Tuesday, November 16, 2021 View web version
Today's Headlines
Page one

Boston Mayoral Race

As Boston mayor, Michelle Wu will seek to deliver on candidate Wu’s promises for transformative change

Michelle Wu, who will be sworn in as Boston mayor Tuesday, has the challenge of an ambitious policy agenda that she will have to slot into the rigid workings of municipal government. Continue reading →

Metro

Quincy Public Schools grapple with another racist video made by students

As parents and students accused Quincy public school administrators of failing to address long-simmering racial tensions, the district’s superintendent said two high school students whose bigoted recordings sparked the outcry will face “significant discipline.” Continue reading →

Health

Harvard scientists identify second HIV patient whose body appears to have rid itself of the virus

“This gives us hope that the human immune system is powerful enough to control HIV and eliminate all the functional virus,” said Xu Yu, an immunologist at the Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT, and Harvard and senior author on the new report. Continue reading →

Investigations

‘I want him gone.’ Elijah Lewis’s mother messaged a friend just months before his mysterious death.

The frank messages offer a disturbing glimpse into the final months of Elijah’s short and turbulent life. Continue reading →

Crime & Courts

Federal jury awards Boston police detective $2 million in gender discrimination lawsuit

Jurors found that Boston Police Captain Detective Mark Hayes discriminated against Donna Gavin because of her gender, created a hostile work environment, and retaliated against her after she filed a complaint with the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination in 2017. Continue reading →

The Nation

Nation

Biden to bar new drilling around a major Native American cultural site

President Biden announced Monday that his administration is moving to block new federal oil and gas leasing within a 10-mile radius around Chaco Canyon in New Mexico, one of the nation’s oldest and most culturally significant Native American sites, according to White House officials. Continue reading →

Nation

Alex Jones liable by default in remaining Sandy Hook defamation suits

Jones for years spread bogus theories that the shooting that killed 20 first-graders and six educators was part of a government-led plot to confiscate Americans’ firearms and that the victims’ families were “actors” in the scheme. Continue reading →

Political notebook

O’Rourke challenges incumbent for governor of Texas

The arrival of O’Rourke immediately set the stage for a pitched political showdown in November 2022 over the future of Texas at a time when the state — with its expanding cities and diversifying population — has appeared increasingly up for grabs. Continue reading →

The World

World

US journalist Danny Fenster freed from Myanmar prison

The release of Fenster, 37, who was sentenced Friday to 11 years in prison and faced the possibility of an additional 40 years on nebulous charges, is a rare positive development in Myanmar. Continue reading →

World

European Union expected to hit Belarus with more sanctions amid escalating fight

The union has accused Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko of funneling Middle Eastern migrants to the bloc’s eastern borders and using them as political pawns. Continue reading →

World

Cuba cracks down as protesters call for showdown

Four months after protests erupted in Cuba, the Communist government faced a fresh challenge Monday as activists called people into the streets to press for more freedoms and the release of political prisoners. Continue reading →

Editorial & Opinion

EDITORIAL

State voting reforms near their expiration date

Lawmakers are shirking their duty on a permanent fix as they head home for the holidays. Continue reading →

LETTERS

In Mass., it’s a jumble of public health departments — it shouldn’t be

Despite the dedication of local health staff, the pandemic has revealed the inequities of our municipally based system, and our entire state is at risk. Continue reading →

LETTERS

City of Boston cannot sustain ongoing Mass. and Cass encampments

Kim Janey, as acting mayor, and Michelle Wu, Boston’s new progressive mayor, both have concluded that the encampments’ damage to the city is too great to allow them to remain. Continue reading →

Metro

Metro

Quincy Public Schools grapple with another racist video made by students

As parents and students accused Quincy public school administrators of failing to address long-simmering racial tensions, the district’s superintendent said two high school students whose bigoted recordings sparked the outcry will face “significant discipline.” Continue reading →

Metro

‘The healing process can finally begin’: Funeral services delayed by pandemic restrictions now offer loved ones a way forward

With funeral restrictions eased, memorial services that were postponed by the pandemic have been held in growing numbers. Continue reading →

Politics

Rejecting advocates’ pleas, legislative leaders advance proposal to split South Coast cities between congressional districts

Top lawmakers resisted weeks of calls from some of the region’s elected officials and advocates to unite Fall River and New Bedford under a single representative. Continue reading →

Sports

Sports

Danvers school board bypasses vote on superintendent’s fate over of hockey allegations

Embattled Danvers School Superintendent Lisa Dana will remain on the job after the school board Monday backed away from a proposal to place her on administrative leave over her handling of alleged violent, racist, and homophobic locker room misconduct by the 2019-20 high school boys’ hockey team. Continue reading →

CELTICS NOTEBOOK

Ime Udoka disputes Enes Kanter’s hints that social views are behind lack of playing time this season

The Celtics center, who has been outspoken against the Chinese government, wrote on social media: “Keep limiting me on the court, I will expose you off the court.” Continue reading →

CELTICS 98, CAVALIERS 92

Points well received this time as Celtics crank up offense, then hold off Cavaliers

After a sluggish first half, Boston broke out behind Jayson Tatum (23 points), Al Horford (17) and Dennis Schröder (14), and held off a late Cleveland comeback. Continue reading →

Business

TALKING POINTS

Dynatrace CEO to retire

Stories you may have missed in the world of business. Continue reading →

Business

Ginkgo Bioworks says third quarter revenue was up, acknowledges investment firm report triggered a federal inquiry

The Boston company also reported a $26.7 million loss for the period, down from $34.4 million last year. Continue reading →

Biotech

Valo Health and Khosla Ventures call off $2.8 billion SPAC merger

The companies cited “current market conditions, particularly in the biotechnology area,” as the reason for calling off the deal, announced in June, which would have valued the combined firm at $2.8 billion. Continue reading →

Obituaries

Obituaries

Terence Wilson, of the reggae band UB40, is dead at 64

As Mr. Wilson, aka Astro, told the story, he and his reggae band, UB40, didn’t even know whose song they were covering when they decided to record what became perhaps their biggest hit. They’d been smitten by a ska version of the song “Red Red Wine,” which was recorded by Tony Tribe in 1969. Continue reading →

Arts & Lifestyle

Music

What’s nu? Monthly concerts in Boston showcase Jewish music created during the pandemic

The Boston Festival of New Jewish Music is the brainchild of Nat Seelen, clarinetist for the Boston klezmer band Ezekiel’s Wheels. All concerts begin at 7 p.m. at the Boston Synagogue, and the first one is this Wednesday. Continue reading →

Theater

‘This is who we are’: A conversation with the three stars of ‘BLKS’

Thomika Marie Bridwell, Kelsey Fonise, and Shanelle Chloe Villegas discuss their roles in Aziza Barnes's play, how they've embraced its authenticity, whether Boston theater is changing fast enough, and their own artistic aspirations. The show runs through Nov. 20 at SpeakEasy Stage Company. Continue reading →

LOVE LETTERS

She was insensitive about our age difference

“My issue is this: the other day my right knee gave out for no apparent reason ...” Continue reading →