The North Shore's Link To Boston Could Face A Threat: 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.

Today is Wednesday, June 16. Let's get started.

3 Things You Need To Know Today

The Blue Line Was Named For Boston Harbor. Now The Sea Threatens The Service

Tidal flats and marshland once surrounded much of Boston, swelling and soaking as the rain fell and tides ebbed and flowed. But over the course of the city's nearly 400 years, those sensitive areas were slowly filled in to make more buildable land, leaving just 200 acres of wild marsh along the border between Boston and Revere.

It's here at Belle Isle Marsh that the future of the Blue Line could be determined.

On a recent afternoon, Julie Wormser, deputy director of the Mystic River Watershed Association, walked through Belle Isle, an ecological oasis and rare urban wild in Boston. (Simón Rios, WBUR)

ALSO: Why Do We Need the Bowdoin Stop, Anyway? (Spencer Buell, Boston Magazine)

Pressley urges Mass. lawmakers to reallocate funding away from school police

US Representative Ayanna Pressley this week called on Massachusetts lawmakers to pull funding away from school-based law enforcement and instead invest in counselors, nurses, social workers, and other trained professionals.

In written testimony submitted Monday to the state’s Joint Committee on Racial Equity, Civil Rights, and Inclusion, Pressley urged the lawmakers to prioritize legislation to “dismantle the school-to-confinement nexus.” (Felicia Gans, Boston Globe)

Money, Money, Money: The Race For Boston City Hall

Acting Mayor Kim Janey led the field of the six major mayoral candidates in fundraising for May with $162,794, but remains behind Michelle Wu and Andrea Campbell in total cash raised. The two city councilors each have raised about $1.2 million.

At-Large Councilor Annissa Essaibi George brought in the second most with $151,024; followed by Campbell with $116,655; Wu with $107, 217; former economic development chief John Barros with $78,806; and South End State Rep. Jon Santiago with $77,522.

The May numbers come as the Sept. 14 preliminary contest heads into its last hundred days. Money raised, spent, and held on hand can make or break a candidate’s ability to communicate a message and build constituencies. (Saraya Wintersmith, GBH)

Do You Have What It Takes?

All that combing and conditioning is finally about to pay off. Boston Casting is looking for a man over the age of 30 with a unibrow for an upcoming movie musical — perhaps the Ryan Renolds/Will Ferrell reimagining of "A Christmas Carol," Dana Gerber ponders at The Boston Globe.

What I'm reading today: I've been waiting roughly forever for Massachusetts to legalize sports betting. Now, after the rest of New England has zoomed past us, lawmakers are set to hold a hearing on the topic Thursday. Shira Schoenberg has more at CommonWealth.

Weather

The National Weather Service says: During the day — Sunny, with a high near 76. Northwest wind around 8 mph. At night — Mostly clear, with a low around 53. West wind 3 to 5 mph.

Have a swell Wednesday.

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