fb-pixelThe Boston Globe Skip to main content
The Boston Globe
TRENDING:

Want to live in a converted office tower? Boston has high hopes for its high rises.

The Boston Planning Department has 14 applications in hand for some 690 units, mostly in downtown, and the program has been extended through next December.

Health experts brace for misery as infections climb, vaccinations drop, and holiday gatherings begin

Massachusetts has moderate rates of influenza and high rates of COVID in waste water, according to CDC data.
Hundreds of thousands of people were dropped from Medicaid in Mass. and months later, some remain uninsured

Mega Millions jackpot jumps to $1 billion for Christmas Eve drawing, officials say
Tickets for the Christmas Eve drawing can be purchased until 10:45 p.m. Tuesday.

From natural gas plant to clean energy hub: Eversource buys part of Mystic site
The company made the $70 million purchase because the land is considered to be at a crucial spot in the region’s electricity grid.

Community supports Topsfield family after their home burns before Christmas: ‘Such a rallying cry from so many people’
Friends of the Harlor family have raised more than $125,000 in the past few days, with hundreds of people pledging their support as of Tuesday, according to a fundraising post.

Former Hasbro CEO’s Beverly Hills home lists for $27m
The nearly 7,500-square foot home owned by the late Brian Goldner has five bedrooms and eight bathrooms. Its grounds feature a pool, spa, and a versatile guest house.

As House Democrats topple senior leaders, Richard Neal, 75, retains his powerful post
The push for generational change didn’t come close to reaching the Springfield Democrat, allowing him to retain his perch as the top Democrat on the powerful Ways and Means Committee.

Bill Clinton is out of the hospital after being treated for the flu

Starbucks strike expands to stores in Boston and other major US cities

Newbury Comics accused of union-busting tactics, firing employee for organizing

Money, Power, Inequality

‘This is my way out.’ In Maine, remote work gives prisoners a lifeline.

Remote work has spread far and wide since the pandemic spurred a work-from-home revolution of sorts, but perhaps no place more unexpectedly than behind prison walls.
KARA BASKIN

Where to eat alone when you’re burnt out from the holidays

Seek shelter and anonymity at these 9 welcoming spots.
Devra First: A year in, has Eastern Standard found its stride?

10 hidden gem TV shows worth binge watching this holiday season

The holiday season is the perfect time for a good TV binge.

A personal ministry drives Chelsea man to feed his neighbors, fix their bikes
For the better part of a decade, Daniel Hamilton of Chelsea has run a weekly food giveaway. When the weather's nice, he also helps fix people's bikes.

Under a Somerville bridge, a ‘little free library for toys’ is taking shape
In an unassuming spot beneath an MBTA overpass, artist Josh Dahl has been anonymously leaving action figures out for area kids, and kids-at-heart, to find.

‘Win-win-win-win’: Charitable exchange brings home active-duty military members for holidays

A son’s early Christmas gift to his father: Time — and a kidney

TRAVEL
The best New England ski resort for you
As the saying goes, you can’t please all the people all the time. And that certainly goes for ski resorts. Lucky us: New England has a variety of resorts, all with a different character and amenities.

Innovation Economy

Four coffee experts tried brews from Cometeer, Keurig, and Nespresso. Here’s how they ranked them.

A group of coffee experts rated each java on a scale of 0-10, with zero being “how dare you serve this to me” and ten being “best coffee I’ve ever had.”
ODIE HENDERSON MOVIE REVIEW | ★★½

‘Babygirl’ can’t quite work out its kinks

Nicole Kidman stars as a married CEO who’s into S&M. Harris Dickinson co-stars as her lover in this lukewarm throwback to the erotic thrillers of the 1980′s
★ | Movie Review: ‘A Complete Unknown’ is a complete disaster★★★½ | Movie Review: ‘The Fire Inside’ poses powerful questions about sports, success

Arcades are making a comeback in Greater Boston. Here’s why.

From a 300-square-foot storefront in Somerville to a former pizza place in Taunton, a spate of electronic playgrounds have opened their doors across Greater Boston since the pandemic.

‘Snowana,’ ‘Control-Salt-Delete’: State officials announce winners of 2024 ‘Name a Snowplow’ contest

Some of the monikers are downright hilarious this year. Can we have a round of applause for "Meltin' John"?

Too cute! NICU babies bring holiday cheer at Boston Medical Center

The babies in Boston Medical Center’s Newborn Intensive Care Unit donned their finest holiday apparel and posed for their first Christmas photos.

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
Opinion
JEFF JACOBY

Merry Christmas! Happy holidays! (Both are fine.)

The reason for the season isn’t to score political points.
EDITORIAL

Who voted for Elon Musk?

Roland Merullo

On giving and not giving

MARCELA GARCÍA

Another Latina has gone missing in East Boston. Will police do better this time?

JOAN VENNOCHI

‘Tis the season of good will, but not for immigrants

Globe Santa

In their own words ...
Sometimes letters to Globe Santa capture the essence of the holidays better than Globe Santa can, such as this one.

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

The 75 best books of 2024

The top 10 TV shows of 2024, according to Globe critics

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

Odie Henderson’s 10 worst movies of the year

More recent News

Bruins iron man Charlie Coyle answers the call every day, and he intends to keep playing as long as he can
Coyle, 32, recently eclipsed the 900-career game mark and has played in all 82 games each of the last three seasons. "I love playing," he said.

Forecast | Ken Mahan

Christmas Eve starts unsettled as quick storm passes through New England

Southern New England will likely end up with storm totals of about an inch or less. Most will have a coating

MIT astronomers find the smallest asteroids ever detected, discovery may help with planetary defense, researchers say

Earlier this month, researchers announced they found the smallest asteroids ever detected within the main belt, which is a field between Mars and Jupiter where millions of asteroids orbit.

A history of the Panama Canal — and why Trump can’t take it back on his own

The president-elect is decrying increased fees Panama has imposed to use the waterway linking the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.
Who controls Greenland, and why does Trump want to buy it?

CVS to lay off more than 160 workers at Aetna
Aetna has already cut more than 400 employees since October.

Vermont police were ‘reasonable and justified’ in shooting R.I. man after July chase, attorney general says
Brenden Sackal, of Hopkinton, R.I., exchanged gunfire with authorities after a pursuit from New Hampshire into Vermont.

Recommended reads

‘Remarkable’ refugee resettlement program gave many safe haven in Mass. Now it may be on Trump’s chopping block.

The United States Refugee Admissions Program has been a lifeline for millions of people since 1980. But it’s not clear how much longer the US will continue to admit refugees.

Photos
A truly banner year: Take a look at the best Globe sports pictures of 2024
Boston Globe photographers were on assignment at sports events just about every day of the year, from high school sports complexes to Fenway Park. Here are some of their best images.

‘There is a lot more anxiety here’: Scientists brace for shake-ups to health funding under Trump
The financial stakes for Massachusetts alone are considerable, with researchers receiving $3.3 billion in 2024 from the National Institutes of Health.

FOOD
From tortilla quiche to buttery vanilla loaf cake, here are our 12 best recipes of the year
Even when we didn’t feel like cooking, there was a simple dish that seemed just right, and on energetic nights, others that were exciting.

Culture & Lifestyle

Sarah Hyland is the latest TV star going from screen to stage

Billerica couple says ‘I do’ at the House of Blues

Barack Obama’s 2024 list of favorite books includes a Boston-born author

When the ax falls on a beloved series, fans feel the pain

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

MARCELA GARCÍA

Another Latina has gone missing in East Boston. Will police do better this time?

ALAN WIRZBICKI

Finding more money in the state budget for transportation

Bruce Mohl

Has the state transportation secretary been benched?

RENÉE GRAHAM

The shattered dreams and lives of trans people lost to violence

IDEAS | HEATHER LANIER

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

IDEAS | CARINE HAJJAR

Lebanon’s biggest problem is not Israel

Metro

Three-alarm fire ravages home in Winchendon, officials said

In a photo shared by Ashburnham Fire, the home appeared to be consumed by the flames.

Judge upholds Providence ban on bulk storage of liquid propane

Sea 3 Providence LLC, which operates a marine propane terminal at the Port of Providence, had challenged the ordinance in court.

Community supports Topsfield family after their home burns before Christmas: ‘Such a rallying cry from so many people’

Friends of the Harlor family have raised more than $125,000 in the past few days, with hundreds of people pledging their support as of Tuesday, according to a fundraising post.

Mega Millions jackpot jumps to $1 billion for Christmas Eve drawing, officials say

Tickets for the Christmas Eve drawing can be purchased until 10:45 p.m. Tuesday.

Sports

Community supports Topsfield family after their home burns before Christmas: ‘Such a rallying cry from so many people’

Friends of the Harlor family have raised more than $125,000 in the past few days, with hundreds of people pledging their support as of Tuesday, according to a fundraising post.
Bruins

Bruins iron man Charlie Coyle answers the call every day, and he intends to keep playing as long as he can

Coyle, 32, recently eclipsed the 900-career game mark and has played in all 82 games each of the last three seasons. "I love playing," he said.
Christopher L. Gasper

Sunday’s first Josh Allen-Drake Maye showdown felt like it could be the start of something big

Finding a franchise quarterback in Josh Allen changed the fortunes of a Bills team that majored in futility. Can Drake Maye do the same thing in New England?
Christopher L. Gasper | Boston Globe Today Sports

It’s time for baseball to rethink how it develops young pitchers

STUDENT PHOTOJOURNALISM PROGRAM

Student photojournalists have presents for all high school sports fans

BEN VOLIN | ON FOOTBALL

NFL Week 16: Several teams are suddenly back in the playoff races

Business

At Logan, heavy travel day gets off to a rough start after American Airlines briefly grounds all flights

Dallas-Fort Worth had the most delays, followed by Charlotte, North Carolina, Washington, New York, Chicago, and Miami.
REAL ESTATE

Former Hasbro CEO’s Beverly Hills home lists for $27m

The nearly 7,500-square foot home owned by the late Brian Goldner has five bedrooms and eight bathrooms. Its grounds feature a pool, spa, and a versatile guest house.
Money, Power, Inequality

‘This is my way out.’ In Maine, remote work gives prisoners a lifeline.

From natural gas plant to clean energy hub: Eversource buys part of Mystic site

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

Six people displaced after fire rages through home in Roslindale, officials said

MIT astronomers find the smallest asteroids ever detected, discovery may help with planetary defense, researchers say

Archbishop Richard Henning to attend Christmas Eve service in Franklin, where arson fire was set in St. Mary’s Church

sports

Around the horn: Red Sox bullpen has far more options than established choices entering 2025

BC linebacker Bryce Steele could have let a cancer diagnosis shatter his dream. Instead, he made it all the way back.

A truly banner year: Take a look at the best Globe sports pictures of 2024

business

Starbucks strike expands to stores in Boston and other major US cities

CVS to lay off more than 160 workers at Aetna

Arcades are making a comeback in Greater Boston. Here’s why.

politics

Bill Clinton is out of the hospital after being treated for the flu

Trump’s election sparks fight over judicial retirements, new judgeships

Who controls Greenland, and why does Trump want to buy it?

Nation

At Logan, heavy travel day gets off to a rough start after American Airlines briefly grounds all flights

California residents on edge as high surf and flooding threats persist on Christmas Eve

NORAD’s Santa tracker was a Cold War morale boost. Now it attracts millions of kids.

World

Bethlehem is set to mark a second subdued Christmas during the war in Gaza

A blast at a Turkish armament factory kills at least 12 people

South Korea’s opposition party vows to impeach acting president

opinion

Making sure White Stadium deal is worth the cost

Biden’s tarnished legacy and the problem of moral luck

Has the state transportation secretary been benched?

lifestyle

Billerica couple says ‘I do’ at the House of Blues

He has to work for another 10 years

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

food & dining

Start the year off right with recipes for a Mediterranean-inspired brunch

Where to eat alone when you’re burnt out from the holidays

Goat milk caramels from Vermont are adorably packaged and make great hostess gifts

travel

The best New England ski resort for you

Everything is a little bit elevated at Dar Rafiki’s, the Haverhill bakery that people can’t stop raving about

How a government shutdown could affect your travel plans

Arts

For 93-year-old Boston painter and sculptor Jo Sandman, living the life of an artist ‘my destiny’

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

Books

In ‘Giant Love,’ a look at Edna Ferber and the Texas world she imagined

Barack Obama’s 2024 list of favorite books includes a Boston-born author

Local bestsellers for the week ended Dec. 15

Movies

‘Babygirl’ can’t quite work out its kinks

‘The Fire Inside’ poses powerful questions about sports and the meaning of success

There’s not much at stake in ‘Nosferatu’

Television

Sarah Hyland is the latest TV star going from screen to stage

10 hidden gem TV shows worth binge watching this holiday season

When the ax falls on a beloved series, fans feel the pain

music

Barack Obama’s 2024 list of favorite books includes a Boston-born author

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

Theater/Dance

What to see on Broadway if you’re heading to New York

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

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

Yoshio Taniguchi, architect for MoMA’s expansion, dies at 87

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

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