This is WBZ, Boston's news radio, redefining local news.
That sun is popping out him in some pretty heavy clouds out there after a little bit of rain. Breezy today, time year, seventy degrees aki weather coming up right now, fifty seven in downtown Boston, and we start in Boston. The Boston City Council is expected to vote today on the mayor's initiative to protect homeowners in the city from
seeing a dramatic spike in their property tax bills. Her home rule petition had increased commercial property tax rates beyond what's currently allowed under state law, which is why the mayor had to file a home rule petition with a state legislature. She needs their support, along with the support of the Boston City Council. It's been a tough go. A council meeting yesterday reflected that tensions remain high on a device issue, highlighted by pushback from business owners in
the City of Boston. The vote today is on the revised plan on taxes after a compromise with business groups. Keep it here. As soon as there is a vote, if there is one, we will let you know. We do have some new numbers on the US economy, It grew at a healthy two point eight percent annual rate for the last half of this year. ABC's Jim Ryan has that.
The Commerce Department says the gross domestic product the total output of goods and services, did slow slightly from the previous quarter, but economists sy the latest figure still reflects surprising durability in the economy. On the downside, Americans have racked up record credit card debt to deal with rising prices.
One facet of this growth comes from consumer spending. Despite high inflation, we're bringing it down. You and I were still spending, and that really helped the GDP on its own. Consumer spending accelerated last quarter as well. Hundreds of the striking hotel workers in Boston could be back on the job by Friday morning, pending the results of a new contract vote. This afternoon. Wbz's James Rojas is in downtown crossing.
With that union members are going to vote on whether to ratify a tentative agreement with four Hilton hotel properties. If approved, around six hundred workers will be back to their normal duties bright and early Friday morning. Unit here Local twenty six says in the meantime, picking lines outside the two striking Hilton properties are suspended. The tentative agreement is said to achieve the same standard of wages and benefits set by Omni Hotel and Resorts and its workers
in downtown Crossing. James Rojas, WBZ Boston's News Radio.
Updating the stubborn rush fires burning in dozens of places across Massachusetts for yet another day. The statewide fire mobilization plan is sent firefighters and apparatus to Salem and Middleton, Boxborough, and Stotem. The State Department of Fires Services telling WBZ News Radio crews have about fifty percent contained the fire in Salem Woods that was a large fire. Another large fire is about ninety five percent contained in Salem, and the Mayor of Salem says at this point they have
no plans to cancel or postpone any Halloween festivities. We're starting to see temps in the sixties right now Walpole and Norwood, cloudy in sixty, sun starting to appear through the clouds in the greater Boston area, and Boston will see a high today near seventy degrees. We do have a little bit of a worrisome breeze out there with
those wildfires. Tonight cloudy fifty seven in Boston, and then Halloween tomorrow sunny breeze warm seventy seven degrees in Boston, the record eighty one set back in nineteen forty six. Nearly twenty years after decades of sexual abuse was uncovered in the Catholic Church in Boston, Medecin releases its first report on what it's doing to protect minors, but local
advocates say it falls short. Boston Archdia says Cardinal jan O'Malley leading the commission behind this report fifty pages of it, and it outlines steps the Catholic Church needs to take, including a streamline process for removing clergy from office and reparations for victims. A Boston attorney was represented hundreds of victims tells The Globe the report is just an academic exercise. He says, the church cannot police itself. Meantime, Cardinal O'Malley
is set to retire tomorrow. You will hold a prayer service tonight for his replacement. Vice President Kamala Harris just responded to an apparent gaff from President Biden moments ago. The Vice President says she strongly disagrees with criticizing people over who they vote for. This comes in response to President Biden weighing in on a racist joke made at a mega rally over the weekend in New York, and ABC's Rachel Scott has.
That Republicans seizing on the President's words, accusing him of calling Trump's supporters garbage.
Breaking news for you, mister president.
You may not have heard this.
Just moments ago, Joe Biden stated that our supporters are garbage.
Biden even taking the social media to clarify, writing earlier today, I referred to the hateful rhetoric about Puerto Rico spewed by Trump's supporter at his Madison Square Garden rally as garbage, which is the only word I can think of to describe it. His demonization of Latinos is unconscionable. That's all I meant to say.
The Trump campaign has said it does not agree with a joke which referred to Puerto Rico as a floating island of garbage. Last night, vin's president Harris gave her closing argument speech at an infamous spot on the National Mall.
Her message about this election was clear, it will probably be the most important vote you ever cast, she spoke at the same spot where on January sixth, she said Donald Trump sent an armed mob to the United States Capital to overturn the will of the American people.
This is someone who is unstable, obsessed with revenge, consumed with grievance.
Adding it is time for new generation of leadership, and she is ready to offer that leadership as President. Lindy Kenyon, CBS News Washington.
You are now in the loop for news updates throughout the day. Listen to WBZ News Radio on the iHeartRadio app. I'm Laurie Kirby, WBZ, Boston's news radio