Day care director pleads not guilty in sex abuse case

Judith Ritacco was arraigned in Brockton District Court on Thursday.

George Rizer for the Boston Globe

Judith Ritacco is accused of failing to act on multiple complaints about accused molester Kyle Loughlin.

Patrick Randall, left, with his attorney Mark Stevens.

Accomplice in killing of Pam Smart?s husband granted parole

Patrick Randall was 16 in May 1990 when he held a knife to Gregory Smart?s throat as Billy Flynn shot him in the head.

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2015/04/09/BostonGlobe.com/Metro/Images/04697088-8287--90x90.jpg Hernandez judge says TV station harassed jurors

A judge barred a WHDH cameraman from the courthouse after he admitted following a bus with jurors on board.

An image of bubble gum on a bullet shell was displayed during the trial.

The strongest cases made for ? and against ? Hernandez

As jurors consider the testimony they heard and the exhibits they saw, here are some of the major factors.

Michael Thomas Slager

S.C. officer had prior excessive force complaint

The officer had used a Taser against another unarmed black man in 2013.

State to hold 5 forums on dropping MCAS exams

The meetings will address whether to replace the exams with a new computer-based assessment system.

Boston Marathon bombing trial

Senator Elizabeth Warren.

REUTERS/Joshua Roberts/Files

Warren opposes death penalty for Tsarnaev

The US senator prefers the convicted Boston Marathon bomber fade into obscurity in prison.

Quincy, MA - 02/17/15 - Crews shovel snow from MBTA Red Line tracks just outside the North Quincy T station Tuesday afternoon, February 17, 2015. Lane Turner/Globe Staff Section: METRO Reporter: typist Slug:

Lane Turner/Globe Staff

Shirley Leung

Winners, losers in Baker?s MBTA report

Governor Baker?s special commission provided a roadmap for how to fix the beleaguered system. Who stands to benefit most?

Close up at the hands of an adult Caucasian man rolling a Marijuana joint. Image stylized with Lomo cross-process (Xpro) aesthetics.; Shutterstock ID 135693599; PO: essay 0412

Perspective

Just say yes (to legalizing recreational marijuana)

Massachusetts can either make it happen now and get the law right, or wait and get it wrong.

Magazine

What it?s like to be poor at an Ivy League school

High-achieving, low-income students, often the first in their families to attend college, struggle to feel they belong on elite campuses.

BetaBoston

Study finds teen social media use varies by gender, economic background

More than 90 percent of teens report going online every day?and of these, nearly one in four say they?re online ?almost constantly.?

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2015/04/09/BostonGlobe.com/Sports/Images/TeamHoyt-6943--90x90.jpg Dick Hoyt to be grand marshal of Boston Marathon

Son Rick will continue to participate in the race, pushed this time by a Team Hoyt member.

Candace Puopolo at Total Performance Sports in Everett.

Liane Brandon

Photographer supports female powerlifters

The photographs capture the physical and mental strength of four women who defy stereotypes with every bench press.

Colin Farrell will star in the upcoming season of ?True Detective.?

HBO releases ?True Detective 2? trailer

Season two features an entirely new cast: Colin Farrell, Vince Vaughn, Rachel McAdams, and Taylor Kitsch.

Review

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2015/04/06/BostonGlobe.com/ReceivedContent/Images/gameofthrones15_06.jpg New season of ?Thrones? promises more bold moves

Watching ?Game of Thrones? is a little like watching today?s combustible world politics in action. But a lot more fun.

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2015/04/09/BostonGlobe.com/Lifestyle/Images/10MFADirector02.jpg MFA names Matthew Teitelbaum its new director

Teitelbaum succeeds Malcolm Rogers, who will retire when Teitelbaum takes over on Aug. 3.

The Big Picture

Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Record-breaking drought in California

Governor Jerry Brown ordered cities and towns to cut water use by 25 percent in an unprecedented mandate.