Banks see no big threat in Europe’s woes

Major financial institutions in Mass. are monitoring the spreading debt crisis in Europe and reassuring shareholders that they are well positioned to weather a financial meltdown.

Unaligned N.H. vote a test for Mitt Romney

Two weeks before the New Hampshire primary, the GOP front-runner holds a relatively narrow lead among independents, a critical voting bloc that remains largely undecided.

Somerville Police Sergeant Joe McCain Jr. called his wife after the shootout, asking her to “Go downstairs and tell my mother it wasn’t me” who got shot.

G cover

Two cops, two shootouts, one family

When Police Sergeant Joe McCain Jr. had a wild gunfight on the job, it was eerily reminiscent of one his father survived in 1988.

Globe readers pick top business stories of 2011

With the year almost over, we asked Boston Globe readers to vote on the most important local business stories of 2011. Here are their top choices.

First Night will have plethora of festivities

As many as 1 million revelers are expected on Saturday as First Night Boston gears up for a city-wide celebration with nearly 1,000 artists and 200 exhibitions.

Boston, MA., 12/26/11, Boston's first ice sculpture of the holiday season made its debut at the new England Aquarium and will be up all week until First Night. The sculpture is of the Aquarium's two new adorable sea lion pups, Zoe and Sierra, cq. They both came to Boston this past summer from California after being rescued. The ice scuptor (in white hat) is Don Chapelle, cq. The two pups have the energy of toddlers and entertained the Aquarium visitors. Section: Metro. Suzanne Kreiter/Globe staff

Suzanne Kreiter/Globe Staff

Boston's first ice sculpture of the holiday season was inspired by the Aquarium's two new sea lion pups, Zoe and Sierra.

Boston, MA., 12/26/11, Boston's first ice sculpture of the holiday season made its debut at the new England Aquarium and will be up all week until First Night. The sculpture is of the Aquarium's two new adorable sea lion pups, Zoe and Sierra, cq. They both came to Boston this past summer from California after being rescued. The ice scuptor is Don Chapelle, cq. The pups, like human toddlers, like to play with anything, including ice cubes. Section: Metro. Suzanne Kreiter/Globe staff

Suzanne Kreiter/Globe Staff

The sculpture will be outside the aquarium this week and on First Night.

Boston, MA., 12/26/11, Boston's first ice sculpture of the holiday season made its debut at the new England Aquarium and will be up all week until First Night. The sculpture is of the Aquarium's two new adorable sea lion pups, Zoe and Sierra, cq. They both came to Boston this past summer from California after being rescued. The ice scuptor (in white hat) on left, is Don Chapelle, cq. Sculptor on right is John Hamilton, cq. Section: Metro. Suzanne Kreiter/Globe staff

Suzanne Kreiter/Globe Staff

With highs expected to approach 50 today, ice sculptors will refrain from putting finishing details on most of their works until the end of the week.

Boston, MA 123110 Anita Li (cq), 18, of Newton and a dancer with the Chu Ling Dance Academy of Boston delights the audience with her performance on December 31, 2010 at the Hynes Convention Center as part of the First Night Celebration. (Essdras M Suarez/ Globe Staff)/ Met ONLINE CUTLINE BELOW: Anita Li, 18, of Newton, a dancer with the Chu Ling Dance Academy of Boston, delighted the audience with her performance at the Hynes Convention Center as part of the First Night Celebration. / OUTTAKe 0112 25newyears

Essdras M Suarez/ Globe Staff

First Night will feature nearly 1,000 artists. Last year, a dancer with the Chu Ling Dance Academy of Boston delighted the crowd.

FOR METRO. Boston, MA 12/31/2010 Horns are sold at the Boston Common during First Night in Boston, MA on Friday, December 31, 2010. (Yoon S. Byun/Globe Staff) Section: METRO Slug: n/a Reporter: n/a 30newyearpicks

Yoon S. Byun/Globe Staff

First Night is expected to attract as many as 1 million revelers, lured by the parade, fireworks, and all-ages entertainment.

As much as 30 percent of the customers at Foxwoods Resort Casino in Connecticut come from Massachusetts.

Conn. casinos brace for new rivals in Mass.

The once invincible gambling tandem of Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun — even before the threat of losing customers to Mass. — has struggled with declining revenues and big debts.

Antonio Fernandez is serving life without parole for a slaying he committed when he was a teenager. Six other Massachusetts youths have received the maximum penalty for slayings they committed before they turned 17.

For teens guilty of murder, penalties can vary widely

A review has found no pattern in the prison terms of young killers since the passage of a 1996 Mass. law that requires juvenile ‘‘super predators’’ to be tried in adult court.

“I don’t think we do justice by sentencing someone 16 and under to life without parole, no matter what the circumstances.”

Isaac Borenstein,  a retired Superior Court judge

Inside The Boston Globe

Wegman’s, the Rochester, N.Y., supermarket chain, opened its first store in Massachusetts in what town?

Interactive

Biz Quiz 2011

Jim O’Brien finds calling at Emerson
Among the works in ‘‘The Expressive Voice’’ exhibit is ‘‘Seascape II,’’ by Hyman Bloom.

ART REVIEW

Boston Expressionists get their due
“Ambition’’ by Wale (above) will appeal to fans of “Watch the Throne’’ by Jay-Z and Kanye West.

The kindred spirits of the year’s top album releases
The Todd Webb photos on display include “Mr. Perkins Pierce Arrow, Harlem, N.Y.”

PHOTOGRAPHY REVIEW

Eager exploration of New York and Paris

Singles picking friends over family on holidays
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts President and CEO Andrew Dreyfus, middle, says the insurer will continue attempts to rein in costs.

Health insurers curtail rise in fees

Pet shelters struggle with glut of cats, dogs

To many, Christmas is all about a day off

Sunday Baseball Notes

MLB teams haven’t finished shopping yet

2011: The year in arts

Past made a comeback in 2011
Mitt Romney (with his wife, Ann) has a clear lead over Newt Gingrich, who could find himself eclipsed by Ron Paul, while Jon Huntsman appears to be carving out a niche by appealing to independent voters.

Romney leads, Paul rises in N.H. poll

Columnists

Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo tussled with New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony during yesterday’s loss.

Dan Shaughnessy

Celtics-Knicks was an entertaining package
A soldier carries his bag to begin his trip back to the United States at Camp Virginia, Kuwait, Tuesday.

Juliette Kayyem

War ends, a soldier at a time
Alex Morse.

Joanna Weiss

Hope in Holyoke

Yvonne Abraham

‘Today mommy becomes our real mommy’

Joan Vennochi

Young, hip, educated, and jobless

Bob Ryan

Vince Wilfork, Patriots make quite a recovery
Flanked by House GOP members, John Boehner speaks to the press Tuesday.

opinion

Gridlock, or democracy as intended?

Innovation Economy

A virtual visit from St. Nicholas

LOVE LETTERS

Can these exes be friends?

Jeff Jacoby

The affirmative action myth

Boston Capital

The state’s big Medicare experiment

brian McGrory

Boston Globe readers to the rescue

Metro

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Woburn honors slain police officer

About 100 family members, friends, and colleagues gathered last night to honor Officer John “Jack’’ Maguire, who was killed one year ago by a career criminal.

Business

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In this Nov. 15, 2011 photo, customers enter a Sears store, in Springfield, Ill. Sears Holdings Corp.’s third-quarter loss widened, dragged down by weakness in Canada, declining consumer electronics sales and softer clothing sales at its Kmart stores. (AP Photo/Seth Perlman)

Sears to close up to 120 Kmart, Sears stores

After terrible holiday sales, Sears has announced that it will close underperforming stores. The company did not discuss job cuts or locations for the closures.

Politics

Anti-Romney sentiment boosts Gingrich in key Ohio region

The former House speaker has moved to the top in recent polling in Ohio, just as Republican presidential candidates prepare for the Jan. 3 caucuses in Iowa.

Nation & World

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An undated Allen County (Ind.) Sheriff's Department photo shows Mike Plumadore. Authorities said Monday night, Dec. 26, 2011 that Aliahna Lemmon had been found dead and Plumadore, 39, who was watching Aliahna and her two sisters when she went missing Friday, was being held on a murder charge. He and Aliahna's family lived in the same mobile home park in Fort Wayne. He will be formally charged with murder Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2011. (AP Photo/Allen County (IN) Sheriff's Department)

Police: Babysitter killed 9-year-old Indiana girl

Police in Indiana say a babysitter bludgeoned 9-year-old Aliahna Lemmon to death with a brick then dismembered her with a hacksaw.

Sports

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On Football

Patriots’ offensive changes powered rally

The Dolphins surprised New England with a heavy blitz as they built a 17-0 lead. But Tom Brady spread his receivers wide as the Patriot rallied to a 27-24 win.

Arts

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BOOK REVIEW

Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords with husband Mark Kelly and Vice President Joe Biden (left) in Washington, D.C., in October.

‘A Safeway in Arizona’ by Tom Zoellner

Zoellner’s genre-defying project, which was completed in less than a year, expands the blame in the Arizona shooting spree where Rep. Gabrielle Giffords was shot.

Lifestyle

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Bella English

When our college-age kids head home for the holidays, our hearts fill up while our cupboards empty out.

Home for the holidays

When the college kids flock back to the nest during Christmas break, it’s a big adjustment — for parents.

Magazine

The cover for the December 18 2011 issue

Boston’s best people and ideas of 2011
The cover for the December 11 2011 issue

Letting Ruth go
The cover for the December 4 2011 issue

Game rooms grow up
The cover for the November 27 2011 issue

The 2011 Gift Guide: Beacon Hill

Opinion

“States that build housing grow jobs, while states that don’t build housing don’t grow.”

Paul McMorrow 

Ideas

The practice of sending commercially printed cards soon became wildly popular. It reached the United States in 1875…By 1958, the average US family mailed 100 Christmas cards.

Mark Feeney on the history of Christmas cards