Schools Should Reopen With A Watchful Eye, Harvard Says: Patch PM

Today is Wednesday, July 22. Here are some of the stories we are covering around Massachusetts.

Harvard experts are now weighing in on how schools should plan to reopen in the fall, an increasingly important topic with the start of the school year just weeks away.

Schools planning to reopen should follow guidance based on the number of new daily coronavirus cases in its district or county, Harvard researchers said in a study released Monday. The guidance has four levels — green, yellow, orange and red — to correspond with numbers of new cases and priorities schools should have for reopening. Schools are also encouraged to look at neighboring districts' and counties' numbers.

Any recommended school reopening hinges on the school becoming "pandemic resilient learning spaces," meaning they have upgraded air ventilation and filtration systems, have proper sanitary and hygiene procedures, and enforce social distancing.

Districts with the lowest risk fall into the green category, meaning there is less than one daily new case per 100,000 people in their district or county. The experts say schools in this category can reopen fully, as long as buildings meet the resilience standards.

Read the full story here

Also Across MA

Elizabeth Warren's New Role: Key Joe Biden Policy Adviser

Joe Biden accused Elizabeth Warren last year of holding an "angry, unyielding viewpoint." She embraced that label and slammed Biden as "naive" for thinking he could work with Republicans as president. She warned Democrats against picking a "Washington insider" and pointedly refused to endorse Biden until weeks after exiting the race.

Now, those bitter primary clashes are a distant memory.

Warren, a Massachusetts senator and leading progressive, has become an unlikely confidant and adviser to Biden, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee. They talk every 10 days or so, according to aides to both politicians who spoke on condition of anonymity to freely describe their relationship. Those forums have provided opportunities for Warren to make a case on top policy issues to Biden, who ran a more centrist primary campaign.

Gloucester Reopening Beach Parking Lots To Nonresidents

Gloucester is reopening its beach parking lots to people who don't live in the city this weekend, a week after closing them off following an out-of-control beach rush.

Good Harbor Beach and Wingaersheek Beach parking lots will operate at a reduced capacity to residents and a limited number of nonresidents. The Stage Fort Park parking lot is also being reopened to the public.

The parking lots were closed last weekend after complaints of traffic, parking and littering. Gloucester police issued by far a record number of parking tickets.

Also

Mookie Betts About To Get Richest MLB Deal In History: Report

The Los Angeles Dodgers are reportedly close to giving Betts the deal the Red Sox never did.

Attorney For Man Charged With Killing Yarmouth Officer Wants Charges Reduced

Thomas Latanowich's lawyer is arguing to reduce his client's first-degree murder charge. Sgt. Sean Gannon was fatally shot April 12, 2018.

Recovery Center Under Development In Malden

The Gavin Foundation and Malden Overcoming Addiction are collaborating on the Bridge Recovery Center in Malden.

Framingham School Official's Race Discrimination Suit Dismissed

The former employee claimed a coworker used the N-word in front of him, among other incidents.

Malden Man Accused Of Pandemic Assistance Fraud

Wagner Sozi, 32, was indicted on federal charges of using stolen identities to falsely claim Pandemic Unemployment Assistance benefits.

Burlington Schools Condemn Online Racism By Students

District leaders encouraged parents to keep track of their children's online activity, in response to unspecified online bigotry.

'Look At The Size Of It!' Father, Son On Boat Have Close Encounter With Shark

Scott Popkowski and his 11-year-old son Owen were boating about 300 yards off Truro's Head Of The Meadow Beach on Monday.