A darn about dams

Also: The overlooked power of the Harvard Corporation; Wall Street's 'Magnificent 7' [Donate ❤️]( [View in Browser](  December 13, 2023 🌤️ Mostly sunny and a little windy, with a high near 42. Good Morning Boston, While you were [rocking out with Keanu Reeves on Comm. Ave. last night]( here's [the music we're strutting to]( today: - Dam it: More communities in Massachusetts are getting money from the state to start the process of removing local dams that officials say pose hazards to both humans and wildlife. Gov. Maura Healey's administration announced yesterday that they'll award $50,000 each to seven municipalities to start planning the removals. It's part of a growing effort to demolish aging dams across Massachusetts and New England. - The big picture: Massachusetts has over 3,000 dams, "most of which no longer serve their original purpose," according to state officials. And as climate-induced storms intensify, many dams are [increasingly at risk to fail and cause dangerous flooding](. Hundreds have been identified as potential hazards. “We saw this summer the devastation that can be caused when aging infrastructure gets overwhelmed by extreme weather,” Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper said, referring to the [unprecedented flooding in Leominster](. (On another note, obsolete dams can also [disrupt the migration of cold-water fish]( - What's next: The seven dams newly pegged for removal range from a North Andover dam that is upstream of an MBTA commuter rail line to western Massachusetts dams that officials say could flood local towns. (You can read [the full list here]( The funding comes after Healey's office [announced a $25 million project for the removal of another eight dams]( this month, including the historic Bel Air Dam near downtown Pittsfield. Officials say the actual removal of those dams is still at least a year or two away. - Go deeper: Some worry a year or two [isn't fast enough]( given the danger of near-term storms. But as WBUR's Walter Wuthmann reported last year, the state has a "backlog" of dam removal projects that need funding. Here's [a closer look at the process](. - The Boston City Council is expected to vote on funding for the city's new police contract today — but not before raising some questions about the deal. WBUR's Simón Rios reports that some councilors questioned Mayor Michelle Wu's office on the reforms in the new contract that address [the issue of arbitration](. - One of the biggest reforms in the contract prevents officers from using the arbitration process to overturn firings if they are accused of certain serious crimes. However, Councilor Kendra Lara asked city negotiator Lou Mandarini why domestic assault and battery isn't among the more than two dozen crimes on [the list]( (even when "assault and battery to collect a loan" is on the list). "The Boston City Council, as a body, is very much concerned ... about protecting women from domestic violence," Lara said. - Mandarini suggested the city and the Boston Police Patrolmen’s Association couldn't reach an agreement on the subject during the 18-month negotiation process: "At a certain point you have to conclude, this is as good as we're going to do." The BPPA did not immediately return our request for comment. - Sunu-news: Nikki Haley is officially the winner of outgoing New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu's coveted presidential endorsement. The popular Republican governor gave Haley his nod of support during a town hall event last night in Manchester. WBUR's Anthony Brooks reports Sununu called Haley, who was governor of South Carolina from 2011 to 2017, "a fresh face" who could move past the "nonsense and drama" of former President Donald Trump. - How much does it matter? Unclear. Trump remains the frontrunner in New Hampshire (and elsewhere) by [a wide polling margin](. And despite his popularity, Sununu's high-profile endorsements don't exactly have a great recent record of success. However, a poll this fall did show 13% of Republican primary voters in the state said his endorsement would affect their vote. NHPR has [a closer look at the implications of the news here](. - Sports betting will soon become legal in a sixth and final New England state. Vermont officials yesterday announced [online sports betting will launch on Jan. 11.]( They also said the industry will be run by three sports betting apps: DraftKings, FanDuel and Fanatics Sportsbook. - The news comes after Vermont Gov. Phil Scott signed a bill in June to legalize sports betting. [Here's what to know about the new rules.]( P.S.— Need a new playlist for your holiday travels? Our opinion section Cognoscenti has [put together a "soundtrack to our stories,"]( by this year's essays and the songs writers shared. Give it a listen! Nik DeCosta-Klipa Editor, Newsletters [Follow](  Support the news  The Rundown ['The Harvard Corporation' stays largely out of public view — except when it speaks]( The entity known as The Harvard Corporation has been all over the headlines in recent days, but few people understand its role in the university's governance. And the board doesn't often share details. [Read more.]( ['The Harvard Corporation' stays largely out of public view — except when it speaks]( The entity known as The Harvard Corporation has been all over the headlines in recent days, but few people understand its role in the university's governance. And the board doesn't often share details. [Read more.]( [Wall Street calls them 'the Magnificent 7': They're the reason why stocks are surging]( The S&P 500 has surged this year, but most of those gains are thanks to a handful companies nicknamed "The Magnificent Seven." And that's worrying Wall Street. [Read more.]( [Wall Street calls them 'the Magnificent 7': They're the reason why stocks are surging]( The S&P 500 has surged this year, but most of those gains are thanks to a handful companies nicknamed "The Magnificent Seven." And that's worrying Wall Street. [Read more.]( [Faculty, students express relief as Gay stays on at Harvard]( The Harvard Corporation’s Tuesday statement in support of Claudine Gay comes amid a week of turmoil and uncertainty for university leadership in the Ivy League. [Read more.]( [Faculty, students express relief as Gay stays on at Harvard]( The Harvard Corporation’s Tuesday statement in support of Claudine Gay comes amid a week of turmoil and uncertainty for university leadership in the Ivy League. [Read more.]( [State lawmakers restore food benefits to immigrants with legal status]( The Legislature and Gov. Maura Healey last week quietly restored a policy to offer SNAP benefits for immigrants who are in the U.S. with legal status, but who are not citizens. The policy was part of the $3.1 billion supplemental budget bill. [Read more.]( [State lawmakers restore food benefits to immigrants with legal status]( The Legislature and Gov. Maura Healey last week quietly restored a policy to offer SNAP benefits for immigrants who are in the U.S. with legal status, but who are not citizens. The policy was part of the $3.1 billion supplemental budget bill. [Read more.]( [As paraprofessionals face barriers to teaching licenses, one district is paying for their master's degree]( This year, Haverhill Public Schools partnered with Merrimack College to offer district paraeducators entrance into a free, two-year special education master's degree program. [Read more.]( [As paraprofessionals face barriers to teaching licenses, one district is paying for their master's degree]( This year, Haverhill Public Schools partnered with Merrimack College to offer district paraeducators entrance into a free, two-year special education master's degree program. [Read more.]( Anything Else? - After 40 years, ImprovBoston is [shutting down for good]( at the end of the year. WBUR's Amelia Mason reports the Cambridge-based comedy theater came to the decision after struggling with a lack of funding, small audiences and limited commercial venue space. - Rich Hinman has a busy career playing guitar and pedal steel as a sideman for Josh Ritter, Rosanne Cash and Sara Bareilles. Now, the Salem multi-instrumentalist [has his own new album out]( — and he plays the Lizard Lounge this Friday with his new Boston-based trio. - The Rhode Island-based toymaker Hasbro is [cutting 20% of its workforce due to an industry-wide slowdown in toy sales]( (yes, even amid the holiday season) after the pandemic lockdown surge. - The Massachusetts Historical Society has launched a new podcast to give listeners a behind-the-scenes tour of all of their documents and artifacts. [Click here]( to read or hear about the most notable — and also weirdest — treasures in the collection.  What We're Reading 📚 - Somerville learns to love the triple-decker, again ([The Boston Globe]( - Reporting on Long Covid Taught Me to Be a Better Journalist ([The New York Times]( - This Is What Happens to All the Stuff You Don’t Want ([The Atlantic](  Tell Me Something Good ["It was a miracle": WWII bracelet lost at Army-Navy game found in Gillette Stadium parking lot (WBZ)]( When Meredith McCarthy lost her grandfather's bracelet at the Army-Navy game, she thought it was gone forever. [Read more.]( ["It was a miracle": WWII bracelet lost at Army-Navy game found in Gillette Stadium parking lot (WBZ)]( When Meredith McCarthy lost her grandfather's bracelet at the Army-Navy game, she thought it was gone forever. [Read more.]( Listen: The Common has [WBUR's Anthony Brook on to share more stories from his "Third Act" series]( — and what we can all take away from watching others age with purpose, regardless of our own age Play: [WBUR's daily mini crossword.]( Can you keep your streak going? Before you go: Pour one out for [the Harvard Crimson reporters' sleep schedules](. 😎 Forward to a friend. They can sign up [here](. 🔎 Explore [WBUR's Field Guide]( stories, events and more. 📣 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.