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The Boston Globe

Why this is likely the most pivotal legal moment for Trump all year

If there was a moment to pay attention to a Donald Trump trial all year, it’s this week.

What to know about Michael Cohen’s pivotal testimony in the hush-money trial

Michael Cohen testifies that Donald Trump urged him to buy Stormy Daniels’s silence. Here’s what he said.
Michael Cohen, Trump’s former lawyer and personal fixer, is by far the Manhattan district attorney’s most important witness in the case.

Tracker: Who has testified in the trial so far? Trump’s GOP allies show up in force as Michael Cohen takes the stand in hush-money trial

Two dead after being hit by commuter rail train in Natick

Two people died after they were struck by a commuter rail train in Natick on Monday afternoon, leading to cancellations and delays on the Framingham/Worcester line during the evening rush hour, officials said.

Everett woman dead after medical procedure at Somerville home; another woman hospitalized

Authorities are investigating a potential link between the death of a 35-year-old Everett woman who underwent a medical procedure at a Somerville home and the hospitalization of another woman who was treated at the home, officials said Monday.

‘You literally changed your testimony within your own testimony.’ Canton homeowner aggressively cross-examined at Karen Read trial.
Brian Albert testified about missing a 2 a.m. call from his friend Brian Higgins and a series of calls that took place later that morning after learning of John O’Keefe’s death.

Tracker: Who has testified in the trial so far?

Three inmates accused of killing James ‘Whitey’ Bulger have struck a plea deal

Federal prosecutors said Monday that they reached an agreement with Fotios Geas, Paul DeCologero, and Sean McKinnon, and the three would plead guilty to murder charges.

Three men arraigned on gun charges after fatal shooting of 16-year-old at Northborough mansion

U.N. staff member killed in attack on car marked with U.N. flag in Rafah

Anger and protests shadow Israel’s Memorial Day

David Sanborn, Saxophonist Who Defied Pigeonholing, Dies at 78

Joe Mazzulla (right) tries to rein in Jaylen Brown as the superstar exchanges words with the Cavaliers during the fourth quarter of Monday's game in Cleveland.

CELTICS 109, CAVALIERS 102 | INSTANT ANALYSIS

Celtics outshine star-starved Cavaliers to take 3-1 series lead, plus other thoughts from Game 4

Jayson Tatum had 33 points and Jaylen Brown added 27 for the Celtics, who will have a chance to advance to the conference finals Wednesday night. The Cavaliers were without Donovan Mitchell.

Photos: Celtics take on Cavaliers in Game 4 in Cleveland Read a recap of Game 4 in Cleveland

Buzunesh Deba looked over her shoulder as she headed down Boylston Street in the 2014 Boston Marathon.

boston marathon

2014 Boston Marathon winner Buzunesh Deba finally gets some of her overdue prize money — but not from the BAA

Deba, who was elevated to first after Rita Jeptoo failed a drug test, has a benefactor in a former BC quarterback who was tired of waiting for the BAA to act.

Rupa Shenoy, the host of WBUR's "Morning Edition," is departing the show this summer.

Rupa Shenoy, host of WBUR’s ‘Morning Edition,’ to leave show this summer

Shenoy helped WBUR become the most listened-to news station in Boston, a WBUR leader said.

It was once unthinkable. Now some universities tiptoe toward divestment from Israel
Just a few years ago, the activist campaign to boycott, divest from, and sanction Israel was a fringe movement dogged by allegations of antisemitism. But the ground is now shifting.

Harvard police say lock on main gate was cut with bolt cutters during protest Suspended MIT and Harvard protesters barred from graduation, evicted from campus housing

No, it’s not just you: Boston traffic is a maddening, bewildering, often-dangerous hellscape. And to survive it, you have to understand it.

A new driver’s guide to Boston traffic, from the Alewife Brook Parkway to the Zakim Bridge

Getting behind the wheel in the city for the first time? Here's a breakdown of the major roadways, bridges, and tunnels.

How to find a good mechanic, dentist, or dry cleaner in the Boston area

Taxes are a pain. Here’s how to make them a less expensive pain if you live in Massachusetts.

Deciding where to live? Here’s your Greater Boston Neighborhood Vibe Check™.

New to the Boston area? Here’s the best advice our readers have to share.

Quincy Mayor Tom Koch (left) spoke with Secretary of State Bill Galvin during a political event in August 2022.

With recommended raise, the Quincy mayor would be one of highest-paid mayors in the US. Residents have questions.

By comparison, New York City Mayor Eric Adams is paid about $258,000 a year, according to the New York Times, and Boston Mayor Michelle Wu’s salary last year was $207,000.

Romy Gonzalez strikes out to end the Red Sox' 5-3 loss to the Rays at Fenway Park on Monday. The shortstop was playing in only his seventh game for Boston.

rays 5, red sox 3

Rays continue to get the better of the Red Sox, taking the opener of four-game set

The Red Sox' lead over the Rays in the AL East is now a mere half-game after Tampa Bay (21-21) got four runs off Kutter Crawford.

Smoke from wildfires blanketed Edmonton, Alberta, as a couple had a picnic on Saturday.

Canadian wildfires cause air quality alerts in the US. Here’s what that means for the Northeast.

The high number of "zombie fires" has raised fears that many may flare up again this season with increased intensity.

Map: Smoke from Canadian wildfires reaches US. How healthy is the air quality right now?

Melinda French Gates smiles as she leaves the Elysee Palace, June 23, 2023, in Paris.

Melinda French Gates exits Gates Foundation with $12.5 billion

French Gates will receive $12.5 billion as part of her agreement with Gates, which she said would commit to future work focused on women and families.

MATTHEW GILBERT | 'SNL' SHOWDOWN

Aykroyd vs. Belushi. Fey vs. McKinnon. Vote in the semifinals of our best ‘SNL’ cast member bracket.

Vote in the Globe’s "SNL" Showdown bracket to help pick the best cast member from the past five decades.

Kate McKinnon (left) and Kristen Wiig appear in a 2016 sketch on "Saturday Night Live." McKinnon beat Will Ferrell to advance to Round 4, while Wiig lost to John Belushi.

Tears for Kristen Wiig, cheers for Kate McKinnon

McKinnon is the most recent "SNL" cast member to still be in the running. Sadly, Wiig won't be joining her.

Opinion

Former president Donald Trump arrived at his criminal trial for allegedly covering up hush money payments at Manhattan Criminal Court, in New York City, on May 13.

Will Michael Cohen’s testimony matter to jurors?

Even if it does, will they still find Donald Trump guilty of the crime of falsifying business records, with the intent of influencing the 2016 presidential campaign? It’s complicated.

Seven couples, marriage equality, and the fight for a more perfect and inclusive union

IDEAS | MICHELINE MAYNARD

The $100 billion gamble on EV batteries

Do jerks on planes deserve lifetime bans?

Marcela García

TikTok fights back

AAPI Heritage Month

Anne Nishimura Morse, the William and Helen Pounds Senior Curator of Japanese Art, sits for a portrait in one of the newly renovated galleries at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.

MFA reopens its Arts of Japan galleries after six years of closure

Amy Tan, pictured here in a park near Harvard Square, was recently in Cambridge on a book tour for her latest work, "The Backyard Bird Chronicles."

Amy Tan reflects on her new nonfiction book. ‘Birds were fun ... fiction writing is torment.’

The oxtail pho with bone marrow at Le Madeline in Quincy.

Eight restaurants to eat at for AAPI Heritage Month

Jeannie Salomon speaking at the Cultural Society for Entrepreneurship, Bilingualism, Resources and Inspirations' May 4 AAPI Heritage Month Celebration.

COMMENTARY | JEANNIE SALOMON

This AAPI Heritage Month, it’s time to get serious about teaching AAPI history in Rhode Island

More recent News

RI NEWS

‘Appalling failure’: Investigation finds R.I. has ‘routinely’ segregated children with disabilities by institutionalizing them
Rhode Island has repeatedly violated federal disability laws by over-hospitalizing children in state care who have behavioral disabilities, said US Attorney Zachary Cunha on Monday.

Massachusetts turns to former prison as migrant shelter
As the state struggles to find enough space — and money — to house thousands of newly arrived migrants, Governor Maura Healey is turning to a former prison in Norfolk as an emergency shelter, her administration said this weekend.

THE FINE PRINT

A child suffered a vicious dog attack. A 53-year-old law caps her family’s compensation at $20,000.
A Plymouth couple is fighting for their granddaughter but have collided with a legal concept known as “charitable immunity” that protects the shelter operator.

As ‘Roaring Kitty’ reemerges on social media, meme stocks like GameStop and AMC surge like it’s 2021
Keith Gill, the lead figure behind the stunning market rally of GameStop in 2021, sent the prices of several quirky and volatile stocks sharply higher once more on Monday after resurfacing on X.

Despite concerns, Boston Police Department poised to renew contract for ShotSpotter technology
Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox told the City Council on Monday the department will not hold off renewing its contract with the company that makes the ShotSpotter gunshot detection system.

Boston at a Bargain

Free ferry rides, early jazz nights, a lunch bargain, and more
Introducing Boston at a Bargain, your weekly guide to free or discounted entertainment and programming around the city and beyond. This column covers May 13-19.

Poll: Most Massachusetts parents think state should require the ‘science of reading’ in classrooms
As a growing number of states pass laws requiring scientifically based reading instruction in schools, most Massachusetts parents think the state should follow suit.

Dr. Cyril Wecht, celebrity pathologist who argued more than 1 shooter killed JFK, dies at 93

Dr. Cyril Wecht has died at age 93 after spending much of his life pressing his view that more than one shooter was involved in President John Kennedy’s 1963 assassination

Workers set off explosives to free ship from fallen Baltimore bridge
Seven weeks after a cargo ship was trapped under a Baltimore bridge, a salvage crew detonated a cluster of explosives Monday evening to free it.

Recommended reads

President Biden took pictures with locals during a stop at Cook Out, a restaurant in Raleigh, N.C., in January.

How Black, rural voters in one state could upend the 2024 presidential Electoral College math

North Carolina represents the best state where Biden can go on offense in a state Donald Trump won in 2020. But key to winning is holding the line with rural Black voters in the state.

APPRECIATION | SHERYL JULIAN

Chef Jasper White was at the forefront of America’s renaissance in the kitchen
The restaurateur, who died on May 11, mentored many younger cooks — and his peers.

Larry Edelman | Trendlines

The state watched from the sidelines as Steward collapsed. Here’s how Beacon Hill could prevent another crisis.
A good place to start discussing remedies is with Alan Sager, a Boston University professor who has spent decades pushing for smarter and more aggressive government oversight of Massachusetts hospitals.

Sheriff’s race in Maine county where mass shooting occurred is usually a staid affair, but not this year
The race for Sagadahoc sheriff has become a deeply emotional and divisive topic: candidates faulted for failing to intervene and prevent the mass shooting.

Culture & Lifestyle

John Ehrlich conducts a rehearsal of the Spectrum Singers in Cambridge. Ehrlich is retiring after more than four decades as the group's music director, with a final performance Saturday.

One more show for Spectrum Singers conductor John Ehrlich before he takes his final bow

A group of travelers wait to board a Boston Harbor Islands ferry.

Free ferry rides, early jazz nights, a lunch bargain, and more

The cast of NBC's "Saturday Night Live" posed on the show's set in New York, Sept. 22, 1992. From left, front row; Chris Farley, Al Franken, and Melanie Hutsell. In middle row, from left: Chris Rock, Julia Sweeney, Dana Carvey, and Rob Schneider. In back row, from left: Adam Sandler, David Spade, Ellen Cleghorne, Kevin Nealon, Phil Hartman, and Tim Meadows.

Dana Carvey and David Spade reflect on five decades of ‘Saturday Night Live’

This fall at the Museum of Fine Arts, Anastasia Christophilopolou will begin as George D. and Margo Behrakis Chair, Art of Ancient Greece and Rome.

MFA appoints Anastasia Christophilopoulou as new chair of ancient Greek and Roman art

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

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Opinion, ideas, and commentary

The Tobin Bridge framed Broadway as traffic moved in downtown Chelsea in 2021.

Legislature should pass health equity bill

Food is distributed to migrants at the La Colaborativa day shelter in Chelsea on Feb. 22. The shelter opened on February 20, and is currently helping about 200 migrants, mainly refugees from Haiti, build resumes, get work, receive health care.

Mass. should focus on long-term solutions for homeless families

Former vice president Mike Pence, left, and former national security adviser John Bolton, right, shown with then-president Donald Trump at the White House in 2018, are on the long list of former Trump administration alums who have made it clear that they won’t support Trump again.

Readers respond: There are ways to talk to family and friends who support Trump

The author's son, foreground and looking like the cat who got the cream, at Old Trail School's craft fair and bake sale in Bath, Ohio, in March 2016.

IDEAS | LARISSA KOSMOS

Mother of dragons

Cows grazed in a field near the coal-fueled Oak Grove Power Plant on April 29, in Robertson County, Texas. In conjunction with the Biden-Harris administration's attempt to mitigate climate change, the Environmental Protection Agency has finalized new rules that seek to reduce carbon emissions and mercury pollution among businesses and communities.

The politicization of climate change

Heather Hopp-Bruce/Globe staff; Adobe

Blueprints for a new downtown Boston

Metro

‘Appalling failure’: Investigation finds R.I. has ‘routinely’ segregated children with disabilities by institutionalizing them

Rhode Island has repeatedly violated federal disability laws by over-hospitalizing children in state care who have behavioral disabilities, said US Attorney Zachary Cunha on Monday.

Photos: Boston edges Cavaliers in Game 4

The Boston Celtics faced the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 4 of the NBA Eastern Conference playoffs in Cleveland.

Three inmates accused of killing James ‘Whitey’ Bulger have struck a plea deal

Federal prosecutors said Monday that they reached an agreement with Fotios Geas, Paul DeCologero, and Sean McKinnon, and the three would plead guilty to murder charges.

21 arrested last week at UMass antiwar protest appear in court

Nearly two dozen of the 130 students, faculty, and community members arrested last week at the University of Massachusetts Amherst while protesting Israel’s war on Gaza were arraigned Monday in Eastern Hampshire District Court, law enforcement officials said.

Sports

Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla tried to restrain Jaylen Brown after an exchange with the Cavaliers in the fourth quarter.

Gary Washburn | On basketball

The Celtics had an ugly win over the Cavaliers, and that is pretty important

The Celtics survived a muddy fourth quarter with timely defensive stops and a crucial 3-pointer from Jaylen Brown.

Jayston Tatum (left) and the Celtics snatched the win from Max Strus and the undermanned Cavaliers.

The Celtics took care of the primary objective, but failed to prove they’ve overcome their bad habits

It was a fight, one that went to the final rounds when the selectively ruthless Celtics should have knocked out the Cavaliers early.

The Cavaliers struggled to stop Jaylen Brown in Game 4.

Watch: Celtics’ Jayson Tatum talks Game 4 win, relationship with Jaylen Brown

Tatum and Brown combined for 60 points in the win.

Boys’ volleyball roundup: No. 15 Lexington exacts some revenge at home against No. 4 Winchester

Baseball roundup: With arm and bat, Matthew Stuart delivers Chelmsford an upset of No. 17 Central Catholic

Business

‘Appalling failure’: Investigation finds R.I. has ‘routinely’ segregated children with disabilities by institutionalizing them

Rhode Island has repeatedly violated federal disability laws by over-hospitalizing children in state care who have behavioral disabilities, said US Attorney Zachary Cunha on Monday.

Amazon’s self-driving robotaxi unit Zoox under investigation by US after 2 rear-end crashes

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said in documents posted on its website Monday it will evaluate the automated driving system developed by Zoox.

US airlines are suing the Biden administration over a new rule to make certain fees easier to spot

MBTA commuter rail workers reach contract agreement, averting strike

magazine

From left: Leah Ellis of Sublime Systems, Sarah Hodges of Pillar VC, and Lily Lyman of Underscore VC

Tech Power Players 2024

The Globe’s 2024 Tech Power Players include more women in leadership in the startup scene

Do I let single guests bring dates to a graduation party?

On Sunday, take part in the the Somerville Bike Pageant.

Your Week Ahead

Five things to do around Boston, May 13-19

Photos of Shelby Hewitt, including her 2023 booking photo (center).

The secret lives of Shelby Hewitt, 32-year-old high school imposter

metro

The Johnston Gate at Harvard University on May 9. Harvard Yard has been closed to the public after students established a pro-Palestinian encampment there last month.

Harvard police say lock on main gate was cut with bolt cutters during pro-Palestinian protest

Poll: Most Massachusetts parents think state should require the ‘science of reading’ in classrooms

‘Doubt: A Parable’ is a compelling battle of wills

sports

King Philip's Jo Bennett (left) and Taylor Regan celebrated a win over No. 6 Central Catholic.

Softball roundup: Lidia Midema’s 62-pitch no-hitter and Sophia Balducci’s two-run homer were all Beverly needed

Four-goal flurry in third period at MSG keeps Hurricanes afloat against Rangers

Girls’ tennis roundup: No. 2 Boston Latin barely gets past Winchester

business

Rupa Shenoy, the host of WBUR's "Morning Edition," is departing the show this summer.

Rupa Shenoy, host of WBUR’s ‘Morning Edition,’ to leave show this summer

Jodi Goldstein opens new chapter at the Coop bookstore

Downbeat mood found among some Mass. residents

politics

American author and politician J. D. Vance watches as former president Donald Trump speaks to reporters with his lawyer Todd Blanche at Manhattan criminal court on Monday.

Donald Trump’s GOP allies show up in force as Michael Cohen takes the stand in hush-money trial

Why this is likely the most pivotal legal moment for Trump all year

Republican group takes rare step of targeting GOP incumbent who voted to oust Kevin McCarthy

Nation

Michael Cohen leaves his apartment building on his way to Manhattan criminal court on May 13 in New York.

Michael Cohen to face bruising cross-examination by Trump’s lawyers

Workers set off explosives to free ship from fallen Baltimore bridge

US airlines are suing the Biden administration over a new rule to make certain fees easier to spot

World

The United Nations headquarters May 13, 2024 in New York City.

U.N. staff member killed in attack on car marked with U.N. flag in Rafah

Blinken visits Ukraine to tout US support for Kyiv’s fight against Russia’s advances

Anger and protests shadow Israel’s Memorial Day

opinion

House Speaker Mike Johnson has compared himself to Moses and hung the Christian Nationalist “Appeal to Heaven” flag outside his office.

Protect the separation of church and state

The $100 billion gamble on EV batteries

Seven couples, marriage equality, and the fight for a more perfect and inclusive union

lifestyle

My husband is on Tinder

Juli Min’s ‘Shanghailanders’ transports readers to the root of one family’s fractured relationships

There’s a good reason she didn’t respond …

food & dining

Jasper White at his Summer Shack restaurant in Cambridge in 2000.

Chef Jasper White was at the forefront of America’s renaissance in the kitchen

There’s a new food hall coming to Cambridge (and it will appeal to ‘90s ‘mall babies’)

For Providence Brewing Company, the American Dream is within reach

travel

Michael’s on the Hill, an elegant restaurant located in an 1820 farmhouse, serves classic, well-composed European fare, emphasizing local ingredients, like the crab cake shown here.

Waterbury, Vt.: The best little foodie town in New England

A trip to The Vermont Country Store is a trip back in time

Welcome to the most Vermont-ish village in the Green Mountain State

Arts

Asi Wind performing in his new show, "Incredibly Human."

Magician Asi Wind is up to some new tricks

Sayako Hiroi has this advice for artists: ‘Be patient. Trust yourself. Don’t tell a lie.’

MFA appoints Anastasia Christophilopoulou as new chair of ancient Greek and Roman art

Books

From left: the cover of "Shanghailanders," and its author, Juli Min.

Juli Min’s ‘Shanghailanders’ transports readers to the root of one family’s fractured relationships

Jamaica Kincaid’s primer on colonialism’s flora resonates with history behind Aimee Nezhukumatathil’s honeyed memories

An homage to eros in new poetry collection; Roxbury book festival returns for a second year; and more

Movies

Actor Steve Buscemi attended the premiere of "The Dead Don't Die" in New York in 2019.

Actor Steve Buscemi OK after being punched in the face in New York City

Roger Corman, Hollywood mentor and ‘King of the Bs,’ dies at 98

Ryusuke Hamaguchi on letting real life frame his new film, ‘Evil Does Not Exist’

Television

Aykroyd vs. Belushi. Fey vs. McKinnon. Vote in the semifinals of our best ‘SNL’ cast member bracket.

Dana Carvey and David Spade reflect on five decades of ‘Saturday Night Live’

Tears for Kristen Wiig, cheers for Kate McKinnon

music

John Ehrlich conducts a rehearsal of the Spectrum Singers in Cambridge. Ehrlich is retiring after more than four decades as the group's music director, with a final performance Saturday.

One more show for Spectrum Singers conductor John Ehrlich before he takes his final bow

Donald Glover is back as Childish Gambino. Here’s when his ‘New World Tour’ stops in Boston.

Mark your calendars for these classical events next season

Theater/Dance

George Clooney will star onstage as Edward R. Murrow in "Good Night, and Good Luck," an adaptation of the 2005 movie he wrote and directed.

George Clooney to make his Broadway debut in ‘Good Night, and Good Luck’

Boston Dance Theater reaches for the ‘Pinnacle’

Boston Ballet is in shape for Paris with ‘Spring Experience’

Health

US Attorney for the District of Rhode Island Zachary A. Cunha speaks during a press conference alongside Susan Rhodes, the regional director of the U.S. Health and Human Services Office of Civil Rights

‘Appalling failure’: Investigation finds R.I. has ‘routinely’ segregated children with disabilities by institutionalizing them

What we’re starting to learn about H5N1 in cows, and the risk to people

Centurion Foundation was the ‘only viable’ buyer for Roger Williams, Fatima hospitals, CEO says

Obituaries

Dr. Wecht spoke to reporters about his findings in the John F. Kennedy assassination case in 1975.

Dr. Cyril Wecht, celebrity pathologist who argued more than 1 shooter killed JFK, dies at 93

Alex Hassilev, the last of the original Limeliters, dies at 91

Jasper White, inventive chef who helped put Boston on the culinary map, has died