well, the Salem Democrat thinks it's too soon to be speaking out. - The background: The VA recently (and [controversially]( released [a sweeping plan]( to close aging facilities, build new ones and realign services more cost effectively, amid shifts in the veteran population and where they seek care. The plan would also close VA clinics in Quincy, Lynn and Gloucester, redirecting veterans to other nearby or new facilities. - But the Mass. delegation says the plan would force thousands of veterans who go to the Northampton center to travel at least an hour each way — and potentially out of state — to get to the next nearest VA clinic. Rep. Jim McGovern [held a listening session last night,]( during which around 100 people reportedly showed up. McGovern says he will take his concerns directly to President Joe Biden, "if necessary." (Moulton noted that the VA's proposal kicks off a three-year process that includes a public comment period, hearings and votes by Congress before this would president's desk). - For now, Moulton spokesman Ron Eckstein tells me they're focused on ensuring veterans' voices are heard in the public comment period. After that, the Northampton facility "may not be slated for closure," Eckstein said, noting that Moulton feels "the VA should make its case and see this process through before he weighs in." - Don't toss your mask quite yet: the Department of Justice [said Wednesday that it will appeal the federal judge's ruling]( that voided the national face covering mandate for public transportation. The CDC thinks the requirement "remains necessary to protect the public health." - The local angle: On the first full mask-optional day on the MBTA, WBUR's Darryl Murphy [reports that many riders weren't so eager to go maskless]( especially with cases rising again. “COVID is most definitely not over,” one rider said. - Will the last local eviction moratorium in Massachusetts come to an end this spring? Somerville's Board of Health will decide tonight whether or not to extend their ban until the end of June. - Currently the moratorium is set to expire at the end of this month. WBUR's Walter Wuthmann reports, however, that city officials want more time to connect struggling residents with rent support resources. But, they do acknowledge the eviction ban must ultimately come to an end. - A state PFAS task force issued [a total of 30 recommendations Wednesday]( on how Massachusetts can reduce the presence of so-called "[forever chemicals]( in its local drinking water. - The proposals include everything from increased monitoring to a fund to support the testing of private wells. But perhaps the biggest recommendation looks "upstream": ban consumer products with intentionally added PFAS by 2030, with an earlier phaseout for things like textiles, food packaging and children’s products. Maine [passed a similar law last year](. P.S.— As part of our Earth Week coverage, WBUR CitySpace is hosting [a discussion tonight]( — moderated by environmental reporter Miriam Wasser — about the promises and pitfalls of New England's burgeoning offshore wind industry. Come join! Tickets are [free]( Nik DeCosta-Klipa Editor, Newsletters [Follow](  Support the news  The Rundown [Mass. lieutenant governors officially have little power. Yet 8 candidates are seeking the job.]( According to the state constitution, lieutenant governors have few official responsibilities. Yet the post has become one of the most sought-after elected offices in the state this year. [Read more.]( [Mass. lieutenant governors officially have little power. Yet 8 candidates are seeking the job.]( According to the state constitution, lieutenant governors have few official responsibilities. Yet the post has become one of the most sought-after elected offices in the state this year. [Read more.]( [William Allen granted parole with life sentence commuted]( The second man to have his life sentence commuted by Gov. Charlie Baker will be released on parole. [Read more.]( [William Allen granted parole with life sentence commuted]( The second man to have his life sentence commuted by Gov. Charlie Baker will be released on parole. [Read more.]( [Putin tries to claim Mariupol win but won't storm holdout]( Russian President Vladimir Putin tried to claim victory in the strategic port of Mariupol on Thursday, even as he ordered his troops not to storm the last pocket of Ukrainian resistance. [Read more.]( [Putin tries to claim Mariupol win but won't storm holdout]( Russian President Vladimir Putin tried to claim victory in the strategic port of Mariupol on Thursday, even as he ordered his troops not to storm the last pocket of Ukrainian resistance. [Read more.]( [A Connecticut trooper who shot a Black driver to death is charged with manslaughter]( Trooper Brian North fired seven gunshots into a car, killing Mubarak Soulemane after a high-speed chase in 2020. Soulemane had a knife, but the 19-year-old's family says police had him surrounded and should have deescalated the situation. [Read more.]( [A Connecticut trooper who shot a Black driver to death is charged with manslaughter]( Trooper Brian North fired seven gunshots into a car, killing Mubarak Soulemane after a high-speed chase in 2020. Soulemane had a knife, but the 19-year-old's family says police had him surrounded and should have deescalated the situation. [Read more.]( [More local food could increase New England's climate resilience. Animal processing capacity isn’t ready.]( As capacity shortages in slaughterhouses complicate business for livestock farmers, two specialty sausage makers in New Hampshire are starting their own animal processing facility. [Read more.]( [More local food could increase New England's climate resilience. Animal processing capacity isn’t ready.]( As capacity shortages in slaughterhouses complicate business for livestock farmers, two specialty sausage makers in New Hampshire are starting their own animal processing facility. [Read more.]( Outlook readers: We're having some technical difficulties, so if you're having a hard time seeing photos in today's newsletter, please click the "view in browser" link above. Thanks for your patience! Anything Else? - Here are [five things to do this weekend]( from the renowned Borromeo String Quartet ([check out their Tiny Desk concert here]( to a first listen of the Guerilla Opera's new comedic production. - Coming to the Coolidge Corner Theatre this weekend, the Tilda Swinton-centric "Memoria" is the most accessible of Apichatpong Weerasethakul's mesmerizing films, [writes WBUR film critic Sean Burns](. - Frederick Hewitt [makes the case in this commentary]( for cutting up your credit card as an act of climate resistance. What We're Reading 📚 - The Shame Deficit ([The Atlantic]( - ‘Chaos mode’: Breaking down film with Marcus Smart, who shares the secrets to being a defensive menace ([The Boston Globe]( - The Siege of I-95 ([Boston Magazine]( Tell Me Something Good [Meet Patron, a bomb-sniffing Jack Russell terrier who has become a Ukrainian hero]( Two-year-old Patron works with rescuers in the northern city of Chernihiv, where he sniffs out Russian bombs (in addition to warming laps, nipping sleeves and generally being a good boy). [Read more.]( [Meet Patron, a bomb-sniffing Jack Russell terrier who has become a Ukrainian hero]( Two-year-old Patron works with rescuers in the northern city of Chernihiv, where he sniffs out Russian bombs (in addition to warming laps, nipping sleeves and generally being a good boy). [Read more.]( Before you go: Thank you for [this important research]( MIT. 🍪 😎 Forward to a friend. 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