Dysfunctional public transit service grates on businesses

Businesses are wondering how much more they can take as record snowfall keeps transit systems in a state of gridlock and uncertainty for the foreseeable future.

Passengers wait as MBTA commuter rail train pulls into the North Beverly station.

John Blanding/Globe Staff

Commuter-rail firm feels heat from Baker on MBTA recovery

Governor Baker blasted the MBTA?s commuter rail operator, saying that he is ?done with excuses? from the company.

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2015/02/09/BostonGlobe.com/National/Images/ryan_snowagain14_met.jpg Defenseless against the snow, Braintree line never had a chance

Most T trains rumble through underground tunnels or on covered tracks. The Braintree branch has been closed because it affords none of that shelter.

Tom McCann, owner of Clover Landscaping Co. of Weymouth, removed snow from a roof in Quincy with a roof rake.

John Tlumacki/Globe Staff

Area experiences avalanche of demand for snow and ice dam removal

Many homeowners across the region are racing to remove ice dams and clear their roofs of the snow, fearing leaks and damage.

Police detained a Blarney Blowout participant near UMass Amherst on March 8, 2014.

UMass Amherst to ban guests during Blarney Blowout weekend

The St. Patrick?s Day-themed celebrations have been blamed for violent, drunken disturbances.

Maura Healey swore in the assistant attorneys general.

Healey collecting testimonials from same-sex couples

The social media campaign seeks to help make the case to the US Supreme Court that marriage should be a constitutional right for same-sex couples.

Dan Borelli at the site that was linked to rare cancers. 
Dan Borelli in the Ashland Town Library, where he  is creating an oral and visual history of the town?s relationship with the Superfund site. Below, some of the vivid reminders of the dangers and the community?s long ordeal.

Wendy Maeda/Globe Staff Photos by Wendy Maeda/Globe Staff

Ashland artist offers healing vision at site of harm

Dan Borelli, a son of Ashland, hopes art can heal the trauma inflicted on the town by a dye plant, now a Superfund site.

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2015/02/14/BostonGlobe.com/National/Images/IMG_1651.jpg Group from Mass. helped shift net neutrality fight

A group of 30-somethings harnessed the Internet to transform a wonky issue into a potent rallying cry.

Yusufi Vali, executive director of the Islamic Society of Boston Cultural Center.

Islamic leader says US officials unfairly target Muslims

Yusufi Vali, a top Muslim leader in Boston, had been assisting in a federal effort to identify potential homegrown terrorists.

Top: A Boston Virtual Reality meet-up in Cambridge. Left: John Ryding samples some of the technology.

Michele McDonald for The Boston Globe

Virtual reality enthusiasts meet to push tech boundaries

Every month, enthusiasts get together to try out new technologies and explore immersive electronic landscapes.

Edmonton Oilers defensemen Martin Marincin (85) scores the shootout winner against Tuukka Rask. Mandatory Credit: Perry Nelson-USA TODAY Sports

Oilers 4, Bruins 3

Bruins lose fifth straight at Edmonton

The Bruins rallied from a 3-1 deficit to tie the game, but couldn?t complete the comeback, losing in the 12th round of the shootout.

Used ?K? balls are given to the teams, who then use them during practices.

Did NFL play a role in Deflategate?

The latest ESPN report seems to exonerate Jim McNally, a part-time Patriots employee who serves as the locker room attendant at Gillette.

Buffalo Bills coach Rex Ryan answers a question during a news conference at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2015. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

BEN VOLIN I ON FOOTBALL

Coaches, GMs talkative at NFL Combine

The combine is one of the few times during the offseason in which we hear from most coaches and GMs.

 Steve Callan, diirector of technology at Hill Holliday, and his colleagues on the Project Beacon team, have developed over a dozen products in the past year. Jessica Rinaldi/Globe Staff

BetaBoston

With BrandFeed, Hill Holliday makes a push into products

Hill Holliday?s Project Beacon has set out to upend the role of the traditional ad agency: They are building products.

New research sheds light on cancer, Alzheimer?s origins

Researchers said new findings on Alzheimer?s and cancer are the first fruits of a technique developed by Boston scientists.

The Big Picture

Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show

Thousands of competitors and 192 different breeds took part in the show this week.