The Boston Globe

Here’s a look at the state map of communities that are high, moderate, and low risk for COVID-19

There are now 11 communities in the highest-risk category for COVID-19 spread, according to the most recent state data. 1:23 p.m.

Mass. reports 319 new confirmed coronavirus cases, 21 new deaths
Key metrics monitored for the state’s pace of reopening are still low relative to the springtime surge, but Thursday’s numbers come a day after the state raised the number of communities classified as high-risk for COVID-19 spread from four to 11. 17 minutes ago

The latest COVID-19 numbers in MassachusettsTown-by-town dataKey metrics the state is monitoring for reopening

Harvard pandemic expert Ashish Jha takes a more optimistic view of the fall and winter

The director of the Harvard Global Health Institute said Thursday the consensus view is that the country is moving toward a “horrible fall and winter. Lots of people dying, hospitals in big trouble, and we’re largely shut at home." But he said he was more optimistic than that.

Former Boston police union head ordered held on $100,000 bail on multiple charges of assaulting young girl

Patrick M. Rose, a former president of the Boston Police Patrolmen’s Association, is facing charges that he sexually assaulted a girl when she was 7 to 12 years old, according to a police report filed in court.

Biden calls for nationwide mask mandate
Joe Biden is calling for a nationwide protective mask mandate, citing health experts’ predictions that it could save 40,000 lives from coronavirus over the next three months.

President Trump says UAE to open diplomatic ties with Israel
President Trump said on Thursday that the United Arab Emirates and Israel have agreed to establish full diplomatic ties as part of a deal to halt the annexation of occupied land sought by the Palestinians for their future state.

Opinion

Michael Martignetti

Mass. should enact End of Life Options Act

Mary Ann Sorrentino

Beating the coronavirus with knives, forks, and moving tables

IDEAS | David Shribman

Even Canada is down on the United States

Tomiko Brown-Nagin

Equal justice requires lawmakers reform qualified immunity for police

Some Mass. schools are pursuing hybrid schooling. The plan could be a public health disaster
Massachusetts school districts are not alone in viewing the hybrid model as a palatable answer to a politicized and volatile dilemma this fall. But some infectious disease experts believe it could fuel the transmission of COVID-19.

Boston schools delay start of school year to Sept. 21 for studentsA town-by-town look at what each Mass. school district is planningHigh school football classified as high-risk in new Mass. safety guidelines

TRAVEL
Not comfortable staying at a hotel yet? Try glamping at one
Hotels throughout the country are sending guests to balconies, backyards, and on-property forests to glamp the night away.

Need to use the bathroom on a road trip? Your solution is in the bag

Coronavirus

The latest COVID-19 numbers from Massachusetts

Town-by-town COVID-19 data in Massachusetts

11 coronavirus vaccines to keep an eye on

Graphic: US shows little signs of being able to control coronavirus spread

Maura Healey endorses Jesse Mermell in crowded Fourth District primary
Attorney General Maura Healey, one of the state’s leading progressive stars, said Thursday she is backing Jesse Mermell in the congested Fourth Congressional District primary.

Two great white sharks tagged off the coast of Mass., and you can track one of them on Twitter
Two great white sharks were recently tagged off the coast of Massachusetts by the nonprofit group OCEARCH.

MBTA tests new Red Line train, the first of fleet expected to start running this fall
The train operated between Braintree and Alewife stations for about three hours Wednesday night, according to MBTA spokesman Joe Pesaturo.

Trump, denouncing funding sought for post office, says a mail-in voting election isn’t possible without it

The president vowed to block emergency funding for the United States Postal Service in the next coronavirus relief package.

Baker’s right to reopen SJC nominations in the interest of diversity

The state’s highest court has only one justice of color: Kim Budd, a Black woman whom Governor Baker named in 2016.

Wizards 96, Celtics 90

Don’t lose sleep over the Celtics’ loss to the Wizards, and other observations from Boston’s final seeding game

All five starters plus Marcus Smart sat out to avoid injury, giving way to Javonte Green, Romeo Langford, and Tacko Fall.

More Recent headlines

Mass. Gaming Commission says ‘no dice’ to poker, roulette, craps at casinos

Revere man arrested on manslaughter charge in connection with woman’s death at a Boston Hotel

In shake-up, Cavell dropping out of Fourth District primary to back Mermell — and stop Auchincloss

Coming soon
BLIND SPOT
A Globe investigation into the hidden dangers on our roads.

Sign up to be alerted when Part 1 is released

On StatNews.com

The Trump administration haphazardly gave away millions of Covid-19 masks

Long after a Covid-19 infection, mental and neurological effects smolder

Comfort Zone

Recipes: Three easy and light salads to cool you down in the heat of August

Bedrock Gardens, a safe haven of beauty

This podcast revisits Boston’s 1974 busing crisis

Trump lip-sync star Sarah Cooper gets Netflix special

Recommended Reads

As Kamala Harris faces racist and sexist online attacks, women’s groups and Democratic operatives say they have her back

Black women have become frequent targets of an onslaught of online hate from domestic and foreign perpetrators whose tactics have become more sophisticated and harder to trace, disinformation and media analysts said.

Ed Markey is making it personal in the Senate race
When he launched his audacious challenge to incumbent Senator Ed Markey last year, Joe Kennedy III’s last name was seen as a huge advantage. On Tuesday night, Markey sought to turn that family connection into a cudgel.

Chad Finn
In this era of home runs or nothing, baseball is getting pretty boring
The all-or-nothing nature of the game has robbed it of perhaps its most appealing aspect: a diversity of skill and style.

Rhode Islanders won’t need witnesses if they vote by mail this fall

Republicans had challenged a lower court ruling that waived the mail ballot witness requirement because of the coronavirus outbreak.

On the run in Hell’s Half Acre -- and elsewhere

Central Falls mayor ‘sickened’ by shortened census count

Opinion, ideas, and commentary

Baker’s Parole Board stalls clemency process

Abdallah Fayyad

Kamala Harris is both a historic and flawed candidate

Joe Kennedy fights back — just like a Kennedy

Kamala Harris was made for this moment

Jordyn Zimmerman

Colleges must reopen with a vision for a more inclusive future for people with disabilities

IDEAS | TIYA MILES

What should we do with plantations?

VISUAL STORIES

Dont’a Hightower’s fiancée was in labor for 17 hours. He used ‘28-3’ to help her push through

Photos: Mayflower II, a reimagining of vessel used by pilgrims, sails home to Plymouth

Devastated by multiple tragedies, a border city seeks a bridge to the future

‘I want to save everything’: In the era of COVID-19, a small army of animal lovers is providing triage for creatures in distress

metro

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Maura Healey endorses Jesse Mermell in crowded Fourth District primary
Attorney General Maura Healey, one of the state’s leading progressive stars, said Thursday she is backing Jesse Mermell in the congested Fourth Congressional District primary.

Should political candidates in Massachusetts pledge not to accept donations from police unions?

Read two views and vote in our online poll.

Along the Charles River, rose mallows make a spectacular summer display

The big, colorful, tropical-looking blooms seem almost out of place in suburban Boston. But they're native plants.

Neighbors are waging turf battle at Malden park

An innocent instance of drinking and driving

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sports

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Mass. has a decision to make about high school sports. Here’s what other Northeast states are doing

In Vermont, football will be played 7-on-7. In Connecticut, plans are in place to move forward with all sports. See what else is in store for the surrounding states.

Major League Soccer’s stars shined, and other takeaways from the MLS is Back Tournament

Despite having two teams withdraw because of the coronavirus, pro soccer's return to action was a resounding success.

Andrew Benintendi frustrated by injury because he thought he was ‘about to get hot'

The Red Sox outfielder said he thought he was close to breaking out of the slump that has led to a .103 batting average this year.

‘I feel like the Titanic:’ Experts warn unchecked coronavirus spread is massive obstacle to playing college sports

Despite short rest, Bruins will start Tuukka Rask in goal in Game 2

Former Bruins coach Claude Julien hospitalized with chest pains

STAT

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The world needs Covid-19 vaccines. It may also be overestimating their power

In a medical first, doctors treat Parkinson’s with a novel brain cell transplant

A cancer patient reconsiders her end-of-life wishes amid Covid-19

Covid-19′s future: small outbreaks, monster wave, or ongoing crisis

Stay up to date with STAT’s Covid-19 Tracker

Business

Michael Apkon, Tufts Medical CEO, steps down after less than two years on the job
Apkon, who joined the Tufts Medical Center in October 2018, will be succeeded on an interim basis by Michael Tarnoff, chief of surgery.

Mass. Gaming Commission says ‘no dice’ to poker, roulette, craps at casinos
Regulators are concerned that COVID-19 levels are still too high to expand offerings in Everett and Springfield.

Baker’s right to reopen SJC nominations in the interest of diversity

963,000 workers seek US jobless aid as layoffs fall below 1 million for first time in 5 months

US says Iran briefly seizes oil tanker near Strait of Hormuz

Energy Department proposes shower head changes after Trump complained about his hair

Politics

Biden calls for nationwide mask mandate

Rhode Island mail-in voters don’t need witness, Supreme Court rules

Trump, denouncing funding sought for post office, says a mail-in voting election isn’t possible without it

Opinion and analysis

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Tracking the candidates

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Sign up for Ground Game

Marijuana

Where does Kamala Harris stand on marijuana?

Mass. regulators release 619,000 aging marijuana vapes for sale, despite lead contamination concerns

The paper mill was everything in this small town. Then it exploded

Racing the clock to stop drug-resistant superbugs

Recipes: Three light salads to cool you down in the heat of August

I’m a widow and I discovered I’m dating a married man

sports

Don’t lose sleep over the Celtics’ loss to the Wizards, and other observations from Boston’s final seeding game

Game 19: Rays at Red Sox lineups and notes

Brad Stevens on his extension: ‘We’re all excited about where we are and where we’re headed'

metro

Maura Healey endorses Jesse Mermell in crowded Fourth District primary

Should political candidates in Massachusetts pledge not to accept donations from police unions?

Along the Charles River, rose mallows make a spectacular summer display

Nation

Rhode Island mail-in voters don’t need witness, Supreme Court rules

AMC to open 10 Mass. theaters Aug. 20 and will offer 15-cent tickets on the first day back

Trump, denouncing funding sought for post office, says a mail-in voting election isn’t possible without it

World

Lebanese prime minister steps down in wake of Beirut explosion, protests

Treasure-hunter finds 3,000-year-old hoard in Scotland

China announces sanctions against 11 US politicians, heads of organizations

politics

Rhode Island mail-in voters don’t need witness, Supreme Court rules

Trump, denouncing funding sought for post office, says a mail-in voting election isn’t possible without it

Joe Biden raises $26 million in 24 hours after naming Kamala Harris as his running mate

business

Michael Apkon, Tufts Medical CEO, steps down after less than two years on the job

Mass. Gaming Commission says ‘no dice’ to poker, roulette, craps at casinos

Baker’s right to reopen SJC nominations in the interest of diversity

lifestyle

Harvest and Grill 23 return, and a socially distanced dining club comes to Quincy

Not comfortable staying at a hotel yet? Try glamping at one

Need to use the bathroom on a road trip? Your solution is in the bag.

marijuana

Where does Kamala Harris stand on marijuana?

Mass. regulators release 619,000 aging marijuana vapes for sale, despite lead contamination concerns

Mass. regulators fine Revolutionary Clinics $120,000 for selling tainted marijuana vapes

opinion

The Democrats have their ticket

Mass. should enact End of Life Options Act

Along for the ride

food & dining

From Bangladesh to Brazil, inside one Somerville restaurant

Top Shelf Cookies to open storefront in Dorchester this fall

Recipe: Grilled salmon tops these veggie-filled quinoa bowls

travel

These 6 hotels offer discounts to locals

Not comfortable staying at a hotel yet? Try glamping at one

Need to use the bathroom on a road trip? Your solution is in the bag.

Books

Bibliophiles: Reading poetry, meditating on religion

A sublime ‘Summer’

Expert shares amazing anecdotes in ‘Tales From the Ant World’

Movies

Cardi B and a war over ‘WAP’

Doc Talk: Hiroshima remembered, percussion pedagogy, feminist critique, present tense

HBO Yusuf Hawkins documentary shows how much, and mostly little, things have changed

Television

How Misha Green leaned into the horror of ‘Lovecraft Country’

In HBO’s ‘Lovecraft Country,’ a monster called Jim Crow

Sweet dramedy ‘Frayed’ is held together by rich ensemble

music

Pianist Conrad Tao wants you to question everything

A new hearing for composer Ethel Smyth, who created the sound of suffrage

Tanya Donelly’s warm reimagining of her pop favorites gets an assist from the Parkington Sisters

Theater/Dance

Live theater returns to the Berkshires in a changed world

SpeakEasy launches podcast of new work by Boston playwrights

In his new podcast, Mike Birbiglia and guests are creating comedy in real time

globe local

Should political candidates in Massachusetts pledge not to accept donations from police unions?

Along the Charles River, rose mallows make a spectacular summer display

Neighbors are waging turf battle at Malden park

Obituaries

Carroll Hardy, whose pinch-hit appearance was part of Red Sox history, dies at 87

Wayne Fontana, hitmaker with ‘The Game of Love,’ 74

Sumner M. Redstone, media mogul who controlled CBS and Viacom, dies at 97