The T's big fall plans

Also: WBUR's new Morning Edition host; strike threat looms over Boston hotels [❤️ Donate]( [View in Browser](   August 29, 2024  🌤️ Mostly sunny, with a high near 72. Good Morning Boston, There's a [hint of fall]( the air, just in time for arrival of Dunkin's [new seasonal menu](. But one of the items has sparked a question: If Rhode Island can get[ a Dunkin' latte inspired by their official state beverage]( why can't we? [Checks[ Massachusetts' state beverage]( OK, fine, that might be gross. Let's get to the news: - Now arriving: A busy fall the T and another series of disruptions for riders. During his recent Radio Boston appearance, MBTA General Manager Phil Eng said the agency remains on track to meet the big goal he set last fall: [no slow zones by the end of 2024](. And they've made solid progress - reducing the number of slow zones across the MBTA's four subway lines from over 240 to just 67 and [completely eliminating them on the Blue Line](. Still, "there's a tremendous amount of work" left, Eng says. Here's what riders on the Red, Orange and Green lines should expect during this final stretch: - Red Line: - Current slow zones: 39 - Planned shutdowns: The big one starts next Friday. It's a 24-day closure from [Braintree to JFK/UMass]( on Friday, Sept. 6 to Sept. 29. Eng says the closure will remove all of the remaining slow zones on the Braintree branch (plus [lay the groundwork for future 50 mph trains](. Eng says the T is also planning at least one more Red Line diversion in November on the Cambridge side of the river to tackle a slow zone between Kendall/MIT and Central. - No slow zones by... the end of November. - Orange Line:  - Current slow zones: 20 - Planned shutdowns: Orange Line riders should plan on two more partial shutdowns this fall. Eng says the first will be from Forest Hills to Back Bay in October, followed later in the month by another partial closure between Wellington to North Station. - No slow zones by... early November. - Green Line: - Current slow zones: 2 - Planned shutdowns: The T says it has successfully removed all slow zones on the above-ground branches of the Green Line. Last up is addressing what Eng calls a "tough area" near Government Center, where the tracks twist through old downtown tunnels. "We have some challenging speed restrictions there," Eng said at a meeting last week. The exact dates and length of those planned diversion are still TBD, but Eng says it will happen in December. - No slow zones by... the end of December. - Report card day: The Boston School Committee voted last night to officially give BPS superintendent Mary Skipper an overall "effective" rating for her performance the last school year, her second on the job. WBUR's Carrie Jung reports the grade reflects mixed reviews among committee members. Some praised Skipper's work to improve school bus arrival times and student reading instruction, while others criticized her for [lacking a clear facilities plan](. - Why it matters: The rating means Skipper - who commands a base salary of $300,000 a year - will receive a 2.5% raise. - Meanwhile: BPS will have to hire 18 substitute paraprofessionals, after the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court [sided with the Boston Teachers Union in a years-long legal fight](. The ruling comes as the union has made paraprofessional pay increases a top priority in their [current BPS teacher contract negotiations](. - Teeing off: The LPGA Tour's first tournament in New England in 20 years gets underway today. The inaugural FM Championship will be played at the TPC Boston golf club in Norton through Sunday. - A total of 144 players will compete for $3.8 million in prize money, which organizers say is one of the largest prize funds on the LPGA Tour, outside of the majors and tour championship. The field includes two Massachusetts natives: Meghan Khang, of Rockland, and Alex Sano, who grew up in Westborough. - FYI: [Daily tickets]( are still available for $36 to $54. [Click here]( for more details, like parking, if you decide to trek over to Norton. - Next up: JD Vance is scheduled to speak at the International Association of Fire Fighters Convention in the Seaport this afternoon. The Republican vice presidential nominee and Ohio senator's appearance comes just a day after his Democratic counterpart Tim Walz [spoke at the convention, seeking the union's support](. - In the 2020 presidential election, the union backed President Biden, but has yet to make an endorsement this time around. P.S.- We have, as they say, some personnel news. WBUR has chosen its new Morning Edition host! Our own Tiziana Dearing will be taking over the big chair for the early shift starting Sept. 18. Her last day as Radio Boston host will be next Friday, Sept. 6. You can  [read more about the move (and what's next for Radio Boston) here](. Nik DeCosta-Klipa Editor, Newsletters The Rundown [Former Stoughton police officer accused of killing pregnant woman and staging it as a suicide]( Matthew Farwell was indicted Tuesday on charges he strangled Sandra Birchmore in early 2021 after she told him that she was pregnant and that he was the father. [Read more.]( [Former Stoughton police officer accused of killing pregnant woman and staging it as a suicide]( Matthew Farwell was indicted Tuesday on charges he strangled Sandra Birchmore in early 2021 after she told him that she was pregnant and that he was the father. [Read more.]( [Strike threat across 35 hotels in Boston looms over hospitality sector]( Roughly 4,500 workers who are members of UNITE HERE Local 26 are bracing for strikes across 35 hotels after months of rocky contract negotiations with hotel companies. The strikes could start at any time and at any hotel once existing contracts expire on Aug. 31, including with major companies like Marriott, Hilton and Omni Hotels. [Read more.]( [Strike threat across 35 hotels in Boston looms over hospitality sector]( Roughly 4,500 workers who are members of UNITE HERE Local 26 are bracing for strikes across 35 hotels after months of rocky contract negotiations with hotel companies. The strikes could start at any time and at any hotel once existing contracts expire on Aug. 31, including with major companies like Marriott, Hilton and Omni Hotels. [Read more.]( [Community protests Carney and Nashoba hospitals closure this weekend]( Two communities are bracing for the closure this weekend of community hospitals that serve hundreds of thousands of people -- though activists said they're not giving up on getting them to reopen their doors. [Read more.]( [Community protests Carney and Nashoba hospitals closure this weekend]( Two communities are bracing for the closure this weekend of community hospitals that serve hundreds of thousands of people -- though activists said they're not giving up on getting them to reopen their doors. [Read more.]( ['Crisis pregnancy centers' sue Mass. for campaign targeting their anti-abortion practices]( A conservative law firm is suing Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey over an initiative the state launched earlier this summer targeting "crisis pregnancy centers" that Healey calls strictly "anti-abortion." [Read more.]( ['Crisis pregnancy centers' sue Mass. for campaign targeting their anti-abortion practices]( A conservative law firm is suing Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey over an initiative the state launched earlier this summer targeting "crisis pregnancy centers" that Healey calls strictly "anti-abortion." [Read more.]( [Mass. to receive $20 million in family shelter aid]( A surge in demand, from Massachusetts-based families and migrants arriving from other countries, has caused state spending on family shelters to approach $1 billion per year. [Read more.]( [Mass. to receive $20 million in family shelter aid]( A surge in demand, from Massachusetts-based families and migrants arriving from other countries, has caused state spending on family shelters to approach $1 billion per year. [Read more.]( Anything Else? - There are still tickets left to get in on the Museum of Science's virtual, symphonic trip to Mars tonight. (The NASA collaboration includes real sounds from the surface of Mars and a live orchestra.) Get the details on that and four other things to do around Boston this Labor Day weekend in [our arts and culture team's full events roundup.]( - New COVID-19 vaccines have arrived at pharmacies all over the country, following a summer uptick in cases. Experts say whether or not you decide to rush out and get the shot could depend on a few factors. [Here's everything to need to know](. - [Danny Jansen]( wasn't the only reason the Red Sox made history this week. During the second game of Monday's doubleheader, Portland Sea Dogs broadcasters Emma Tiedemann and Rylee Pay [became the first women duo to call a game at Fenway Park](. - Beginning this weekend, the American Repertory Theater is [bringing a reframed production of the classic "Romeo and Juliet" to the stage]( focusing on the bond between the title characters rather than the divisions and societal ills that keep them apart. What We're Reading 📚 - 'Being on camera is no longer sensible': persecuted Venezuelan journalists turn to AI ([The Guardian]( - Greenwich has a gold-standard food pantry. But others in CT struggle ([Connecticut Public]( - What Makes Good Chemistry? For Chat Podcasts, It's Fundamental ([The New York Times](   Tell Me Something Good [Norwood residents raised $20K after town officials shut down boy's ice cream stand]( A Massachusetts boy whose ice cream stand was shut down has become a minor celebrity after several businesses took up his campaign to raise money for charity. His plight caught the attention of residents and local businesses who have since raised nearly $20,000 on his behalf. [Read more.]( [Norwood residents raised $20K after town officials shut down boy's ice cream stand]( A Massachusetts boy whose ice cream stand was shut down has become a minor celebrity after several businesses took up his campaign to raise money for charity. His plight caught the attention of residents and local businesses who have since raised nearly $20,000 on his behalf. [Read more.]( Play: [WBUR's daily mini crossword.]( Can you keep your streak going? Before you go: ["Don't mind me, I'm just shooting a documentary on this roundabout."]( 😎 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.](   [Donate](   # # 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](. Trustees of Boston University on behalf of WBUR, 890 Commonwealth Ave Boston, MA, 02215, US Copyright 2024 WBUR-FM, All rights reserved.