Reprieves give immigrants cautious hope

A new training program for federal immigration agents will help them use prosecutorial discretion to halt deportations of low-priority cases and focus on serious cases quickly.

Tentative deal may end NBA lockout

NBA owners and players reached a deal early this morning and will return to work later today to move the process forward. Terms of the deal have yet to be announced.

Celtics face short turnaround on roster decisions

The Celtics have 31 days before their opener Dec. 25 on the road against the Knicks and have only nine players under contract.

Obama backs civilians in Egypt

President Obama called on the Egyptian military to quickly hand over power to a civilian, democratically elected government.

Floating algae on the surface of West Falmouth Harbor and other waterways depletes oxygen and kills the sea life below.

Milt Williamson/2008

Pollution in Cape Cod waters sparks debate

The remnants of sewage from septic tanks are seeping into the groundwater and polluting estuaries, bays, and other bodies of water.

No stopping this chain reaction

It’s a Black Friday ritual: teams come together to build and tweak elaborate Rube Goldberg machines, hooking them up in one long chain reaction at the MIT Museum.

Romney’s Medicare plan short on details

Mitt Romney’s partial privatization plan to rein in federal Medicare spending is being considered bold but vague on politically sensitive points.

Metro

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New data on cod could have dire impact on industry

Preliminary data suggest the valuable species is in dismal shape and won’t rebuild in the time set by federal law, which could mean a broad fishery shutdown to protect the cod.

Politics

Biden to target 3 battleground states in ’12 campaign

Democrats are planning for Vice President Joe Biden to target Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Florida, where he might be more of an asset to President Obama’s reelection than the president himself.

Sports

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The Red Wings’ Todd Bertuzzi took the slow approach and slipped one past Bruins goaltender Tuukka Rask for the clinching goal in yesterday’s shootout.

Bruins see winning streak end

The Bruins played the puck-possession game that Detroit usually masters, but utlimately ended up on the wrong end of a 3-2 shootout loss.

Arts

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PHOTOGRAPHY REVIEW

Madeleine de Sinéty’s fine focus

“Madeleine de Sinéty: Photographs’’ consists of 71 black and white photographs, three countries, several ways of life, and (most important) a single sensibility.

Special reports

Special Section

Director Caitlin Lowans (center, in black) directs a theatrical adaptation of “The Nutcracker” at the Stoneham Theater.

Holiday Arts Preview

Our critics give their top picks for what to see and experience this holiday season in the worlds of theater, dance, movies, DVDs, classical music, and pop music. This is your guide to holiday season entertainment.