The Boston Globe

Pope takes part in disgraced Cardinal Law?s funeral

Pope Francis (center) attended the funeral mass of cardinal Bernard Law at St Peter's basilica in Vatican. — ANDREAS SOLARO/AFP/Getty Images

Turnout appeared to be small and in an abrupt move done without explanation, the Vatican decided not to live stream the funeral Mass.

John L. Allen Jr. | Crux

Here?s why Bernard Law received a funeral in St. Peter?s Basilica

As Cardinal Bernard Law received the customary funeral Mass Thursday, the question in many quarters in the United States was very simple: ?Why??

Photos: The funeral service of Cardinal Bernard Law

Pope Francis presided over the final rites in the funeral Mass for Cardinal Bernard Law.

Snow, ice, and freezing rain could make holiday travel harder this weekend

A chilly mixture of snow, ice, and freezing rain could give travelers a bad start to their holiday weekend in Massachusetts.

Dave Epstein

A day-by-day look at the weather through Christmas

Presently it looks like snow will break out after midnight Christmas Eve, but the storm is still four days away. and things could change.

If you hit the road this afternoon, expect lengthy traffic delays

Thursday afternoon from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. is expected to be the worst time to drive around the Greater Boston area this holiday season.

Pence makes surprise visit to Afghanistan for war meetings

Vice President Mike Pence made an unannounced trip to Afghanistan to meet with Afghan leaders and visit US troops.

Tie-breaker name drawing, 1 more recount coming in Virginia

A panel certified the district as tied Wednesday, a day after a recount appeared to give the Democrat a victory over the Republican.

Weekend lottery jackpots total more than $550m

Compared to the estimated jackpots of $247 million for Mega Millions and $300 million for Powerball, the $7.7 million Megabucks Doubler jackpots seems downright paltry.

Starts & Stops

Feds to issue $100 million check for Green Line extension

Construction is expected to begin next year on the expansion, which will feature seven new stations out to Tufts and is scheduled to open in late 2021.

Alex Guerrero (left) is Tom Brady?s personal trainer.

Dan Shaughnessy

Is Brady?s loyalty to Guerrero summoning storm clouds over Gillette?

Tom Brady is turning into Tom Cruise ? it?s only a matter of time before he jumps on the couch with Oprah in defense of Alex Guerrero.

The Season Ticket podcast

Dan Shaughnessy joins host Chris Gasper to discuss Bill Belichick?s decision to curb the privileges of Tom Brady?s personal guru, Alex Guerrero.

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Patriots players aren?t eager to talk about Alex Guerrero

A day after news that Tom Brady?s friend and health guru had had his access to the team curbed, players tried to steer clear of the controversy.

Names

Petition seeks removal of Matt Damon?s cameo in ?Ocean?s 8?

The heist flick with the all-female cast comes out in June.

Renowned conductor Charles Dutoit accused of sexual misconduct

Three opera singers and a classical musician say that Dutoit, a frequent guest conductor with the BSO, sexually assaulted them.

Names

Elinor Carucci, photographer of the ?Cat Person? kiss, talks about the image

Carucci spoke to the Globe this week about the success of the story, and how she came up with the image to go with it.

Cambridge, MA - 12/05/17 - Local homeowners helped their contractor, Nortoh Alexander, rebuild his mother's house in Dominica, which was destroyed by Hurricane Maria. Alexander is project manager for Cambridge-based Charlie Allen Renovations and grew up on the island. He needed financial help to travel to Dominica and to begin rebuilding his mother's house. Charlie Allen Renovations launched a GoFundMe campaign on the contractor's behalf, which quickly exceeded its goal of $10,000. Almost all of the money was contributed by area homeowners whose homes Nortoh has remodeled. (Lane Turner/Globe Staff) Reporter: (Cristela Guerra) Topic: (06maria) — Lane Turner/Globe Staff

He remodeled their homes. After Hurricane Maria, they helped rebuild his mother?s

In September, when Nortoh Alexander?s mother?s house on Dominica was destroyed, it was his clients? turn to help the carpenter rebuild.

Providence has bumper cars that slide around on an ice-skating rink

Your move, Boston.

The gigantic, glowing ice castles are returning to New Hampshire

You can once again wander through enormous, hand-crafted, 25 million-pound ice castles in New Hampshire this winter.

NAMES

Wahlberg family poses in swimsuits for Christmas card

Forget the mailing list ? the Wahlberg family is wishing a happy holiday to everyone on the internet.

A Harvard employee created a musical Tesla coil that can play Christmas songs

If you attend a holiday work party with Daniel Davis, chances are you won?t be hearing a choir singing Christmas carols at the event.

Opinion & Ideas

Ideas | Scott L. Montgomery

The Alaska refuge will never be the same, drilling or not

After decades of bitter struggle, the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is being opened to the oil industry.

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Special reports

Magazine | A nonfiction novella

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.

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Confidential tips

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].

STAT

A little boy?s fragile skin and stunted growth spur a search for answers

From his birth until his diagnosis almost eight years later, a little boy and his family endured an onslaught of symptoms.

Globe must-reads

Members of the Palestinian delegation applauded after 128-9 vote. The Trump administration has threatened to take action against any country that votes against the United States decision to move its embassy.

UN votes to declare US recognition of Jerusalem as Israeli capital ?null and void?

Families put their hope in Globe Santa

?I have a lot of trepidation about telling her I?m sick,? Chris Stanley says of his wife, Malia Scott. (Barry Chin/Globe Staff)

The ?man flu? may be real

11/18/2017 - Brighton, MA - The Purr Cat Cafe opened to the public on Saturday, November 18, 2017 in Brighton, MA. Several demonstrators gathered outside to protest the establishment. Topic: 19catcafe(2). Story by Laura Crimaldi/Globe Staff. Photo by Dina Rudick

Boston has its first cat cafe. Will it last?

The poster for the film ?Chappaquiddick.?

Names

?Chappaquiddick? trailer does not go easy on Ted Kennedy

A rendering of what the Globe?s old headquarters might look like under its new owners.

Globe?s former home sold for $81 million

Officials from the Transportation Security Administration and Massport have introduced the new automated screening lanes at Logan Airport's terminal C.

New security lanes aim to speed up wait times at Logan

MIT custodian detained by ICE to be released from jail

Boston MA 12/12/17 Governor Charlie Baker during the Annual lighting of Menorah at the State House marking the first day of Hanukkah. (Matthew J. Lee/Globe staff) topic reporter:

For Baker, Trump?s first year in office hasn?t been all that bad

ADVANCE FOR SUNDAY, OCT. 29, 2017, AND THEREAFTER - In this Aug. 3, 2017, photo, Myrtice Harris applies tape to a package before shipment at an Amazon fulfillment center in Baltimore. While jobs have been lost in brick-and-mortar stores, many more have been gained from e-commerce and warehousing. Amazon accounts for much of the additional employment. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

Dozens of stolen Amazon packages recovered during investigation into burglary ring

Readers perused more than 4.9 million items, and there were 1.6 million downloads of ebooks and audiobooks.

Get Smart

The Boston Public Library?s most-checked-out books of 2017

The rain, it?s plain, has no effect on pain

Sports

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Foxborough, MA - 12-4-16 - New England Patriots Alan Branch reacting after stopping Los Angeles Rams Todd Gurley for a 1 yard loss during first quarter action at Gillette Stadium. (Matthew J. Lee/Globe staff)

Branch, Burkhead absent from Patriots practice

With both players missing their second straight practice, it seems unlikely either will play Sunday against the Bills.

Metro

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Lance Holloman, 30, faces two counts of first-degree murder for the shooting deaths of Scott Stevens Jr., 32, of Taunton and Michaela Gingras, 24.

Man pleads not guilty to two murders, including shooting motorcyclist on Expressway

Lance Holloman was ordered held without bail, a condition first imposed during his earlier District Court arraignment on the same charges.

Politics

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House GOP offers new patch to avert government shutdown

House Republicans have unveiled a new, stripped-down spending bill to prevent a shutdown this weekend and allow lawmakers to head home for the holidays.