What you missed in the first Mass. governor's debate

Also: Breaking down the Question 1 debate; what the White House sees coming for COVID this winter [Donate ❤️]( [View in Browser](  October 13, 2022 🍂 Mostly cloudy, with a high near 71. Rain and thunderstorms arrive at night. Good Morning Boston, The two major candidates to be Massachusetts' next governor met for a feisty first debate last night. Here's what you missed — and what else is ahead today: - The in-person meeting between Democratic Attorney General Maura Healey and former Republican lawmaker Geoff Diehl offered some fizz but not much new, with both candidates hewing closely to their stump speeches and pledging to drive down the high cost of living in the state. While they were there to pitch themselves to voters, parts of the evening sounded like two cable news panelists going after former President Donald Trump and current President Joe Biden. - Healey repeatedly tied Diehl to Trump, who has endorsed the GOP hopeful but remains deeply unpopular in Massachusetts. In response, Diehl argued he wanted to focus on Massachusetts, but also tried to tie Healey to high inflation, rising energy prices and Biden, who he blames for "economic disaster." - Perhaps the sharpest exchanges of the night came over abortion rights and vaccines. Diehl suggested that he would set his personal pro-life stance aside to support Massachusetts' bolstered abortion rights laws. But the COVID vaccine mandate critic also said the idea of "my body, my choice" should extend to vaccines. Healey made the case that Diehl — who [applauded]( the overturning of Roe v. Wade — could not be trusted on the issue. She said Diehl supported freedom in healthcare "except when it’s about women." - The two also clashed over [the driver's license law that's on the ballot this fall](. Diehl has used his campaign to help rally opposition to the new law. Healey shot back that his [dubious claim]( that undocumented immigrants would be automatically enrolled to vote through the state's voter registration system was simply "not true." She stressed that police chiefs in 41 of the largest communities across the state support the law because knowing drivers went through safety education and road tests made for safer streets. - Go deeper: You can [read — or listen — to the full debate recap from WBUR's Anthony Brooks right here](. - What's next: The two will debate for a second — and likely final — time a week from today, on the night of Oct. 20. - Meanwhile, the current guy in office — Gov. Charlie Baker — issued pardons Wednesday to four men with decades-old criminal convictions. WBUR's Deborah Becker [reports]( that the convictions ranged from larceny, trespassing and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon. The men requested pardons saying their criminal records created issues like having a hard time advancing their careers. - Zoom out: These are the first pardons approved by Baker — though he also commuted the first-degree murder sentences of [two men]( serving life in prison earlier this year. - In the city: Boston planning officials will vote today on new zoning rules that could speed up the transformation of the neighborhood along Western Avenue in Allston-Brighton. The area already had begun to see big construction projects, and developers are looking to bring more apartments and (as always) lab space to the stretch. - The new zoning rules being considered by the the Boston Planning and Development Agency would allow for more dense construction and multi-family housing. It would also be the first neighborhood plan approved by Mayor Michelle Wu. - Jean McGuire, a [91-year-old local civil rights icon]( who was stabbed while walking her dog Tuesday night in Franklin Park, is reportedly recovering and in stable condition. But the alarming incident has advocates calling on the city to do more to improve safety in the park. - Rickie Thompson, the president of the Franklin Park Coalition, says the park needs better lighting and security cameras on major roads. He's hoping to meet with Wu to discuss the attack. P.S.— Kick off your weekend tomorrow at WBUR CitySpace! Radio Boston host Tiziana Dearing will be there for [a talk with Deborah Torres]( the entrepreneur who turned down "Shark Tank" to launch her own vegan fried chicken start-up. In-person attendees will also get a complimentary taste of her work at the post-chat reception. Nik DeCosta-Klipa Editor, Newsletters [Follow](  Support the news  The Rundown [What to know about Question 1, which asks voters if Mass.' top earners should pay higher taxes]( This election season Massachusetts voters will decide if they want the state's top income earners to pay more in taxes. [Read more.]( [What to know about Question 1, which asks voters if Mass.' top earners should pay higher taxes]( This election season Massachusetts voters will decide if they want the state's top income earners to pay more in taxes. [Read more.]( [What the White House sees coming for COVID this winter]( The U.S. should prepare for a spike in COVID cases this winter as more people gather indoors and infections already begin to rise in Europe, White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator Ashish Jha says. [Read more.]( [What the White House sees coming for COVID this winter]( The U.S. should prepare for a spike in COVID cases this winter as more people gather indoors and infections already begin to rise in Europe, White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator Ashish Jha says. [Read more.]( [Alex Jones ordered to pay $965 million for Sandy Hook lies]( The conspiracy theorist Alex Jones should pay $965 million to people who suffered from his false claim that the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting was a hoax, a jury in Connecticut decided Wednesday. [Read more.]( [Alex Jones ordered to pay $965 million for Sandy Hook lies]( The conspiracy theorist Alex Jones should pay $965 million to people who suffered from his false claim that the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting was a hoax, a jury in Connecticut decided Wednesday. [Read more.]( [Omicron boosters for kids 5-12 are cleared by the CDC]( Tweaked boosters rolled out for Americans 12 and older last month, modified to target today's most common and contagious variant. The latest move may expand protection before an expected winter wave. [Read more.]( [Omicron boosters for kids 5-12 are cleared by the CDC]( Tweaked boosters rolled out for Americans 12 and older last month, modified to target today's most common and contagious variant. The latest move may expand protection before an expected winter wave. [Read more.]( [Report: Bird populations in decline across U.S., Mass., some species near ‘tipping point’Â]( Bird populations are declining rapidly in the U.S., including 22 species that live in or pass through Massachusetts, according to this year’s State of the Birds 2022. [Read more.]( [Report: Bird populations in decline across U.S., Mass., some species near ‘tipping point’Â]( Bird populations are declining rapidly in the U.S., including 22 species that live in or pass through Massachusetts, according to this year’s State of the Birds 2022. [Read more.]( Anything Else? - Looking for plans this weekend? Here are [five events that WBUR's arts and culture team is recommending]( from an experimental concert at the MIT Museum to a special film screening in Framingham. - How do you connect 14th century art with works produced today? With gold leaf. A new exhibition at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum confirms that “art is art, no matter what the period, and the juxtaposition of old and new creates illuminating reflections and reverberations,” [according to critic Lloyd Schwartz](. - What do a South Carolina ornithologist, a Chicago cellist and Smith College human rights activist have in common? They're all in this year's class of MacArthur Fellows. Read the full list of "genius" grant winners — which includes three Massachusetts natives — [here](. - Thousands of Egyptians are [demanding the repatriation of the Rosetta Stone]( from the British Museum back to its home country. It's the latest in an effort by nations around the world to reclaim pieces of their heritage from the colonial powers that hauled them away.  What We're Reading 📚 - Trafficking Inc.: Forced labor in Massachusetts ([GBH News]( - If America Needs Starter Homes, Why Are Perfectly Good Ones Being Torn Down? ([The New York Times]( - I read all of Elon Musk’s text messages. Here are the worst ones. ([SFGate](  Food for Thought [Sarma, the universal favorite, earns the Globe's first five-star restaurant review (The Boston Globe)]( In Somerville, small plates bridge cultures and unite diners in rare agreement. The restaurant has maintained a rare level of consistency, and everything about it is familiar yet refreshing. [Read more.]( [Sarma, the universal favorite, earns the Globe's first five-star restaurant review (The Boston Globe)]( In Somerville, small plates bridge cultures and unite diners in rare agreement. The restaurant has maintained a rare level of consistency, and everything about it is familiar yet refreshing. [Read more.]( Before you go: Don't you dare insult this [classic candy](. Digitial editor Roberto Scalese 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? Stop getting this newsletter by [updating your preferences.](  I don't want to hear from WBUR anymore. Unsubscribe from all WBUR editorial newsletters [here](.  Interested in learning more about corporate sponsorship? [Click here.]( Copyright © 2022 WBUR-FM, All rights reserved.