A Sumner silver lining?

Also: Democrats continue to fret over Biden; a Scott Brown comeback? [Donate ❤️]( [View in Browser](  July 3, 2024 ☀️ Mostly sunny, with a high near 86. Good Morning Boston, Happy Third of July! We have another beautiful, dry day for [the nearly 20 Massachusetts communities holding fireworks tonight](. And while your Fourth plans may have to contend with a chance of afternoon thunderstorms, meteorologist Danielle Noyes says the skies should clear for the big Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular tomorrow night. Check out [Noyes' full holiday forecast here](. Now, to the news: - We're less than 48 hours away from [round two of the Sumner Tunnel closure](. The monthlong shutdown — running this Friday until the morning of Aug. 5 — is the[shorter sequel]( to last summer's two-month shutdown of [the Boston Harbor tunnel](. And as anyone who lives in East Boston or got stuck coming back from Logan Airport last year knows, the 24/7 closure wasn't an especially fun time (unless you're a ferry commuter; we know,[your lives are great]( However, it turns out there could be a silver lining: - A boost for biz: Shirley Fabbo, the president of East Boston's Chambers of Commerce, says some local businesses saw an "influx in clientele" during last year's tunnel closure. Whether it was detoured airport travelers or local residents just deciding to stay put, Fabbo said the closure meant they were "more apt" to visit a restaurant, store, salon or car shop in East Boston. "People do tend to kind of get fish-bowled here, and so there is a windfall of sorts with that," Fabbo told WBUR's Josie Guarino. - Still, the closure can be disruptive, especially for residents and small businesses that aren't prepared, Fabbo said. (Not you, though! You'll be ready when you [read our full, updated guide to getting around the tunnel closure here]( - Spending time in Eastie this summer? Check out [our neighborhood guide]( to learn the lay of the land, as well as East Boston residents' favorite attractions, cafes and [restaurants](. - ICYMI: Scott Brown is mulling a political comeback. During an interview yesterday on Radio Boston, the former Massachusetts senator-turned-New Hampshire resident said he believes he has "one more run." Following last week's debate, the Republican said the state of national politics is motivating him to give it another go. "I'm sad and I'm mad and I'm angry, and I'm thinking about whether there's another run sooner rather than later," he said. - It's been 10 years since Brown's last bid for elected office. In 2014, he [lost a Senate race in New Hampshire]( two years after Sen. Elizabeth Warren ousted him from his Massachusetts seat. Brown said his next run is "not gonna be 2024," but otherwise didn't give a timeline or say what race (or state) he might run in. - [Listen to the full interview]( which ranged from Brown's views on President Biden and Donald Trump to his rock band. - A popular syringe collection program in Boston has come to an end. According to the Boston Public Health Commission, money for the Community Syringe Redemption Program — which[offered up to $10 for needles turned in off the street]( — ran out last month. The program was launched in 2020 with federal pandemic recovery funds. Since then, organizers estimate the program collected about 5 million syringes. - Boston officials say they'll continue to operate clean-up programs that employ people with substance use disorders. City teams will also still sweep parks and streets for needles. - Moving forward: It looks like there'll be at least one Uber/Lyft-related question on the Massachusetts ballot this fall. The campaign to let rideshare drivers unionize [submitted the last round of signatures necessary]( for a November ballot question yesterday. - The move comes less than a week after Massachusetts [settled a lawsuit with Uber and Lyft over driver pay and other benefits](. Attorney General Andrea Campbell — who is supporting the unionization ballot effort — says that settlement provided a floor that should be built upon. Campbell said in a statement that a union would allow workers to bargain for even greater pay and benefits. - Next up for mRNA: A bird flu vaccine? The federal government [announced it will pay Cambridge-based Moderna $176 million]( to develop a vaccine to treat bird flu, using the same mRNA technology that allowed for the rapid development and rollout of COVID vaccines. P.S.— What delectable local bites are essential when you're planning a picnic in the park, at the lake or by the beach? A special brie from Formaggio Kitchen? A fresh loaf from Clear Flour? Reply to this email and share your favorite snacks, sandwiches, pastries, cheeses and more to pack for a picnic, and we might include your recommendation in a future newsletter. Nik DeCosta-Klipa Editor, Newsletters (Editor's note: WBUR Today will be off for the holiday, but we'll be back in your inbox Friday with a special-edition weekend newsletter. Have a safe and happy Fourth!)  The Rundown [Rep. Doggett calls on Biden to withdraw. He's the first Democrat in Congress to do so]( Biden plans to meet Wednesday with Democratic governors, as well as congressional leaders. The meeting comes after Democratic governors — including Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey — held their own call this week about Biden's poor debate performance. [Read more.]( [Rep. Doggett calls on Biden to withdraw. He's the first Democrat in Congress to do so]( Biden plans to meet Wednesday with Democratic governors, as well as congressional leaders. The meeting comes after Democratic governors — including Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey — held their own call this week about Biden's poor debate performance. [Read more.]( [Anxiety is high as Mass. Steward hospitals await auctions]( Steward wants to sell its hospitals at auction this summer. But the sales process is off to a rocky start, raising anxiety for people who rely on Steward hospitals for medical care and jobs. [Read more.]( [Anxiety is high as Mass. Steward hospitals await auctions]( Steward wants to sell its hospitals at auction this summer. But the sales process is off to a rocky start, raising anxiety for people who rely on Steward hospitals for medical care and jobs. [Read more.]( [New water quality technology makes its debut in Buzzards Bay]( The Buzzards Bay Coalition is experimenting with a new system, where technology is used to continuously test the water rather than volunteers testing every five days. It means fewer data gaps and less human error, but it also means volunteers are a smaller part of the process. [Read more.]( [New water quality technology makes its debut in Buzzards Bay]( The Buzzards Bay Coalition is experimenting with a new system, where technology is used to continuously test the water rather than volunteers testing every five days. It means fewer data gaps and less human error, but it also means volunteers are a smaller part of the process. [Read more.]( [Former President Trump's criminal sentencing in New York is delayed]( The delay is a win for Trump, who is expected to be named the official GOP nominee for the 2024 presidential election later this month. [Read more.]( [Former President Trump's criminal sentencing in New York is delayed]( The delay is a win for Trump, who is expected to be named the official GOP nominee for the 2024 presidential election later this month. [Read more.]( [House committee sends inquiry to Harvard over China conference protest]( A letter from the U.S. House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party sent Monday to Harvard's interim president Alan Garber requests responses to questions about security at the event to background on its organizer, a student group called Greater China Society. [Read more.]( [House committee sends inquiry to Harvard over China conference protest]( A letter from the U.S. House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party sent Monday to Harvard's interim president Alan Garber requests responses to questions about security at the event to background on its organizer, a student group called Greater China Society. [Read more.]( Anything Else? - It's not just Fourth of July fireworks, but we have those details, too, if you're headed to the Esplanade tomorrow. [Check out our arts teams' long weekend events roundup]( including a fashionable First Friday at the ICA and Salvador Dalí at the MFA. - Need a good listen for your holiday weekend drive? WBUR's managing editor Elisabeth Harrison has some [health-related podcast recommendations]( with topics ranging medical mysteries to mental health. - Boston's Franklin Park is home to a number of community spaces, but Christina Ganim [writes in this commentary]( that her favorite part about the 500-acre park is that it "gives me the ability to get lost." What We're Reading 📚 - The senior struggle to age in community ([CommonWealth Beacon]( - A Fancy Card Is Becoming the Only Way to Get a Restaurant Reservation ([The Atlantic]( - RFK Jr.’s Family Doesn’t Want Him to Run. Even They May Not Know His Darkest Secrets. ([Vanity Fair](  Tell Me Something Good [West Newton Cinema has officially been saved]( The West Newton Cinema Foundation drummed up $5.6 million to purchase the movie theater ahead of the Aug. 10 deadline set by the developer that purchased the property. [Read more.]( [West Newton Cinema has officially been saved]( The West Newton Cinema Foundation drummed up $5.6 million to purchase the movie theater ahead of the Aug. 10 deadline set by the developer that purchased the property. [Read more.]( Listen: The Common [talks to WBUR's Deborah Becker about the story of Ken Feldstein]( an addiction councilor who said he "landed on love" in supporting his own son, Brendan, through his recovery. Play: [WBUR's daily mini crossword.]( Can you keep your streak going? Before you go: [This Reddit post of people's "most ridiculous" MBTA experience]( will keep you busy the entire holiday weekend. 😎 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? 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.