The Boston Globe

Inside the state’s $3.3 million scramble to build a better vaccine website

Records show that the state awarded five companies up to $3.3 million in contracts, mostly within a span of 11 days, in a flurry of activity aimed at fixing the much-maligned vaccine registration system.

See more COVID-19 vaccine news, resources, and guidance

Mass. eases business restrictions, expands vaccine eligibility for residents

Massachusetts took a major step forward in addressing various facets of the coronavirus pandemic on Monday — from easing additional restrictions on businesses and public gatherings to making more than 800,000 new people eligible for vaccines.

Here’s a look at what can reopen in Massachusetts Who is eligible to get a COVID-19 vaccine in Massachusetts?

Should pregnant women get the COVID-19 vaccine? With little data, some are eager, some wary

Pregnant women were excluded from the clinical trials of the COVID-19 vaccines. As a result, no one knows for sure whether the vaccines can endanger a pregnancy. But this fact is known: Pregnant women are at significantly higher risk of severe illness from the virus.

Vaccinated pregnant women pass antibodies on to their babies, early research shows

AstraZeneca says US trial data shows vaccine 79 percent effective

AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine provided strong protection against disease and complete protection against hospitalization and death across all age groups in a late-stage US study, the company announced Monday.

‘Afraid of taking the subway’: Atlanta murders raise safety concerns for Asian workers, businesses

Asian American business owners have been reeling from the downturn caused by the pandemic and are struggling with discrimination and cultural barriers that make it difficult to seek support.

Local vigils support Asian Americans in wake of Atlanta-area killings What we know about the victims of the Atlanta-area shootings

Harvard is studying its ties to slavery, but is that enough?

Harvard University owns some stark images of an enslaved father and his daughter, a victory that the college says will allow it to find an appropriate home for the controversial daguerreotypes and ensure that they are more accessible to the public. But the case is far from resolved.

As Walsh prepares to exit, change is coming to the mayor’s office

Sometime in the next few days, Boston will experience a scene that John Winthrop could never have envisioned: a woman of color walking into the mayor’s office and claiming it as her own.

Evidence in Capitol attack most likely supports sedition charges, prosecutor says

The government obtained evidence in the investigation into the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol that most likely meets the bar necessary to charge some of the suspects with sedition, Michael Sherwin, the federal prosecutor who had been leading the Justice Department’s inquiry, said in an interview that aired Sunday.

Republican Representative Tom Reed, accused of misconduct, will retire

US Representative Tom Reed, a Republican from western New York who was accused last week of rubbing a female lobbyist’s back and unhooking her bra without her consent in 2017, apologized to the woman on Sunday and announced that he will not run for reelection next year.

President Biden says he plans to visit US-Mexico border ‘at some point’

The comment, made to reporters at the White House on Sunday, came after the US Homeland Security secretary said he’s not worried about setting a precedent on open borders by allowing thousands of unaccompanied minors to enter the country.

Tara Sullivan

Despite its stinging setback in NCAA championship, Northeastern women’s hockey team proved it was elite

Said NU coach Dave Flint: “There were some skeptics questioning whether we were even good enough to be there, and I think we set the record straight.”

Gary Washburn | On basketball

All together now: On Sunday, Celtics had the chemistry to match their camaraderie

Unlike recent seasons, these Celtics are a fraternal group that's close off the court. Sunday was an all-too-rare moment where they appeared to have that same cohesion on the court.

Tom Brady’s one-time condo in Back Bay is now on the market

Boston’s Burrage Mansion, where former Patriots quarterback Tom Brady used to live, has an opening.

Step by step, Larry Culp is rethinking and remaking General Electric

Larry Culp is a genuine throwback, a guy who got his start on the production line, in this case the family welding shop, and became an evangelist for the exacting Japanese business philosophy centered around unrelenting improvement in business practices.

Globe Magazine

How a college dropout in New Hampshire found a Shakespeare secret all the PhDs missed

Dennis McCarthy, a self-taught scholar working from his dinner table, is challenging decades of scholarship on the origins of the Bard’s greatest work.

Acton man arrested for allegedly kidnapping woman while driving for Uber in Boston

A spokesperson for Uber confirmed that he worked for the company and said his access to the service had been removed.

Police chief says Miami partying ‘couldn’t go on any longer’

Pointing to over 1,000 arrests in one of the nation’s top party spots, Miami Beach officials warned Sunday that the unruly spring break crowd gathering by the thousands, fighting in the streets, destroying restaurant property, and refusing to wear masks has become a serious threat to public safety.

KEVIN PAUL DUPONT | ON HOCKEY

There are many questions surrounding the Bruins, but the team just isn’t talking

The Bruins have been unavailable for comment since five players were placed in the COVID protocol last Thursday.

Opinion

Dragging state prisons into the 21st century

Criminal “justice” shouldn’t end when the cell door closes for those with mental illness.

Elizabeth Dugan

How Massachusetts can become a living laboratory for aging

A living laboratory must close the equity and opportunity gaps

How to build a living laboratory

IDEAS | LINDA RODRIGUEZ MCROBBIE

Just what is the BettyLab cooking up for girls?

A collaboration between BU's Center for Antiracist Research and The Boston Globe's Opinion team.

Learn more Sign up for the newsletter, 'Unbound' The Emancipator seeks editor in chief based at The Boston Globe

Recommended reads

‘You are my sunshine’: For nursing homes, COVID-19 vaccinations bring hope amid an uncertain future

No corner of Massachusetts life was more devastated by the coronavirus a year ago than long-term care. And none has seen infection rates drop faster since COVID-19 vaccines rolled out at the end of last year.

Stimulus payments are a lifeline for households pushed to the edge

Stimulus payments are many things — compensation for the losses of the past year, a jolt to the economy, and a way to give money directly to people in need.

DEVRA FIRST

When we all gather again in restaurants, we will do so changed

It’s been a long, difficult year, one during which we've lost loved ones, experiences, and connections. And we've learned a lot, including how much restaurants mean to us, and how challenging the restaurant business is.

Police have long had a haphazard, lax response to domestic violence within the ranks

Experts say domestic abuse within policing is vastly underreported and often overlooked by those in power.

Peter Abraham | On baseball

‘He’s everything for me’ — After more than a year, Alex Cora reunites with one of his most loyal supporters, his brother Joey

More than 10 years older, the Pirates third base coach provided love and backing - even from afar - during the Red Sox manager's yearlong suspension as a result of the Astros sign-stealing scandal.

metro

Brown senior and his 17-year old brother develop app to rate a business on COVID-19 protocols, cleanliness

As Texas lifted all COVID-19 restrictions, Jason and Elijah Whang, brothers from San Antonio, created Co-Crit to help customers find businesses that they feel comfortable going to.

Mass. eases business restrictions, expands vaccine eligibility for residents

Three people, 26 cats rescued from New Bedford house fire

Sports

U.S. men’s soccer scores late, beats Dominican Republic in Olympic qualifying game

Jackson Yueill redirected Sebastian Salcedo’s cross for the go-ahead goal in the 60th minute to get the U.S. offense on track.

NFL notebook

Former Saints DT Sheldon Rankins, Jets agree on two-years, $17 million deal

NCAA women's basketball roundup

Paige Bueckers paces UConn in dispatching High Point, even without coach Geno Auriemma

business

Massachusetts should have a centralized ‘hub’ to help women entrepreneurs, report says

UK says it’s developing fast test for COVID-19 variants

‘Afraid of taking the subway’: Atlanta murders raise safety concerns for Asian workers, businesses

politics

Republican Representative Tom Reed, accused of misconduct, will retire

Clash between union campaigns and private property at Supreme Court

Evidence in Capitol attack most likely supports sedition charges, prosecutor says

Living Arts

A half-decade later, a chapter of ‘Harry Potter and the Sacred Text’ ends

DEVRA FIRST

When we all gather again in restaurants, we will do so changed

OUTDOORS

Imagination reigns on the lawns of Watertown with YardArt project

education

Harvard is studying its ties to slavery, but is that enough?

New federal guidance supports what Mass. school officials said for months: 3 feet of distance between most students can be enough

Boston Public Schools hit highest-ever four-year graduation rate in 2020

rhode island

Brown senior and his 17-year old brother develop app to rate a business on COVID-19 protocols, cleanliness

RI POLITICS

Fierce divisions as hundreds testify on gun legislation in Rhode Island

RI POLITICS

R.I. poised to pass ‘Act on Climate’ bill, making carbon reduction goals mandatory

Newton

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Comfort Zone

OUTDOORS

Imagination reigns on the lawns of Watertown with YardArt project

More than 120 residences are festooned with original artwork for the inaugural YardArt Watertown.

NAMES

Marty Walsh goes to Washington with a new ‘mayoral portrait’

The small canvas painting features a graphic-style deception of Walsh’s face over the American flag.

MUSEUMS

MFA keeps up the Impressionism with second Monet show

"Legacy Illuminated" will feature fewer Monets but more historical context.

IN THE FAMILY WAY

In the rush to resume normalcy, don’t overlook your teenager’s mental health

Puberty is tough enough. Now add in a pandemic. Here are five things to keep in mind.

Make the most of spring muck

There are plenty of ways to enjoy New England’s mud season. Here are some ideas.

Special Projects

PROJECT TAKEOUT | DEVRA FIRST

Project takeout: Get takeout. Save restaurants you love.

Ordering dinner will help small local businesses survive the pandemic. But that’s just the start.

See the full project

On the Street

In tackling the pandemic, Chelsea finds new strength

Brockton offers a gateway to a new generation

This time, Quincy Center’s revival looks legit

See more from our business series ‘On the Street’: The changing face of Greater Boston neighborhoods

More

Jeneé Osterheldt

A Beautiful Resistance

Black joy, Black lives, as celebrated by culture columnist Jeneé Osterheldt.

Boston Globe launches ‘Fresh Start’ initiative: People can apply to have past coverage about them reviewed

Similar to “right to forget” programs that have cropped up across the country, the undertaking is meant to address the lasting impact that stories about past embarrassments, mistakes, or minor crimes, forever online, can have on a person’s life.

Globe Spotlight Investigation

Last Words: Is death the great equalizer?

Quite the contrary, a Spotlight investigation shows. Death exposes in high relief the layers of inequities, in race and income, care and opportunity, that shape life down to its final hours. It is a truth the pandemic has only underscored — one hard to see, because it is so much easier to look away.

Opinion, ideas, and commentary

Stop the filibuster’s stranglehold on civil rights

IDEAS | VICTOR BENJAMIN

Divisive, demoralizing bots are winning, so big tech needs to think bigger

This is no time to bring back earmarks

Gather in and pause

Plymouth DA evades the sunshine

IDEAS | ANDY ROSEN

The next pandemic challenge: Reacquainting ourselves with everyday risks

STAT

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Subscribe to STAT Plus

The Road Ahead: Charting the pandemic over the next 12 months — and beyond

In this project, STAT describes 30 key moments, possible turning points that could steer the pandemic onto a different course or barometers for how the virus is reshaping our lives.

From a small N.C. town to big-city hospitals, how software infuses racism into U.S. health care

The racial bias can produce huge differences in assessing patients’ need for special care to manage conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, or depression, a STAT investigation found.

Covid-19’s wintry mix: Dry indoor air helps the virus spread

The worry is not just that people might mingle more closely inside, but that the air they breathe will make the virus more dangerous.

In the Covid-19 death of a hospital food worker, a microcosm of the pandemic

The hospital's first employee to die of Covid-19 was a kitchen worker named Marie Deus — and her illness sparked a question. Why weren't bedside clinicians getting sick at the highest rates?

magazine

I’m Asian American and racism makes COVID-19 more than a pandemic for me

Inside the effort to build trust in COVID vaccines

I’m keeping an Instagram pandemic diary. When should I stop?

Recipes: Three creamy vegetable soups with a twist: no dairy necessary

sports

Loyola Chicago reaches Sweet 16 with upset of top-seeded Illinois in Midwest Region

All together now: On Sunday, Celtics had the chemistry to match their camaraderie

Ryan Blaney overtakes Kyle Larson late to pull out victory at Atlanta Motor Speedway

metro

Mass. expected to ease business restrictions, expand eligibility for vaccinations Monday

Local vigils support Asian Americans in wake of Atlanta-area killings

As Walsh prepares to exit, change is coming to the mayor’s office

Nation

AstraZeneca says US trial data shows vaccine 79 percent effective

Who is eligible to get a COVID-19 vaccine in Massachusetts?

Here’s a look at what can reopen in Massachusetts on Monday

World

Palestinians and Israelis both vote soon. The differences are stark

AstraZeneca, once touted as a pandemic slayer, faces challenges

US defense secretary makes secret visit to Afghanistan

politics

President Biden says he plans to visit US-Mexico border ‘at some point’

Intelligence officials: Iran threatens US Army post in D.C. and top general

Biden administration tries to get control of southern border, and the story surrounding it

business

Recast as ‘stimmies,’ federal relief checks drive a stock buying spree

CommonWealth Kitchen launches mentorship program to help struggling independent restaurants

Larry Culp is the GE CEO who would rather hang out on the factory floor

lifestyle

Marty Walsh goes to Washington with a new ‘mayoral portrait’

In the rush to resume normalcy, don’t overlook your teenager’s mental health

Vincent’s replaces Cafe du Pays, Uni takes to the streets, and ‘Top Chef’ contestant Carl Dooley lands at Mooncusser

marijuana

Marijuana-infused ice cream is coming to a dispensary near you, just in time for summer

A green wave? Mexico’s marijuana market may be middling

Mexico set to legalize marijuana, becoming world’s largest market

opinion

Dragging state prisons into the 21st century

How Massachusetts can become a living laboratory for aging

How to build a living laboratory

food & dining

When we all gather again in restaurants, we will do so changed

Vincent’s replaces Cafe du Pays, Uni takes to the streets, and ‘Top Chef’ contestant Carl Dooley lands at Mooncusser

A Palestinian cook is serving specialties from home in his Natick cafe

travel

Janet Wu on Africa, Asia, a bar with good onions, and being a grandmother

Make the most of spring muck

How to use your travel vouchers and credits

Books

From Bowie to Beyoncé, Berklee authors look at musicians as models of innovation

Recalling a medium’s first ladies in ‘When Women Invented Television’

A new biography gives us Francis Bacon in full

Movies

The play’s the thing? Not always on screen it isn’t

Zack, Joss, and me

Looking at this year’s Oscar final five

Television

New Apple TV+ series may have a ‘Forever’ feel

Flashbacks and flash-forwards are the latest trend in giving TV viewers a headache

Matthew McConaughey returns to HBO — and a breakthrough role

music

Strike up the band! Live music will return to Tanglewood this summer

The era of genius worship must end with James Levine

Scullers joins five other East Coast clubs for a virtual jazzfest

Theater/Dance

‘The Conjurors’ Club’ is not quite magical enough

Jacob’s Pillow is a go with an all-outdoor dance festival

In ‘A Brimful of Asha’ and ‘The Pink Unicorn,’ mothers grapple with the independence and identities of their children

globe local

A president’s visit, Little League heroics, fires and funerals: A small town rallies to save its history

Tom Brady’s one-time condo in Back Bay is now on the market

Somerville builds for future with $256 million high school

Obituaries

George Bass, archaeologist of the ocean floor, dies at 88

Spring comes bounding into view

Marianne Carus, whose Cricket magazine reached young readers, dies at 92