A seismic septic system rule change

Also: 75 reasons to get the new bivalent COVID booster; the state's first prison body camera program begins [Donate ❤️]( [View in Browser](  November 29, 2022 🌤️ Mostly sunny, with a high near 45. Good Morning Boston, Today is Giving Tuesday. It's a day to support organizations that are doing vital work in our communities, and I hope you'll consider [making your #GivingTuesday contribution to WBUR](. Not only will your donation support the free, independent journalism you get from WBUR (and this newsletter!) and make sure it's available for our entire community, it will also go even further today. Every #GivingTuesday gift will get a 50% match (meaning $100 turns into $150). Please [donate here](. Now, to the news: - Have you been putting off getting [that new bivalent COVID booster]( According to state data, the vast majority of residents — even in highly vaccinated Massachusetts — have not exactly rushed to get the new omicron boosters since they became available in September. But now, the state is upping the ante with over 200 walk-in vaccination clinics across the state offering $75 gift cards to anyone who gets their shot through the holiday season. They're similar to the popular Boston vaccine clinics from this summer that [offered $75 as an incentive]( — but this time it's much more widespread. - You can read the full list clinics offering the $75 Visa gift cards [here](. They're all located in the state's 20 "[Vaccine Equity Initiative]( cities, plus 10 other municipalities and three rural areas with the state's lowest booster rates and highest BIPOC populations, as part of the [special Get Boosted program](. - Remember, kids [as young as 5]( can get the new bivalent boosters — and they're eligible for the Get Boosted clinics' $75 gift cards, too. (They just need an accompanying adult if they're under 18.) - The numbers: Less than a quarter of Massachusetts' nearly 5.6 million fully vaccinated residents have gotten a second booster, according to [data from the state's Department of Public Health](. And there's over 2 million boosted residents — about 60% of those who have gotten one booster — who haven't gotten their second. - What officials are saying: “These boosters have been proven safe and effective for adults and children," DPH Commissioner Margaret Cooke [told MassLive](. "If you have been thinking about getting the vaccine, now is the time.” - What's next: Experts don't expect this winter season to have another stratospheric spike in omicron COVID cases. But with [new subvariants taking hold]( and the return of RSV and the flu, there's concern that holiday gatherings [could accelerate a "tripledemic."]( - Scoop: Tens of thousands of Massachusetts residents could be required to replace or upgrade their septic systems in the next five years, due to a newly proposed change to the state's environmental regulations intended to cut down on nitrogen pollution. - WBUR's Barbara Moran [reports that the proposed rules would first only take effect on Cape Cod]( but later expand to Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket and the South Coast — areas where nitrogen pollution from septic systems is known to damage coastal waters. - Some local officials say the change would be "enormous." And yes, replacing or upgrading a septic system to better filter nitrogen can be very expensive for property owners. - However, the rules do include a big exception: residents wouldn't be required to upgrade their septic systems if their community presents a watershed permit plan to combat nitrogen pollution. - Dozens of Lowell residents have been evacuated from their homes due to [a massive water main break]( that flooded a downtown neighborhood known as The Acre. City Councilor Paul Ratha Yem tells WBUR that the evacuation included a complex that houses mostly seniors. - Officials are [working to set up an emergency shelter]( at the Lowell Senior Center. The cause of the break is still being investigated. - Eleven elementary schools in East Boston will significantly expand their music offerings this January, thanks to an anonymously funded, three-year $1.65 million grant through the non-profit EdVestors. WBUR's Carrie Jung [reports]( it's a big boost for a community where many students only get about 45 minutes of music education per week. - According to Jung, the initiative will fund everything from new after-school music programs to workshops with local music colleges and free private music lessons for up to 200 students. P.S.— Tired of turkey? The legendary chef Jacques Pépin is [coming back to WBUR CitySpace tonight to discuss his new book “Art of the Chicken."]( While in-person tickets are sold out, you can still grab tickets to watch the event online [right here](. Nik DeCosta-Klipa Editor, Newsletters [Follow](  Support the news  The Rundown [In a 1st for Massachusetts, some correction officers at this max security prison wear body cameras]( Fifty officers of the 450-member correctional staff at the Souza-Baranowski Correctional Center in Lancaster have been outfitted with the devices for the first phase of a $1 million program designed to increase transparency and improve safety in the prison. [Read more.]( [In a 1st for Massachusetts, some correction officers at this max security prison wear body cameras]( Fifty officers of the 450-member correctional staff at the Souza-Baranowski Correctional Center in Lancaster have been outfitted with the devices for the first phase of a $1 million program designed to increase transparency and improve safety in the prison. [Read more.]( [A fight over how to enforce immigration laws reaches the Supreme Court]( The Biden administration wants immigration authorities to focus on threats to public safety, but a lower court said its guidelines went too far. Now the high court is hearing arguments in the case. [Read more.]( [A fight over how to enforce immigration laws reaches the Supreme Court]( The Biden administration wants immigration authorities to focus on threats to public safety, but a lower court said its guidelines went too far. Now the high court is hearing arguments in the case. [Read more.]( [Iran acknowledges more than 300 are dead from unrest from nationwide protests]( The estimate from a military official of people dead from protests is considerably lower than the toll reported by a U.S.-based group that has been closely tracking the protests. [Read more.]( [Iran acknowledges more than 300 are dead from unrest from nationwide protests]( The estimate from a military official of people dead from protests is considerably lower than the toll reported by a U.S.-based group that has been closely tracking the protests. [Read more.]( [Hawaii's Mauna Loa, the world's biggest active volcano, erupts after 38 years]( The mountain, which is taller than Mount Everest measured from seafloor to summit, erupted Sunday. Its lava appears to be contained, but scientists say the volcano has a history of rapidly changing. [Read more.]( [Hawaii's Mauna Loa, the world's biggest active volcano, erupts after 38 years]( The mountain, which is taller than Mount Everest measured from seafloor to summit, erupted Sunday. Its lava appears to be contained, but scientists say the volcano has a history of rapidly changing. [Read more.]( [Bills targeting trans youth are growing more common — and radically reshaping lives]( An NPR analysis finds that over the past two years, state lawmakers introduced more than 300 bills targeting trans people. Most of this legislation, 86%, takes aim at the rights of trans youth. [Read more.]( [Bills targeting trans youth are growing more common — and radically reshaping lives]( An NPR analysis finds that over the past two years, state lawmakers introduced more than 300 bills targeting trans people. Most of this legislation, 86%, takes aim at the rights of trans youth. [Read more.]( Anything Else? - It all comes down to this: the U.S. men's soccer team takes on Iran in their final World Cup group stage match this afternoon. They need to win to advance to the knockout rounds. (Iran can also advance if they at least get a tie.) Here's [what to know about the high-stakes match and the off-field controversies that have led up to this day](. - ICYMI: [Listen to Boston Mayor Michelle Wu's full interview yesterday on Radio Boston]( in which she discussed everything from the city's ongoing climate efforts, to her upcoming meeting with Prince William and Kate, to her family tradition of "Thanks-sushi-giving." - Is it too early to hang up Christmas lights? A new national survey illuminates the evergreen debate — and [found some differences in attitude from state to state.](  What We're Reading 📚 - Have the Anticapitalists Reached Harvard Business School? ([The New York Times]( - Boston Dynamics, known for its wacky robot videos, is now focused on making money ([The Boston Globe]( - T Looks To Double Shuttle Bus Use. Is Another Shutdown Looming? ([Dig Boston](  Food For Thought [A woman sues Kraft, claiming Velveeta macaroni preparation time is misleading]( Kraft Heinz says its Velveeta Shells & Cheese cups are "ready in 3 1/2 minutes." The proposed class action lawsuit counters that microwaving is one of several steps and seeks $5 million in damages. [Read more.]( [A woman sues Kraft, claiming Velveeta macaroni preparation time is misleading]( Kraft Heinz says its Velveeta Shells & Cheese cups are "ready in 3 1/2 minutes." The proposed class action lawsuit counters that microwaving is one of several steps and seeks $5 million in damages. [Read more.]( Listen: The Common talks to WBUR's Priyanka Dayal McCluskey about [navigating the RSV surge](. Before you go: Planning some holiday shopping on Newbury Street this season? Here's [some friendly advice](. 😎 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.