What's next for 988

Also: Wu rejects City Council budget override; a new Brattle showcase of the film legend you likely never heard of [Donate ❤️]( [View in Browser](  July 18, 2023 ⛅ Partly cloudy, with a high of 87 and chance of afternoon showers. Good Morning Boston, I'm already excited about [the prospect of Big Papi competing against other retired baseball legends]( in a home run contest next summer. Until then, here's a look at what we're watching this week: - It's been one year since [the launch of the 988 hotline](. Rep. Seth Moulton — who introduced the bill that created the universal three-digit number for the nation's suicide prevention and mental health hotlines — says the resource has been a remarkable success helping those in times of crisis. But as the Massachusetts congressman told WBUR's Paul Connearney, "there's still more we can do" in its second year and beyond. - By the numbers: According to Moulton, the 988 hotline has taken about 180 calls per day from people in Massachusetts. Nationally, the line has fielded [roughly 5 million calls, chats and texts]( in its first year of operation — a 35% increase over the old 10-digit line. For texts, the year-over-year increase is even more stark: 1,135% growth, which Moulton says is "a sad measurement of the need, but also shows you how many young Americans are getting help." - What's next: Accessibility remains a big focus. The hotline recently launched a Spanish-language line (just press 2 after calling 988). "We want to make sure that there is a more diverse set of counselors who can tailor their expertise to the needs of individual callers," Moulton said. The hotline is also working on expanding to video calls for deaf or hard-of-hearing individuals. - The biggest challenge: 988 still hasn't reached 911 status in terms of awareness. NPR [reports]( call center staffing shortages led federal officials to delay a major media campaign to promote the line. "One of the most important things we can all do now is just make sure everyone knows about this service," Moulton said. "You can pick up the phone — any phone anywhere in America — and dial 988 and get connected to help." - Get involved: The hotline's network of call centers still needs staffing help. You apply for open work or volunteer positions — including at the five centers in Massachusetts — on [the 988 career page](. - Go deeper: Moulton recently talked about how his experience as a Marine veteran led to his focus on mental health during a wide-ranging Radio Boston interview. (Did you know he also plays the organ and once took a family vacation to the Seabrook nuclear power plant?) [Listen to the segment here](. - The City of Boston is [expanding its summer school programming with more "enrichment" activities]( in anticipation of unprecedented student enrollment this season. WBUR's Carrie Jung reports school officials say participation in summer learning this year is on track to surpass last year's record-breaking enrollment of 15,851. - Most of the growth is happening in the district's free "[5th Quarter]( program, which combines activities like sailing, soccer, basketball and filmmaking with corresponding classroom instruction. - There's still time to sign up your child: While 5th Quarter programs run from July 10 to Aug. 11, late registration is an option. The [signup deadline]( is this Friday. - The local nonprofit TransitMatters has launched [a new data dashboard]( to help MBTA riders understand what's going on with their commute. The dashboard includes information about each line's speed, wait times, slow zones and ridership, and it's updated each week. - What's new? TransitMatters software engineer Patrick Cleary tells WBUR's Andrea Perdomo-Hernandez the dashboard puts a lot of data that was previously spread across their website in one place. "We wanted to make it so that you don't have to dig for information anymore," Cleary said. - Explore: Not only does the dashboard show information for the [Red]( [Orange]( [Green]( and [Blue]( lines, it also tracks speed and wait data for [over a dozen MBTA bus routes](. P.S.— It's officially ["Barbenheimer"]( week and, yes, there's a local angle. The Boston Public Library has [a reading list of 21 Barbie-inspired books]( to get you hyped ahead of [the July 21 opening]( of the Greta Gerwig film. The topics range from female friendship to fashion to feminism to maximalist interior design. Check them out (or place a hold) on [the BPL's website](. (Harvard Library, we're waiting on a [J. Robert Oppenheimer]( reading list, please.) Nik DeCosta-Klipa Editor, Newsletters [Follow](  Support the news  The Rundown [Mayor Wu says council's budget override violates Boston city charter]( The move strikes down the council's final attempt to flex its new power to change the mayor's proposed budget. Voters approved a ballot measure in 2021 allowing the council to amend line items in the city budget, and override mayoral vetoes. [Read more.]( [Mayor Wu says council's budget override violates Boston city charter]( The move strikes down the council's final attempt to flex its new power to change the mayor's proposed budget. Voters approved a ballot measure in 2021 allowing the council to amend line items in the city budget, and override mayoral vetoes. [Read more.]( [Citing Trump case, Pentagon leak suspect Teixeira urges judge to release him while he awaits trial]( A magistrate judge ruled in May that Jack Teixeira must remain behind bars, saying he would attempt to flee the country or obstruct justice. Teixeira's lawyers are now asking a different judge to reverse that decision. [Read more.]( [Citing Trump case, Pentagon leak suspect Teixeira urges judge to release him while he awaits trial]( A magistrate judge ruled in May that Jack Teixeira must remain behind bars, saying he would attempt to flee the country or obstruct justice. Teixeira's lawyers are now asking a different judge to reverse that decision. [Read more.]( [An experimental Alzheimer's drug outperforms one just approved by the FDA]( In a large study, the experimental drug donanemab slowed the progression of Alzheimer's by about 35%. That's slightly better than the drug Leqembi, which was fully approved by the FDA on July 6. [Read more.]( [An experimental Alzheimer's drug outperforms one just approved by the FDA]( In a large study, the experimental drug donanemab slowed the progression of Alzheimer's by about 35%. That's slightly better than the drug Leqembi, which was fully approved by the FDA on July 6. [Read more.]( [Fox's newest star Jesse Watters boasts a wink, a smirk, and a trail of outrage]( Jesse Watters, who has worked, smirked, and opined for Fox his entire professional career, takes the reins on Monday of Fox News' 8 p.m. weekday show, permanently replacing fired star Tucker Carlson. [Read more.]( [Fox's newest star Jesse Watters boasts a wink, a smirk, and a trail of outrage]( Jesse Watters, who has worked, smirked, and opined for Fox his entire professional career, takes the reins on Monday of Fox News' 8 p.m. weekday show, permanently replacing fired star Tucker Carlson. [Read more.]( [Damage assessments ongoing after western Massachusetts floods]( Officials are assessing damage to farmland in in western Massachusetts and trying to determine the cost of recovery. Jo Comerford, a state senator from Northampton, said the initial number of those impacted is "staggering." [Read more.]( [Damage assessments ongoing after western Massachusetts floods]( Officials are assessing damage to farmland in in western Massachusetts and trying to determine the cost of recovery. Jo Comerford, a state senator from Northampton, said the initial number of those impacted is "staggering." [Read more.]( Anything Else? - You may not know the name Dede Allen, but cinephiles around the world revere the legendary film editor's work. To commemorate 100 years since her birth, the Brattle Theatre is showcasing Allen's iconic classics — from "Bonnie and Clyde" to "The Breakfast Club" — each Wednesday for the rest of the summer. Read film critic Sean Burns' preview for [more on how Allen redefined cinema](. - A new federal review has found the population of endangered North Atlantic right whales is in fact [lower than previously estimated](. - PSA: Nearly 20 animals — cats, dogs and even a chinchilla named Hamilton — that were moved from Vermont shelters to Massachusetts in the wake of last week's flooding [are now available for adoption](.  What We're Reading 📚 This section is supported by [Beacon Hill Books]( a new independent bookstore. - They Lost Their Legs. Doctors and Health Care Giants Profited. ([The New York Times]( - A Cambridge City Council employee decided to run for a seat. Then the city changed its rules. ([The Boston Globe]( - This Is As Close As The Tour de France Has Ever Been ([Defector](  Tell Me Something Good [Madison Park valedictorian is first in family to go to college — and to graduate high school (The Boston Globe)]( Lourdjinia Louis came here five-and-a-half years ago from Haiti, speaking no English when she enrolled in Boston Public Schools. But the secret to her academic success is simple, according to Louis and some of the teachers who know her best: She asked lots of questions. [Read more.]( [Madison Park valedictorian is first in family to go to college — and to graduate high school (The Boston Globe)]( Lourdjinia Louis came here five-and-a-half years ago from Haiti, speaking no English when she enrolled in Boston Public Schools. But the secret to her academic success is simple, according to Louis and some of the teachers who know her best: She asked lots of questions. [Read more.]( Listen: The Common discusses [how Black student loan borrowers are reacting to the Supreme Court's student loan forgiveness decision](. Play: [WBUR's daily mini crossword.]( Can you keep your streak going? Before you go: [Call it a QFO]( (Quickly identified flying object). 😎 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.