Overflow shelters through one family's eyes

Also: Newton gets back to normal; how Steward went from savior to near-failure [Donate ❤️]( [View in Browser](  February 5, 2024 🌤️ A little cloudy and windy, with a high of 41. Good Morning Boston, It’s [Truck Day]( for the Red Sox — and [shuttle bus week]( for anyone who rides the Red Line north of the river. The T has [more details on the diversion here](. (The free commuter rail between Porter Square and North Station feels like a good hack if you're headed downtown — or to [the men's Beanpot semifinals tonight]( Now, to the news: - Newton gets back to normal: For the first time in over two weeks, Newton students and educators are headed back to school this morning, after a deal was reached late Friday to end the city's contentious 11-day teachers strike. WBUR's Carrie Jung [reports]( the teachers union's new four-year contract includes pay raises, longer parental leave and an agreement to staff every one of Newton's 22 schools with a social worker. - What to expect today: Newton schools will start one hour later than normal today so principals and teachers have time to meet before class starts. Buses will run as usual, just an hour later than their normal stop times. Newton Superintendent Anna Nolin says she expects support staff and teachers to briefly take student questions about the work stoppage at the start of the day, and then turn their focus to learning. - What they're saying: Both sides acknowledged the strike has been painful for the community. "We are thrilled to be going back into our classrooms — that's what we've wanted this whole time — but we realize that for some there will still be big feelings about it," teacher and union leader Ashley Raven told WBUR's Eliana Marcu. Meanwhile, the Newton School Committee called for "patience and leadership from all of the adults in the NPS community" in a statement Saturday: "It is up to us to show our kids how a strong community responds to challenges." - Massachusetts leaders are calling for more robust research and data on veterans deaths, in the wake of a new report last week showing one in nine of all people who died by suicide in the state were current or former military personnel. The report — released by a new state advisory group on veteran reintegration — found the state's support system has "systematic gaps" that need to be filled, as mental health issues continue to rise, Massachusetts Veterans Services Secretary Jon Santiago told WBUR's Fausto Menard. - Key findings: The report highlighted veterans are twice as likely to commit suicide using a gun. It also found that individuals who experienced PTSD, substance use disorders or military sexual trauma are particularly at risk. But the report did point to a big difference maker for lowering that risk: having peer support and access to mental and physical healthcare. - Now what? Santiago says his department — which was[elevated to cabinet level just 11 months ago]( — plans to invest in existing peer support groups. But there are some areas where they need help from the State House, like creating a centralized veteran database and a suicide fatality review board (which some states have, but Massachusetts does not). "That's going to require some legislation," Santiago said. (If you or someone you know needs help, call or text the[national suicide lifeline at 988]( - Save the date: Foxborough's Gillette Stadium will host seven 2026 men's World Cup matches — including the tournament's first quarterfinals match. That was the big local news out of FIFA’s [unveiling of new schedule details Sunday]( for the 2026 tournament. [Click here for the specific Foxborough game dates](. - Will locals get to watch the U.S. men's national team? Unclear! The USMNT will [play their group stage games in Los Angeles and Seattle]( but there's still a chance they could play here in the knockout round (if they make it). - Go deeper: Massachusetts leaders [said last spring]( they're still working on plans to increase public transportation to Foxborough for the games and replace Gillette's turf field with natural grass. P.S.— In-person tickets for tonight's CitySpace event with chef Eric Ripert may be sold out, but you [can still stream it for $5]( if you want to follow along and get some simple seafood cooking tips at home. Nik DeCosta-Klipa Editor, Newsletters [Follow](  Support the news  The Rundown [Massachusetts overflow shelters, as seen through one family’s eyes]( Since arriving in Massachusetts in mid-December, John's family has been on a harrowing journey. With their young daughter, he and his wife spent 12 nights sleeping on the hard floor at Logan Airport. Now, they're staying at an overflow shelter that's only open at night, and has just two bathrooms for roughly 200 people. [Read more.]( [Massachusetts overflow shelters, as seen through one family’s eyes]( Since arriving in Massachusetts in mid-December, John's family has been on a harrowing journey. With their young daughter, he and his wife spent 12 nights sleeping on the hard floor at Logan Airport. Now, they're staying at an overflow shelter that's only open at night, and has just two bathrooms for roughly 200 people. [Read more.]( [Biden wins South Carolina's Democratic presidential primary]( The state comes first this year as President Biden looks to energize a key part of his base; Black voters account for about 60% of the Democratic Party's electorate in South Carolina. [Read more.]( [Biden wins South Carolina's Democratic presidential primary]( The state comes first this year as President Biden looks to energize a key part of his base; Black voters account for about 60% of the Democratic Party's electorate in South Carolina. [Read more.]( [How Steward Health Care went from hospital savior to the precipice of failure]( The private, for-profit company rescued a struggling Catholic hospital chain with backing from private equity, but just over a decade later, Steward's future in Massachusetts is cloudy. [Read more.]( [How Steward Health Care went from hospital savior to the precipice of failure]( The private, for-profit company rescued a struggling Catholic hospital chain with backing from private equity, but just over a decade later, Steward's future in Massachusetts is cloudy. [Read more.]( [Negotiators release $118 billion border bill as GOP leaders call it dead in the House]( Senate negotiators have reached an agreement on a $118 billion bipartisan bill to address the U.S. border with Mexico. The Senate is expected to hold an initial procedural vote on the bill this week. [Read more.]( [Negotiators release $118 billion border bill as GOP leaders call it dead in the House]( Senate negotiators have reached an agreement on a $118 billion bipartisan bill to address the U.S. border with Mexico. The Senate is expected to hold an initial procedural vote on the bill this week. [Read more.]( [Man extradited from Sweden to face obstruction charges in arson case targeting Jewish organizations]( Federal prosecutors say the brother of a man who was the prime suspect in five arsons affecting Jewish institutions in the Boston area has been extradited from Sweden. Alexander Giannakakis was indicted in 2019 on charges that he obstructed authorities investigating his brother in connection with the fires. [Read more.]( [Man extradited from Sweden to face obstruction charges in arson case targeting Jewish organizations]( Federal prosecutors say the brother of a man who was the prime suspect in five arsons affecting Jewish institutions in the Boston area has been extradited from Sweden. Alexander Giannakakis was indicted in 2019 on charges that he obstructed authorities investigating his brother in connection with the fires. [Read more.]( Anything Else? - Also this week at CitySpace: Pulitzer Prize finalist Daniel Mason will [be here tomorrow]( to talk about his New England-based hit novel, “North Woods.” And on Thursday, we'll have a familiar voice, former All Things Considered co-host Michele Norris, here to discuss [her new project collecting postcards about race and identity in America](. - ICYMI: The folk anthem "Fast Car" has shot to No. 1 on the iTunes Top Songs chart after (former Tufts student) Tracy Chapman made a rare, surprise appearance at the Grammys last night to perform the hit with country singer Luke Combs. [Watch the duet here](. (You can also read [all the takeaways]( and [the full list of 2024 Grammy winners]( - Listen: While he didn't win the award for best new artist, New England native Noah Kahan did [talk to NPR's Weekend Edition]( about his new fame, how being in Vermont during the pandemic shaped his music and bringing his mom to the Grammys. - Actor Barry Keoghan received his 2024 Man of the Year award — and a face full of spaghetti — from Harvard University's Hasty Pudding Theatricals group over the weekend in Cambridge. [Check out all the highlights]( of the ceremony and roast. - Finally, something for Red Sox fans to get excited about: Theo Epstein, the architect of the Sox' curse-breaking 2004 team, is [returning to the organization as a minority owner and part-time senior adviser]( to the team's parent company, Fenway Sports Group.  What We're Reading 📚 - A looming threat to Greater Boston’s biotech dominance, 700 miles away ([The Boston Globe]( - Quackonomics ([The American Prospect]( - The last of Somerville’s old guard ([CommonWealth Beacon](  Tell Me Something Good [Belichick thanks Pats fans: 'Loved coaching here' (ESPN)]( Bill Belichick referenced how much Patriots fans had meant to him when he left as New England coach last month, and he put that sentiment into writing in a full-page advertisement in The Boston Globe. [Read more.]( [Belichick thanks Pats fans: 'Loved coaching here' (ESPN)]( Bill Belichick referenced how much Patriots fans had meant to him when he left as New England coach last month, and he put that sentiment into writing in a full-page advertisement in The Boston Globe. [Read more.]( Listen: The Common gives Boston's archaic liquor license system [a closer look](. Play: [WBUR's daily mini crossword.]( Can you keep your streak going? Before you go: [The Dunkin' groundhog has spoken](. 😎 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.