Universities defend role of affirmative action

Several schools, including Harvard and MIT, say using race as a factor in admissions is fundamental to creating a diverse student body.

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2015/12/21/BostonGlobe.com/National/Images/9b3a1a67a56b416bbb150b928c93a9d7-9b3a1a67a56b416bbb150b928c93a9d7-0.jpg 1 person killed after car plows into pedestrians in Vegas

Six people were in critical condition late Sunday after a woman intentionally drove her car toward a crowd, police said.

Adrian Walker

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2015/12/21/BostonGlobe.com/Metro/Images/walker-9839.jpg A false debate over charter schools

It?s folly to say that public schools shouldn?t be supported ? and it?s folly to say that parents shouldn?t have choices.

?We need to get to a budget that?s transparent and clear? before asking developers to help fund the project, said Mayor Joseph Curtatone of Somerville.

Jonathan Wiggs/Globe Staff/File 2013

Cities, developers seek specifics before offering up Green Line cash

Some are open to helping fund the imperiled rail project, but they want to see a concrete budget first.

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2015/12/21/BostonGlobe.com/Business/Images/200_immigrants_map.jpg Boston?s immigrant population up 20 percent since 2000

Foreign-born persons now constitute about 27 percent of the city?s residents.

STAT

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2015/12/21/BostonGlobe.com/Metro/Images/h169-1024x576.jpg Harvard lags in monetizing its scientific research

The university ranked 25th in the number of faculty inventions that it licensed or optioned out to industry in the 2012-14 fiscal years.

Assistant Attorney General (shown at a derelict property) helped the Town of Franklin clean up several run-down homes.

Gretchen Ertl for The Boston Globe

AG?s program helps towns clean up derelict buildings

The state?s Abandoned Housing Initiative can persuade owners of run-down buildings to take care of issues ? or pay the price.

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2015/12/05/BostonGlobe.com/Metro/Images/Was8971304.jpg Walsh gives tentative support for measure to rein in evictions

Boston?s mayor said the city is considering protections for renters who are being priced out of the booming housing market.

Patriots 33, Titans 16

BEN VOLIN | ON FOOTBALL

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2015/12/21/BostonGlobe.com/Sports/Images/200_joey_iosefa.jpg These backs were in a rush to impress Patriots? coaches

Rookie Joey Iosefa is the latest guy the Patriots found off the scrap heap and put into the lineup for a productive game.

CHRISTOPHER L. GASPER

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2015/12/21/BostonGlobe.com/Sports/Images/Gasper-9234.jpg Patriots? mistakes were no accident

Some see costly penalties. The Patriots see situational football opportunities.

Three-year-old Avalee Henriquez was captivated as she entered the decorated hall at Christmas in the City through a lighted tunnel and saw artificial snow.

Pat Greenhouse/Globe Staff

Christmas in the City lifts spirits of homeless families

The 27th annual event served more than 4,500 children and 1,500 parents from shelters and temporary housing facilities.

Candy O?Terry (left) president of Boston Women in Media & Entertainment, and Alexis Frasca, Miss Massachusetts Teen USA 2016, met up with Globe Santa on Sunday at Copley Place. ?Watching Globe Santa work his magic is something I look forward to every year,? said O?Terry.

Globe Santa

These families just want happiness for their children

Whatever the circumstances, they all write with a singular purpose ? they want to see smiles on the kids? faces on Christmas Day.

Miss Colombia 2015, Ariadna Gutierrez, had her crown removed by Miss Universe 2014, Paulina Vega, and given to the winner of Miss Universe 2015, Miss Phillipines 2015, Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach.

Miss Universe mistake crowns Colombia before Philippines

For the first time, viewers at home weighed in, in addition to the in-person celebrity judges.

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2015/12/08/BostonGlobe.com/Lifestyle/Images/autism03A.jpg Autism Eats supper club offers comfort, community

Families with a child on the spectrum can enjoy a restaurant gathering in a nonjudgmental atmosphere.

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2015/12/20/BostonGlobe.com/Metro/Images/2015-12-18T123135Z_2102929073_GF10000270198_RTRMADP_3_CHINA-DRONES.jpg Close calls between drones, planes on the rise

The FAA received 26 reports of drone encounters in Mass. in a nine-month period ending Aug. 20, the seventh-highest total in the US.

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2015/12/20/BostonGlobe.com/Metro/Images/PEACEWALK_3.jpg Armenian Heritage Park?s peace walk provides time to reflect

Visitors searched for inner calm during the second annual Candlelit Labyrinth Peace Walk on Sunday.

In Easthampton village, everyone helps the children

Treehouse is where once-traumatized children are raised in a quiet, understanding, supportive neighborhood.

From left: Tina Fey as Sarah Palin, Kate Mckinnon as 2016 Hillary Clinton, and Amy Poehler as 2008 Hillary.

Tina Fey, Amy Poehler return to ?SNL?

The comedy duo brought back their famous Sarah Palin and Hillary Clinton characters on ?Saturday Night Live.?

 Abbie Benford of Hopkinton died from food allergy complications.

Technologist

Wearable devices eyed to avert allergy deaths

Supported by the family of a Mass. teenager who lost her life to an allergic reaction, researchers are working on an automatic injection device.

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2015/12/21/BostonGlobe.com/Metro/Images/200_james_guilford.jpg James E. Guilford Jr., Boston Latin?s oldest living graduate, dies at 104

Guilford, who also was involved in art and real estate, styled the hair of many jazz stars who performed here.

Police recovered this knife.

Pepperell police use Taser to disarm machete-wielding man

Police had been called to the Hollis Street residence shortly before midnight for a report of a man with a large knife.

Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (left) celebrated with Alex Guerrero after the Patriots beat the Seahawks in Super Bowl XLIX in February.

Tom Brady?s dealings with ?body coach? under focus

Brady and the Patriots have financial relationships with Alex Guerrero, an entrepreneur who has a history of legal trouble.

Ground Game

Ground Game | Q&A

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2015/12/18/BostonGlobe.com/Politics/Images/dab578a202b4499c90aadf824564628c-dab578a202b4499c90aadf824564628c-0.jpg DNC chairwoman discusses timing of Saturday debate

A Q&A with DNC Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz before Saturday?s Democratic debate.

Globe Santa

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2015/11/25/BostonGlobe.com/Special/Images/santa_logo[1]-U80342642589InF--90x90@BostonGlobe.com.jpg Donate to Globe Santa

Globe Santa delivers holiday gifts to local children in need.

Globe investigations

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2015/11/18/BostonGlobe.com/Metro/Images/spotlight150x150-165.jpg Globe investigations and Spotlight reports

A look at high-impact investigations from The Boston Globe, including the Pulitzer Prize-winning report on abuse in the Catholic Church.

The Big Picture

Danny Moloshok/Invision for Jakks via Associated Press

Star Wars mania

The decade wait is over for ?Star Wars? fans with the opening of the seventh film, ?The Force Awakens,? this week.

The story behind 'Spotlight'

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2015/11/18/BostonGlobe.com/Metro/Images/spotlight-9497.jpg Boston Globe coverage and the movie ?Spotlight?

?Spotlight? is based on the stories and the reporters behind the investigation of sexual abuse in the Catholic Church.