❄️ What's on our radar

Also: More Mass. school buses go electric; FDA mulls major shift in COVID vaccine strategy [Donate ❤️]( [View in Browser](  January 23, 2023 🌨️ Rain this morning, turning to snow this afternoon, with a high of 35. Good Morning Boston, Today's forecast may call for the help of Sherlock Snowmes, Sled Zeppelin and [the rest of MassDOT's new, excellently named snow plows]( by this afternoon. Let's kick off the week with a look at the wintry weather on the way: - The National Weather Service is forecasting that this morning's rain will get white and fluffy by this afternoon, with moderate to heavy snow making for a slow evening commute in some parts of the state. Here's a look at [the storm's predicted timing to changeover from rain to snow]( as well as [the NWS's latest snow map](. - All in all, Boston and Worcester should see 3 to 4 inches of accumulation when it's all said and done, while communities along the New Hampshire border could get up to 6 inches. (Skiers, rejoice: Parts of New Hampshire and Maine [will see up to a foot]( - Heavy, wet snow is already impacting parts of western and central Massachusetts. [Worcester Public Schools]( and [dozens of other districts]( have called snow days today. As of 7:45 a.m., MEMA also reported [over 6,000 power outages](. - What's next: There's another wintry mix of weather headed our way this week. NWS forecasters say Wednesday night could bring 3 to 5 inches of snow to Boston. But it will be followed with rain and temperatures as high as 50 degrees on Thursday. To the rest of the news: - After [this weekend's mass shooting in Monterey Park]( Boston officials say their thoughts will be with the Los Angeles suburb as the two cities host their Lunar New Year celebrations this week. "We are devastated by yet another mass shooting in our country, this time at what should have been a joyous celebration," Boston Mayor Michelle Wu [said in a statement]( adding that "our national leaders must take action." - The mass shooting — which took place in a predominantly Asian American community after a Lunar New Year's eve festival — has already had some ripple effects here in Massachusetts. WBUR's [Walter Wuthmann reports]( that a Lunar New Year's festival yesterday in Lowell featured extra police and private security. - However, Lowell organizer Kameron Xaiyavong said they never considered canceling, telling Wuthmann it was "very important to us to come out" and represent the community. - There's a new MBTA commuter rail station! For the first time ever this morning, trains are stopping at the long-awaited [Pawtucket/Central Falls station]( on the Providence/Stoughton line. - Officials say it's about an hour trip from the new Pawtucket station to South Station in Boston. And there are [a few schedule adjustments taking effect today]( to accommodate the opening. - Save the date — and time: In-person sports betting in Massachusetts is set to officially start at 10 a.m. next Tuesday, Jan. 31. Karen Wells, the executive director of the Massachusetts Gaming Commission, says the morning launch will hopefully help avoid a big rush of people at the state's three casinos (as opposed to launching after work hours). - In the meantime: The Gaming Commission is [meeting today]( with the players' unions for the NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL and MLS to discuss regulations around "athlete and family safety." - Need a refresher on the sports betting rules? Read our explainer of the basics (like what you can bet on and where) [here](. - In other casino news: It looks like the MGM Springfield won't fulfill its original promise of bringing 3,000 jobs to the area after all. With revenues way off what the casino originally projected, the CEO of MGM Resorts [told Springfield officials Friday that they're likely going to just hit 2,000 employees](. (Right now, they're at 1,440.) P.S.— Wu is making her first appearance of 2023 on Radio Boston this morning at 11 a.m., and you can bet we have questions about [her new rent control proposal]( and first State of the City speech this week. Have a question of your own? Send them via Twitter to [@RadioBoston]( or by texting BOSTON to 617-766-0382. Nik DeCosta-Klipa Editor, Newsletters [Follow](  Support the news  The Rundown [More Massachusetts districts are switching to electric school buses]( With the help of federal grants and new financing arrangements, more Massachusetts school districts have electric buses in their transportation fleets. [Read more.]( [More Massachusetts districts are switching to electric school buses]( With the help of federal grants and new financing arrangements, more Massachusetts school districts have electric buses in their transportation fleets. [Read more.]( [FDA considers major shift in COVID vaccine strategy]( The new approach would simplify vaccination guidance so that, every fall, people would get a new shot, updated to try to match whatever variant is dominant. [Read more.]( [FDA considers major shift in COVID vaccine strategy]( The new approach would simplify vaccination guidance so that, every fall, people would get a new shot, updated to try to match whatever variant is dominant. [Read more.]( [Rep. Katherine Clark's daughter is charged in police assault]( Clark, the House Democratic whip, said in a tweet that her daughter, Riley Dowell, had been arrested. “I love Riley, and this is a very difficult time in the cycle of joy and pain in parenting,” Clark wrote. [Read more.]( [Rep. Katherine Clark's daughter is charged in police assault]( Clark, the House Democratic whip, said in a tweet that her daughter, Riley Dowell, had been arrested. “I love Riley, and this is a very difficult time in the cycle of joy and pain in parenting,” Clark wrote. [Read more.]( [Checking in on Vineyard Wind, country's first large offshore wind project in Mass.]( WBUR visited Barnstable to see where the project stands and learn what work remains. [Read more.]( [Checking in on Vineyard Wind, country's first large offshore wind project in Mass.]( WBUR visited Barnstable to see where the project stands and learn what work remains. [Read more.]( [Former Senate President Thomas Birmingham, known for landmark education law, dies at 73]( A Chelsea Democrat, and union lawyer, Birmingham ascended to the Senate presidency after helping to write the state’s landmark 1993 education reform law. He died on Friday. [Read more.]( [Former Senate President Thomas Birmingham, known for landmark education law, dies at 73]( A Chelsea Democrat, and union lawyer, Birmingham ascended to the Senate presidency after helping to write the state’s landmark 1993 education reform law. He died on Friday. [Read more.]( Anything Else? - You may have seen the surprising headlines last week about coffee pods not being as bad for the environment as other brewing methods. But not so fast! It turns out the science hasn't been totally figured out yet. Here's [what we do know about coffee and carbon emissions](. - A [new Bob Dylan photo exhibit opened in Boston earlier this month]( it's the product of "unprecedented access" that the folk legend granted to one photographer in the 1960s. Music writer Jim Sullivan writes that the exhibit shows "sides of Dylan he hadn’t previously revealed." - It's almost time to file your tax return again, and this year many of us are facing smaller refunds. Why? The end of a few pandemic-era tax credits. Here are more[answers to some of the most frequent tax-filing questions]( and what to expect this year. - Judy Bolton-Fasman has always been terrible at drawing. In [this commentary for Cognoscenti]( the Newton writer chronicles the trials and tribulations of trying to learn in her 60s.  What We're Reading 📚 - Rappler has been cleared of tax evasion charges ([Poynter]( - I Lost Weight on Ozempic. Here’s What the Debate Gets Wrong. ([The New York Times]( - Can You Befriend a Whale? ([GQ](  Tell Me Something Good [Daniel Ellsberg awarded UMass honorary degree (MassLive)]( Activist Daniel Ellsberg was awarded an honorary degree by the University of Massachusetts at a ceremony Saturday. [Read more.]( [Daniel Ellsberg awarded UMass honorary degree (MassLive)]( Activist Daniel Ellsberg was awarded an honorary degree by the University of Massachusetts at a ceremony Saturday. [Read more.]( Listen: The Common [talks to Boston Chief of Streets Jascha Franklin-Hodge about the city's efforts to be not so high in those annual traffic rankings]( (and other things transportation). Before you go: An NBA player has [never been so relatable.]( 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? 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.