Employees at the United States Institute of Peace were terminated for a second time by the Trump administration, after a federal court ruling last month paved the way, according to multiple fired employees.

Massachusetts was battered by a swath of heavy rainstorms this week, with some areas flooded under several inches of water. “This time of year, we get thunderstorms and rain events that produce very localized pockets of heavy rainfall,” said National Weather Service forecaster Hayden Frank.

Dr. Kiame Mahaniah, undersecretary of health in the office since April 2023, will take over as Secretary of Health and Human Services Monday, according to a Friday news release from HHS. He replaces Kate Walsh, a former hospital executive who Governor Maura Healey appointed two and a half years ago.

Videos show emotional scenes as tearful State Department employees emerge to applause from colleagues after being abruptly fired.

Several dozen beaches were closed across Massachusetts on Saturday. There were 42 beaches closed in total, according to the state’s Department of Public Health (DPH).

The Massachusetts Turnpike was closed Friday morning as police and firefighters responded to an electric vehicle on fire just beyond the Prudential Tunnel, State Police said. The car caught on fire on Interstate 90 westbound shortly after 7 a.m., State Police said.

Investigators say the millions in profits from the marijuana sales were used to buy luxury homes, cars, jewelry, and real estate to further the operation.

DNA analysis is considered the gold standard for identifying victims of mass fatalities. But how does it work?