A long-awaited apology

Also: America's last lighthouse keeper to retire from Boston Light; Colorado court bans Trump from ballot [Donate ❤️]( [View in Browser](  December 20, 2023 ☀️ Sunny, with a high near 43. Good Morning Boston, While you admire [Minnesota's brand-new state flag]( and imagine what Massachusetts' own could be if only someone would resuscitate [our seal redesign effort]( (cough, cough... [cod flag]( here's what to know today: - Epilogue: Less than 48 hours after a [multi-platform investigation]( on the infamous Carol Stuart killing wrapped up, Boston is officially saying sorry to the two Black men wrongfully arrested during the fallout. Mayor Michelle Wu is expected to host a press conference this morning to issue a formal apology on behalf of the city to Alan Swanson and Willie Bennett for their arrests more than three decades ago. - The 1989 saga — in which Charles Stuart orchestrated the shooting of his pregnant wife in Mission Hill and then told police the culprit was a Black man — led to [widespread harassment of local Black men by police]( and is considered one of the most [notorious examples of racism]( in Boston's recent history. While then-Mayor Ray Flynn [offered the Bennett family a private apology]( the city never gave a public apology. "Acknowledging this painful moment and apologizing for the City’s wrongdoing is an effort to aid in the healing of those still living with this trauma and our City as a whole," Wu's office said last night. - Watch: The press conference will be live-streamed at 10 a.m. on the [city's website](. According to Wu's office, Swanson is expected to attend, along with family of Bennett. (Bennett himself [has mostly stayed out the spotlight]( in recent years.) - Go deeper: HBO and The Boston Globe teamed up on [the three-part documentary](. But there's also a new [podcast]( and [print investigation series]( on the Stuart case and its scarring aftermath that's worth diving into. The Globe also [published five takeaways]( (paywall) from the new investigation into the case, which includes how police ignored several tips that Charles was the killer and highlights new evidence that his brother Matthew may have played a larger role in the shooting. - In the dark: There are still [over 20,000 customers without power]( in Massachusetts following [Monday's storm]( as the state's two main utilities make progress fixing wind-damaged lines. Eversource is aiming for "substantial restoration" tonight (that means at least 99% of customers in all communities have power), while National Grid estimates all of their customers will get power back by Thursday night. - Zoom in: National Grid spokesperson Michael Dalo said most tree limbs and downed lines are now cleared, making it easier for crews to restore power. "With the weather holding up and being friendly to us, we've been able to really attack the outages today," Dalo said Tuesday. That includes replacing [over 350 poles](. - No confidence in Newton: Teachers in Newton have casted a vote of no confidence in the city's mayor and school committee, as new contract negotiations drag on. According to the Newton Teachers Association, little progress has been made during the past 14 months. - Newton teachers have pushed for larger annual cost-of-living raises to keep up with rising costs, along with [several other changes](. And while Newton Mayor Ruthanne Fuller [has proposed a 3.5% boost]( to the school district's budget, the union says [the school committee's latest proposal]( demands they drop their other proposed changes in exchange for the increased raises. - Revolution evolution: The New England Revolution have a new coach. The team [announced yesterday]( that Caleb Porter will take the reins in 2024, after former head coach Bruce Arena [quit this summer amid allegations]( made "insensitive and inappropriate remarks.” - While Arena is perhaps the most accomplished coach in American soccer, Porter has some on-field accolades of his own: The 48-year-old is one of only six coaches to win multiple MLS championships — and one of three to do so with multiple teams (the Portland Timbers in 2015 and Columbus Crew in 2020). Here's hoping he can add a third to the list. - In the Ocean State: Providence commuters have a new option to get around the partial I-195 bridge closure. Beginning today, Rhode Island is launching a free walk-on ferry between Bristol and Providence. The service is set to run every 30 minutes from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m., seven days a week through March 29. [Click here]( for more details on parking and connecting shuttles. P.S.— All we want for the holiday season is for you to[take our end-of-year survey](. It will take you 60 seconds or less, but helps us get to know you so much better and improve this newsletter. Thanks! Nik DeCosta-Klipa Editor, Newsletters [Follow](  Support the news  The Rundown [Colorado Supreme Court bans Trump from the state’s ballot under Constitution’s insurrection clause]( The decision from a court whose justices were all appointed by Democratic governors marks the first time in history that Section 3 of the 14th Amendment has been used to disqualify a presidential candidate. [Read more.]( [Colorado Supreme Court bans Trump from the state’s ballot under Constitution’s insurrection clause]( The decision from a court whose justices were all appointed by Democratic governors marks the first time in history that Section 3 of the 14th Amendment has been used to disqualify a presidential candidate. [Read more.]( [Gov. Healey suggests tapping surplus funds for state's overburdened shelter system]( The system's projected cost is $915 million in fiscal 2025, according to a report filed Monday night with the Legislature. [Read more.]( [Gov. Healey suggests tapping surplus funds for state's overburdened shelter system]( The system's projected cost is $915 million in fiscal 2025, according to a report filed Monday night with the Legislature. [Read more.]( [Mayor Wu says fuss over mis-sent holiday invites was fueled by 'political motive']( The mayor told Radio Boston, 'This is the first time that the mayor is able to host as a member of this group because prior to me, all the elected mayors were not members of this group.' [Read more.]( [Mayor Wu says fuss over mis-sent holiday invites was fueled by 'political motive']( The mayor told Radio Boston, 'This is the first time that the mayor is able to host as a member of this group because prior to me, all the elected mayors were not members of this group.' [Read more.]( ['Climate change is real': Vermont hit by second flood event in five months]( Vermont escaped significant damage from flooding this week. But the heavy rain and snowmelt on Monday served as yet another reminder — in a state still trying to recover from July’s historic flooding — that climate change is here. [Read more.]( ['Climate change is real': Vermont hit by second flood event in five months]( Vermont escaped significant damage from flooding this week. But the heavy rain and snowmelt on Monday served as yet another reminder — in a state still trying to recover from July’s historic flooding — that climate change is here. [Read more.]( [U.S. Attorney seeks charges against 28 accused of patronizing brothel ring in Mass.]( Prosecutors are seeking criminal complaints against 28 people who allegedly purchased sex in a high-end brothel ring they say operated out of Watertown, Cambridge, and Virginia, according to Acting U.S. Attorney Joshua S. Levy. [Read more.]( [U.S. Attorney seeks charges against 28 accused of patronizing brothel ring in Mass.]( Prosecutors are seeking criminal complaints against 28 people who allegedly purchased sex in a high-end brothel ring they say operated out of Watertown, Cambridge, and Virginia, according to Acting U.S. Attorney Joshua S. Levy. [Read more.]( Anything Else? - The last lighthouse keeper in the U.S. tends to Boston Light out of the outer rim of Boston Harbor. But after 27 years, she plans to retire this month. [Read the highlights]( from her interview with WBUR's Morning Edition and learn about what's next for Boston Light. - "Barbie" and "Oppenheimer" headlined the comeback of movies in 2023, but they weren't the only ones that made a trip to the theater worth it. Film critics Erin Trahan and Sean Burns [share their favorite films of this year](. - 'Tis the season for Josh Groban appearances on radio stations and holiday playlists, but Somerville writer Thuy Phan has been a year-round fan since she was 12. [As she writes in this Cognoscenti essay]( Groban's insistence on being versatile, playful and unrestricted by genre gave her an example of how to grow as a person herself.  What We're Reading 📚 - The Newest Union Members Are Undergrads ([The New York Times]( - Wicked unfair: They booked a cruise to the Bahamas. Then they learned they were going to Boston instead. ([The Boston Globe]( - Canada is promoting child care for $10 a day ([Vox](  Year In Review [The photos that helped us tell the stories of 2023]( Here's a look back at the photographs that best helped us tell the stories of 2023. [Read more.]( [The photos that helped us tell the stories of 2023]( Here's a look back at the photographs that best helped us tell the stories of 2023. [Read more.]( Listen: The Common [breaks down Boston's new housing production goals, and what they could mean]( for the city's housing shortage. Play: [WBUR's daily mini crossword.]( Can you keep your streak going? Before you go: What unique thing does Massachusetts and Indiana have in common? [Peppermint Christmas cookies]( apparently. 😎 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.