A new Cape bridge strategy

Also: Trump indicted in Georgia over efforts to overturn 2020 election; what free school meals mean to Mass. families [Donate ❤️]( [View in Browser](  August 15, 2023 🌧️ Rainy through at least the morning, with a high of 72. Good Morning Boston, This week kicked off with a storm of news, from [another Donald Trump indictment]( to [an Eataly lawsuit over slippery meat](. Remember to watch your step. Now, to the news: - What's better than two new Cape Cod bridges? Apparently, just one (at least, initially). Gov. Maura Healey is switching up the strategy for replacing the two 88-year-old spans over the Cape Cod Canal, prioritizing the new Sagamore Bridge first (that's the one that links up with Route 3) and finishing the Bourne Bridge later. Given the size and cost of the project, Healey's office says the phased approach is a better bet than replacing both bridges at the same time, amid struggles to score crucial federal funding. - The timeline: If all goes well — always a big if! — Healey's office hopes to begin work on the new Sagamore bridge in 2028. Construction is expected to take until 2035 or 2036 to finish. - As for the Bourne: Healey's office says they're still seeking funds for the Bourne Bridge. In the interim, they'll move forward with the permitting and design of both bridges. A Healey spokesperson said work on the Bourne replacement could start as soon as 2029. - Why are they prioritizing the Sagamore? Healey's office says the Sagamore currently sees more traffic and crashes. The bridge also brings drivers directly onto Route 6, which the state says is vital for the Cape's economic viability. - What Healey's saying: The two bridges were [a major focus of Healey's trips to Washington, D.C., this past winter]( after the feds rejected two massive grant applications to help cover the costs of the project. "Last year, we pursued an application that was dead on arrival," she told The Boston Globe, which [first reported the new focus Monday](. "We didn’t want to repeat the same practice." - Next steps: Within the next week, the state plans to apply for $1.45 billion in federal funds for the Sagamore replacement. (The total cost of replacing both bridges is now pegged at $4.5 billion.) Healey said in a statement the approach will "enable us to get shovels in the ground quickly on the Sagamore Bridge," while laying "the groundwork for rebuilding the Bourne Bridge." - Meanwhile on the Cape: Bourne residents on the south side of the canal are being told to boil their water until further notice, after the town [found E. coli in their drinking water](. That means any water used for drinking, cooking, brushing teeth, washing dishes or any sort of food prep should be boiled at least once before being used. - In other bridge-related news: The Carlton Street Footbridge — which crosses over the Green Line in The Riverway — opened over the weekend for the first time in 46 years following [a long, drawn-out political battle](. WBUR contributor Alex Ashlock has [photos of the restored bridge here](. - PSA: An estimated 50,000 people in Massachusetts are [newly eligible for low-cost health insurance beginning next year](. That's because a two-year pilot has expanded the state's ConnectorCare program. The state-subsidized plan is intended for people who don't have access to affordable health insurance through work, but also are not eligible for MassHealth or Medicare health care. - Are you eligible? The new pilot raises ConnectorCare income limits from 300% of the federal poverty level to 500%. That means you could make up to $72,900 a year if you're single — or up to $150,00 a year if you're part of a family of four. - Calling it a career: David Krejci is [retiring from the NHL after a total of 16 seasons with Bruins](. The 37-year-old center announced his decision with [a lengthy thank you statement]( posted on the Bruins' social media accounts. - What it means: Following [their record-setting regular season]( the Bruins are now without their top two centers, after captain Patrice Bergeron [announced his retirement]( last month (after 19 seasons in Boston). That puts Weymouth native Charlie Coyle [in line to move up]( to the team's full-time No. 1 center. P.S.— It's official: Dunkin's [new line of spiked iced coffees and iced teas]( will be available at grocery and liquor stores in 12 states beginning in late August (and yes, that includes Massachusetts). You can [read more about the flavors and details here](. Nik DeCosta-Klipa Editor, Newsletters [Follow](  Support the news  The Rundown [Donald Trump is indicted in Georgia for seeking to overturn the 2020 election]( The charges in Fulton County implicate the former president as the head of a sweeping conspiracy to subvert his defeat. It's the fourth indictment in as many months for Trump. [Read more.]( [Donald Trump is indicted in Georgia for seeking to overturn the 2020 election]( The charges in Fulton County implicate the former president as the head of a sweeping conspiracy to subvert his defeat. It's the fourth indictment in as many months for Trump. [Read more.]( [‘Food is the biggest expense’: Mass. families welcome permanent free school meals for students]( Last week, Massachusetts became the eighth state in the country to fund free school meals for all public school children, regardless of household income. Advocates hope it will reduce the stigma around free meals and remove the barrier to nourishment at school. [Read more.]( [‘Food is the biggest expense’: Mass. families welcome permanent free school meals for students]( Last week, Massachusetts became the eighth state in the country to fund free school meals for all public school children, regardless of household income. Advocates hope it will reduce the stigma around free meals and remove the barrier to nourishment at school. [Read more.]( [State breaks ground on new veterans home in Holyoke]( The new $483 million veterans home in Holyoke will house 234 long-term care beds for the state's medically vulnerable veteran population, according to Gov. Maura Healey's office. The state broke ground on the project Monday and is expected to be completed in summer of 2028. [Read more.]( [State breaks ground on new veterans home in Holyoke]( The new $483 million veterans home in Holyoke will house 234 long-term care beds for the state's medically vulnerable veteran population, according to Gov. Maura Healey's office. The state broke ground on the project Monday and is expected to be completed in summer of 2028. [Read more.]( [Mass. locals offer help, guidance to support Maui fire victims]( Massachusetts volunteer groups and logistics specialists are delivering aid in Maui following last week's deadly wildfires. Noelle Lo, a Maui resident and Boston University student, shares ways civilians off the island can help. [Read more.]( [Mass. locals offer help, guidance to support Maui fire victims]( Massachusetts volunteer groups and logistics specialists are delivering aid in Maui following last week's deadly wildfires. Noelle Lo, a Maui resident and Boston University student, shares ways civilians off the island can help. [Read more.]( [What the new state budget means for the future of transit]( The budget recently signed by Gov. Maura Healey includes hundreds of millions of dollars in transit funding from the so-called millionaire's tax. [Read more.]( [What the new state budget means for the future of transit]( The budget recently signed by Gov. Maura Healey includes hundreds of millions of dollars in transit funding from the so-called millionaire's tax. [Read more.]( Anything Else? - Spain is through to the Women's World Cup finals [following their dramatic 2-1 victory this morning over USWNT-beating]( [Sweden](. "La Roja" will play the winner of tomorrow's match between England and Australia (the latter is [setting viewership records in their home country](. - Who needs an iLottery? While local lawmakers once again [rejected efforts this summer]( to allow the Massachusetts lottery to sell its products online, State House News Service reports [there's a third-party company offering residents a workaround](. - A biracial gospel singer who fled the Pentecostal church at 19; a single mom to two kids; a career spent quietly writing songs while waiting tables in rural Massachusetts. Music critic Charley Ruddell [writes that Northfield country singer Sandy Bailey weaves together a series of gospel stories that reflect the journey of her own hustle]( in her second album, “Daughter of Abraham." It's her newest release in 13 years. - Ethan Marcotte [writes in this commentary]( that the labor strikes in Hollywood have broad implications due to the potential of generative artificial intelligence. "These two unions are taking the threats of AI seriously — and the rest of us should, too," Marcotte explains.  What We're Reading 📚 - 'Blind Side' subject Oher alleges adoption was lie ([ESPN]( - Is it cheaper to refuel your EV battery or gas tank? We did the math in all 50 states. ([Washington Post]( - Boston’s ‘Cop Slide’ became so popular that the city had to put up barricades at night ([The Boston Globe](  Food For Thought [4 tips on how to make a satisfying salad]( We could all be eating more vegetables. One fast way to do that: toss them in a salad. Here’s how to make nutritious, affordable and — most importantly — crave-worthy salads. [Read more.]( [4 tips on how to make a satisfying salad]( We could all be eating more vegetables. One fast way to do that: toss them in a salad. Here’s how to make nutritious, affordable and — most importantly — crave-worthy salads. [Read more.]( Listen: The Common looks into [how Boston's pool closure controversy was allowed to happen this summer](. Play: [WBUR's daily mini crossword.]( Can you keep your streak going? Before you go: Let this be [a reminder to everyone renting a moving truck]( this month. 😎 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.