MBTA to suspend service Sunday

A jet-powered track cleaner on loan from New York City blew snow off the tracks at Quincy Center Station on the Red Line  in anticipation of the weekend blizzard.

John Tlumacki/Globe Staff

A blizzard is expected to impact Eastern Mass. this weekend.

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2015/02/13/BostonGlobe.com/Metro/Images/blanding021315guard3met.jpg Blizzard warning issued as Mass. braces for more snow

Forecasters warned that travel could become nearly impossible and potentially threatening because of whiteout conditions.

JOAN VENNOCHI

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2015/02/13/BostonGlobe.com/EditorialOpinion/Images/Joan_Vennochi_150px-1134.jpg MBTA shutdowns bring out both sides of Charlie Baker

After reinventing himself in his second campaign, the new Charlie gets to duke it out with the old one in the governor?s office.

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2015/02/13/BostonGlobe.com/Metro/Images/tlumacki_valentinesdayfeature_metro506.jpg Baker declares next week ?Valentine?s Week?

With another big snowstorm on the way, the governor is asking consumers to celebrate ?Valentine?s Week.?

It?s huge, and proving irresistible to winter sports enthusiasts at MIT.

Courtesy of Tom Gearty at MIT

Residents, students are climbing the ?Alps of MIT?

A massive snow mound on the Cambridge campus has turned into a place for people to sled, ski, and climb.

Almost human: A photographer snapped pictures of a reconstruction of a Neanderthal at a German museum in 2004.

ideas

Our lost cousins, the Neanderthals

New research suggests they were far more similar to us than we thought. So why did our nearest relations really disappear?

Boston 04/24/14- Boston Red Sox vs New York Yankees- Sox Jackie Bradley Jr. strikes out in the 8th inning as he walls back to the dugout.Globe staff photo by John Tlumacki (sports)

ALEX SPEIER

Red Sox forced to rethink roster construction after 2014

The struggles of their young players became magnified because the fallback options were so limited.

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2014/11/25/BostonGlobe.com/Metro/Images/04302012_30rebecca_photo1-8254423-7870.jpg Man pleads guilty in 2008 slaying of Northeastern student

Cornell Smith, who shot Rebecca Payne in a case of mistaken identity, was sentenced to 18 to 20 years in prison.

Iranians barred from some UMass Amherst graduate programs

The school said admitting Iranian students to graduate engineering and science programs puts the college at risk of infringing on US sanctions.

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2015/02/13/BostonGlobe.com/Metro/Images/carr150-8261.jpg David Carr?s BU syllabi reveal unique teaching style

If you displayed a lack of interest, the media columnist let you know that you ?might be more comfortable elsewhere.?

BetaBoston

Boston partners with Google?s Waze app to improve traffic flow

?Over the past few weeks, it has become clear how critical it is to find innovative ways to improve traffic flow,? Mayor Walsh said in a statement.

Evan Horowitz

Alabama, federal courts in same-sex marriage standoff

Conservative states may start to seek out novel ways to keep gay couples from actually tying the knot.

Former New England Patriots football player Aaron Hernandez.

Aram Boghosian/Pool

Gun found near crime scene discussed at Hernandez trial

In court, a state trooper testified about a small handgun that was found in a wooded area near the Odin Lloyd murder scene.

Crux

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2015/02/13/BostonGlobe.com/Foreign/Images/pell150-664.jpg Vatican?s finance czar reports $1.5 billion in hidden assets

The discoveries mean that the Vatican?s total assets rise to more than $3 billion, roughly one-third more than previously reported.

The Big Picture

David L. Ryan/Globe Staff

Snow keeps piling up in New England

The record-breaking snow amounts have caused major commuting issues and damaged property.