Checking In With The Local 9: 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 Monday, July 12. Let's get started.

It was a slower news weekend and we like to start the week off with something light, so let's check in on the Red Sox as they enter the unofficial halfway point of the season.

Boston lost Saturday and Sunday, but still head into the All-Star break tied for the American League lead with 55 wins. They've got All-Star players in Xander Bogaerts, Rafael Devers, Nate Eovaldi and Matt Barnes.

The Sox just locked up Barnes to a contract extension, but that wasn't the franchise's biggest move of the weekend. Boston on Sunday night drafted Marcelo Mayer, a high school phenom who many pundits had as the top player in the draft.

Who knows how the Sox finish the season? But they've guaranteed an interesting summer of baseball — that's all we can ask for after last year.

Fireworks, finally! If you can make it to Revere Beach today — stop it, Revere Beach is not that bad — the city and state are celebrating 125 years since it became America's first public beach with music, games and a big fireworks celebration. They'll also be handing out COVID-19 vaccinations.

Speaking of beaches, keep your eyes open today for the Environment Massachusetts Research & Policy Center's annual report about which local beaches have water so contaminated that people shouldn't swim there. The announcement will come at 10 a.m.

A national look

Richard Branson took one giant leap for billionaires, flying into space on his rocket to bring the world closer to privatized space tourism. (Associated Press)

Novak Djokovic owned Wimbledon once again, tying contemporaries Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal with 20 Grand Slam victories. (CBS Sports)

Italy defeated England in the Euro Cup final, giving the Azzuri their first major international championship since the 2006 World Cup — and leaving England without one for its 55th consecutive year. (New York Times)

What I'm reading today: A menu, actually. I'm not vegan, but this new pizza place could persuade me. Matthew Kenney, who Boston Magazine says is one of the country's most famous vegan chefs, has opened Double Zero in Back Bay. Yum.

Weather

The National Weather Service says: During the day — Rain likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Patchy fog. Otherwise, cloudy, with a high near 67. Northeast wind 5 to 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible. At night — A chance of rain, mainly before 11pm. Patchy fog before 9pm. Otherwise, cloudy, with a low around 63. Northeast wind around 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible..

Have a swell Monday.

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