What Bostonians need to know this week, from health care to playoff baseball
Hello, Boston. Welcome to the first full week of fall and the last week of September. It was a weird weekend.
What you missed over the weekend:
The president:
Between threatening North Korea and chiding Sen. John McCain, President Donald Trump instigated a war of words over the weekend with not one, but two professional sports leagues: the NBA and the NFL, the latter of which responded with widespread demonstrations of solidarity during the national anthem. A number of NFL owners, including Robert Kraft, also condemned the comments by Trump, who continued to tweet Sunday afternoon.
Local angle: The Patriots beat the Houston Texans on a last-second Tom Brady touchdown pass to newly ordained Patriots receiver Brandin Cooks. Before the game, more than a dozen Patriots players knelt during the anthem. Defensive captain Devin McCourty eloquently explained why. Brady and Bill Belichick, not so much.
New ban: With the previous travel ban set to expire, Trump announced a new policy Sunday night that will affect citizens of eight countries beginning Oct. 18.
On the opioid epidemic: Boston will offer recovering drug addicts financial support to help with their housing, educational and employment needs. Mayor Marty Walsh says the program is the first of its kind in the nation.
Maria: Officials in Puerto Rico say the U.S. territory has been set back decades by the devastation of Hurricane Maria. Elizabeth Warren is among a number of senators urging Congress to move forward on a relief package for the island. Here’s where the storm appears to be headed next.
Lighter news: Somerville commemorated the 100th anniversary of the supposed invention of Marshmallow Fluff this weekend with a special edition of their annual Fluff Festival, which as always featured an eclectic array of marshmallow creme-infused food and drink.
What to know this week:
Vote Tuesday:
Mayor Marty Walsh faces Tito Jackson and two other lesser-known challengers in Tuesday’s preliminary mayoral election. Turnout is expected to be low. Consider that a challenge.
Graham-Cassidy: The prospects of Republicans’ last-ditch effort to dismantle the Affordable Care Act look dicey after GOP Sens. John McCain, Susan Collins and Ted Cruz all suggested they will oppose the current bill. But late Sunday, a revised version of the bill funneled more money to both Collins’s home state of Maine and Alaska, where Sen. Lisa Murkowski has staunchly opposed it. Will the changes be enough to save the legislation?
Related primetime viewing: Sens. Bernie Sanders and Amy Klobuchar will debate health care with Sens. Lindsey Graham and Bill Cassidy live Monday night on CNN. There’s a meta-debate over which side is walking into the other’s trap. Either way, it’s an event with somewhat higher stakes than your typical weeknight TV show.
Final stretch: After sweeping the Reds this weekend, the Red Sox’s magic number to clinch the AL East is down to three games. They’ll be home all week (see below) as the MLB wraps up its regular season.
What’s happening in Boston:
Bass wizard:
That’s how Boston.com correspondent Perry Eaton describes Thundercat, the bassist and Kendrick Lamar collaborator who will be showcasing his modern funk Monday and Tuesday at the Paradise.
Tis the season: Far From the Tree Cider is holding its annual release party for Ectoplasm — an eerily green kiwi, jalapeño, and bell pepper cider — at its Salem tasting room Wednesday. And to really tie the theme together, they’ll be showing Ghostbusters on the big screen at 8 p.m.
Still rocking: Pink Floyd co-founder Roger Waters is bringing his talents to the TD Garden Wednesday and Thursday night. The 74-year-old’s US + Them tour is actually getting pretty good reviews.
Movie night: MIT is screening the 2014 Laura Poitras-directed documentary, Citizen Four, on the story behind Edward Snowden’s leak of classified documents revealing a web of global surveillance programs. The event begins at 6 p.m. Thursday at the MIT List Visual Arts Center.
Attention fried food aficionados: The Topsfield Fair opens Friday for the first of its week-and-a-half-long run through October 9.
This (not last) Friday night: Katy Perry is at the TD Garden. She will also be there Saturday, but that didn’t fit as neatly into a clever header.
‘Boston’s biggest block party’: The Berklee Beantown Jazz Festival takes over six blocks of Columbus Avenue from noon to 6 p.m. Saturday for its free annual celebration of music, diversity, food, and crafts.
This week’s Patriots schedule:
Week 4: Sunday, Oct. 1: 1 p.m. versus the Carolina Panthers on Fox
This week’s Red Sox schedule:
Monday, Sept. 25: 7:10 p.m. versus the Toronto Blue Jays on NESN
Tuesday, Sept. 26: 7:10 p.m. versus the Toronto Blue Jays on NESN
Wednesday, Sept. 27: 7:10 p.m. versus the Toronto Blue Jays on NESN
Thursday, Sept. 28: 7:10 p.m. versus the Houston Astros on NESN
Friday, Sept. 29: 7:10 p.m. versus the Houston Astros on NESN
Saturday, Sept. 30: TBD versus the Houston Astros on NESN
Sunday, Oct. 1: 3:05 p.m. versus the Houston Astros on NESN
