The Boston Globe

House passes debt limit bill in bipartisan vote to avert default

The House on Wednesday overwhelmingly passed legislation negotiated by President Biden and Speaker Kevin McCarthy to suspend the debt ceiling and set federal spending limits, as a broad bipartisan coalition lined up to cast a critical vote to pull the nation back from the brink of economic catastrophe.

‘Far from ecstatic’: Democrats reluctantly help pass debt limit deal

THE FINE PRINT
Insurance company apologizes for pension clawback letters after woman’s death
Pacific Life, the giant insurance and financial services company, has informed a Brockton couple that it will stop efforts to claw back $3,453 in pension benefits.

Supreme Court ruling could spell the death of ‘equity theft’ in Mass.

Cambridge Health Alliance announces layoffs, eliminates open positions

The reductions are a sign of the ongoing financial stress facing some of the state’s health systems.

Compass Medical of Quincy announces sudden closure of all facilities

Putnam Investments sold in deal worth up to $1.3 billion

It is unclear what the new corporate parent will mean for the fund manager’s extensive Boston operations.

Chad Finn | Sports Media

Rich Shertenlieb gives cryptic update on radio partner Fred Toucher after alarming tweets

Toucher has not been part of the show this week, and Shertenlieb's comments did not shed much light on his absence.

What is human metapneumovirus, and should we be worried?

Whitman high school student struck and killed by commuter rail train

If you're lucky, your azaleas have bloomed. If you're not . . .

Remember last summer’s drought? Your azaleas do.

The drought, the historic arctic blast in February, the wild swings in temperature — they’re all contributing to the lackluster spring for some flowering bushes, trees, and plants in Eastern Massachusetts.

Globe Magazine
I went searching for a relative who escaped the Holocaust. I found a secret some want to forget.
My decades-long quest to find the lone survivor of a massacre that wiped out a branch of our Jewish family in Poland — and the hidden truth about the killers.

YVONNE ABRAHAM
Let’s make representatives more representative of us
It's long past due: Toss out campaign rules that keep concerned citizens from running for office unless they have deep pockets.

Spencer Steer's seventh-inning home run proved to be the difference at Fenway Park on Wednesday night.

REDS 5, RED SOX 4

Red Sox mark one-third mark of season with frustrating loss to lowly Reds

James Paxton pounded the strike zone with four-seam fastballs for five innings, striking out eight. But the bullpen couldn't hold a 3-1 lead.

Jayson Tatum (left) said after the Celtics' Game 7 loss that the franchise needs to sign Jaylen Brown (right) to the super-max contract.

What’s the future for Jaylen Brown? Grant Williams? Brad Stevens and the Celtics have some decisions to make.

There will be reshuffling at the bottom of the roster. And the coaching staff will be fortified. Let's take a look at the retooling we could expect this offseason.

Mac Jones said he is "starting fresh," which is what the Patriots need after an 8-9 season in 2022.

ben volin | on football

Mac Jones sounds as if he is trying to earn back the respect of his Patriots teammates and coaches

“Sometimes the most confident people come from a year where they might not have been their best," said the quarterback, "and I feel like that’s where I’m at."

OpenAI announced it will spend $1 million to fund independent researchers who will draft standards for socially responsible AI systems. It might not be enough.

‘This is civilization-threatening’: Here’s why AI poses an existential risk

Conversations with Boston-area scholars who signed the latest open-letter warning suggest that the unchecked use of AI offers plenty of opportunities for chaos.

When Joseph Curtatone took office in 2004, his city was still derided as “Slummerville” in the leafier precincts nearby. He set about fixing that.

Somerville shows how to be civically engaged

A Harvard case study on Somerville’s efforts at civic engagement offers important lessons at a time of increasing distrust in government at all levels. It can also be a guidepost for the future of citizen participation.

Boston must make civic engagement more equitable

Massachusetts needs a housing moon shot

Calling teen writers! Globe Ideas wants to give you a megaphone.

COVID — remember COVID? — hits home

More recent News

Outgoing BU president Robert Brown denounces graduates for shouting down Warner Bros. executive at commencement
“They were attempting to implement the cancel culture that has become all too prevalent on university campuses,” he said. Students said they were well within their rights.

Harrison Ford spotted at Amherst College for son Liam’s graduation
The "Indiana Jones" star, 80, and his wife, actress Calista Flockhart, 58, were photographed beside their son Liam Flockhart Ford, who graduated from Amherst with a double major in environmental studies and geology.

After being spotted in Eastern Mass. towns, ‘Buster the Bear’ becomes social media star
Like a child let loose at the playground, the approximately 2-year-old bear has been on the move in recent days, roaming through backyards and devouring seed mixes from bird feeders, often seen standing on his hind legs, sometimes swatting playfully at tree branches.

Jeremiah Oliver, 5, was trying to protect his mother from her boyfriend before killing, prosecutors say
The child was witness to an argument between his mother and her boyfriend that broke out in the kitchen near a closet that Jeremiah was forced “to live in, to sleep in, and to spend his time in,” prosecutors said in Worcester Superior Court during a hearing last Friday.

MATTHEW GILBERT
In a sweet finale, ‘Ted Lasso’ has the last word on toxic masculinity
Often set in a men’s locker room, the series portrayed the many pitfalls of male ego. The finale pointed a way forward.

In a Back Bay nook, a new hotel project moves forward again
Developers have filed updated plans with the Boston Planning and Development Agency to build a 21-story, 300-room hotel at the former Red Lantern restaurant in Back Bay.

Photo Illustration

Boston thrives off the dreams of young people. But can they make it here?

Baby boomers and Gen Xers benefited from economic conditions that do not exist for millennials. And by many measures, the path ahead for Gen Z is even more fraught.

Tell us: How have things changed in Boston since you were in your early 20s?

DEBT

SAVINGS

HOUSING

REALITY CHECK CALCULATOR

Send your relationship questions to Love Letters
Summer is a good time to take control of your romantic life – or lack thereof.

Recommended reads

In honor of AAPI Heritage Month, we asked our readers and local leaders to share the history and meaning behind their names.

Our Names, Our Culture: AAPI voices on reclaiming their names

Hear stories about how given names — and the process of reclaiming them — can shape identities, reveal family histories, and provide cultural connections.

Students with disabilities are often left out of Boston’s popular dual language programs
Bilingual special education experts say this underrepresentation is more than a missed opportunity — it’s discrimination.

Read in Spanish | Leer en español

red sox
Chaim Bloom may be (relatively) new to Boston, but his family roots run deep
Chaim Bloom's family history is interwoven with the fabric of 20th century Boston, even if he is not a native.

The state’s Asian-American population is shifting to some wealthier suburbs, report says
Drawn in part to good schools, more Asian Americans are moving to affluent suburbs like Lexington and Acton.

Culture & Lifestyle

Shameik Moore is the voice of Spider-Man/Miles Morales in "Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse."

‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse’: Something’s gonna change his world

David Dastmalchian in "The Boogeyman." MUST CREDIT: Photo by Patti Perret/20th Century Studios

‘The Boogeyman’: You’ve seen what’s hidden under this bed before

From left: Brett Goldstein, Brendan Hunt, and Jason Sudeikis in "Ted Lasso."

In a sweet finale, ‘Ted Lasso’ has the last word on toxic masculinity

Sampa the Great

Global hip-hop star Sampa the Great went home to discover a sound she’d missed all these years

Special Projects

Main marathon 10th anniversary gif

Their lives were rerouted after the Marathon bombing. Here’s where they are now.

Five lives were lost; many more, changed.

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.

Brittany Tee, Soomaiiah Quraiishi, and Reina Morales Rojas are among thousands of people thought to be missing from Massachusetts.

How the missing become the uncounted

Inside the government’s flawed approach to finding missing persons.

Two Weeks in America

Two Weeks in America

We sent a dozen journalists on the road across this complex country. They found it’s better than you think.

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Opinion, ideas, and commentary

Children run through US flags set next to the Soldiers and Sailors Monument on Boston Common. More than 37,000 US flags were planted around the monument to honor each US military member from the state who died while serving since the Revolutionary War.

Memorial Day 2023: Remembering those who died, doing right by the living

Harvard Yard on the campus of Harvard University.

Affirmative action hurts Asian American kids like me

In this 2018 file photo, students walked past Sather Gate on the University of California at Berkeley campus. The University of California's governing board voted in 2020 to unanimously support a measure to restore affirmative action programs and repeal a controversial statewide ban that has been blamed for a decline in diversity in the prestigious university system.

Natasha Warikoo

If affirmative action in college admissions ends, here’s who will fill those spots

Two large dead beech trees (background) that died within the last few years from beech bark disease in a Pennsylvania forest studied by the author. In the foreground, two small dead beeches.

IDEAS | DAVID ORWIG

Saving the forest for the trees

Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas spoke at his alma mater, the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, in 2012.

Vincent D. Rougeau

Clarence Thomas was a beneficiary of race-based admissions at my school

An aerial image taken by a Ukrainian drone in 2022.

IDEAS | SETH MOULTON

AI may pull the trigger in war, but it shouldn’t call the shots

Metro

Compass Medical of Quincy announces sudden closure of all facilities

“After a steady stream of challenges, we were ultimately forced to make the devastating decision to close all offices of Compass Medical PC. effective immediately,” the organization said in a statement Wednesday on its website. “There is no good way to share this news. We are heartbroken and truly sorry as we know the unprecedented impact on our valued patients.”

RI SHORE ACCESS

R.I. speaker ‘very confident’ a shore access bill will pass this year

It’s still unclear where and how the final line would be drawn in any compromise. But “the public will win,” House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi said, “and I’m proud of that.”

Boston police seek suspect who allegedly attacked woman, stole necklace with her late husband’s wedding ring

A woman was attacked as she sat outside Zion Apostolic Church around noon Sunday, Boston police said.

Outgoing BU president Robert Brown denounces graduates for shouting down Warner Bros. executive at commencement

“They were attempting to implement the cancel culture that has become all too prevalent on university campuses,” he said. Students said they were well within their rights.

Sports

Monty Williams led the Suns to the NBA Finals two years ago.

Report: Pistons hire Monty Williams as coach on six-year deal

The Suns fired Williams two-plus weeks ago.

Spencer Steer's seventh-inning home run proved to be the difference at Fenway Park on Wednesday night.

REDS 5, RED SOX 4

Red Sox mark one-third mark of season with frustrating loss to lowly Reds

James Paxton pounded the strike zone with four-seam fastballs for five innings, striking out eight. But the bullpen couldn't hold a 3-1 lead.

The No. 7 Chelmsford boys' rugby team had its hands full trying to wrangle down Hanover's Nick Freel, who scored three tries en route to a whopping 50-0 first-half advantage in the Hawks' dominating 103-0 victory in the quarterfinals of the Division 2 state tournament on Thursday at Hanover High.

Wednesday's schools roundup

Hanover boys’ rugby steamrolls into semifinals with a dominating shutout victory over Chelmsford in Division 2 tournament

Seniors Nick Freel and Christian Carlson scored three tries apiece to help the No. 2 Hawks (8-0) open up a 50-0 lead after 35 minutes. Hanover wound up prevailing, 103-0, at game's end.

Revolution 3, Atlanta United FC 3

Revolution salvage tie on Carles Gil’s stoppage-time goal in Atlanta

On baseball I Alex Speier

Red Sox shortstop Kiké Hernández refuses to get down about his performance in the field and at the plate

Gary Washburn | On basketball

Favorites in NBA Finals? Don’t ask. Only mutual respect between Nuggets and Heat.

Business

House passes debt limit bill in bipartisan vote to avert default

The House on Wednesday overwhelmingly passed legislation negotiated by President Biden and Speaker Kevin McCarthy to suspend the debt ceiling and set federal spending limits, as a broad bipartisan coalition lined up to cast a critical vote to pull the nation back from the brink of economic catastrophe.

Debt ceiling deal advances pipeline and tweaks environmental rules. But more work remains.

Despite weeks of negotiations, the White House and House Republicans were unable to reach a comprehensive agreement to overhaul environmental regulations and streamline federal permitting as part of their budget deal.

Republicans get their IRS cuts; Democrats say they expect little near-term impact

House passes debt ceiling bill to avoid default, sends deal to Senate

We need to better regulate our banks. Even the father of capitalism thought so.

The man I am seeing lives with his girlfriend in another state

Should you give the gift of cash to new graduates?

Pour-in-the-Pan Pizza With Parmesan Cream, Fontina, and Arugula

Recipes: Make pour-in-a-pan pizza or pasta with pesto

metro

Smoke rose from a wildfire near Barrington Lake in Nova Scotia's Shelburne County on Sunday. More than 16,000 people were forced to evacuate their homes in Canada's eastern province of Nova Scotia, officials said Monday, as one of hundreds of wildfires raging across the country threatened the city of Halifax.

New England is looking at a potentially smokier future

Students participate in Beacon Hill advocacy day for women’s commission

Let’s make representatives more representative of us

sports

Enmanuel Valdez, seen here making an error earlier this season, is one of multiple players who have struggled defensively this year.

The Red Sox’ defense has been a train wreck. Is it simply due to injuries or is it baked into the roster?

Padres’ Gary Sánchez changes jersey number from 24 to 99 in honor of Manny Ramirez

Ozzie Albies’ homer helps New Bedford’s Jared Shuster win consecutive starts for Braves

business

Jared Carver is the new CEO at Converse.

Converse gets a new CEO

‘This is civilization-threatening’: Here’s why AI poses an existential risk

Insurance company apologizes for pension clawback letters after woman’s death

politics

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy speaks to reporters about the proposed debt limit bill, on Capitol Hill in Washington on May 31.

House passes debt limit bill in bipartisan vote to avert default

House passes debt ceiling bill to avoid default, sends deal to Senate

‘Far from ecstatic’: Democrats reluctantly help pass debt limit deal

Nation

Andrew Lester appears in court to answer charges of first-degree assault and armed criminal action on April 19, in Liberty, Mo.

Judge agrees to seal court documents in Ralph Yarl shooting; suspect to be in court

Grand jury charges ex-GOP candidate with election interference in shootings at lawmakers’ homes

Aide fired by George Santos says he got his job after sending money to Republican’s deputy

World

Alaa Adas, the father of Iman, 17, and Dania, 19, who died in an Israeli airstrike, in the bedroom where they were killed in the east of Gaza City, on May 15.

Israel called them ‘precision’ strikes. But civilian homes were hit, too.

Russian bombardment of Ukraine’s capital kills at least 3 people, wounds others

Russian court prepares way for new trial against jailed Kremlin foe Navalny

opinion

Raise the Age bill is ‘smart on crime’

AM radio in your car? Don’t let Congress decide.

COVID — remember COVID? — hits home

lifestyle

Head to Revere Hotel on June 9 for a rooftop silent disco.

15 ways to celebrate Pride Month in Boston and beyond

At 83, Al Pacino is expecting another baby

Exclusive secrets of the National Spelling Bee: Picking the words to identify a champion

food & dining

Terramor Outdoor Resort in Bar Harbor offers a new lobster-to-table experience this summer, during which visitors learn all about lobster fishing from the people who catch these scrumptious sea critters while they explore the Acadia National Park region.

Lobster lessons in Maine, whale films from anywhere, and a bag for keeping things dry on the go

I am always on the hunt for Peking duck. I am not alone.

MOM’s — a market with a mission — brings good things to Burlington

travel

The safest places for LGBTQ+ travelers in 2023

Icelandair changed my flights. Can I get a refund for my tour?

‘Be where you are’ and other travel advice from beach-vacation-loving actress Heidi Blickenstaff

Arts

Eva Lundsager, “First Attempt."

Paintings that are all about touch

The Peabody Essex Museum to hire a TikTok creator-in-residence

Artists For Humanity alum Wendy ‘MoMa’ Michel comes full circle

Books

Comedian Steven Wright has written his first novel, “Harold.”

Writing a novel brings out the little boy in Steven Wright

‘The Soldier’s Truth,’ a biography of Ernie Pyle, chronicles the World War II correspondent’s efforts to connect the soldier’s experience of war to a distant public

Rachel Louise Snyder’s memoir ‘Women We Buried, Women We Burned’ recounts a dark past and holds out the possibility of transformation

Movies

Shameik Moore is the voice of Spider-Man/Miles Morales in "Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse."

‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse’: Something’s gonna change his world

‘The Boogeyman’: You’ve seen what’s hidden under this bed before

Harrison Ford spotted at Amherst College for son Liam’s graduation

Television

Bill Hader in a scene from "Barry."

In conclusion, ‘Barry’ lacked resonance almost until the end

In a sweet finale, ‘Ted Lasso’ has the last word on toxic masculinity

In the end, ‘Succession’ drew buzz, but not as many viewers as you might think

music

Sampa the Great

Global hip-hop star Sampa the Great went home to discover a sound she’d missed all these years

3rd man charged in 2002 shooting death of Run-DMC star Jam Master Jay

Ed Ames, singing star who became a familiar face on TV, dies at 95

Theater/Dance

Karen MacDonald (left) and Lisa Tucker, who play sisters Hazel and Emery in Deborah Zoe Laufer's "Rooted," rehearse a scene on the treehouse set at Lyric Stage Company of Boston.

In Lyric Stage’s ‘Rooted,’ a tree grows on Clarendon Street

As a ballet school turns 10, its former students flock home to dance and celebrate

Boston Ballet’s ‘The Sleeping Beauty’ is alive and well

globe local

Brothers Brian Worrell (left), District 4 Councilor, and state Representative Chris Worrell just opened a district office on Erie Street.

Worrell brothers, one a councilor and one a state representative, open joint Dorchester office for ‘top-notch constituent services’

Fire destroys multiple homes along beachfront in Scituate

Reading harpist returns to hometown for performance with the US Air Force Concert Band

Obituaries

Set designer Robin Wagner and the director and choreographer Susan Stroman, with a model of the set for Mel Brooks’s “The Producers,” in New York, on May 2, 2001.

Robin Wagner, set designer who won three Tony Awards, dies at 89

Ed Ames, singing star who became a familiar face on TV, dies at 95

Ian Hacking, eminent philosopher of science and much else, dies at 87