How much are Bostonians spending on average this holiday season — and what are they buying?

About this tax plan: State senators will meet this morning to continue their discussions on Boston Mayor Michelle Wu’s tax plan, which would temporarily shift the burden of higher tax rates from homeowners to businesses. The Boston City Council and the state House of Representatives have already approved the plan.

• What is the reason for the delay? Wu’s tax plan was discussed in the Senate last Monday, but lawmakers adjourned Wednesday because of the holiday. This week they will continue discussions with Wu’s administration about the bill, and if it passes the Senate, it will head to Gov. Maura Healey’s desk for final approval.
• Race against time: Wu wants the new tariffs to take effect next month. She said her staff is prepared to work through New Year’s Day to ensure the tariffs are reflected in January bills, but ideally “we’d like there to be less pressure on those schedules,” she said.

Helping hands: Last week, nighttime temperatures fell below freezing in the Greater Boston area. As winter wears on, local homeless shelters are preparing to accommodate more people seeking refuge from the cold.

• Barbara Trevisan, a spokeswoman for Pine Street Inn, told WBUR’s Amy Sokolow that the shelter is open 24 hours a day to anyone who needs assistance. On colder nights, they send staff out with food, blankets and clothing to check if anyone unhoused needs an extra shift and ask them if they would like to come in overnight. The Pine Street Inn also has a warming center on Harrison Ave. 444.

On the ice: The Boston Bruins enjoyed some excitement over the weekend. Last Saturday marked the 100th anniversary of the team’s first game. On this occasion, the team played against the Montreal Canadiens – the Bruins’ first game was also against a team from Montreal – and won 6-3. The city of Boston also unveiled a giant brown bear statue as a memorial to the team during a ceremony officially celebrating November 30 as Boston Bruins Centennial Day.

• Did you know? The Bruins were the first U.S.-based ice hockey team to join the NHL.

PS: Are you already dreaming about Friday? You could watch a live recording of “The Memory Palace,” author Nate DiMeo’s Peabody Award-nominated podcast. The event will tell extraordinary stories from people’s everyday lives throughout history.