Some good news on COVID

Also: 3 things to know about Biden's student loan plan; more MBTA service cuts [Donate ❤️]( [View in Browser](  August 25, 2022 ☀️ Sunny, with a high near 87. Good Morning Boston, We have good news about COVID-19 in Massachusetts. But first, some good — and some bad — news about the MBTA. Let's get the bad news out of the way first: - Not great: Citing a shortage of about 300 bus drivers, the T [announced Wednesday]( that it will further cut scheduled service on [several dozen routes]( beginning this Sunday to match the "actual level of service being delivered." According to the T, about 3% of planned trips this summer were dropped because of the driver shortage. The new cuts also come after [5% reductions in bus service]( last December. - The T is also cutting service on all Green Line branches by an unspecified amount, while the existing 20% cuts on the Red Line, Blue Line and Orange Line (when it reopens) [due to dispatcher staffing shortages]( will remain in place into the fall. - It's not just the T. A poll [earlier this year]( found that staffing challenges had affected service at nearly three of four American public transit agencies. The T has launched [an "aggressive" hiring campaign]( with sign-on bonuses of up to $4,500 for bus drivers. - The better: At least one part of the system is adding service in the near future. MBTA officials say they plan to relaunch regular commuter rail service to Foxborough next month, as part of a pilot program that was shelved in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. T officials [announced]( that more frequent weekday trips to Foxborough will begin Sept. 12. (You can see [the schedule here]( - The MBTA already runs trains to Foxborough — which peels off the Fairmount/Franklin lines — [for big events]( Patriots games and concerts at Gillette Stadium, plus [a few midday trips](. - Foxborough is in Zone 4, meaning a one-way trip costs $8.75, while a roundtrip is $17.50. However, parking at Foxborough station is free, thanks to funding from the Patriots owners. - The better than expected? The T's Orange Line closure diversion plan is going relatively smoothly so far. One reason? People seem to be taking the whole "[avoid the region altogether]( advice to heart. - MBTA General Manager Steve Poftak said there seem to be fewer people traveling than normal along the shuttle bus routes, which he called "one of the key elements" of things going OK so far. - Not so fast: Poftak says the T will at least consider Boston officials' [request for dedicated shuttles]( from Orange Line stops to nearby schools during the closure. But he indicated it's not likely to happen. - Poftak said they have enough shuttle buses for the diversion and he'd be "hard pressed" to divert any of them for other purposes. In non-MBTA news: - Boston City Councilor Ricardo Arroyo is refuting a report that he was investigated for sexual assault as a teenager, calling it an "[unfounded]( political attack against his campaign to be Suffolk County district attorney. The Hyde Park Democrat says he wasn't even aware of the 2005 allegations [until The Boston Globe reported them this week](. - Arroyo says he "never sexually assaulted anyone in my life" and held [a press conference Wednesday]( with the lawyer for one of the alleged victims who backed up his claim. He suggested the report was a leak intended to benefit current Suffolk DA Kevin Hayden. (Hayden's office says they do not release sexual assault investigation files.) - Massachusetts already has two congressmen leading high-profile congressional committees in Reps. [Richard Neal]( and [Jim McGovern](. Could it have a third? Rep. Stephen Lynch announced Wednesday that he wants to be the chair of the House oversight committee next year. - Lynch announced his candidacy hours after the committee's current chair, New York Rep. Carolyn Maloney, [lost in a primary Tuesday to fellow incumbent Rep. Jerry Nadler]( after redistricting put the two Democrats in the same congressional district. - Lynch does have competition from at least one fellow Democrat, [Virginia Rep. Gerry Connolly](. But the South Boston native [argues that he has seniority]( and is "well prepared" to lead the committee, which has broad powers to investigate the federal government. - Even if he wins over his Democratic colleagues, there's no guarantee Lynch will be the committee's next chair. That's because, if Republicans win back the House majority this fall, the chairmanship would go to a GOP member. P.S.— WBUR's mission is to serve you, our readers and listeners. What do we need to do it right? Your input! [Take this quick survey]( to help us understand your needs and wants of our coverage. It'll [take just 10 minutes]( and 10 randomly selected participants will get a swag bag of WBUR goodies as a token of our appreciation. Thanks! Nik DeCosta-Klipa Editor, Newsletters [Follow](  Support the news  The Rundown [Some good COVID news: Deaths were at pre-pandemic levels in Mass. this spring, study finds]( The researchers called the findings good news but warned, "the future is completely unknown." [Read more.]( [Some good COVID news: Deaths were at pre-pandemic levels in Mass. this spring, study finds]( The researchers called the findings good news but warned, "the future is completely unknown." [Read more.]( [3 things you need to know about Biden's student loan announcement]( President Biden announced a sweeping effort to forgive up to $20,000 for qualifying borrowers. Here are three things you need to know. [Read more.]( [3 things you need to know about Biden's student loan announcement]( President Biden announced a sweeping effort to forgive up to $20,000 for qualifying borrowers. Here are three things you need to know. [Read more.]( [Pandemic staffing challenges may be spurring the robot revolution]( Massachusetts, which has a cluster of more than 400 robotics companies, is shaping a new, more automated workforce. [Read more.]( [Pandemic staffing challenges may be spurring the robot revolution]( Massachusetts, which has a cluster of more than 400 robotics companies, is shaping a new, more automated workforce. [Read more.]( [Mario Batali settles 2 lawsuits accusing him of sexual assault]( Mario Batali has agreed to settle two Massachusetts lawsuits that accused the celebrity chef of sexual assault, attorneys for the women said on Wednesday. [Read more.]( [Mario Batali settles 2 lawsuits accusing him of sexual assault]( Mario Batali has agreed to settle two Massachusetts lawsuits that accused the celebrity chef of sexual assault, attorneys for the women said on Wednesday. [Read more.]( [Civil rights group asks for federal review on the impacts of Orange Line shutdown]( Alleging that the MBTA failed to properly examine the impacts of the Orange Line shutdown on communities of color, a civil rights group is asking federal authorities to intervene amid what it described as an "illegal and discriminatory" change in service. [Read more.]( [Civil rights group asks for federal review on the impacts of Orange Line shutdown]( Alleging that the MBTA failed to properly examine the impacts of the Orange Line shutdown on communities of color, a civil rights group is asking federal authorities to intervene amid what it described as an "illegal and discriminatory" change in service. [Read more.]( Anything Else? - WBUR's arts and culture team has [five recommendations to make the most of this late-summer weekend]( including a sculpture walking tour in Arlington and free tango lessons in Medford. - In our latest edition of [Sound On]( Amelia Mason profiles Eph See, the 22-year-old singer-songwriter [churning out "paradoxically buoyant" pop music]( from the recording studios at Northeastern University. - Harvard is adding [some big names to its class of fall teaching fellows]( including former New York mayor Bill de Blasio, former acting Boston mayor Kim Janey and former Swedish prime minister Stefan Löfven.  What We're Reading 📚 - The Curious Story of John C. Reilly and His Talented Son Leo ([GQ]( - Turtle crossing sign removed from Chelmsford neighborhood after resident complains ([Lowell Sun]( - Local filmmaker examines Boston’s ‘uniquely malevolent bird’ in ‘Turkey Town’ documentary ([The Boston Globe](  Food for Thought [An inside look at how the Girl Scouts chose their next cookie flavor, Raspberry Rally]( The new Girl Scouts Cookie is a kind of sister to the iconic Thin Mint, and the second fruit flavor to hit the lineup of cookies. [Read more.]( [An inside look at how the Girl Scouts chose their next cookie flavor, Raspberry Rally]( The new Girl Scouts Cookie is a kind of sister to the iconic Thin Mint, and the second fruit flavor to hit the lineup of cookies. [Read more.]( Before you go: I promise I'll stop sharing MBTA memes when the MBTA stops [giving us material](. 😎 Forward to a friend. 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