New Cause For Celebration: The HUB

The HUB is an effort to get you caught up on whatever you need to know each weekday in Boston and around Massachusetts.

Good morning! Today is Monday, June 14. Let's get started.

Massachusetts reports zero new coronavirus deaths and lowest ever single-day case count since last March

Massachusetts health officials on Sunday reported zero coronavirus deaths and 33 new virus cases, which is the Bay State’s lowest ever single-day case count since last March at the start of the pandemic.

The state keeps recording pandemic-low averages amid the vaccine rollout.

After Sunday’s report of zero COVID-19 deaths and 33 new cases, the seven-day average of confirmed deaths is four and the seven-day average of confirmed cases is 84. Both are record low averages for virus deaths and infections.

The seven-day average of percent positivity for virus testing has dropped to 0.42%, which is also a record low. (Rick Sobey, Boston Herald)

CARRAGGI'S CORNER: Even as I've gotten almost completely back to normal life, I haven't been saying the pandemic is over here. Why? Because every day, the state keeps reporting people losing their life to the virus. So this news is very welcome — it's what we need to see be the overwhelming norm going forward through the summer. The pandemic will be over when it's over for everyone. Remember to keep some compassion as we put this thing behind us.

Boston police union endorsements, once prized, shunned by some mayoral candidates

Police union endorsements once were among the most prized endorsements in the city, but now less than half of the candidates will say they actually are seeking them — though the largest union’s boss says that should be done at their own political peril.

“These endorsements were once very coveted,” said Larry DiCara, a former Boston city councilor and longtime political observer. “But the building blocks to get elected are different than they were a generation ago.”

This comes after a year of chants to “defund the police” and increasing anti-cop rhetoric from the left nationwide — plus multiple home-grown scandals that brought negative headlines for the department and the largest police union. (Sean Philip Cotter, Boston Herald)

Harvard professor Danielle Allen to launch historic bid for governor

Harvard professor Danielle Allen will launch a historic campaign for governor on Tuesday, entering the Democratic field as the first Black woman to run for the executive office as part of a major party in Massachusetts at a time when women and people of color are breaking barriers in city and state government.

Allen, 49, joins what’s likely to be a crowded primary with a hefty academic resume but no experience holding elected office. (Emma Platoff, Boston Globe)

Now this is journalism

Bless you, Spencer Buell at Boston Magazine, for this investigative masterpiece. He scoured public records to find out "the most hilarious, depraved vanity license plates rejected by Massachusetts this year." Bad news for anyone hoping to see TINYD, SATAN or PISSA on the road anytime soon.

What I'm reading today: I've mentioned a few times efforts by Pavement Coffee Shop employees to unionize. It was interesting to read why the shop owner is standing with them on GBH.

Weather

The National Weather Service says: During the day — A chance of showers, mainly after 10am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 72. South wind 7 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible. At night — Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 1am, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1am. Patchy fog after 11pm. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 61. Southeast wind 6 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Have a swell Monday.

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