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LIGHTER ITEMS
First footage ever captured of the elusive “ram’s horn” squid, which can only be described as the “Beaker of the sea”: https://www.sciencealert.com/first-ever-deep-sea-footage-of-a-ram-s-horn-squid-has-scientists-freaking-out
LOCAL
Williamstown to retain embattled police chief
Town Manager Jason Hoch announced at Tuesday’s Select Board meeting that he would retain the services of Police Chief Kyle Johnson, amid calls for the termination of both men.
Chad Topaz’s statement on Racism in Williamstown:
And the insane public records request he just filed with Williamstown PD on Friday, below.
Related:
Williamstown Select Board Pleads for Patience, Asks for Respect for Police
Williamstown Prepares to Protect Potential Post-Election Protests
(Only so much the police can do against white supremacists, notes Williamstown manager.)
“Where we’re less well equipped because there is only so much we can do with 10 or 12 of our people protecting those edges is what may happen as people pass through those edges [of protests],” Hoch said.
The Eagle is reporting that Williams College reported 2 new COVID-19 cases since the last round of testing, which is really bad news for the school and the rest of us, given the enormous amount of resources that Williams has put into testing and contract tracing. I will look for a link and provide it if I find one.
North Adams Public Schools refuses to acknowledge receipt of a Greylock Glass public records request AND refuses to identify RAO for NAPS.
State tells North Adams parent that NAPS did NOT report case of COVID-19 and DESE commissioner says conversation that Superintendent Malkas claimed to have had with commissioner and assistant commissioner never took place.
Wary of ‘harsh’ tone, selectboard refuses to endorse letter blasting Great Barrington Declaration
Local news peg for a discussion of agita over tone and “civility” in our politics more broadly and how it’s a trap the Left can’t allow itself to get caught in ever again.
STATE
Gov. Baker’s stated “confusion” over ranked-choice voting is hilarious:
Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources launches the Mass MassGrown Exchange
Which is not quite as useful as the tool the Pioneer Valley based organization, CISA, has had for at least a decade:
but hey…it’s a start.
Mass Company Analyzes Wastewater for Early COVID Detection
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — As novel coronavirus cases climb, Cambridge-based tech startup Biobot is looking at an early clue lurking underground – sewage. The company is analyzing the amount of COVID-19 in local wastewater, working with hundreds of communities across the country.
Dunkin’ to Be Bought by Inspire Brands in $11.3 Billion Deal
Massachusetts-based Dunkin’ Donuts to be sold to Atlanta, Georgia -based private equity-backed Inspire Brands Inc. in a $11.3 billion deal, one of the largest transactions ever in a restaurant industry that’s being upended by the pandemic. Inspire already owns Arby’s, Buffalo Wild Wings, Sonic, Rusty Taco, someplace called Jimmy John’s.
NATIONAL
San Francisco Will Pay Artists $1,000 a Month in Universal Basic Income
(RELATED) Covid job losses lead MPs to call for trials of universal basic income
Trump leaves rally goers stranded on freezing airfield:
https://www.thedailybeast.com/trump-fans-left-stranded-by-the-hundreds-at-freezing-nebraska-airfield-after-rally and also https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/oct/29/trump-supporters-hospitalised-after-being-stranded-in-freezing-temperatures-at-late-night-rally-omaha
As someone on Twitter commented, “I hate it when metaphors are too precise.”
Biden condemns looting in Philly after the murder of Walter Wallace by police.
James Baldwin on condemning looting: “After all, you’re accusing a captive population who has been robbed of everything of looting. I think it’s obscene.”
INTERNATIONAL
The global spike in SARS-CoV-2 infections is an important international story if we have time. https://www.cnn.com/interactive/2020/health/coronavirus-maps-and-cases/
This infographic at the link is interesting to play with. Belgium with outsized deaths per 100K population? Spain just a disaster. I also have an interesting update from my Nextdoor thread about the guy in Wild Oats who pulled up his mask to speak into his cell phone.
Glenn Greenwald resigns from the Intercept after editors insist he cut back his piece on the Hunter Biden emails.
People who would have surprised me have rallied around Betsy Reed, the editor in chief, including Naomi Klein.
Reed’s statement:
Kevin Gosztola’s take:
TLC Episode 89
