The T's longest closure of the year

Also: How Mass. treats prostitution cases differently; Vermont's medical aid in dying influx [❤️ Donate]( [View in Browser](   September 6, 2024  ⛅ Mostly cloudy, with a high near 74. Good Morning Boston, TGIF! The New England Patriots kick off a new era this weekend, with a [new coach]( new culture, [new-ish quarterbacks]( - even [new kickoffs](. ESPN's Mike Reiss [spoke with Morning Edition here]( about what to expect this season (and how to perhaps find joy in low expectations). But first, the news: - Wake me up when September ends: The MBTA's [24-day closure of the Red Line's Braintree branch]( begins today. Subway service is suspended between JFK/UMass and Braintree until the final day of the month, Monday, Sept. 30. The T is promising faster service - and eventually [extra-fast trains]( - when they finish repair work along the 18-mile stretch of tracks. Still, the diversion means a big wrench in the commutes for more than 20,000 weekday riders over the next three weeks and change. Here's a look at your alternative options: - Commuter rail: The MBTA is making the three commuter rail lines that run parallel to this part of the Red Line - the [Kingston]( [Middleborough]( and [Greenbush]( lines - free to ride between Braintree and South Station during the closure. All three lines also make stops along the way at Quincy Center and JFK/UMass. According to the T, there should be a train every 20 to 30 minutes. They're also faster than normal Red Line service, getting you from Braintree to South Station in less than 3o minutes. T officials are "strongly" encouraging this option. (They're also adding extra commuter rail coach cars to accommodate Red Line riders.) - One caveat: As part of the repair project, [these commuter rail lines will also be shut down]( over the next two weekends - Sept. 7-8 and Sept. 14-15 - and replaced by a free shuttle bus that runs directly between Braintree and South Station. - Shuttle bus: Free shuttle buses will also be making stops at every closed Red Line station (Braintree, Quincy Adams, Quincy Center, Wollaston, North Quincy). But it's worth noting, they will run to Ashmont station (rather than JFK/UMass) and will be a lot slower than the commuter rail. "A rider traveling to Park Street from Braintree should anticipate an extra 40 minutes in addition to their regular commute," the T said in a press release this week. - Drive: If you have a car, it's always an option. Just know that the I-93 drive between Braintree and downtown Boston can easily take over an hour during rush hour, according to Google Maps. - On campus: Emerson College is ringing in fall semester with new rules restricting where students can protest. The [policy]( specifically bans protests across much of college's property - from classrooms to offices, residence halls to the library - as well as the [alley]( where students stood up a pro-Palestinian encampment this past spring. It comes after Emerson's president [partly blamed last semester's protests]( for contributing to a drop in enrollment at the school. - Is there anywhere students can protest? Yes. Emerson officials have [dedicated seven indoor spaces]( where demonstrations may be held - as long as students pre-register them at least a week ahead, hold events between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m., and do not include any tents or other physical structures. (Want to protest outside? The college suggests going across the street to Boston Common.) - Go deeper: WBUR's Katie Cole has [more here on the new policy]( and how it compares to protest rules at other local colleges. - In the wind: Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island are expected to announce the winners of their [joint offshore wind bidding process]( today. The states are looking to sign contracts for up to 6,000 megawatts of wind power - enough to power at least 3 million homes. - Catch up: The states joined forces in response to some [recent challenges the offshore wind industry has faced]( like rising costs. The developers behind several projects that canceled their contracts last year are hoping to be re-selected at a higher price. - How much? Massachusetts officials confirmed that they expect to provide [more than $489 million over three years]( to help keep afloat the local hospitals owned by Steward Health Care (or at least the ones that are still open) as they transition from the bankrupt company to [new owners](. So far, the state has already spent $72 million. - Meanwhile: Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey are [pushing to hold Steward CEO Ralph de la Torre in contempt of Congress]( after he refused to testify at a Senate hearing scheduled next week. P.S.- Do you know why Massachusetts Democrats relocated their Labor Day breakfast this week? Take our [Boston News Quiz]( test your knowledge of this week's stories. Nik DeCosta-Klipa Editor, Newsletters The Rundown [Mass. court data shows disparities in prostitution charges]( Clerks were more likely to approve criminal charges against women and people without a lawyer in confidential hearings, according to a WBUR examination of court data. The Mass. high court is slated to hear arguments this month on whether to open up the hearings involving 28 defendants accused of paying for sex. [Read more.]( [Mass. court data shows disparities in prostitution charges]( Clerks were more likely to approve criminal charges against women and people without a lawyer in confidential hearings, according to a WBUR examination of court data. The Mass. high court is slated to hear arguments this month on whether to open up the hearings involving 28 defendants accused of paying for sex. [Read more.]( [Boston Public Schools students head back to class]( The state's largest school district will enroll 50,600 students this year based on a preliminary count. The first day of school for grades 1 to 12 is Thursday while pre-K and kindergarten students start school on Monday. [Read more.]( [Boston Public Schools students head back to class]( The state's largest school district will enroll 50,600 students this year based on a preliminary count. The first day of school for grades 1 to 12 is Thursday while pre-K and kindergarten students start school on Monday. [Read more.]( [More people want to come to Vermont for medical aid in dying than the system can handle]( Removing the residency requirement has brought an influx of out-of-state interest to Vermont's program. [Read more.]( [More people want to come to Vermont for medical aid in dying than the system can handle]( Removing the residency requirement has brought an influx of out-of-state interest to Vermont's program. [Read more.]( [No power? No problem: T rolls out Kindle-like trip displays at stops with no electricity]( The MBTA is rolling out solar powered signs to share bus and trolley information with riders. [Read more.]( [No power? No problem: T rolls out Kindle-like trip displays at stops with no electricity]( The MBTA is rolling out solar powered signs to share bus and trolley information with riders. [Read more.]( [Mass. doctor sentenced to prison for punching police officer during Capitol riot]( A Massachusetts physician who punched a police officer during a mob's attack on the U.S. Capitol has been sentenced to nine months of imprisonment. [Read more.]( [Mass. doctor sentenced to prison for punching police officer during Capitol riot]( A Massachusetts physician who punched a police officer during a mob's attack on the U.S. Capitol has been sentenced to nine months of imprisonment. [Read more.]( Anything Else? - Anyone who has attended a concert at Boston's Orpheum Theatre has passed through the quirky alley that leads to the venue's entrance. But now, [that alley is at the heart of a lawsuit the Orpheum's operator has filed its future neighbor]( a new Holocaust Museum. - The Somerville-based indie band Hush Club first garnered attention last winter through a ploy offering fans free pizza. Now, [they're playing their biggest venue yet, The Sinclair]( - and they're bringing back the breaking bread concept. (But this time, it's ice cream.) - With [the U.S. Open approaching its finale]( Madeleine Blais [writes in this essay for Cognoscenti]( about what trailblazing tennis player Alice Marble would think about today's tournament. - Capturing enough krill to eat can take a lot of work. It's like if your morning bowl of cereal were spread out across a football field. So humpbacks whales have developed a solution: [bubbles](. What We're Reading 📚 - Charlie Baker's (Still) Got Game ([Boston Magazine]( - An ugly case of 'false balance' in the New York Times ([American Crisis]( - He handles custody disputes, death row cases, and biters. He's Salem's dog lawyer. ([The Boston Globe](   Life Advice [Could you live without shopping for a year? Try the 'no-buy challenge']( The goal is to save money, cut back on overconsumption and be more mindful of wasteful and unsustainable shopping habits. This guide can help you start a challenge of your own. [Read more.]( [Could you live without shopping for a year? Try the 'no-buy challenge']( The goal is to save money, cut back on overconsumption and be more mindful of wasteful and unsustainable shopping habits. This guide can help you start a challenge of your own. [Read more.]( Play: [WBUR's daily mini crossword.]( Can you keep your streak going? Before you go: Worcester, we have [library card envy.]( 😎 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? 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