Major Demand On Mail-In Voting May Mean Record Turnout: Patch PM

Today is Monday, Oct. 5. Here are some of the top stories we are covering today.

With less than a month until the election, Secretary of State William Galvin on Monday urged voters to make a plan and not wait if they anticipate casting their ballot by mail to ensure that their vote gets counted.

Galvin said that more than 1.6 million registered voters have already requested mail-in ballots, and he predicted that number could grow as fear of a fall surge of coronavirus infections grows and the state's daily COVID-19 case count has produced "unsettling numbers" in recent days.

Mail-in ballots are due to arrive to all cities and towns by Monday, and Galvin said it's his goal to see all of those ballots mailed and received by voters who have requested them by the end of the week.

"No voter should have to compromise their safety to participate in this election, and I don't believe anyone will," Galvin said at a State House press conference where he kicked off what he called a "very important week" for the state's election system.

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Other top stories

Traffic Shut Down For Patriots' Mad Dash To Logan

The Patriots have left for Kansas City with plans for an impromptu Monday night football contest against the Chiefs after New England's morning tests all came back negative for the coronavirus. The team is scheduled to travel, play and return home all in the same day.

The last-second itinerary changes forced a mad dash to Logan Airport Monday morning. State Police provided an escort — which a police spokesman later said was paid for by the team — and briefly shut down traffic on I-93. The Patriots used two jets to fly to Missouri, a precaution to minimize possible spread.

Regal Cinemas Are Closing All MA Theaters Thursday

Cineworld Group is closing all its Regal Cinemas theaters across the country, shuttering 10 locations in Massachusetts.

Theaters in Boston, Bellingham, Hyannis, Lanesboro, Mashpee, Swansea, Kingston, Marlboro, Springfield and Taunton will close while the cinema industry finds its way through the COVID-19 pandemic. Just days earlier, the newest James Bond movie was postponed until spring, the latest major movie delay to cripple theater chains.

Regal Cinemas started opening late in the summer, but weren't able to sustain operations. The theaters are going to close as early as Thursday. Cineworld did not say when they would reopen.

MBTA Subway Ridership At About 25% Of Pre-Pandemic Levels

Layoffs, fare hikes and service cuts are all on the table when it comes to balancing the MBTA budget. The board met Monday to discuss a projected budget shortfall of as much as $577 million next year.

Fewer people are riding the buses, subways and trains as they continue to work from home. Ridership on the subway is at 24.5 percent of pre-pandemic levels; on buses it's about 40 percent.

"We have a little bit of an increase heading into September and throughout September it has been relatively steady," General Manager Steve Poftak said.

Also

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Chemical Leak Prompts Evacuation At Boston College

Police said a liter bottle of hydrogen-sulphide leaked into a lab vent.

Falmouth High School Goes Remote After Student Party

Principal Mary Gans said she is "profoundly disappointed" in the Falmouth High School students for putting the school community at risk.

Ugly Stretch Of Route 9 To Get Repaved

Lanes will be closed along Route 9 between Framingham and Natick for badly needed repairs.

Increase In Hopkinton Lawn Signs Brings More Complaints

Over the last six months, Hopkinton residents have been using lawn signs to express themselves, but its brought more complaints.

Moove It Along: Westborough Cattle Caught Grazing On Lawn

Police were called to an utterly unique set of trespassers.

Foxborough Firefighters Battle Massive Fire At Old Mill

Firefighters also found utility poles, a transformer and a mobile home all on fire.

Worcester May Create Ballpark Authority To Oversee WooSox Home

City Manager Edward Augustus Jr. wants the City Council to create the Worcester Ballpark Authority to oversee city property.