Clear, chilly morning gives way to a sunny, breezy Thursday; highs reach the mid-50s. Light showers are possible late Friday, with a warm surge early next week.

A Dublin contractor was sentenced to 56 months after prosecutors say he bilked New England homeowners of more than $1.5M, including an elderly West Roxbury widow.

Southbridge police arrested a 39‑year‑old woman who they say drove at a fleeing teen on March 24; she faces multiple charges including an assault‑to‑kill allegation.

A person was taken to an area hospital after shots were fired on the 200 block of Blue Hill Avenue in Roxbury; police say detectives are investigating and seeking tips.

An explosion at the Aspen Aerogels plant in East Providence sent 13 people to hospital and prompted a mass‑casualty response; investigators say injuries were not life‑threatening.

A water main break near the Boston Public Garden carved a sinkhole on Park Plaza, buckling the roadway and closing nearby streets.

Liberty Mutual Foundation unveiled a $600 million endowment to steady and expand grants, focusing on housing, workforce and climate resiliency in Boston.

A second-grader allegedly showed a gun at Mark G. Hoyle Elementary; Swansea police seized five unregistered firearms from a Market Street home and charged two residents.

Veggie Galaxy in Central Square was crowned VegNews' Best Vegan-Friendly Restaurant, praised for a menu that can be made fully vegan and a 100% vegan bakery.

Life Biosciences closed an $80M Series D to fund a first-in-human ER-100 trial and expand its partial epigenetic reprogramming pipeline.

A Mount Pleasant master plan would replace Leicester Country Club with nearly 300 homes and retail in a later phase, according to town filings and project maps.

A Boston woman plans to buy a new car after taking the $650,000 cash payout from a $1 million scratch‑ticket win at a Stop & Shop in Braintree.

Weymouth police are asking for help after two dogs were found dead near Whitman’s Pond and the Lakeshore Road area. Animal Control is seeking tips and owner information.