Nation

Social Security benefits to rise 5.9 percent for roughly 70 million people in 2022

The Social Security Administration announced Wednesday that its beneficiaries will see a 5.9 percent increase in their benefit checks starting next year — the largest boost to benefits in close to four decades. Continue reading →

Nation

FDA spells out lower sodium goals for food industry

The voluntary goals finalized Wednesday for 163 food categories are intended to help lower the amount of salt people eat. Continue reading →

Political Notebook

Lawsuit claiming fraud in Ga. elections dismissed

The order dismissing the case says the Georgia voters who brought the lawsuit “failed to allege a particularized injury” and therefore lacked the standing to claim that their state constitutional rights to equal protection and due process had been violated. Continue reading →

World

Neo-fascists exploit ‘no-vax’ rage, posing dilemma for Italy

It’s the mixing and overlap of the extreme right and those against Italy’s vaccine mandates that are causing worries, even though those opposed to vaccines are still a distinct minority in a country where 80 percent of people 12 and older are fully vaccinated. Continue reading →

World

Israeli minister says ‘no way’ to US reopening of consulate in Jerusalem

No way would Israel agree to have the United States reopen its consulate dedicated to Palestinian affairs in Jerusalem, said Israeli Justice Minister Gideon Saar. His comment comes ahead of a meeting between the two countries’ top diplomats in Washington, D.C., this week, where such a discussion is likely to be on the agenda. Continue reading →

World

Amid US-China chill, Harvard moves top language program to Taiwan

Harvard University will move a popular Chinese-language program to Taipei from Beijing amid a broad chill in academic and cultural exchanges between the United States and China. Continue reading →

EDITORIAL

The Marathon returns, but with unwelcome reminders

The government’s choice to push for the death penalty for convicted bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev is inadvertently distracting and detracting from the Marathon itself. Continue reading →

OPINION

As power shifts in Boston, it’s goodbye to Columbus Day

There’s a time for those in power to appease one downtrodden constituency — Italian Americans — and a time for the next rising group to appease another downtrodden constituency — the descendants of people who were here when their land was taken and colonized. Continue reading →

LETTERS

The state and the nation are primed for a broadband boost

COVID-19 exposed longstanding disparities in digital access across the Commonwealth. Continue reading →

Metro

Survey: Three-quarters of Mass. residents support universal vaccine mandate

Massachusetts, a national leader in vaccinations, is also one of the states that leads in openness to vaccine mandates, according to a new study from a consortium that includes researchers from Northeastern and Harvard universities. Continue reading →

Metro

Will we refuse to learn the pandemic’s lessons, again?

The adulation from the pandemic’s early days didn’t translate into significantly higher wages for millions of workers. It should have, and still could. In fact, it must. Continue reading →

Massachusetts

Tractor-trailer tips over, spilling 10,000 gallons of diesel fuel in Revere; Brown Circle rotary to be open for morning commute

All lanes around the rotary were expected to be open in time for the Thursday morning commute, but further repairs will continue into the weekend, when there is less traffic on the roads, a MassDOT spokeswoman said. Continue reading →

RED SOX

Xander Bogaerts has gone from a scared playoff rookie to sacrosanct connective tissue of Red Sox championship eras

In 2013, David Ortiz represented the connective thread between Red Sox championship eras. In 2018, though injured, Dustin Pedroia served a similar role. Now, it is the 29-year-old Bogaerts. Continue reading →

bruins notebook

Bruins are hopeful of a Charlie McAvoy extension, says Cam Neely

The Bruins president said general manager Don Sweeney and assistant GM Evan Gold were in talks with McAvoy’s camp in recent days. Continue reading →

PETER ABRAHAM | ON BASEBALL

Second-base shuffle has worked seamlessly for Christian Arroyo, Red Sox

Christian Arroyo played in only seven of the final 68 regular-season games, José Iglesias carrying the freight at second base throughout September. With Iglesias ineligible for the postseason, Arroyo's been flawless. Continue reading →

Business

Somerville outlines a plan to expand Assembly Square

It’s focused on the long term development of about 140 acres between Route 93 and the Mystic River, a spot that includes the recently-built Assembly Row complex but also the older swaths of big-box retail and light industrial space. Continue reading →

Business

MIT cancels speech by University of Chicago professor following backlash

A University of Chicago geophysics professor who was scheduled to deliver a prestigious lecture at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology will instead give his talk online under the auspices of Princeton University after MIT cancelled the lecture following a backlash against his political views. Continue reading →

Business

Baker urges big investment in Mass. offshore wind industry, seeks to end price cap

Governor Charlie Baker has launched a plan to make Massachusetts more competitive in the fast-growing offshore wind industry amid the increasingly crowded race to attract jobs and investments along the East Coast. Continue reading →

Obituaries

Tony DeMarco, who won the welterweight boxing title in 1955, dies at 89

Another of Mr. DeMarco's fights, with Carmen Basilio, was considered one of the all-time best bouts. Continue reading →

Obituaries

Paddy Moloney, Irish piper who led the Chieftains, dies at 83

The playful but disciplined frontman and bagpiper Paddy Moloney, of the Chieftains, a band that was at the forefront of the worldwide revival of traditional Irish music played with traditional instruments, died on Monday in Dublin. He was 83. Continue reading →

Obituaries

Civil rights activist, historian Timuel Black dies at 102

Civil rights activist, retired Chicago professor, and historian Timuel Black has died. He was considered an authority on the migration of southern Blacks to the northern cities. Continue reading →

MUSEUMS

Museums in Western Mass. to require proof of vaccination

Visitors to Mass MoCA and the Clark Art Institute will have to show proof of vaccination against COVID-19 starting Nov. 1. Continue reading →

Names

This Cambridge cafe is the only Mass. eatery to make The New York Times’ 2021 Restaurant List

Sofra Bakery & Cafe was one of only two restaurants in New England to make the Times’ unranked list of the 50 “most vibrant and delicious” spots around the country. Continue reading →

Names

Trailer for ‘Home Alone’ sequel features 2 Mass. natives in starring roles

More than 30 years after Kevin McCallister first defended his home from burglars in 1990′s “Home Alone,” Disney is focusing on the Mercer family, who inadvertently leave their son Max at home while on a trip to Tokyo. Continue reading →