On your mark. Get set. No!

Also: Teachers in Mass. are disproportionately white. This program is trying to change that; Greater Boston's growing Black population [Donate ❤️]( [View in Browser](  April 7, 2023 🌤️ Mostly sunny, with a high near 55. Good Morning Boston, It [wasn't the ending we wanted last night]( for Boston University's hockey team, but there's still some good news: it's Friday. Just remember there's two more weekend MBTA closures on the way (on [part of the Orange/Green Line]( and [the Fairmount commuter rail](. First, here's what you need to navigate today's news: - Don't bet on it — and by it, we mean this year's Boston Marathon. Even though Massachusetts [recently legalized sports betting]( the state's Gaming Commission voted[unanimously yesterday to reject a request]( by Boston-based DraftKings to add this month's marathon to the [broad catalog of sports]( Bay Staters can bet on. (While you can wager on car, horse and bike racing, road races and other non-Olympics running events currently aren't included in the catalog.) - Why? Commissioner Brad Hill said DraftKings' request was "not ready for primetime." The company wanted to allow bets on the top 20 men and women elite winners, plus over/under bets on each field's winning time. But commissioners said the abrupt ask came in way too late to fully vet before the April 17 race. - A word from the BAA: Marathon organizers worried there wasn't enough time to put safeguards in place. "Until we can complete due diligence, our concerns include, but are not limited to, ensuring event security and potential influence on the outcome of the race," wrote Scott Stover, the Boston Athletic Association's chief marketing officer, in an email to the commission. - Not happy about it: Commissioner Eileen O'Brien said she was "disappointed to say the least" that DraftKings didn't reach out to the BAA earlier, especially as they prepare for the 10th anniversary of the 2013 marathon bombing. "Even needing to respond to this is a distraction for them," she said. - What's next: Some commissioners did express openness to allow betting on the Boston Marathon in the future — so DraftKings could ask again (preferably a little earlier) before next year's race. A company spokesperson said Thursday they respect the commission's decision "and look forward to our continued work with them." - A trend to watch: The number of Boston police officers who have voluntarily resigned has ballooned over the past three years, but nearly half still work for the city — now, as firefighters. The Boston Globe [reports that it's an unprecedented interagency transfer rate](. - What's behind it? Per the Globe, "criminal justice observers point to a more comfortable lifestyle and the prevailing view of firefighters as local heroes in an era when many continue to demand greater accountability and transparency from police." - More than 650,000 households in Massachusetts will get state-boosted SNAP payments today, thanks to a bill signed last week by Gov. Maura Healey. It's the first of three monthly payments aimed at [softening the blow of the program's return to normal levels](. - The additional money won't be as much as the $150 boost the average household got from a [federal pandemic-era program that expired last month]( but state officials say the average recipient will get still an extra $60 on top of their $323 monthly SNAP benefit. - Not content with solely terrorizing denizens of Brookline and Cambridge, wild turkeys are taking new territory: Dedham. WBUR's Josie Guarino reports that town officials have been inundated by tales of aggressive turkeys, like birds jumping on trucks or harassing mail men. "Some [are] trying to walk into houses and others surrounding vehicles," said Dedham Animal Control Officer Deni Goldman. - What's going on? Well, it's the start of turkey breeding season in Eastern Massachusetts. State officials say that means some male turkey may aggressively "[strut their stuff]( by pecking, following or exhibiting other intimidating behavior at people. - They're no joke: A mail carrier in Cambridge [had to get his hip replaced]( after getting attacked by a turkey last month. - What should you do if one comes at you? Goldman suggests making loud noises or throwing water at the bird to shoo it away. Most importantly, do not feed the turkeys; you don't want them to get comfortable around us. We can't let the turkeys win! P.S.— One state agency is offering new hires a sign-on bonus of up to $7,500 due to a labor shortage. Do you know which one? Then [take our Boston News Quiz]( and test your knowledge of this week's stories. Nik DeCosta-Klipa Editor, Newsletters [Follow](  Support the news  The Rundown [Teachers in Mass. are mostly white. A Lowell program is trying to change that]( Lowell Public Schools have teamed up with the University of Massachusetts Lowell to offer college credit and potential scholarships to high schoolers interested in teaching. It’s a push for students to dream of becoming teachers. [Read more.]( [Teachers in Mass. are mostly white. A Lowell program is trying to change that]( Lowell Public Schools have teamed up with the University of Massachusetts Lowell to offer college credit and potential scholarships to high schoolers interested in teaching. It’s a push for students to dream of becoming teachers. [Read more.]( [Elon Musk says NPR's 'state-affiliated media' label might not have been accurate]( In a series of emails, the CEO of Twitter suggested that the designation is being re-examined, but it has not yet been removed. [Read more.]( [Elon Musk says NPR's 'state-affiliated media' label might not have been accurate]( In a series of emails, the CEO of Twitter suggested that the designation is being re-examined, but it has not yet been removed. [Read more.]( [The Black population in Greater Boston is growing, and moving to the suburbs, report finds]( The region's Black population has grown steadily over the last 40 years and shifted from the city of Boston to communities such as Brockton, Randolph, Lawrence and Lynn. Almost two-thirds of the region's population now lives outside of Boston, according to the report. [Read more.]( [The Black population in Greater Boston is growing, and moving to the suburbs, report finds]( The region's Black population has grown steadily over the last 40 years and shifted from the city of Boston to communities such as Brockton, Randolph, Lawrence and Lynn. Almost two-thirds of the region's population now lives outside of Boston, according to the report. [Read more.]( [Criminal justice advocates pursue voting rights for inmates with felony convictions in Mass.]( The proposed legislation reverse a constitutional amendment that was added in 2000 when voters approved a statewide ballot question making it illegal to vote from prison while serving a felony sentence. [Read more.]( [Criminal justice advocates pursue voting rights for inmates with felony convictions in Mass.]( The proposed legislation reverse a constitutional amendment that was added in 2000 when voters approved a statewide ballot question making it illegal to vote from prison while serving a felony sentence. [Read more.]( [Tennessee House votes to expel 2 of 3 Democratic members over gun protest]( The Republican-led House voted to expel Reps. Justin Jones and Justin Pearson for participating in a protest on the floor of the House over gun laws. A motion to remove Rep. Gloria Johnson failed. [Read more.]( [Tennessee House votes to expel 2 of 3 Democratic members over gun protest]( The Republican-led House voted to expel Reps. Justin Jones and Justin Pearson for participating in a protest on the floor of the House over gun laws. A motion to remove Rep. Gloria Johnson failed. [Read more.]( Anything Else? - What's up with that slow, minor-key Glo Worm lullaby? The Endless Thread team went to Hasbro for answers about their plush musical baby toy's "creepy and sad" song. Sometimes, episodes don't get to the very bottom of internet mysteries. But [this isn't one of those times](. - The band Mediocre is reigniting Boston's long-held DIY tradition with an ode to ‘90s camp in their new EP. Charley Ruddell [writes that the queer rock duo]( may be the spark plug that the underground scene has needed for some time. - New England may be cold, but Virginia native Chris Ritter found "a warmer side to the northern attitude" after moving to the region. He [writes in this commentary]( that it's illustrated in a new album, "Stick Season," by Vermont singer-songwriter Noah Kahan.  What We're Reading 📚 - Clarence Thomas and the Billionaire ([ProPublica]( - The 12 Most Boston Celebrities, Ranked By Boston-Ness ([Bustle]( - How Did Hokas Become So Popular? ([The New York Times](  Tell Me Something Good [A Good Age: A special dad steps up to help his daughter teach kindergarten in Weymouth (The Patriot Ledger)]( Ken Abbott, a retired teacher, volunteers in the busy Weymouth kindergarten class his daughter teaches to help students get more individualized attention. [Read more.]( [A Good Age: A special dad steps up to help his daughter teach kindergarten in Weymouth (The Patriot Ledger)]( Ken Abbott, a retired teacher, volunteers in the busy Weymouth kindergarten class his daughter teaches to help students get more individualized attention. [Read more.]( Listen: The Common [previews the top events around Boston in April](. Play: [WBUR's daily mini crossword.]( Can you keep your streak going? Before you go: Listen, it's [hard to find parking in Boston](. 😎 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.