City Declares Racism Public Safety And Health Emergency: Patch PM

It's Thursday, June 4. The state reported 50 new deaths 471 cases of coronavirus, bringing the totals to 7,201 and 102,063, respectively. See the full report here.

Gov. Charlie Baker will announce Saturday when phase two will begin — with the earliest possible date being Monday. Indoor retail, outdoor dining, child care and other industries will be allowed to reopen, with restrictions. See the full list of what's reopening here. Some cities, like Falmouth, Melrose and Waltham, are getting creative in readying for phase two.

Here's what else is happening around Massachusetts:

Top stories

The city of Somerville officially declared systemic racism a public safety and health emergency Wednesday. Mayor Joseph Curtatone announced a 10-step plan, developed by Campaign Zero, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley and other elected officials of color, to provide "just, unbiased and compassionate policing."

The plan calls for civilian oversight of the Somerville Police Department, a push for body cameras and changes in how police misconduct are handled.

As the nation reckons with racial injustice, a local fire department placed a lieutenant on leave following a viral video that purports to show him following an Andover woman who was getting her mail "to make sure someone wasn't stealing something."

The 19-year-old dark-skinned Dominican woman, a lifelong Andover resident, captured the encounter on video (above.)

Boston has resumed construction on 3,000 affordable housing units as the state begins to move forward in its reopening plan, said Boston Mayor Marty Walsh at his news conference Thursday. The rate of recovery in Boston is now two to three times the rate of new COVID-19 cases, Walsh said.

Walsh also participated in a moment of silence for 8 minutes, 46 seconds at 3:45 p.m., the same amount of time George Floyd was on the ground in Minneapolis.

Also

Framingham Council In Beef Over Council Letterhead

The Framingham City Council is debating who can use the body's official letterhead following an exchange with Mayor Yvonne Spicer.

Kowloon Drive-In Theater Green Lit By Selectmen

The Route 1 landmark got the go-ahead to start showing movies and offering carhop service at the start of Phase 2.

Police Ask For Help With 'Shocking Animal Cruelty'

Marblehead police said a turtle and rabbit have been found with arrows in them this week.

Manslaughter Charge In Worcester Shooting Death: DA

Djarflo Irving, 37, is set to be charged with manslaughter in the Dec. 10 shooting death of Suheil Ortiz, 21.

Read of the day

As Nation Confronts Old Demons, A 1770 Slaying Is Recalled — Like George Floyd, he was black, in his mid-40s, and died at the hands of a white man. And like Floyd, he may have also helped touch off a revolution.

Sports

— Basketball is back, almost. The NBA approved a plan to restart the season, inviting 22 teams, including the Celtics, to Orlando to resume play in mid-summer. Read more about the details here.

— Patriots twins Devin and Jason McCourty called out Saints quarterback Drew Brees for the former MVP's comments on not kneeling during the National Anthem. "This is a disgrace!" the brothers said. Brees has since apologized.

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