All of the headlines from today's paper.
Friday, August 15, 2025
Today's Headlines

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Page one

Business

Harvard tries to eliminate discrimination protections for campus unions

Critics say the move is yet another example of the university quietly bending to the Trump administration, before any deals are made. Continue reading →

Business

UMass Memorial Health slashes services as Medicaid cuts loom. It may be a sign of what’s to come in Mass. health care.

The Worcester safety-net hospital has already shut several programs, including two primary care clinics and a substance use treatment center for teens. Continue reading →

Business

Whoop rolled out a tool that measures blood pressure. The FDA wants to regulate it.

The Boston wearables firm says the software tool doesn't meet the definition of a medical device and shouldn't be regulated as such. Continue reading →

Metro

State auditor finds widespread mismanagement at Cannabis Control Commission

An audit of the troubled commission cited a host of regulatory failures, including failure to enforce regulations in a timely manner or maintain adequate internal controls. Continue reading →

Russia

Russia and Ukraine agree: A Trump summit is a big win for Putin

Hardly anyone expects President Trump to make much progress in halting the fighting between Russia and Ukraine at Friday's summit, given how far apart their views of the conflict are. Continue reading →

The Nation

Politics

Bondi names DEA head as D.C.’s ‘emergency police commissioner,’ but capital leaders push back

Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a directive issued Thursday evening that DEA boss Terry Cole will assume “powers and duties vested in the District of Columbia Chief of Police.” Continue reading →

Nation

Florida to open second immigrant detention center

Florida will soon open a second state-run immigration detention center in an empty prison west of Jacksonville, Governor Ron DeSantis announced Thursday, growing the state's contentious effort to crack down on illegal immigration. Continue reading →

Nation

US announces charges against members of Mexico’s United Cartels

Officials described United Cartels, an organization based in the western Mexican state of Michoacán, as one of the “most prolific” methamphetamine producers in the country. Continue reading →

The World

World

Plastic pollution treaty talks in Geneva end without an agreement

Nations were meeting for an 11th day at the United Nations office in Geneva to try to complete a landmark treaty to end the plastic pollution crisis. Continue reading →

World

With arson and land grabs, Israeli settler attacks in West Bank hit record high

They sprayed liquid on several cars, security footage showed, and set the vehicles alight. One sprayed graffiti on a barn wall, tagging the name of a nearby settlement, as well as the Hebrew word for “revenge. Continue reading →

World

Tourist ‘is in trouble’ after stones taken from Pompeii, police say

A Scottish man is under police investigation after visiting the ancient city of Pompeii, in what could be the latest in a long line of examples of tourists behaving badly around Italy's cultural treasures. Continue reading →

Editorial & Opinion

Editorials

Trump-Putin faceoff in Alaska key to a lasting peace in Ukraine

But a bad deal would be worse than no deal at all. Continue reading →

OpEds

Trump deserves the Nobel Peace Prize

He deserved it during his first term. He deserves it even more today. Continue reading →

OpEds

We work at Harvard, and we will not cave to Trump’s demands

Unlike our distant governing boards, we will not give up easily — no matter what kind of deals are signed in our name. Continue reading →

Metro

Metro

State auditor finds widespread mismanagement at Cannabis Control Commission

An audit of the troubled commission cited a host of regulatory failures, including failure to enforce regulations in a timely manner or maintain adequate internal controls. Continue reading →

Crime & Courts

‘No parent should have to go through this.’ Mother of slain UMass student backs Trump’s federal takeover of D.C. police.

"I just stare at his ashes, at his picture ... No parent should have to go through this, or any family," said Tamara Tarpinian-Jachym, whose son was fatally shot in Washington, D.C., in June. Continue reading →

Massachusetts

A legal battle has brought a Cambridge bike and pedestrian path renovation to a halt — for now

A group of neighbors and environmentalists, worried about the project in Linear Park, secured a temporary court order. Continue reading →

Sports

High Schools

Boston Globe sues Sharon schools for documents relating to football program after player’s brain injury last fall

Stories by Globe reporter Bob Hohler found that the injury suffered by 16-year-old Rohan Shukla during a Thanksgiving football game last year perhaps could have been prevented. Continue reading →

Red Sox

Meet the Massachusetts man (and lifelong Red Sox fan) who designs and delivers the team’s beloved T-shirts

From Garrett Crochet’s “Beast” nickname to Romy Gonzalez’s impromptu “Tremendously Locked In” slogan, Paul Procopio has helped them frame the narrative of their season. Continue reading →

Red Sox

Jarren Duran might spend two hours outside Fenway Park after games signing autographs. Here’s why.

His nightly routine has grown in popularity, especially after he shared his struggles with mental health. He's found something powerful in the ritual. Continue reading →

Business

Business

Harvard tries to eliminate discrimination protections for campus unions

Critics say the move is yet another example of the university quietly bending to the Trump administration, before any deals are made. Continue reading →

Business

UMass Memorial Health slashes services as Medicaid cuts loom. It may be a sign of what’s to come in Mass. health care.

The Worcester safety-net hospital has already shut several programs, including two primary care clinics and a substance use treatment center for teens. Continue reading →

Business

Whoop rolled out a tool that measures blood pressure. The FDA wants to regulate it.

The Boston wearables firm says the software tool doesn't meet the definition of a medical device and shouldn't be regulated as such. Continue reading →

Obituaries

Obituaries

David Mazzarella, editor who helped reshape USA Today, dies at 87

Mr. Mazzarella, as the top editor of USA Today in the 1990s, sharpened the colorful broadsheet newspaper's focus on hard news, including the establishment of a unit that produced investigative and enterprise journalism. Continue reading →

Obituaries

Leonard Tow, cable TV magnate and a major philanthropist, dies at 97

When Leonard and Claire Tow were young New York City teachers, they loved the theater but couldn't afford tickets over $20. If a play cost more, they lurked outside and slipped in at intermission to fill empty seats. Continue reading →

Arts & Lifestyle

Parenting

A letter to my oldest son, before he starts high school

Instead of cornering you in the car on the way to basketball, I thought I’d write down my advice. Here goes. Continue reading →

Lifestyle

The nine most annoying people you’ll meet at the beach — and their cabanas, music, and sports equipment

Beach days now come with pricey parking, luxury tents, and a whole lot of attitude. Continue reading →

Movies

With ‘Highest 2 Lowest,’ Spike Lee updates a neo-noir classic

Spike's latest joint is a love letter to three things he adores: New York City, Denzel Washington and director Akira Kurosawa. Continue reading →