ILLUSTRATION BY JOSIE JAMMETT FOR THE GLOBE

A Boston Globe investigation

The fall of the house of Tsarnaev

The Tsarnaev family came to the United States seeking a fresh start, but their dream soured long before the Marathon bombings.

Amelia Aburn, 22, of Boston (left) and Matt Geraty, 23, of Baltimore shared a moment in the middle of the frozen pond in the center of the Public Garden.

Boston officials aiming for rapid cleanup from storm

Saturday’s hardy snowstorm led to highway accidents in Mass., as well as the cancellation of some interstate bus travel and Sunday church services.

Large waves crashed over sand barriers, destroying the decks of homes along the beach on Plum Island during a storm last winter.

‘Sand wars’ come to New England coast

Debates over who gets sand, who pays for it, and where it comes from are fast becoming some of the region’s most contentious oceanfront issues.

Early start to TV ads war in midterm elections

Republicans are trying to use the controversy over the botched launch of President Obama’s health care law to lay the groundwork early in swing states.

Linda Pelletier with her daughter Justina at Boston Children’s Hospital, during one of her allowed weekly visits.

Handout

A medical collision with a child in the middle

Justina Pelletier has a metabolic disease. Or does she? With her parents and Children’s Hospital deadlocked, she was placed in state custody.

Workers’ skills aren’t matching available jobs

Unemployment remains vexingly high despite a slew of job openings. The reason? Workers often lack skills the new positions demand.

From left, John Hancock employees Tom Crohan, Yasmin Cruz, and Tom Samoluk presented Santa a donation Friday.

Globe Santa

Parents under duress keep focus on their kids

In many of the letters to Globe Santa, parents who are struggling with severe hardships of their own spend nearly all their time talking about their children.

Opinion

TOM KEANE

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2013/12/15/BostonGlobe.com/EditorialOpinion/Images/keane1215-1535--90x90.jpg Happy days are here again, and we can thank Obama

As 2013 ends and we turn the page to a new year, the US economy appears poised for a significant rebound.

Metro

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Mayor-elect Martin Walsh.

Walsh announces inauguration plans

The four-day program surrounding Mayor-elect Martin Walsh’s inaugural is designed to engage all city residents while promoting community service.