Governor Charlie Baker criticized Columbia Gas, the utility that provided gas to the destroyed homes, and said he was declaring a state of emergency, which would allow him to place a different company, Eversource, in charge.
Mass. lawmakers rip Columbia Gas for ?woefully inadequate response? to Merrimack Valley fires, explosions US Senators Edward J. Markey and Elizabeth Warren and Representatives Niki Tsongas of Lowell and Seth Moulton of Salem addressed the sharply-worded letter Friday to Steve Bryant, president of Columbia Gas of Massachusetts.
Leonel Rondon, 18, had just gotten his driver?s license and had gone to visit friends when a nearby house exploded, sending the chimney crashing down onto his vehicle.
Nestor Ramos
In Lawrence, the things they carried A steady caravan of residents-turned-refugees beat a path across the Merrimack River on Friday, returning to their homes in South Lawrence to retrieve only what they could carry by hand.
In a catastrophe this big, why were there so few injuries and deaths? First responders, hospital officials, and other experts attribute the small number of casualties to a variety of factors ? including luck.
Columbia Gas faulted by investigators for major rupture in 2012 Records show that Columbia Gas of Massachusetts has been fined tens of thousands of dollars by the state?s utilities regulator in recent years, and its corporate parent linked to other serious blasts.
Editorial
Fires raged Thursday, questions rage now Being proactive would go a long way for the Department of Public Utilities, an agency often criticized for being cozy with the industry
HELP DESK
Need to turn off the gas, or electricity, or water? Here?s how. The explosions in the Merrimack Valley were a wake-up call for those of us who don?t know the first thing about the shut-off valves in our basements.
Far from Harvard, Bacow preaches the gospel of higher education Harvard president Lawrence Bacow returned to Pontiac, Mich, the community where he grew up, to preach the gospel of education with himself as case study Number One.
John Tlumacki/Globe Staff
Montilio?s Bakery designed the three-tiered cake to represent the couple?s everyday life.
Man, 60, added to state?s most wanted sex offender list John W. Corbett, a Level 3 sex offender, was convicted in 1990 for aggravated rape, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, and breaking and entering.
A suspended Massachusetts State Police trooper from Braintree pleaded guilty Friday in federal court to collecting pay for hours he did not work, according to federal prosecutors.
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
Florence already has proven deadly with its nearly nonstop rain, surging seawater and howling winds, and the threat is days from ending as remnants of the once major hurricane slowly creep inland across the Carolinas.
Philippines checking typhoon?s damage, casualties amid rains Philippine officials were assessing damage and checking on possible casualties as Typhoon Mangkhut on Saturday pummeled the northeastern Cagayan province.
Jose Luis Magana/Associated Press/File
Former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort pleaded guilty Friday to two federal crimes after cutting a deal with prosecutors and agreeing to cooperate with the special counsel?s Russia probe.
Manafort plea deal begs key question: What does he know? As Trump associates folded one-by-one over the last year under the pressure of federal investigators, there was always Paul Manafort.
Brett Kavanaugh denies allegation of sexual misconduct in school Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh?s denial comes after a report of an alleged incident that took place while Kavanaugh was attending Georgetown Preparatory School.
Michael A. Cohen
People don?t like President Trump Even with a robust economy, the president?s approval ratings are flagging.
METS 8, RED SOX 0
Red Sox met their match in losing to New York Noah Syndergaard dominated a patchwork Boston lineup, tossing seven shutout innings in New York?s win.
STEVEN SENNE/ASSOCIATED PRESS
?I thought, ?If I don?t do something, I could be dead,?? said Dr. William Lytton.
During Boston Fintech Week, the Fidelity CEO said she believes it?s imperative for many of her employees to think and act like they work for a startup.
Dinner with Cupid
Blind date: ?We debated just ordering drinks, then going to Chipotle? Will shared confusion over menu items bond this 911 dispatcher and assistant teacher?
Love Letters
My friend wants to lose his virginity ? with me Our families are also close, so this won?t be just an uncomplicated summer fling.
Editorial
The long-term merits of Rachael Rollins?s plan for petty crimes Democratic nominee for Suffolk County district attorney Rachael Rollins has a plan to reform prosecution of petty crimes.
The life and rise of Ayanna Pressley Long before her shocking win, Pressley?s was an against-the-odds story. Time and again, she has toppled expectations.
This Week in Politics A convenient digest of the top political news of the past week, delivered every Saturday. Sign up now.
At Friday?s practice in China, the newly acquired veteran was paired with Charlie McAvoy.
As emergency responders went door to door Friday checking gas lines, locksmiths? services were in high demand.
The first thing you should do is leave --- immediately. Stay up-to-date on the gas explosions in Lawrence, Andover, and North Andover on Boston.com.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says his Obama-era predecessor John Kerry has been ??actively undermining?? US policy on Iran.
Residents poured into the streets prior to an expected offensive by the Assad regime to retake the territory.
Search This Week's Specials
Although zero percent offers are on the decline, Edmunds says buyers can still score a deal by combining a competitive interest rate with an incentive that the carmaker is offering.
Alert Innovation and Takeoff Technologies say they can help time-starved consumers, and supermarket chains threatened by Amazon.
This week?s picks by Globe critics.
My grandmother had always shown up for me. The least I could do was return the favor.
BU researcher calls on NIH to retract statement on alcohol and cancer risk Dr. Michael Siegel says the statement is in ?direct contradiction with the scientific evidence.?
Until next year, my sweetheart In a special bonus episode, Meredith Goldstein explores what happens to summer romance when the summer ends, and ?Wet Hot American Summer? creator David Wain shares a girl-crazy memory from his own camp days.
Listen: Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | RadioPublic
Fall House Hunt: Tips for making that winning offer Buyers who know what sellers want can craft a winning offer in a crowded field without putting themselves at risk.
Seattle?s mayor talks growing pains that offer some lessons for Boston Seattle mayor Jenny Durkan spoke at a Globe event on how innovation is shaping our world, and she?s in high demand among the hundreds of mayors gathered in Boston.
More about Last Seen: The Largest Unsolved Art Heist ever A true-crime podcast about the most valuable ? and confounding ? art heist in history: the theft of 13 irreplaceable artworks from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston.
Craig F. Walker/Globe Staff
The Big Picture
Here?s a look at some of the best images taken by Globe photographers last month: staying cool in the summer heat, installing a new police commissioner, spotting sharks on the Cape, campaigning politicians on the trail, and flipping gymnasts at the US championships.
Play the crossword Puzzled? Keep trying your hand at our interactive crossword and see if you can triumph.
