Father of missing boy admits checkered past

Jose Oliver, the father of missing Fitchburg 5-year-old Jeremiah Oliver, insisted he is ready to parent his two other children, who are in state custody.

Celeste Corcoran (left) and her daughter Sydney have been side by side in navigating their recovery from the bombings.

After Marathon attack, Lowell family healing

Celeste and Sydney Corcoran, the mother and daughter nearly killed in the Marathon bombings, end 2013 with a profound gratitude to simply be alive.

Flu now widespread in Mass.

Federal health officials have added Massachusetts to the list of states where the flu is now widespread.

Death toll now stands at 16 in Russian suicide bombing

At least 16 people were killed and scores were wounded Sunday by a suicide bomber at a railway station in southern Russia, officials said.

Danny Amendola celebrated with LeGarrette Blount after Blount scored a touchdown.

Jim Davis/Globe Staff

Danny Amendola celebrated with LeGarrette Blount after Blount scored a touchdown.

LeGarrette Blount beat Jim Leonhard and scored the Patriots' first touchdown of the game.

Steven Senne/AP

Blount beat Jim Leonhard into the end zone.

Stevan Ridley ran against the Bills in the first quarter.

Steven Senne

Stevan Ridley ran against the Bills in the first quarter.

The Bills' Thad Lewis fumbled the ball while being run down by Sealver Siliga.

Jared Wickerham

The Bills' Thad Lewis fumbled the ball while being run down by Sealver Siliga.

Patriots coach Bill Belichick watched the action as rain continued to pour at Gillette Stadium.

Jim Rogash

Patriots coach Bill Belichick watched the action as rain continued to pour at Gillette Stadium.

Ridley was tackled in the first half.

Steven Senne/AP

Ridley was tackled in the first half.

Tom Brady looked for a receiver under pressure from the Bills' Kiko Alonso.

Elise Amendola/AP

Tom Brady looked for a receiver under pressure from the Bills' Kiko Alonso.

Brady (center) instructed teammates during pregame warm-ups.

Elise Amendola/AP

Brady (center) instructed teammates during pregame warm-ups.

The Patriots need to beat the Bills to guarantee a first-round bye in the playoffs.

Jim Rogash/Getty Images

The Patriots need to beat the Bills to guarantee a first-round bye in the playoffs.

Fans were dressed for the weather as they went through security before the game.

Jim Davis/Globe Staff

Fans were dressed for the weather as they went through security before the game.

Patriots vs. Bills | live updates

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2013/12/29/BostonGlobe.com/Sports/Images/b0c41e34ae1e43eeb584d69317564b66-b0c41e34ae1e43eeb584d69317564b66-0.jpg Patriots protect lead into halftime

Stephen Gostkowski delivered another field goal right before the end of the first half to give the Patriots a 13-point lead over the Bills.

Peyton Manning signaled at the line of scrimmage during the first quarter against the Raiders.

Broncos break record for most points in a season

Peyton Manning threw a 63-yard touchdown pass to Demaryius Thomas with in the second quarter to eclipse the Patriots’ single-season mark of 589 set in 2007.

The Steelers’ Lawrence Timmons intercepted a pass by Browns quarterback Jason Campbell in the fourth quarter.

NFL playoffs

Steelers stay alive

The Ravens, the defending Super Bowl champions, and the Dolphins will be at home, and the Steelers could take the final AFC wild-card berth.

Opinion

TOM KEANE

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2013/12/29/BostonGlobe.com/EditorialOpinion/Images/keane1229-930--90x90.jpg Assessing Edward Snowden, six months later

It is worth asking precisely what the NSA leaker has accomplished and whether his critics should reconsider their view.

Sports

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Owner George Preston Marshall (below, middle) in 1932 brought his NFL team to Boston, where it played at Braves Field for a season. He then moved it to Fenway Park, its home from 1933-36, and changed its name to Redskins.

Redskins name debate traces to Boston

The franchise that George Preston Marshall founded here and packed up lock, stock, and logo in December 1936 is embroiled in an increasingly contentious public debate.

Nation & World

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Business

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Product Reviews

Smartphones can simplify everyday tasks like shopping, but they rely on a list of ever-expanding technologies to do that.

What makes a phone smart?

In many families, every member has a cellphone. So it’s wise to do some research before making your cellphone buying decision.