All of the headlines from today's paper.
Tuesday, January 14, 2025
Today's Headlines
Page one

Politics

Confirmation hearings to offer first big moments of the new Trump administration

Democrats will be looking to thread the needle between opposing Trump and courting back part of their base of support that apparently swung toward Trump in November. Continue reading →

Housing

In latest town to be split by housing plan, Needham voters head to the polls

The suburban town of 32,000 will decide whether or not to approve a plan to comply with the requirements of a state housing law and open the town up to more development. Continue reading →

Health

One Massachusetts town’s rejection of water fluoridation foresaw a growing national debate

Swansea and Somerset, two neighboring towns, took opposite paths on water fluoridation. Continue reading →

Crime & Courts

Judge orders white supremacist group Patriot Front to pay $2.7 million to Black musician attacked in Boston

The assault on Charles M. Murrell III was encouraged by Patriot Front’s leader, who “glorified” it afterward by posting a video online, a judge wrote. Continue reading →

Massachusetts

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu renews effort to provide tax relief for homeowners, files updated home rule petition

The new proposal is aimed at blunting the impact of steep increases to residential property tax bills sent out earlier this month, the mayor said. Continue reading →

Boston Globe Today

Mike Vrabel promises a culture change

The new Patriots coach wants to “get rid of entitlement.” Boston.com sports reporter Khari A. Thompson predicts the shake-up on the way. Watch →

Trump administration picks in the hot seat starting Tuesday

Confirmation hearings for Pete Hegseth, Senator Marco Rubio, and more are this week. Political reporter Sam Brodey explains what to expect. Watch →

Battle between university presidents and senior officials

No-confidence votes are piling up at local institutions. Reporter Diti Kohli unpacks what’s behind them and if they carry any weight. Watch →

The Nation

Nation

Stronger winds threaten to spread wildfires ravaging the Los Angeles area

A growing force of firefighters battled massive infernos across the Los Angeles area on Monday as more powerful winds moved in and threatened recent progress against wildfires that have destroyed thousands of homes and killed at least 24 people. Continue reading →

Nation

Dementia cases in US will surge in coming decades, researchers say

The increase will primarily be due to the growing aging population, as many Americans are living longer than previous generations. Continue reading →

Nation

The pitched battles for partisan control in state legislatures

In Minnesota, Democratic legislators are threatening to stay away from the state Capitol this week to prevent Republicans from trying to claim control of the House of Representatives. Continue reading →

The World

World

In an upended Mideast, Trump faces a new divergence with old allies

When Donald Trump was last president of the United States, the wealthy monarchies of the Persian Gulf had a mostly harmonious relationship with his administration. As Trump prepares to return to the White House, the leaders of those Gulf countries have generally welcomed him back. Continue reading →

World

Gaza cease-fire deal gains momentum ahead of Trump inauguration

High-level cease-fire talks appeared to be gaining momentum Monday as Arab and US mediators pressed for an agreement to halt the fighting in the Gaza Strip and release hostages held by Hamas before President-elect Donald Trump assumes office on Jan. 20. Continue reading →

World

Biden aides warned Putin as Russia’s shadow war threatened air disaster

“The risk of catastrophic error was clear,” Alejandro Mayorkas, the homeland security secretary, said in a recent interview, “that these could catch fire in a fully loaded aircraft.” Continue reading →

Editorial & Opinion

EDITORIAL

Making sure shelter residents are safe

The Healey administration recently released 1,000 ‘serious incident’ reports from the shelter system that paint a grim picture of domestic violence and other problems. Continue reading →

OPINION

Mass. Senate isn’t transparent. Here’s how to fix that.

Our "business as usual" risks public faith. Continue reading →

OPINION

Misguided MBTA Communities Act is based on a myth

It sets a dangerous precedent for the state to further usurp local control. Continue reading →

Metro

Immigration

Advocates hail Biden for allowing nearly 1 million immigrants to remain in US longer

President Biden extended time in the US for 800,000 Venezuelans and Salvadorans days before President-elect Donald Trump takes office. Continue reading →

Crime & Courts

Indictment in fatal drone strike part of crackdown on illegal export of US technology

A Needham resident is charged in a drone strike in Jordan that killed three American service members. Continue reading →

AS I SEE IT

Hockey goalie, no stranger to stitches, turns to needlepoint

“As I See It,” a weekly photo column by Pulitzer Prize winner Stan Grossfeld, brings the stories of New England to Globe readers. Continue reading →

Sports

On hockey

The Bruins are at risk of not making the playoffs, so what are they going to do about it?

The Bruins have slipped to 11th overall in the East in points percentage (.522) as of Monday morning. Continue reading →

Dan Shaughnessy

Mike Vrabel is another former Patriot, but now they need to let go of the past and let him truly run the show

The Patriots love anything and everything that reminds them of their great triumphs in the first two decades of this century. Continue reading →

TARA SULLIVAN

The Women’s Beanpot is headed to Matthews Arena. Could it be for the final time?

Northeastern's ancient, beloved campus venue is on its last legs. And while nothing is finalized, it's unlikely the arena will be in its current form when the semifinal rotation swings back around in four years. Continue reading →

Business

bold types

At 82, the head of Boston College’s center for retirement research is ready for her own

Bold Types is our weekly roundup of the movers and shakers on Boston's business scene. Continue reading →

Trendlines

‘Possibly the worst example of private equity greed’: In Prospect Medical bankruptcy, echoes of Steward

The California hospital chain went bust four years after Leonard Green & Partners took its profits and walked away. Continue reading →

commentary

Take it from a Milton resident: Needham should vote ‘yes’ on the controversial housing plan

Residents of the suburban town head to the polls on Tuesday to vote on a plan to create more housing under a new state law. Milton voted no, and the town is still paying the price. Continue reading →

Obituaries

Obituaries

Rev. Dr. Virgil Wood, whose protest against Louise Day Hicks called attention to ‘de facto segregation,’ dies at 93

Rev. Wood was “existentially engaged in human rights and especially in racial justice,” said his friend and fellow civil rights activist Harvey Cox, a professor of divinity emeritus at Harvard Divinity School. Continue reading →

Obituaries

Mel Shapiro, director whose specialty was John Guare, dies at 89

He was best known in the early 1970s for his direction of the play “The House of Blue Leaves” and his adaptation of Shakespeare's "The Two Gentlemen of Verona" into a musical. Continue reading →

Obituaries

Josh White Jr., who built on his father’s folk legacy, dies at 84

Mr. White, who died a day after announcing his retirement, had become a frequent collaborator with his father, touring with him around the country. Continue reading →

Arts & Lifestyle

LOVE LETTERS

Why didn’t she make an effort?

I drove to her place; she didn’t drive to mine. Continue reading →

Television

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, delays premiere of Netflix show because of wildfires

Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, has postponed the premiere of her Netflix show, “With Love, Meghan,” because of the California wildfires, the streaming service said in a statement Sunday. Continue reading →

STAGE REVIEW

‘Ain’t No Mo’’ is wildly inventive and stiletto-sharp

A collaboration between SpeakEasy Stage and Front Porch Arts Collective hits hard. Continue reading →