Paying up

Also: Mass. officials warn about PFAS in fish from 13 state parks; Suffolk sheriff hit with $12,300 ethics fine [Donate ❤️]( [View in Browser](  March 7, 2023 🌥️ A little cloudy and gusty later, with a high near 40. Good Morning Boston, It's probably too early to get overly optimistic about Chris Sale's return, but the Red Sox ace [looked pretty good]( in his first healthy spring training game in three years yesterday. He's [even smiling]( Let's just hope he follows through a little better [than Grant Williams did last night](. (Also, [feel better Justin Turner]( To the news: - Do you have a teen looking for a summer job? Faced with [seemingly]( [perennial]( lifeguard shortages, the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation is ponying up to get applicants to watch over the state's swimming areas this summer. And as WBUR's Irina Matchavariani reports, that means higher pay and bigger sign-on bonuses than last year for those willing to commit to a lifeguard job. - The details: The state is offering a $22-an-hour starting wage for lifeguards — and up to $27-an-hour for pool and beach managers. That comes with $500 sign-on bonuses for those who submit their applications by May 1 and up to $750 in additional bonuses for those willing to work through late summer. DCR is also offering [free training and certification courses]( to those who commit to lifeguard for the agency. - Interested? The department [opened the application window]( for lifeguard positions in all regions of the state last week. DCR Commissioner Doug Rice told Matchavariani that they're aiming to hire around 800 lifeguards across nearly 60 locations. (Applicants have to be at least 16 years old by day one of the job.) - Zoom out: Despite [recent mass layoffs in the tech sector]( it's still a competitive overall job market — with both the state and national unemployment rate under 4%. Rice says that puts pressure on the lifeguard market, too. DCR isn't only competing with municipalities and private entities trying to staff up their pools — but also other sectors. "In an economy like this, where there's a lot of opportunities for young people to get good-paying jobs ... we just have to remain competitive," Rice said. - You know who else needs to be competitive? The MBTA. The Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce is urging Gov. Maura Healey to offer the next MBTA general manager a base annual salary of "$450,000 to $500,000" in order to attract top-tier talent in this market. That's more than 30% higher than the 2022 salary of former T GM, Steve Poftak (not to mention more than double Healey's [base salary]( - James Rooney, the chamber's CEO, frames the big salary bump as a "long-term investment in a role that will stabilize and transform our T, which is for the benefit of the people of Massachusetts." - Compare and contrast: The chamber analyzed the salaries of the leaders of similar public transit systems — which range from $325,581 (NJ Transit) to $503,188 (D.C.'s Metro) in 2023 dollars. The chamber says the T will need to offer a salary closer to the latter to attract someone who can fix its many challenges. - You heard it here first: Earlier this winter, WBUR's Gabrielle Emanuel reported on new research showing that freshwater fish across the country may be dangerous to eat [due to high levels of PFAS chemicals](. Now, state officials in Massachusetts are [warning residents to limit their consumption of fish]( caught at 13 state parks, including Walden Pond in Concord and Worcester's Lake Quinsigamond. - The new advisories range from cutting back consumption of fish from certain bodies of water to avoiding any fish from others altogether. You can read the [full list of advisories here]( (or [search for specific parks here](. - The good news is that state testing found swimming is still safe in all of these ponds, lakes and reservoirs. - [Read more here]( about PFAS and why experts are concerned about the chemicals as part of [our ongoing coverage of the subject](. - State Auditor Diana DiZoglio says she will look into racial discrimination allegations against the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority, after The Boston Globe [detailed several complaints over the weekend](. Four Black employees say they were paid less than white counterparts, while a white worker said he was fired after complaining that the authority — which oversees Boston's two convention centers — heightened security at Black-sponsored events. - DiZoglio also told WBUR's Amy Sokolow that the last audit of the MCCA found "several deficiencies in their billing and settlement records," as well as with their contract renewals. "Our office will begin conducting an audit of the MCCA," she said. P.S.— Have you noticed that the four-day work week has [been in the news]( a lot lately. [Yesterday's episode of On Point]( dug into whether the concept is actually feasible on a large-scale level in the U.S. with both proponents and critics. [Give it a listen!]( Nik DeCosta-Klipa Editor, Newsletters [Follow](  Support the news  The Rundown [Suffolk sheriff pays ethics fine, but says people were just trying to help]( Suffolk County Sheriff Steven Tompkins has agreed to pay a $12,300 civil fine for violating the state's conflict of interest law, including giving his niece a job in his department and asking sheriff employees to run his personal errands. [Read more.]( [Suffolk sheriff pays ethics fine, but says people were just trying to help]( Suffolk County Sheriff Steven Tompkins has agreed to pay a $12,300 civil fine for violating the state's conflict of interest law, including giving his niece a job in his department and asking sheriff employees to run his personal errands. [Read more.]( [A roadblock to life-saving addiction treatment is gone. Now what?]( Federal restrictions seemed to explain why many doctors weren't prescribing medication for opioid addiction. But some caution that removing those rules isn't enough to overcome hesitancy and stigma. [Read more.]( [A roadblock to life-saving addiction treatment is gone. Now what?]( Federal restrictions seemed to explain why many doctors weren't prescribing medication for opioid addiction. But some caution that removing those rules isn't enough to overcome hesitancy and stigma. [Read more.]( [China accuses U.S. of containment and warns of potential conflict]( Chinese leader Xi Jinping's rare explicit criticism of the U.S. was followed on Tuesday by a barrage of scorn and criticism aimed squarely at Washington from China's new foreign minister. [Read more.]( [China accuses U.S. of containment and warns of potential conflict]( Chinese leader Xi Jinping's rare explicit criticism of the U.S. was followed on Tuesday by a barrage of scorn and criticism aimed squarely at Washington from China's new foreign minister. [Read more.]( [Bans on gender-affirming care come before NH lawmakers today. Health providers warn of 'catastrophic' impact on youth]( The proposed ban on gender-affirming care for minors in New Hampshire is included in a sweeping Republican-sponsored bill before New Hampshire lawmakers Tuesday. And some providers in the state are pushing back, saying access to this kind of medical care — and a supportive social environment — can make a huge difference in the mental health of trans youth. [Read more.]( [Bans on gender-affirming care come before NH lawmakers today. Health providers warn of 'catastrophic' impact on youth]( The proposed ban on gender-affirming care for minors in New Hampshire is included in a sweeping Republican-sponsored bill before New Hampshire lawmakers Tuesday. And some providers in the state are pushing back, saying access to this kind of medical care — and a supportive social environment — can make a huge difference in the mental health of trans youth. [Read more.]( [Identification of woman killed in 1978 begins closure for surviving son]( Nearly 45 years after a woman was found shot to death on a logging road in Granby, investigators have identified her as Patricia Ann Tucker. Advanced genetic testing helped confirm her identity after first drawing a connection to a man, who turned out to be Tucker's son and was 5 years old at the time of her disappearance. [Read more.]( [Identification of woman killed in 1978 begins closure for surviving son]( Nearly 45 years after a woman was found shot to death on a logging road in Granby, investigators have identified her as Patricia Ann Tucker. Advanced genetic testing helped confirm her identity after first drawing a connection to a man, who turned out to be Tucker's son and was 5 years old at the time of her disappearance. [Read more.]( Anything Else? - Airplane turbulence usually just makes for a bumpy ride. But in the past week, it's also made a lot of headlines after causing [one death]( and at least seven hospitalizations in separate incidents. [Read this explainer]( about why turbulence happens, what climate change has to do with it and what to know about how to keep yourself safe. - Meanwhile, more incidents at Logan airport are keeping investigators busy. Just a week after a JetBlue plane [had to take evasive action]( to avoid a jet crossing the runway, two United Airlines planes [bonked into each other near a gate yesterday morning](. Officials also arrested a Leominster man who [allegedly tried to stab a flight attendant with a broken spoon and open an emergency door]( during a separate United flight from Los Angeles. - "All That Is Mine I Carry With Me," a haunting whodunit based in Newton from Boston author William Landay, hits bookstores today. Check out Carol Iaciofano Aucoin's [review here](. - Speaking of books, H. L. M. Lee [writes in this commentary]( about the vital role that a new breed of bookmobiles are now playing as they motor around the country to bring banned books to all.  What We're Reading 📚 - Fairness demands a better solution to North End outdoor dining ([The Boston Globe]( - ‘Still Unresolved’: Harvard Student Group Missing Approximately $30,000 After Leadership Dispute ([The Harvard Crimson]( - Why is this Shell sign in Cambridge listed as a historic landmark? ([Boston.com](  Tell Me Something Good [DJ Jace Clayton needs songs from your cellphone for his sound installation at MAAM]( "Everyone has this world of sound at their fingertips," Clayton said. "And so what if we can turn something which is ordinarily private — your own personal playlist — into something that's broadcast in this space?" [Read more.]( [DJ Jace Clayton needs songs from your cellphone for his sound installation at MAAM]( "Everyone has this world of sound at their fingertips," Clayton said. "And so what if we can turn something which is ordinarily private — your own personal playlist — into something that's broadcast in this space?" [Read more.]( Listen: The Common [explains the conflict between a local civil rights organization and Boston Public Schools]( over spending for English language learners. Play: [WBUR's daily mini crossword.]( Can you keep your streak going? Before you go: Just [a few miles off](. 😎 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.