Methadone Mile A Cautionary Tale: 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 alex.newman@patch.com.

Today is Tuesday, September 28. Let's get started.

Massachusetts lawmakers debated supervised drug consumption sites Monday as a means of curbing fatal overdoses.

The deteriorating situation on Methadone Mile, where drug use, homelessness and violence has ramped up this year, was cited as the type of scenario that supervised injection sites could help avoid, the State House News Service reported.

"There are unsafe consumption sites all over the commonwealth, all over the state and the nation where people are openly using drugs with no medical assistance, no resources, nothing to prevent overdoses or help people get off drugs," Matthew McLaughlin, city council president in Somerville, which is making a push to be the first community in Massachusetts to establish such a site, said. "Mass. and Cass exists right now. And it’s exactly why we need new thinking on how to address this problem."

Proponents say the supervision of medical professionals can help prevent disease and encourage treatment.

But such sites have not been without their detractors. Former U.S. Attorney Andrew Lelling said they are prohibited under federal law, and an effort to open one in Philadelphia was shot down by Appeals Court judges earlier this year.

Read more from the State House News Service.

Top stories

UMass is investigating a threatening email sent to several Black student groups on its Amherst campus. It's the latest in a series of reported racist incidents on campus, which includes an instance last month when someone drove by a group of Black students and shouted anti-Black slurs at them. (Boston Globe)

Two Northeastern University rowing coaches helped pull a man to safety after he drove off Memorial Drive and into the Charles River. Investigators believe the 23-year-old suffered a medical episode, narrowly missing a woman and her child on a nearby path before crashing into the water. (WCVB)

Authorities have attributed a surge in killings across the country to increased psychological and financial pressure brought on by the pandemic, but Boston's violent crime numbers have actually fallen during that time. The city had 32 homicides through September, a 28.9 percent drop from the same time last year. (Boston Herald)

Local voices

"The closest Congress has come in decades to creating a pathway to permanent legal residency for millions of immigrants rested in the fate of an unknown US Senate officer. But last week, she summarily dashed their hopes — and that of Democrats, who had tried to pass major immigration revisions through the budget reconciliation process." - Marcela García, Boston Globe

"From an economic perspective, the bill will have harmful consequences for Massachusetts. The Boston area boasts more than 1,000 biopharmaceutical companies ranging from startups to large companies. In recent years, Massachusetts biotechnology firms made up nearly half of all US initial public offerings in the biotech sector." - William Smith, Commonwealth Magazine

A lighter touch wallet

Hoping to score some last-minute tickets to the Pats-Bucs game this weekend? Plan on bringing your checkbook.

The priciest seats – behind the visitor's bench – are listed at over $5,000. And if you're staying the night, you'll be shelling out nearly $3,000 for a classic room at the Marriott at Patriot Place.

The cheapest tickets start at $425. For that price tag, you'll practically be at cruising altitude.

Read more from the Boston Herald.

Hot deal

$399,000: That's how much Melrose's second-cheapest listing is going for. Not bad for a city where the median price of a single-family home is $535,000.

There's just one thing.

"In what seems like an unnecessary flex for the at times farcical Massachusetts real estate market, a home that just this summer had a fire tear through it is for sale.

The charred, boarded-up house at 20 Berkley St. hit the market last week with an asking price of $399,000, according to real estate website Redfin. It hosted group showings over the weekend." (Patch)

What I'm reading today: After decades of allegations running the gamut from sexual abuse to child pornography, R. Kelly was convicted of racketeering and faces up to life in prison. (Washington Post)

Weather:

A chance of showers, mainly after 11am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 70. Southwest wind around 6 mph becoming north in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

A slight chance of showers before 11pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 53. North wind 5 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent.