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Red Line Commuters Will See Major Change Starting Soon Red Line Commuters Will See Major Change Starting Soon
Red Line Commuters Will See Major Change Starting Soon Commuters will have to take shuttle buses between Alewife and Harvard stations in Cambridge beginning next week as the MBTA makes "critical track" repairs to the Red Line.  Work will run from Monday, Feb. 5, through Feb. 14, the MBTA announced on Tuesday, Jan. 30. Beginning at around 8:45 p.m. during the same period, the Red Line suspension will extend to Park Street, meaning evening service will be suspended between Alewife and Park Street stations. The MBTA explained: “This service change is in place while crews perform work as part of the Track Improvement Program, which will upgr…

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by Khier Casino
Police & Fire
Boston Bus Rider Slams Woman's Head Into Glass After Being Told To ‘Shut Up’ Boston Bus Rider Slams Woman's Head Into Glass After Being Told To ‘Shut Up’
Boston Bus Rider Slams Woman's Head Into Glass After Being Told To ‘Shut Up’ An argument over a woman being rowdy on an MBTA bus ended with one woman getting hurt and the other arrested, authorities said.  Police received a call about an assault in progress on a bus at the corner of Massachusetts Avenue and Boylston Street around 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 23, Transit Police said.  Upon arrival, the victim told officers that a woman, later identified as Shauntay Simmons, of Boston, was drinking and speaking incredibly loud. The victim, who was on the phone, then told Simmons to "shut up," according to police. At that point, Simmons hit the victi…

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by David Cifarelli
Police & Fire
'People Freaked': MBTA Train Fire Sends People Jumping For Safety Outside Boston 'People Freaked': MBTA Train Fire Sends People Jumping For Safety Outside Boston
'People Freaked': MBTA Train Fire Sends People Jumping For Safety Outside Boston Some 200 commuters heading into Boston were met with panic Thursday morning as a fire broke out on their train while going over the Mystic River in Somerville. The MBTA first Tweeted about a delay on the Orange Line because of mechanical problem near Assembly just before 7 a.m. Passengers were quick to notice that this delay was going to be longer than originally anticipated.  Might be longer than 15 minutes.. @universalhub @NBC10Boston @WCVB pic.twitter.com/WD5FbEqNHx — Jay Bernard (@Jacobus52999) July 21, 2022 People were seen jumping from the train, which was stopped on a bridge, to…

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by David Cifarelli
Police & Fire
Somerville Man Threatens To Hit Bus Driver With Chock Block For 'Driving Too Slowly' Somerville Man Threatens To Hit Bus Driver With Chock Block For 'Driving Too Slowly'
Somerville Man Threatens To Hit Bus Driver With Chock Block For 'Driving Too Slowly' A 22-year-old Somerville man must have been late to an important meeting because he berated an MBTA bus driver for not going fast enough and threatened them with a heavy wooden block, authorities said.  Wakell Steele hopped on the bus at Davis Square around 6:30 p.m. on Friday, July 15, but pressed the request stop button moments later, Transit Police said. When the driver pulled over, Steele began shouting at them for "f**king driving too slowly" and demanded his money back, authorities continued.  Steele grabbed a chock block, a five-pound hunk of wood drivers put behind t…

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by Josh Lanier
News
COVID-19: CDC Issues New Advisory Recommending People Wear Masks In These Settings COVID-19: CDC Issues New Advisory Recommending People Wear Masks In These Settings
Covid-19: CDC Issues New Advisory Recommending People Wear Masks In These Settings The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is calling on the Department of Justice to proceed with an appeal after a federal judge struck down President Joe Biden’s mask mandate for public transportation settings. Following the announcement of the judgment, the CDC issued a statement advising that the agency is continuing to advise that all Americans continue to mask up while using public transportation, despite the ruling. Original story - COVID-19: Federal Judge Strikes Down CDC Mask Mandate For Travel According to the CDC, officials “continue to recommend that people west mask…

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: Federal Judge Strikes Down CDC Mask Mandate For Travel COVID-19: Federal Judge Strikes Down CDC Mask Mandate For Travel
Covid-19: Federal Judge Strikes Down CDC Mask Mandate For Travel Travelers using public transit will have the option of ditching their masks following a ruling from a federal judge appointed by former President Donald Trump in Florida. On Monday, April 18, US District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle overruled guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) regarding facial coverings on airplanes and other public transportation. According to the judge, the CDC overstepped its authority in ruling that masks be required for travelers, stating that the agency failed to adequately explain its reasons for the mandate. Mizelle determined that…

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: US Extends Airplane Mask Mandate COVID-19: US Extends Airplane Mask Mandate
Covid-19: US Extends Airplane Mask Mandate The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced that it will be extending its national COVID-19 face mask requirements inside public transportation hubs and vehicles. The TSA announced on Thursday, March 10 that it will be extending its mask requirement for airports, planes, buses, and rail systems through Monday, April 18, effectively covering most schools’ scheduled spring break holidays. Previously, the mandate was scheduled to expire on Friday, March 18. This is the third time the TSA extended its mask requirements. “During that time, the Centers for Disease Control and Prev…

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by Zak Failla
Schools
COVID-19: Masking Decision Now Up To School Districts As Massachusetts Mandate Expires COVID-19: Masking Decision Now Up To School Districts As Massachusetts Mandate Expires
Covid-19: Masking Decision Now Up To School Districts As Massachusetts Mandate Expires With the statewide mask mandate expiring for students in Massachusetts schools, the decision on whether to send children to class with a facial covering now falls on parents and local school districts. As of Monday, Feb. 28, the statewide COVID-19 mandate in schools ended, leaving the decision to individual schools, most of which are opting to ditch the masks. The mandate had been in effect since last August and has been extended three times as new variants of the virus caused several separate spikes of new infections. Related story - COVID-19: School District In Western Mass Rescind…

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: CDC Unveils New Strategy Allowing Communities To Ease Masking, Social Distancing COVID-19: CDC Unveils New Strategy Allowing Communities To Ease Masking, Social Distancing
Covid-19: CDC Unveils New Strategy Allowing Communities To Ease Masking, Social Distancing The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has updated its guidance to permit most healthy Americans to ditch their masks indoors, including students. On Friday, Feb. 25, the CDC announced it was altering its metrics that are used to determine which communities can begin lifting their mask mandates with a focus less on positive test results and more on virus-related hospitalization numbers. Previously, the CDC’s prevention guidance for local communities focused on the rate of new COVID-19 cases and the seven-day average positive infection rate; however, as the ongoing fight aga…

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by Zak Failla
Schools
COVID-19: School District In Hampden County Rescinds Mask Policy COVID-19: School District In Hampden County Rescinds Mask Policy
Covid-19: School District In Hampden County Rescinds Mask Policy Mask-wearing will soon be an option for students and staff in a Western Massachusetts school district. In Hampden County, Westfield Schools Superintendent Stefan Czaporowski announced that the district’s School Committee voted to rescind its mask policy, effective as of Monday, Feb. 28. As of Feb. 28, mask-wearing will be voluntary for students and staff, including all extracurricular activities and athletic events. Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker previously said that the state would be lifting mask requirements as of Feb. 28, though it would be up to individual school districts and local…

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: US Tightens Travel Testing Requirements, Extends Mask Mandate In New White House Plan COVID-19: US Tightens Travel Testing Requirements, Extends Mask Mandate In New White House Plan
Covid-19: US Tightens Travel Testing Requirements, Extends Mask Mandate In New White House Plan President Joe Biden announced a series of new measures to combat COVID-19 amid the emergence of the Omicron variant. Biden said in an announcement on Thursday, Dec. 2, that early next week the United States will require all inbound international travelers to get a COVID-19 test within one day of departure, regardless of their nationality or vaccination status.  "This tighter testing timeline provides an added degree of public health protection as scientists continue to assess the Omicron variant," the announcement from the White House reads. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention …

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by Nicole Valinote
News
COVID-19: CDC Updates Guidance On Masks Indoors, In Schools As Delta Variant Spreads COVID-19: CDC Updates Guidance On Masks Indoors, In Schools As Delta Variant Spreads
Covid-19: CDC Updates Guidance On Masks Indoors, In Schools As Delta Variant Spreads With the Delta variant of the COVID-19 virus rapidly spreading across the country, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is updating its guidance on wearing masks. As the more transmissible Delta variant becomes the dominant strain of COVID in the US, the CDC is now recommending that fully-vaccinated people wear masks indoors when in areas where there could be “substantial and high” transmission of the virus. Earlier report - COVID-19: CDC Expected To Recommend Masks For Some Fully Vaccinated People, Report Says The new guidance also recommends that students, teachers,…

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by Zak Failla
Business
COVID-19: CT's Now Fully Back In Business With Restrictions Lifted; Here's What It Means COVID-19: CT's Now Fully Back In Business With Restrictions Lifted; Here's What It Means
Covid-19: CT's Now Fully Back In Business With Restrictions Lifted; Here's What It Means The “new normal” is now back to “normal” in Connecticut as the state recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic. All business restrictions put in place to curtail the spread of COVID-19 in Connecticut during the pandemic were lifted as of Wednesday, May 19, including social distance requirements, and curfews for businesses. Additionally, all limits on gathering sizes have been lifted and movie theater capacity is back to 100 percent. Beginning on May 19, there will also be no occupancy limits on gyms, barbershops, museums, amusement parks, and several other previously restricted businesses…

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by Zak Failla
News
Death Of Street Musician 'Bucket Man,' aka 'Motown Man,' Mourned In Pioneer Valley Death Of Street Musician 'Bucket Man,' aka 'Motown Man,' Mourned In Pioneer Valley
Death Of Street Musician 'Bucket Man,' aka 'Motown Man,' Mourned In Pioneer Valley Bennie M. Johnson wasn’t in the movies or politics, but he certainly was famous. Johnson, also known as the Bucket Man, recently died. As the Bucket Man Johnson was well-known in the area for his percussive performances on a white, plastic contractor’s bucket he’d carry around. Some people knew Johnson as “Motown Man” or “Motown Benne.” Johnson was a talented musician playing jazz, classic rock and Motown with a bucket and kazoo. He’d often dress the part of a rockstar wearing a shimmery scarf like a cape and wearing brightly-colored Mardi Gras beads. He’d play on the streets, but people …

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by Kristin Palpini