BU Demands Faculty Get Vaccinated Or Risk Leave: The HUB

The HUB is a daily newsletter designed for what you want — to be caught up on the most interesting, important news in 5 minutes or less. It's a little bit of this, a little bit of that, but if there's something you want more or less of, email me at mike.carraggi@patch.com.

Today is Tuesday, July 20. Let's get started.

Actually, before we get started, quick traffic alert. If you're driving southbound into the city this morning, know that I-93 South will have at most two lanes open. There is extensive damage to a bridge beam after a truck struck the Roosevelt Circle overpass yesterday. OK, on to the news.

Boston University is joining Boston College in mandating students, faculty and staff to get vaccinated.

The school announced Monday it is requiring everyone that works there to get the COVID-19 vaccine before Sept. 2, in time for the fall semester. BU President Robert Brown said only 71.3 percent of faculty and 73.6 percent of staff are currently or will be vaccinated by Aug. 1. Those who don't get vaccinated or have a medical or religious exemption could be placed on leave.

BU Today reported not all professors were thrilled with the announcement.

The school has already issued a mandate for student vaccinations.

"LAWSUIT!" you may be screaming. Maybe, but a federal judge yesterday upheld Indiana University's coronavirus vaccine mandate.

"What we have here is the government forcing you to do something that you strenuously object to and have your body invaded in the process," James Bopp Jr., a lawyer for eight Indiana students, argued, according to The New York Times.

Judge Damon Leichty said the state's public health interest outweighs the students' rights in this case.

"The Fourteenth Amendment permits Indiana University to pursue a reasonable and due process of vaccination in the legitimate interest of public health for its students, faculty and staff," his ruling said.

Is it finally time? It came out of nowhere that the House on Thursday will consider a bill that would legalize sports betting in Massachusetts. It would still need to go through the Senate and Gov. Charlie Baker's desk, but there appears to be more of an appetite to get it done than in years past. Remember, Massachusetts is the only New England state without legalized sports betting. Steph Solis at MassLive has the story.

Doesn't it seem like deadlines only matter for folks like you and me? It's been weeks since the deadline passed for the Office of Police Accountability and Transparency (OPAT) for a review into how Boston police handled the investigation into Patrick Rose, the former head of the patrolmen's union who has been charged with sexually abusing children. Acting Mayor Kim Janey's office told GBH the report is done, but it still needs go before the OPAT Commission, which isn't even fully staffed yet.

These commissions need to get going. Michael Jonas at CommonWealth reminds us that a new design for the Massachusetts state seal is due Oct. 1, but the 19-member commission still doesn't have everyone aboard. In light of that, the commission at its first meeting yesterday said it will seek more time to submit recommendations. Katie Lannan has more at State House New Service.

Local voices

Shaken by the emergence of the Delta variant, The Boston Herald editorial board warns that the virus is targeting those who are unvaccinated. "After more than a year of plague, politics and polemics, we are due a little celebration. But that will be short-lived if COVID-19 gains a new toehold this summer and authorities are forced to respond with new restrictions." Read more here.

The Boston Globe editorial board is taking it a step further, saying the state needs to tighten its vaccine laws, specifically criticizing the religious exemption. The Globe says only 1 percent of the state's student population has an exemption, and of those 80 percent claimed religious reasons. "The increase suggests that most people citing “religious” grounds to reject immunizations are doing so out of a personal belief. Some parents who testified at the hearing even said so themselves, citing beliefs in limiting medical intervention." Read more here.

A national outlook

The stock market careened off a cliff amid growing fears of the contagious Delta variant spreading across America. (NBC News)

Canada will open its border to fully vaccinated Americans on Aug. 9, though travelers may still be randomly tested at the border. (CIC News)

Ben & Jerry's will no longer allow its ice cream to be sold in the West Bank and east Jerusalem, saying the Vermont-based company's values are inconsistent with selling in the "Occupied Palestinian Territories." (Boston Globe)

What I'm reading today: So I haven't seen "Pig" yet, the new Nic Cage movie just released in theaters. But this Vox story on how "Pig reminds us why Nicolas Cage endures" reminds me of the brilliant weirdness of Cage.

Weather

The National Weather Service says: During the day — Mostly sunny, with a high near 86. West wind 6 to 8 mph. At night — A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8pm, then a slight chance of showers between 8pm and 9pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 67. Southwest wind 3 to 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Have a swell Tuesday.

You can email me at mike.carraggi@patch.com and follow me @PatchCarraggi.