Why did the T cut Keolis a break on $839,000 in fines?

A brutal winter crippled the transit system in early 2015. Keolis was relieved of some fines for subpar performance that year.

John Blanding/Globe Staff/File

The MBTA forcefully told the rail operator to focus on service, rather than wiggling out of fines. Then the agency quietly reversed course.

america on edge

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2016/10/11/BostonGlobe.com/National/Images/NC_VoterPortraits_12.jpg Toxic race leaves bitter taste in younger voters? mouths

Interviews with more than three dozen millennials in N.C. revealed a profound sense of anger and alienation about the election.

yvonne abraham

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2013/10/10/BostonGlobe.com/Metro/Images/abrahamy_20131010.jpg Finding a silver lining in the savage world of Donald Trump

The more Trump talks, the less hospitable the world becomes for men like him.

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2016/10/15/BostonGlobe.com/Metro/Images/WALKER_101516_16TRUMP_CFW_2620x.jpg Trump challenges Clinton to take a drug test

?I don?t know what?s going on with her,? the Republican nominee told a rowdy crowd Saturday in Portsmouth, N.H.

Donald Trump?s supporters enthusiastically greeted the candidate Saturday at a rally in Portsmouth, N.H.

Craig F. Walker/Globe Staff

Trump says the election is rigged, and his supporters are angry

At a time when trust in government is low, Donald Trump is stoking fears that a core tenet of American democracy is also in peril.

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2016/10/16/BostonGlobe.com/Metro/Images/200_matthew_morris.jpg Another surgery for Boston officer shot in line of duty

Matthew Morris remains in critical condition, but stable, after Wednesday night?s shooting in East Boston.

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2016/10/16/BostonGlobe.com/National/Images/60e1c9b295b549f3853fd7a200e1b7db-60e1c9b295b549f3853fd7a200e1b7db-0.jpg Biden puts Russia on warning in wake of cyberattacks

?He?ll know it,? Biden said of Russian leader Vladimir Putin. ?And it will be at the time of our choosing.?

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2016/10/16/BostonGlobe.com/Metro/Images/norfolk.jpg 200 inmates moved from Dedham jail because of water woes

Issues at the Norfolk County Correctional Center started late Friday, when a car hit a hydrant.

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2016/10/16/BostonGlobe.com/Metro/Images/200_moon.jpg Sunday night will bring extra-bright ?supermoon? to New England

The celestial body makes a close pass to the Earth in one of what will be a series of such events to close out 2016.

The Beachcomber bar in Quincy was at the center of a real estate investment scheme that cost victims $2 million.

David L. Ryan/Globe Staff

They paid for dreams, but did a Quincy man sell them lies?

The FBI is looking for Scott Wolas, accused of defrauding at least 25 Mass. residents of $2 million in real estate deals.

Kevin Cullen

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2013/10/18/BostonGlobe.com/Metro/Images/cullen_20131018.jpg A chance to give others a shot at redemption

John Blake and Kevin Devonish are living, breathing, empathetic exemplars of redemption.

Bengals at Patriots | 1 p.m. (CBS)

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2016/10/11/BostonGlobe.com/Sports/Images/cfb17fe8e2fc4340a1ee5c7e45660cc6-cfb17fe8e2fc4340a1ee5c7e45660cc6-0-10618.jpg The dynamic duo of Rob Gronkowski and Martellus Bennett is tough to stop

The star tight ends can line up on the line of scrimmage, in the slot, or out wide.

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2016/10/14/BostonGlobe.com/Sports/Images/611466238-10327-k2hF--90x90@BostonGlobe.com.jpg Patriots? keys to victory over the Bengals

A look at how the teams match up for Sunday?s showdown in Foxborough.

mark arsenault/globe staff

TRAVEL

A compact adventure into the Grand Canyon

So it?s time to recharge with a tough hike and some alone-time in an unforgettable place, but you can only spare three nights away? Easy choice.

Bob Ryan

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2016/10/14/BostonGlobe.com/Sports/Images/ryan1-10354.jpg A generational gap between fans of the Splendid Splinter and Big Papi

Each represents a specific time and place in Red Sox history.

ADDRESS

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2016/10/04/BostonGlobe.com/Business/Images/Karosis_16mudrooms08_mag.jpg Tips and tricks for building a better mudroom

?The mudroom is the new foyer,? said Barney Maier, senior architect at Lexington firm Feinmann Inc.

Museums special

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2016/10/03/BostonGlobe.com/ReceivedContent/Images/120328_ICA-30.jpg What are the most compelling artworks in Boston?

Greater Boston museum directors describe a favorite work of art in other local museums? collections.

Kevin Paul Dupont | On Second Thought

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2014/02/09/BostonGlobe.com/Sports/Images/kpd_20140209.jpg Taking a look at Finland?s national sport: pesapallo

It?s the Scandinavian country?s version of baseball.

Stage Review

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2016/10/14/BostonGlobe.com/Arts/Images/145_AlexIrinaDogs.jpg Ringling Bros. ?Circus XTREME? hits the heights

At the TD Garden, the traditional trappings of the circus get a millennial-friendly update.

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2016/10/14/BostonGlobe.com/Arts/Images/0ac7f410a62c4b0b9d2ca76942fff18b-0ac7f410a62c4b0b9d2ca76942fff18b-0.jpg ?SNL? skewers the presidential election . . . again

This election is the gift that keeps on giving for the show?s writers.

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Globe investigations

The desperate and the dead

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2016/08/29/BostonGlobe.com/Metro/Images/spotlight9090-11856.jpg The broken covenant

Behind the fragmented state of mental health care lies a political system failure that spans decades ? and continues.

The Big Picture

Craig F. Walker/Globe Staff

Big Picture

Boston?s Theatre District

At the edge of diverse neighborhoods, the Theatre District is full of art, entertainment, and history. Many walks of life cross paths on the streets that are home to a bustling nightlife.