Politics

Ex-Twitter execs deny pressure to block Hunter Biden story

Former Twitter executives conceded Wednesday they made a mistake by blocking a story about Hunter Biden, the president’s son, from the social media platform in the run-up to the 2020 election, but adamantly denied Republican assertions they were pressured by Democrats and law enforcement to suppress the story. Continue reading →

Nation

Federal official warns $191 billion in COVID unemployment aid may have been misspent

The US government may have misspent roughly $191 billion in pandemic unemployment benefits, a top federal watchdog told Congress on Wednesday, as Washington continues to uncover the vast and still-growing extent of the waste, fraud and abuse targeting coronavirus aid. Continue reading →

Political Notebook

Biden highlights efforts for working class at Wis. rally

“Fighting for the sake of fighting gets us nowhere,” Biden said at a training facility run by the Laborers’ International Union of North America. “We’re getting things done.” Continue reading →

World

Zelensky seeks weaponry in surprise trips to London, Paris

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky sought Western support for his country in surprise visits to Britain and France on Wednesday, pushing for fighter jets to battle Russian invaders in a dramatic speech to the UK Parliament, and then flying to Paris to meet the French and German leaders over dinner at the Elysee Palace. Continue reading →

World

Investigators say Putin likely approved supply of missile system that downed Flight MH17

There are “strong indications” that President Vladimir Putin decided to supply the antiaircraft missile system that Russia-backed separatists used to shoot down a Malaysia Airlines jet above eastern Ukraine in 2014, a Dutch-led international team found. Continue reading →

World

China sends spy balloons over military sites worldwide, US officials say

US intelligence agencies have assessed that China’s spy balloon program is part of a global surveillance effort that is designed to collect information on the military capabilities of countries around the world, according to three American officials. Continue reading →

LETTERS

Millionaires tax hasn’t blocked Lego from finding a fit in Boston

When you look at the actions of big employers, it seems clear that personal tax levels have a small impact on Massachusetts’ competitiveness. Continue reading →

EDITORIAL

The White House wants to end the public health emergency. Is the country prepared?

Until the federal government ensures that states, insurers, health care providers, and its own agencies are well prepared for the transition, ending the emergency declarations may be premature. Continue reading →

LETTERS

In first response, should it be police, mental health staff, both?

Asking whether it is too dangerous to send unarmed mental health workers in response to 911 calls is the wrong question, as Denver has found. Continue reading →

Metro

A big life, all too brief

Chris Condon's core belief was that every single person deserves dignity: decent wages, better sick leave, stronger child care, and fairer taxation. Continue reading →

Crime & Courts

Former Everett schools superintendent takes witness stand, denies inappropriate touching of school employee

Former Everett schools superintendent Frederick F. Foresteire admitted to calling a payroll clerk who worked for him “Miss Argentina” but vehemently denied touching her inappropriately when he took the witness stand Wednesday in his trial for indecent assault and battery. Continue reading →

Crime & Courts

In Easton, neighbors grapple with police shooting of 56-year-old woman

On Sunday morning, police went to the home of Marianne Griffiths, 56, at the request of her son, who said she had injected herself with a dangerous amount of insulin in an attempt to end her life, authorities said. Continue reading →

super bowl LVII

Quincy’s Joe Cullen, who transformed Chiefs D-line, hits a career high note at Super Bowl

Now with his sixth NFL team, the 55-year-old Cullen has brought vast experience, teaching skills, and lessons in overcoming adversity to Kansas City. Continue reading →

chad finn

Bruins at the break: They have time on their side, and other hockey thoughts

The time-on-ice numbers indicate that Jim Montgomery has been using his depth wisely to keep his stars from getting overextended. Continue reading →

On football

Concussions were up in 2022, but Roger Goodell doesn’t think the NFL needs to cut back on games

The commissioner noted that the total number of injuries leaguewide decreased by nearly 6 percent from 2021 to 2022. Continue reading →

Innovation economy

Does finding the edge on a roll of tape drive you crazy? An Arlington entrepreneur designed a solution.

The product, RollRanger, was conceived in Arlington, designed in Ukraine, made in China — and named by ChatGPT, the artificial intelligence software that responds to typed questions. Continue reading →

Future of Work

The union comes to Boston University dorms

Around 280 resident assistants announced Wednesday that they had formally organized and signed union authorization cards. Continue reading →

innovation beat

Do ‘Black-owned’ business labels work? Harvard study says yes.

A new study that focused on Yelp’s decision to introduce a “Black-owned” business label found that the feature led to a 30 percent increase in sales for those businesses. Continue reading →

Obituaries

Mukarram Jah, heir to an opulent throne he abandoned, dies at 89

Dubbed the Conqueror of Dominions and the Regulator of the Realm, this leader of a vanished kingdom would become an insolvent sheep farmer. Continue reading →

Obituaries

Charlie Thomas, a Drifter nearly all his life in song, dies at 85

Mr. Thomas and the Drifters recorded “There Goes My Baby,” “On Broadway,″ “Under the Boardwalk,” and other classics. Continue reading →

Obituaries

Charles Kimbrough, actor best known for ‘Murphy Brown,’ dies at 86

Mr. Kimbrough was nominated for an Emmy Award for portraying a comically rigid news anchor on the hit sitcom and for a Tony Award for his role in “Company.” Continue reading →

Lifestyle

‘1870’ buttons. Crayons. Ribbons. Lawmakers wore a variety of pins at the State of the Union. Here’s what they represent.

Lawmakers have often used fashion — from the color of their attire to the choice of designer — to make political statements during at high-profile events. President Biden’s State of the Union address Tuesday night was just such an occasion. Continue reading →

Dance

Radio City Rockettes and Boston Conservatory team up for first-of-its kind collegiate dance course

The Rockettes Precision Dance Technique offers students an inside look at the world of the Radio City Rockettes. Continue reading →

Arts

Harvard alumna makes feature debut with ‘Your Place or Mine’ on Netflix

Aline Brosh McKenna’s inspiration for her new romantic comedy, starring Reese Witherspoon and Ashton Kutcher, came from staying over at her friend’s bachelor pad. Continue reading →