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Severe thunderstorm headed for Boston area

National Weather Service forecasters briefly issued tornado warnings Wednesday afternoon as severe thunderstorms rolled from Western Massachusetts into Central Massachusetts, at one point saying they had seen rotation in the clouds.

A man walks through the Dorchester Harbor Reservation.

Maps: Severe thunderstorm watch issued for Mass.

A severe thunderstorm watch has been issued for Massachusetts, with lightning, damaging wind gusts, and street flooding expected across the state, forecasters said.

Prepare to have an umbrella on hand if you venture outside today.

Live weather updates from Boston-area meteorologists

With severe weather in the forecast, here’s a look at what to expect, according to Boston-area meteorologists.

Boston temperature hits 100 degrees for first time in a decade

The last time the temperature was 100 degrees or higher in Boston was on July 22, 2011, when it hit 103, forecasters said.

In sweeping change in college sports, NCAA will let athletes get paid for their ‘NIL.’ Here’s what that means

This will be the biggest change to college athletics since … well, possibly ever.

Former secretary of defense Donald Rumsfeld dies, family says

Former secretary of defense Donald Rumsfeld has died, according to a statement from his family.

Bill Cosby released from prison after sex assault conviction overturned by court

Pennsylvania’s highest court threw out Bill Cosby’s sexual assault conviction and opened the way for his immediate release from prison Wednesday in a stunning reversal of fortune for the comedian.

‘Horrified’ and ‘finally’: Reaction varies on Bill Cosby’s release from prison Four things to know about the Penn. court ruling throwing out Bill Cosby's sex assault conviction

93 confirmed cases, 1 death, and 20,234 vaccinations: See today’s new COVID-19 data from Mass.

Here's a look at the latest coronavirus numbers in Massachusetts, including case numbers, deaths, demographics, and more.

CDC estimates more than a quarter of US COVID-19 cases are caused by delta variant

Allison Mack, center, left federal court with her mother Mindy Mack after being sentenced on Wednesday in New York.

Actor Allison Mack gets 3 years in prison for role in NXIVM sex-trafficking ring

Allison Mack — best known for her role as a young Superman’s close friend on the series “Smallville” — had previously pleaded guilty to the charges.

A Portuguese man o' war.

42 dangerous Portuguese man o’ war appear at beaches in Nantucket; one spotted off Westport

Droves of Portuguese man o’ war— the dangerous, jellyfish-like creature with a potent sting and sprawling tentacles — were spotted at beaches in Nantucket and Westport, officials said.

Trash cans spewed onto a flooded path at Six Flags New England.

Six Flags New England amusement park closed Wednesday after severe thunderstorms leave behind flooding and damage

Six Flags New England in Agawam was closed Wednesday after a severe thunderstorm system slammed Western Massachusetts Tuesday evening, leaving behind downed tree branches and several inches of flooding.

chad finn

This surprising Red Sox season has been a lesson in patience and discovery

When Chaim Bloom acquires a player, the response should not be skepticism, but to try to see what he sees in the player.

Picasso painting found in closet of a Maine home sells for more than $150,000 at auction

A painting attributed to 20th-century master Pablo Picasso that was recently discovered in Maine sold at auction over the weekend in Amesbury, Mass.

Britney Spears’ father seeks court probe of her allegations

Britney Spears’ father has asked the court overseeing his daughter’s conservatorship to investigate her statements to a judge last week on the court’s control of her medical treatment and personal life, which she called overly restrictive and abusive.

House votes to launch new probe of Jan. 6 insurrection — over Republican opposition

The vote to form the panel was 222-190, with Republicans objecting that majority Democrats would be in charge. The action came after Senate Republicans blocked creation of an independent commission that would have been evenly split between the two parties.

Boston stalwart Au Bon Pain sold, again

The seller was Panera Bread, part of privately held JAB Holding Co., which owns a range of companies including Pret a Manger. Au Bon Pain got its start in Boston in 1981.

Four more bodies pulled from rubble in Miami-area condo collapse, bringing death toll to 16

More than 140 people are still unaccounted for in last week's disaster.

Opinion

US Labor Secretary Marty Walsh arrives for the daily press briefing at the White House, April 2.

Boston voters still like Marty Walsh. What does that say about the mayor’s race?

Candidates will have to thread the needle of voters wanting continuity as much as change.

The roof of the Humphreys Street Studios carries the slogan of the tenants' campaign.

In Uphams Corner, a plan for development without displacement

I’ve become a GOP fund-raising bogeyman

Police investigate the scene of a shooting in Brooklyn on June 23. New Yorkers are increasingly concerned about a rise in violence in the city, with a 53.2 percent hike in shootings from last year so far this year. Eric Adams, a former New York City police sergeant, is currently in the lead for the Democratic nomination for mayor due to his tough-on-crime platform.

Democrats discover that ‘defund the police’ is political poison

British fans at the judo competition in the 2000 Olympics in Sydney.

IDEAS | Bryan Schonfeld and Sam Winter-Levy

The Olympics may make the world worse

THE GREAT DIVIDE ⟶

See the latest from our education team focused on race, class, and opportunity in schools.

RHODE ISLAND ⟶

See the latest from Globe Rhode Island.

NEWTON ⟶

See the Globe’s expanded Newton coverage in partnership with Boston University.

Recommended reads

These are sunny days for Chaim Bloom's Red Sox: They are in first place and have swept the Yankees twice.

dan shaughnessy

At the halfway point, Chaim Bloom is pleased with Red Sox but says: ‘We haven’t accomplished anything yet’

The Red Sox have made a full turnaround from last year's misery, but the chief baseball officer knows there is still work to be done.

Graphic: What happened during the Winthrop shootings, turn by turn

The vicious attack lasted less than 15 minutes from beginning to end. What happened?

Gordon Ramsay is coming to the Back Bay

Now that Americans are eating out in droves again, Ramsay is cooking up his US expansion.

Longtime director of Boston rape crisis center leaves amid a broiling controversy over racial equity

The departure of Gina Scaramella comes after more than half of the nonprofit’s staff sent the board a letter detailing what they said was the director's failure to “rise to the current challenge of addressing white supremacy.”

video

Special Projects

Editorial: Future-proofing the presidency

Donald Trump brought our democracy to the brink and exposed its weak spots. Here’s how to thwart the next American tyrant.

Jeneé Osterheldt

A Beautiful Resistance: Black joy, Black lives, as celebrated by culture columnist Jeneé Osterheldt

Black joy, Black lives, as celebrated by culture columnist Jeneé Osterheldt.

‘On the Street’: The changing face of Greater Boston neighborhoods

The changing face of Greater Boston neighborhoods.

Winner of the Pulitzer Prize in Investigative Reporting

Blind Spot

An 11-month Globe investigation found that people nationwide are dying in crashes caused by drivers who should have had their licenses suspended. One in 10 US drivers has at least one offense — from speeding to vehicular homicide — that isn’t reflected on their driving record.

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Opinion, ideas, and commentary

I’ve become a GOP fund-raising bogeyman

Police investigate the scene of a shooting in Brooklyn on June 23. New Yorkers are increasingly concerned about a rise in violence in the city, with a 53.2 percent hike in shootings from last year so far this year. Eric Adams, a former New York City police sergeant, is currently in the lead for the Democratic nomination for mayor due to his tough-on-crime platform.

Democrats discover that ‘defund the police’ is political poison

British fans at the judo competition in the 2000 Olympics in Sydney.

IDEAS | Bryan Schonfeld and Sam Winter-Levy

The Olympics may make the world worse

Many of the provisions of the landmark police reform bill passed last year actually become law July 1, and the clock will start ticking on the promises made, the reforms envisioned for Massachusetts.

Massachusetts police reform law gets real

The scene on Monday where, two days earlier, an armed man crashed a stolen truck, then fatally shot two Black people before being killed by law enforcement, in Winthrop. The act is being treated as a hate crime.

A hate crime in Winthrop

Taylor Swift performing at Gillette Stadium on Saturday, June 25, 2011, before the rain.

IDEAS | RYAN DAVIS

Taylor Swift’s miracle in the rain and the mystery of shared experience

Metro

Somerville man, former Seekonk man arrested in Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection

The FBI arrested a Somerville man and a former Seekonk man Wednesday in connection with the Jan. 6 assault on the US Capitol building in Washington, D.C., officials said.

We’re not special

Even in a place considered progressive, where you might assume fewer people would grab at the easy answers offered by white supremacy, the sick ideology whose hold on this country gets stronger by the day.

Severe thunderstorm headed for Boston area

National Weather Service forecasters briefly issued tornado warnings Wednesday afternoon as severe thunderstorms rolled from Western Massachusetts into Central Massachusetts, at one point saying they had seen rotation in the clouds.

RI BUSINESS

Can regulations prevent health care costs from rising if Lifespan, Care New England merge?

The state’s top insurance regulator outlines how the proposed deal could present significant risks resulting in higher health care costs — unless heavily regulated.

Sports

In their fourth year as a program, the Advanced Math & Science Academy Charter girls' tennis won the school's first state championship.

Advanced Math and Science Academy girls win Division 3 state tennis championship

Now, the school has a state athletic championship trophy to add to its shelf alongside the math and science hardware.

Five months after the Mets fired Jared Porter, MLB suspended the former GM through the end of the 2022 season.

Fired Mets GM Jared Porter suspended by MLB through 2022 season

Porter was suspended through 2022 after an investigation that began after a report that he sent sexually explicit text messages and images to a female reporter in 2016.

Coach Dominique Ducharme has not been behind the Montreal bench for almost two weeks.

Canadiens await coach’s return for Friday’s Game 3 of Stanley Cup Final at Montreal

Dominique Ducharme was required Quebec protocol to isolate for 14 days after testing positive for the coronavirus.

Wimbledon

More slipping, sliding at Wimbledon, even without any rain

Northeastern names James Keefe as men’s hockey coach

Patriots

In deleted tweet, Patriots’ Stephon Gilmore shows he’s still upset about his contract situation

Business

Old ropewalk factory in Charlestown finally reopens as apartments

The old Ropewalk complex in the Charlestown Navy Yard is more than a quarter-mile long but only 45 feet wide in most sections, making it one of the most challenging structures in Boston to redevelop.

Lasell gets its largest-ever donation, $6.6M, from mother of alum who died from cystic fibrosis

Lasell University’s largest-ever gift came from an unexpected source.

Microsoft exec: Targeting of Americans’ records ‘routine’

Robinhood pays $70 million to settle numerous allegations

Comfort Zone

From left: Steve Carell, John Krasinski, and Rainn Wilson in "The Office."

Why we’re still in a relationship with some classic sitcoms

Grammy-winning artist esperanza spalding will perform in ArtsEmerson's "Iphigenia" this upcoming season.

For ArtsEmerson, a less busy but ambitious season

Megan Thee Stallion performed at the BET Awards on Sunday at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.

Cardi B, Queen Latifah, Lil Nas X shine at BET Awards

Tory Burch room at Hancock Shaker Village

In the Berkshires, all-star creatives summon the Shakers

STAT

Listen to our "First Opinion" podcast

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Listen to our "Readout LOUD" podcast

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Subscribe to STAT Plus

We know a lot about Covid-19. Experts have many more questions

More than two dozen virologists, epidemiologists, and others responded to STAT's question about what they still most wanted to know.

Cement Head’s last fight: He was denied parole six times — until he was about to become a Covid-19 statistic

In lawyers' view, the Department of Correction was trying to make it seem like it had fewer Covid-19 deaths on its hands than it really did.

Troubling podcast puts JAMA, the ‘voice of medicine,’ under fire for its mishandling of race

Critics say editors have asked authors to scrub the term racism from their articles even as they publish others that include racist notions.

Despite resistance, researchers investigate the possibility of a new mental health disorder

Many researchers say the study of sluggish cognitive tempo, which is still in its early stages, can’t yet support a formal diagnosis.

magazine

Jerell and Valeria on their Zoom blind date.

Dinner with Cupid

"It was a nice change to arrive to a date and not have to wait around drinking alone"

Rabbi Jen Gubitz and her husband, Matan BenYishay, on their wedding day last July.

Always a rabbi, one day a bride

Anger lessons from my kids: ‘I’m mad because I am sad! Duh!’

Alison created a melamine plate wall with pieces she found online at Ballard Designs; The Enchanted Home; Pomegranate; Replacements, Ltd.; and WebstaurantStore.

Small plunge pool + plastic privacy hedge = instant backyard oasis

metro

Longmeadow -06/24/21 CNA Uvalyn Davis serves lunch to resident Jane Mellis, 94 at the Leavitt Family Jewish Home. “I almost died, but I wanted to come back.” Davis said about her coming down with COVID-19 in March of 2020. She has been at the facility for 24 years and is an ambassador trying to get unvaccinated staff to get their shots. John Tlumacki/Globe Staff photo(metro)

Massachusetts senior care company mandates COVID shots for workers - a first for state’s nursing homes

Disabled anglers catch the joy of fishing at Newton Yacht Club

Four things to know about the Penn. court ruling throwing out Bill Cosby’s sex assault conviction

sports

Novak Djokovic of Serbia falls while playing against South Africa's Kevin Anderson during a men's singles second round match at Wimbledon.

More slipping, sliding at Wimbledon, even without any rain

Northeastern names James Keefe as men’s hockey coach

In deleted tweet, Patriots’ Stephon Gilmore shows he’s still upset about his contract situation

business

Robinhood says it aims to help ordinary people profit in the stock market. But regulators have accused it of allowing the inexperienced to get in over their heads while failing to disclose the full details of its dealings with high-speed traders and not getting the best prices for customers trading on its app.

Robinhood pays $70 million to settle numerous allegations

New York City urges all residents to conserve power to avoid outages amid heat wave

Amazon Says New FTC Chair Should Recuse Herself From Investigations

politics

A mob of Donald Trump supporters were outside the Capitol on Jan. 6.

House votes to launch new probe of Jan. 6 insurrection — over Republican opposition

Supreme Court leaves CDC ban on evictions in place

Former secretary of defense Donald Rumsfeld dies, family says

Nation

Nikole Hannah-Jones in the newsroom of The New York Times in New York on Oct. 10, 2017.

UNC trustees approve journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones’ tenure bid

Bill Cosby released from prison after sex assault conviction overturned by court

Biden behind on global COVID-19 vaccine sharing, cites local hurdles

World

Teddy bears made up makeshift memorials for children who died at the Kamloops Indian Residential School in Kamloops, Canada.

Canada: Bodies at Indigenous school not isolated incident

Kim Jong Un sounds alarm on COVID with warning of ‘great crisis’

Mexican rescuers have saved lives in disaster zones around the world. Now they’re in Florida

opinion

I’ve become a GOP fund-raising bogeyman

This year, Independence Day is also Interdependence Day

A hate crime in Winthrop

lifestyle

Aerial view from 470 Atlantic Ave. observation deck shows the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum on Fort Point Channel.

Savoring the triumphs of a harborfront open to all

Discover big nature and puny crowds at these national parks

As a Marriott executive, he’s traveled widely, but the thrill is not gone when it comes to Hawaii

food & dining

Tinned Seafood from Back Bay restaurant Saltie Girl, who offers a monthly subscription of boxes of tinned seafood.

Saltie Girl is offering tinned fish subscription boxes

These cookies for adults are a Real Treat

Candles inspired by food and nature at Kitchen Sink Candle Co.

travel

Just strolling around Newport feels like a vacation. And this year, the big events are back, so the streets will be bustling.

What’s new (and not to miss) in Newport

The history of baseball jerseys, the Vineyard’s new dining guide, and an Art Deco hotel in D.C.

Savoring the triumphs of a harborfront open to all

Arts

"WildFire" by Natalie Tyler

With sculpture, Edith Wharton’s estate becomes open field for the imagination

In the Berkshires, all-star creatives summon the Shakers

In Uphams Corner, artists push back against the sale of their workspace

Books

The author-illustrator, photographed at his home, just inked a deal to adapt his "¡Vamos!" series for the small screen.

Raúl The Third brings border culture to life in books for kids

50 years after the Pentagon Papers, does a free press still function?

Looking forward to a ‘hot Freud summer’

Movies

From "Persepolis."

Drawn to nonfiction: using animation in documentaries

‘I Carry You With Me’: when home is far away and emotions run deep

Soul power

Television

Seth Rogen, James Franco, and Jason Segel in "Freaks and Geeks." MTV offered to pick up the second season of the series, according to a Collider interview with series creator Paul Feig and executive producer Judd Apatow.

What if MTV had picked up ‘Freaks and Geeks’?

With season 3 looming, hints at determining the story line of ‘Succession’

How the cast fared when they became former ‘Friends’

music

Panos A. Panay, a Berklee alum and vice president, was tapped Tuesday to helm the Recording Academy alongside Valeisha Butterfield Jones.

Berklee vice president Panos Panay tapped as Recording Academy co-president

Amplifying refugees and their musical talents

Elton John to bring farewell tour to Gillette Stadium in 2022

Theater/Dance

Grammy-winning artist esperanza spalding will perform in ArtsEmerson's "Iphigenia" this upcoming season.

For ArtsEmerson, a less busy but ambitious season

Christopher Lloyd’s journey, from kooks to King Lear

Barrington Stage’s ‘Chester Bailey’ glows in the dark

globe local

Members of the Wayland Vokes Theatre (From left): Christina Petrillo of Newton as Miss Fischer, director Donnie Baillargeon of Marlborough, and Chris Cardoni of Billerica as Pablo Picasso rehearsing "A Picasso" by Jeffrey Hatcher.

‘It’s what we love, what we do together’: Vokes Players return to an outdoor stage

Poetry readings, stamp exhibits, and a blood drive

Newton mayor seeks residents’ input on spending $63 million federal COVID-19 relief funds

Obituaries

Mike Gravel.

Mike Gravel, Springfield native who became a US senator in Alaska, dies at 91

Paralyzed by illness, Anthony Weller, 63, wrote sonnets a letter at a time

Jeanne Lamon, who led an early-music ensemble, dies at 71