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Happy Monday! May you start this week as hyped as the Patriots after their turnaround win.
Speaking of sports (and its fans)…
Betting on support systems: Fall is one of the busiest times of year for football fans — and for gambling. To help those vulnerable to gambling addiction, the state announced last week that it launched a new free app. The state’s director for the Office of Problem Gambling, Victor Ortiz, told WBUR’s Amy Sokolow that more people have been turning to online resources for gambling addiction support. The “E-Vive” app is meant to act as a complement to the state’s free, 24/7 multilingual helpline (800-327-5050) to provide better around-the-clock support. “ This evolution of gambling has happened in a way that we’ve gone from brick-and-mortar casinos to now access on your phone 24/7,” Ortiz said. “Technology is a vehicle for people to gain access to gambling; we felt strong that we needed to be able to match that.”
- The deets: The app provides daily check-ins, podcasts and peer support groups, as well as resources for people to seek additional help if they need it. Right now, it’s only available in English, but you can download on both iOS and Android devices.
- Related news: The new service comes amid a class action lawsuit filed last week against DraftKings. It alleges the Boston-based sports betting company has been using artificial intelligence to target people to irresponsibly gamble, which is especially harmful to those vulnerable to gambling addictions.
On the books: The Brigham and Women’s nurses union — representing 4,000 MGB nurses — has officially set a start date for their next strike: Wednesday, Oct. 14. And unlike the one-day strike in July, this one would be open-ended, unless they reach a new contract agreement before then. It’s expected to cause a bigger disruption to patient care than the last strike. Mass General Brigham told WBUR it plans to keep the hospital open with temporary workers.
- Why a second strike? The union said MGB walked away from contract negotiations in August and has refused to come back to the table since, unless the union changes its proposal. The union also filed a number of Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) violations against the hospital since July, including allegedly blocking NICU nurses from participating in the summer’s one-day strike and retaliating against nurses who participated with schedule changes. “We have repeatedly tried to get MGB to negotiate and avoid a second strike, but the billionaires who run MGB have shut the door on us,” the union said in a statement. “There is still time to reach an agreement that protects patient care and respects nurses. MGB needs to come back to the table and negotiate without preconditions.”
- What the nurses are asking for: While negotiations are largely over wages, the union also wants the new contract to provide more affordable health insurance options for nurses and include limits around the hospital’s use of temporary nurses. While on strike, the nurses will not get paid and must cover the costs of their own health insurance.
- Meanwhile: About 2,000 nurses at Boston Medical Center are considering a three-day strike over wages and staffing — but they have not set a date.
It’s radioactive, radioactive: The owner of Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station in Plymouth, which closed in 2019, says it may go to federal court after the state rejected its plans to decommission the plant — a process that would involve releasing radioactive water into Cape Cod Bay.
- Weighing the options: CAI’s Jennette Barnes says Pilgrim’s owner, Holtec International, won’t sue in state court for permission to discharge water during the decommissioning. (Its appeal to the state’s Department of Environmental Protection has already been unsuccessful due to the Ocean Sanctuaries Act.) But they may go to federal court, pegging the case on the authority of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, according to David Noyes, site vice president of Pilgrim Station at Holtec. The NRC “is the sole organization responsible for regulation of radionuclides, including liquid discharges of radionuclides,” Noyes said.
P.S.— Meet your 2026 Makers! (Digitally, and then literally.) Join us this Thursday night at CitySpace to celebrate these seven artists of color shaping the creative landscape in Boston. While they work across visual and performance art, music and literature, their common theme is that they all transcend boundaries in their mediums. The event will feature performances, readings, photos and video from the artists, plus complimentary bites for guests.
