Top Local News Stories Of 2015
Unprecedented Snow
For many New England residents, the story of 2015 can be summed up with four letters: S-N-O-W. The region was blasted with snowstorm after snowstorm, and Boston shattered its all-time snowfall record with a grand total of 110.6 inches. The relentless snow cost the local economy millions of dollars and made getting around the Boston area a nightmare. Read More.
MBTA Winter Failures
The historic winter hit the state's transportation system especially hard. Snow piled up on the tracks, forcing frequent delays and even complete shutdowns of the MBTA's aging rail infrastructure. T General Manager Beverly Scott resigned in February amid intense criticism over the agency's lackluster winter performance. Read More.
Patriots Win 4th Super Bowl
After coming up short in their last two Super Bowl appearances, some Patriots fans wondered if Tom Brady and Bill Belichick would ever hoist the Lombardi trophy again. But after a shaky start to the 2014-15 season, Brady and a revamped defense led the team to Glendale, Arizona for Super Bowl XLIX. The Patriots came from behind to win a classic against the Seahawks, and the team once again celebrated with a rolling duck boat rally through Boston's snowy streets. Read More.
DeflateGate
Unfortunately for Patriots fans, the Super Bowl win was not without controversy. New England was accused of playing with underinflated footballs by the Indianapolis Colts following the AFC Championship game, and the ensuing NFL investigation found that Brady was "generally aware" that balls were being deflated. Brady was suspended by Roger Goodell for four games, but the suspension was overturned by a federal judge in a decision that the NFL continues to appeal. Read More.
Olympic Bid Dropped
Boston began the year as the U.S. Olympic Committee's pick to host the 2024 Summer Olympics, with organizers promising that hosting the games would bring long-term benefits to the city. But mere months later, Olympic dreams were dashed. Boston's bid was dropped amid shaky public support and concerns about leaving taxpayers on the hook for cost overruns. Read More.
Opioid Crisis
It was estimated that more than 1,250 Massachusetts residents died from opioid overdoses in 2014, and the crisis showed few signs of slowing down in 2015. More police and fire departments have started carrying the opioid antidote Narcan, and Gov. Charlie Baker called for limits on prescription painkillers that he said can lead to addiction to opioids, including heroin. Read More.
Tsarnaev Death Sentence
Two years after the Boston Marathon bombings that killed three people and injured more than 260, the surviving bomber was brought to justice. Survivors, family members of the deceased and law enforcement testified about the carnage near the finish line and the manhunt that followed. After an emotional trial, jurors unanimously sentenced Dzhokhar Tsarnaev to death, and he was moved to a maximum security prison in Colorado. Read More.
Baby Doe
The mystery of Baby Doe broke hearts in Massachusetts and nationwide – how could no one know the identity of the little girl found dead in a garbage bag on Deer Island? A composite image of the girl was viewed millions of times online, and nearly three months later she was identified as Bella Bond, of Dorchester. Bond's mother and her mother's boyfriend were arrested and the case kept a harsh spotlight on the state's beleaguered Department of Children & Families. Read More.
Aaron Hernandez Found Guilty
Once a star tight end for the Patriots, Aaron Hernandez was found guilty of first-degree murder in the 2013 killing of Odin Lloyd and sentenced to life in prison. The legal troubles for Hernandez are far from over, as he's still charged with a 2012 double murder in Boston. Read More.
Nearly Frozen Waves
Over three million people visited CBSBoston.com to see one of the most amazing sights produced by the historic winter. The nearly frozen waves were captured by a photographer on a Nantucket beach. The slush-like consistency was the result of so much ice building up in the ocean. Read More.
Broken Bat Almost Kills Fenway Fan
A Red Sox fan suffered life-threatening injuries when a shattered bat hit her in the face at Fenway Park. That incident and other fan injuries at ballparks from batted balls and broken bats led to Major League Baseball encouraging all teams to add more protective netting to keep spectators safe. Read More.
Protesters Shut Down I-93
Chaining themselves to cement barrels and locking arms inside plastic tubing, protesters shut down parts of I-93 in Milton and Medford during one January morning rush hour. The activists chanted "Black Lives Matter" and would face charges of disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. Besides being a major headache for commuters, authorities said the protests diverted an ambulance and put lives at risk. Read More.