CVS agrees to buy Aetna for $69 billion

The merger would give R.I.-based CVS an even broader role in managing health care.

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2017/12/03/BostonGlobe.com/Politics/Images/AFP_UT7S5.jpg Trump campaign was offered ?Kremlin Connection? using NRA ties

A conservative operative told a Trump campaign adviser last year that he could arrange a back-channel meeting between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin.

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2017/12/03/BostonGlobe.com/Politics/Images/7ab3059c59fd49cc9837d3f7d6f8d5c6-7ab3059c59fd49cc9837d3f7d6f8d5c6-0.jpg Susan Collins says Mueller is ?making progress? with his investigation

Collins said she didn?t know whether collusion had taken place between Russia and the Trump campaign, but she said that conversations had occurred during the transition.

Lobsterman Tom Tomkiewicz, on his boat at Union Wharf in Fairhaven, said he is trapping in deeper, colder waters.

John Tlumacki/Globe Staff

As ocean warms, Cape?s lobstermen feel a chill

To the south of Cape Cod, rising sea temperatures have contributed to the decimation of the lobster population. The industry has collapsed.

Patients stood outside their rooms at the Massachusetts Alcohol and Substance Abuse Center in Plymouth.

John Tlumacki/Globe Staff

Patients call Plymouth addiction center a mere jail

After a recent patient suicide, critics are discussing what they see as the addiction center?s fundamental flaw.

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2017/12/01/BostonGlobe.com/Arts/Images/wiggs_StateHouse_08.jpg State Senator L?Italien calls for Rosenberg to step down during harassment investigation

Senate President Stanley Rosenberg?s husband is accused of allegedly assaulting and harassing four men.

President Trump says he never asked then-FBI Director James Comey to stop investigating Michael Flynn (left).

In Sunday morning tweets, Trump says he never asked Comey to stop Flynn probe

President Trump was very active in Twitter on Sunday morning, tweeting and retweeting on a range of topics, from an erroneous ABC News report to an assertion that the FBI?s reputation is in ?tatters? after ?the phony and dishonest Clinton investigation.?

Andrew Harnik/Associated Press

Analysis

Trump campaigned as a populist, but he?s not delivering

The tax plan President Trump is backing in Congress would hurt the many in the middle class in the long term.

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2017/12/03/BostonGlobe.com/National/Images/068620159e784aa9bcd4ef6fe1afdca5-068620159e784aa9bcd4ef6fe1afdca5-0.jpg ABC suspends reporter after erroneous report on Michael Flynn

Investigative reporter Brian Ross was suspended for four weeks without pay for what the network called a ?serious error.?

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., responds to a reporters question during a press conference Saturday, Dec. 2, 2017, in Louisville, Ky. The Senate passed the tax bill early Saturday morning with a 51-49 vote. (AP Photo/Timothy D. Easley)

McConnell predicts unpopular tax bill will be a winning issue for GOP

By next fall, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell predicted, Americans will already be feeling the effects of the revisions in the tax code.

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2017/12/03/BostonGlobe.com/Politics/Images/884615642.jpg 2017 Kennedy Center Honors recognize artists, skip drama

A showdown was avoided when President Trump announced in August that he would not attend.

Patriots 23, Bills 3

Orchard Park, NY - 12/03/2017 - (1st quarter) New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) is forced to scramble out of the pocket during the first quarter. The Buffalo Bills host the New England Patriots at New Era Stadium, Orchard Park, NY. - (Barry Chin/Globe Staff), Section: Sports, Reporter: Jim McBride, Topic: 04Patriots-Bills, LOID: 8.4.226261402.

Barry Chin/globe staff

PATRIOTS 23, BILLS 3

Patriots methodically pulled out a win in Buffalo

The Patriots built an increasing lead over the Bills, who were unable to respond.

Chad Finn

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2017/12/03/BostonGlobe.com/Sports/Images/884918750.jpg The Patriots weren?t perfect, but there was a lot to like

The running game and defense were among the positives in New England?s eighth straight victory.

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2017/12/03/BostonGlobe.com/Sports/Images/884881696.jpg Brady was pretty angry after missing a third down pass

The Patriots quarterback could be seen shouting at offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels.

ORCHARD PARK, NY - DECEMBER 3: Dion Lewis #33 of the New England Patriots stiff arms Jordan Poyer #21 of the Buffalo Bills during the second quarter on December 3, 2017 at New Era Field in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)

Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images

BEN VOLIN | INSTANT ANALYSIS

Patriots have their ground game in shape

With Dion Lewis and Rex Burkhead shining again Sunday, the offense is showing good balance as the playoffs near.

49ers 15, Bears 14

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2017/12/03/BostonGlobe.com/Sports/Images/54d00eefb5c544eab2e5dc0c635def16-54d00eefb5c544eab2e5dc0c635def16-0.jpg In first start for 49ers, Jimmy Garoppolo leads the way to victory

The former Patriots backup quarterback threw for 293 yards in his first San Francisco start to set up five field goals.

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2017/12/03/BostonGlobe.com/Sports/Images/884621404.jpg Clemson earns top spot in College Football Playoff

Oklahoma got the No. 2 seed, Georgia is the No. 3 seed, and Alabama rounded it out at No. 4

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2017/12/03/BostonGlobe.com/Politics/Images/Untitled-2228.jpg Trump is visited by three Christmas ghosts on ?Saturday Night Live?

Alec Baldwin again portrayed President Trump, who is visited by the ghosts of Christmas past, president, and future.

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2017/12/03/BostonGlobe.com/National/Images/tonka.jpg Woman turned to Reddit for help tracking down brother?s special gift

A toy company and strangers are pitching in to help a Maryland woman find a particularly important Christmas gift for her disabled brother.

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2012/12/06/BostonGlobe.com/Arts/Images/Keith%20Lockhart%20and%20Santa%20Claus%20on%20Opening%20Night%20of%20Holiday%20Pops%2012.5.12%20(Stu%20Rosner).jpg Boston Pops offers public chance to narrate holiday concert

The Boston Pops Orchestra is giving one lucky winner a chance to narrate its performance of ?Twas the Night Before Christmas.?

University of Oxford

Caroline Spiezio

5 Mass. students awarded prestigious Marshall Scholarship for British study

The local recipients attend Amherst College, Harvard, and MIT.

Ideas | Amy Crawford

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2017/11/30/BostonGlobe.com/Ideas/Images/03Crawford.jpg Retirement is now one-third of adult life. Time to rethink the golden years

By 2050, more than 80 million Americans will be 65 or older, nearly twice the number of senior citizens today. It?s a statistic that has implications for a range of things.

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2017/12/03/BostonGlobe.com/Arts/Images/03022011_02levine_photo2-7865087.jpg BSO says it received no complaints of Levine sexual impropriety when he was music director

The Boston Symphony Orchestra said it was never ?approached by anyone in connection with inappropriate behavior? by James Levine during his tenure as BSO music director.

Love Letters

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2017/11/27/BostonGlobe.com/Magazine/Images/Meredith_Goldstein_NewLogo-3324.jpg She asked for some space. Is writing her a letter a bad idea?

He?s filled with regrets. He wrote a letter of apology and commitment. Should he send it?

Globe Santa volunteers at the premiere of ?Elf the Musical? at the Wang Theatre, where they collected donations.

globe santa

Woman seeks Christmas joy for the children of a hard-working Congolese refugee family

The woman writing to Globe Santa is not asking for a hand for herself but for the children of a Congolese family she has been helping to resettle in a community north of Boston.

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2017/12/01/BostonGlobe.com/Sports/Images/kreiter_grousbeckgaspar_seasonticket4_spts.jpg The Season Ticket podcast

Boston Celtics CEO and co-owner Wyc Grousbeck joins host Chris Gasper to discuss the Celtics? hot start, if they can truly contend for the NBA title, and Boston?s reputation as a destination for star players.

Follow:   iTunes   |   Stitcher   |   RSS

 

Newsletters

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2017/11/19/BostonGlobe.com/Metro/Images/fast-forward-speed_160.jpg Fast Forward

A look at the news and events shaping the day ahead, delivered every weekday with a side of humor and a dash of attitude. Sign up here.

Breaking News Alerts

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Get the latest news ? from weather to Trump to local happenings ? delivered via Facebook messenger.

Special reports

Magazine | A nonfiction novella

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2017/11/01/BostonGlobe.com/Magazine/Images/muck1105altimage-2940[1].jpg He put BSO on the map ? then landed in a world of trouble

One hundred years ago, one of the world?s top conductors was ensnared in a scandal involving patriotism and sex. It almost toppled Boston?s famed orchestra.

Opinion & Ideas

Editorial

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2017/12/01/BostonGlobe.com/EditorialOpinion/Images/874578640.jpg Holding Congress accountable for harassment

A spotlight has been turned on Congress?s handling of claims of sexual harassment against its own members.

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].

Holiday Arts Preview

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2017/11/17/BostonGlobe.com/Arts/Images/Holiday%20Arts%20preview%20web150-5211.jpg The best of the arts this upcoming holiday season

?Tis the season for music, shows, and productions of all kinds, just in time for the holidays.

STAT

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2017/12/01/BostonGlobe.com/National/Images/Organoid.jpg Brain organoids get cancer, opening new frontier in personalized medicine

Researchers are giving cancer to miniature human brains, called organoids, in hopes of improving glioblastoma care.

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.