Kavanaugh gets support from key undecided senators

Senator Susan Collins said in a floor speech on Friday afternoon that she would vote ?to confirm? Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court, likely paving the way for the Trump nominee to be approved.

? Swing votes Jeff Flake, Susan Collins, and Joe Manchin all said they would vote to confirm Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court Friday. Republican Lisa Murkowski said she'll vote "no."

? A procedural vote in the Senate passed, 51-49, on Friday. No votes have changed since then.

? Collins announced on the Senate floor Friday that she will vote "yes" to confirm Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court.

? A final vote on Kavanaugh?s nomination could occur over the weekend.

Criticism abounds after Collins announces she will vote for Kavanaugh

The Maine Democratic Party lambasted Senator Susan Collins, while the Republican Party lauded her, for deciding to vote in favor of Judge Brett Kavanaugh?s nomination.

Read Susan Collins?s full speech about Brett Kavanaugh

The dramatic Senate floor announcement by perhaps the chamber?s most moderate Republican ended most of the suspense over a tortuous, election-season battle that had left Kavanaugh?s fate in doubt for nearly a month.

More on the nomination

Steve Pearce had a .901 OPS in 50 games for the Sox and crushed lefties. — Barry Chin/Globe Staff

PETER ABRAHAM | BEAT WRITER?S NOTEBOOK

These four Red Sox players could have a bigger postseason impact than you might expect

Playoff series are so often is decided by the players we overlook.

Here is the Red Sox 25-man roster for the ALDS

There are no big surprises.

How to watch the Red Sox take on the Yankees in the ALDS

The best-of-five series starts Friday night at Fenway Park and will be broadcast on TBS.

Josh Gordon (right) caught a 34-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter Thursday. — Jim Davis/Globe Staff

Christopher L. Gasper

This Patriots offense is starting to look really dangerous

With Josh Gordon and Sony Michel finding their grooves, and Julian Edelman back on the field, the sky is the limit.

Kyrie Irving offers more context about his intention to stay with Celtics

Part of the allure was the dream of having his number in the Garden rafters with the other franchise greats.

Highlights from the Reddit AMA with the Globe Spotlight Team

Nicole Dunga and Todd Wallace of the Spotlight Team hosted discussed everything from their upcoming work and the movie ?Spotlight.?

Acton man accused of stabbing had sought mental health treatment hours earlier

A plea of not guilty was entered on Benjamin DiCristina?s behalf at his arraignment Friday. He was ordered to undergo a 20-day mental health evaluation.

Jury convicts Chicago officer of 2nd-degree murder in Laquan McDonald?s death

A jury on Friday convicted white Chicago police Officer Jason Van Dyke of second-degree murder in the 2014 shooting of black teenager Laquan McDonald.

General Catalyst said to be in talks to sell stake to Goldman Sachs unit

The Cambridge venture capital firm, founded in 2000 by Joe Cutler and David Fialkow, has invested in companies such as Airbnb and Warby Parker.

Chesto means business

Boston Herald endures another round of painful cuts

The Boston Herald?s journalists knew they were in for a rough ride when renowned cost-cutter Digital First Media acquired the paper in March. But not this rough.

Dinner with Cupid

Blind date: ?He reminded me of a golden retriever?

Will his sunny nature win him an enthusiastic thumbs up?

Strikers expected to rally at the Ritz after Yankees players cross picket line

Striking hotel workers plan to publicly rebuke New York Yankees players, who belong to the players? union, for failing to respect a picket line at the posh hotel, the union president said.

Family of ex-senator Brian Joyce asks for donations to Innocence Project

The family of indicted former state senator Brian A. Joyce is asking that donations be made in his memory to the Innocence Project to ?help the victims of wrongful prosecution.?

Officials unveil housing options for Merrimack Valley residents displaced by gas fires

The release said Columbia Gas has reserved more than 3,000 hotel rooms for use by affected customers through mid-November.

Some 50,000 people are expected to attend HUBweek, which again will be centered on City Hall Plaza. — CBT Architects

Fourth annual HUBweek focuses on the future, takes over City Hall Plaza

The theme for this year?s HUBweek, ?We the Future,? is a call to consider how technology and social change are reshaping work, life, and art ? and for participants to ponder what role they will play in those shifts.

Harvard study says wind power can also cause some warming

Ramping up wind power in America would also dial up the nation?s temperatures, a new study out of Harvard found.

Want to know if you?re in the middle class? This calculator will give you an idea

The Pew Research Center has developed a calculator to give people an idea of exactly how they?re doing, pay-wise.

The sword that young Saga Vanecek literally stumbled upon. — Annie Rosen/Jonkopings Ians Museum/Associated Press

Swedish girl pulls out pre-Viking era sword from lake

The girl?s name is Saga, which conjures up Old Nordic tales about heroic accomplishments and that?s exactly what she did this summer when she stumbled on the 1,500-year-old sword.

NAMES

Gisele Bundchen discusses her first date with Tom Brady

?I literally fell in love right away,? she told Jimmy Fallon.

NAMES

VIPs tour Peabody Essex Museum?s ?Empresses of China?s Forbidden City? exhibition

Daisy Yiyou Wang, the Peabody Essex Museum?s Robert N. Shapiro Curator of Chinese and East Asian Art, welcomed fashion scholar Harold Koda.

Opinion & Ideas

It?s high time to integrate Boston Latin School

It?s time for Mayor Marty Walsh to show some political courage to tackle the roots of the gap in education: the standardized test that forms the cornerstone of the exam-school admissions process.

Special reports

The Big Picture

Scenes from the aftermath of Indonesia?s earthquake, tsunami

Days after the disaster, the confirmed death toll has exceeded 1,200 dead with hundreds severely injured and still more trapped in debris.

Newsletters

108 Stitches

Red Sox reporter Alex Speier writes about everything baseball with an eye for analytics and an insider?s knowledge of the game.

Globe must-reads

NAMES

Matt Damon and Bill Simmons talked for almost 2 hours. Here?s what we learned

Monica Lewinsky changes social media name to fight bullying

Elizabeth Rowe (right) has filed a lawsuit against the Boston Symphony Orchestra under the Massachusetts Equal Pay Law.

BSO denies top flutist?s allegations of pay discrimination

Boston Red Sox players practice during a baseball workout at Fenway Park Wednesday. The Red Sox will face the Yankees in the American League division series on Friday.

HELP DESK

Want to see the Red Sox-Yankees series in person? Here?s how to score playoff tickets

Hopper says its app helps travelers save on flights and hotel rooms.

Travel tech company Hopper raises $100 million in funding

Nathan Carman?s lawyers push back on gun evidence cited in grandfather?s slaying

NAMES

Ben Affleck on alcohol addiction: ?Getting help is a sign of courage, not weakness?

Boston Celtics guard Kyrie Irving during the first quarter of a preseason basketball game in Boston, Sunday, Sept. 30, 2018. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Kyrie Irving announces he is signing with Celtics next year

Miss Conduct

Advice: My friend says offensive things. How can I make her stop?

Ever since he was a kid, Brian Kelly wanted the laser background in his school picture. Now, the Pelham, N.H., police corporal finally nailed it.

N.H. officer finally gets that cool laser beam background in his school picture

Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer (right) and Senate Judiciary Committee ranking member Dianne Feinstein spoke to the media about the FBI report on sexual misconduct allegations against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh on Capitol Hill Thursday.

Partisan lines drawn over FBI

Sports

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ARLINGTON, TX - OCTOBER 12: David Price #14 of the Toronto Blue Jays pitches in relief in the sixth inning against the Texas Rangers in game four of the American League Division Series at Globe Life Park in Arlington on October 12, 2015 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

CHAD FINN

Taking a closer look at David Price?s postseason track record

The lefty has experienced a mix of the underwhelming and the bizarre, so it?s difficult to know what to expect.

Metro

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Vehicles for the Massachusetts Environmental Police parked at the office on Milk Street in Westborough.

Mass. Environmental Police head suspended without pay

Col. James McGinn, who previously served as Governor Charlie Baker?s personal driver, was suspended ?pending the completion of an internal review of operational issues.?

Politics

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Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Ky., arrives to view the FBI report on sexual misconduct allegations against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, on Capitol Hill, Thursday, Oct. 4, 2018 in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Here?s how senators are seeing the FBI report

The FBI?s report is being held in a secure room normally reserved only for classified matters.

Nation & World

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Nadia Murad (left) and Denis Mukwege (right) won the 2018 Nobel Peace Prize.

Nobel Peace Prize honors fight against sexual violence

The Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded to Denis Mukwege and Nadia Murad ??for their efforts to end the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war and armed conflict.??