It's Veterans Day. Government offices and most banks in Massachusetts are closed, metered street parking in Boston is free and liquor stores aren't allowed to open until 1 p.m. (a quirk of the state's blue laws). Click here for more on what's open and closed today. Now to the news: Get a medic: Gov. Maura Healey's office wants to make it easier for military medics to transition into civilian health care careers. On the eve of Veterans Day, the Healey administration unveiled plans for a pilot program allowing a limited number of veterans to work at certain hospitals without any additional education or training. Eric Goralnick, the state's veterans secretary, called the initiative a "win-win" for former medics transitioning back into civilian life and local hospitals facing workforce shortages. - The big picture: Across the country, thousands of military medics transition out of active duty each year, according to Goralnick. He said they are like a "Swiss Army knife for military medicine," trained in everything from emergency and ambulatory care to surgery and prescriptions. But many don't pursue careers in civilian healthcare due to the lack of an equivalent credential. "They are more than a patient care assistant," he told WBUR's Fausto Menard. "They're some combination of a nurse, a physician assistant, a doctor ... So it's a missed opportunity for people with really wonderful training to contribute to the healthcare workforce." Goralnick said the state is learning from a similar program in Virginia that has now partnered with over 50 healthcare facilities.
- Starting small: The pilot program — which still needs final approval from state health officials — would be limited to just 10 eligible veterans, focusing on "certain medication administration activities." The state will then assess how their skill sets map onto civilian healthcare roles. Goralnick hopes it will also open the door for them to explore paths like nursing school, PA school and medical school.
Power play: The Kraft Group wants to build what would be the country's fourth largest data center in the central Massachusetts town of Sutton. As The Boston Globe reports, Sutton's Select Board held a hearing on the $16 billion project last night and said they plan to hold multiple public forums on the proposal. (Every resident who spoke at last night's meeting was against the idea.) - Zoom in: According to proposal documents, the 10-building campus — constructed on property the Kraft Group already owns — would draw 900 megawatts of electricity when it's finished in 2033. (To compare, that's more electricity than the recently completed Vineyard Wind offshore wind farm is capable of generating.) At the same time, backers estimate it would generate nearly $28 million in annual tax revenue, which is nearly as much as Sutton currently collects in total property taxes in a year. Sutton's town manager said an application has yet to be filed, meaning "important details on power, water, equipment and site impacts are still to come."
- Zoom out: It would be a first for a region that currently doesn't have any large data centers. WBUR's Miriam Wasser has more context on the data center landscape in New England here.
Moving up: Massachusetts' deputy climate chief is stepping into the top role. Gov. Maura Healey appointed Aladdine Joroff as the state's new climate chief, replacing Melissa Hoffer, whose last day as the state's inaugural climate chief was Monday. Massachusetts became the first state in the country to have a cabinet-level climate chief position after Healey took office in 2023. - ICYMI: Hoffer, who starts a new job as president of Vermont Law and Graduate School next month, gave a departing address warning against pitting affordability and climate action against one another.
E-title and registration: The RMV will not let car owners use online versions of their vehicle titles. As part of "Phase 1" of a new E-Title program, the agency announced yesterday that it will let Bay Staters convert their paper titles into electronic titles, allowing to complete ownership transfers online for private car sales between fellow Massachusetts residents. (The RMV is hoping to expand the online process to dealership sales and trade-ins by next spring.) P.S.— We have an eventful few evenings ahead at CitySpace, from a New York Times Games night to a tell-all with a famous podcast co-host. Check out the schedule here. |
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