The face of a system failure

The age listed in the passport was 26. The man who presented the document to security officers at John F. Kennedy International Airport was 40. His face bore only a passing resemblance to the photograph.

Insurer merger abruptly scrubbed

The state’s second- and third-largest health insurers yesterday said they have called off merger talks after deciding that joining forces would be more difficult than anticipated and might not further their goal of improving medical care while reining in costs.

Brown emerging as key Senate player

Candidate Scott Brown campaigned as the potential 41st GOP vote to halt President Obama’s health insurance overhaul. Now, after his first full year as a US senator, Brown is helping the president make the new law more palatable to its critics.

Imperiled state program a lifeline for deaf and blind

Ona Stewart uses her hands to see and hear, and aides say she has a sense of touch so subtle she can read someone’s mood by the tension of their grip.

Commuters fed up with delays in rail service

Nearly 1 in 4 commuter rail trains ran behind schedule last month, new figures show, adding to a winter of persistent delays that have infuriated passengers and sparked demands for immediate improvements in service from an outdated fleet.