Vax Deadline Looms For Hospital Workers: 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 Thursday, October 7. Let's get started.

Hundreds of hospital workers' jobs could be in jeopardy as the deadline approaches to provide proof of vaccination at several Massachusetts facilities.

At Mass General Brigham, more than 95 percent of workers have been vaccinated, leaving about 4,000 who must get their shots by the Oct. 15 deadline, the Boston Globe reported. Beth Israel Lahey Health, meanwhile, has a deadline of Oct. 31 and about 3,000 employees who have not shown proof of vaccination, according to the Globe.

Some hospitals, like UMass Memorial Health Care, worry the quality of care will dip if there are mass firings. Employees there have until Nov. 1 to get fully vaccinated.

If "we have to let go of unvaccinated workers, that unfortunately will impact our ability to provide the care and services to the people of our region," spokesman Tony Berry told the Globe.
"We will do everything we can to not have to resort to program closures, but...we may have no other choice."

Read more from the Boston Globe.

Top stories

A "groundbreaking" voting reform package passed the state Senate on Wednesday. The bill would make permanent many pandemic-era expansions, including mail-in voting, early voting and same-day voter registration. The House, which voted in June to make vote-by-mail permanent, will have to counter with a new bill. (Boston Herald)

Youth hockey refs are mad as hell, and they're not going to take it anymore. Massachusetts Hockey said it's down about 900 referees from before the pandemic, due largely to the abuse officials are getting from coaches, parents and players. The shortage has led to game cancellations in some instances. (NBC Boston)

Columbus Day is out in Boston after acting Mayor Kim Janey signed an executive order officially recognizing the holiday as Indigenous Peoples Day. Boston isn't alone in making the switch – Somerville, Cambridge, Brookline, Newton and Amherst have all opted in recent years to observe Indigenous Peoples Day. (Boston Patch)

Cambridge Public Schools is the second Massachusetts school district to enact a vaccine mandate for eligible students. Students must be vaccinated by the end of November; those who don't can still attend class, but won't be able to take part in extracurriculars. (WBUR)

Local voices

"Reckless drivers and truckers cannot be allowed to terrorize commuters. One possible count could be negligent operation. Other charges could be added. Something needs to be done to send a message." - Boston Herald Editorial Staff

"Everyone wants the humanitarian crisis at 'Mass. and Cass' to disappear. But so far, the people at the center of that crisis have nowhere to go, even if they wanted to leave." - Joan Vennochi, Boston Globe

The show (doesn't) go on

Thursday night's "Mamma Mia!" show at the North Shore Music Theatre in Beverly was canceled after stagehands went on strike late in the afternoon. Stagehands walked out of the production around 4:15 p.m. during the dress rehearsal of what was supposed to be the first night of the show.

The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees said the workers are upset over low wages. Unionized actors and musicians followed the stagehands, and the remaining cast and crew refused to cross the picket line, the union said. (Beverly Patch)

Moooove over

It was bovine bedlam in a Holden neighborhood Wednesday, where a herd of cattle went for a stroll in the middle of the street, "mooing, and pooing, and peeing," one neighbor told NBC Boston.

What I'm reading today: I always say "The Sopranos" is the one show I wish I could erase my memory of and watch again for the first time (please keep the Jersey jokes to a minimum). But it pains me to admit "The Many Saints of Newark" was underwhelming. Decent mob movie, bad "Sopranos" property.

Still, it was fun getting to see some other actors take on these iconic roles. The Ringer's Alison Herman ranks her favorites.

Weather:

The National Weather Service says mostly sunny, with a high near 73. West wind around 6 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon.

Patchy fog before 4am, then patchy fog after 5am. Otherwise, mostly clear, with a low around 58. Southwest wind around 6 mph becoming light and variable.

– Alex Newman

About me: Alex is a Jersey transplant covering Arlington, Malden, Medford, Reading and Somerville for Patch. A graduate of Northeastern University, Alex has lived in the Boston area since college (though he still hasn't been able to bring himself to root for the Sox). He is an avid football and baseball fan, amateur woodworker and film geek. Alex lives in Chelsea with his fiancée, their dog and a revolving door of foster puppies.