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Nasty storm blows into the Boston region
A mid-March storm is hitting the region with rain that may shift to snow this afternoon, leaving around 6 inches of snow by tomorrow morning.Threat level: Last night's rain may get heavy and wet throughout today.The temperature is set to drop to around freezing by 5pm Tuesday, leaving us with a mess of a storm by the evening commute and overnight.Forecasts predict the nor'easter will bring winds of 50 mph and 10 to 14-foot waves along the coast.Colder air temperatures mean snow will likely pile up quickly, even on roads.Zoom out: MetroWest and much of the North Shore could see...
Report: Troopers left day jobs for overtime pay
A new report has flagged practices that allow state troopers to rack up overtime while leaving their day jobs.Several troopers in 2019 left their regular shifts to take optional overtime shifts, claiming personal or vacation time for the hours not worked at their regular posts, per the report.Why it matters: The state police department continues to face scrutiny five years after an overtime scandal in which dozens of troopers in the now-disbanded Troop E were pocketing taxpayer money for overtime they never worked.Driving the news: Troopers took optional overtime shifts during their regular shifts hundreds of times in 2019, according...
Boston just had one of its hottest winters
Data: Climate Central; Chart: Kavya Beheraj/AxioThe winter of 2022–23 has been Boston's fifth warmest on record, with average temperatures from December through February of 36.8°F — 7.3 degrees warmer than those of winter 1970.That's according to a new analysis of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration numbers from Climate Central, a nonpartisan research and communications group.Boston's average winter temperature was 29.5°F in 1970.Why it matters: Warm winters can exacerbate drought (because there's less snowmelt in the spring), wreak havoc on crops and gardens, and spell disaster for towns built around skiing, snowboarding and similar pursuits.The big picture: Winter is the fastest-warming...
Authorities prep for South Boston St. Patrick's Day Parade a year after far-right disruption
Federal law enforcement officials and U.S. Attorney Rachael Rollins' office will meet with the state, city and MBTA Transit police departments today to talk about ways to prevent white nationalists from causing disruptions during this year's South Boston St. Patrick's Day Parade.Threat level: It comes after a group wearing neo-Nazi insignia displayed a banner reading "keep Boston Irish" over a sidewalk guardrail at last year's event, angering parade attendees, organizers and local officials.Driving the news: Sen. Nick Collins and other South Boston leaders have asked for more security on commuter rail trains headed into the city and at the South...
Westborough's Daniel Kwan favored for Oscar glory
With no Damons, Afflecks, Poehlers, Carrells or Wahlbergs in sight, New England's hope for a hometown Academy Award winner this year falls to Westborough's own Daniel Kwan, who's nominated for best director for his film “Everything Everywhere All at Once.”State of play: Kwan, 35, met his directing partner and co-nominee Daniel Scheinert (they're collectively known as The Daniels) at Emerson College.The pair's debut feature Swiss Army Man starred Daniel Radcliffe, Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Paul Dano.But true fans know that The Daniels' best work is the ridiculous music video for Lil Jon's “Turn Down for What.”Of note: The Daniels may have had some award show luck rub off on them when they directed a recent W magazine photoshoot with Emmy-winning Norwell native and fellow Emerson grad Jennifer Coolidge.Click here to see Coolidge from the Japanese monster movie-inspired shoot.
Testing ChatGPT’s Boston IQ
ChatGPT is only becoming more ingrained in our society.Why it matters: The chatbot is the most advanced AI writing tool to hit the market, Axios' Erica Pandey, Dan Primack and Ina Fried report.The free (for now) service offers seemingly endless possibilities, from answering simple questions to writing essay-length responses to any prompt you can think of.Teachers are using ChatGPT for lesson planning, and Slack is rolling out a ChatGPT bot.We decided to test ChatGPT’s Boston knowledge, starting with the MBTA.Asked to explain the city’s public transit system, ChatGPT called the MBTA the oldest public transit system in the nation (true)...
Boston could be first city to make vendors donate leftovers
A new proposal would make Boston the first city in the country to require vendors to donate leftover food.Why it matters: Environmental officials estimate the state is letting more than a million tons of food go to waste a year, even as food insecurity has doubled during the pandemic, according to a memo by Harvard’s Food Law and Policy Clinic.The proposal also comes as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program’s expanded benefits end, affecting more than 630,000 Massachusetts households.City Councilor Ricardo Arroyo proposed the ordinance with Councilor Gabriela Coletta last week. He says the nonprofits that already help vendors divert leftovers...
MBTA hits pause on modernizing fares
The MBTA was supposed to have a modern fare collection system up and running by 2021, but the Healey administration is once again tapping the brakes to reevaluate the project that's already years behind schedule.Driving the news: The 2-month-old Healey-Driscoll administration has already done a preliminary review of the project to assess its status and timeline, according to an MBTA spokesperson.But based on the contractor's most recent schedule, the project is unlikely to hit its 2024 target, T spokesperson Joe Pesaturo said in a statement.Why it matters: Updating and standardizing how the T collects fares would make the system more...
MBTA hits pause on modernizing fares
The MBTA was supposed to have a modern fare collection system up and running by 2021, but the Healey administration is once again tapping the brakes to reevaluate the project that's already years behind schedule.Driving the news: The 2-month-old Healey-Driscoll administration has already done a preliminary review of the project to assess its status and timeline, according to an MBTA spokesperson.But based on the contractor's most recent schedule, the project is unlikely to hit its 2024 target, T spokesperson Joe Pesaturo said in a statement.Why it matters: Updating and standardizing how the T collects fares would make the system more...
DIY yourself a cell phone MBTA pass
👋 Deehan here.You don't have to wait the better part of a decade for the MBTA's official system to tap your mobile phone to get onto the T if you're willing to be a little inventive and maybe break some rules and regulations.Just melt your CharlieCard with acid and then you can put the electronic bits wherever you want.OK, don’t actually use acid. Use acetone, aka, nail polish remover. Put the card in a hard plastic or glass container in a well-ventilated area away from flames. This is your CharlieCard on acetone. Photo: Mike Deehan/AxiosThen carefully fish out the RFID...
Suffolk Sheriff Steve Tompkins fined for having niece, other employees run errands on the job
Suffolk County Sheriff Steve Tompkins paid a $12,300 fine for creating a position on his staff for his niece and having her and other employees run personal errands while they were on the job, according to the state Ethics Commission.Why it matters: The state’s conflict of interest law forbids public officials from using their position for their own personal benefit.That includes child care and help with errands on the public dime, according to a disposition agreement between Tompkins and the state.Tompkins didn’t respond to Axios’ requests for comment via his spokesperson, Peter Van Delft.Zoom in: Tompkins created a position for...
A guide to spending the day in Chelsea
Photo: Mike Deehan/Axios👋 Deehan here. Chelsea, Boston's often-overlooked neighbor to the north, has just as much going on as some of the communities further down the Mystic River.After all, the city’s main drag along Broadway is just over two miles from downtown Boston, less than a 10-minute drive in light traffic over the Tobin Bridge or a 30 minute ride on the Silver Line.Chelsea is the geographically smallest city in the state, but with a 40,000-person population, it's the second densest next to Somerville.For breakfastChelsea's been an immigrant community for generations and has a host of options for anyone...
A guide to spending the day in Chelsea
Photo: Mike Deehan/Axios👋 Deehan here. Chelsea, Boston's often-overlooked neighbor to the north, has just as much going on as some of the communities further down the Mystic River.After all, the city’s main drag along Broadway is just over two miles from downtown Boston, less than a 10-minute drive in light traffic over the Tobin Bridge or a 30 minute ride on the Silver Line.Chelsea is the geographically smallest city in the state, but with a 40,000-person population, it's the second densest next to Somerville.For breakfastChelsea's been an immigrant community for generations and has a host of options for anyone...
Martha’s Vineyard's favorite late-night donut spot is coming to Boston
Back Door Donuts, a Martha’s Vineyard staple, is making its first foray into Boston with a late-night pop-up in Fenway.What’s happening: The speakeasy-style donut business is setting up shop at 1 Lansdowne St., next to Loretta’s Last Call, under a partnership with the country music venue.The pop-up will start serving donuts on March 15 from 7pm - 2am every night.The intrigue: Back Door Donuts will offer late-night treats for the crowds coming from shows at House of Blues and MGM Music.Perhaps the closest late-night alternative is Insomnia Cookies on Boston University’s campus.Flashback: The Martha’s Vineyard bakery’s roots go back to at least 1948, when Walmsley’s Bakery opened at 5 Post Office Square in Oak Bluffs. The bakery was known to pass out donuts at the back door in the early mornings, according to the shop’s website.The bakery has passed hands and changed names over the years, and the back-door donut deals have become a mainstay of the business.Details: The “Donuts After Dark” menu will include Boston cream, buttermilk glazed, chocolate coconut, lemon jelly, old fashioned and more.
What’s on Temu, the weirdest shopping app
Temu, the hot new online store that became the most-downloaded app in Apple’s store this year, is headquartered in Boston.It had ads all over social media, mobile games and even the Super Bowl.Details: The retailer is owned by Chinese company PDD Holdings, which also owns online agriculture platform Pinduoduo.The company is listed at 31 St. James Ave Suite 355 in the Park Square Building downtown by the Plaza.The intrigue: A quick browse through the app shows that it's a clearing house for dirt-cheap products from overseas. We thought we'd "shop like a billionaire" like the ads say to test the...
A queer woman safe haven in the works in the Back Bay
At last, Boston might once again have a bar that caters to queer women.Driving the news: The locals behind LGBTQ Nightlife Events, a group that holds monthly themed parties that cater toward women and non-binary people, is considering leasing the space formerly occupied by the Pour House.The space would house Dani's Queer Bar, landlord Charles Talanian confirmed. UniversalHub first reported the development.More details should be available in the next month, Talanian said.Why it matters: Boston has a dearth of LGBTQ+ bars and none dedicated to lesbians and queer women. Vicki's and Cavana's, two lesbian bars on Tremont Street, closed decades...
Healey's budget plan brings campaign promises into focus
Gov. Maura Healey yesterday took the first solid step toward making her campaign promises about affordability a reality by releasing her budget plan for the coming year.💰 The $55.5 billion spending plan covers every piece of state government from schools to the MBTA, and from public assistance programs to money for roads, parks and climate change.📈 It's 4.1% larger than this year's budget.⛑️ Over half the budget, $28.6 billion, is dedicated to health care.🎓 Healey wants to use the yearly budget to implement her plan for free community college.Students over 25 years old who don't yet have a college degree...
Gas prices are falling in the Boston area
Data: GasBuddy; Note: Price as of the 1st of each month; Chart: Axios VisualsBoston drivers spent an average of $3.37 for every gallon of gas in February, per GasBuddy data. That's down 7% from the same time last year, and about the same as January.Nationally, gas cost about $3.40 per gallon in February — down 6% year over year, but up 2% from January.The big picture: Cheaper gas is good news for American consumers, especially commuters.Yes, but: Lower prices may disincentivize drivers from switching to more efficient cars, going electric or embracing public transit — all of which can have...
The push for a $20 minimum wage in Massachusetts
Labor unions and worker advocates are pushing state lawmakers to implement the highest minimum wage in the nation at $20 an hour, just two months after Massachusetts raised the rate to $15.Why it matters: Inflation has taken a big bite out of the buying power of a $15 wage, and that's not lost on the key stakeholders who could lead the effort to increase the pay floor.State of play: Beacon Hill lawmakers played a key role designing a law that satisfied labor activists and employers the last time the wage floor was lifted. But if leading Democrats don't get behind...
Boston not immune from growing hurricane wind problem
The number of Boston buildings vulnerable to hurricane-caused wind damage could rise by 22% over the next 30 years, new research finds.84,700 buildings could be vulnerable by 2053, compared to 69,500 today.That's based on research from the nonprofit First Street Foundation, using peer-reviewed computer modeling of the intensity and tracks of more than 50,000 simulated tropical cyclones in a warming climate.The researchers made projections for a 1-in-3,000-year storm, meaning such an event has a 0.0333% chance of hitting in any given year — a standard commonly used in setting building codes.Why it matters: How hurricane-related wind damage risks are priced...
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