Suzanne Kreiter/Globe Staff

Bus 19

En route to hope on Bus 19

Every day for the last two years, Debra James has ridden this route to her two jobs. She gets only a few hours of sleep each night, but won’t quit or cut back hours.

Bus 19

Hospital housekeeper sets aside her dream

Esther Chase came to America with dreams of a house of her own and a few extra dollars for retirement. At age 62, she is unable to inch closer to her goal.

Gingrich, Perry will not be on Va. ballot

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich’s failure to qualify for Virginia’s Republican primary adds to the challenges faced by the frontrunner in the GOP presidential race.

Peabody firefighter dies in blaze

James Rice, a veteran city firefighter and married father of three young children, died yesterday from injuries sustained while battling a three-alarm house fire.

Fred Field for the Boston Globe

No snow, little go at ski resorts

Ski areas around the region are struggling to open terrain this year as snow drifts down a few inches at a time and above-freezing temperatures limit their ability to make it.

Paul’s foreign policy energizes backers

While many conservatives characterize Ron Paul’s foreign policy stance as extremist, those same views have allowed him to emerge as a real threat to Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney.

“A third of the time, it’s really good skiing at Christmas; a third of the time, it’s marginal at Christmas; and a third of the time, it’s closed.”

Eric Friedman,  spokesman of Mad River Glen

Politics

Political Notebook

Romney says Biden lives in 'fantasy land’

Mitt Romney responded to Vice President Joe Biden’s op-ed, in which he criticized the presidential candidate for trying to assume the role of protector of the middle class.

Nation & World

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Sports

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Bruins 8, Panthers 0

Bruins rout defenseless Panthers

The Bruins caught the Florida Panthers hibernating last night. Actually, the Panthers were in a cryogenic sleep as they slushed around TD Garden during the Bruins’ 8-0 victory.

Arts

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Music

The Mighty Mighty Bosstones can still throw it down

The band released “The Magic of Youth’’ earlier this month and will stage their 14th Hometown Throwdown concerts next week at the House of Blues.

Celtics season preview

NBA preview 2011-12

Boston, MA - 12/21/11 - Preseason - Boston Celtics vs. Toronto Raptors at TD Garden (2nd quarter) Boston Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo (9) and Boston Celtics shooting guard Ray Allen (20). - (Globe Staff Photo / Barry Chin), section: Sports, reporter: Julian Benbow, slug: 22celtics. LOID: 5.0.680622409.

Celtics season tips off with dream of 1 more title

A little late starting this year, the Celtics open their new season on Sunday. Rajon Rondo and the aging Big Three are out to re-create the championship ride they had in 2008.