Thursday, December 31, 2020 View web version
Today's Headlines
Page one

Metro

Highly contagious new virus strain increases pressure to speed up the pace of COVID-19 vaccinations

The discovery of a more contagious coronavirus strain in the United States this week has turned the battle against COVID-19 into a high-stakes race between the newly authorized vaccines and a virus that soon may spread even faster. Continue reading →

Food & Dining

‘I feel like I’m always on edge’: For hospitality workers, COVID-19 hasn’t just ravaged their industry, but also their mental health

Watching their livelihoods crumble and scared of getting sick, many are fighting despair and struggling to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Continue reading →

Metro

Beat it, 2020. You’ve been truly awful.

Don’t let the door hit you on the way out. Actually, do let it hit you. Hard. Continue reading →

BRUINS

Zdeno Chara, after 14 towering seasons with Bruins, is joining the Capitals

The longtime Boston captain accepted a one-year deal with Washington after it was made clear to him that the Bruins were focusing on younger players. Continue reading →

Behind the Shield

Boston police sergeant who bragged about hitting George Floyd protesters with car was previously accused of sexual assault

Clifton McHale, a 23-year BPD veteran with family ties to the department’s upper ranks, was accused in 2005 of sexually assaulting an intoxicated woman while in uniform in a police vehicle and agreed to serve a one-year, unpaid suspension following an investigation. Continue reading →

The Nation

Nation

McConnell says push by Democrats, Trump for $2,000 stimulus checks has ‘no realistic path to quickly pass the Senate’

Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell said that a proposal from Democrats to approve $2,000 stimulus checks has “no realistic path to quickly pass the Senate,’’ effectively killing one of President Trump’s top priorities in the final days of his presidency. Continue reading →

Nation

Missouri Sen. Hawley announces he will contest certification of electoral college vote

The move that will force a contentious floor debate that top Senate Republicans had hoped to avoid. Continue reading →

Nation

US officials warn of potential Iran-linked attack

Warning given days before the first anniversary of an American drone strike that killed an Iranian general in Baghdad. Continue reading →

The World

World

UK authorizes COVID-19 vaccine from Oxford and AstraZeneca

Britain on Wednesday became the first country to give emergency authorization to the coronavirus vaccine developed by AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford, clearing the path for a cheap and easy-to-store shot that much of the world will rely on to help end the pandemic. Continue reading →

World

Argentina legalizes abortion, a milestone in a conservative region

Argentina’s legalization of abortion was a striking rebuke of Pope Francis, who injected himself into the bitter political debate in his homeland on the eve of the vote, praising a women’s group from impoverished neighborhoods for its activism against abortion. Continue reading →

World

China OKs 1st homegrown vaccine said to be 79.3% effective

Chinese health regulators said Thursday that they have given conditional approval to a coronavirus vaccine developed by state-owned Sinopharm. Continue reading →

Editorial & Opinion

OPINION

Beacon Hill must cap food delivery fees imposed by DoorDash, UberEats, GrubHub

These companies have taken advantage of the COVID-19 emergency by charging delivery fees on independent restaurants of up to 30 percent of the total bill. Continue reading →

EDITORIAL

Police reform: A roadmap for the future

The job of healing old wounds, creating more diverse police forces, and advancing 21st century law enforcement is just beginning. Continue reading →

OPINION

Dear Boston, I miss you

The thing about Boston has always been the sense of ownership felt by those who live beyond official city limits. Our relationship with the city comes from a love of its history and traditions. Continue reading →

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Metro

Metro

Highly contagious new virus strain increases pressure to speed up the pace of COVID-19 vaccinations

The discovery of a more contagious coronavirus strain in the United States this week has turned the battle against COVID-19 into a high-stakes race between the newly authorized vaccines and a virus that soon may spread even faster. Continue reading →

Metro

Beat it, 2020. You’ve been truly awful.

Don’t let the door hit you on the way out. Actually, do let it hit you. Hard. Continue reading →

Metro

Highly contagious new virus strain increases pressure to speed up the pace of COVID-19 vaccinations

The discovery of a more contagious coronavirus strain in the United States this week has turned the battle against COVID-19 into a high-stakes race between the newly authorized vaccines and a virus that soon may spread even faster. Continue reading →

Sports

BRUINS

Zdeno Chara, after 14 towering seasons with Bruins, is joining the Capitals

The longtime Boston captain accepted a one-year deal with Washington after it was made clear to him that the Bruins were focusing on younger players. Continue reading →

dan shaughnessy

Bob Cousy stoically deals with the toughest of losses — his old teammates

The recent death of K.C. Jones again forced the 92-year-old Cousy to face the reality that even Hall of Famers are not immortal. Continue reading →

Patriots

Top draft pick Aaron Nesmith has been the odd man out for the Celtics

Payton Pritchard, picked 12 spots behind Nesmith, has been a key part of the rotation. Continue reading →

Business

Business

Mixed reactions as Moderna says it will offer vaccine to employees, board members, and their households

Moderna has more than 1,000 employees, and the company said the supply needed for its internal distribution is separate from the amount it committed to the US government. Continue reading →

Business

Here’s a look back at some of the strangest local business stories of 2020

Next year should inevitably be a better one, right? But don't expect the weirdness to end. Continue reading →

Business

Governor Baker pulled $650m in small-business aid seemingly out of nowhere. Here’s how

Was it a Christmas miracle, or clever budgetary legerdemain on the part of Baker’s Administration & Finance team? Maybe a little bit of both. Continue reading →

Obituaries

Obituaries

Donald L. Stull, pioneering architect of the Ruggles MBTA station and Harriet Tubman House, dies at 83

Mr. Stull founded two firms that were owned and run by Black architects at a time when there were few in the nation. Continue reading →

Obituaries

Principal Joe Clark, who inspired film ‘Lean on Me,’ dies

At crime- and drug-ridden Eastside High School in Paterson, New Jersey, Mr. Clark expelled 300 students in a single day for fighting, vandalism, abusing teachers, and drug possession. Continue reading →

Obituaries

‘Gilligan’s Island’ star Dawn Wells dies

Known best for playing the wholesome Mary Ann among a misfit band of shipwrecked castaways on the 1960s sitcom “Gilligan’s Island,” Dawn Wells died Wednesday of causes related to COVID-19, her publicist said. Continue reading →

Arts & Lifestyle

Food & Dining

‘I feel like I’m always on edge’: For hospitality workers, COVID-19 hasn’t just ravaged their industry, but also their mental health

Watching their livelihoods crumble and scared of getting sick, many are fighting despair and struggling to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Continue reading →

Lifestyle

10 fun ways to celebrate New Year’s Eve, safely at home

Homebodies and party people alike, here are some suggestions for making your own fun as the clock counts us out of a very bad year. Continue reading →

Arts

Spend New Year’s Eve day with a dozen or so ice sculptures

The cold-weather creations will be set up in different locations in the Seaport on Dec. 31 from 1 p.m. to dusk. Continue reading →