Biotech's biggest problem

Also: The cleanest beaches around Boston; dog bar coming to Fenway [Donate ❤️]( [View in Browser](  June 11, 2024 🌤️ Partly sunny, with a high near 74 and a chance of spot showers. Good Morning Boston, It's the first-ever "International Day of Play," thanks to the [soon-to-be-Boston-based]( LEGO company. Head to City Hall Plaza for [family-friendly activities from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.]( But first, the news: - Work-life (science) balance: While [recent layoffs]( have grabbed the headlines, the biggest future problem facing the Boston area's strong biotech sector isn't a lack of jobs. In fact, a new report says just the opposite. According to the Massachusetts Biotechnology Education Foundation's [annual report]( the sector is facing a worker shortage — and needs to do more to recruit graduates from local colleges. - By the numbers: There will be an average of more than 5,700 life sciences job openings a year through the next decade, according to the report. However, local colleges and universities are projected to fill about only 3,500 — or 61% — of those positions. - Why? It's primarily an issue of awareness among college students, MassBioEd CEO Sunny Schwartz told WBUR's Dan Guzman. "One in five graduates who are majoring in biology, chemistry or other biosciences are landing a job in the life sciences," Schwartz said. "We're losing 80% of our graduates to other industries." - What are they doing about it? MassBioEd is working to connect students to the industry with everything from campus conversations to internships. "Some of them may be thinking that the only option is med school," Schwartz said. MassBioEd has also launched an apprenticeship program and is working with public colleges to diversify the workforce. - What's next: Since 2021, life sciences jobs in Massachusetts have increased about 11.6%, nearly double the national rate. While the growth rate slowed to 2.5% last year, MassBioEd projects the sector to grow 32% by 2033 — an increase of 38,000 net new jobs. - Inside City Hall: Boston Mayor Michelle Wu is ([again]( clashing with city councilors over money for police and firefighters. Wu rejected the cuts the Council made to her proposed police and fire department budgets. In a letter to the Council yesterday, Wu wrote Boston's "[record-low]( levels of violence are tied to well-resourced public safety efforts," along with well-kept parks and other city programs. - Zoom in: The City Council, which passed the tweaked version of Wu's budget proposal by a 10-3 vote, could override the mayor with a two-thirds majority. Councilor Brian Worrell told WBUR their budget would still include nominal increases to the police and fire budgets (just not as much as Wu originally proposed). - Meanwhile: City Council President Ruthzee Louijeune [announced]( she will file a home rule petition Wednesday to implement ranked choice voting in Boston elections. While Massachusetts voters [rejected the voting system at the state level in 2020]( ranked choice is already in place locally in Cambridge and Easthampton. (Still, the Legislature [hasn't always looked kindly]( on ranked choice home rule petitions.) - Woof! [New England's first dog bar]( is opening a second location. Everett's Park-9 Dog Bar will have a summer pop-up in Boston's Fenway neighborhood, located by the Star Market at the intersection of Park Drive, Boylston Street and Brookline Avenue. "Park-9 at The Station" will include a 4,000-square-foot off-leash dog park. - The menu: For the humans, the pop-up will offer beer, wine and other drinks, as well as a Mexican food truck. For the doggos, there'll be a selection of treats, pup cups and Tailwagger Dog Beer (yes, there's [craft beer for dogs now](. - Two-for-one deal: Moderna says its combined COVID-flu vaccine is a step closer to becoming available, after meeting its goals in a late-stage human trial. [According to the Cambridge-based company]( the trial showed people that got the vaccine had higher immunity rates than those who got separate flu and COVID vaccines. (There's still no timeline for when exactly it will be available.) - A new kind of food drive: Catholic Charities of Boston is teaming up with Instacart on a new anti-hunger initiative this summer. Instacart will publish an online list of items Catholic Charities needs most, and allow people to give and get those items delivered directly to the food bank (with no service or delivery fees). - Browse: [Check out the donation options here](. Instacart also has [similar partnerships]( with over 100 other food banks, including in New Hampshire and Vermont. P.S.— Mark your calendars for 2025. The first-ever [WBUR Festival]( is coming to Comm. Ave. next May. Join us for a convergence of fascinating people grappling with the most consequential issues of our time. There'll be big speakers, captivating conversations, musical performances, multiple stages, tasty food and a lively street scene. It will be serious stuff, and wicked fun. Sign up for speaker alerts and get answers to all your FAQs at [wburfestival.org](. Nik DeCosta-Klipa Editor, Newsletters  The Rundown [The cleanest beaches around Boston Harbor? They're in Southie]( The cleanest public beaches around Boston Harbor are Pleasure Bay and City Point in South Boston. That’s according to an annual report card from Save the Harbor/Save the Bay. Revere Beach and Nantasket beach in Hull also got high marks. [Read more.]( [The cleanest beaches around Boston Harbor? They're in Southie]( The cleanest public beaches around Boston Harbor are Pleasure Bay and City Point in South Boston. That’s according to an annual report card from Save the Harbor/Save the Bay. Revere Beach and Nantasket beach in Hull also got high marks. [Read more.]( [State launches awareness campaign targeting 'misrepresentation' from crisis pregnancy centers]( DPH said many of the centers "advertise themselves as full-service reproductive health care clinics, yet they do not provide abortion care or abortion referrals, contraception, or other important reproductive health care services." [Read more.]( [State launches awareness campaign targeting 'misrepresentation' from crisis pregnancy centers]( DPH said many of the centers "advertise themselves as full-service reproductive health care clinics, yet they do not provide abortion care or abortion referrals, contraception, or other important reproductive health care services." [Read more.]( [The U.N. Security Council endorses U.S. cease-fire plan to end the war in Gaza]( The council voted 14-0 to support President Biden’s step-by-step plan for a cease-fire, an exchange of hostages and prisoners and an end to the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. [Read more.]( [The U.N. Security Council endorses U.S. cease-fire plan to end the war in Gaza]( The council voted 14-0 to support President Biden’s step-by-step plan for a cease-fire, an exchange of hostages and prisoners and an end to the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. [Read more.]( [Mass. aims to reserve 10% of forest land as part of climate plan]( The Healey administration unveiled a plan to have a portion of forested land held aside as reserves as part of an initiative to protect and manage forest lands. The process that will involve new state land acquisitions. [Read more.]( [Mass. aims to reserve 10% of forest land as part of climate plan]( The Healey administration unveiled a plan to have a portion of forested land held aside as reserves as part of an initiative to protect and manage forest lands. The process that will involve new state land acquisitions. [Read more.]( [AG reaches $4 million settlement with nursing home operator]( Reports of substandard care or regulatory violations at Next Step, which were based on complaints and referrals from the Department of Public Health, led to a years-long investigation and agreement by Next Step to budget for staffing at state-mandated levels. [Read more.]( [AG reaches $4 million settlement with nursing home operator]( Reports of substandard care or regulatory violations at Next Step, which were based on complaints and referrals from the Department of Public Health, led to a years-long investigation and agreement by Next Step to budget for staffing at state-mandated levels. [Read more.]( Anything Else? - From Woods Hole to Roxbury, WBUR film critic Erin Trahan's [regional film festival roundup]( offers seven ways to unite around indie film this summer. (On a related note, [check out NPR's summer movie preview]( for a list of 19 flicks coming to a big screen near you.) - A surge in the dollar has benefited many Americans and reinforced the country’s economic strength. But is it good for everybody? [Here's a look at who the strong dollar helps and hurts]( — and if it can last. - A year after losing Easthampton's superintendent job over an email that made national news, Vito Perrone has been offered [the same position at a nearby western Massachusetts school district](. - Theater critic Terry Byrne thinks Pascale Florestal has moved to the front row of the Boston area’s best directors with her outstanding direction of “Next to Normal" at the Central Square Theater. [As Byrne writes in her review]( every element of her production is superb – from the stunningly talented ensemble to the thoughtful costume choices. What We're Reading 📚 - The Mavericks Might Not Have a Counter for These Celtics ([The Ringer]( - A rural Mass. town paid $338,000 for a construction project. Then officials realized they’d been scammed. ([The Boston Globe)]( - Have an old or forgotten credit card bill? You might end up carless. ([GBH News](  Tell Me Something Good [Worcester man stopped by TSA for carry-on full of SPAM, video goes viral (CBS News)]( A Worcester man and his love for SPAM went viral when he tried to bring a case of it through TSA. [Read more.]( [Worcester man stopped by TSA for carry-on full of SPAM, video goes viral (CBS News)]( A Worcester man and his love for SPAM went viral when he tried to bring a case of it through TSA. [Read more.]( Listen: The Common has [tough words for gas stove owners.]( Play: [WBUR's daily mini crossword.]( Can you keep your streak going? Before you go: How does Jack Schlossberg prepare to [present the JFK Profiles in Courage award]( With [a ripstik and a poem](. 😎 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.](    Want to change how you receive these emails? 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