Saturday, December 12, 2020 View web version
Today's Headlines
Page one

Coronavirus

FDA authorizes emergency use of first US vaccine for COVID-19

The Food and Drug Administration cleared the first COVID-19 vaccine in the United States for emergency use on Friday, a historic scientific achievement that came barely a year after the deadly novel coronavirus emerged and ran rampant around the world. Continue reading →

Jobs

COVID-19 creates hardship and heartache along the Canadian border

In the age of COVID-19 at the US-Canada border, tough entry restrictions on both sides have kept families apart, choked commerce, and upended the social habits of people who live in different countries but call each other neighbors. Continue reading →

A Beautiful Resistance

Black queer lives are Black lives that matter, too

Adding any other marginalized identity to Blackness is another layer of oppression to fight. Black queer people living their truths is a beautiful resistance. Continue reading →

Metro

Two former State Police supervisors indicted on federal fraud, theft charges in alleged yearslong payroll scheme

Federal agents arrested two retired Massachusetts State Police supervisors Friday morning on fraud and theft charges tied to an alleged, yearslong overtime payroll fraud scheme, according to court records. Continue reading →

Politics

Baker signs budget, balks at provision letting 16-, 17-year-olds get abortion without parental consent

Governor Charlie Baker on Friday signed a long-awaited $45.9 billion budget into law, but sent back to lawmakers closely watched language that would expand abortion access in Massachusetts, saying he “cannot support” allowing 16- or 17-year-olds to get an abortion without parental consent. Continue reading →

The Nation

Coronavirus

FDA authorizes emergency use of first US vaccine for COVID-19

The Food and Drug Administration cleared the first COVID-19 vaccine in the United States for emergency use on Friday, a historic scientific achievement that came barely a year after the deadly novel coronavirus emerged and ran rampant around the world. Continue reading →

Nation

High court all but ends Trump’s long-shot legal efforts to overturn election

The court, in a brief unsigned order, said Texas lacked standing to pursue the case, saying it “has not demonstrated a judicially cognizable interest in the manner in which another state conducts its elections.” Continue reading →

Nation

Senate sends military bill to Trump, spurning his veto threat

The Senate overwhelmingly passed a sweeping military policy bill Friday that would require that Confederate names be stripped from US military bases, clearing the measure for enactment and sending it to President Trump’s desk in defiance of his threats of a veto. Continue reading →

The World

World

Iran executes journalist who encouraged 2017 protests

Iran on Saturday executed a once-exiled journalist over his online work that helped inspire nationwide economic protests in 2017, authorities said, just months after he returned to Tehran under mysterious circumstances. Continue reading →

World

Mexico approves emergency use of Pfizer coronavirus vaccine

The Mexican government’s medical safety commission approved the emergency use of the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine Friday, making Mexico the fourth country to do so. Continue reading →

World

EU agrees to slash carbon emissions by 2030

After an all-night negotiating session, European Union leaders agreed Friday morning to cut net carbon emissions by 55% in the next decade from levels measured in 1990, overcoming the concerns of nations still heavily dependent on coal and taking a critical step in the effort to become climate-neutral by 2050. Continue reading →

Editorial & Opinion

EDITORIAL

Moment must not be lost for police reform

The governor’s amendments to the bill, while imperfect, shouldn’t stand in the way of passage. Continue reading →

OPINION

The world needs a People’s Vaccine

Make the upcoming COVID-19 vaccines a people’s vaccine: a global public good, fairly available to all, and prioritizing those most in need everywhere around the world. Continue reading →

LETTERS

Unpardonably yours, Mr. Donald J. Trump

Jeff Jacoby argued that Joe Biden should rethink his commitment not to pardon Donald Trump. Most readers disagree. Continue reading →

Metro

Metro

Two former State Police supervisors indicted on federal fraud, theft charges in alleged yearslong payroll scheme

Federal agents arrested two retired Massachusetts State Police supervisors Friday morning on fraud and theft charges tied to an alleged, yearslong overtime payroll fraud scheme, according to court records. Continue reading →

Metro

Thousands of Massachusetts hospital staff expected to begin getting long-awaited COVID-19 vaccinations next week

Massachusetts hospitals and senior care facilities are preparing for the rollout of the first COVID-19 vaccines, starting next week, readying everything from injection sites to consent forms to protective gear. Continue reading →

Metro

Two former State Police supervisors indicted on federal fraud, theft charges in alleged yearslong payroll scheme

Federal agents arrested two retired Massachusetts State Police supervisors Friday morning on fraud and theft charges tied to an alleged, yearslong overtime payroll fraud scheme, according to court records. Continue reading →

Sports

Red Sox

The Red Sox need a starting pitching upgrade. Where might that come from?

Japanese star Tomoyuki Sugano is among the pitchers the Red Sox may have interest in bringing to Boston. Continue reading →

Patriots

Bill Belichick on starting Jarrett Stidham over Cam Newton: ‘I’ve answered that question for the last time’

Belichick refused to entertain starting second-year QB Stidham over Newton. Continue reading →

Patriots

The Patriots are in a new era now, and other thoughts after a crushing loss to the Rams

After the Patriots beat the Chargers, there was renewed hope for this team, but Thursday's loss proved otherwise. Continue reading →

Business

Business

Mass General Brigham reports COVID-related financial losses not as bad as expected

The state’s largest hospital system on Friday reported the worst financial loss in its history — but still ended the fiscal year in better shape than expected. Continue reading →

Business

The seafood industry is the biggest winner in the latest round of state tax credits

Move over, Amazon. Hang on, Wayfair. Four seafood processors won tax credits on Thursday totaling more than $800 thousand. Continue reading →

Business

Matt Goodman used a $10 bill to buy his first legal beer — a gift from his late father. Now Budweiser is sending him cases

Matt Goodman's father gave his sister a $10 bill before he died of esophageal cancer in 2015. He wanted her to hold on to it so Matt could use the money to buy his first legal drink in 2020. Continue reading →

Obituaries

Obituaries

Tommy ‘Tiny’ Lister, who played Deebo in ‘Friday,’ dies

Mr. Lister started his career as a pro wrestler, standing 6-foot-5 with broad shoulders at about 275 pounds. His early roles included HBO football series “1st & Ten” along with movie appearances in “Beverly Hills Cop II,” which starred Eddie Murphy, and “No Holds Barred,” the 1989 film where his character Zeus challenged Hulk Hogan in a wrestling match. Continue reading →

Arts & Lifestyle

TV CRITIC'S CORNER

‘It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia’ renewed for 4 more years

The FXX series is poised to make history as the longest-running live-action comedy. Continue reading →

LOVE LETTERS

He wants to be alone with his grief

Help a letter writer with a relationship on pause. Continue reading →

Names

Alicia Keys and Awkwafina keynote at Mass. Conference for Women

Speakers discussed justice, unity, and authenticity, among other topics, at a virtual event that attracted 17,000 registrants. Continue reading →