Romney, Gingrich rift has old roots
The divide between Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich began during Romney’s unsuccessful 1994 bid for a US Senate seat, when he labeled Newt Gingrich’s Contract with America “a mistake.’’
Gambling chairman’s approach called fair-minded
Stephen Crosby’s colleagues say his analytical, open-minded approach toward gambling will be sharply tested in his new job as head of the state’s powerful gambling board.
Rabbi expected to plead guilty to sex abuse
Rabbi Stanley Z. Levitt, a former religious studies teacher at the Maimonides School in Brookline, is expected to plead guilty to molesting three sixth graders during the 1970s.
In weak economy, buying coffee is a small reward
An informal survey, polling commuters around Greater Boston, suggests that coffee drinkers are unwilling to starve the habit that gets them going.
Bill Greene/Globe Staff
Business is booming at luxury retailers
Even as unemployment remains high and job growth is anemic, luxury spending is up, with some retailers reporting business at prerecession levels.
More people giving used items as gifts
A survey of resale stores showed a one-third jump in gift purchases last year, and stores are projecting that the rise in sales will nearly double this holiday season.
Brian McGrory
One great gift idea
Every year, Christmas in the City gathers together homeless children for a party they will never forget. This year, the group is short of presents and is appealing for help.
Lindt launches high-tech chocolate bear
The star of the Swiss chocolatier’s holiday collection has a premium milk chocolate figure, a fancy gold foil wrapper, a red ribbon necklace, and yes, its own iPhone app.
“Why? Shouldn’t the gift be more about quality, emotional attachment, something from the heart?”
Amy Bucher, 32, on buying gifts at resale stores
Inside The Boston Globe
Columnists
Metro
Salvation Army kettle donations down 22%
The Massachusetts division of The Salvation Army has collected less than $1.2 million, well short of the $3.4 million it collected in 2010.
Business
Celtics ad campaign aims to recharge fans
The Celtics have unveiled a new, multimedia ad campaign that the team hopes will win back frustrated fans who may have lost interest after a long labor dispute delayed the NBA season.
Politics
Advisers say drawn-out GOP fight benefits Obama
Advisers outlining the president’s 2012 strategy said they believed the Republican primary process will push the party’s candidate too far out of the mainstream to win.
Nation & World
US panel urges a ban on cellphones for all drivers
A federal agency yesterday called for a ban on all cellphone use by drivers — the most far-reaching such recommendation to date.
Sports
Bruins 3, Kings 0
Tuukka Rask, Bruins blank Kings
Brad Marchand scored two goals and Tuukka Rask turned back 41 shots, including 20 in the third period, for his first shutout of the season.
Food and dining
CHEAP EATS
Come for groceries and stay for dinner
A review of four supermarket dining areas (reviews go with cover story on supermarket restaurants): H Mart, Shaw’s at the Pru, Whole Foods Dedham, Wegmans.
Arts
STAGE REVIEW
‘Priscilla Dreams the Answer’ has a quirky heart
In Walt McGough’s new comedy, two aliens drop in on our beleaguered heroine and offer her the chance to save life as we know it.
Fall All-Scholastics
All-Scholastics
Fall All-Scholastics: Honoring the area’s best
A Boston Globe tradition continues as we toast local athletes from Barnstable to Georgetown for their achievements this fall.
Opinion
“It is promising that the black graduation rate at UMass has risen from 41 percent three years ago. Let’s see what happens in the MAC.”
Derrick Z. Jackson
Ideas
The ability to coordinate among the different senses seems to be something the brain learns; we’re not born being able to do it.
Courtney Humphries