First Night in Boston

Jonathan Wiggs/Globe Staff

Participants in the parade on Boylston Street.

Bill Greene/Globe Staff

Boston welcomed the new year with fireworks.

Sean Proctor/Globe Staff

Skyler Larson, 9, of Houlton, Maine, watched the parade.

Jonathan Wiggs/Globe Staff

A performer in the parade.

Jonathan Wiggs/Globe Staff

A First Night procession was on Boylston Street.

Bill Greene/Globe Staff

Fireworks exploded over Boston.

Sean Proctor/Globe Staff

Fireworks were over Boston Common.?

Jonathan Wiggs/Globe Staff

Aislinn Grigas, left, and Victor Grigas took in the sights.

Michael Dwyer/Associated Press

Demonstrators participated in a die-in at Copley Square.

Sheillanme Wambui, a senior at the University of Massachusetts, shouted slogans as Brock Satter held the megaphone for her during the protest.

Sean Proctor/Globe Staff

Sheillanme Wambui shouted slogans as Brock Satter held the megaphone for her during the protest.

Boston police officers lined up on Wednesday during First Night activities.

Sean Proctor/Globe Staff

Boston police officers lined up during First Night activities.

Boston, Massachusetts -- 12/31/2014-- Puppeteers Cooperative member Sara Peattie, 63, of Boston prepares for the First Night Procession in Boston, Massachusetts December 31, 2014. Jessica Rinaldi/Globe Staff Topic: Reporter:

Jessica Rinaldi/Globe Staff

Puppeteers Cooperative member Sara Peattie prepared for the First Night Procession in Boston on Wednesday.

Boston, MA - 12\31\14 - Steve Rose of the Ice Effects company in Rockland works on an ice sculpture on Boston Common in preparation for First Night. Lane Turner/Globe Staff Section: METRO Reporter: in caps Slug:

Lane Turner/Globe Staff

Steve Rose of the Ice Effects company in Rockland worked on an ice sculpture on Boston Common.

Boston, Massachusetts -- 12/30/2014-- Snow glistens as Artist Don Chapelle of Brilliant Ice works on his

Jessica Rinaldi/Globe Staff

Don Chapelle of Brilliant Ice readied his ?Ice Dragon? sculpture in Copley Square on Tuesday for Wednesday?s First Night festivities.

Boston, Massachusetts -- 12/30/2014-- Artist Don Chapelle of Brilliant Ice works on his

Jessica Rinaldi/Globe Staff

Performances, a parade, and fireworks are also part of Boston?s annual celebration.

Boston, Massachusetts -- 12/30/2014-- Artist Don Chapelle of Brilliant Ice works on his

Jessica Rinaldi/Globe Staff

Another look at the ?Ice Dragon? sculpture.

First Night welcomes the new year

Demonstrators at Copley Square did not hinder First Night events, including fireworks, a parade, and other happenings.

Puppeteers Cooperative member Sara Peattie, 63, of Boston prepared for the First Night Procession in Boston.

Guide to First Night Boston events

The city has a number of events planned to usher in the New Year.

Looking back on 2014

devra first

The best and worst from Boston dining in 2014

Take a look back at the tastes, restaurants, and people that made this a year to remember.

Michael Keaton as Riggan in a scene from

Best movies of 2014 dealt with unpleasant people

The movies that seemed to matter most in 2014 concerned characters who are their own worst enemies.

Rabbi Micha?ael Rosenberg led a discussion about the Talmud at a Boston law firm.

Out of synagogue, Jewish teachers reach eager but busy students

Hebrew College?s Downtown Learning program is part of a proliferation of Jewish adult education in Boston.

Leelah Alcorn posted this photo of herself on Tumblr.

Ohio transgender teen?s suicide sparks outcry

?My death needs to mean something,? Leelah Alcorn, 17, wrote in a posthumous posting on the blogging site Tumblr.

An outspoken crowd dominated a state hearing New Year?s Eve on regulating ride-share firms that cab drivers charged hurt their business.

Lane Turner/Globe Staff

Crowd is raucous at ride-share hearing

A packed hearing in Boston turned emotional, with many cab drivers accusing Uber and Lyft of stealing away their business.

Smart phones with the Uber app show the availability of cars in New York.

Uber prices to surge again this New Year?s Eve

The ride-hailing app expects this New Year?s Eve to be its busiest night ever.

Boston--12/31/14 Bruins vs Toronto- Bruins Goalie Tuukka Rask makes a save on a 1st period penalty shot by Toronto's Phil Kessel. Boston Globe staff photo by John Tlumacki(sports)

Maple Leafs 4, Bruins 3

Bruins lose to Maple Leafs in shootout

The Bruins scored three goals in the second period but were stymied the rest of the way.

20 states raising their minimum wage this week

The Mass. rate goes from $8 to $9 an hour, eventually rising to $11 in 2017 ? the highest rate in the nation.

State?s income tax rate declines

The Massachusetts income tax rate dropped from 5.2 percent to 5.15 percent with the new year.

Baker taps developers, insurers to finance inauguration

The bill for the governor-elect?s inaugural bash is now estimated to cost $1.6 million.

Brandeis student stands by comments on slain NY officers

Khadijah Lynch tweeted that she had ?no sympathy? for the officers, but said ?I think all human life is valuable.?

Julio Resto was arraigned in Waltham District Court.

Waltham man accused of killing wife

A seemingly petty squabble set off a chain of events that ended with the suspect pleading to be shot, police said.

Opinion

editorial

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2014/12/31/BostonGlobe.com/EditorialOpinion/Images/03education04.jpg Mayor Walsh plods through year one, but with plenty to show

The coming year will require a more nimble style than Walsh has shown in 2014.

The Big Picture

Associated Press

Daily Life: December 2014

A look at images of day-to-day life in France, China, Cuba, Pakistan, the United States and other countries.