Jared Remy

‘Deficiencies’ found in handling of Remy case, DA says

An independent review criticizes the decision to not hold Jared Remy after his arraignment on domestic violence charges. He allegedly killed his girlfriend the day after his release.

Republican Charles Baker (left), and Democrats Martha Coakley (center) Steve Grossman have failed to gain traction in raising funds for the 2014 election.

Globe photos/File

Weary donors slow to back candidates for governor

Candidates have been unable to rouse voters’ interest in the race to succeed Governor Deval Patrick.

The Justina Case: A follow-up

Child welfare agency still lacks medical guidance

To this day, if staffers within the agency need advice from medical experts, they are often left scrambling to find help on their own.

Ravens kicker Justin Tucket celebrated his last-second, game-winning field goal during the teams’ regular-season meeting last year. All Devin McCourty (32) and Kyle Arrington could do was watch.

Christopher L. Gasper

Patriots-Ravens is an underrated rivalry

Patriots-Ravens, which will play out for the seventh time since 2009 Sunday, isn’t Red Sox-Yankees or Bruins-Canadiens, but it fits the rivalry criteria.

Social worker said Fitchburg family needed no further oversight

A woman placed a candle during a vigil Wednesday across from the Fitchburg home where Jeremiah Oliver lived.

Jim Davis/Globe Staff

A state social worker didn’t carry out monthly visits to the home where 5-year-old Jeremiah Oliver lived and recommended that the family be released from state oversight.

YVONNE ABRAHAM

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2013/10/31/BostonGlobe.com/Metro/Images/abrahamy_20131031.jpg Jeremiah Oliver was a little boy lost

Jeremiah’s story is one of monumental, catastrophic failure. Instead of protecting the boy, state social workers left him to suffer alone.

A driver did some on-the-fly windshield scraping on the Leverett Connector.

For commuters, timing of storm was everything

Tuesday’s surprisingly potent storm turned the afternoon commute into a slow, slippery slog that snarled traffic and aggravated even the most patient drivers.

Globe Santa

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2013/12/18/BostonGlobe.com/Metro/Images/globe_santa-7317.jpg Comics step up to lend a hand

This year’s lineup included Dave Russo, Lenny Clarke, Tony V., Anthony Scibelli, Paul Gilligan, and Artie Januario.

Opinion

JOAN VENNOCHI

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2013/12/19/BostonGlobe.com/EditorialOpinion/Images/vennochi-769.png The Orwellian NSA

The National Security Agency’s wide-ranging collection of phone data is something George Orwell may have imagined, a federal judge said.

Sports

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pistons 107, celtics 106

Jared Sullinger made a big 3-pointer with 61 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, but Detroit would regain the lead and take the victory.

Celtics can’t prevail in the end

The Celtics scored 42 points in the first quarter, a team record for any quarter in the season, but then wilted against the bigger Pistons.

Nation & World

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Medical staff members left a Reno hospital after a gunman killed a doctor, wounded two others, and killed himself.

Reno hospital killer appeared to be on mission

Detectives have not been able to establish a motive or relationship between the man who shot the two doctors and the relative of a patient Tuesday before killing himself.

Politics

US Senator Richard Blumenthal (right), Democrat of Connecticut, walked to the Senate chamber on Wednesday before a vote on the budget compromise.

Bipartisan budget agreement clears Congress

Congress sent President Obama legislation scaling back across-the-board cuts, adding a late dusting of bipartisanship to a year more likely to be remembered for near-perpetual gridlock.

Arts

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Book REview

Sage Stossel’s illustrations of her superhero Amy are light and simple.

‘Starling’ by Sage Stossel

The book is straight out of the age of “New Girl” and “Sex in the City,” in which we are drawn to watch a female protagonist for her flaws, not in spite of them.