Deadly Water Incidents Accompany Start Of Heat Wave: The HUB

The HUB is an effort to get you caught up on whatever you need to know each weekday in Boston and around Massachusetts.

Good morning! Today is Monday, June 7. Let's get started.

NOTE: I'm off the next couple of days, but you'll be in even better hands — those of Jenna Fisher. I'll see you later this week!

3 Things You Need To Know Today

Drowning mount as heat wave grips New England

With the state still reeling from losing a 38-year-old Worcester police officer and the 14-year-old he was trying to save in a local pond, a rash of deadly water incidents has continued over the weekend.

In Quincy, a 19-year-old Brockton man was declared dead after being pulled from the water Sunday. Shortly after that, a 68-year-old Bridgewater man drowned in Plymouth. Meanwhile, a 17-year-old is reportedly critical after an apparent drowning at a grad party.

Summer hasn't even started yet. A major heat wave is gripping Massachusetts — many schools and districts are calling for early dismissal as temperatures are expected to soar into the 90s Monday and Tuesday.

Consider taking a moment and starting your day by refreshing yourself on water safety tips. You never know when they may help avert tragedy.

Another Boston police scandal is quietly unfolding

The schemes seem ludicrously brazen.

Over a period of five years, Boston police officers routinely claimed to be working, prosecutors said, when building alarms showed facilities had been long empty. Records show officers regularly claimed to have worked eight-and-a-half-hour weekend shifts for jobs that lasted less than half that. In one instance, a longtime clerk repeatedly forged the signatures of at least three different supervisors, helping her collect some $30,000 in fraudulent overtime earnings, prosecutors said. (Dugan Arnett and Maggie Mulvihill, Boston Globe)

Best Beaches in Massachusetts – 100 Awesome Beaches in Boston and Beyond

There’s no doubt about it: Massachusetts has some of the best beach options in the country. But with so many fine choices, how to choose? Lucky for you, we’ve listed out a hundred of them here. Looking for beaches where you and your pup can hang out together? We’ve got those. Planning a bonfire with friends? No problem. (Boston Magazine)

Local voices

• Adrian Walker followed up his promotion to associate editor at The Boston Globe with a column on how Police Commissioner Dennis White's impending exit will give Acting Mayor Kim Janey a chance to handle things a bit differently. Walker's column has a bit of news in it — he notes Superintendent Nora Baston is no longer considered a lock for the position like she was when Janey first tried to fire White. Also at the Globe, Milton Valencia has a story about how White's likely legal challenge could drag on for years, dogging former mayor Marty Walsh.
• In the interest of fairness, I also submit to you Howie Carr's column at The Boston Herald in which he tries to come up with as many ways to insult Gov. Charlie Baker as possible. The "unhinged, serial-killer-like grin" was, er, a nice touch.

Sporting

It was a successful weekend in the Bronx for the Red Sox, who won in extra innings to sweep their first series of the season against the Yankees. Boston hosts Miami in a one-game makeup at 5:10 p.m. on NESN ... The Bruins will try to take a pivotal Game 5 against the New York Islanders tonight at TD Garden on NBCS.

What I'm reading today: Keeping it in sports, Brookline's own Devin Gordon wades into The Atlantic to tell us why "Baseball is Broken."

Weather

The National Weather Service says: During the day — Sunny, with a high near 95. Southwest wind 7 to 14 mph. At night — Partly cloudy, with a low around 71. Southwest wind 8 to 11 mph.

Have a swell Monday.

You can email me at mike.carraggi@patch.com and follow me @PatchCarraggi.