🎆 Like diamonds in the sky

Also: Mass. borrowers react to last week's SCOTUS decision; a guide to Boston's indie movie theaters [Donate ❤️]( [View in Browser](  July 3, 2023 ☁️ Showers likely, mainly before 10 a.m. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 75. Good Morning Boston, Remember back in 2020 when people were just [shooting off fireworks]( all night, all summer? Those days are gone (much to pet owners' delight), but there are still plenty of sanctioned local events left this Fourth of July weekend so you can get your fix. - Let's start with the city's biggest event: The [Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular](. WBUR's Katie Cole has put together [this helpful logistical guide]( if you're heading to the Hatch Shell tomorrow (don't go today, the rehearsal is closed to the public). Here are a couple highlights: - Timing: Seating opens in the green space in front of the Hatch Shell at noon. Performances start at 8 p.m., with the fireworks display from 10:30-11 p.m. - Getting there: Remember, there's no parking on the Esplanade, so your best bet is to walk if you're close enough or take the T. The closest T stops to the Hatch Shell are Arlington on the Green Line and Charles/MGH on the Red Line. For those watching from the Cambridge side of the river, head to Kendall and Central Square stations on the Red Line. - And if you're taking the T on the fourth, here's an extra bonus: subway, bus and commuter rail will be [free after 9:30 p.m.]( - Watching from the couch? Me, too. The show will air on WHDH Channel 7 or stream nationally on Bloomberg TV and radio beginning at 8 p.m. - If you want to see fireworks in person, but aren't up for heading into the city, Boston.com has a fully updated [list of fireworks happening across Massachusetts]( all summer. There are over 30 firework displays happening between today and tomorrow. - What about the weather? Yes, there's a likely [chance of scattered thunderstorms and showers today and tomorrow](. Meteorologist Danielle Noyes suggests not canceling plans, but having a backup plan just in case. - Attention pet owners: If there are fireworks in your area, do your furry friend a favor and help make the experience less frightening for them. WBUR's Stevee Chapman spoke with Terri Bright, the MSPCA's director of behavioral services, for tips on how to help your pup be less anxious. - The biggest takeaway: Set up a comfy space for your dog to hide. "People will make a little closet fort for their dog, and put a comfy bed in there, they'll hide treats in there," Bright said. - Don't worry: Giving your dog extra [scritches]( and treats won't reinforce their fear — but it will make both your evenings more enjoyable. "That fear is a reflex, it is not a learned behavior," she said. "The dog has no control over it. So, whatever you find that comforts them, do that." - A traffic warning: The worst times to travel home by car are expected to be tomorrow between noon and 3 p.m., and Wednesday from 3-6 p.m., according to [AAA's traffic report](. Try heading out earlier or later to avoid sitting in "bumpah to bumpah" traffic, kid. - Reminder: The Sumner Tunnel will be open today and tomorrow to help people get home from their holiday weekend travel plans, but it [closes 24/7 starting this Wednesday]( for two months of renovations. We'll have more on this Wednesday. P.S.— We're off tomorrow for the Fourth of July, but will be back in your inbox Wednesday morning. Until then, stay safe and well! Meagan McGinnes Asst. Managing Editor, Newsletters [Follow](  Support the news  The Rundown [What the Supreme Court's rejection of student loan relief means for borrowers]( The court has struck down President Biden's plan to discharge federal student loan debt for tens of millions of Americans. Here are five takeaways for borrowers and the country. [Read more.]( [What the Supreme Court's rejection of student loan relief means for borrowers]( The court has struck down President Biden's plan to discharge federal student loan debt for tens of millions of Americans. Here are five takeaways for borrowers and the country. [Read more.]( ['Disheartening and disappointing': Mass. borrowers react to Supreme Court student loan relief ruling]( The 6-3 ruling from the court's conservative majority threw out Biden's $400 billion plan to cancel or reduce student loan debt, saying it exceeds his federal authority. [Read more.]( ['Disheartening and disappointing': Mass. borrowers react to Supreme Court student loan relief ruling]( The 6-3 ruling from the court's conservative majority threw out Biden's $400 billion plan to cancel or reduce student loan debt, saying it exceeds his federal authority. [Read more.]( [Affirmative action for white people? Legacy college admissions come under renewed scrutiny]( The next big fight over college admissions already has taken hold: Long seen as a perk for the white and wealthy, opponents say the practice of legacy admissions is no longer defensible in a world with no counterbalance in affirmative action. [Read more.]( [Affirmative action for white people? Legacy college admissions come under renewed scrutiny]( The next big fight over college admissions already has taken hold: Long seen as a perk for the white and wealthy, opponents say the practice of legacy admissions is no longer defensible in a world with no counterbalance in affirmative action. [Read more.]( [A bittersweet goodbye: 137 orphaned, abandoned black bears returning to the wild]( The Kilham Bear Center in Lyme New Hampshire, which raises orphaned cubs, tries to mimic this behavior by releasing bears into the wild in late spring and early summer. This year they raised and are releasing 137 black bears — including two from western Massachusetts. [Read more.]( [A bittersweet goodbye: 137 orphaned, abandoned black bears returning to the wild]( The Kilham Bear Center in Lyme New Hampshire, which raises orphaned cubs, tries to mimic this behavior by releasing bears into the wild in late spring and early summer. This year they raised and are releasing 137 black bears — including two from western Massachusetts. [Read more.]( [Commentary: The Supreme Court doesn’t think my daughter deserves to be safe]( It’s a slippery slope from sanctioned discrimination to serious harm, and we’re sliding down it, writes Laura McTaggart. [Read more.]( [Commentary: The Supreme Court doesn’t think my daughter deserves to be safe]( It’s a slippery slope from sanctioned discrimination to serious harm, and we’re sliding down it, writes Laura McTaggart. [Read more.]( Anything Else? - Rainy summer days don't have to be a bummer; it's a great excuse to go see a movie. Here’s our [curated list of the Boston area's coolest indie theaters]( as well as several of the major festivals you should keep on your radar. - How can you help local pollinators? Let's get down to bees-ness with [these 15 tips]( from WBUR's Barbara Moran. - I’m not a snob about books, writes Laura McTaggart in this commentary. But I do have standards, and even my beach reads must meet them. In fact, I have even higher standards for my beach reads, because everything about a summer reading experience should be idyllic. That said, here are the [five things all the best beach books have in common.](  What We're Reading 📚 - What Joey Chestnut Wants ([Sports Illustrated]( - My Dad Had Dementia. He Also Had Facebook. ([The Atlantic]( - Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s Inside Job ([Intelligencer](  PSA [The heat is making squirrels 'sploot' — a goofy act that signals something serious]( As climate change is making extreme heat events more common, these bright-eyed and bushy-tailed critters are "splooting" to cope. [Read more.]( [The heat is making squirrels 'sploot' — a goofy act that signals something serious]( As climate change is making extreme heat events more common, these bright-eyed and bushy-tailed critters are "splooting" to cope. [Read more.]( Listen: The Common is bringing you a story from the newsroom where [students and teachers are reflecting on the past year]( and what a "return to normal" could mean going forward. Play: [WBUR's daily mini crossword.]( Can you keep your streak going? Before you go: It's "10 miles west of Boston" [all over again](. 😎 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 © 2023 WBUR-FM, All rights reserved.