Support WBUR
Boston's Morning Newsletter
Boston hosts hearing on TPS for Haitians as potential end date nears
Editor's Note: This is an excerpt from WBUR's daily morning newsletter, WBUR Today. If you like what you read and want it in your inbox, sign up here.
Gov. Maura Healey is launching her reelection campaign today. Yes, Healey said she planned to run nearly a year ago. But as WBUR's Chris Van Buskirk reports, the official video announcement provides a preview of her strategy to win a second term (as well as her State of the Commonwealth address later this week).
Chris has more on the campaign launch here, plus interviews with Healey's three potential Republican general election opponents.
Here's a look at what else is happening this week:
A hearing on Haiti: Sen. Ed Markey and Reps. Ayanna Pressley and Seth Moulton are in Boston this morning for a field hearing on Temporary Protected Status (aka TPS) for Haitian immigrants. The Trump administration plans to let TPS for Haitians expire on Feb. 3 — exactly two weeks from today. That change would leave 350,000 Haitian nationals in the U.S. at risk of deportation, including 4,700 people in Massachusetts (approximately 10% of the state's Haitian population).
- What to expect: At a church in Mattapan, lawmakers will hear from panels of individuals, advocates and community leaders who would be impacted by the change. The three Massachusetts Democrats all support extending TPS, as previous presidents repeatedly did, due to the instability back in Haiti.
- What we're watching: Trump's push to end TPS for people from several countries, including Haiti and Venezuela, has prompted more than a dozen lawsuits. And in one case, lawyers are asking a federal judge to put a hold on the expiration of TPS for Haitians as the lawsuit plays out. According to The New York Times, Judge Ana Reyes is expected to rule on that request by Feb. 2.
- Go deeper: Massachusetts' health care sector, which is already struggling with staffing shortages, would be among the hardest hit if TPS for Haitians expires. WBUR's Simón Rios has more on the potential impacts here.
We’re on to Denver: The New England Patriots are just one more win away from the Super Bowl, after Sunday’s 28-16 playoff win against the Houston Texans in the AFC divisional round. Drake Maye added to his MVP resume with three touchdown passes, while his counterpart C.J. Stroud had big struggles in the snowy conditions.
- Up next: The Denver Broncos. Patriots coach Mike Vrabel told reporters yesterday that the Broncos defense will be another tough test. “They're playing with a lot of confidence. They're good on the perimeter, really good up front,” he said. “They have athleticism, they have size, they put a lot of pressure on you.” However, the top-seeded Broncos will be without their own rising star at quarterback, Bo Nix, who broke his ankle Sunday. That means Broncos backup Jarrett Stidham (who started his career with the Patriots) will start for the first time this season.
- Tune in: The game kicks off on Sunday at 3 p.m. ET on CBS.
Meanwhile at City Hall: Segun Idowu, Boston's chief of economic opportunity and inclusion and one of Mayor Michelle Wu's top aides, is stepping down at the end of February. Idowu told The Boston Globe he's leaving now to spend more time with his grandmother, who he's been taking care of for the last several years.
- Idowu was embroiled in a scandal last year after two City Hall employees, Marwa Khudaynazar and Chulan Huang, were arrested during a domestic dispute. Khudaynazar later said Idowu, Huang's boss, had propositioned her on a night out, which led to the fight between her and Huang. An independent investigation cleared Idowu of misconduct, while Huang and Khudaynazar were fired.
P.S. — The snow totals from the storm that hit Massachusetts over the long weekend are in, and the winners are the lucky residents of Dighton. According to the National Weather Service, the Bristol County town led the state with 7.4 inches of snow. Hanson was a close second with 7.2 inches, followed by West Bridgewater with 7 inches.
