Monkeypox in Mass.? Here's what to know

Also: A new dispute roils St. Vincent Hospital; 5 graphs about abortion in Mass. [Donate ❤️]( [View in Browser](  May 19, 2022 ☁️ Cloudy, with a high near 59 and possible rain this morning. Good Morning Boston, Enjoy the cool air today because it's going to get HOT this weekend. We're talking temperatures in the 90s in Boston. Before figuring out how to spend the weekend submerged in a body of water, here's what you need to know today: - There's a case of monkeypox in Massachusetts — but don't freak out just yet. The state's Department of Public Health says there's "no risk to the public" after a man who recently traveled to Canada tested positive for the rare but potentially serious illness. It's the first case of the virus reported in the U.S. this year. Officials say the man is hospitalized but in good condition. - DPH officials are working with federal and local partners to track down anyone who came in contact with the man while he was infectious, but monkeypox transmission mostly occurs through contact with body fluids or monkeypox sores, or in the air through respiratory droplets following "prolonged face-to-face contact." If infected, cases may begin with flu-like symptoms and progress to lesions that spread from one part of the body (it sometimes gets confused with STDs). - Zoom out: CDC officials [expressed concern earlier this week]( about a handful of monkeypox cases in the United Kingdom quietly spreading to other countries, including the U.S. Since then, [over two dozen suspected cases have popped up in Spain and Portugal.]( Over the past five years, most reported monkeypox cases have been in Nigeria; according to the WHO, there were a total of eight deaths out of 558 suspected cases. - Massachusetts has among the most expensive childcare costs in the nation — and now, state lawmakers are starting to take a "significant step" toward tackling the problem. - The problem: The cost of sending one child to a child care program runs Massachusetts parents [an average of $15,000 to $21,000]( a year. And yet workers in the sector face low wages, driving them out of the industry and exacerbating the shortage of affordable options. - What they're doing: Democratic leaders on the Legislature's joint education committee released a bill Wednesday that calls for a boost in funding for child care providers and expanded subsidies for families over the next few years. The latter would start with those on the lower-end of the income scale but eventually extend to middle class households. - The legislation does not include language capping child care costs at 7% of families income [as some advocates have proposed](. - The actual size and scope of the subsidies ultimately depends on the amount of money lawmakers allocate in each year's budget. That amount would then gradually increase over time until the bill is fully funded. Ultimately, a special legislative commission [estimated]( it would take an additional $1.5 billion a year to make the system universally affordable and sustainable. (It's not clear if the bill will go that far.) - State Sen. Jason Lewis, a co-sponsor of the bill, told WBUR's Yasmin Amer that the issue is "a high priority for state leaders, both in the legislature and the administration." The bill also has the support of both House Speaker Ron Mariano and Senate President Karen Spilka. - Ready for another Blue Line diversion? Yes, one just finished less than two days ago. But this time, it's a different stretch. MBTA officials says the scheduled closure of the northern end of the line — from Orient Heights to Wonderland — will begin this Sunday, and run two and a half weeks until June 8. Shuttle buses will provide alternative service. - This service suspension (there will be "critical" repair work on the Suffolk Downs pedestrian bridge) was supposed to happen earlier this month, but got [postponed amid the other Blue Line suspension's construction cart chaos](. - Yes, it's frustrating to get hit with another service suspension so soon, but the folks at the T say they need to do this work before the Sumner Tunnel weekend closures begin on June 10 as part [of another big repair project]( — or else the bridge won't reopen for another two years. - A special commission voted unanimously this week to recommend replacing the seal and motto on the Massachusetts state flag due to its references to Native Americans and violence. Brian Weeden, the co-chairman of the commission, [told Morning Edition]( they hope to hold public input sessions to better understand what residents want in a redesigned seal and motto. P.S.— One last reminder: We want to hear your thoughts about this newsletter! What do you like about WBUR Today? What would you like to see more (or less) of? [Take this quick survey and let us know!]( Nik DeCosta-Klipa Editor, Newsletters [Follow](  Support the news  The Rundown [After historic nurses' strike, a new dispute roils Saint Vincent Hospital]( The union says the hospital is forcing nurses to work longer shifts, just months after signing a new labor contract. They worry longer work days could drive away experienced nurses. [Read more.]( [After historic nurses' strike, a new dispute roils Saint Vincent Hospital]( The union says the hospital is forcing nurses to work longer shifts, just months after signing a new labor contract. They worry longer work days could drive away experienced nurses. [Read more.]( [Understand more about abortions in Mass. with these 5 graphs]( Abortions have dropped sharply since the 1970s and continue to decline, and most terminations happen early in pregnancy. [Read more.]( [Understand more about abortions in Mass. with these 5 graphs]( Abortions have dropped sharply since the 1970s and continue to decline, and most terminations happen early in pregnancy. [Read more.]( [Where some see a setback for crypto, others see signs of a maturing industry]( Even after watching investors lose hundreds of billions of dollars, some in Massachusetts are not giving up on crypto. [Read more.]( [Where some see a setback for crypto, others see signs of a maturing industry]( Even after watching investors lose hundreds of billions of dollars, some in Massachusetts are not giving up on crypto. [Read more.]( [Winter ticks wiped out nearly 90% of the moose calves scientists tracked in part of Maine last year]( Winter ticks, which are sometimes called moose ticks, have been pestering Maine moose for about a century and likely longer. But their numbers have exploded as the climate warms. [Read more.]( [Winter ticks wiped out nearly 90% of the moose calves scientists tracked in part of Maine last year]( Winter ticks, which are sometimes called moose ticks, have been pestering Maine moose for about a century and likely longer. But their numbers have exploded as the climate warms. [Read more.]( [The U.S. men's and women's soccer teams will be paid equally under a new deal]( The new collective bargaining agreements will run through 2028 and will also include the "equalization" of World Cup prize money, the organization announced. [Read more.]( [The U.S. men's and women's soccer teams will be paid equally under a new deal]( The new collective bargaining agreements will run through 2028 and will also include the "equalization" of World Cup prize money, the organization announced. [Read more.]( Anything Else? - Here are five things to do this weekend, from [the beginning of a spring concert series in Boston to "Free Ferry Day."]( - Tiny Desk Contest winner (and Boston's own) Alisa Amador had recently decided to quit pursuing a career in music. But this latest award, she [tells WBUR's Amelia Mason]( has changed her mind. - Did you know Ben Franklin once uncontroversially [wrote instructions for at-home abortions in a book in the 1700s]( - While many were captivated by the recent discovery of Sir Ernest Shackleton’s ship, Henriette Lazaridis [writes in this commentary]( about idolizing a different Antarctic explorer.  What We're Reading 📚 - Doctors Gave Her Antipsychotics. She Decided to Live With Her Voices. ([The New York Times Magazine]( - Joan Didion’s Magic Trick ([The Atlantic]( - Two-Card Monte: Why Mastercard And Visa Rarely Shut Down Scammers Who Are Ripping Off Consumers ([BuzzFeed News](  Tell Me Something Good [A fan caught 2 home run balls ... in the same inning?! (MLB.com)]( Imagine not only catching one home run ball, but catching two.In the same game.In the same inning. Afan at Fenway Park did exactly that. [Read more.]( [A fan caught 2 home run balls ... in the same inning?! (MLB.com)]( Imagine not only catching one home run ball, but catching two.In the same game.In the same inning. Afan at Fenway Park did exactly that. [Read more.]( Before you go: Did Dunkin' taste different in South Korea? Marty Walsh [gives his review](. 😎 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? 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