Massachusetts' alarming record

Also: A new state-backed private fundraiser for flood-impacted farms; why can't Canada just put the fires out? [Donate ❤️]( [View in Browser](  July 21, 2023 🌤️ Partly sunny with a high of 80 and a chance of evening showers. Good Morning Boston, TGIF! Today is [the last day]( you can use any Christmas Tree Shops gift cards you might have lying around your house. Before you rummage through your wallet and desk to check, let's get to today's news. - The [fatal hit-and-run of a 4-year-old in Hyde Park this week]( was yet another tragic reminder of an increasing problem in Massachusetts: Not only have pedestrians deaths been on the rise as traffic has picked up in the wake of the pandemic, the Bay State set a new record last year for the number of people killed by cars. According to [a MassDOT report]( there were 101 pedestrian deaths in 2022, a 20% increase over the previous recorded high of 83 in 2012. There were also over 300 pedestrians seriously injured. (The record is 379, also set in 2012.) - Where are they occurring? According to MassDOT, 96% of pedestrian-involved crashes are occurring in urban areas. And [an analysis by the group WalkBoston]( found that 71% of deaths last year happened in "[environmental justice]( neighborhoods. - Interestingly, MassDot also [found a correlation between bus stops and pedestrian collisions](. Between 2016 and 2022, 50% of them happened within 300 feet of a bus stop. (If you've ever had to swerve your bike into a vehicle lane to get around a bus making a stop, it's not hard to understand why this might be.) - What is the state doing? Karissa Hand, a spokesperson for Gov. Maura Healey, says the administration is "alarmed by the increase in pedestrian deaths and committed to making our roads safer for all who use them." The big focus is [getting drivers to slow down](. Hand noted [a Route 28 "road diet" in Reading]( has served as a model. Meanwhile, MassDOT has been working with municipal officials to [share best practices]( and identify crash hotspots. - What more could be done? MassDOT reported that 41% of pedestrian crashes happened at traffic light intersections, even though they make up fewer than 10% of all intersections. [One bill]( to encourage drivers to be more cautious would allow the state to test out [traffic light cameras]( that would automatically ticket drivers who run a red light. It's something former Gov. Charlie Baker [repeatedly proposed]( but [never got through the State House](. - What does Healey think? Hand says MassDOT is "constantly evaluating new strategies, including how we can utilize new technologies and innovation to reduce speeds." But she was noncommittal on the topic of traffic light cameras: "Governor Healey will review any legislation that reaches her desk." - Zoom out: [U.S. pedestrian deaths reach a 40-year high](. - Massachusetts is launching an online fundraiser to support farms [damaged by last week's floods](. While the state is still applying to federal disaster aid for major repairs, Healey [told reporters yesterday]( she is "not holding my breath" on the timeline. The hope is to raise $15 million in private donations. You can [contribute online here](. - By the numbers: State officials say at least 75 local farms in central and western Massachusetts were damaged by flooding. About 2,000 acres of crops worth at least $15 million were lost. - UMass Lowell is looking to shed staff due to "ongoing financial and demographic pressures" [sweeping across the higher education sector](. The university announced yesterday that it will freeze "non-strategic" hires and offer a voluntary buyout program to existing staff members. Whether layoffs come next depends on how many take the buyouts. - In [a video]( UMass Lowell Chancellor Julie Chen the challenges are forcing them to shift we're the school focuses its spending: "We will redirect resources to key priorities such as enrollment marketing and revenue-generating ideas, and identify ways to eliminate repetitive and duplicative work to reduce costs." - Meanwhile: Lasell University in Newton is also [making difficult decisions]( due to low enrollment. That includes laying off staff and eliminating majors like global studies, sociology and English. - Heads up: First Lady Jill Biden is back in Massachusetts this weekend. She'll be in Provincetown for a fundraiser today and then visit Nantucket ([a family favorite]( for two more fundraisers tomorrow. - Calling all soccer fans: The U.S. women's national team [begins their quest Down Under for a World Cup three-peat tonight at 9 p.m. against Vietnam]( who are playing in their first women's World Cup ever. And a local group is hosting a watch party for fans of both teams at Saigon Seafood in Dorchester's Fields Corner. ([RSVP here]( - What to expect: A Vietnam win over the USWNT would amount to [what some say]( be the biggest upset ever — in any sport. But this World Cup has [already delivered some shockers](. At the very least, organizer Laura Everett told WBUR's Fausto Menard to "plan on having some excellent Vietnamese seafood." - Catch up: [5 storylines to watch at the 2023 Women's World Cup](. P.S.— Labor shortages are affecting many industries, but one expanding sector in Massachusetts could be particularly hamstrung, according to a new report this week. Do you know which one it is? Then [take our Boston News Quiz](. Nik DeCosta-Klipa Editor, Newsletters [Follow](  Support the news  The Rundown [Why can't Canada just put the fires out? Here are 5 answers to key questions]( In Canada, more than 25 million acres of land — an area larger than Portugal — has burned, and the fire season shows no signs of slowing. Here's why many fires are being left to burn. [Read more.]( [Why can't Canada just put the fires out? Here are 5 answers to key questions]( In Canada, more than 25 million acres of land — an area larger than Portugal — has burned, and the fire season shows no signs of slowing. Here's why many fires are being left to burn. [Read more.]( [Striking New England SAG-AFTRA members rally on Boston Common]( “This whole confrontation here, it goes beyond just actors and producers," said Tom Kemp, New England Local vice president. "It's this whole fundamental change in our economic status here where we have so few people making so much money and everybody else is on the bottom." [Read more.]( [Striking New England SAG-AFTRA members rally on Boston Common]( “This whole confrontation here, it goes beyond just actors and producers," said Tom Kemp, New England Local vice president. "It's this whole fundamental change in our economic status here where we have so few people making so much money and everybody else is on the bottom." [Read more.]( [Here's where the criminal and civil cases facing Trump stand]( Former President Donald Trump faces a number of criminal charges in two cases — but that may not be all, as he faces scrutiny in other probes. This all comes as Trump is running for president. [Read more.]( [Here's where the criminal and civil cases facing Trump stand]( Former President Donald Trump faces a number of criminal charges in two cases — but that may not be all, as he faces scrutiny in other probes. This all comes as Trump is running for president. [Read more.]( [The White House and big tech companies release commitments on managing AI]( Seven tech companies, including Google, Meta and OpenAI, have voluntarily made commitments on developing and managing artificial intelligence. But there isn't much accountability in the process. [Read more.]( [The White House and big tech companies release commitments on managing AI]( Seven tech companies, including Google, Meta and OpenAI, have voluntarily made commitments on developing and managing artificial intelligence. But there isn't much accountability in the process. [Read more.]( [Maine governor signs controversial bill lifting key restrictions on abortions late in pregnancy]( The bill to expand access to abortion in Maine was one of the most controversial of this year's legislative session and only narrowly received initial passage in the Maine House after Democratic leaders corralled every last vote. [Read more.]( [Maine governor signs controversial bill lifting key restrictions on abortions late in pregnancy]( The bill to expand access to abortion in Maine was one of the most controversial of this year's legislative session and only narrowly received initial passage in the Maine House after Democratic leaders corralled every last vote. [Read more.]( Anything Else? - A new exhibition opening tomorrow at the Cape Ann Museum transports visitors back to a pivotal summer 100 years ago where then little-known painter Edward Hopper met the woman who would catalyze his career. It even includes something of a scavenger hunt around Gloucester. Read [the full preview from WBUR's Andrea Shea](. - You know those lucky folks who had COVID but no symptoms? Scientist estimate that they accounted for 20% of infections and a new study [suggests that the answer may lie in their genetics](. - LFG: WBUR's Cloe Axelson [writes in this commentary]( that the U.S. women's national soccer team may be the closest thing we have to a sports dynasty. A lot has changed since their last World Cup run, but one thing has stayed constant: "These women know what they want."  What We're Reading 📚 This section is supported by [Beacon Hill Books]( a new independent bookstore. - An MIT student asked AI to make her headshot more ‘professional.’ It gave her lighter skin and blue eyes. ([The Boston Globe]( - What We Don't Know About the Health Effects of Wildfire Smoke ([Time]( - Why Did 488 Golden Retrievers Gather in Scotland? ([The New York Times](  Life Advice [Your air conditioner isn't built for this heat. These 5 tips can boost its performance]( Extreme temperatures present a significant challenge to AC systems, which engineers and installers say are really only designed to keep indoor temperatures about 20 degrees cooler than outside.Even so, there are some things you can do to maximize your air conditioner's effectiveness. [Read more.]( [Your air conditioner isn't built for this heat. These 5 tips can boost its performance]( Extreme temperatures present a significant challenge to AC systems, which engineers and installers say are really only designed to keep indoor temperatures about 20 degrees cooler than outside.Even so, there are some things you can do to maximize your air conditioner's effectiveness. [Read more.]( Listen: The Common [hears from MassDOT's new voice for accessibility](. Play: [WBUR's daily mini crossword.]( Can you keep your streak going? Before you go: This was [probably inevitable](. 😎 Forward to a friend. 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