Morning Rundown: About 75% Of Boston Workers Have Already Complied With Vaccine Mandate; Mass Pike Through Allston Is Getting An Upgrade

Editor's Note: This is an excerpt from WBUR's daily morning newsletter, WBUR Today. Each weekday, you'll get in your inbox the top five local and national news stories of the day, recommended reads and a story to make you smile. All you need to do is sign up here. 

I promise to never write a blank newsletter titled "Take The Local News And Run." Though, artist Jens Haaning would maybe call it a commentary on the plight of local newsrooms. Don't worry; I prefer to stick with words on the page. Here are more of the stories we're talking about:

- Another state employee group is taking issue with Gov. Charlie Baker's COVID vaccine mandate. The union representing 4,000 Massachusetts correction officers yesterday filed a federal complaint to try to block the mandate, saying it violates their collective bargaining agreement. We'll be watching closely to see what happens. The State Police recently lost their legal challenge to the state vaccine mandate in Superior Court.

- More news for state employees: The program giving up to one week of paid COVID sick leave will extend through April 1. Baker approved the bill with just one day left to spare before it expired.

- Vaccine mandate deadlines aren't just coming fast for state employees. Let's zoom in on Boston, which is also requiring city workers to get vaccinated or submit weekly testing by mid-October. New data shows that three-quarters of Boston employees have complied with the city's vaccine mandate.

- What about the numbers? The statewide seven-day average positive test rate has been holding steady at just below 2%. That's an improvement from when it was nearly 3% earlier this month. Also this week, 21,000 more residents became fully vaccinated. Cue your weekly reminder: Getting vaccinated is the best way to keep you and your loved ones safe from serious illness and death due to COVID.

- Take two: A Senate committee will today consider Suffolk County District Attorney Rachael Rollins to become the next U.S. attorney for Massachusetts. This was originally scheduled for last week, but it got delayed by Republican Sen. Tom Cotton, who wanted to block her nomination over her criminal justice reform work.

- It's Eric Rosengren's last day on the job at the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston. He's retiring nine months earlier than expected amid some controversy around potential conflicts of interest for transactions he made last year. He's since said he will sell his stocks and stop trading.

- The Mass Pike through Allston is officially going to get an upgrade. The State Transportation Department said it's moving forward with its $1.7 billion plans, which include tearing down the viaduct that carries the pike past Boston University. That would be replaced with surface-level highway. Soldiers Field Road, the commuter rail tracks and the path along the Charles River will also all get rebuilt.

- Today is the first day for the vaccine mandate at TD Garden. Fans 12 and over must show they're fully vaccinated or a recent negative COVID test – and no, at-home tests don't count.

P.S.– If you listen to WBUR on the weekends, we have some schedule changes for you. Starting this Saturday at 11 a.m., "It's Been a Minute with Sam Sanders" will replace "Car Talk." You can listen to Sanders again at 6 p.m. that same day. It's replacing "Ask Me Another." I think you'll really like the switch, and if you've never listed to Sanders' show before, you're missing out! His most recent episode is our must-listen included below. You can hear more episodes here. 

The measure passed 219-212, largely along party lines, but is expected to fail in the Senate. And there's a more pressing problem: a looming partial government shutdown. Read more.

The Massachusetts Water Resources Authority is reporting an area of lowered oxygen saturation near the ocean floor about 10–15 miles outside Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary. The MWRA reports "no adverse impact to marine life." Read more.

For more than 25 years she played a variety of executive roles at the Los Angeles Philharmonic, most recently as chief operating officer and as president of the Hollywood Bowl. Read more.

A low percentage of pregnant people in the U.S. – only 31% – have received the COVID-19 vaccine. Read more.

According to The Associated Press, the judge said during the hearing, "The current arrangement is untenable. It reflects a toxic environment which requires the suspension of James Spears." Read more.

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This newsletter includes reporting by the WBUR newscast team.