Boston Globe Today | May 15, 2024

WATCH: Wednesday's show. Stories include: Navigating adult life in Boston, one step at a time. And, hotel motels went from "seedy" to "sexy." Watch →

Can the Bruins pull off a comeback?

WATCH: Boston is fighting to stay alive in the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. Reporter Matt Porter breaks down how the B’s can stay in the game. Watch →

How has 20 years of same-sex marriage changed Mass.?

WATCH: Massachusetts was the first state to say “I do” to gay couples. Reporter Danny McDonald spoke to some of the couples who made history. Watch →

Nation

Biden and Trump agree to two debates in June and September

President Biden and Donald Trump have agreed to two debates, one on June 27 on CNN and one on Sept. 10 on ABC News, the first onstage clashes between the former president and his successor in more than three years. Continue reading →

Nation

Senators urge $32 billion in emergency spending on AI after finishing yearlong review

The group of two Democrats and two Republicans said in an interview Tuesday that while they sometimes disagreed on the best paths forward, they felt it was imperative to find consensus with the technology taking off and other countries like China investing heavily in its development. Continue reading →

Nation

At trial opening, prosecutor calls Senator Bob Menendez corrupt, saying he traded power for gold, cash

Later, Menendez’s lawyer called prosecutors “dead wrong.” Continue reading →

World

Ukraine fights to hold off fierce Russian assaults in northeast

In a sign of heightened concern over Ukraine’s deteriorating military situation, President Volodymyr Zelensky canceled his participation in all international events for the coming days, including a visit Friday to Spain where he was expected to sign a bilateral security agreement. Continue reading →

World

Attempted assassination of Slovak leader puts Europe on edge

An assailant shot Prime Minister Robert Fico of Slovakia, who is known for defying his fellow leaders in the European Union, multiple times at close range Wednesday, in the most serious attack on a European leader in decades. Continue reading →

World

A second scourge is battering Brazil’s flooded south: disinformation

While flooding that has devastated Brazil’s Rio Grande do Sul state has yet to subside, another scourge has spread across the region: disinformation on social media that has hampered desperate efforts to get aid to hundreds of thousands in need. Continue reading →

LETTERS

MBTA math: The money flows, the train cars slow

"Maybe they should clean house at the T and hire the folks who run the Philadelphia transit system," writes one reader. Another writes, "Governor Healey puts together a transportation task force and already some of them are chafing at the hiring of outside consultants." Continue reading →

EDITORIAL

House leaders lard up the state budget with a side of pork

Stealth earmarks just appear in the final hour even at a time of so-called fiscal restraint. Continue reading →

LETTERS

Fiscally beset, Boston should target tax-exempt institutions’ payments

The city’s economy has a structural problem that needs long-term solutions. Boston’s increasing reliance on property tax as the major source of the city’s revenue is an unsustainable trend. Continue reading →

Politics

‘The heroes of this revolution.’ Healey announces new interest-free loans to train climate tech workers.

Governor Maura Healey announced a new fund to provide no-interest loans to those training for climate tech jobs, helping with tuition, transportation, and other needs. Continue reading →

Politics

‘I don’t know if it’s a solution.’ Mariano casts doubt on tax on high-dollar real estate sales, a key priority of Healey and Wu

Massachusetts House Speaker Ron Mariano suggested Wednesday that lawmakers are reluctant to allow cities and towns tax high-dollar real estate sales. “It’s not as popular as I thought it might be,” he said. Continue reading →

Massachusetts

New study claims Israel is committing genocide in Gaza

A new report from a network of human rights researchers, including at Boston University, concluded that Israel’s actions in Gaza amount to genocide under international law. Continue reading →

On baseball

Through no fault of his own, Brennan Bernardino didn’t make the Red Sox’ Opening Day roster. Now he’s back and he’s one of the best relievers in the game.

In the interest of maintaining organizational depth, at the end of spring training the Sox retained lefthander Joely Rodriguez, who was out of options. Continue reading →

Celtics notebook

Lakers to interview assistant Sam Cassell for coaching job

Cassell played 15 seasons in the NBA and won a title with the Celtics as a player in 2008. Continue reading →

on hockey

The Bruins’ disconnected power play needs to be rewired — and fast

The power play is supposed to a difference-maker, but the Bruins have turned it into a two-minute firewagon drill. Continue reading →

no stupid questions

Introducing No Stupid Questions, how-to guides for navigating adult life in Boston

The first installment of this series will cover five topics: Traffic, taxes, networking, finding a neighborhood to call home, and locating trustworthy services. It launches on May 13. Continue reading →

Jobs

Boston University offers striking PhD students 12-month stipends if they work summers

The strike by graduate student workers has impacted classes and university life since late March. Continue reading →

Business

Inflation moderated slightly in April, offering some relief for consumers

The consumer price index climbed 3.4 percent in April from a year earlier, down from 3.5 percent in March, the Labor Department said Wednesday. Continue reading →

Obituaries

Dr. Cyril Wecht, celebrity pathologist who argued more than 1 shooter killed JFK, dies at 93

Dr. Cyril Wecht has died at age 93 after spending much of his life pressing his view that more than one shooter was involved in President John Kennedy’s 1963 assassination Continue reading →

Obituaries

Mary Wells Lawrence, high-profile advertising pioneer, dies at 95

She splashed jazzy colors on Braniff airliners. She put the “plop plop, fizz fizz” into Alka-Seltzer. She warned Benson & Hedges smokers that long cigarettes might pop balloons or set fire to beards. And from Niagara Falls to Broadway, she reached millions with her “I (heart) NY” campaign. Continue reading →

Obituaries

Susan Backlinie, swimmer who was first victim in ‘Jaws,’ dies at 77

Susan Backlinie, an actress and stunt woman whose portrayal of a violent death as the first shark attack victim in the opening scene of the blockbuster movie “Jaws” terrified moviegoers, died Saturday. She was 77. Continue reading →

Television

Dana Carvey and David Spade reflect on five decades of ‘Saturday Night Live’

The former cast members turned podcast hosts look back on their favorite "SNL" memories, the show’s long history, and more. Continue reading →

Arts

Live from the Museum of Science: It’s David Byrne ... talking about eels

The Talking Heads frontman appeared last week for a live taping of the podcast "Sing for Science." Continue reading →

ROUND 5 RECAP

A pair of ‘SNL’ finalists with nothing in common — except that they’re very funny

John Belushi and Kate McKinnon represent different eras, genders, and comedic styles. But both were over-the-top performers who brought big energy to the “SNL” stage. Continue reading →