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Bills 24, Patriots 21
State of the Patriots

The fake punt was aggressive thinking, but Jerod Mayo’s decisions on fourth and short remain questionable

Four plays later, though, faced with a fourth and 1 from the Patriots’ 34 yard line, Jerod Mayo decided to punt.

Between the hashmarks
Rhamondre Stevenson fumbled twice in loss to Bills, and he no longer has a hold as Patriots’ featured back
He has a league-high seven fumbles this season.

Rookie report: Drake Maye threw two TD passes but also had two costly turnovers in loss
The third overall pick in the draft finished 22 of 36 for 261 yards with two touchdowns, two sacks, and an interception.

For some interfaith families, a special holiday season as Hanukkah and Christmas overlap
For the first time in almost 20 years, the beginning of Hanukkah falls on Christmas Day, a rare quirk that has occurred only four times since 1900.

Beth Teitell

Even Christmas ornaments have a real estate problem

‘Tis the season of joy. But for the most intense holiday decorators, there’s a sadness, too. How can you bring in new decor when you already lack ample display space for your existing collection?

Have you heard of ‘Christmas Adam’? The day before the day before Christmas is coming.

It’s hard to define Christmas Adam, aside from the date. Unlike Christmas Eve, Christmas Adam is not part of an official Christian calendar.

The Marblehead look is getting exported
The very specific Marblehead look is refined in its luxury with an extreme quality that offers a tasteful way to display and hide money simultaneously. Understated, but definitely stated.

Money, Power, Inequality

Why residents in Black neighborhoods will pay more to stay warm this winter

Massachusetts is already warning residents to expect higher gas bills this season, citing a frigid winter forecast. While people across Boston will feel the increase, those who live in Black neighborhoods will be paying more than everyone else.

American Jewish Committee accuses Mass Teachers Association of anti-Israel bias
“This campaign risks politicizing K-12 classrooms across Massachusetts. Our schools should be places for education, not indoctrination,” American Jewish Committee New England Director Rob Leikind said in a statement.

New York City police apprehend suspect in the death of a woman set on fire in subway car
Police said an unknown male had approached the woman, set her on fire, and then left the subway car around 7:30 a.m.

As New England Mafia fades away, FBI Boston disbands organized crime squad
The disbandment of an FBI unit that was largely built to target the Mafia signaled an end to a dark era for what was once one of the most powerful criminal organizations in New England.

Health insurance premiums in Massachusetts are among the most expensive in the country. Why?

Advocates say that the root cause of frustrations with the cost of health coverage do not lie — at least primarily — with profiteering insurers.

Brockton firefighter dies days after cardiac arrest in line of duty, officials say

Jeffrey Albanese was responding to a call on Dec. 9 when his heart stopped and he was resuscitated by fellow firefighters, officials said.

Fire raging in Spencer spreads to nearby buildings, officials say

Natick engineer linked to deadly drone attack on US military base is due in federal court in Boston

Two US Navy pilots shot down over Red Sea in apparent ‘friendly fire’ incident, US military says

Person stabbed at Stop & Shop in Dorchester’s South Bay Center, police say

Search continues for missing East Boston woman as family, police ask public for help

LOVE LETTERS

He has to work for another 10 years

I have the means to be semi-retired.
Bruins notebook

The Bruins’ Morgan Geekie surpassing his own expectations playing with Pavel Zacha and David Pastrnak

Geekie, who signed with Boston as a free agent in 2023, has three goals in his last four games
GARY WASHBURN | ON BASKETBALL

Even on the star-studded Celtics, Jayson Tatum showed in Chicago his all-around talent MVP worthy

Saturday's performance added fuel to Tatum’s MVP campaign, which has been in neutral for a few weeks because of the ascensions of Nikola Jokic and Giannis Antetokounmpo with a recent surge by Karl-Anthony Towns.

The Globe podcast

‘Universities are the enemy.’ Final episode of ‘The Harvard Plan’ examines the growing distrust of higher education.

Episode three explores the deep history of Harvard and the distinctly American idea of “diversity.”
Listen wherever you get your podcasts
State Secrets

Massachusetts lawmakers are paid to be full-time legislators. So why do so many have second jobs and side hustles?
About two dozen lawmakers — or roughly one in eight of all 200 — reported earning more than $100,000 in addition to their legislative pay.

Database: See if your lawmaker had a second job on top of legislating

Six takeaways from the series investigating the Legislature

Opinion
IDEAS | HEATHER LANIER

My deceased dad would have voted for Trump. I’d break bread with him anyway.

I’d give anything to fight with him over politics at the holiday table again.
JEFF JACOBY

‘Raise the Age’ measures draw more teens into crime

EDITORIAL

K2 drug use running rampant in state prisons

RENÉE GRAHAM

The shattered dreams and lives of trans people lost to violence

Shira Schoenberg

After Assad: What’s next for Syria?

Globe Santa

Partying with a purpose
If you’re going to have a holiday party, why not call it a Party with a Purpose? And make Globe Santa the purpose?

Donate to Globe Santa
The best (and worst) of 2024

The 75 best books of 2024

10 notable documentaries to close out 2024

Odie Henderson’s 10 best movies of 2024 (and 10 runners-up)

Odie Henderson’s 10 worst movies of the year

More recent News

New York man pleads guilty to burglaries in Boston suburbs targeting Asian families, officials say
Juan Castano, 32, was sentenced to four to five years in state prison as “a common and notorious thief” after pleading guilty to the charges, the Middlesex district attorney’s office said.

Appreciation | Rickey Henderson 1958-2024
Remembering Hall of Famer Rickey Henderson: ‘I ended up loving him’
A compelling case can be made that the one-time Red Sox outfielder, who died Friday at 65, was the most electrifying player of at least the last half-century.

Auburn spa owner arrested for attempting to bribe victim of alleged massage sexual assault
Auburn police detectives arrested Chengan Zhu, 52, of Shrewsbury on witness intimidation charges, according to a statement the department released this week.

At least 10 are killed as a small plane crashes into a Brazilian town popular with tourists
A small plane crashed into a Brazilian town that’s popular with tourists on Sunday, killing all 10 passengers on board and injuring more than a dozen people on the ground, Brazil’s Civil Defense Agency said.

Israeli strikes across Gaza kill at least 22 as Vatican envoy visits Christians in the territory
Palestinian medical officials say Israeli strikes across the Gaza Strip have killed at least 22 people, including five children.

Four people injured in 3-alarm fire in Fitchburg, officials say

Four people, including one firefighter, were injured during a porch fire at a home in Fitchburg on Sunday morning, officials said.

Recommended reads

It’s crunch time, and these people in Boston are hoping for a Christmas miracle

The Toys for Tots program sometimes needs to scramble to provide the 74,000 toys that local parents have requested through 460 community organizations.

The Golden Age for the Union Leader, New Hampshire’s only statewide newspaper, appears to be over
The Union Leader’s deeply diminished audience in the digital age has cost the organization both its regional dominance and its national clout.

Drug arrest, lawsuit, and sexual misconduct allegations roil Pittsfield High School
Last week’s revelation that a Pittsfield High School administrator was allegedly trafficking cocaine was shocking, but since then allegations have expanded.

Smarting from property tax defeat, Wu is gearing up for her re-election campaign
In a wide-ranging interview with the Globe this week, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu gave a preview of her pitch to voters as she prepares to launch her bid for a second term.

Culture & Lifestyle

Portland may be getting a big new concert venue

Video game designer finds ‘Sweet Spot’ through Boston Public Art Triennial Accelerator program

‘Nosferatu’ lives again thanks to director and New Hampshire native Robert Eggers

‘Organizing … should start at the youngest ages.’ The Home Edit duo shares kid-friendly cleanup strategies.

Special Projects

Broken Promises, Unfulfilled Hope

The Boston Globe explores the legacy of Boston’s busing era.

A Globe Spotlight Team report on Steward Health Care

A Boston Globe Spotlight Team review found the Steward Health Care hospital system plagued by staggering neglect at the hands of executives.

The Boston Globe’s Best of the Best

Our ultimate guide to more than 200 winners for Boston's best food, drinks, and fun things to do.

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.

Opinion, ideas, and commentary

Joan Leegant

Jewish authors confront growing backlash in literary world

MARCELA GARCÍA

Is a Tesla the new MAGA hat?

Shira Schoenberg

After Assad: What’s next for Syria?

Katherine Gergen Barnett

My father, David Gergen, has dementia. Here are his reflections on the path forward for our country.

EDITORIAL

One last chance to protect the press before Trump’s inauguration

IDEAS | CARINE HAJJAR

Lebanon’s biggest problem is not Israel

Metro

Search continues for missing East Boston woman as family, police ask public for help

Elba Portillo, 61, was last seen Dec. 13 leaving for work about 9:30 a.m., wearing a black jacket, purple sweatpants, black Sketchers shoes, and a brown purse slung across her body.

Four people injured in 3-alarm fire in Fitchburg, officials say

Four people, including one firefighter, were injured during a porch fire at a home in Fitchburg on Sunday morning, officials said.

Person stabbed at Stop & Shop in Dorchester’s South Bay Center, police say

A person was taken to the hospital after they were stabbed at the Stop & Shop supermarket inside the South Bay Center in Dorchester on Sunday afternoon, Boston police said.

The Marblehead look is getting exported

The very specific Marblehead look is refined in its luxury with an extreme quality that offers a tasteful way to display and hide money simultaneously. Understated, but definitely stated.

Sports

State of the Patriots

The fake punt was aggressive thinking, but Jerod Mayo’s decisions on fourth and short remain questionable

Four plays later, though, faced with a fourth and 1 from the Patriots’ 34 yard line, Jerod Mayo decided to punt.
Patriots

Rookie report: Drake Maye threw two TD passes but also had two costly turnovers in loss

The third overall pick in the draft finished 22 of 36 for 261 yards with two touchdowns, two sacks, and an interception.
Between the hashmarks

Rhamondre Stevenson fumbled twice in loss to Bills, and he no longer has a hold as Patriots’ featured back

He has a league-high seven fumbles this season.
live updates

Bills 24, Patriots 21: Three second-half turnovers doom New England after a promising first half

Vikings 27, Seahawks 24

Late Sam Darnold-to-Justin Jefferson TD pass lifts Vikings over Seahawks

Ben Volin | Instant analysis

Patriots were competitive, but it just delayed the inevitable in loss to the Bills

Business

The new climate gold rush: Scrubbing carbon from the sky

As countries around the world continue to pump planet-warming pollution into the skies, the financial world is racing to fund the emerging field of carbon dioxide removal, seeking both an environmental miracle and a financial windfall.

Crackdown on private equity in health care flops in state houses

A string of health-care bankruptcies has ignited a wave of public fury at financial dealmakers in the industry, prompting lawmakers in state houses around the country to draft tough new curbs.

Trump picks a former treasury official as his top economist

Bluesky finds with growth comes growing pains — and bots

magazine
Secrets & Lies | Chapter 1

Sandra Birchmore put her trust in the police. They broke it.

CONNECTIONS

My Uncle Jimmy outdid himself as our very own Santa some six decades ago

Cooking

Babka? Macaroons? Here are some sweet treats you can bake for Hanukkah.

PERSPECTIVE

Over half of Americans are lonely. In Maine, potluck dinners are helping.

metro

Person rescued from two-alarm fire in Cambridge apartment building, officials say

R.I. writer has received outpouring of support since account of being homeless

Former NHL player’s South Shore home hits market

sports

The Bruins’ Morgan Geekie surpassing his own expectations playing with Pavel Zacha and David Pastrnak

Even on the star-studded Celtics, Jayson Tatum showed in Chicago his all-around talent MVP worthy

Jared Goff leads aerial assault as Lions beat Bears for club-record 13th win

business

Farmers are still reeling months after Hurricane Helene ravaged crops across the South

Biden signs bill that averts government shutdown and brings a close to days of Washington upheaval

UniBank surprises Worcester business leaders with personalized charity giveaway

politics

Trump wanted shutdown to happen on Biden’s watch, not his

Congress approves full Social Security benefits for public sector retirees

Senate review of Supreme Court ethics finds more luxury trips and urges enforceable code of conduct

Nation

New York City police apprehend suspect in the death of a woman set on fire in subway car

Trump previews second term in sprawling speech to conservative conference

Letter calling for tracking people of color circulates in an Oregon county

World

Two US Navy pilots shot down over Red Sea in apparent ‘friendly fire’ incident, US military says

Israeli strikes in Gaza kill at least 22 as Vatican envoy visits Christians for pre-Christmas Mass

What we know about the deadly Christmas market attack in Germany

opinion

Is a Tesla the new MAGA hat?

¿Es un Tesla la nueva gorra MAGA?

The heroes of the Sandra Birchmore investigation

lifestyle

He has to work for another 10 years

Free things to do in Boston this week for the whole family, plus, Frozen Fire Festival

I really, really like her. Now what?

food & dining

His father’s legacy and a scoop of joy: Inside Providence’s newest ice cream shop

I wore Dunkin’s Boston Kreme deodorant for 24 hours. Here’s what I learned. And yes, Dunkin’ sells deodorant now.

Newton chef Mario LaPosta brings two styles of pizza to Portsmouth, N.H.; Kyuramen opens in Winchester

travel

How a government shutdown could affect your travel plans

An alternative template for retirement travel

A retirement gift to myself: Two months in Provence

Arts

Video game designer finds ‘Sweet Spot’ through Boston Public Art Triennial Accelerator program

Lorraine O’Grady, trailblazing conceptual artist who critiqued the arts establishment, dies at 90

A moving museum experience at MIT

Books

Local bestsellers for the week ended Dec. 15

In publishing, romance novels are hot. Now there’s a Harvard Square bookstore devoted to them

Boston Public Library shares its top 10 checked out books of 2024

Movies

‘Nosferatu’ lives again thanks to director and New Hampshire native Robert Eggers

10 notable documentaries to close out 2024

‘Emilia Pérez’ and ‘Wicked’ advance in Oscars shortlists

Television

Martin Short hosts ‘Saturday Night Live,’ Hozier performs

‘Black Doves’ knows what a spy really needs is a very good friend

Kudrow and Romano leave the laugh tracks behind

music

Michael Brewer, whose ‘One Toke’ was a big hit, is dead at 80

In his Handel and Haydn Society debut, Ruben Valenzuela conducts a festive trans-Atlantic journey

Meet Amy Allen, the songwriter behind the music stuck in your head

Theater/Dance

Ayodele Casel’s ‘Diary of a Tap Dancer’ at the ART writes forgotten women into the art form’s story

‘Selkie Girl’ may have a slim plot, but the show’s music makes up for it

A new ‘Christmas Carol’ masters the music, but is leaner on the emotional power

Health

About 30% of women are reinfected with a UTI within a year. This R.I. professor is looking for a way to change that.

Why is Lifespan buying hospitals in Massachusetts instead of saving two in Rhode Island?

R.I. Life Science Hub still in negotiations to develop lab incubator space: ‘In the business world... things moved a lot faster’

Obituaries

Rickey Henderson, baseball’s greatest-ever base stealer, dies at 65

Michael Brewer, whose ‘One Toke’ was a big hit, is dead at 80

Lorraine O’Grady, trailblazing conceptual artist who critiqued the arts establishment, dies at 90