Weathering (another) storm

Also: Recapping Wu's State of the City address; new food hall to open in Boston [Donate ❤️]( [View in Browser](  January 10, 2024 🌧️ Today is rainy and windy, with a high of 54. Good Morning Boston,  "Hey Alexa. Play ['Stormy Weather']( by Etta James." It only feels right this morning. To the news: - Last night's rainy and windy conditions are still here this morning for much of the Boston area. And according to meteorologist Danielle Noyes, we're not through the storm just yet. She expects localized flooding and tough travel conditions to continue into the mid-morning. - Before you head out: Buses will replace MBTA Red Line service between Braintree and Quincy Center T stations due to flooding. There are also major delays on the Green Line's D Branch, on top of all the [ongoing track work closures this month](. Plan accordingly! - Power down: 6,700 power outages were reported during yesterday's storm, and as of 7:30 a.m., about [4,600 customers]( were still without power. - Up in the air: Logan Airport has canceled 43 flights and we're seeing plenty of delays, too. Check if your trip has been affected [here.]( - In other weather news: 2023 tied 2012 as the hottest year on record in Massachusetts, according to new data released yesterday by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association. Other states across New England, like Connecticut, Maine, Vermont and New Hampshire also recorded some of their warmest years in history, [WBUR's Barbara Moran reports.]( - But what about [El Niño]( Yes, precipitation throughout the month of December resembled what would be expected during an El Niño winter — but even with that weather pattern, Concord, New Hampshire, and Worcester recorded 2023 as [its hottest year ever](. It was Boston's third hottest year on record, with the average temperature about two degrees higher than normal. - "We really saw consistent warmth most months, with most places being above normal throughout the entire year," Art DeGaetano, director of the NOAA's Northeast Regional Climate Center, told Vermont Public. "Compared to the long-term 20th century average, we have not seen a below-normal year since 1997. That is a long time." You can see the 2023 report from the Northeast Regional Climate Center [here.]( - Zoom out: Americans also dealt with a total of 28 separate billion-dollar climate disasters this year, two of which were in the northeast region. That's a part of a larger climate trend. [Learn more about the cost of extreme weather in this piece from Barbara.]( - For the second time in her first term, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu [delivered her "state of the city" address](. Her verdict? The state of the city is strong! - Wu's speech touched on accomplishments during her first year in office but focused heavily on housing and schools, touting new college-high school partnerships and efforts to expand the number of housing units available. - The mayor also announced an update on last year's promise to make Boston greener. "Last year, I promised to ban fossil fuels in new city buildings. And we did," said Wu. "Already, two new community centers and two libraries in progress will be fossil fuel free." She also announced the city will launch its first [network geothermal system.]( - During the speech, Wu was briefly interrupted by pro-Palestinian protesters, who unfurled a banner and dropped leaflets before being shown the door by police. You can read Wu's full prepared remarks [here](. - An effort to subvert the banned books battle: This afternoon, state lawmakers will hear testimony on a bill that supporters hope will protect schools and libraries from politically motivated book bans. The proposed bill would create standards for schools to respond to each request, and materials would only be removed from curriculums after a public hearing. - Carol Rose, head of the American Civil Liberties Union Massachusetts, which supports the effort, said this legislation would also protect librarians so they can do their jobs without fear of retaliation. "It's really important that the Commonwealth give guidance to our educators and especially to our librarians so that they know what to do when these situations arise," Rose told WBUR. "And in the meantime, the students rights to learn are protected." - Hungry for new dining options? Well, you're in luck: Boston is getting a new gourmet food hall. [The Boston Globe reports]( the latest addition to the city's fancy food court scene is "The Lineup," the brainchild of Michelin-starred chef John Fraser. Located in the Financial District, it will offer up fast-casual options like pizza, burgers, Greek fare and Mexican-inspired vegetarian cuisine. (Nachos baked into a pizza box, anyone?!) The Lineup opens next week on Wednesday, Jan. 17. P.S. — Would you pay $50 for a lottery ticket if it meant a chance to win $1 million a year for the rest of your life? The Massachusetts State Lottery hopes you'll be [willing to take the gamble.]( Hanna Ali Associate Producer, Newsletters  Support the news  The Rundown [State education secretary takes to airwaves with a message: make school attendance ‘a priority’]( Patrick Tutwiler’s public service announcement is one part of a multilingual campaign, including billboards and ads on radio and public transit, to urge the community to embrace regular school attendance four years after the COVID-19 pandemic. [Read more.]( [State education secretary takes to airwaves with a message: make school attendance ‘a priority’]( Patrick Tutwiler’s public service announcement is one part of a multilingual campaign, including billboards and ads on radio and public transit, to urge the community to embrace regular school attendance four years after the COVID-19 pandemic. [Read more.]( [Supporters of Everett soccer stadium renew push on Beacon Hill]( State Sen. Sal DiDomenico filed a bill Tuesday that would re-designate a 43-acre industrial site along the Mystic River to allow for stadium construction. [Read more.]( [Supporters of Everett soccer stadium renew push on Beacon Hill]( State Sen. Sal DiDomenico filed a bill Tuesday that would re-designate a 43-acre industrial site along the Mystic River to allow for stadium construction. [Read more.]( [After Lynn teens' deaths, how community groups aim to address youth grief, fears]( A spate of violence, including the shooting deaths of two high schoolers, has reanimated conversations about youth and gun violence in the city, spurring various anti-gang groups, school officials and authorities to take new actions to support grieving or at-risk teens. [Read more.]( [After Lynn teens' deaths, how community groups aim to address youth grief, fears]( A spate of violence, including the shooting deaths of two high schoolers, has reanimated conversations about youth and gun violence in the city, spurring various anti-gang groups, school officials and authorities to take new actions to support grieving or at-risk teens. [Read more.]( [Boston is using public buildings — like libraries — to build affordable housing. It's still pricey]( As the city looks to build affordable housing over public libraries, the price tag can be surprisingly high. Especially when it's close to downtown. [Read more.]( [Boston is using public buildings — like libraries — to build affordable housing. It's still pricey]( As the city looks to build affordable housing over public libraries, the price tag can be surprisingly high. Especially when it's close to downtown. [Read more.]( [Mass. municipalities struggle to respond to increasing extreme weather emergencies]( Many of the disasters that have hit the Bay State in the past decade, like major flooding, cause more potent effects than local officials can handle on their own but fall short of the scale required to earn a federal disaster declaration, according to the head of the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency. [Read more.]( [Mass. municipalities struggle to respond to increasing extreme weather emergencies]( Many of the disasters that have hit the Bay State in the past decade, like major flooding, cause more potent effects than local officials can handle on their own but fall short of the scale required to earn a federal disaster declaration, according to the head of the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency. [Read more.]( Anything Else? - The [Boston Calling music festival lineup]( has been announced. Headlining this year: Pop star Ed Sheeran, neo-soul crooner Leon Bridges, genre-bending folk singer Hozier and rock band The Killers, to name a few. [You can check out the full lineup here.]( - The city of New Bedford has put out an open call for artists to help memorialize one of Massachusetts' most famous authors: Herman Melville. New Bedford already has a statue of the titular white whale from Melville's "Moby Dick," but a statue of Melville himself is "long overdue," said Mayor Jonathan Mitchell. Need an incentive? [A $2,500 stipend will be awarded to each finalist.]( - Our winter guide to new music has landed, and it largely reflects a landscape of social unrest, says music writer Charley Ruddell. [Get his full list of albums]( to listen to this winter, from provocative jazz to country and jilted, electro R&B. - What's the driving force behind the Stanley cup tumbler craze? Durability, cute colors and TikTok marketing all factor into the the Stanley's transformation from a simple cup to [a status symbol.](  What We're Reading 📚 - Here are the highest earners on the Massachusetts state payroll for 2023 ([The Boston Globe]( - Gabriel Attal is France's youngest-ever and first openly gay prime minister ([PBS NewsHour]( - Time Traveling Through History’s Weirdest Entertaining Advice ([Eater](  Tell Me Something Good [A group of Peloton enthusiasts leaves $7K tip for servers at North Shore restaurant (WCVB)]( The group, called the Wicked Smaht Zone, continued its tradition of leaving thousands in tips for Massachusetts servers. [Read more.]( [A group of Peloton enthusiasts leaves $7K tip for servers at North Shore restaurant (WCVB)]( The group, called the Wicked Smaht Zone, continued its tradition of leaving thousands in tips for Massachusetts servers. [Read more.]( Listen: The Common visits [Boston's first non-alcoholic bottle shop.]( Play: [WBUR's daily mini crossword.]( Can you keep your streak going? Before you go: [So, I guess you aren't an Ed Sheeran fan.]( Berto Scalese helped produce this morning's newsletter. 😎 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.