Board Denied Public Comment To Protect Cops: Documents | Patch PM

Today is Thursday, Oct. 8. Here are some of the top stories we are covering.

The public was prevented from participating in recent Board of Health discussions about police reform following internal deliberations between the city attorney, police leaders and health department staff, emails show.

Days before an Aug. 24 Board of Health meeting featuring top police officials, City Solicitor Michael Traynor advised health department leaders they did not have to hold a public hearing to discuss 12 police reforms suggested by board member David Fort.

With that opinion, Board of Health Chair Edith Claros had the discretion to allow public comment during the meeting. Claros did not open the meeting for public comment, but did make an exception for the police union president.

Boston Teachers Union Seeks Injunction To Stop In-Person Learning

The Boston Teachers Union is seeking an injunction to stop plans that would require educators to teach in person, citing safety concerns after coronavirus infection rates passed 4%.

Boston Mayor Marty Walsh announced Wednesday that the city is putting pause on its reopening plan, but will continue allowing highest need students to learn in person.

The union argues that in-person work is now optional for teachers because of the infection rate.

Salem Sees Higher Coronavirus Rate Amid Halloween Visitor Influx

One of the state's metrics for measuring coronavirus rates pushed higher in Salem for a second straight week as the city attempts to slow the influx of visitors this Halloween season.

While the city's test-positive rate remained relatively steady at 1.28 percent, its rate of cases per 100,000 residents rose to 6.3. That keeps Salem as a "yellow" caution community in the state's latest interactive map. The city had 52 new known positive cases over the past two weeks.

According to state data, Salem's test-positive rate last week was 1.33 percent after it was 1.1 percent one week previous. Salem had 5.3 cases per 100,000 residents last week after being at 4.0 the previous two weeks.

'Anything Could Have Happened': Runner Claims He Was Racially Profiled By ICE Agents

The ACLU has taken on the case of a Roslindale man who says he was stopped and cornered by federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents while out for a jog in West Roxbury on the VFW Parkway.

"They hopped out, at least one was armed, they had on tactical vests and driving huge unmarked cars. Nobody was helping me I was by myself and anything could have happened to me," said 29-year-old Bena Apreala.

He pulled out his cell phone and began recording the encounter. One of the three men he said had an ICE patch on his shirt. The men didn't identify themselves but said he matched the description of someone they were looking for.

Also

Evacuations, Road Closures After Danvers Gas Line Struck

A gas line rupture in Danvers had some businesses evacuated and traffic diverted off Route 1 midday Thursday.

Somerville Cop Charged With Assault, Placed On Leave

Officer Michael McGrath pepper-sprayed a person who was already in custody and posed no threat to him, the Middlesex DA said.

Dozens Call For Reinstatement of Barnstable High School Principal

Superintendent Meg Mayo-Brown said she legally cannot say why Principal Patrick Clark was suspended without him signing a release first