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Globe Spotlight

Inside the secret financial dealings of Steward CEO Ralph de la Torre

A new Spotlight investigation reveals that as Steward Health spiraled toward bankruptcy, the CEO used its bank account as his own.

Legislative votes and policies would be ‘off-limits’ to auditor even with power to probe Legislature, report says

Under the state Constitution, state Auditor Diana DiZoglio could not investigate legislative votes, debates, committee assignments, and lawmakers’ policy priorities even if voters give her the power to investigate the Legislature, a Tufts University analysis found.

Top Trump volunteer in Mass. no longer with campaign after warning New Hampshire is ‘no longer a battleground state’

Some New England Republicans see Vice President Kamala Harris as a more formidable opponent than President Biden.

Massachusetts has received billions in federal clean-energy dollars, and is on track for more. What if Trump is elected? See updates from the 2024 campaign trail

Trial begins Tuesday for ex-state senator Dean Tran accused of illegally obtaining COVID unemployment benefits

Former state senator and one-time congressional candidate Dean Tran pleaded not guilty last November to 25 counts of wire fraud and three counts of filing false tax returns, according to court records.

Netanyahu pushes back against new pressure over Gaza and hostages: ‘No one will preach to me’
Hamas has accused Israel of dragging out months of negotiations by issuing new demands, including for lasting Israeli control over the Philadelphi corridor and a second corridor running across Gaza.

Could mass protests in Israel over the hostages persuade Netanyahu to agree to a cease-fire deal?

Three missing in Connecticut town after boating accident

One dead, another injured after daylight shooting inside a Dorchester barbershop, officials said

Kenyan man accused in Massachusetts of killing his girlfriend has been extradited

Seven-year-old girl shot in Providence dies of her injuries

The Dudleyville Pond Dam in Shutesbury was taken down by heavy construction equipment after an emergency order because of a high risk of failure. Water poured from a culvert in the dam as it was being removed on Aug. 21.

Removing dams can prevent flooding in Massachusetts. But for the owners, it’s bittersweet.

Massachusetts is removing decrepit dams for flood protection. The ponds behind them were the backdrop to a way of life.

ben volin | on football

NFL analysts seem to agree: Sitting Drake Maye for now is the right move
The uncertainty around the rest of the Patriots roster is one good reason not to throw the rookie into the fire.

With Jacoby Brissett starting, what is next for Patriots rookie Drake Maye?

Safety Dell Pettus has something to shout about after making the Patriots' 53-man roster.

Long shot Dell Pettus counts his blessings after making the Patriots roster as an undrafted rookie

The 23-year-old safety out of Troy impressed his coaches and teammates with his aggression and intelligence, and now it's his mission to stay put.

Boston College running back Kye Robichaux (5) celebrates with teammates after powering over the goal line for a touchdown in the third quarter in Monday night's upset win at Florida State in Tallahassee, Fla.

BOSTON COLLEGE 28, FLORIDA STATE 13

Dominating the trenches, BC delivers signature win at Florida State in Bill O’Brien’s debut

The Eagles ran for 263 yards, held the ball for just over 39 minutes of play, and pushed around the No. 10 Seminoles to earn their first season-opening victory over a ranked opponent since 1976.

The sinking air from dominant high pressure will mean sunny skies and highs reaching a modest mid-70s across Boston — and really holding tight across the board for Southern New England.

Forecast | Ken Mahan

Back-to-school forecast: Feeling like fall with a crisp start to the week, lots of sunshine

An expansive area of high pressure holding cool, dry Canadian air has taken over the Northeast.

Is your water bottle making you sick? Probably. Here’s how to fix it.
Your water bottle is grosser than you think, and studies show that not cleaning it properly is bad for your health. We've got some tips for how (and how often) to clean your reusable water bottle.

After agreeing to upgrade the ADT home security system in her 91-year-old mother’s Maine home, Linda Weatherbee dealt with months of payment disputes with the security company.

She agreed to a free home security system ‘upgrade’ from ADT. Then the fees started coming in.

Linda Weatherbee's experience is a reminder that while automatic payments from your credit card for ongoing services are a nice convenience, they require close monitoring.

One major complaint comes up again and again as internship season draws to a close: There just wasn’t much to do.

These summer interns were ghosted by their bosses

One major complaint comes up again and again among college students as internship season draws to a close: There just wasn’t much to do.

Badrizamn Zaman Khan of Pakistan and his family took a dip at Nantasket Beach after showers passed through the area and a rainbow appeared over the ocean.

The beautiful rainbow of Nantasket Beach

“As I See It,” a weekly photo column by Pulitzer Prize winner Stan Grossfeld, brings the stories of New England to Globe readers.

Opinion

Signs and flags are pictured at a pro-Palestinian encampment on the lawn of the Stratton Student Center campus at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in May.

New school year should bring new approach to student protests

Colleges struggled last semester to respond appropriately to protests against Israel that sometimes crossed the line into antisemitism. But a judge’s ruling should remind them they have responsibilities to protect their Jewish students.

Closure of two Steward hospitals may mean the loss of 70 inpatient psychiatric beds

Is the ‘birth dearth’ a crisis for Boston schools?

IDEAS | Sandro Galea

Is it OK to stop worrying about COVID?

When the market speaks, it does not demand health care equity

Best of the Best

Beacon Hill Books & Cafe on the left and the Fenway Victory Garden at right.

We put together a list of the best things to do in Boston. Readers had their own ideas.

Cambridge, MA. 11/15/22 - Pepperoni pizza at Si Cara restaurant in Central Square. (Lane Turner/Globe Staff) Reporter: (Kara Baskin) Topic:(20qb)

Regina, Si Cara, and 6 more places to find Boston’s best pizza

James Hook

The six best lobster rolls served around Boston

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➔ More from The Boston Globe's Best of the Best

More recent News

Healey, Warren, and Wu join picketing workers in Labor Day actions across Boston
The breakfast happened as 10,000 hotel employees across cities in the US including Boston went on strike Sunday, including at the Hilton, Hyatt, and Marriott hotels.

Just returned from the Olympics, a Ugandan athlete is set on fire by her boyfriend

Rebecca Cheptegei, a distance runner who finished at the 44th position in the 2024 Paris Olympics, was attacked in her house in the western Trans Nzoia County.

PETER ABRAHAM | ON BASEBALL

What’s Ceddanne Rafaela’s best position? Wherever Alex Cora needs him, he says.
While scouts and stats say the 23-year-old is better in center field, Rafaela feels like he's better at shortstop — but also said he'll play wherever the Red Sox need him that day.

Red Sox drop series opener to Mets

James Darren, ‘Gidget’ teen idol, singer, and director, dies
In his long career, Darren acted, sang, and built up a successful behind-the-scenes career as a television director, helming episodes of such well-known series as “Beverly Hills 90210″ and “Melrose Place.”

Russian leader Putin visits Mongolia, defying an international warrant for his arrest

Russian President Vladimir Putin is visiting Mongolia with no sign that the host country would bow to calls to arrest him on an international warrant for alleged war crimes stemming from the invasion of Ukraine.

11 days, 40+ events: ArrowFest kicks off new beginning for iconic Harvard Square venue
The Oberon’s former home reopens as a new arts hub for local and emerging talent.

Recommended reads

Most jobs don’t have mandatory retirement ages. Maybe more should.

After the June presidential debate, I began to wonder: Do we need to be told when to call it quits?

How much has EV charging improved in New England? We hit the road to find out (and try the best ice cream shops).
The goal was to log a full day on the road in a Tesla Cybertruck and a Rivian SUV — but no road trip is complete without some sugary pit stops.

Trump-RFK Jr. alliance resurrects debate over COVID restrictions, vaccine skepticism in 2024 campaign
With the 2024 presidential election set to be decided by razor-thin margins in a handful of states, Trump and his team are betting that winning over Kennedy supporters could help push them to victory.

RI HEALTHCARE

Why is Lifespan buying hospitals in Massachusetts instead of saving two in Rhode Island?
Roger Williams Medical Center and Our Lady of Fatima Hospital, owned by Prospect Medical Holdings, could close. Here’s why Rhode Island’s largest health care system is looking to Taunton and Fall River instead.

Culture & Lifestyle

Audiences enjoy a performance at the 2023 Live Music on the Lawn concert at Christian Science Plaza.

Free events in Boston this week: Boston Arts Festival returns, free concert, Seaport movie night

What have you been listening to this summer? We want to know.

These are the songs we had on repeat this summer

Tony Shalhoub earlier this year.

Tony Shalhoub’s journey from stage to screen and back again

A sampling of hairstyles that make the cut: From left, Keegan Vieira, 14, and Warren Yuen, 17, shown in Boston, and a blowout with taper by barber Jahsief Tucker at Springfield's Final Touch Barber Shop.

From fades to flows, what are the best hairstyles for guys this fall? We asked the experts: barbers and teenage boys.

Special Projects

Illustration of Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Derrick White along with other NBA greats for the 2024 Finals preview.

Where do the 2023-24 Celtics stand among the greatest teams in NBA history?

Data show that these Celtics are truly extraordinary, a team of uncommon prowess on both ends of the court

Lauren Friel (left) owner of Rebel Rebel, chatted with customers while working at her wine bar in Bow Market in Somerville. The restrictive Boston liquor license system has pushed throngs of innovative chefs to neighborhood towns with laxer laws, including Brookline, Somerville, and Cambridge.

Priced out: How Boston’s broken liquor license system drives chefs from the city

A stubbornly high price tag for serving alcohol hurts thousands of hospitality workers, aspiring restaurateurs, and the city itself.

Interactive map

Pothole season is upon us. See which neighborhoods have the most reports

Boston’s 311 data provides a day-by-day look at the condition of the city’s streets and sidewalks, which neighborhoods are hit hardest, and just how fast repairs are made.

stuart landing page illustration

Nightmare in Mission Hill

The story of how a murder in Mission Hill — the Carol Stuart shooting — terrorized and wounded a community of innocent people.

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Opinion, ideas, and commentary

The author's father, Edward Shanahan, in Detroit, where he was a general assignment reporter at the Free Press, writing feature stories from around the state.

IDEAS | MARK SHANAHAN

Writing my father’s obituary with him revealed a man I never knew

Wind turbines are seen from Interstate-84, July 9, 2023, near Hammett, Idaho.

Dustin Tingley and Ana Martinez

To grow local support, Washington must share renewable energy revenues

The unfinalized purchase of Killington and Pico Mountain, a popular resort in southern Vermont, by a group of local investors marks the beginning of an experiment in independent ownership as more East Coast resorts find themselves reporting back to companies out west.

A lift for New England skiers

The Kancamagus Highway in Lincoln, N.H.

Mary Ann D'Urso

From the Garden State to the Granite State

James Garner in 2009.

(Almost) everything I know about life, I learned from ‘The Rockford Files’

Heather Hopp-Bruce/Globe staff; Adobe

Blueprints for a new downtown Boston

Metro

Globe Spotlight

Inside the secret financial dealings of Steward CEO Ralph de la Torre

A new Spotlight investigation reveals that as Steward Health spiraled toward bankruptcy, the CEO used its bank account as his own.

Trial begins Tuesday for ex-state senator Dean Tran accused of illegally obtaining COVID unemployment benefits

Former state senator and one-time congressional candidate Dean Tran pleaded not guilty last November to 25 counts of wire fraud and three counts of filing false tax returns, according to court records.

Forecast | Ken Mahan

Back-to-school forecast: Feeling like fall with a crisp start to the week, lots of sunshine

An expansive area of high pressure holding cool, dry Canadian air has taken over the Northeast.

Legislative votes and policies would be ‘off-limits’ to auditor even with power to probe Legislature, report says

Under the state Constitution, state Auditor Diana DiZoglio could not investigate legislative votes, debates, committee assignments, and lawmakers’ policy priorities even if voters give her the power to investigate the Legislature, a Tufts University analysis found.

Sports

Safety Dell Pettus has something to shout about after making the Patriots' 53-man roster.

Long shot Dell Pettus counts his blessings after making the Patriots roster as an undrafted rookie

The 23-year-old safety out of Troy impressed his coaches and teammates with his aggression and intelligence, and now it's his mission to stay put.

Rebecca Cheptegei, competes at the Discovery 10km road race in Kapchorwa, Uganda, Jan. 20, 2023.

Just returned from the Olympics, a Ugandan athlete is set on fire by her boyfriend

Rebecca Cheptegei, a distance runner who finished at the 44th position in the 2024 Paris Olympics, was attacked in her house in the western Trans Nzoia County.

When will No. 3 overall draft pick Drake Maye see the field? All we know right now is that he won't start Sunday in Cincinnati.

ben volin | on football

NFL analysts seem to agree: Sitting Drake Maye for now is the right move

The uncertainty around the rest of the Patriots roster is one good reason not to throw the rookie into the fire.

BOSTON COLLEGE 28, FLORIDA STATE 13

Dominating the trenches, BC delivers signature win at Florida State in Bill O’Brien’s debut

mets 4, red sox 1

Defensive shortcomings again on full display as Red Sox drop series opener to Mets

red sox notebook

Danny Jansen yet to provide power lift Red Sox expected when acquiring him from Blue Jays

Business

A decision on a major policy shift on marijuana won’t come until after the presidential election

The US Drug Enforcement Administration last week set a hearing date to take comment on the proposed historic change in federal drug policy for Dec. 2.

Brazil Supreme Court panel unanimously upholds judge’s decision to block X nationwide

X will remain blocked until it complies with the panel's orders and pays outstanding fines that as of last week exceeded $3 million, according to the decision.

Why does Massachusetts still put Social Security numbers on death certificates?

Federal workers around nation’s capital worry over Trump’s plans to send some of them elsewhere

magazine

Beacon Hill Books & Cafe on the left and the Fenway Victory Garden at right.

Best of the Best

We put together a list of the best things to do in Boston. Readers had their own ideas.

From coffee milk to cheese-less pizza, why are Rhode Island’s iconic foods so weird?

The Kancamagus Highway in peak foliage season.

Your guide to navigating the Kancamagus Highway during peak foliage season

STOW, MA - 9/5/2020 - Conrad Gees (cq) with his bag of Akane applesat Honey Pot Hill Orchards, Apple picking . Pick-your-own apple orchards are a great destination for families. during the Pandemic. (Jonathan Wiggs/Globe Staff)

10 of the best orchards for apple picking in New England this fall

metro

Providence police cruiser.

Seven-year-old girl shot in Providence dies of her injuries

‘Heavy fire’ destroys 19th century carriage house in Groton, officials say

One dead, another injured after daylight shooting inside a Dorchester barbershop, officials said

sports

Jessica Pegula waved to the home crowd after beating Diana Shnaider in the fourth round of the US Open in New York.

Jessica Pegula into US Open quarterfinals; faces No. 1 Iga Swiatek in search of first major semifinal

What’s Ceddanne Rafaela’s best position? Wherever Alex Cora needs him, he says.

With Jacoby Brissett starting, what is next for Patriots rookie Drake Maye?

business

One major complaint comes up again and again as internship season draws to a close: There just wasn’t much to do.

These summer interns were ghosted by their bosses

She agreed to a free home security system ‘upgrade’ from ADT. Then the fees started coming in.

AI may not steal many jobs after all. It may just make workers more efficient.

politics

Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump at an event, Aug. 15, 2024, in Bedminster, N.J., left, and Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris at a campaign event in Raleigh, N.C., Aug. 16, 2024.

Follow live presidential campaign updates

A decision on a major policy shift on marijuana won’t come until after the presidential election

The presidential campaigns brace for an intense sprint to Election Day

Nation

Tributes cover the temporary fence around the King Soopers grocery store in which 10 people died in a mass shooting on April 23, 2021, in Boulder, Colo.

Trial expected to focus on shooter’s competency in 2021 Colorado supermarket massacre

James Darren, ‘Gidget’ teen idol, singer, and director, dies

Haley’s voters size up a scrambled presidential race

World

Pope Francis is welcomed by Indonesia's Minister for Religious Affairs Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, center, soon after landing at Jakarta's International airport Soekarno Hatta, on Sept. 3.

Pope opens Asia odyssey with stop in Indonesia to rally Catholics, hail religious freedom tradition

UN nuclear watchdog head is in Ukraine out of renewed concern over Zaporizhzhia power plant safety

Congo says 129 people died during an attempted jailbreak, many of them in a stampede

opinion

Wind turbines are seen from Interstate-84, July 9, 2023, near Hammett, Idaho.

To grow local support, Washington must share renewable energy revenues

Writing my father’s obituary with him revealed a man I never knew

From the Garden State to the Granite State

lifestyle

Audiences enjoy a performance at the 2023 Live Music on the Lawn concert at Christian Science Plaza.

Free events in Boston this week: Boston Arts Festival returns, free concert, Seaport movie night

I cheated. He won’t forgive me.

An interior designer shares her tips for scouring Allston Christmas

food & dining

Your water bottle is probably dirtier than you think.

Is your water bottle making you sick? Probably. Here’s how to fix it.

In Massachusetts, the once-thriving beer biz is losing its fizz

Chip City Cookies comes to Harvard Square and Newbury Street, plus a Greater Boston Food Bank fund-raiser draws big-name chefs

travel

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame is hard to miss in Cleveland — and you shouldn’t miss it.

Checking out one of Cleveland’s greatest hits: The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

Traveling over Labor Day weekend? Have a back-up plan for cancellations and delays, and be patient.

We picked a Florida vacation spot we’d never heard of. Turned out to be the ideal choice.

Arts

Steve Locke, "Emmett Till Memorial Sign with bullet holes," 2018. Alexander Gray Associates, New York.

At Mass MoCA, Steve Locke’s ‘the fire next time’ chills to the bone

New mural in Providence honors lost Chinatown and historic drag queen

If wind could talk: Dorchester artist’s drawing machine sparks conversation about climate change

Books

Garth Greenwell has said that the narrator of “Small Rain” is identical with the narrators of his previous novels.

Garth Greenwell’s ‘Small Rain’ examines life in a state of sickness

Salem Lit Fest, Renee Gladman Symposium, and local NEH grants

In ‘A House Restored,’ Lee McColgan used old tools to revive an ancient colonial home

Movies

Gary Cole and Ron Livingston in "Office Space."

10 movies about work to stream this Labor Day weekend

When the R is optional: Which actors aced the Boston accent? And who failed?

‘Reagan’ the movie: Just say no

Television

Lily Tomlin performing at Netflix Is A Joke Fest in 2022.

A Netflix documentary about being out and about

This week’s TV: Gary Oldman brings big trouble as ‘Slow Horses’ returns for a new season

Tony Shalhoub’s journey from stage to screen and back again

music

Arrow Street Arts founder David Altshuler and Georgia Lyman, whose theater group Liars and Believers is curating the 11-day festival celebrating the launch of the Harvard Square multi-use arts space.

11 days, 40+ events: ArrowFest kicks off new beginning for iconic Harvard Square venue

From Foo Fighters to Beyoncé: These artists have objected to Trump’s use of their music

New England’s jam band legacy is in good hands with Goose

Theater/Dance

Rudy Pankow, as Romeo, and Emilia Suárez, as Juliet, in rehearsal for the ART production of "Romeo and Juliet."

Still star-cross’d

The way Romeo and Juliet move

When masks reveal as well as conceal

Health

Lifespan signed a purchase agreement to take over Morton Hospital in Taunton.

Why is Lifespan buying hospitals in Massachusetts instead of saving two in Rhode Island?

R.I. Life Science Hub still in negotiations to develop lab incubator space: ‘In the business world... things moved a lot faster’

What happens when AI picks your medical coverage

Obituaries

James Darren, left, one of the stars of the film "For Those Who Think Young," chats with Nancy Sinatra, centre, and Claudia Martin about their film debuts, August 13, 1963.

James Darren, ‘Gidget’ teen idol, singer, and director, dies

George Woodwell, influential ecologist on climate change, dies at 95

Linda Deutsch, AP trial writer who had front row to courtroom history, dies