Axios Boston

Even though we’re set for a potentially record-breaking cold snap this weekend, last month marked one of the warmest Januarys on record, with an average temperature well above freezing.

Why it matters: While it might be nice to have an atypically balmy winter instead of mountains of snow, warmer air means more pests and challenges for the winter recreation and timber industries.

• The first month of 2023 averaged 37.8°F, making it the fifth warmest January since accurate record-keeping began in 1872.
• 2020 was slightly warmer at 38°F and the warmest it's ever been in January was 39.3°F in 1913.

The big picture, via Axios' Andrew Freedman: With human-caused climate change, winters are warming faster than summers in much of the U.S., and the warmth throughout the northeast last month was noteworthy and consistent with that trend.

• Winter average temperatures in the region are increasing around 160% faster than the overall annual averages, according to the state.

❄️ Warmer temperatures have already decreased our likelihood of seeing snow-covered white Christmases in New England.

• But hotter summers are also already here, with Nantucket notching a July last year that was 4.6°F hotter than average for the island.

A climate report issued last year forecast that Massachusetts' warmest days will continue to feel hotter and hotter.

• What felt like a hot 81°F day historically will feel like 94°F in 2050 and even 99°F in 2070.

Yes, but: Jack Frost is back in a big way starting later today, when a blast of arctic air will ruin everyone's weekend and send temperatures into the negative single digits.

A new federal lawsuit against Massachusetts education leaders claims the state lets vocational and technical schools "systematically exclude" at-risk students.

The big picture: Votechs have been described as game-changers for low-income, nonwhite students seeking stable, well-paying careers in the trades. But advocates argue the admissions process is booting eligible candidates who fall under those categories.

Driving the news: The civil complaint was filed by Lawyers for Civil Rights on behalf of education advocates and two high school students of color.

• Advocates are calling the admissions process at votech schools discriminatory and asking the U.S. Department of Education to intervene.

Zoom in: The schools use a ranking system to admit applicants based on grades, attendance, interviews and other factors. Like private schools, they typically only accept the highest-ranking students, the complaint says.

• Advocates say the ranking system undermines traditionally marginalized groups like students who are nonwhite, low-income, English language learners and disabled — all of whom are protected under federal law.

By the numbers: Of students who applied to votech schools for the 2022-2023 school year, 55% of the students of color were offered admission, compared to 69% of the white students, the complaint states, citing state data.

• 54% of students from economically disadvantaged families received offers compared to 72% of their peers, per the complaint.
• 44% of English language learners got offers, compared to 64% of non-ELLs.
• 54% of students with disabilities received admissions offers compared to 65% of students without disabilities.

The state Department of Early and Secondary Education said in a statement it is reviewing the lawsuit and “cannot comment on the allegations at this time.”

💵 Just in time for bone-chilling temperatures, the state ordered utility companies to lower the price of natural gas by 4-5%. (WBUR)

🥶 Community centers, South Station and branches of the Boston Public Library will be open as warming centers throughout the cold weekend. (WCVB)

🤝 Acting MBTA General Manager Jeff Gonneville is trying to build trust within the agency and with the public as the T tackles a series of serious problems. (Commonwealth)

For the first time since daylight saving time ended Nov. 5, the sun will set in Boston at 5pm today.

Why it matters: Besides the extra vitamin D, the nearly 2 extra minutes of daylight each day gives us more time to get out and enjoy what's left of winter.

What's next: By March 11, we’ll get a 5:45pm sunset before daylight saving time kicks back in and shifts it to around an hour later.

Deehan's thought bubble: For you morning people like me, rest assured knowing that we'll see the earliest sunrise at 6:03am also on March 11 before that shifts to 7:01am after daylight saving.

💼 See who’s hiring around the city.

1. Audit Senior Manager, Asset Management at KPMG.
2. Head, Monitoring & Programmatic Enhancement at Takeda.
3. Contractor, Investment Writer at Barings.

Want more opportunities? Check out our Job Board.

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Tonight

• The Velvet Dirtmunchers, Annie and the Fur Trappers and comedian Ms. Adventure are at the Rockwell for The Dead of Winter: A Night of Gothic Cabaret — 7pm
• ATLiens — the EMD duo, not the Outkast album — are at Big Night Live — 9pm

Saturday

• Hope you got your GTL done because DJ Pauly D is spinning at Big Night Live — 9:30pm
• Local Boston noise rockers The Freqs have a new EP called Poachers and they'll be upstairs at the Middle East — 8pm

Sunday

• Singer Anders Osborne takes the main stage at City Winery — 7pm
• New York metal legends Anthrax come to the House of Blues to thrash you till it hurts alongside Zakk Wylde and his Black Label Society — 5:30pm