Boston Globe Today: Sports | January 19, 2024

WATCH: Friday's episode. Stories include: How will Jerod Mayo’s tenure be different from Belichick’s? Columnist Chad Finn's midseason grades for the Celtics. Continue reading →

NFL playoffs: Previewing the divisional round matchups

WATCH: A rematch is coming between Mahomes and Allen. Columnist Chad Finn and reporter Christopher Price run through the games and predict the winners. Continue reading →

Chad Finn's midseason grades for the Celtics

WATCH: Who made the ‘honor roll’ and who needs improvement? The sports columnist weighs in. Continue reading →

Nation

As climate shocks worsen, US disaster agency tries a new approach to aid

The Biden administration is overhauling the country’s disaster assistance programs, expanding aid for survivors of hurricanes, wildfires and other catastrophes and making it easier to access. Continue reading →

Politics

Biden cancels another $5 billion in student loan debt

Most of the people who will benefit from the latest round are teachers, nurses, firefighters, and others in public service who qualify for relief under existing programs that have been plagued by bureaucratic and other problems for years. Continue reading →

Politics

Senators seek answers from Pentagon on troops’ blast exposure

A bipartisan group of senators is demanding to know what steps the military is taking to protect troops from brain injuries caused by the blasts from firing their own weapons. Continue reading →

World

Ukraine targets Russian oil plants, aiming to disrupt military operations

Ukraine hit an oil depot in Russia in a drone attack Friday, officials on both sides said, the latest in a series of recent assaults targeting Russian oil facilities as Ukraine increasingly seeks to strike critical infrastructure behind Russian lines. Continue reading →

World

North Korea says it tested a nuclear-capable underwater drone in response to rivals’ naval drills

The test of the drone, purportedly designed to destroy naval vessels and ports, came days after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un declared he is scrapping his country’s long-standing goal of a peaceful reunification with South Korea. Continue reading →

World

Britain’s largest steel mill to become greener, at a cost of jobs

Last year, the British government offered 500 million pounds in support of Tata’s plan, which has an estimated price tag of up to 1.25 billion pounds. Continue reading →

OPINION

Democrats, let me (re)introduce you to the working class

We build your houses, fix your plumbing, collect your trash, clean your houses, and we are broke. Our backs hurt from physical labor, not stress, our hands are calloused, and we have every skill the app-making, Tesla-driving, Whole Foods-shopping, and highly educated do not have. Continue reading →

OPINION

Blame the victim: Immigrant faces charges in death of Florida policeman

The Guatemalan Indigenous teen involved does not speak English. Continue reading →

LETTERS

Mass. students wage a daily struggle to learn to read

"When it comes to reading instruction, there are effective programs and ineffective programs," writes one reader. Another writes, "Results will always depend on teachers’ knowledge of the needs and interests of their individual students." Continue reading →

Politics

Healey moves to allow cities and towns to raise taxes on hotels, meals, cars

The governor's sprawling bill has the backing of municipal leaders, and if embraced by the Legislature, could generate more than $150 million in new annual tax revenue for towns and cities juggling tight budgets Continue reading →

Education

Striking teachers shutter Newton schools; judge orders them back to work

Newton union negotiations have centered around pay for teachers and paraprofessionals, as well as several other issues, including coverage of classrooms when a teacher is absent. Continue reading →

Money, Power, Inequality

Markey, Warren, Pressley call for Walgreens to stay open, citing ‘insurmountable, even deadly’ impacts on Roxbury

Senators Edward J. Markey and Elizabeth Warren and Representative Ayanna Pressley made their demands in a letter to the drugstore giant’s CEO, Tim Wentworth. Continue reading →

on basketball

‘Even though we lost, it’s a great game for us.’ Celtics have an opportunity to springboard to new heights

Despite subpar performances from its two stars and several others, Boston still came within one possession of matching the defending NBA champions. Continue reading →

WOMEN'S SOCCER

From scoring to storytelling: Hanson’s Sam Mewis sets a new path after retiring from soccer at age 31

The 2020 US Soccer Female Player of the Year and World Cup champion will dive headlong into the world of media and podcasting with The Women's Game. Continue reading →

ON BASEBALL

At Winter Weekend, Red Sox say they will stay the course, so don’t expect major upgrades

Team president Sam Kennedy acknowledged that the team’s payroll would probably drop again this season. Continue reading →

Healthcare

Mass General Hospital to request 94 additional beds at new construction

MGH said that nearly every day for the past 16 months, its emergency room has been so full that all the hospital’s inpatient beds and monitored hallway stretchers are full. Continue reading →

Economy

Massachusetts unemployment grows as more people seek work

The state’s jobless rate rose to 3.2 percent last month from 2.9 percent in November. The increase came as the number of residents looking for a job expanded. Continue reading →

Deals

iRobot stock falls on report that EU regulators will block Amazon deal

The US Federal Trade Commission, which is still reviewing the billion-dollar acquisition, could follow Europe’s lead. Continue reading →

Golf

Jack Burke Jr., Hall of Famer who was the oldest living Masters champion, dies at age 100

A native Texan and World War II veteran, Burke won the PGA Championship and Masters in 1956. Continue reading →

Obituaries

Lev Rubinstein, Russian poet and political figure, dies at 76

A Russian poet and activist, Lev Rubinstein was a prominent figure in the Soviet literary underground movement died in Moscow on Sunday from injuries sustained in a car accident six days earlier. Continue reading →

Continue reading →

Television

Tom Brady teams up with Vince Vaughn, Wayne Gretzky for new Super Bowl ad

Fans will get to see Tom Brady at the Super Bowl this year — just not suited up on the field. Continue reading →

STAGE REVIEW

In ‘Trouble in Mind,’ a Black actress is done compromising

Dawn M. Simmons directs an engrossing and illuminating production of Alice Childress's play at Lyric Stage Company. Continue reading →

Television

Mark Ruffalo to star in HBO crime drama ‘Task,’ set in the ‘same universe’ as ‘Mare of Easttown’

Ruffalo will star as an FBI agent in the series, which is set in Philadelphia. Filming has not yet begun. Continue reading →