Better late than never

Also: Boston students study solutions to heat islands; Mass. cannabis commission "in crisis" [Donate ❤️]( [View in Browser](  July 31, 2023 ☀️ Mostly sunny, with a high of 82. Good Morning Boston, I really need a 1,500-word investigation into [how rocks are getting into even more of Trader Joe's food.]( But first things first: - Better late than never: Massachusetts lawmakers are set to vote on the state’s annual budget today — a full month after their original deadline. House and Senate leaders announced Friday afternoon they had reached a deal on the $56 million spending bill. They could send it to Gov. Maura Healey's desk as soon as today. - What's in it: The massive spending bill includes some big policy changes. Here are the ones that made the final cut. - Free community college: The budget includes $38 million to offer free community college for students 25 or over, plus another $12 million to [cover all costs for those in community college nursing programs]( beginning this fall. - In-state tuition for undocumented immigrants: The deal also covers the Senate's proposal to [make students without legal immigration status eligible for in-state tuition]( and state financial aid at Massachusetts' public colleges. The condition is that they attended an in-state high school for at least three years or got their GED here. - Free school lunch: Meanwhile, the House got its way on extending the state’s pandemic-era [universal free school meal program]( for another academic year. - Prison phone calls: The budget deals would also eliminate [the costs of making phone calls for inmates]( in state and county prisons. (Former Gov. Charlie Baker [vetoed a similar proposal last year]( but Healey has been [supportive]( - What's not in the budget: We’re still waiting for a compromise on the [differing tax relief packages passed by the House and Senate](. The House's [push to let the state lottery sell products online]( also didn't make it in, despite Healey's support. - Par for the course: This is the 13th straight year Massachusetts' budget has missed its July 1 deadline. And in four of the past five years, it's been at least four weeks late, as WBUR's Steve Brown has [documented](. (Lawmakers can simply pass month-by-month spending bills to keep the government funded when the full budget is overdue. This year, they did so not [once]( but [twice]( - Should we care? There are usually [not too many consequences]( of the budget’s chronic tardiness. But this year, the uncertainty did throw a wrench into on-the-ground planning needed for [free community college]( and [universal school meals]( Still, Legislature leaders say it’s not something voters care about. "The public's not asking me," Sen. Michael Rodrigues, one of the lead negotiators on the budget deal, [told reporters last week](. "I've had no constituent call me." - What's next: Healey will have 10 days to sign (and potentially veto line items) once the budget is sent to her desk. - Go deeper: Radio Boston explored the reasons behind the recent slowness on Beacon Hill last week with local State House reporters Lisa Kashinsky and Matt Stout. [Listen here](. - Back to the drawing board: The state is requiring Eversource to redo its environmental impact report for a proposed gas pipeline in Springfield. Officials want a deeper analysis about how the project would affect the state’s climate goals and impact local communities. - What's next: WBUR's Miriam Wasser [reports the decision is expected to delay the $65 million project by a few months](. - Arlington residents just got a prominent new neighbor: The governor! Healey is moving from Cambridge to Arlington to live with her partner, [Joanna Lydgate](. According to State House News Service, the recently transient governor — who has moved three times since 2021, from Charlestown to the South End to Porter Square — should be settled into her new digs by tomorrow. Let us know Guv. if you need any extra boxes! P.S.— Radio Boston is capping off July with a monthly interview with Boston Mayor Michelle Wu. She'll be on live at 11 a.m., so make sure to [send in your questions]( ASAP this morning. Nik DeCosta-Klipa Editor, Newsletters [Follow](  Support the news  The Rundown [Young urban planners: Boston students study solutions to extreme temps in city ‘heat islands’Â]( Now in its second year, the program has students interviewing residents and exploring heat mitigation solutions in communities like Roxbury, where temperatures can soar 10 degrees above average than elsewhere in Boston. [Read more.]( [Young urban planners: Boston students study solutions to extreme temps in city ‘heat islands’Â]( Now in its second year, the program has students interviewing residents and exploring heat mitigation solutions in communities like Roxbury, where temperatures can soar 10 degrees above average than elsewhere in Boston. [Read more.]( [A New Hampshire nurse and her child have been kidnapped in Haiti]( The humanitarian group El Roi Haiti said Alix Dorsainvil and her child were taken from the organization's campus near Port-au-Prince. [Read more.]( [A New Hampshire nurse and her child have been kidnapped in Haiti]( The humanitarian group El Roi Haiti said Alix Dorsainvil and her child were taken from the organization's campus near Port-au-Prince. [Read more.]( [After McConnell's and Feinstein's episodes, should age limits be on the table?]( Two of the oldest members of the U.S. Senate showed the vulnerabilities that come with gerontocracy last week. But age limits can still be difficult to talk about or pass as law. [Read more.]( [After McConnell's and Feinstein's episodes, should age limits be on the table?]( Two of the oldest members of the U.S. Senate showed the vulnerabilities that come with gerontocracy last week. But age limits can still be difficult to talk about or pass as law. [Read more.]( [In announcing director's exit, chair says Mass. cannabis commission 'in crisis']( Chairwoman Shannon O'Brien's took fellow commissioners by surprise when she announced Executive Director Shawn Collins would be stepping down from the agency he has run since its inception. [Read more.]( [In announcing director's exit, chair says Mass. cannabis commission 'in crisis']( Chairwoman Shannon O'Brien's took fellow commissioners by surprise when she announced Executive Director Shawn Collins would be stepping down from the agency he has run since its inception. [Read more.]( [Survey: Residents around Belle Isle marsh worry about flooding made worse by rising seas]( Over half of residents from East Boston, Revere and Winthrop who responded to the survey said they have experienced flooding in the past. [Read more.]( [Survey: Residents around Belle Isle marsh worry about flooding made worse by rising seas]( Over half of residents from East Boston, Revere and Winthrop who responded to the survey said they have experienced flooding in the past. [Read more.]( Anything Else? - This week at CitySpace: Calling all comic book lovers — join Radio Boston for a conversation exploring the culture of comics with local artists this Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. You'll have a chance to flip through (or purchase) copies of featured cartoonists’ books after the event. [Get your tickets here](. - In her debut album, the 20-year-old Mattapan rapper Nay Speaks explores navigating Boston as a young woman, trying to figure out love and herself as an individual in the midst of it all. [Listen here to the full album]( "Nayborhood Healer." - After surviving 46,000 years frozen in Siberian permafrost, [this nematode's longevity]( shows scientists how other animals may harbor the "genetic superpowers" to adapt in extreme environments. - What recession? Between trips to the movies, concerts and overseas, [corporate and government data]( have painted a picture of insatiable American shoppers, as the "she-conomy" takes center stage this month. To put it another way, Barbie, Taylor Swift and Beyoncé have been moving markets, quite literally. - Speaking of the "she-conomy": The U.S. women's soccer team plays its third and final World Cup group stage match in Australia early tomorrow morning. [Don't trust how Fox Sports is advertising coverage]( the game starts at 3 a.m. ET, not 1 a.m.  What We're Reading 📚 This section is supported by [Beacon Hill Books]( a new independent bookstore. - Fifty years later, families reflect on Logan plane crash that killed 89 people ([The Boston Globe]( - When it comes to keeping the fizz in your champagne, bottle size matters ([Ars Technica]( - A Tiny Cabin, a Little Island and a Big Change: ‘Am I Crazy?’ ([The New York Times](  Life Advice [This Ivy League researcher says spirituality is good for our mental health]( A Columbia University professor says spiritual beliefs can decrease our rates of anxiety and depression. I needed to understand how she came to these conclusions. [Read more.]( [This Ivy League researcher says spirituality is good for our mental health]( A Columbia University professor says spiritual beliefs can decrease our rates of anxiety and depression. I needed to understand how she came to these conclusions. [Read more.]( Listen: The Common brings you [a report from the newsroom]( about a new pilot program that tests the effectiveness of heat alerts across Massachusetts. Play: [WBUR's daily mini crossword.]( Can you keep your streak going? Before you go: ["Only in New England."]( 😎 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.