Roll it back

Also: New England's organ donor problem; the Common's boozy new attraction [Donate ❤️]( [View in Browser](  May 4, 2023 ☁️ Cloudy, with a high near 49 and patchy drizzle. Good Morning Boston, This dreary weather will supposedly [turn for the better soon]( and that's not the only big shift on the horizon... - Boston is dropping its COVID-19 vaccine mandate for city employees next week. In a letter yesterday, Mayor Michelle Wu's office told employees they're "lifting all policies requiring vaccination and/or regular testing" next Thursday, the same day state and federal COVID public health emergencies expire. Gov. Maura Healey's administration is [also dropping its vaccine mandate for state workers the same day](. - While the mandate resulted in a [protracted legal battle]( and [vocal protests from a small group of employees]( Wu's office says over 95% of employees complied with the policy by January 2022. - What they're saying: "Since that time, the public health landscape has changed considerably," Chief People Officer Alex Lawrence wrote. "We have more tools to manage this virus, data indicates that there are fewer large scale outbreaks and our healthcare system is not under the acute strain it was in December 2021." - On a related note: WBUR's Priyanka Dayal McCluskey reports [at least two major Boston hospitals]( recently reached a milestone not seen since early 2020: zero COVID patients. - Back to the drawing board? Massachusetts recorded a $2.2 billion drop in tax revenue last month compared to April 2022. While state officials and business leaders aren't freaking out too much, it does mean they may need to tinker with [the coming budget](. - The numbers: The state reported under $4.8 billion in revenue for April 2023 — a 31.2% decrease from [nearly $7 billion in April 2022]( and $1.6 billion below what officials expected this year. - View from the Corner Office: The Healey administration says they still support [the tax relief plan moving through the State House](. After the state saw big jumps in revenue during the pandemic, officials said they expected some slowdown and factored it into their plans. Healey's administration says they're "confident" they'll be able to work with the Legislature "to manage the budget and close the fiscal year in balance." - Room for debate: Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce President Jim Rooney agrees, saying the slowdown "doesn’t warrant the sounding of an alarm." However, the progressive group Raise Up Massachusetts is sounding alarms, calling on lawmakers to drop [parts of the tax relief plan that favor the well-off]( the shortfall doesn't lead to cuts to social programs. (Read State House News Service for [more on what's next]( - The Boston Common has come a long way from [its Puritan roots](. The acclaimed Massachusetts brewery Trillium is opening a beer garden this afternoon in America’s oldest public park. Located in the southeast corner of the Common (right by the Boylston T stop), the new beer garden can host over 400 people and has a 5,000-square-foot performance stage that will feature live music, DJs and comedy, thanks to a partnership with Emerson College. - Zoom out: The new venue is just one part of [Boston's master plan to revamp the nearly 400-year-old Common]( with better facilities, dining options and greenery — and maybe even entice more people to visit downtown. - Zoom in: "Trillium Garden on the Common" will be open from 4-9 p.m. on Wednesdays and Thursdays, 12-8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and 12-6 p.m. on Sunday. You can visit through Nov. 1. - Fun fact: The beer garden is the first-ever alcohol-selling establishment to be located on the Common, according to the city. - Did we mention there'll be tacos? In addition to Trillium's famous IPAs and sours, the beer garden will also serve tacos, tortas and snacks from Taqueria El Barrio. Check out [the menu here](. - Do you use Boston's Southwest Corridor bike path? Then prepare for some slight detours. Today marks the beginning of [resurfacing work and cobblestone removal]( on the path, which officials say will continue "until further notice." - The path will mostly remain open, but cyclists might have to get off their bikes and move onto the sidewalk in some areas. P.S.— Mother's Day is just 10 days away. Still working on a gift for one of the moms in your life? How about [sending some Winston Flowers from WBUR](. You can choose from four beautiful options and save 10% when you order today. We're biased but think it's a great way to show just how much you care, while also supporting the news you rely on. Nik DeCosta-Klipa Editor, Newsletters [Follow](  Support the news  The Rundown [Major organ center in Waltham flagged over low donation numbers]( Massachusetts may be known for its hospitals and innovation, but its organ donation program is underperforming. A Waltham-based nonprofit called New England Donor Services has been under fire from Congress, and new federal data show the group isn’t finding enough donors for transplant patients. [Read more.]( [Major organ center in Waltham flagged over low donation numbers]( Massachusetts may be known for its hospitals and innovation, but its organ donation program is underperforming. A Waltham-based nonprofit called New England Donor Services has been under fire from Congress, and new federal data show the group isn’t finding enough donors for transplant patients. [Read more.]( [El Niño is coming. Here's what that means for weather in the U.S.]( Warmer sea waters have many far-ranging effects. In the new pattern, some parts of the U.S. could get relief from drought, while others might see fewer hurricanes. [Read more.]( [El Niño is coming. Here's what that means for weather in the U.S.]( Warmer sea waters have many far-ranging effects. In the new pattern, some parts of the U.S. could get relief from drought, while others might see fewer hurricanes. [Read more.]( [In Milton, a new school committee hopes to put the past behind them]( Fresh off a school committee election, Milton education officials said they hope the district can cool from a period of anxiety and tackle a slate of contentious issues. [Read more.]( [In Milton, a new school committee hopes to put the past behind them]( Fresh off a school committee election, Milton education officials said they hope the district can cool from a period of anxiety and tackle a slate of contentious issues. [Read more.]( ['Thrive Act' proposes to end the state’s MCAS graduation requirement]( The bill’s advocates gathered Wednesday over Zoom to argue that the high-stakes MCAS has been a failure, blocking vulnerable students from pursuing their goals in higher education and careers. [Read more.]( ['Thrive Act' proposes to end the state’s MCAS graduation requirement]( The bill’s advocates gathered Wednesday over Zoom to argue that the high-stakes MCAS has been a failure, blocking vulnerable students from pursuing their goals in higher education and careers. [Read more.]( [Lowell agrees to pay $13 million to man wrongfully convicted of deadly arson]( "Today, this chapter is ending and a new chapter begins for me," Rosario said Wednesday, speaking in front of the Moakley federal courthouse in Boston. "Nothing can ever compensate for those years taken from me." [Read more.]( [Lowell agrees to pay $13 million to man wrongfully convicted of deadly arson]( "Today, this chapter is ending and a new chapter begins for me," Rosario said Wednesday, speaking in front of the Moakley federal courthouse in Boston. "Nothing can ever compensate for those years taken from me." [Read more.]( Anything Else? - Sure, it's unofficial Star Wars Day and this weekend will be filled with Cinco de Mayo and Kentucky Derby parties. But don't stop there. Our arts and culture team's event recommendations include a David Wax Museum concert in Somerville, the Massachusetts Poetry Festival and a different kind of Boston marathon. Read [all five things here](. - During the pandemic, Boston Baroque and Guerilla Opera experimented with virtual streaming. Now, WBUR's Lauren Williams reports both organizations are [developing their musical performances with in-person and online audiences in mind](. - Lawyers for Civil Rights' Tasheena Davis, Sophia Hall and Oren Sellstrom [write in this commentary]( there's a concerted effort to prevent the teaching of African American studies centered on the history of race in America — and New England is not immune.  What We're Reading 📚 - Why Is Inflation So Sticky? It Could Be Corporate Profits ([The Wall Street Journal]( - How journalists can cover RFK Jr.’s antivax presidential run responsibly ([Stat News]( - A Boston Dynamics robot can now be run using ChatGPT. What could go wrong? ([The Boston Globe](  PSA [This star ate its own planet. Earth may share the same fate]( For the first time, astronomers have caught a star in the act of swallowing a planet, providing a glimpse into how the sun may eventually eat up Earth. [Read more.]( [This star ate its own planet. Earth may share the same fate]( For the first time, astronomers have caught a star in the act of swallowing a planet, providing a glimpse into how the sun may eventually eat up Earth. [Read more.]( Listen: The Common discusses how COVID-19 has [changed Boston's theater scene with WBUR's Amelia Mason]( as a part of our four-part series on arts after the pandemic. Play: [WBUR's daily mini crossword.]( Can you keep your streak going? Before you go: Gov. Healey has [had it with Pennsylvania's lame Celtics jokes](. 😎 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.