Balking over Barstool

Also: Persistant housing discrimination in Mass.; our music critics' favorite albums of 2022 [Donate ❤️]( [View in Browser](  December 21, 2022 ☀️ Sunny, with a high near 39. Good Morning Boston, Happy winter solstice! We won't have to wait long for the season's first storm. The (relatively) good news is that the [severe arctic storm blanketing much of the nation]( with frigid air and heavy snow will only be rain and wind by the time it gets to New England tomorrow night. That said, the [high gusts do pose a risk for power outages]( on Friday, and it's "[extremely likely]( ferry service to Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard will be canceled "for most of Friday and part of Saturday." It's also a good idea to check your flight status if you're flying anywhere west. (Many airlines are [letting passengers rebook]( To the news: - The Plainridge Park Casino is hoping to use the Barstool Sports brand to attract bettors to their sportsbook next year. However, the popular but polarizing media company and its founder David Portnoy have also turned out to be a bit of a headache for the Plainville slots parlor. Regulators at the Massachusetts Gaming Commission are allowing Plainridge's application for an in-person sports betting license to move forward, but only after putting officials from the casino's owner, Penn Entertainment (which also owns a stake in Barstool), through the wringer Tuesday — and attaching conditions to their initial approval. - Why? Regulators took issue with Portnoy's[ history of comments and actions]( that — as Commissioner Brad Hill put it — "fly in the face of responsible gaming." The company has[ also gotten in trouble in other states]( for marketing gambling to underage kids. - Penn President Jay Snowden conceded that they’re “not perfect” and that Portnoy is “not for everyone,” but argued the commission’s view of Barstool had been overly shaped by negative press coverage. - What's next: While the commission signed off on sports betting licenses for Encore Boston Harbor and MGM Springfield over the past week, Plainridge's license is conditional on Penn agreeing that no one under the age of 21 is allowed at future Barstool college football live shows and permitting a committee investigation into Barstool. The commission is aiming to launch in-person sports betting at the three casinos by late January. - PSA: Police in the Boston suburbs are advising residents against using those blue USPS collection boxes on the street — especially to send checks — after a recent series of mail thefts were reported in Needham and Wellesley. Investigators believe the thieves obtained the keys to the blue mailboxes, as part of a check fraud scheme. - If you need to send a check or any other important mail over the holiday season, police say to bring it physically inside the post office. And if you already sent something through one of those blue collection boxes in Wellesley or Needham, check in with the intended recipient to make sure they got it. - Three people — an 18-year-old and two coaches — are now being charged in connection to a hazing investigation that resulted in the cancellation of Haverhill High School's football season this fall. Essex County prosecutors say the two coaches failed to report at least three separate hazing incidents — as required by law — and then tried to cover it up, including discouraging a victim from reporting it. - What's next: Haverhill Police are also seeking charges against five minors, as school officials [work to rebuild]( football program. P.S.— We officially wrapped up our fall 2022 events season last night. This year, WBUR CitySpace hosted everything from in-depth discussions, to debates, to concerts, to even a farmers market. In case you missed any of it, here's [a look back at our favorite events of 2022](. Nik DeCosta-Klipa Editor, Newsletters [Follow](  Support the news  The Rundown [As housing bias in Mass. persists, advocates want brokers' licenses suspended]( Massachusetts nonprofits have repeatedly used testing to uncover systematic bias in housing. But advocates say there is too little testing and punishment in the state. [Read more.]( [As housing bias in Mass. persists, advocates want brokers' licenses suspended]( Massachusetts nonprofits have repeatedly used testing to uncover systematic bias in housing. But advocates say there is too little testing and punishment in the state. [Read more.]( [The IRS did not audit Trump during his presidency's first 2 years, Democrats say]( The Internal Revenue Service failed to audit former President Donald Trump during the first two years of his presidency, a Democrat-controlled House committee said Tuesday. [Read more.]( [The IRS did not audit Trump during his presidency's first 2 years, Democrats say]( The Internal Revenue Service failed to audit former President Donald Trump during the first two years of his presidency, a Democrat-controlled House committee said Tuesday. [Read more.]( [Feds and Mass. Dept. of Correction reach agreement over mental health care for prisoners]( The deal calls for several changes, including the creation of a new unit for prisoners experiencing mental health crises and the appointment of an independent monitor to oversee compliance with the agreement. [Read more.]( [Feds and Mass. Dept. of Correction reach agreement over mental health care for prisoners]( The deal calls for several changes, including the creation of a new unit for prisoners experiencing mental health crises and the appointment of an independent monitor to oversee compliance with the agreement. [Read more.]( [Ukrainian President Zelenskyy will meet Biden at the White House today]( Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is expected to meet in Washington with President Biden and Congress on Wednesday. The trip comes as lawmakers are debating billions more in aid for Ukraine. [Read more.]( [Ukrainian President Zelenskyy will meet Biden at the White House today]( Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is expected to meet in Washington with President Biden and Congress on Wednesday. The trip comes as lawmakers are debating billions more in aid for Ukraine. [Read more.]( [Nature may protect against Alzheimer’s and Parkinson's, study finds]( A sweeping review of Medicare records expands on research that shows spending time in nature may reduce the risk of a first hospitalization forAlzheimer’s, dementia and Parkinson’s. The findings suggest a more extensive link for Parkinson’s than for Alzheimer’s, but potential prevention benefits for both. [Read more.]( [Nature may protect against Alzheimer’s and Parkinson's, study finds]( A sweeping review of Medicare records expands on research that shows spending time in nature may reduce the risk of a first hospitalization forAlzheimer’s, dementia and Parkinson’s. The findings suggest a more extensive link for Parkinson’s than for Alzheimer’s, but potential prevention benefits for both. [Read more.]( Anything Else? - Did you miss the surprise blockbuster "Everything Everywhere All at Once" when it hit theaters this past spring? Well, the Brattle Theatre is [bringing it back for a holiday run]( And they're pairing it with screenings of some of the movie's many influences. - We asked four of WBUR's music critics to weigh in on their favorite local albums of the year. And if there's a through-line to be found, it’s that Boston is no longer the regional music epicenter we once thought. From Providence to Vermont[, here's who caught their ear in 2022](. - Kenyan marathoner Diana Kipyokei has [officially been stripped of her 2021 Boston Marathon title]( doping and tampering. That means fellow Kenyan Edna Kiplagat, who also won in 2017, has been elevated to first place and is now recognized as a two-time Boston winner.  What We're Reading 📚 - Widett Circle’s future can still be bright ([The Boston Globe]( - New report questioning COVID booster mandates for students not swaying local universities ([CommonWealth Magazine]( - How Diane Foley Made It Her Mission to Prioritize U.S. Hostages Overseas ([The New York Times](  Food For Thought [Sweeten your holiday celebrations by baking these tasty treats]( Holiday traditions are deeply steeped in many families, but there’s always room for new favorites. Here are four recipes from Here & Now resident chef Kathy Gunst that could help expand your repertoire and perhaps even build new traditions. [Read more.]( [Sweeten your holiday celebrations by baking these tasty treats]( Holiday traditions are deeply steeped in many families, but there’s always room for new favorites. Here are four recipes from Here & Now resident chef Kathy Gunst that could help expand your repertoire and perhaps even build new traditions. [Read more.]( Listen: The Common looks at Boston's [plans to study reparations for Black residents](. Before you go: I stand with our new governor on [this important subject](. 😎 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.