Blue Line (suspension) extension

Also: Big leverage for new college grads; Wu urges precautions amid rebounding COVID rates [Donate ❤️]( [View in Browser](  May 9, 2022 ☀️ Sunny and breezy, with a high near 56. Good Morning Boston, I'm already looking past today toward the [beach-worthy weather at the end of this week](. But here's what you need to start your Monday: - It will be another week of [buses and ferries]( for Blue Line commuters. The MBTA announced Sunday evening that the Blue Line suspension between Airport and Bowdoin stations will continue until this Friday — five days longer than [originally planned](. - MBTA officials apologized to Blue Line riders for the extra week of delays. The agency says the reason is to "complete additional work and finish scheduled work" as part of the [ongoing harbor tunnel repair project](. - As a result, the T says the 18-day Blue Line closure between Wonderland to Orient Heights that was slated to begin Thursday will get pushed back to a later, unspecified date. - Coming down the track: The Blue Line isn't the only line scheduled for prolonged closures for maintenance work. The T is also in the midst of a series of weekend closures for the north end of the Red Line to replace "[floating slabs]( inside the tunnel. And every branch of the Green Line is [scheduled for full closures in the coming weeks and months]( including three successive nine-day closures of the D branch this fall. - Boston Mayor Michelle Wu is encouraging resident to wear masks inside crowded spaces and test for COVID-19 regularly, with data showing again-rising infection rates in the city. - Wu told WBUR's Walter Wuthmann that residents should consider a COVID test "before going to events with many people or visiting with family and friends at an indoor event." - As of Friday, Boston's [positive COVID test]( rate was 9.6% — nearly double its threshold for concern. The city's COVID hospitalization rate has also doubled since the beginning of April to 126.4 patients per day, though it remains below the city's 200-per-day threshold. The city's hospital bed occupancy rate also remain below its respective threshold. - If the city were to surpass all three thresholds, Wu has said officials would consider re-instituting restrictions like indoor mask or vaccine mandates. For now, they're highly encouraging individuals [take their own precautions](. - Nearly 50 million Americans are eligible for [a new program being rolled out by President Biden's administration]( to cut the price of internet for low-income households. Are you one of them? - The [Affordable Connectivity Program]( is open to individuals and families whose annual income is at or below 200% of the [federal poverty levels]( (i.e. $27,180 for a single individuals or 55,500 for a family of four) as well as households with at least one participant in programs like Medicaid or food stamps. - How does it work? The program aims to deliver virtually-free internet to low-income individuals through two steps. First, it offers qualifying households a $30-a-month benefit for internet. Second, the government is partnering with internet service providers to offer plans capped at $30 a month. So, if you use the federal benefit on one of those partner plans, service is free. P.S.— Today's the day! [Radio Boston is m]( its live 11 a.m. debut this morning]( with interviews with Wu and local restauranteur Tiffani Faison. (You can submit any questions you want us to ask the mayor at [@RadioBoston]( or through our text club by texting BOSTON to 617-766-0382). And don't worry, the show will still air at 3 p.m., too. Nik DeCosta-Klipa Editor, Newsletters [Follow](  Support the news  The Rundown [In a market clamoring for workers, new grads have plenty of leverage]( New college graduates are getting ready to enter a job market that's eager to have them. [Read more.]( [In a market clamoring for workers, new grads have plenty of leverage]( New college graduates are getting ready to enter a job market that's eager to have them. [Read more.]( [Few eligible families have sought federal payment of COVID funeral expenses]( FEMA has a pool of cash set aside to reimburse burial costs — even retroactively — to the families of COVID victims. But clerical challenges and slow outreach have stymied the application process. [Read more.]( [Few eligible families have sought federal payment of COVID funeral expenses]( FEMA has a pool of cash set aside to reimburse burial costs — even retroactively — to the families of COVID victims. But clerical challenges and slow outreach have stymied the application process. [Read more.]( [More than 60 are feared dead in the bombing of a Ukrainian school]( The school was sheltering about 90 people in the village of Bilohorivka. [Read more.]( [More than 60 are feared dead in the bombing of a Ukrainian school]( The school was sheltering about 90 people in the village of Bilohorivka. [Read more.]( [The leaked abortion decision blew up overnight. In 1973, Roe had a longer fuse]( The reaction to Roe vs. Wade was immense, but not immediately so. It took months and years for the anti-abortion movement to fully form, to organize and gain political power. [Read more.]( [The leaked abortion decision blew up overnight. In 1973, Roe had a longer fuse]( The reaction to Roe vs. Wade was immense, but not immediately so. It took months and years for the anti-abortion movement to fully form, to organize and gain political power. [Read more.]( [Democrats hope abortion will jolt young voters to action in the midterms]( These midterms, younger voters have soured on the Democratic Party. Party leaders see the threat to abortion rights as an opportunity to rebuild the multigenerational coalition that elected Joe Biden. [Read more.]( [Democrats hope abortion will jolt young voters to action in the midterms]( These midterms, younger voters have soured on the Democratic Party. Party leaders see the threat to abortion rights as an opportunity to rebuild the multigenerational coalition that elected Joe Biden. [Read more.]( How are you liking WBUR Today? We want your feedback so we can give you more of what you love and improve on what you don't. [Share your thoughts on this newsletter by taking our brief survey.]( Thanks in advance! Anything Else? - Health insurance can be as confusing as it is expensive. Here are [six tips to make sure you're getting the most of your plan](. - Rich Barlow [calls for an end of horse-race political coverage in this commentary]( arguing it curtails voter turnout, undermines the democratic process and disadvantages female candidates. - ICYMI: Rich Strike [won the 148th Kentucky Derby]( this weekend after coming to the race as a last-minute entrant and 80-t0-1 long shot. If you haven't already seen the video of his incredible comeback during the final stretch, you [have to watch it here](.  What We're Reading 📚 - America’s Abortion Quandary ([Pew Research Center]( - Priced out of the city, Black Bostonians are finding their dream homes on the South Shore ([The Boston Globe]( - How 5 Convicted Murderers Banded Together to Get Out of Prison ([The New York Times](  Tell Me Something Good [Vacant DOT lot transformed into outdoor community space (Boston.com)]( The Guild Sanctuary on Coleman will be a hub for gardening and other wellness activities, as well as an art venue. [Read more.]( [Vacant DOT lot transformed into outdoor community space (Boston.com)]( The Guild Sanctuary on Coleman will be a hub for gardening and other wellness activities, as well as an art venue. [Read more.]( Before you go: [Playoff hug]( 😎 Forward to a friend. 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