The Boston Globe

The Boston Globe

After fierce debate, Milton voters overturn state-mandated housing plan

Residents have been fiercely divided over the plan, which would bring Milton into compliance with a new state law requiring cities and towns serviced by the MBTA to allow more multifamily housing.

Money, Power, Inequality

Aging lifers in Mass. look to self-improvement as a pathway to release from prison
Supporters say a small group of older lifers should be at the top of the governor’s commutation list, citing their model behavior.

Could congestion pricing be coming to Boston? The City Council is exploring the possibility.
Councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson requested a hearing on the issue to explore how the policy could raise money for public transit and reduce traffic.

More than 40 people with ties to Boston street gang arrested in racketeering scheme, linked to murders, officials say

Nearly two dozen fraudulent employment claims were allegedly submitted for a company called "Married to the Mob," prosecutors said.

MIT president suspends student group critical of war in Gaza, says action ‘not related to content’ of demonstrations
The group said the suspension was an attack "on our right to protest.”

More than 100 protesters in South Station hold die-in support of Gaza

Senator Pacheco one of a dozen Mass. lawmakers who plan to leave office at end of the year

At least a dozen state lawmakers have so far announced that they will not seek reelection in the fall and will instead run for another office or move on to jobs in the private sector — almost none announced plans to retire.

A law enforcement officer looks around the scene following a shooting at the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl celebration in Kansas City, Mo.

At least 8 children among 22 hit by gunfire at Kansas City parade after Chiefs’ Super Bowl win; 1 person killed

One person was killed in Kansas City, and 22 were hit by gunfire, including eight children, authorities said. Three people were taken into custody.

Mother and daughter from N.H. recall horror of Kansas City shooting at Chief’s celebration

Immigrants are fundamental to region’s economic impact, new report finds
Researchers emphasized what they call a “deeply inaccurate view” that immigrant workers are bad for the economy, sharing their finding that 61 percent of immigrants work in middle-or-upper-wage jobs.

Catholic Charities operating shelter for migrants in Newton, officials confirm State spent $173,000 on renovations to former courthouse now serving as shelter for 200 people, officials say

‘It is a humanitarian crisis’: Religious groups mobilize to support migrants
Faith groups and leaders are working to shepherd thousands of migrants into American society, facilitating access to basic needs, as well as connections to social services and financial support.

Emergency shelter for unhoused families to open at URI
The shelter, located on the western edge of the Kingston, R.I., campus will be open from Feb. 21 through April

There will be a few hours of snow late Thursday night and pre-dawn Friday leaving a coating to a couple of inches in many areas.

Forecast | Dave Epstein

A clipper system is set to bring snow Thursday night

Southern New England could see a coating to 2 inches by Friday morning.

Meteorologists walk a fine line to get a forecast right. Who’s responsible when they don’t?

Senator Elizabeth Warren, a Democrat from Massachusetts, speaks during a Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee hearing in Washington, DC, US, on Dec. 6, 2023.

John Deaton, prominent crypto attorney, eyes US Senate race against Elizabeth Warren

Should he enter the race, 56-year-old Deaton would become the first major GOP challenger for Warren in a contest that has looked sleepy for months.

Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0), guard Derrick White (9). center Luke Kornet (40) and forward Sam Hauser (30) cheer on their teammates during the second half of Wednesday night's 50-point win over the Nets at TD Garden.

Gary Washburn | CELTICS 136, NETS 86

After earning a well-deserved break, Joe Mazzulla knows Celtics must guard against complacency

"When we come back we have to reconnect and reestablish what we’re doing.”

Celtics beat Nets again in final game before break

This photo provided by Dunkin' shows Ben Affleck in a still from the company's 2024 Super Bowl ad campaign.

Dunking on the DunKings: Because enough already!

The viral Dunkin’ Super Bowl commercial fails the Bechdel test with flying colors — orange, pink, and white.

Matt Damon welcomes the newest DunKings member: Stephen Colbert

Sometimes it feels like we’ve made enormous progress when it comes to protecting victims of domestic abuse. And sometimes it feels like 1950.

When an abuser’s rights overshadow a victim’s

A Framingham District Court case offers a study in the potential perils of delayed protection.

Opinion

Fans looked on as the national anthem was performed during the Super Bowl from a pool on top of the Circa Resort and Casino last Sunday in Las Vegas.

IDEAS | CELINE BOYLE

For a nation divided, five minutes of the national anthem effect

The two anthems sung at the Super Bowl — “The Star-Spangled Banner” and “Lift Every Voice and Sing” — remind us that we really can stand shoulder to shoulder as citizens.

Jill Biden makes the case that Joe isn’t too old. Should we believe her?

Healey’s high court picks send message that outsiders need not apply

If we want to talk about old age, let’s really talk about old age

The seventh-grader and the First Amendment

More recent News

Eversource finally found a buyer for two wind farms. Now it’s looking to sell its water business.
Together, these divestitures represent an end to Eversource’s money-losing return to the world of electricity generation, about two decades after its predecessor companies got out of the power-plant business.

Maine Senator Angus King pushes back against federal directive discouraging entertaining electric signs on highways
In a pun-laden missive, Senator Angus King on Wednesday pressed Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg to not “sanction or discourage” states from using humorous electronic signage to broadcast road safety messages on the highway.

Two years after pay structure revamp, Mass. Senate to boost pay for staffers
The changes to the Massachusetts Senate staff's pay structure includes stipends for some non-English speakers, reimbursements for seeking licenses to practice social work or law, and salary re-evaluations for staff who earn Master’s degrees.

Man hospitalized in ‘critical condition’ after being struck by fire truck in Boston, officials say
Police responded around 12:25 p.m. to 111 Bowdoin St in Dorchester to reports of a pedestrian hit by a fire truck, according to Officer Jason Villanueva, a Boston Police Department spokesperson.

Framingham man arrested in connection with Jan. 6 insurrection at US Capitol
“I don’t care what happens as long as Trump maintains his presidency," Method allegedly said in a video he recorded before the riot. "I have a feeling it’s going to be mayhem, chaos, and pandemonium.”

Boston City Council sidesteps debate on resolution supporting negotiated ceasefire in Gaza
Councilor Ben Weber, who is Jewish and in his first term, filed the resolution, but ultimately withdrew the measure, saying it had come to his attention that the language “may cause more division, which is the opposite of what [he] had hoped to do.”

Recommended reads

Demita Frazier, a Black feminist activist and writer, in Revere.

Black History Now

‘We were building tables’: Demita Frazier reflects on influential Black feminist collective

The Boston-based activist has been a leader of "smart, capable, unruly Black women" and a pioneer of intersectional feminist theory.

Sick patients collapsed waiting for care in overwhelmed Steward hospital’s emergency department
In 2023, regulators declared that safety lapses in Good Samaritan Medical Center’s ER put patients in "immediate jeopardy," the most severe sanction.

Steward hospital crisis an ‘urgent priority’ for Healey, as state braces for potential closures

Healey relied on small circle to pick SJC nominees
The first-term Democrat leaned on a small, five-person commission to vet and identify picks for the high court. Three were either current or former appointees of Governor Maura Healey’s.

innovation economy

How podcaster Lex Fridman became MIT’s highest-profile science ambassador
On his podcast, Fridman has spoken to the likes of Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos, Benjamin Netanyahu, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Ye, and Joe Rogan.

Culture & Lifestyle

Sydney Sweeney arrived for the premiere of Sony's "Madame Web" in Los Angeles on Feb. 12.

‘Madame Web’ star Sydney Sweeney talks Britney Spears, spider suits, and how she ‘fell in love with Boston’

From left: Mikey Day, Sarah Sherman, musical guest Jennifer Lopez, host Ayo Edebiri, surprise guest Latto, Devon Walker, Punkie Johnson, surprise guest Redman, and Michael Longfellow on "Saturday Night Live" Feb. 3.

Jennifer Lopez says Ayo Edebiri was in tears while apologizing over past critical comments

Kingsley Ben-Adir as Bob Marley in "Bob Marley: One Love."

‘Bob Marley: One Love’ fails to catch a fire

The 11th annual Levitate Music and Arts Festival returns July 5-7 to the Marshfield Fairgrounds.

Mt. Joy, Lake Street Dive, and a reunited Sublime to headline Marshfield’s Levitate Festival

Special Projects

Ashfield, MA 06/13//2023, At Sanderson Academy, books in a fourth-grade classroom.

Suzanne Kreiter\Globe staff

Lost in a World of Words

Learning to read is the greatest gift a school can give a child. And yet, in Massachusetts, outmoded teaching methods leave thousands of students struggling to gain this critical skill.

Beyond the Gilded Gate

People in and around Boston are being challenged, in ways never before, to address the region's unprecedented housing crisis.

stuart landing page illustration

Nightmare in Mission Hill

The story of how a murder in Mission Hill — the Carol Stuart shooting — terrorized and wounded a community of innocent people.

Boston, MA—12/14/2022 - Commuters wait for the T to arrive at Ruggles Station. (Jessica Rinaldi/Globe Staff)

Boston doesn’t work if the T doesn’t work

With the MBTA engulfed by issues, everyday riders are feeling the pain.

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Opinion, ideas, and commentary

Canna Provisions owner Meg Sanders is a plaintiff in a federal lawsuit that hopes to end the national prohibition on cannabis and ease restrictions on businesses that stop them from accessing federal loans, accepting credit cards, and engaging with traditional banks.

Let’s stop treating pot like heroin

Protesters held signs as state and local officials toured Boston's Melnea A. Cass Recreational Complex in late January.

MARCELA GARCÍA

Migrants’ next stop: Why not Wellesley?

The author's house during filming.

IDEAS | DANIEL G. STEGER

They filmed ‘American Fiction’ in my house. Can I get an Oscar?

Police tape blocked off a Waffle House restaurant in Nashville, Tenn., after a gunman opened fire at the restaurant on April 22, 2018.

IDEAS | IEVA JUSIONYTE

A scholar of gun policy says his field has gotten it wrong

NYPD officers clashed with protesters demonstrating around Columbia University, Feb. 2 in New York City. Multiple arrests were made.

How universities can restore free speech and constructive conversations

When accidents happen: True stories from an ICU

Ernesto Barbieri and Jess Ruliffson

When accidents happen: True stories from an ICU nurse

Metro

Panel investigating Maine’s deadliest shooting to hear from state police

A panel investigating the deadliest shooting in Maine history is going to hear from state police, the lead law enforcement agency responding to the attack.

Even voters in independent-minded Maine are taking sides in a polarized nation

Maine’s vaunted independent voters are becoming scarcer as Super Tuesday approaches.

After fierce debate, Milton voters overturn state-mandated housing plan

Residents have been fiercely divided over the plan, which would bring Milton into compliance with a new state law requiring cities and towns serviced by the MBTA to allow more multifamily housing.

Forecast | Dave Epstein

A clipper system is set to bring snow Thursday night

Southern New England could see a coating to 2 inches by Friday morning.

Sports

Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0), guard Derrick White (9). center Luke Kornet (40) and forward Sam Hauser (30) cheer on their teammates during the second half of Wednesday night's 50-point win over the Nets at TD Garden.

Gary Washburn | On basketball

After earning a well-deserved break, Joe Mazzulla knows Celtics must guard against complacency

"When we come back we have to reconnect and reestablish what we’re doing.”

Don Gullett, shown in 1974, was the ace of the Big Red Machine during the 1970s.

Don Gullett, who started three World Series games against 1975 Red Sox as ace of the Big Red Machine, dies at 73

No cause of death was initially reported for Gullett, a member of the Reds Hall of Fame whose career was ended by a shoulder injury at 27, but not before he pitched for four straight World Series winners from 1975-78.

Toronto forward Natalie Spooner, shown earlier this month, piled on the goals Wednesday night at Tsongas Center.

PWHL | TORONTO 5, BOSTON 3

Natalie Spooner hat trick powers PWHL Toronto past Boston

Boston nearly doubled up Toronto in shots, finishing with a 35-18 edge, but went 0 for 5 on the power play and didn’t get on the board until the third period.

MIAA DIVISION 5 TRACK CHAMPIONSHIP

North Reading girls, Littleton boys capture MIAA Division 5 indoor track championships

CELTICS 136, NETS 86

Celtics cut down Nets again, this time by a whopping 50 points, in final game before All-Star break

MIAA NORDIC CHAMPIONSHIPS

Newton South boys, Mount Greylock girls reign at MIAA Nordic championships

Business

After fierce debate, Milton voters overturn state-mandated housing plan

Residents have been fiercely divided over the plan, which would bring Milton into compliance with a new state law requiring cities and towns serviced by the MBTA to allow more multifamily housing.

Terrorists are paying for check marks on X, report says

The report, by the Tech Transparency Project shows that X, formerly known as Twitter, has taken payments from accounts that include Hezbollah leaders, Houthi groups, and state-run media outlets in Iran and Russia.

Microsoft says US rivals are beginning to use generative AI in offensive cyber operations

Date night strike: Thousands of US, UK delivery, ride-hailing drivers stop work on Valentine’s Day

magazine

‘God, I wish I hadn’t seen that’: On the trail of Bigfoot in the Berkshires

On Valentine's Day, LEGO Discovery Center Boston’s will host a night just for grown-ups.

Your Week Ahead

Five things to do around Boston, Feb. 12-Feb. 18

The Parenting Issue

When my daughter was born, I became the most scared dad there ever was

The Parenting Issue

More women than ever are freezing their eggs. But there’s a problem.

metro

Investigators at scene after a person was struck by a Boston Fire Department truck in Dorchester.

Man hospitalized in ‘critical condition’ after being struck by fire truck in Boston, officials say

Mother and daughter from N.H. recall horror of Kansas City shooting at Chief’s celebration

John Deaton, prominent crypto attorney, eyes US Senate race against Elizabeth Warren

sports

One of Joe Mazzulla's goals for the Celtics is to hold the opposition to 1 point per possession.

Joe Mazzulla makes intentions clear about coaching Celtics to foul while winning

Adopted from a Congo orphanage, Muji Vader has warmed up to her new Concord home, Minuteman girls’ basketball team

More to Trevor Story’s healthy outlook at Red Sox spring training than physical appearance

business

Amid artificial intelligence boom, AI girlfriends — and boyfriends — are making their mark

Gov. Healey launches AI task force to boost competitiveness in tech

Eversource finally found a buyer for two wind farms. Now it’s looking to sell its water business.

politics

Tom Suozzi spoke at his victory party on Tuesday night.

Suozzi win in N.Y. narrows GOP hold on House

Haley trails Trump by 36 points in South Carolina, new poll shows

House Intelligence Committee chair warns of a serious national security threat

Nation

A law enforcement officer looks around the scene following a shooting at the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl celebration in Kansas City, Mo.

At least 8 children among 22 hit by gunfire at Kansas City parade after Chiefs’ Super Bowl win; 1 person killed

Will Georgia prosecutor be removed from election case against Donald Trump? Judge to hear arguments

Will Donald Trump go on trial next month in New York criminal case? Judge expected to rule Thursday

World

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange.

Australian parliament wants WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange back home, not sent to US

US secretary of state visits Albania, a key regional ally seeking European Union membership

Greek parliament to vote on legalizing same-sex marriage in first for an Orthodox Christian country

opinion

The beach and the snow-covered field off of Lynn Shore Drive last month.

Putting our grief out there, like a gift to ourselves — and others

The seventh-grader and the First Amendment

Unions are winning battles but still could lose the war

lifestyle

A red-backed vole was held by a human during a survey of plant and animal life in Juneau, Alaska, in 2014. Alaskapox mainly has been found in small mammals, including red-backed voles and shrews. But pets, such as dogs and cats, may also carry the virus, health officials say.

What is Alaskapox? Recent death brings attention to virus seen in small animals.

Taylor Swift celebrates Travis Kelce Super Bowl win with star-studded entourage

Photos: See Robert Kraft, Reba McEntire, Jay-Z, and more stars at Super Bowl LVIII

food & dining

Mr. Bouley at Bouley at Home, an enterprise that included a dining room, a food lab, a cooking school, and a bake shop, in New York in 2017.

David Bouley, influential New York chef, dies at 70

Affleck on the track: DunKings release full song just in time for Valentine’s Day

Matt Damon welcomes the newest DunKings member: Stephen Colbert

travel

Lena Onalik, the first Inuit archeologist for the Nunatsiavut Government’s Department of Language, Culture, and Tourism, grew up with her grandparents in Makkovik. She works to preserve and record culturally important Inuit sites on the Labrador Coast, and to promote and protect Inuit culture and language.

We wanted northern lights and glacial fjords. We got so much more.

Not into roller coasters at sea with 5,000 other passengers? Consider an expedition voyage.

Cruise-curious? Your cruise questions answered.

Arts

Installation view of "Forest Futures" at the Harvard Graduate School of Design.

Stopping by woods at Harvard’s Graduate School of Design

With a small show of prints by Indigenous artists, the MFA looks to the future

A pair of ambitious photo exhibits look at sexuality and race in Boston during the ’70s

Books

Hank Phillippi Ryan, author of "One Wrong Word."

For Hank Phillippi Ryan, serendipity is a power for good, in writing and life

A divided life finally made whole in ‘I Heard Her Call My Name,’ Lucy Sante’s memoir of transition

Paul Alexander captures the tragic beauty, survival instincts of Billie Holiday in ‘Bitter Crop’

Movies

Sydney Sweeney arrived for the premiere of Sony's "Madame Web" in Los Angeles on Feb. 12.

‘Madame Web’ star Sydney Sweeney talks Britney Spears, spider suits, and how she ‘fell in love with Boston’

‘Bob Marley: One Love’ fails to catch a fire

‘Madame Web’ spins a convoluted superhero story

Television

Ben Mendelsohn as designer Christian Dior in "The New Look."

‘The New Look’ weaves a tale of fashion icons and Nazi oppression into a compelling drama

Dunking on the DunKings: Because enough already!

Rom-com to medical drama, Ambika Mod stands out

music

Ken Field (center right, with saxophone) and the Revolutionary Snake Ensemble play their Mardi Gras shows at Scullers on Saturday.

Ken Field and the Revolutionary Snake Ensemble bring Mardi Gras to Scullers

Harry Connick Jr., Broadway stars, Branford Marsalis, and Pride Night highlight Pops’ spring season

Affleck on the track: DunKings release full song just in time for Valentine’s Day

Theater/Dance

A scene from the 7 Fingers' "Duel Reality," now at the Emerson Cutler Majestic Theatre through Feb. 18.

Wonders never cease with the 7 Fingers

In ‘John Proctor Is the Villain,’ a high school is a #MeToo crucible

It’s the humans who are in need of repair in ‘Machine Learning’

Health

Our Lady of Fatima Hospital in North Providence, R.I.

Prospect Medical Holdings wants to sell its 2 R.I.-based hospitals. Here’s what a proposed deal could look like, executives say.

Timeline: Proposed sale of Rhode Island hospitals preceded by years of regulatory fights, funding problems

Incel culture and its rise in the modern dating world

Obituaries

The Pop-Tarts mascot was lowered into a giant toaster following the 2023 Pop-Tarts Bowl, showing the reach of Post's creation.

William Post, who played a key role in developing Pop-Tarts, dies at 96

David Bouley, influential New York chef, dies at 70

Kelvin Kiptum, marathon world record holder, dies at 24