Electoral Map Ratings: Where Biden & Trump Stand (So Far)

Also: U.S. appeals ruling in Mashpee Wampanoag land case; tornadoes touched down in western Mass. last night ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  [Donate [WBUR]]( [View in Browser](  [WBUR]( August 3, 2020 Good Morning Boston, 🥵 Mostly sunny, with a high near 92. We have exactly three months until Election Day. (I'm not sure when that happened since it feels like it was just April, but what is time, really?) In today's newsletter, I'm giving you the rundown on both the local coronavirus outbreak and the 2020 election. Here's what you need to know: - Before we talk about politics and the coronavirus, let's take a look at last night's wild weather. There were several [reports of tornadoes]( in western Mass. and Connecticut as strong thunderstorms moved through the region. There were no immediate reports of injuries. - Now on to outbreak news: The seven-day average of Massachusetts residents testing positive for the coronavirus is now 2.2%. That's the highest it's been since mid-June. - This gradual rise in cases across the state comes as cases nationally are surging. This uptick is a ["new phase" of the pandemic]( according to White House coronavirus task force coordinator Dr. Deborah Birx. What's different from March and April? It's "extraordinarily widespread," Birx says, meaning it's as equal in rural areas as urban areas. - Because of the local rise in cases, Somerville is delaying its full phase three reopening for a second time. - Election 2020: Municipal election offices are expected to begin sending out ballots for the Sept. 1 election today if residents requested to vote by mail. If you haven't made a decision yet on whether you'd like to vote by mail or vote in-person, [here's some information]( that may help. - Zoom out: Congressional negotiators have been [unable to agree]( on a fifth coronavirus relief package. Democrats and Republicans met over the weekend, but still "have a long way to go." That's bad news for millions of Americans seeing boosted unemployment benefits run out. - ICYMI: The Museum of Fine Arts confirmed Friday that they're [laying off employees](. The MFA is the only one of the Boston's major museums that has yet to reopen under phase three. P.S.– I always thought people were kidding when they said they wanted to [run away to Canada]( but apparently, for some it's no joke. — Meagan McGinnes [@meaganmcginnes]( newsletters@wbur.org The Rundown [1.](url)[2020 Electoral Map Ratings: Trump Slides, Biden Advantage Expands Over 270 Votes]( With three months until Election Day, Trump's handling of COVID-19 and race relations have further hurt his reelection chances. States now leaning toward Democrat Joe Biden would be enough to win. [Read more.]( ➡️ Related: [Police Reform Debate Elevates Black Caucus Chair Bass' Profile As Possible VP Pick]( ➡️ Inside 100 Days To The Presidential Election: Things That Could Change The Race](   #%23%23[Twitter](  #%23%23[Facebook](    2. [U.S. Appeals Ruling In Mashpee Wampanoag Land Case]( The U.S. Department of the Interior is appealing a federal judge's ruling that blocked it from rescinding a reservation designation for land belonging to the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe in Massachusetts. [Read more.]( 3. [Mass. House Approves Major Climate Action Bill]( The House agreed to East Boston Rep. Adrian Madaro's proposal that would mandate environmental impact reports for any project that is likely to cause damage to the environment and is located within one mile of an environmental justice population. [Read more.]( 4. [Safer Air: To Cut Virus Risk In Fall, Schools Scramble To Improve Ventilation]( As schools plan for possible reopening in the fall, many are considering overhauls to filters and air flow -- and at least making sure windows work, for a start. [Read more.]( 5. [New Survey Shows The Pandemic's Toll On Immigrant Households Throughout Mass.]( Advocates say the survey of more than 400 immigrant households across the state reinforces the need for undocumented individuals to be included in the next federal stimulus package. [Read more.]( Support the news Anything Else? - Lord & Taylor, the oldest U.S. department store chain, has [filed for bankruptcy.]( - This [newly acquired]( queer film collection at the Harvard Film Archive celebrates butch identity. - The concept of a carbon tax was accepted as gospel in climate policy circles for many years. Today, not so much, writes Frederick Hewett [in this commentary](. [WBUR] Your Daily Must Listen [Only A Game | 'Are We Going To Become Hashtags?' Racism At A Florida Pool]( [Listen]( ELECTION 2020 [Mass. 2020 Primary: What To Know About Voting By Mail Or At The Polls]( We Asked, They Answered: 4th District Candidates Vying For Kennedy's Seat Tell Us Why They're Running. [Read more.]( Fact Checking Kennedy And Markey On Their Black Lives Matter Claims. [Read more.]( NPR: Fueled By Suburbs, Democrats Are Poised For Gains In Key States, Analysis Finds. [Read more.]( What We're Reading - Small Talk in 1348 ([The New Yorker]( - When Did Recipe Writing Get So...Whitewashed? ([Bon Appétit]( - Ben & Jerry's Radical Ice Cream Dreams ([The New York Times]( Tell Me Something Good [Splashdown! SpaceX And NASA Astronauts Make History]( The last time any NASA astronauts came home by splashing down was in 1975 — and back then, they were in an Apollo space vehicle. The success of their test flight is a milestone for SpaceX, the first private company to send people to the outpost. Before you go: A [local brand that reminds you of childhood]( For me, it's cups and Fluff. 😎 Forward to a friend. They can sign up [here](. 📣 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 [WBUR]( [95289b97-66e8-43d4-a174-3bc3520a79a9.png]( [Instagram](  [Twitter]( [Facebook]( 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 editorial newsletters.]( Interested in learning more about corporate sponsorship? [Click here.]( Copyright © 2020 WBUR-FM, All rights reserved. You signed up for this newsletter at wbur.org. Our mailing address is: WBUR-FM 890 Commonwealth AveBoston, MA 02215-1205 [Add us to your address book](