Belichick slams accusers, defends team?s success

The Patriots coach used Thursday night?s flap over headsets as a springboard to lash out at recent critical stories about his team.

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2015/09/11/BostonGlobe.com/Sports/Images/Chin100-8008--90x90.jpg Steelers unhappy with Patriots? shift at goal line

The movement caused Pittsburgh to be flagged for a false start at a critical juncture of the game.

Saudi emergency teams stood next to a construction crane after it crashed into the Grand Mosque.

AFP/Getty Images

At least 87 dead in crane collapse at Mecca mosque

The accident happened as pilgrims from around the world converged on the city.

Former Texas Governor Rick Perry.

Rick Perry to drop out of 2016 Republican presidential race

The former Texas governor is the first major candidate of the 2016 campaign to give up on the White House.

Elite Harvard club opens door to female members

The Spee Club, a bastion of old-boy exclusivity that has long been open only to men, has decided to invite women as prospective members.

Wheelock official apologizes for using others? words

A top administrator at Wheelock College apologized for a welcome letter she sent last month that incorporated passages written by others.

Study questions ?broken windows? theory of policing

The ?broken windows? theory posits that low-level crimes create an atmosphere of lawlessness, encouraging more serious crimes.

Ryan and Casey McGowan, pictured at the 9/11 memorial labyrinth at Boston College. Their mother, Stacey Sennas McGowan, was killed during the 9/11 attacks.

Jonathan Wiggs/Globe staff

Thinking of Mom every day, not just Sept. 11

The McGowan sisters never stop thinking of their mother, Stacey Sennas McGowan, who died on 9/11.

Colorado Rockies' players celebrate with the National League Championship Series trophy after winning Game 4 of Major League Baseball's NLCS playoff series against the Arizona Diamondbacks in Denver October 15, 2007. REUTERS/Pool (UNITED STATES)

REUTERS

EVAN HOROWITZ | Quick Study

So you?re telling me there?s a chance? Red Sox hold slim playoff hopes

The odds are extremely slim ? but the 2007 Rockies proved that something like that isn?t impossible.

Ex-Millis police officer Bryan Johnson stood in Wrentham District Court for his arraignment on Friday.

Bail set at $10,000 for Millis officer accused of false report

The officer is accused of firing shots at his own cruiser, but reporting that he was fired upon after crashing into a tree.

Serena Williams reacts after losing a point Roberta Vinci, of Italy, during a semifinal match at the U.S. Open tennis tournament, Friday, Sept. 11, 2015, in New York. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

Serena Williams?s quest for Grand Slam is over

Unseeded Roberta Vinci ended Williams?s run with a three-set victory in the US Open semifinals Friday.

Barbara Donnelly leads her kindergarten class at the Lincoln School in Brookline.

More families with young children staying close to Boston

A growing number of young families choose proximity to city jobs over sprawling lawns and spacious homes.

THOMAS FARRAGHER

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2015/09/01/BostonGlobe.com/ReceivedContent/Images/Dr.JimO_Connell.jpg Boston?s legendary doctor for the homeless marks 30 years

A chorus of city leaders would disagree, but Dr. Jim O?Connell insists he?s no saint.

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2015/09/11/BostonGlobe.com/Politics/Images/c04f6642d66a4f7c8f5bdbf9d45e7883-c04f6642d66a4f7c8f5bdbf9d45e7883-0.jpg With candor and emotion, Biden talks of son?s death

Vice President Joe Biden told Stephen Colbert that he?s overwhelmed at times by Beau?s death and unconvinced he could commit fully to being president.

Kirsten Ulve

Fall Travel

How to have a luxury vacation at the lowest possible price

How to have a high-end vacation at the lowest possible price.

Hearing held over hair evidence in 1985 Springfield rape

George Perrot, who was 17 at the time of the incident, claims the hair found at the scene does not show he is guilty.

Foxborough-12/06/14- High School Superbowls- Xaverian vs Everett-Star of the game, Xaverians players (l to rt) Maxwell Greenberg, Alexandros Papadopoulos and Tyler Cohen celebrate at the end of the game after his team won the Super Bowl. - Boston Globe staff Photo by John Tlumacki(sports)

High school football season opens with powerhouse matchup

No. 2 Xaverian and No. 3 Everett, who met in last season?s Super Bowl, kick off the 2015 season with a rematch Friday night.

Ground Game

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2015/09/11/BostonGlobe.com/Metro/Images/97d29f535cbe4f999be2c5aac9659429-97d29f535cbe4f999be2c5aac9659429-0.jpg Some Democrats question debate schedule

Calls to add additional Democratic presidential debates have gained some traction in the past week.

Opinion & Ideas

Michael A. Cohen

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2015/09/11/BostonGlobe.com/EditorialOpinion/Images/cohen-1302.jpg Mitt Romney, your party needs you!

Compared to the current Republican field, Romney looks like a combination of Reagan, Kennedy, and Obama.

The Big Picture

A student peeks into her classroom as she waits for the first day of school at the Alexander Hamilton School in Glen Rock, N.J. on Sept. 2.

Mitsu Yasukawa/The Record of Bergen County via Associated Press

The Big Picture

Back to school

In a familiar fall ritual, children around the world returned to classes this week.

BetaBoston

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//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2015/09/11/BostonGlobe.com/Business/Images/Amazon-Fresh-Bags-920x526-4677.jpg New Amazon warehouse hints at ?Prime Now? in Boston

The ability to deliver goods to Boston within an hour was the main reason Amazon wanted to lease the space, a real estate broker said.

Crux

ON SPIRITUALITY

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2015/09/10/BostonGlobe.com/National/Images/43e99f9883d14f7dbcccf8d9f72d8f13-d562f35ee7534050a57f8b8f5f448a48-0.jpg Colbert: A cultural ? and Catholic ? superstar

Let?s face it. There are not many cultural superstars who are superstar Catholics, too. But Stephen Colbert is one of them.