This is WBZ, Boston's news radio. We defining local news eighty six degrees in Boston at four o'clock. Good afternoon, I'm Ben Parker. Here's what's happening.
Republicans are applauding the passage of President Trump's Big, Beautiful bill in the House of Representatives this afternoon. Speaker Mike Johnson says his party had a vision for the bill and that it will cause real positive change.
I believe in the people that are standing here behind me.
I believe in this group, every single one of them individuals.
Some of them are more fun to deal with than others, you know.
And just two House Republicans voted no on the bill after Johnson spent the night winning over the Republican holdouts. The budget package is full of tax breaks and spending cuts the programs like Medicaid. Massachusetts lawmakers have condemned the passage of the bill, Senator Elizabeth Warren posting Republicans in the House just cheered as they voted to kick seventeen
million people off their healthcare. Congressman Jay coockincloss the bill is bad for Massachusetts and unfair to the middle class. President Tromp has set a signing for tomorrow evening at the White House. The nation's highest court has agreed to review a case on transgender students and their participation in school sports. Justice to say they'll review lower court rulings in favor of transgender athletes in Idaho and West Virginia.
The case highlights a broader national debate, with more than two dozen states in acting laws restricting transgender women and girls from participating in certain sports. Some of the laws have been blocked in court. Like a motto rocket or a Roman candle, a lot of Americans are taken off for the fourth.
More than seventy two million Americans will fly or drive somewhere to celebrate the Fourth of July holiday. Mellory is heading to the mountains of South Carolina.
Renting a cabin with friends.
This year, we've got a pool, so I think we're going to spend a lot of time by the pool, jus parks, hiking, sight seeing, hopefully fireworks.
Yes.
Triple ASA's average Fourth of July gas prices are the lower they've been for the holiday in four years. Jim Chrysuli, CBS News, Lambsburg, Virginia.
The Boston Pop switching things up for the annual Independence Day celebration on the Esplanade. Wbz's Jeremy Russ explains what's different this time around the show.
We'll start with a concert featuring guests like Grammy singer ly Anne Rhymes and Hamilton star Leslie Odom Junior at seven o'clock tomorrow night, which is an hour earlier than last year. The fireworks will also start a bit early, closer to nine forty instead of ten thirty per usual. It's all happening at the Hatshell on the Charles River Esplanade. You have to get there early, very early if you want the best seats. The Oval, which is the grassy
area near the Hatshell, opens at noon. Jeremy Russ WBZ Boston's News Radio Standing the ground, but that ground might become shakier. A paid dispute has led public defenders in Massachusetts to refuse to take new cases. Now, a justice on the state Supreme Judicial Court has ruled that it's time to move forward, implementing the La Valley Protocol, which creates a process for releasing defenders who do not have the appropriate representation and potentially dismissing cases after a set
time limit. The Justice had also asked to order a pay increase for bar advocates. However, she denied the request, writing it is not the duty. It is the duty of the legislature to set such rates. We have a severe thunderstorm watch that has been posted until ten o'clock tonight. Except for the Cape and Islands, we are expecting to get underneath a few showers or gusty storms as the afternoon and evening unfold.
So far, on the radar, we've been fairly clean, although now we're starting to see that activity pop especially out into western Massachusetts. Southern Berkshire is getting under a storm. We've got a few more storms popping up across parts of central Connecticut, so we'll watch all of this. Vermontsco got a couple of storms popping up too, So here we go. I'm going to get this thing revved up as we head through the latter part of the afternoon
and into the evening. But eventually we'll push the storm through, push the storm out, and bring in some clear skies. Tonight sixty six in Boston, upper fifties for the inland suburbs, and then it looks like we're pretty home free for the holiday weekend. Tomorrow mid eighties with some sunshine, low humidity, Saturday mid to upper eighties with some sunshine, a little bit, higher humidity but not bad, and then Sunday turning hot end somewhat even more humid, sun and clouds ninety two.
Right now, we're at eighty six degrees in Boston. Some people like to take their pets on vacation, and there's only two better places for pet friendly hotels in the country than an historic Boston hotel. As we hear from WBZ Sherry Small.
The Fairmont Copley Plaza and Back Bay took third place in USA Today's Reader's Choice Awards for rolling out the red carpet for its furry guests.
His name's Bubba.
We rescued him.
He's an American bulldog, but he's not pure bread, so we're not quite sure exactly what he is.
Devin traveled to Boston from Bermuda.
And he chose here because we know the Fairmont's always really great with dogs. They've been very welcoming to Bubba.
Some of the pet friendly perks, so.
There's a doggy menu, which is exorbitantly expensive but hilariously cute.
One of those menu items codfish and caviar.
And it's just nice when you walk in with your dog and everyone's friendly and says hi. Nobody gives you the side eye or wonders whether or not you should be here. So yeah, it makes all the difference.
From back base. Sherry Small, WBZ, Boston's news Radio.
I love to get my codfish and caviar at the hotel. The Canadian government says it's taking steps to protect the endangered North Atlantic right whale. The whales migrate to New England and Canada every year to feed the wildlife, often struck though by passing ships or they become entangled in fishing gear. There are only three hundred and seventy right whales left. Canada is now enforcing mandatory protections this summer,
including speed restrictions in many areas off the coast. Well, apparently wait means something when you're shoveling hot dogs down your gullet. The official way in taking place today for the Nathan's famous Fourth of July hot dog eating contest in Coney Island.
Joey Chesnutt, who has dominated this event over the years, will be once again taking part after he was banned from the contest last year over an endorsement deal with a rival, Chestnut eight a world record eighty three hot dogs and buns in just ten minutes last year during a different contest than Nathan's defending women's champion. Meanwhile, Miki sudo she'll be trying to pick up another mustard belt.
That is correspondent's got pringle. You are now in the loop for news updates throughout the day. Listen to WBZ News Radio on the iHeartRadio app. I'm Ben Parker, WBZ, Boston's news radio