All of the headlines from today's paper.
Wednesday, July 31, 2024
Today's Headlines

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Tara Sullivan

Simone Biles raises her gold standard in Paris to lead the US women gymnastics team back to the podium top

From her first moment on the vault to her final one on the mat, Biles was in full control, with no trace of any ghosts from Tokyo. Continue reading →

Business

As Steward accelerates closure of its hospitals, tight-knit Nashoba Valley community fears the worst

Residents of the community of Ayer are fiercely opposed to the closure of their local hospital, and they know that the move would not only put people out of work, but also possibly endanger lives. Continue reading →

Politics

The Biden administration says it supports IVF. So why is the procedure not covered for all federal workers?

Workers are arguing that the financial toll of the procedure is an unnecessary burden in an already difficult situation. Continue reading →

Politics

In big win for Wu, Mass. House approves property tax home rule petition after agreeing to compromise

It may become a casualty of a bigger squabble between the House and Senate as they rush to come to agreements on multiple pieces of major legislation before the deadline. Continue reading →

Transportation

Slow zones are disappearing from the T, but longest subway shutdown still looms

Boston’s subways may not be mistaken for Tokyo-like speed and efficiency anytime soon, but measurable progress can be seen. Continue reading →

Boston Globe Today

Boston Globe Today | July 30, 2024

WATCH: Karen Read retrial fraught with challenges and Boston’s office-to-apartment makeover initiative hits a wall. Watch →

Karen Read retrial fraught with challenges

WATCH: The high-profile murder trial starts all over again in January. Reporter Travis Andersen explains the rocky road ahead. Watch →

Boston’s office-to-apartment makeover initiative hits a wall

WATCH: Business reporter Jon Chesto unpacks why Mayor Wu’s ambitious plan to revitalize downtown is facing significant hurdles. Watch →

The Nation

Politics

Acting head of Secret Service ‘ashamed’ that roof at Trump rally was unwatched

In testimony at a Senate hearing, Ronald L. Rowe Jr. also acknowledged it was the Secret Service’s responsibility to make expectations clear to the local countersnipers and that his agency might have failed to do so on the day of the assassination attempt. Continue reading →

Nation

Senate passes landmark bills to protect kids online, raising pressure on House

The legislation would force digital platforms to take “reasonable” steps to prevent harms to children such as bullying, drug addiction and sexual exploitation, and it would broaden existing federal privacy protections to include kids and teens 16 years old and younger. Continue reading →

Politics

With dueling ads, Harris and Trump both try to define her as a candidate

The race to define Vice President Kamala Harris began in earnest Tuesday, with both her campaign and former president Trump’s team unveiling television advertisements that aim to explain her biography to voters in battleground states. Continue reading →

The World

World

Street clashes turn deadly as Venezuela’s power struggle deepens

The nation’s autocratic leader, President Nicolás Maduro, was declared the winner of another six-year term, but his government has refused to release the full results. Continue reading →

World

As US-Iran conflict builds across Mideast, Iraq is caught in middle

Both the United States and Iran have long held sway in Iraq. But since the war between US ally Israel and Iran-backed Hamas broke out in the Gaza Strip almost 10 months ago, they are increasingly at odds. Continue reading →

World

Israel carries out rare strike on Beirut that targeted Hezbollah commander

The intended target, Fouad Shukur, has been blamed for the recent rocket attack that killed 12 children in the Golan Heights and was linked to the planning and launching of the deadly 1983 bombing of US Marines barracks in the Lebanese capital. Continue reading →

Editorial & Opinion

EDITORIAL

Secret Service needs to focus on its core mission: protecting top officials

A calamitous breakdown in communications and planning allowed a would-be assassin to get within shooting range of former president Donald Trump at a July 13 rally in Butler, Pa. Continue reading →

OPINION

‘Czar’ or not, Kamala Harris bungled immigration

Democrats are downplaying her border responsibilities. But even if you accept that she had a limited role, she still failed at it. Continue reading →

OPINION

Don’t just protect democracy. Complete it.

This nation’s democratic ideals aren’t flawed. What needs to be challenged is the unwillingness to live up to them. Continue reading →

Metro

Massachusetts

‘You can’t find this on Amazon’: In Roxbury, development threatens business hub for African immigrants

Earlier in July, at least five businesses in a two-story warehouse were given a 30-day notice to move. Continue reading →

Massachusetts

Hundreds attend funeral for Jack Connors at St. Ignatius of Loyola Church in Chestnut Hill to honor his life and legacy

In a eulogy, John Connors III said his father “was on a mission to be nice to everybody.” Continue reading →

Politics

Amid migrant influx, cost of running Mass. emergency shelter system surpasses $1 billion

“For well over a year now, the Healey-Driscoll administration has been clear that the current size of the Emergency Assistance shelter system is unsustainable,” a spokesperson said. Continue reading →

Sports

MARINERS 10, RED SOX 6

Deadline done, Red Sox defense offers up one of its sloppiest nights in loss to Mariners

Visiting Seattle scored nine runs in the fourth, fifth, and sixth innings in front of a sold-out Fenway Park, helped far too much by the players backing the returning James Paxton. Continue reading →

RED SOX

Red Sox think they’ve reinforced their foundation, albeit without glamour, following deadline-day bullpen moves

While Alex Cora acknowledged Lucas Sims and Luis García weren’t the most glamorous moves of the trade deadline, they're tangible upgrades to a team just outside the American League wild-card positions. Continue reading →

on the olympics

For the dominant and heavily favored US women’s gymnasts, this was solid gold

Despite the fact that the Russians weren't competing in Paris, there is no tarnish on their medals. Continue reading →

Business

Business

As Steward accelerates closure of its hospitals, tight-knit Nashoba Valley community fears the worst

Residents of the community of Ayer are fiercely opposed to the closure of their local hospital, and they know that the move would not only put people out of work, but also possibly endanger lives. Continue reading →

tech lab

Sea Machines’ self-sailing robotic ships are finding their own way

The Boston company has spent $50 million teaching seagoing craft to navigate autonomously across lakes, rivers, and oceans, a task at least as challenging as building self-driving cars. Continue reading →

AI/Robotics

Robotics company Symbotic sees stock plunge

On Monday night, Symbotic reported a surprise quarterly loss of $14 million and cut its forecast for sales and profits for its next quarter. Continue reading →

Obituaries

Obituaries

Cheng Pei Pei, ‘queen’ of kung fu cinema, dies at 78

Ms. Cheng, a star of two of the most beloved kung fu movies of all time, “Come Drink With Me” and “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,” died Wednesday at her home in the San Francisco Bay Area. Continue reading →

Obituaries

Erica Ash, comedian and ‘Real Husbands of Hollywood’ and ‘Mad TV’ star, dies at 46

Ms. Ash, an actor and comedian skilled in sketch comedy, starred in the parody series “Mad TV” and “Real Husbands of Hollywood.” Continue reading →

Arts & Lifestyle

Music

A new dawning for that green awning? Historic rock club Great Scott finds next home in Allston.

Four years after the club’s closure during the pandemic, a trio of business partners has secured a promising location for Great Scott that will reintroduce the club alongside O’Brien’s Pub. Continue reading →

Museums

Acton’s Discovery Museum wins National Medal for Museum and Library Service

When families visit the Discovery Museum, they can engage in both indoor and outdoor play. Inside, there are sound, simple machine, water, and air play galleries, and outside, there are plenty of ways for kids to get active, including a wheelchair-accessible Discovery Treehouse. Continue reading →

WHAT SHE'S HAVING

Seven spots for a family feast in Kennebunkport, Maine

Finding places to eat for our motley crew, which included a vegetarian, two picky kids, a cautious septuagenarian, and a professional baker, was surprisingly simple. Here’s where we ate — and where you should, too. Continue reading →