A flight plan for failure

There is a troubling pattern of lax oversight by the FAA that has made the agency vulnerable to fraud, and the public vulnerable to those who mean to do harm.

Globe Spotlight

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2017/09/24/BostonGlobe.com/Arts/Images/MKohut_VENEZUELA_PLANE_CRASH-00013.jpg Secrets in the sky

With lax FAA oversight, the United States remains an easy mark for terrorists and others who prize anonymity when registering aircraft or getting licensed to fly. So much for the lessons of 9/11.

Patriots 36, Texans 33

Ben Volin

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2017/09/24/BostonGlobe.com/ReceivedContent/Images/Davis17.jpg This rally ranks near the top of Tom Brady?s greatest comebacks

The Patriots were stuck in neutral on offense, but Brady pulled out a 36-33 win over the Texans.

Ben Volin | On FOOTBALL

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2017/09/24/BostonGlobe.com/Sports/Images/davis_netex10_spts.jpg Tom Brady: The politically correct miracle man

Brady, silent on protests, let his game do the talking in spearheading another great comeback.

?We just wanted to send the message of unity and being together?

Sixteen Patriots players kneeled during the national anthem Sunday, and many others locked arms in solidarity with their teammates.

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2017/09/24/BostonGlobe.com/Sports/Images/davis_netexpre5_spts.jpg Trump says Bob Kraft can ?do what he wants? after Patriots owner?s criticism

Kraft said on Sunday he was ?deeply disappointed? in the president?s comments on NFL players.

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2017/09/24/BostonGlobe.com/Sports/Images/davis_netex1_spts[1].jpg Observations from Patriots? come-from-behind win vs. Texans

Tom Brady hit Brandin Cooks on a 25-yard touchdown pass with 23 ticks left.

BRENNAN LINSLEY/ASSOCIATED PRESS

Evan Horowitz | Quick Study

The data debunk the Taxachusetts myth

Compared with the rest of the country, taxes here are pretty average.

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2017/09/24/BostonGlobe.com/National/Images/6eb05cfd-ac6d-48d6-8e71-25e0871c14ca.jpg Student trapped in Ind. cave for 58 hours licked water off the walls

Lukas Cavar screamed for hours, hoping to get someone?s attention. Bats, salamanders, crayfish and beetles were his only company.

Former top city official fiercely denies claims

Felix G. Arroyo, who was health services chief, responded to claims of sexual harassment in a document filed with a state panel investigating the case.

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2017/09/24/BostonGlobe.com/Politics/Images/c09ba033c1514d90a9949fe98291b52c-c09ba033c1514d90a9949fe98291b52c-0.jpg Venezuelans, North Koreans targeted by new travel ban

President Trump?s edict, which would go into effect Oct. 18, also would apply to citizens of Chad, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Syria, and Yemen.

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2017/09/25/BostonGlobe.com/Politics/Images/0ec141ccb8664d6694e087a980eefc34-0ec141ccb8664d6694e087a980eefc34-0.jpg Jared Kushner used personal e-mail for some work messages

Kushner used his personal account on dozens of occasions to communicate with colleagues in the White House, his lawyer said.

Vincent Doyle, the son of an Irish priest, is a lead campaigner on the issue.

Suzanne Kreiter/Globe Staff/File

SPOTLIGHT UPDATE

Pope Francis?s abuse panel to look into children of priests

The committee is expanding its workload in the wake of last month?s Globe Spotlight report.

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2017/09/25/BostonGlobe.com/Politics/Images/4c57f7cd3ea84842819321400f50c93c-4c57f7cd3ea84842819321400f50c93c-1808.jpg Republicans add money to health care bill to woo dissidents

The bill?s backers are trying to reach out to undecided senators, such as Lisa Murkowski of Alaska.

Julie Eldred was given probation after she stole jewelry to pay for drugs, but that probation called for her to stay off substances ? something she was unable to do.

Jonathan Wiggs/Globe Staff

Can Mass. courts force sobriety on drug users?

The state?s high court will hear a challenge next month to rules that force those on probation to stay clean ? or end up behind bars.

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2017/09/20/BostonGlobe.com/Metro/Images/160126_MJ_004.jpg Where could a Martin Luther King statue go in Boston?

Mayor Walsh?s announcement that the city will renew a push to erect a memorial to King in Boston has set off excitement throughout the city.

THE WEEK AHEAD

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2017/09/13/BostonGlobe.com/Regional/Images/Topsfieldfair_24notopsfield01_no.jpg Wear shorts but bring a sweater, and head to the fair

This is the time of year to bask in what?s left of shorts weather while enjoying a New England autumn tradition.

Newsletters

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2017/09/13/BostonGlobe.com/Metro/Images/Clipboard-9969.jpg This week in weed

Witness the birth of the marijuana industry in Massachusetts and catch up on national pot headlines every Saturday.

Fall Arts Preview 2017

Fall Arts preview

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2017/09/07/BostonGlobe.com/Arts/Images/Fall%20arts%20home%20version%201-5253.jpg A guide to the best of what to see and do in Boston

A complete guide to movies, music, books, arts, theater, and family events in the Greater Boston area this season.

Opinion & Ideas

EDITORIAL

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2013/10/04/BostonGlobe.com/Arts/Images/tlumacki_harpoon%20brewery_business330.jpg Free the craft brewers

The restrictive laws governing beer distribution in Massachusetts need to change.

Confidential tips

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2017/05/22/BostonGlobe.com/Business/Images/spotlight.jpg Have an investigative news tip?

Do you know about wrongdoing that needs to be exposed? Call the Globe Spotlight team: 617-929-7483 or [email protected].

Special reports

SPOTLIGHT FOLLOW-UP

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2017/08/04/BostonGlobe.com/Metro/Images/Walker_080417_05vapic_3390x.jpg Whistle-blowers at N.H. VA hospital are tip of iceberg

In 2016, VA employees filed nearly 2,000 complaints with the Office of Special Counsel ? more than the next four most-complained-about departments combined.

STAT

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2017/09/22/BostonGlobe.com/National/Images/All%20of%20Us.jpg To advance precision medicine, NIH turns to long-mistreated communities

The agency hopes to recruit more than a half-million people from communities that are wary of clinical research.

Crossword

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2017/08/21/BostonGlobe.com/Business/Images/crossword.jpg Play the crossword

Puzzled? Keep trying and see if you can triumph.

Cars

Search This Week's Specials

The 2018 Nissan Leaf made its Boston debut

The 2018 Nissan Leaf followed up its worldwide Tokyo debut with appearances in eight U.S. cities, including a stop in Cambridge, Mass., at the 22 Annual Danehy Park Family Day where consumers got a first look at this all-new, plug-in electric vehicle. Although electric cars are more common than they were just a few years ago, [?]