Arriving in Boston: commuter rail fare gates

Also: It's the first day of school for BPS's new leader; Storm Ian strengthens into a hurricane [Donate ❤️]( [View in Browser](  September 26, 2022 🌤️ Mostly sunny, with a high near 75. Good Morning Boston, Get your telescopes ready — actually, you might not even need them; Jupiter is [coming the closest it has to Earth in 59 years tonight](. The giant gas planet will be so big and bright that you may even see it from a city (and it won't come this close again for over 100 years). Meanwhile, NASA is planning to [ram a spacecraft into an asteroid in a Hollywood-style planetary defense test]( around 7:14 p.m. Eastern time. So, yes, the news today is out of this world. But there are a few things to know closer to home: - Starting this weekend, you'll actually have to scan your ticket to get on the commuter rail at North Station. The MBTA says its long-planned fare gates — the first in all of the commuter rail system — [will be turned on this Saturday](. They'll look similar to what riders encounter on most of the MBTA's subway system, but one key difference is that riders will have to "tap out" to exit the platform area at North Station as well. - The gates will take commuter rail and Amtrak tickets — but not monthly tickets loaded on a CharlieCard. That means you'll need a CharlieTicket or a CharlieCard with a printed zone and date. - Fare gates will also be installed at Boston's two other busiest commuter rail stations: South Station and Back Bay. (Officials previously said there's no plans to expand them further.) It's part of an effort to cut down on fare evasion. While the gates mean no more platform door ticket checks, riders should still expect to get their passes checked by conductors on the train. - PSA: Today is the first weekday of the first of [three nine-day closures of the Green Line's D branch this fall](. That means there are shuttle buses between Kenmore and Riverside. - One of the largest communities in Massachusetts is entering its second week under [a strict outdoor water use ban](. Due to drought conditions and low levels in the city reservoir, Lynn officials are threatening to fine and even shut off water for violators. They're also telling restaurants to only serve water if requested. - [According to the Lynn Item]( the city will issue warnings to first-time offenders and $200 fines for second offenses. Water service will be terminated for residents who violate the ban up to a fourth time. - While statewide drought conditions [have improved due to the rain over the past few weeks]( much of Massachusetts — including Boston and the North Shore — remain in [a Level 3 critical drought](. As of Sept. 2, [160 cities and towns]( had mandatory water use restrictions in place. - Stoughton Police Chief Donna McNamara is seeking to bar three of her former cops from serving anywhere in Massachusetts, after an investigation by the town [found they had "inappropriate" relationships with a young woman who committed suicide last year](. - McNamara is asking the state's new [Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission]( to decertify the three officers, calling them "unfit to serve" during a press conference Friday. - [According to The Boston Globe]( the woman was pregnant at the time of her suicide and said one of the officers was the father. P.S.— Boston Mayor Michelle Wu's monthly "Mondays with the Mayor" appearance on Radio Boston is coming up on Tuesday this week. (Apparently, she has a busy schedule.) But it's never too early to send in your questions. Just tweet them at [@RadioBoston]( or send them by texting BOSTON to 617-766-0382. Nik DeCosta-Klipa Editor, Newsletters [Follow](  Support the news  The Rundown [New Boston schools superintendent officially starts her new role]( All eyes will be on how the Boston native and veteran school administrator will address longstanding challenges in Massachusetts' largest school district — and whether she will have staying power. [Read more.]( [New Boston schools superintendent officially starts her new role]( All eyes will be on how the Boston native and veteran school administrator will address longstanding challenges in Massachusetts' largest school district — and whether she will have staying power. [Read more.]( [Storm Ian strengthens into a hurricane as it heads towards Cuba and Florida]( Forecasters say Tropical Storm Ian has strengthened into a hurricane as it moves closer to Cuba on a track expected to hit Florida in the coming days. Authorities in Cuba are planning evacuations. [Read more.]( [Storm Ian strengthens into a hurricane as it heads towards Cuba and Florida]( Forecasters say Tropical Storm Ian has strengthened into a hurricane as it moves closer to Cuba on a track expected to hit Florida in the coming days. Authorities in Cuba are planning evacuations. [Read more.]( [Telemedicine abortions just got more complicated for health providers]( Prescribing medical abortions across state lines is now risky for doctors. "We're talking about something that's a protected right in one state and a felony in a sister state," says one legal scholar. [Read more.]( [Telemedicine abortions just got more complicated for health providers]( Prescribing medical abortions across state lines is now risky for doctors. "We're talking about something that's a protected right in one state and a felony in a sister state," says one legal scholar. [Read more.]( [Provisional results show Italy set for first far-right government since World War II]( Far-right leader Giorgia Meloni's Fratelli d'Italia (Brothers of Italy) party is on track to be the biggest party in parliament, according to provisional results. [Read more.]( [Provisional results show Italy set for first far-right government since World War II]( Far-right leader Giorgia Meloni's Fratelli d'Italia (Brothers of Italy) party is on track to be the biggest party in parliament, according to provisional results. [Read more.]( [A new island has emerged out of the Pacific Ocean, but it may soon disappear]( The atoll southwest of Tonga’s Late Island poked up 50 feet above sea level, following an underwater volcanic eruption. [Read more.]( [A new island has emerged out of the Pacific Ocean, but it may soon disappear]( The atoll southwest of Tonga’s Late Island poked up 50 feet above sea level, following an underwater volcanic eruption. [Read more.]( Anything Else? - NASA [delayed its Artemis 1 moon mission for the third time over the weekend.]( The first two postponements were due to malfunctions, but the reason this time is out of NASA's control: Hurricane Ian. - Jazz legend Pharoah Sanders [died over the weekend at the age of 81](. The influential saxophone savant is best known for his piece "The Creator Has a Master Plan," and played alongside John Coltrane. - Baseball is closing out this season with multiple stars chasing home run milestones, evoking bittersweet memories of the home run races of the "steroid era." But this time, [it's different](. - The Swifties will have to wait. Despite [rumors otherwise]( the NFL announced Sunday that [this winter's Super Bowl headliner will actually be Rihanna]( who turned down the show in 2019.  What We're Reading 📚 - The ‘Cider Donuteur’ is back. Here’s what he’s learned while hunting for New England’s best cider doughnuts. ([The Boston Globe]( - The Megastate G.O.P. Rivalry Between Abbott and DeSantis ([The New York Times]( - Why Adults Still Dream About School ([The Atlantic](  Tell Me Something Good ['Shoebert' the spectacle seal leaves Beverly pond, waddles to police station (WCVB)]( "Over the past week you brought a lot of joy and happiness to our city. Feel free to come back and visit anytime!" Beverly police said. [Read more.]( ['Shoebert' the spectacle seal leaves Beverly pond, waddles to police station (WCVB)]( "Over the past week you brought a lot of joy and happiness to our city. Feel free to come back and visit anytime!" Beverly police said. [Read more.]( Before you go: Southie parking [at its finest.]( Digital producer Derek Anderson co-produced this newsletter. 😎 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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