The Boston Globe

Migrant sanctuary at East Boston church to close

WATCH: Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church’s Pastor Don Nanstad says “we’re not going to be able to keep this going much longer.” He explains why.

Migrant sanctuary at East Boston church to close

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Former Stoughton police detective indicted on charges he killed Sandra Birchmore in 2021

Federal authorities have indicted former Stoughton police detective Matthew G. Farwell on charges that he killed Sandra Birchmore. ( Olivia Yarvis/Globe Staff )

Former Stoughton police detective indicted on charges he killed Sandra Birchmore in 2021

Sandra Birchmore, 23, who participated in a Stoughton Police Department youth program when she was a teenager, was pregnant with her first child when she died in 2021.

What to know about the case Read the full indictment of Matthew Farwell

Sandra Birchmore, then a member of the Stoughton Police explorers program, posed for a photograph with Deputy Chief Robert Devine, left, and Chief Paul Shastany in 2013.

A timeline of Sandra Birchmore’s relationship with Stoughton police, former detective

Sandra Birchmore was 13 when she enrolled in the Stoughton police youth program, known as police explorers.

Steven Scott Perry, 41, of Hampstead, N.H., died Aug. 19 from eastern equine encephalitis.

N.H. man who died of EEE remembered as hard worker and ‘great brother’

“We can’t comprehend how this happened,” said Steven Perry's sister, Susan Hamilton. “It was so tragic and so sudden."

We may see more EEE cases in New England Map: Is your town at high risk of EEE?

In June, the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center held the first statewide embodied carbon reduction challenge to spotlight a variety of renovation and construction projects.

Is wood the new concrete? To slash carbon emissions now, Mass. architects are rethinking their building materials for the future.

Massachusetts architects and engineers are part of a nascent movement to reduce carbon emissions at every step of the construction process.

Evan Mackay, a Democratic candidate running for state representative in the 25th Middlesex District, talked to a volunteer before canvassing in Cambridge in July.

Evan MacKay is trying to pull off a nearly impossible feat in Mass. politics: Unseating a Democratic House incumbent

MacKay’s challenge is highlighting a prime source of the dysfunction and complacency many observers see on Beacon Hill: the singular lack of competition for political office in Massachusetts.

Best of the Best

We put together a list of the best things to do in Boston. Readers had their own ideas.
After checking out our Best of the Best picks, readers shared their favorite brewpubs, bookstores, rooftop restaurants, and more.

Patriots coach Jerod Mayo said criticism of the team's offensive line in the wake of Sunday’s preseason loss to the Commanders was “overblown.”

Are the Patriots’ offensive line problems as big as they appear? Coach Jerod Mayo doesn’t think so

The Patriots have been getting their best offensive line play along the interior, and have spent the last few weeks rotating at both tackle spots.

Six options on the free agent market for offensive tackle

‘I don’t know what I’m going to do’: Patients and staff in Dorchester are devastated by Carney Hospital closure

From patients who have relied on Carney Hospital for decades, to the nurses and doctors who worry about where vulnerable neighbors will get care, the community around the hospital said its closure will be devastating.

As closure looms, pharmacy inside Carney Hospital scrambles for a new home Last-ditch rally calls on Governor Healey to save Carney and Nashoba Valley hospitals

Thousands of Massachusetts students return to school for first day

Some Massachusetts school districts, including Chelsea, Malden, and Somerville, started classes Wednesday.

Supreme Court rebuffs Biden administration plea to restore multibillion-dollar student debt plan

Last year, the Supreme Court’s conservative majority rejected an earlier plan that would have wiped away more than $400 billion in student loan debt.

WBUR names Tiziana Dearing as new ‘Morning Edition’ host
The current "Radio Boston" host replaces Rupa Shenoy, who hosted "Morning Edition" from the fall of 2021 until her departure at the end of June.

Kamala Harris needs Black voters in Georgia. How do they feel about her?
There is an expectation in Democratic circles that Harris’s ascension will help recreate Joe Biden’s victory in Georgia. But voter interviews illustrate a more complex narrative.

Having a family is expensive. Here’s what Harris and Trump have said about easing costs. Trump team clashed with official at Arlington National Cemetery

‘The freedom to invade every corner of your life’: Tim Walz slams Trump-Vance as anti-worker at union event in Boston

See updates from the 2024 campaign trail

Mother of astronaut Suni Williams defends NASA decision to keep her at space station: ‘Better safe than sorry’

“I’m a mother of an astronaut... I understand all these things so it’s not bothering me too much,” Pandya said.

Town officials shut down a Norwood boy’s ice cream stand. Then residents came together to raise $20,000.

The boy has become a minor celebrity after several businesses took up his campaign to raise money for charity.

Celtic and Olympic gold medalist Jrue Holiday, Raising Cane's owner and founder Todd Graves, and Red Sox great David Ortiz, at the grand opening of Raising Cane's Downtown Crossing restaurant.

David Ortiz, Jrue Holiday hit grand opening of Raising Cane’s in Downtown Crossing

The chicken chain's latest grand opening on Arch Street was a golden moment for celebrity watching — and we mean that literally.

Multicolored waffle cones of ice cream in front of the Juice Bar, Nantucket, one of the spots on the Massachusetts Ice Cream Trail.

10 awesome ways to celebrate Labor Day weekend in and around Boston

From "Ghostbusters" and fireworks to oceanfront parties and cider doughnuts, let’s kiss summer goodbye and embrace the fall vibes.

Things to do around Boston this weekend and beyond

A still from "Lover of Men: The Untold History of Abraham Lincoln."

New documentary explores Abraham Lincoln as a ‘Lover of Men’

"The goal of this film is to bring empathy to this topic," says director Shaun Peterson. "We are at the crossroads of a real battle against LGBTQ people in this country."

Opinion

The Trump campaign will do everything it can to hold Governor Tim Walz of Minnesota accountable for every word he has ever uttered.

JOAN VENNOCHI

Trump — already the biggest liar in politics — tries to define Walz as dishonest

When it comes to deceit, Trump trumps everyone else: The Washington Post tracked 30,573 false or misleading claims by Trump during the four years of his presidency.

IDEAS | Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib

The Palestinian story I wish I could have told at the Democratic convention

JEFF JACOBY

Religion is America’s mighty engine of charitable goodness

EDITORIAL

Aggrieved Swifties, lovers of AI memes unite

RENÉE GRAHAM

How politics devoured our summer

Best of the Best

The Harvard Museum of Natural History is among the most visited attractions in Cambridge. The two-story 1874 Great Mammal Hall hosts three huge whale skeletons suspended from the ceiling and a 15-foot giraffe among hundreds of animals on display.

11 of the most fun things to do in Boston with kids of all ages

10 best Italian restaurants in Boston’s North End and beyond

Uni and 6 more of the best sushi spots in and around Boston

➔ More from The Boston Globe's Best of the Best

More recent News

Defense seeks to undermine accuser’s credibility in New Hampshire youth center sex abuse case

“It had been so long that I didn’t think anybody would even care,” said Natasha Maunsell. “I didn’t think it would matter to anyone … so I kept it in for a long time.”

Dispatch looks back on 20th anniversary of ‘Last Dispatch’ Hatch Shell show

The iconic New England jam band returns to the region this weekend for a show with the Boston Pops at Tanglewood.

These environmentalists are cleaning up used oyster shells to help save the ocean and reduce waste

An ongoing shell recycling program in Massachusetts is diverting oyster shells from landfills while also restoring the local oyster population on Cape Cod.

Woman accused of posing as Boston Public Schools student undergoing psychiatric evaluation

Shelby Hewitt is undergoing psychiatric evaluation in a program outside of Massachusetts, a prosecutor said in court.

Robots helping with surgery? In Boston, Medtronic is training surgeons on the technology.

The medical device maker hopes its proximity to universities and doctors gives it an edge over competitors.

Police investigate stabbing that injured two people in Roxbury

Officers responded to the area of Dale and Washington streets Wednesday afternoon for a report of a person stabbed and found two victims with injuries that are not life-threatening, Boston police said.

‘It’s chaos’: Welcome to moving-season mayhem in Boston

In Boston, more than half of moving permits are filed in just three summer months of the year, a Globe analysis of city data found.

Two masked men allegedly broke into R.I. home and stole a Ferrari at gunpoint. Police found the car in Florida days later.

Authorities pursued the vehicle in four different states before the suspects were arrested on Tuesday, officials said.

Two juveniles charged in connection with July shooting that injured five people in Dorchester

Two 17-year-olds face multiple charges in the July 10 shooting, including five counts each of assault and battery with a firearm, authorities said.

Receipts taped to windows, barren shelves, and a customer kissing the floor: Memories from the Market Basket protests

The demonstrations, which took over the New England grocer 10 years ago, have become etched into the region’s folklore.

Photos: The summer of Market Basket

The November Project began in Boston and has chapters world-wide. Participants say the experience is life altering.
After beginning in Boston 2011, the November Project has grown into a broader community — chapters exist in 53 locations around the world — that values difference and serves as a vital support network.

ADRIAN WALKER

Public defender turned clerk candidate wants to bring the SJC closer to the public it serves
The elected clerk’s job — which pays approximately $190,000 a year — is one that’s unique to Massachusetts. The clerk basically acts as a liaison between the public and the state’s highest court.

‘You guys look mad. I better get some food in you.’ What it’s like to take the Politically Incorrect North End Food Tour.
We’d heard some good things about this North End tour and decided to check it out. With increasingly full bellies, we went from irked to entertained.

Culture & Lifestyle

Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui (center) with Emilia Suárez and Rudy Pankow in rehearsal for the American Repertory Theater's "Romeo and Juliet."

The way Romeo and Juliet move

Sarah Jarosz performs in Boarding House Park Aug. 30 as part of the Lowell Summer Music Series.

Things to do around Boston this weekend and beyond

Usher performed in concert at TD Garden Tuesday night.

Usher speed runs through his hits as ‘Past Present Future’ tour stops in Boston

Rachel Kushner and the cover to her novel “Creation Lake."

Set amid French revolutionaries, ‘Creation Lake’ is an espionage thriller that ponders civilization’s discontents

Special Projects

Illustration of Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Derrick White along with other NBA greats for the 2024 Finals preview.

Where do the 2023-24 Celtics stand among the greatest teams in NBA history?

Data show that these Celtics are truly extraordinary, a team of uncommon prowess on both ends of the court

Lauren Friel (left) owner of Rebel Rebel, chatted with customers while working at her wine bar in Bow Market in Somerville. The restrictive Boston liquor license system has pushed throngs of innovative chefs to neighborhood towns with laxer laws, including Brookline, Somerville, and Cambridge.

HIGH & DRY

Priced out: How Boston’s broken liquor license system drives chefs from the city

A stubbornly high price tag for serving alcohol hurts thousands of hospitality workers, aspiring restaurateurs, and the city itself.

Interactive map

Pothole season is upon us. See which neighborhoods have the most reports

Boston’s 311 data provides a day-by-day look at the condition of the city’s streets and sidewalks, which neighborhoods are hit hardest, and just how fast repairs are made.

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.

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Opinion, ideas, and commentary

Vice President Kamala Harris and President Joe Biden.

Kiran Bhatia

Vibes aren’t enough to elect Harris

The new Bike Town at Moakley Park in South Boston aims to provide a safe environment for kids to learn biking skills.

ALAN WIRZBICKI

Boston’s first traffic garden opens

A Brockton firefighter walked by protective gear at Station 1 in Brockton on Aug. 3, 2023.

Edward Kelly

Mass. just set the standard for removing PFAS from firefighter gear. Other states need to follow suit.

People on the Bund promenade in Shanghai on Aug. 19.

IDEAS | Rong Xiaoqing

Chinese and American people have some weird ideas about each other

Gus Walz applauded as his father, Democratic vice presidential nominee Tim Walz, spoke during the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on Aug. 21.

Maura Sullivan

Thank you, Walz family, for shining a light on families like mine

IDEAS

Blueprints for a new downtown Boston

Metro

Long-term care bill poised to head to Governor Healey’s desk

Nearly a month after legislative leaders ended their formal sessions for the term without an agreement on the bill -- and more than 18 months after House Speaker Ron Mariano dubbed it one of his top priorities -- six negotiators submitted their 64-page accord Wednesday.

‘I don’t know what I’m going to do’: Patients and staff in Dorchester are devastated by Carney Hospital closure

Mother of astronaut Suni Williams defends NASA decision to keep her at space station: ‘Better safe than sorry’

“I’m a mother of an astronaut... I understand all these things so it’s not bothering me too much,” Pandya said.

MIT President Warns Students Over Promoting Antisemitic Project

Sally Kornbluth warned students that the school won’t tolerate antisemitism after flyers at an orientation event provided a link to a project that maps Jewish organizations and expresses the goal of dismantling them.

Sports

ESPN also announced Wednesday that it has extended a rights agreement with the US Tennis Association that would keep US Open coverage on the network, on ABC, and streaming services through 2037.

SPORTS MEDIA

ESPN plans AI-fueled personalized ‘SportsCenter’ broadcast on upcoming streaming service

The Flagship is expected to include much of the programming on ESPN’s main channel and some other offshoots, marketed to people who have abandoned cable or satellite TV subscriptions.

Hopkinton senior Maddie Recupero (center) relies upon her relentless speed and athleticism to dribble past several defenders. Recupero, who is committed to Princeton University, tallied 15 goals and 15 assists in the Hillers’ 20-1-1 run to the Division 1 state semifinals last season.

HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS' SOCCER NOTEBOOK

For these girls’ soccer teams, attacking midfielder is a position of strength and leadership

As many programs kick off the regular season in the next week, success will hinge on the relentless, skilled, and tactical play from the central midfield

Patriots notebook

Are the Patriots’ offensive line problems as big as they appear? Coach Jerod Mayo doesn’t think so

The Patriots have been getting their best offensive line play along the interior, and have spent the last few weeks rotating at both tackle spots.

David Ortiz, Jrue Holiday hit grand opening of Raising Cane’s in Downtown Crossing

HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS' SOCCER

EMass girls’ soccer: For starters, defending Division 1 champion Natick opens No. 1 in Globe Top 20

GOLF

Jay Monahan preaches patience on potential PGA/LIV deal

Business

‘I don’t know what I’m going to do’: Patients and staff in Dorchester are devastated by Carney Hospital closure

Mother of astronaut Suni Williams defends NASA decision to keep her at space station: ‘Better safe than sorry’

“I’m a mother of an astronaut... I understand all these things so it’s not bothering me too much,” Pandya said.

Nvidia’s sales forecast fails to meet lofty expectations

David Ortiz, Jrue Holiday hit grand opening of Raising Cane’s in Downtown Crossing

magazine

MISS CONDUCT

None of my friends got me a housewarming gift. Is it because I’m single?

Your Week Ahead

King Richard’s Faire and more to do around Boston, Aug. 26 - Sept. 8

STOW, MA - 9/5/2020 - Conrad Gees (cq) with his bag of Akane applesat Honey Pot Hill Orchards, Apple picking . Pick-your-own apple orchards are a great destination for families. during the Pandemic. (Jonathan Wiggs/Globe Staff)

Globe Magazine

10 of the best places for apple picking in New England this fall

CONNECTIONS

Migrant sanctuary at East Boston church to close

Former Stoughton police detective indicted on charges he killed Sandra Birchmore in 2021

A timeline of Sandra Birchmore’s relationship with Stoughton police, former detective

N.H. man who died of EEE remembered as hard worker and ‘great brother’

Is wood the new concrete? To slash carbon emissions now, Mass. architects are rethinking their building materials for the future.

Evan MacKay is trying to pull off a nearly impossible feat in Mass. politics: Unseating a Democratic House incumbent

Best of the Best We put together a list of the best things to do in Boston. Readers had their own ideas. After checking out our Best of the Best picks, readers shared their favorite brewpubs, bookstores, rooftop restaurants, and more.

Are the Patriots’ offensive line problems as big as they appear? Coach Jerod Mayo doesn’t think so

‘I don’t know what I’m going to do’: Patients and staff in Dorchester are devastated by Carney Hospital closure

Thousands of Massachusetts students return to school for first day

Supreme Court rebuffs Biden administration plea to restore multibillion-dollar student debt plan

WBUR names Tiziana Dearing as new ‘Morning Edition’ host The current "Radio Boston" host replaces Rupa Shenoy, who hosted "Morning Edition" from the fall of 2021 until her departure at the end of June.

Kamala Harris needs Black voters in Georgia. How do they feel about her? There is an expectation in Democratic circles that Harris’s ascension will help recreate Joe Biden’s victory in Georgia. But voter interviews illustrate a more complex narrative.

‘The freedom to invade every corner of your life’: Tim Walz slams Trump-Vance as anti-worker at union event in Boston

Mother of astronaut Suni Williams defends NASA decision to keep her at space station: ‘Better safe than sorry’

Town officials shut down a Norwood boy’s ice cream stand. Then residents came together to raise $20,000.

David Ortiz, Jrue Holiday hit grand opening of Raising Cane’s in Downtown Crossing

10 awesome ways to celebrate Labor Day weekend in and around Boston

New documentary explores Abraham Lincoln as a ‘Lover of Men’

Trump — already the biggest liar in politics — tries to define Walz as dishonest

The Palestinian story I wish I could have told at the Democratic convention

Religion is America’s mighty engine of charitable goodness

Aggrieved Swifties, lovers of AI memes unite

How politics devoured our summer

11 of the most fun things to do in Boston with kids of all ages

10 best Italian restaurants in Boston’s North End and beyond

Uni and 6 more of the best sushi spots in and around Boston

➔ More from The Boston Globe's Best of the Best

More recent News

Defense seeks to undermine accuser’s credibility in New Hampshire youth center sex abuse case

Dispatch looks back on 20th anniversary of ‘Last Dispatch’ Hatch Shell show

These environmentalists are cleaning up used oyster shells to help save the ocean and reduce waste

Woman accused of posing as Boston Public Schools student undergoing psychiatric evaluation

Robots helping with surgery? In Boston, Medtronic is training surgeons on the technology.

Police investigate stabbing that injured two people in Roxbury

‘It’s chaos’: Welcome to moving-season mayhem in Boston

Two masked men allegedly broke into R.I. home and stole a Ferrari at gunpoint. Police found the car in Florida days later.

Two juveniles charged in connection with July shooting that injured five people in Dorchester

Recommended reads

Receipts taped to windows, barren shelves, and a customer kissing the floor: Memories from the Market Basket protests

‘You guys look mad. I better get some food in you.’ What it’s like to take the Politically Incorrect North End Food Tour. We’d heard some good things about this North End tour and decided to check it out. With increasingly full bellies, we went from irked to entertained.

Culture & Lifestyle

The way Romeo and Juliet move

Things to do around Boston this weekend and beyond

Usher speed runs through his hits as ‘Past Present Future’ tour stops in Boston

Set amid French revolutionaries, ‘Creation Lake’ is an espionage thriller that ponders civilization’s discontents

Special Projects

Where do the 2023-24 Celtics stand among the greatest teams in NBA history?

Priced out: How Boston’s broken liquor license system drives chefs from the city

Pothole season is upon us. See which neighborhoods have the most reports

Nightmare in Mission Hill

FROM OUR PARTNERS

Opinion, ideas, and commentary

Vibes aren’t enough to elect Harris

Boston’s first traffic garden opens

Mass. just set the standard for removing PFAS from firefighter gear. Other states need to follow suit.

Chinese and American people have some weird ideas about each other

Thank you, Walz family, for shining a light on families like mine

Blueprints for a new downtown Boston

Metro

Long-term care bill poised to head to Governor Healey’s desk

‘I don’t know what I’m going to do’: Patients and staff in Dorchester are devastated by Carney Hospital closure

Mother of astronaut Suni Williams defends NASA decision to keep her at space station: ‘Better safe than sorry’

MIT President Warns Students Over Promoting Antisemitic Project

Sports

ESPN plans AI-fueled personalized ‘SportsCenter’ broadcast on upcoming streaming service

For these girls’ soccer teams, attacking midfielder is a position of strength and leadership

Are the Patriots’ offensive line problems as big as they appear? Coach Jerod Mayo doesn’t think so

David Ortiz, Jrue Holiday hit grand opening of Raising Cane’s in Downtown Crossing

EMass girls’ soccer: For starters, defending Division 1 champion Natick opens No. 1 in Globe Top 20

Jay Monahan preaches patience on potential PGA/LIV deal

Business

‘I don’t know what I’m going to do’: Patients and staff in Dorchester are devastated by Carney Hospital closure

Mother of astronaut Suni Williams defends NASA decision to keep her at space station: ‘Better safe than sorry’

Nvidia’s sales forecast fails to meet lofty expectations

David Ortiz, Jrue Holiday hit grand opening of Raising Cane’s in Downtown Crossing

None of my friends got me a housewarming gift. Is it because I’m single?

King Richard’s Faire and more to do around Boston, Aug. 26 - Sept. 8

10 of the best places for apple picking in New England this fall

I navigated my trip in Greece in a wheelchair, with help from a friend

Best of the Best

We put together a list of the best things to do in Boston. Readers had their own ideas.
After checking out our Best of the Best picks, readers shared their favorite brewpubs, bookstores, rooftop restaurants, and more.

WBUR names Tiziana Dearing as new ‘Morning Edition’ host
The current "Radio Boston" host replaces Rupa Shenoy, who hosted "Morning Edition" from the fall of 2021 until her departure at the end of June.

Kamala Harris needs Black voters in Georgia. How do they feel about her?
There is an expectation in Democratic circles that Harris’s ascension will help recreate Joe Biden’s victory in Georgia. But voter interviews illustrate a more complex narrative.

‘You guys look mad. I better get some food in you.’ What it’s like to take the Politically Incorrect North End Food Tour.
We’d heard some good things about this North End tour and decided to check it out. With increasingly full bellies, we went from irked to entertained.