The Boston Globe

The Boston Globe

‘I don’t know if it’s a solution.’ Mariano casts doubt on tax on high-dollar real estate sales, a key priority of Healey and Wu

Massachusetts House Speaker Ron Mariano suggested Wednesday that lawmakers are reluctant to allow cities and towns tax high-dollar real estate sales. “It’s not as popular as I thought it might be,” he said.

Colin Albert, a key witness, testified in the murder trial of Karen Read. Here’s how Wednesday unfolded.
Jurors saw text messages between Albert and Allison McCabe, who picked up Albert from the Canton home the night of the Jan. 28, 2022 party.

Tracker: Who has testified and what did they say?

Supreme Court orders Louisiana to use congressional map with additional Black district in 2024 vote

New study claims Israel is committing genocide in Gaza

Biden and Trump agree to a pair of debates. Is this for real? What you need to know.

Maybe pencil in the dates, but don’t write it down with a permanent marker. We've been here before.

Biden and Trump agree to two debates

Slovakia’s populist prime minister shot in assassination attempt, shocking Europe before elections

Who is Robert Fico, the populist Slovak prime minister wounded in a shooting?

Great Barrington teacher files federal lawsuit over police search for ‘Gender Queer: A Memoir’ in her classroom

Seven Providence postal workers charged in mail theft ring

Norwood Hospital remains closed amid Steward's troubles.

Steward crisis adding to stresses on hospital care, as state scrambles to contain fallout

Nearby hospitals are finding that even as Steward’s eight hospitals in the state remain open for patients, the “level of intensity of care is clearly declining,” one state official said.

Jayson Tatum (left) was excellent in the Celtics' Game 4 win over the Cavaliers.

The Celtics can put the Cavaliers away in Game 5 at the Garden, with Donovan Mitchell still out. Follow live updates.

Boston took both games in Cleveland thanks to back-to-back 33-point nights from Jayson Tatum.

Game 5 preview: Donovan Mitchell is out for Cleveland

Globe Magazine

An identity thief stole $5,000 from me. I spent two years tracking down how.
When a stranger got $5,000 of my money from a bank teller, it sent me on a two-year odyssey to figure out who was impersonating me and how.

Watch: When the journalist becomes the subject

A view of the stern of Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas. The ship, which is the largest in the world, was designed by Wilson Butler Architects in Boston.

CHRISTOPHER MUTHER

Meet the Boston architects who designed the largest cruise ship in the world

From a small office in Downtown Crossing, Wilson Butler Architects has been quietly changing the way people cruise for more than two decades.

Jason Carter, grandson of former president Jimmy Carter, spoke at tribute service for first lady Rosalynn Carter at Emory University on November 28, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia. During a speech Tuesday, Jason Carter said his grandfather is “coming to the end” after spending over a year in hospice care.

Jimmy Carter’s grandson says former president is ‘coming to the end’ after receiving hospice care for over a year

Jason Carter, the 39th president’s grandson and chair of The Carter Center governing board, gave a brief update on his grandfather’s health on Tuesday.

Temperature readings are expected to be cooler than average over the weekend, particularly Sunday.

Weekend Forecast | Dave Epstein

Looking ahead to a cooler weekend, building cloud cover. Here’s what to expect.

The Saturday-to-Sunday forecast hinges on a low pressure system just south of New England.

Strengthening storm system pushing widespread rain into Southern New England

Buzunesh Deba, shown in 2017, finished the Boston Marathon in 2014 in 2:19:59.

Boston Marathon

A stranger paid Buzunesh Deba her 2014 Boston Marathon prize money. Why? ‘It was just about righting a wrong.’

Harvard University interim president Alan Garber spoke during the 371st commencement ceremonies.

How Alan Garber ended the Harvard protest encampment peacefully

Harvard's interim president outlasted the demonstrators on campus without calling in police.

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

no stupid questions

Boston traffic is a nightmare. Here’s a guide to help you master it.

From A (the Alewife Brook Parkway) to Z (the Zakim Bridge), here's a breakdown of the city's major roadways, bridges, and tunnels.

MATTHEW GILBERT | 'SNL' SHOWDOWN

John Belushi vs. Kate McKinnon. Vote in the finals 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 and John Belushi are the two finalists in our "Saturday Night Live" bracket to determine the best cast member of all time.

A pair of ‘SNL’ finalists with nothing in common — except that they’re very funny

John Belushi and Kate McKinnon represent different eras, genders, and comedic styles. But both were over-the-top performers who brought big energy to the “SNL” stage.

Opinion

Karen Read arrived for court with her defense team attorneys at Norfolk Superior Court in Dedham on May 13.

Karen Read trial: How the bland and mundane morphed into the dark and dangerous

For the most part, this is a story of ordinary people caught up in an extraordinary situation.

How did DCF fail to notice their social worker was attending high school?

The lawyer who led the case for marriage equality in Massachusetts

A cynical Washington Post tells Biden: Nothing matters more than beating Trump

Ronald J. Mariano and John J. Lawn Jr.

Health care in Massachusetts is in need of reform

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

Massachusetts gambling helpline saw increase in calls last year; many from people wanting tech support for sports betting apps

“The total call volume was the highest from February through June 2023 (2,069 calls), potentially due to the launch of sports wagering in Massachusetts," the report found.

Check stubs, fake receipts, blind loyalty: Cohen offers inside knowledge in Trump’s hush-money trial

Cohen has testified in detail about how the former president was linked to all aspects of the hush money scheme, and prosecutors believe Cohen’s insider knowledge is critical to their case.

Tracker: Who has testified and what did they say?

Mass. graduation rates dipped. See how your school or district did.

Graduation rates declined statewide but remain near all-time highs. See if that’s the case in your school or district.

Boston University offers striking PhD students 12-month stipends if they work summers
The strike by graduate student workers has impacted classes and university life since late March.

Coming soon: the Massachusetts Ice Cream Trail
The trail will highlight dairy farms and ice cream shops across the state, providing residents and visitors the opportunity to discover new places to buy and eat ice cream, gelato, frozen yogurt, and other sweet treats.

King Charles III unveils his first official portrait since his coronation
The painting by artist Jonathan Yeo captures the king with his hands clasped atop the hilt of his sword and a butterfly flitting above his right shoulder.

Biden administration is sending $1 billion more in weapons, ammo to Israel, congressional aides say

It's the first arms shipment to Israel to be revealed since the administration put another arms transfer, consisting of 3,500 bombs of up to 2,000 pounds each, on hold this month.

Maine man sentenced to 15 months in prison for assaulting police during Jan. 6 insurrection at US Capitol building

Matthew Brackley, 40, of Waldoboro, pleaded guilty in January to one count of assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers, prosecutors said.

Christopher L. Gasper

Caitlin Clark made her WNBA debut. It was a humbling loss — but another high mark for the women’s game.

This night wasn’t just about Clark. It was what her debut represented.

Recommended reads

A view of Central Square in Cambridge.

A Cambridge City Council panel’s proposal would legalize six-story buildings. Everywhere.

The ambitious proposal, designed to tackle the city’s housing crisis, would essentially scrap the current neighborhood-by-neighborhood zoning scheme.

innovation beat

Boston innovation community celebrates the Globe’s 2024 Tech Power Players
The names and trends have shifted as the industry has gone through boom times, a downturn, and some reshuffling. But the region’s core strengths remain.

Meet the CEOs, founders, and investors on the Globe’s third annual list of New England tech leaders

Mother of two young girls identified as person who died after illegal medical procedure
Nicole L. "Nikki" Sandoval underwent an illegal surgery on Thursday and later that night was rushed to CHA Everett Hospital where she was pronounced dead.

Around New England with Kevin Cullen

A 3-year-old boy died at a summer camp in Vermont. A grieving couple and community ask, ‘Where is the accountability?’
Nearly a year later, accountability for Tate Holtzman’s drowning death at Smugglers’ Notch Resort appears scant.

Culture & Lifestyle

Julie Delpy and Ethan Hawke in "Before Sunrise."

Ethan Hawke ‘hated’ the Gen X label in his 20s. Now, ‘I’m kind of proud of it,’ he says.

Jack Antonoff at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles on Feb. 4. Antonoff comes to Boston June 10 for a concert and live podcast taping.

Museum of Science to host a podcast live taping with Jack Antonoff next month

Joan Jett continues to inspire women rockers.

On Joan Jett Night, a celebration for women who love rock ’n’ roll

Confetti rains down on the crowd at the Hatch Shell during the 2023 Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular.

Kelli O’Hara to join the Boston Pops for its Fourth of July celebration

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

Stephen Miller, who shaped former president Donald Trump's immigration policies, joined Senator Mike Lee of Utah, left, Representative Chip Roy of Texas, and Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, as they talked to reporters about requiring American citizenship to vote in national elections, as they introduced the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, in Washington, D.C., on May 8.

MARCELA GARCÍA

Noncitizen voting is already illegal in federal elections. Here’s why Republicans are still pushing the issue.

Then-Chief Justice Margaret Marshall asked a petitioner to explain a point during arguments before the Supreme Judicial Court, in Boston, May 2, 2005, on a petition to halt same-sex couples from marrying until voters could weigh in on the issue.

Margaret Marshall and the judicial decision that changed the nation

IDEAS | DIANE JOSEFOWICZ

The unexpected healing powers of learning how to tap dance in middle age

The AIDS Action Committee marches down Beacon Street during Boston's 13th annual Lesbian and Gay Pride Day on June 18, 1983.

How far has the stigma around AIDS really faded?

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

Legislature should pass health equity bill

Heather Hopp-Bruce/Globe staff; Adobe

Blueprints for a new downtown Boston

Metro

When good grades aren’t enough

All too often, some sky-is-the-limit valedictorians crash up against hard and immovable ceilings.

New study claims Israel is committing genocide in Gaza

A new report from a network of human rights researchers, including at Boston University, concluded that Israel’s actions in Gaza amount to genocide under international law.

Emerald Necklace Conservancy celebrates 20th anniversary of fundraiser at Franklin Park

The Emerald Necklace Conservancy hosted the 20th anniversary of its annual Party in the Park fundraiser Wednesday at Franklin Park welcoming attendees in bright colors and spectacular hats to raise money for the 1,100-acre park system in Boston, according to conservancy officials.

N.H. Senate to vote on bills affecting LGBTQ youths

The controversial proposals on the calendar this week would affect education and health care

Sports

Jayson Tatum (left) was excellent in the Celtics' Game 4 win over the Cavaliers.

The Celtics can put the Cavaliers away in Game 5 at the Garden, with Donovan Mitchell still out. Follow live updates.

Boston took both games in Cleveland thanks to back-to-back 33-point nights from Jayson Tatum.

Astros starter Ronel Blanco, one of the surprises of the MLB season, was tossed in the fourth inning on Tuesday night.

Astros starter Ronel Blanco, who opened the season with a no-hitter, suspended 10 games for sticky substance

During a routine check in the fourth inning Tuesday night umpires found a foreign substance that first base umpire Erich Bacchus said was “the stickiest stuff I’ve felt on a glove.”

Jayson Tatum scored 33 points in Monday's Game 4 victory.

Cavaliers at Celtics | 7 p.m. (TNT)

Cavaliers at Celtics, Game 5 preview: Donovan Mitchell and Caris LeVert out as Cleveland faces elimination

The Celtics look to advance to the Eastern Conference finals for the sixth time in the last eight years.

Muth, trained by Bob Baffert, ruled out of Preakness after spiking fever

Man pleads guilty in multimillion dollar Masters memorabilia theft, which included one of Arnold Palmer’s green jackets

Business

A second scourge is battering Brazil’s flooded south: disinformation

While flooding that has devastated Brazil’s Rio Grande do Sul state has yet to subside, another scourge has spread across the region: disinformation on social media that has hampered desperate efforts to get aid to hundreds of thousands in need.

More investors assail Exxon’s climate conduct

Environment-focused investors say the company is falling far short of its climate-related commitments.

Steward crisis adding to stresses on hospital care, as state scrambles to contain fallout

Boeing at risk of prosecution for breaking deal over crashes

magazine

Marcia Kadish (left) and Tanya McCloskey celebrate after being married on May 17, 2004.

Marcia Kadish recalls the day she made same-sex marriage history in Cambridge

Harissa Potato Salad With Mint and Lemon

Harissa potato salad and other bold takes on standard picnic sides

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

Your Week Ahead

Five things to do around Boston, May 13-19

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

metro

The state’s problem gambling hotline has seen an uptick in calls recently, many from people looking for tech support for their sports betting apps.

Massachusetts gambling helpline saw increase in calls last year; many from people wanting tech support for sports betting apps

‘I don’t know if it’s a solution.’ Mariano casts doubt on tax on high-dollar real estate sales, a key priority of Healey and Wu

Maine man sentenced to 15 months in prison for assaulting police during Jan. 6 insurrection at US Capitol building

sports

Bruins left wing Brad Marchand (center) arrives at the arena before the Bruins played the Florida Panthers in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference NHL second round Tuesday. Marchand was injured in Game 3. He missed games 4 and 5, but here is hope he might return for Game 6.

Just Brad Marchand’s presence inspires Bruins to new heights

Video: Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker congratulates graduating women, but says most are more excited about motherhood

Massachusetts gambling helpline saw increase in calls last year; many from people wanting tech support for sports betting apps

business

Like others in the field, Ilya Sutskever had grown increasingly concerned that AI could become dangerous and perhaps even destroy humanity.

OpenAI’s chief scientist and cofounder is leaving the company

Inflation moderated slightly in April, offering some relief for consumers

House signs off on FAA bill that addresses aircraft safety and the refund rights of passengers

politics

A group of people wait to be processed after crossing the border between Mexico and the United States as they seek asylum near Jacumba, Calif.

US border arrests fall in April, bucking usual spring increase as Mexico steps up enforcement

The Biden administration is planning more changes to quicken asylum processing for new migrants, AP sources say

Supreme Court orders Louisiana to use congressional map with additional Black district in 2024 vote

Nation

Staff worked inside the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine manufacturing unit of the Serum Institute of India (SII) at its headquarters in Hadapsar, Pune,, Feb. 27, 2024.

FDA approves self-collection screening for virus that causes cervical cancer

Senators urge $32 billion in emergency spending on AI after finishing yearlong review

Pregnant woman dies in Louisiana storm, adding to string of weather-related destruction and death in Southern US

World

On Wednesday, shop owners in the Menino Deus neighborhood in Porto Alegre, Brazil, worked to clean up their store after several days of rain. Porto Alegre and many other municipalities in Rio Grande Do Sul flooded due to the swelling of the rivers after several days of heavy rain.

A second scourge is battering Brazil’s flooded south: disinformation

Slovakia’s populist prime minister shot in assassination attempt, shocking Europe before elections

Who is Robert Fico, the populist Slovak prime minister wounded in a shooting?

opinion

May I have a word: Conversation stoppers

How far has the stigma around AIDS really faded?

Margaret Marshall and the judicial decision that changed the nation

lifestyle

A phone with an App Store selection of the dating app Bumble.

Bumble ran billboard ads that sneered at celibacy as an alternative to dating. Then it backtracked and apologized.

My husband is on Tinder

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

food & dining

A group of curious juvenile ostriches were seen at HorseFeathers Ostrich Farm in Webster, N.H. New Hampshire farmer Monte Cossette is making a pitch to Granite Staters: ostrich meat is a healthier and more sustainable red meat than beef.

Move over filet mignon, meet the man who wants to make ostrich meat a staple

Grasshopper in Allston — a vegan pioneer — is closing. We went for one last meal.

What it’s like to be a small brand in a big sea at Expo West food show

travel

A view of the stern of Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas. The ship, which is the largest in the world, was designed by Wilson Butler Architects in Boston.

Meet the Boston architects who designed the largest cruise ship in the world

Here are five fun ‘Western’ foods to eat in South Korea

‘I’ve witnessed people at their worst on airplanes.’ Globe readers react to advice on aviation etiquette.

Arts

Suffragist Caroline Wellington memorialized in bronze in LexSeeHer's "Something Is Being Done" monument.

In Lexington, unveiling a monument to women who shaped history

Museum of Science to unveil major renovation in mid-2026

Magician Asi Wind is up to some new tricks

Books

Alice Munro posed for a photograph at the Canadian Consulate's residence in New York in 2002.

Alice Munro, Nobel literature winner revered as short story master, has died

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

Movies

Still from "We Will Not Fade Away."

‘You can illuminate this darkness’: Global Cinema Film Festival of Boston returns

Netflix adaption of Judy Blume’s ‘Forever’ films on Martha’s Vineyard

John Krasinski’s kids’ flick ‘IF’ follows a 12-year-old girl on an imaginative adventure around New York City

Television

Author Judy Blume and entertainer Charlamagne tha God chat onstage during a centennial celebration for publisher Simon & Schuster at The Town Hall in Manhattan, April 8, 2024. A Netflix adaptation of Blume’s 1975 novel “Forever...” is filming on Martha’s Vineyard this week.

Netflix adaption of Judy Blume’s ‘Forever’ films on Martha’s Vineyard

Netflix will air NFL’s Christmas games, a major step for streaming service

A pair of ‘SNL’ finalists with nothing in common — except that they’re very funny

music

Musician David Byrne, left, speaks during a "Sing for Science" podcast interview taped live at the Museum of Science on May 9.

Live from the Museum of Science: It’s David Byrne ... talking about eels

On Joan Jett Night, a celebration for women who love rock ’n’ roll

Those Tufts kids are middle-aged now, but the years have been kind to Guster

Theater/Dance

Jennifer Mogbock, portraying the title character in "Toni Stone," rehearses a scene from Lydia R. Diamond's play about the first Black woman to play professional baseball.

With ‘Toni Stone,’ Lydia R. Diamond tips her cap to a baseball trailblazer

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

Boston Dance Theater reaches for the ‘Pinnacle’

Health

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

Agent Orange exposure damages the brain in ways similar to Alzheimer’s disease, new study says

Obituaries

Dr. Shapiro in 1990

David Shapiro, who gained fame in poetry and protest, dies at 77

Alice Munro, Nobel literature winner revered as short story master, has died

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