Our local World Cup connection

Also: Inside the New England Christmas tree shortage; Boston's new SPACE program [Donate ❤️]( [View in Browser](  December 14, 2022 ☀️ Sunny and windy, with a high near 36. Good Morning Boston, We don't like to take sides in this newsletter. But with the U.S. knocked out of the 2022 men's World Cup, it's hard to resist a good underdog story — with a local angle, no less: - This afternoon, we'll find out who will [play Argentina in Sunday's World Cup final](. If Morocco pulls off the seismic semifinal upset over France, get ready for a big party in Revere. City officials say that around 10% of Revere's population is Moroccan. And within moments of the history-making African team's wins over Spain and Portugal, [sizable crowds]( took to the Revere streets in joyous celebration. (Police even had to [briefly close a stretch of Route 1A near Revere Beach on Tuesday]( following the dramatic win over Spain.) - Play hooky: Revere is hosting [a free outdoor watch party at Suffolk Downs]( for today's 2 p.m. game, with plenty of room for those who want to jump on the Morocco bandwagon. (There's also [an indoor public watch party]( at a local senior center.) - Catch up: Here are [five things to know about Morocco's historic Cinderella run in this year's tournament](. They arguably weren't even expected to make it [out of the group stage](. - To our French readers: Listen, we love [your food]( and really appreciate [all your help during the Revolution](. But you [won the last World Cup](. Time to give someone else a turn! - Boston is launching a SPACE program — OK fine, not that kind of space program. But it is ready for takeoff. Mayor Michelle Wu's administration announced a new [SPACE Grant]( Program yesterday, which offers grants of $100,000-$200,000 to help small, diverse businesses fill vacant storefronts. City officials say 10-15 businesses will get grants in the first round, but funding will eventually be offered to up to 50 total. - The city is focusing particularly on major commercial hubs like Copley, Downtown, Fenway and Seaport to boost the diversity of storefront businesses in those ([mostly white]( neighborhoods. - Here's [the list of what kind of businesses will — and will not — be considered]( for the grants (hint: no pot shops, liquor stores, franchises or lab space.) - Governor-elect Maura Healey [announced the first hires]( of her incoming administration yesterday. But she's also reportedly checking to see if some members of Gov. Charlie Baker's administration would like to stick around. [According to The Boston Globe]( her transition team has been meeting with members of Baker's cabinet to gauge their willingness to remain in their current roles. - Who exactly? The Globe does not say — though we know there are some big names who Healey will have to replace, like the heads of [the MBTA]( and [MassHealth]( who both plan to resign in January. - The Governor's Council heard six hours of emotional testimony yesterday on Baker's [recommended pardons for Gerald Amirault and Cheryl Amirault LeFave]( the brother and sister infamously convicted sexually abusing children at their Malden day care in the 1980s. While the council hadn't previously blocked any of Baker's pardon recommendations, WBUR's Deborah Becker reports that councilors appear to be genuinely divided on this case. - Baker has cited doubts about the evidence behind the Amiraults' convictions, after questions arose that the children may have been manipulated by overzealous investigators. But the hearing Tuesday also featured testimony from several accusers and family members who urged the council against pardoning the duo. - During the hearing, multiple councilors expressed concerns about pardoning the Amiraults. The group also agreed that Baker's office hadn't given enough information about why he sought pardons. - What's next: Becker reports that the Council is expected to vote on the pardons by next week. P.S.— Reverse aging. Is it possible? (Would be nice.) In the second part of our CitySpace mini-series on longevity, On Point host Meghna Chakrabarti is [talking tonight with Harvard's Dr. David Sinclair about his reverse aging research]( and the latest on living a long life. The interactive discussion begins at 6:30 p.m. [Get tickets here](. Nik DeCosta-Klipa Editor, Newsletters [Follow](  Support the news  The Rundown [Christmas trees in short supply this season. Experts blame drought and Great Recession]( Many places in Greater Boston have already sold out or have sparser supplies than usual. And even when you can find a tree, expect to pay more. [Read more.]( [Christmas trees in short supply this season. Experts blame drought and Great Recession]( Many places in Greater Boston have already sold out or have sparser supplies than usual. And even when you can find a tree, expect to pay more. [Read more.]( [10 years after Sandy Hook, a family finds bits of joy amid shards of pain]( Families who had their lives shattered on Dec. 14, 2012, are still straining under the weight of their losses — and still pushing for the changes they hoped would have already happened by now. [Read more.]( [10 years after Sandy Hook, a family finds bits of joy amid shards of pain]( Families who had their lives shattered on Dec. 14, 2012, are still straining under the weight of their losses — and still pushing for the changes they hoped would have already happened by now. [Read more.]( [Boston proposes ambitious renovation for Franklin Park]( The plan's recommendations include improving entrance access, adding more lighting and signage and rebuilding historical areas. The plan is open to public comment for the next two months. [Read more.]( [Boston proposes ambitious renovation for Franklin Park]( The plan's recommendations include improving entrance access, adding more lighting and signage and rebuilding historical areas. The plan is open to public comment for the next two months. [Read more.]( [A mammoth winter storm brings more warnings of blizzards and tornadoes]( A destructive winter storm marched across the U.S., delivering blizzard-like conditions to the Great Plains hours after tornadoes touched down in parts of Texas, Oklahoma and in Louisiana. [Read more.]( [A mammoth winter storm brings more warnings of blizzards and tornadoes]( A destructive winter storm marched across the U.S., delivering blizzard-like conditions to the Great Plains hours after tornadoes touched down in parts of Texas, Oklahoma and in Louisiana. [Read more.]( [Criminal referrals could be announced sooner than expected by the Jan. 6 panel]( The House select panel investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol will vote Monday on plans to issue criminal referrals and other recommendations. [Read more.]( [Criminal referrals could be announced sooner than expected by the Jan. 6 panel]( The House select panel investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol will vote Monday on plans to issue criminal referrals and other recommendations. [Read more.]( Anything Else? - Ten years after the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, former Sandy Hook student Ayesha Dholakia [writes for Cognoscenti]( about how she has tried to use her career to change the narrative. Meanwhile, Leah Hager Cohen wrote her first essay for Cognoscenti just a few days after the Dec. 14, 2014 shooting. In [this new piece]( she writes that we can try to honor those killed at Sandy Hook by trying to commit to some measure of "exquisite curiosity." - PSA: With the flu, RSV and COVID straining hospitals nationwide, here are [some tips for keeping yourself and your family safe during the holiday season](. - Sam Bankman-Fried is now facing both criminal and civil fraud charges over his role in the dramatic rise and fall of the FTX crypto-exchange. Here's [a breakdown of what he allegedly did](.  What We're Reading 📚 - The Price of Flight ([GBH News]( - When drivers are attacked, Uber leaves police waiting for help ([The Verge]( - How Politics Compounded a Hostage Family’s Grief ([The Atlantic](  Tell Me Something Good [New England's last remaining pay phones are things of beauty — if you look at them right (The Boston Globe)]( The internet’s most loyal fans of the analog technology are documenting these landmarks before they're gone forever. [Read more.]( [New England's last remaining pay phones are things of beauty — if you look at them right (The Boston Globe)]( The internet’s most loyal fans of the analog technology are documenting these landmarks before they're gone forever. [Read more.]( Listen: The Common [takes a ride on the Green Line Extension]( collecting stories and perspectives from riders along the way. Before you go: I thought he had reindeer [for that](. 😎 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.