Jared Skvirsky: December 2013

A fan favorite, he played eight full seasons for Boston earning three All-Star appearances, two World Series rings, a .287 average, and one gold glove."

Vials from recalled lot of HPV vaccine shipped to Mass.

"Massachusetts is among at least 40 states that received vials from a recalled lot of Gardasil vaccine, health officials announced late Friday, but they were unable to say how many health care providers may have received doses from this batch.

The vaccine is given to protect against human papillomavirus, or HPV, which can cause cervical cancer in women."

Target offers store discount, free credit monitoring

"NEW YORK — Target is offering a store discount and free credit monitoring after what’s being called the second-largest credit card breach in U.S. history.

The Minneapolis-based discounter also says it will offer 10 percent off for people who shop Saturday and Sunday. Target says it’s heard of ‘‘very few’’ reports of fraud since thieves stole the credit and debit card information of about 40 million shoppers. But the chain is continuing to reach out to customers.

Some potential fraud victims say they’re having trouble getting in touch with Target through its website and call centers. CEO Gregg Steinhafel apologized today and says the company is working hard to resolve the issues.

Target hasn’t disclosed exactly how the breach occurred but says it has fixed the problem."

Epilepsy drug blocks HIV in lab tests

"NEW YORK — Can an experimental drug developed to treat epilepsy block the AIDS virus? A preliminary lab study suggests it is possible, and researchers are eager to try it in people.

Scientists experimented with the drug after uncovering details of how they believe HIV cripples the immune system to bring on AIDS.

When tested in human tissues in the laboratory, the drug ‘‘works beautifully’’ to prevent HIV from destroying key cells of the immune system, said Dr. Warner Greene of the Gladstone Institutes in San Francisco. Those results appear in a paper by Greene and others published online Thursday by the journal Nature."

Judge overturns Utah’s same-sex marriage ban

"SALT LAKE CITY — A federal judge struck down Utah’s same-sex marriage ban Friday in a decision that marks a drastic shift toward gay marriage in a conservative state where the Mormon church has long been against it.

The decision set off an immediate frenzy as the clerk in the state’s most populous county began issuing marriage licenses to gay couples while state officials took steps to appeal the ruling and halt the process."