The Boston Globe

The Boston Globe

Three former Stoughton officers passed Sandra Birchmore ‘around like she was a toy,’ lawyer says
Among the new allegations recently disclosed are text messages showing one officer initiated sexual contact with Sandra Birchmore when she was 15 and he was 27; that two other officers had sex with her in patrol cars when she was an adult; and that the department once used its authority to seek a psychiatric evaluation for her.

Iris Apfel, fashion icon known for her eye-catching style, dies at 102
Iris Apfel, a textile expert, interior designer and fashion celebrity known for her eccentric style, has died.

Biden approves military air drops of aid into Gaza after chaotic encounter left more than 100 dead

President Biden made the announcement while hosting Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni at the White house. “Aid flowing to Gaza is nowhere nearly enough,” he said.

US to airdrop humanitarian aid into Gaza — how it can help and why it’s so complicated

Two N.H. children ‘safely located,’ father charged with second degree murder of their mother, authorities say

Dustin M. Duren, 37, the children's father, was arrested on a charge of second-degree murder for the death of 31-year-old Caitlyn Naffziger, who was fatally shot Thursday night in an apartment in Berlin, authorities said.

Live ordnance fished out of Charles River in Needham successfully detonated, police say

Around 6 p.m. Friday, people were magnet fishing on Kendrick Street, where they pulled up “what appeared to be an unexploded ordnance and placed it on the sidewalk,” Needham police said.

On Feb. 29, leap-year babies share a unique and special birthday

‘Look me in the eye’: Hunter Biden, Matt Gaetz have testy exchange over drug use

Federal regulators to review nonbinary student’s death in Oklahoma

Two firefighters rescued, 50 residents displaced by Chelsea 5-alarm fire

Former MIT student pleads guilty to 2021 murder of Yale student in Connecticut

Missing Mass. teen found after nearly month-long search

Migrant families used Terminal E at Boston Logan International Airport as a shelter at the end of January.

Some cities, states are handling migrant arrivals a different way: Paying for their travel elsewhere

Officials insist their programs are a more humane way to treat migrants who are dropped off in buses from the border.

Fort Point migrant shelter plan draws new concerns in South Boston

Protesters outside the US Capitol on the day it was stormed by supporters of former president Donald Trump, in Washington, Jan. 6, 2021.

Appeals court ruling that vacates Capitol rioter’s sentence could impact dozens of Jan. 6 cases

A federal appeals court in Washington has ordered a new sentence for a retired Air Force officer who stormed the US Capitol dressed in combat gear, in a ruling that could impact dozens of other cases stemming from the Jan. 6, 2021, attack.

Jon Frattasio (left) and Doug Smith have been friends since they were young.

Hanson police officer Doug Smith (who inspired the movie ‘Goon’) is donating his kidney to fellow officer

An officer is donating his kidney to a fellow officer, an unruly customer throws a drink at a Starbucks employee, and odd tales from local police and fire departments.

There’s a perfect little model train world hiding in Roslindale, and this weekend it’s open for all to see
The Bay State Model Railroad Museum and the club that runs it connect people as much as train tracks. “There’s definitely a bigger thing [here] than just building models."

USC quarterback Caleb Williams said when he met the Patriots there were fewer people in the room than when he met the Commanders.

NFL SCOUTING COMBINE

Patriots keeping all routes open for No. 3 pick after meeting with NFL Draft’s top three quarterbacks

Southern Cal’s Caleb Williams, Louisiana State’s Jayden Daniels, and North Carolina’s Drake Maye met with the Patriots' contingent in Indianapolis, but Eliot Wolf, who will have final say, maintains all options are on the table.

Beyond the big three, there are other quarterbacks who could interest the Patriots Former Patriots quarterback Cam Newton apologizes for his role in a youth football fight Patriots re-sign quarterback Nathan Rourke

A boat brings beachgoers between Paradise Beach and Sandy Island in Grenada.

CHRISTOPHER MUTHER

The Caribbean’s overlooked gem: Here’s why Grenada should be high on your list of islands to visit

With stunning beaches and some of the best food in the West Indies, Grenada is an ideal escape.

Each time Kyrie Irving touched the ball on Friday night at TD Garden, the crowd booed. They cheered vigorously when he lost his dribble and the ball rolled out of bounds in the fourth quarter.

GARY WASHBURN | ON BASKETBALL

‘You’ve got to give them credit:’ Kyrie Irving, after another rough return to Boston, sounds increasingly Zen about it all

Irving played ball on Friday night, with 19 points on 9-for-23 shooting. He’s played better. He’s been more dazzling. But there was no bitterness and anger about another night of heavy boos at TD Garden.

Jayson Tatum enjoyed a made 3-pointer in the third quarter much more than Mavericks coach Jason Kidd (left) or Maxi Kleber.

CELTICS 138, MAVERICKS 110

Celtics pull away from the Mavericks to push winning streak into double digits

Jayson Tatum finished with 32 points after a quiet beginning to the Celtics' 10th straight victory, which is a high for the NBA this season.

Months after paying $2,450 for hearing aids, New Hampshire resident Kevin Hamilton received a surprise "dispensing fee" bill for $1,000.

A billing dispute over hearing aids offers some valuable lessons

Months after paying $2,450 for hearing aids, Kevin Hamilton received a surprise "dispensing fee" bill for $1,000.

Alex Cora is in the final year of his contract, and there has been no indication of an extension.

The Red Sox’ best asset may be Alex Cora, but he sure sounds as if he’s at a crossroads

Sam Kennedy named CEO of Fenway Sports Group Blazing-fast Jarren Duran believes he can add something to his game — more speed

Opinion

A passer-by walks through a portion of the Cass Recreational Complex, in Boston, Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024, that has been turned into a temporary shelter site for families experiencing homelessness.

If Biden wanted to see the migrant crisis up close, he should have come to Massachusetts

Instead he went to Texas.

Behind the battle over what children can read

Christopher Weyant

Failure to communicate

Steward Health Care should face a full-scale criminal investigation

Amid a housing crisis, Milton can’t be allowed to flout new zoning law

More recent News

New York man who killed a woman after a wrong turn in his driveway gets 25 years to life
Kaylin Gillis had pulled into Kevin Monahan’s driveway in the town of Hebron last April while looking for a party at another person’s house.

Monster blizzard is forecast to dump 10 feet of snow on mountains in California and Nevada
The storm began barreling into the region on Thursday, with the biggest effects expected to close major highways and trigger power outages Friday afternoon into Saturday.

Woman charged with drunken driving in crash that left daughter, 8, with life-threatening injuries
A Foxborough woman was arrested Thursday night for allegedly driving drunk last week when her SUV crashed head-on into an ambulance, leaving her 8-year-old daughter with life-threatening injuries, authorities said.

Bewildered when your Green Line train suddenly skips stops and runs ‘express’? You’re not alone.
The MBTA is working to “better convey information” about Green Line trains that sometimes skip stops and switch to “express” mode when trains are too close together, the agency said Friday.

A giant new beer hall is coming to Medford this year
“We view it as an adult playground,” said Mark Zarthar, one of six managing partners behind the project.

US health officials drop 5-day isolation time for COVID-19. Here’s what to know about the change.
The CDC changed its longstanding guidance, saying that people can return to work or regular activities if their symptoms are mild and improving and it’s been a day since they’ve had a fever.

Woman convicted of murder conspiracy, coverup, in 2019 disappearance of Connecticut mother
A woman was convicted Friday of conspiring to murder Jennifer Dulos, a mother of five who vanished from a wealthy Connecticut enclave in 2019 and was never found.

Paramedic gets 5 years in prison for Elijah McClain’s death in rare case against medical responders
A Colorado paramedic has been sentenced to five years in prison for the death of Elijah McClain in a rare prosecution of medical responders that has left officials rethinking how they treat people in police custody.

On Leap Day, couples leaned into novelty at micro wedding venue Dearly Studio
The Union Square event space had its busiest month in February, with four pairs tying the knot Feb. 29.

On Feb. 29, leap-year babies share a unique and special birthday

Recommended reads

This week's daters: Molly and David

Dinner with Cupid

Blind date: ‘We are both devoted to uplifting the world through our work’

Will their positive energy flow into a second date?

Love letters: How do we celebrate our love without getting married?

Steward hospital system receives higher insurance payments than many in Mass.
A recent analysis provided to the Globe shows that Steward’s hospitals as a group are paid the same as or better than many Massachusetts hospital systems for the medical care they provide.

Globe Magazine

An ice climbing disaster on Mount Katahdin. A desperate rescue mission.
It was a mild winter day in 1974 when six climbers set out on a route no one had ever attempted. Then came a storm of unimaginable fury.

Weather Focus | Dave Epstein

‘Pretty staggering’: Back-to-back warm Boston winters could be a first for the record books
This season's lack of cold and snow only exemplifies more evidence that the quintessential 'Winter in New England' is waning.

Culture & Lifestyle

Sharmin Faeq Sadiq from Kurdistan, Iraq, and Tugba Gula of Turkey contribute to "The Red Dress" in 2022. Created by textile artist Kirstie Macleod,"The Red Dress" was crafted by hundreds of embroiderers around the world. It's on view at Fuller Craft Museum in Brockton.

At Fuller Craft Museum, ‘The Red Dress’ speaks intimately to the experiences of women

Jodie Foster (left) and Kali Reis in HBO's "True Detective: Night Country."

The finale of ‘True Detective: Night Country’ was a reminder that concluding can be hard to do

"Four Daughters," directed by Kaouther Ben Hania, recounts the saga of a single mother from Tunisia who rules her growing daughters with an iron fist, and loses her two eldest to radicalization.

A single mother from Tunisia lost two of her daughters to ISIS. ‘Four Daughters’ tells their true story — using actors.

Sean McShane (right) with "Jeopardy!" host Ken Jennings

How a Boston Freedom Trail tour guide ended up on the ‘Jeopardy!’ Tournament of Champions

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.

FROM OUR PARTNERS

product by Studio/B. What is this?This content was produced by Boston Globe Media's Studio/B in collaboration with the advertiser. The news and editorial departments of the Boston Globe had no role in its production or display.

product by BG BRANDLAB. What is this?This content was produced by Boston Globe Media's Studio/B in collaboration with the advertiser. The news and editorial departments of the Boston Globe had no role in its production or display.

Opinion, ideas, and commentary

Copley Square area shuttles for the Green Line shutdown started Feb. 20, affecting commutes.

The Green Line shutdown has made me appreciate the journey

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the longtime top Senate Republican, said on Wednesday that he would give up his leadership post at the end of this year, acknowledging that his Reaganite national security views had put him out of step with a party.

Mitch McConnell has already been defeated — by Trump

Frozen embryos at the National Embryo Donation Center in Knoxville, Tenn., in 2015.

Republicans need to put up or shut up over the IVF mess they created

Fulton County District Attorney Fani T. Willis and lawyer Nathan Wade at a news conference at the Fulton County Government building on Aug. 14, 2023, in Atlanta.

Healey, Willis, and the dangers of hiring someone you slept with

The University of Alabama at Birmingham's Women & Infants Center halted in vitro fertilization procedures after a state Supreme Court's ruling that embryos in test tubes should be considered children, on Feb. 22.

Antonio Gargiulo

Six lessons the US can learn from Italy’s restrictions on IVF treatments

When accidents happen: True stories from an ICU

Ernesto Barbieri and Jess Ruliffson

When accidents happen: True stories from an ICU nurse

Metro

Hanson police officer Doug Smith (who inspired the movie ‘Goon’) is donating his kidney to fellow officer

An officer is donating his kidney to a fellow officer, an unruly customer throws a drink at a Starbucks employee, and odd tales from local police and fire departments.

Three former Stoughton officers passed Sandra Birchmore ‘around like she was a toy,’ lawyer says

Among the new allegations recently disclosed are text messages showing one officer initiated sexual contact with Sandra Birchmore when she was 15 and he was 27; that two other officers had sex with her in patrol cars when she was an adult; and that the department once used its authority to seek a psychiatric evaluation for her.

On Feb. 29, leap-year babies share a unique and special birthday

In all, Boston-area hospitals reported more than two dozen leap-day babies born this year.

Woman convicted of murder conspiracy, coverup, in 2019 disappearance of Connecticut mother

A woman was convicted Friday of conspiring to murder Jennifer Dulos, a mother of five who vanished from a wealthy Connecticut enclave in 2019 and was never found.

Sports

Each time Kyrie Irving touched the ball on Friday night at TD Garden, the crowd booed. They cheered vigorously when he lost his dribble and the ball rolled out of bounds in the fourth quarter.

GARY WASHBURN | ON BASKETBALL

‘You’ve got to give them credit:’ Kyrie Irving, after another rough return to Boston, sounds increasingly Zen about it all

Irving played ball on Friday night, with 19 points on 9-for-23 shooting. He’s played better. He’s been more dazzling. But there was no bitterness and anger about another night of heavy boos at TD Garden.

St. John's Prep's Jayden D’Ambrosio is hoping to top his father as a New England champion.

NEW ENGLAND INTERSCHOLASTIC WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIP

Bristol-Plymouth’s Nathan Hicks knocks off top seed at New England Interscholastic Wrestling Championships

“Before I walked on the mat, I was looking around and seeing a bunch of people I knew who came here to watch,” said Hicks, a 157 pounder. “I thought ‘I better put on a show for them.’ "

Andover's Luca Palermo (right, No. 3) shouts out after putting back a rebound for a basket against Marshfield's Tucker Collins (left). Palermo had 30 points to go along with 11 rebounds for the No. 8 Golden Warriors in a 76-54 Division 1 first-round victory Friday night in Andover,

MIAA boys' basketball | Andover 76, Marshfield 54

Luca Palermo paces Andover to dominant Division 1 first-round win over Marshfield

The sophomore led the No. 8 Golden Warriors (16-5) with 30 points and 11 rebounds in dominant 76-54 victory over the No. 40 Rams (10-11).

CELTICS 138, MAVERICKS 110

Celtics pull away from the Mavericks to push winning streak into double digits

HS GIRLS' BASKETBALL: WEYMOUTH 58, LINCOLN-SUDBURY 46

No rust for Weymouth girls’ basketball as it roasts Lincoln-Sudbury in Division 1 first round

CELTICS NOTEBOOK

Jrue Holiday would be honored to represent Team USA in another Olympics

Business

CVS, Walgreens to dispense abortion pills in R.I., Massachusetts

The nation’s two largest pharmacy chains will begin dispensing the abortion pill mifepristone this month, starting in a handful of states and gradually expanding to all other states where abortion is legal.

Lobster catch dips to lowest level since 2009 as fishers grapple with climate change, whale rules

Members of the lobster industry, based mostly in Maine, have said they face existential threats from proposed rules intended to protect the North Atlantic right whale and climate change that is influencing where lobsters can be trapped.

Healey’s life sciences plan: Another $1 billion investment, with some new areas of focus

Homes for sale on streets named for famous writers

magazine

Illustrations for magazine's March 3, 2024, cover story about an ice climbing accident on Mount Katahdin in Maine in 1974.

An ice climbing disaster on Mount Katahdin. A desperate rescue mission.

I used to live in a Michigan child-care desert. Then I came to Cambridge.

My boyfriend is Muslim. I’m a Jewish student at Harvard. The war is testing us.

This week's daters: Molly and David

Dinner with Cupid

Blind date: ‘We are both devoted to uplifting the world through our work’

metro

Firefighters battled flames and smoke Friday in Chelsea at 50 Maverick St.

Two firefighters rescued, 50 residents displaced by Chelsea 5-alarm fire

More than 300 Providence teachers get ‘displacement’ notices as potential layoffs loom

Here’s what to know about Super Tuesday in Massachusetts

sports

Nathan Rourke (left) has been a member of the Patriots and Jaguars without getting into an NFL game yet.

Patriots re-sign quarterback Nathan Rourke

Under-fire new MLB uniforms defended by Fanatics

College football player/coach communications could mimic the NFL

business

The Nantucket compound boasts three structures on 3.5 acres.

These 10 homes were among the most expensive sold in Massachusetts in 2023

A billing dispute over hearing aids offers some valuable lessons

Elon Musk sues OpenAI and CEO Sam Altman, claiming betrayal of its goal to benefit humanity

politics

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and President Joe Biden talk during the launch of the Global Biofuels Alliance at the G20 summit in New Delhi, India, Sept. 9, 2023.

Biden approves military air drops of aid into Gaza after chaotic encounter left more than 100 dead

Some cities, states are handling migrant arrivals a different way: Paying for their travel elsewhere

Haley says she raised a strong $12m in February, but can’t point to long-term plan to beat Trump

Nation

Locals walk a dog down a snowbound residential street in South Lake Tahoe, Calif., on March 1.

Major Snowstorm Descends Over Mountains Around Lake Tahoe

A New Jersey city that limited street parking hasn’t had a traffic death in 7 years

Anticipating cuts, rural schools look to upcoming N.Y. budget with dread

World

Nabela, who was detained by Israeli forces, poses for a portrait at the U.N. school where she is sheltering in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip on Feb. 23.

‘They wanted to humiliate us.’ Palestinian women detained by Israel allege abuse in Israeli custody

The Tower of London’s new ravenmaster takes charge of the landmark’s iconic flock

Gaza doctor says gunfire accounted for 80% of the wounds at his hospital from aid convoy bloodshed

opinion

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the longtime top Senate Republican, said on Wednesday that he would give up his leadership post at the end of this year, acknowledging that his Reaganite national security views had put him out of step with a party.

Mitch McConnell has already been defeated — by Trump

Steward Health Care should face a full-scale criminal investigation

Really, Dedham?

lifestyle

In this Oct. 27, Auteur of Style honoree Iris Apfel attends The Fashion Group International's Night of Stars Gala at Cipriani Wall Street in New York. Iris Apfel, a textile expert, interior designer and fashion celebrity known for her eccentric style, has died.

Iris Apfel, fashion icon known for her eye-catching style, dies at 102

On Leap Day, couples leaned into novelty at micro wedding venue Dearly Studio

BLOWW: A queer community built on trust and taking up space in the world of professional wrestling

food & dining

Recipe for Provencal Vegetable Soup with Pistou by Sheryl Julian.

Read all of the Winter Soup Club newsletters

Our final chapter is chowder

Everyone has an opinion about chicken soup

travel

The Bay State Model Railroad Museum opens for only two open houses a year, and the next one is March 2-3. It has an elaborate collection of model trains that run on their several tracks inside.

There’s a perfect little model train world hiding in Roslindale, and this weekend it’s open for all to see

The Caribbean’s overlooked gem: Here’s why Grenada should be high on your list of islands to visit

Why not go solo? How to travel alone . . . and like it.

Arts

The Wawaloam Bee statue outside Wawaloam Elementary School in Exeter, R.I.

One woman’s quest to find every Mr. Potato Head statue in Rhode Island

At Fuller Craft Museum, ‘The Red Dress’ speaks intimately to the experiences of women

Brookline painter Leslie Sills brings women’s art history to life

Books

Prepare for the 96th Academy Awards during a discussion with Robin Young and best-selling author Michael Schulman, on Wednesday.

Five things to do around Boston, March 4-10

Preserving the history of New England’s LGBTQ+ communities online; ‘Whale Fall’ wins children’s science book award

Author readings around Boston through March 9

Movies

Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez attend the Los Angeles premiere of Amazon MGM Studios' "This Is Me ... Now: A Love Story" at Dolby Theatre Feb. 13 in Hollywood, California.

Now that we’re done with that viral Dunkin’ ad, let’s talk about J.Lo

Are you ready to place your Oscar bets for best documentary short?

‘Dune: Part Two’: When sand gets in your eyes

Television

Andrew Scott (pictured in "All of Us Strangers") will play Tom Ripley in the eight-episode miniseries, which is coming to Netflix April 4.

Talent to spare on Netflix’s ‘Ripley’

The finale of ‘True Detective: Night Country’ was a reminder that concluding can be hard to do

Oscar nominee Randolph was also divine in ‘High Fidelity’

music

Prepare for the 96th Academy Awards during a discussion with Robin Young and best-selling author Michael Schulman, on Wednesday.

Five things to do around Boston, March 4-10

Composer Matthew Aucoin is bringing his slimmed-down ‘Eurydice’ opera to Boston

Even with a cold, Audra McDonald shines at Symphony Hall

Theater/Dance

Brian Boruta, producing artistic director of Umbrella Stage in Concord.

Umbrella Stage keeps stepping up

International stars of flamenco music and dance kick off four-night festival on Saturday

In ‘Golda’s Balcony,’ the Israeli prime minister in crisis in 1973

Health

An empty wheelchair at a long-term care center on Oct. 25, 2022.

In R.I. nursing homes, deficiencies are on the rise. Advocates demand better standards.

‘An extremely aggressive timeline’: Rhode Island Life Sciences Hub to hire inaugural CEO by May

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

Obituaries

Veteran comic book artist Ramona Fradon displayed her rendition of the DC Comics superhero Aquaman, right, on whom she worked for many years, and the Marvel Comics character Namor the Sub-Mariner.

Ramona Fradon, longtime force in the world of comic books, dies at 97

Brian Mulroney, former Canadian prime minister, dies at 84

Richard Lewis, comedian known for his neurotic, stream-of-consciousness act and ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’ role, has died