Scandals, Scandals Everywhere: 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! I'm back on The HUB after a short staycation and a stomachful of fried seafood. Send help.

Today is Thursday, June 10. Let's get started.

They're starting to notice.

City Hall, the State House, the police department, the school committee — all are mentioned up top by Steve LeBlanc at The Associated Press in a story titled "Boston leadership tangled in series of scandals."

That's not just The Globe or Herald saying that. The AP isn't exactly known for its hyperbole.

Boston's national perception is beginning to take a beating, whether it's due to local corruption, incompetence or laziness. There seem to be new damning developments every day, and as LeBlanc notes, it's all coming down on the desk of Acting Mayor Kim Janey in the heat of a mayoral race.

Check out the top news items for more on the seemingly never-ending avalanche of bad press for the city.

And below that — see why this could suddenly matter even that much more for Janey.

3 Things You Need To Know Today

‘I didn’t ignore anything.’ Walsh defends his handling of the Dennis White appointment during House hearing

Labor Secretary Martin J. Walsh on Wednesday defended his actions surrounding the appointment of former Boston Police Commissioner Dennis White to lead the Boston Police department in his final days as Boston mayor, a decision that has been the subject of scrutiny after allegations of domestic violence against White surfaced within days of his appointment.

Republican Representative Bob Good of Virginia on Wednesday pressed Walsh on the appointment during a hearing of the House Committee on Education and Labor, suggesting he should resign and accusing Walsh of ignoring allegations of domestic violence. (Christina Prignano, Boston Globe)

Boston Schools Chair Resigns Over Racially Charged Texts

The chair of the Boston School Committee resigned Monday amid criticism of racially charged texts she shared with another member of the committee disparaging families of students, city officials announced Tuesday.

The texts were sent during a committee meeting last October as the board was considering a proposal to temporarily drop the entrance test requirement to the city’s exam schools. (Steve LeBlanc, Associated Press via GBH)

Meanwhile, Michael Jonas at Commonwealth tells it like it is: "The cover-up is always worse than the crime."

Five more linked to burgeoning Boston police pay fraud scandal, including former union president

Another five members of the Boston Police Department’s long-troubled evidence unit have been implicated in a burgeoning overtime fraud scandal, including a former police union president and the ex-wife of the city’s most recent police commissioner, records show.

Using cellphone records and forensic analysis of attendance and pay records, federal prosecutors have so far charged 13 current or former officers assigned to the evidence unit with collecting more than $270,000 in fraudulent overtime pay over a five-year period. But court documents reviewed by the Globe show that an additional five officers were the target of federal investigators, who alleged they stole a combined $36,000 over three years. However, none of those five has been charged with a crime. (Dugan Arnett and Maggie Mulvihill, Boston Globe)

Timing is everything

Without accusing anyone of anything untoward, this certainly is convenient timing.

The Boston City Council on Wednesday voted to give itself the power to remove its own president by a two-thirds vote.

Interesting, since the president is Kim Janey. Acting Mayor Kim Janey. Who is only acting mayor because she's City Council president.

To be clear, there is no indication this power would be used against Janey. But the fact remains that three of Janey's opponents — Andrea Campbell, Annissa Essaibi-George and Michelle Wu — all sit on the Council.

This one should tingle your Spidey-sense. The Boston Herald's Sean Philip Cotter has more.

While you're at it, here's a really interesting story by Adam Reilly at GBH about how Janey became acting mayor — including a major assist from Wu.

What I'm reading today: OK, let's lighten things up a bit. I'm a big baker, but most of my favorites are best for cozy fall and winter sitdowns rather than the summer heat. Epicurious has some of the best summery cookbooks for people like me who need to be told July is not the time for jelly rolls.

Weather

The National Weather Service says: During the day — Sunny, with a high near 77. North wind 8 to 10 mph becoming east in the afternoon. At night — Mostly clear, with a low around 54. Southeast wind 5 to 7 mph.

Have a swell Thursday.

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