US troops to leave Iraq by year’s end
President Obama today declared an end to the Iraq war, announcing that all US troops would be withdrawn from the country by year’s end.
Official: Epstein leaves the Red Sox
jim davis/globe staff
The team confirmed tonight that Theo Epstein has resigned to become the Chicago Cubs’ President of Baseball Operations.
District fire chief acquitted in pension fraud case
A Boston district fire chief was acquitted today of pension fraud in federal court, the second firefighter to be vindicated in the scandal that rocked the department.
exclusive saturday preview | G cover
Getting (even more) ghoulish at Fenway
SpookyWorld, the venerable Halloween theme park, brings its over-the-top scarefest to Fenway Park for the first time with its all-new “Fear at Fenway’’ exhibit.
Yoon S. Byun/Globe Staff
From left to right, Lobo, Kidnapper, and Nightshade the Clown with zombies.
Yoon S. Byun/Globe Staff
Call it “Nightmare on Lansdowne Street 2011: The World Series That Wasn’t.’’
Yoon S. Byun/Globe Staff
The event has been on the drawing board since June.
Yoon S. Byun/Globe Staff
“Fear at Fenway," a scarefest designed and operated by SpookyWorld/Nightmare New England, opened Thursday.
Yoon S. Byun/Globe Staff
Lobo strikes a pose before the Spooky World tour.
Yoon S. Byun/Globe Staff
Scary! A detail of a zombie's bloody hand holding an ax.
Yoon S. Byun/Globe Staff
Some 6,500 visitors per night are expected at the Fenway exhibit over the next two weeks.
exclusive saturday preview | Stage Review
Race, real estate in ‘Clybourne Park’
Now at Trinity Repertory Company is a razor-sharp production of “Clybourne Park,’’ revolving around the racially charged question of who will live in a certain house in a Chicago neighborhood.
Longer school days | Editorial
It’s about the kids, not teachers
Closing the academic achievement gap between urban and suburban students requires a longer school day.
alex beam
Not available on Google
The search engine seems to know almost everything, but it doesn’t know about Seafood Valerie — until now.
“Over the next two months our troops in Iraq, tens of thousands of them, will pack up their gear and board convoys for the journey home.”
President Obama
Inside The Boston Globe
Columnists
Metro
Clergy abuse victims awarded $3 million
A Suffolk Superior Court assessed damages today in favor of two sexual abuse victims after a former priest with Boston-area ties failed to appear in court.
Business
Public market could have local restriction
A public food market in downtown Boston would sell exclusively Massachusetts-based products under a plan being considered by state officials.
Politics
Political Notebook
A confident Romney returns to Iowa
Mitt Romney made a rare jaunt yesterday through parts of the state that delivered a crippling blow to his candidacy in 2008.
Nation & World
Khadafy’s death energizes Syrian, Yemeni protests
Thousands of protesters in Syria — where activists say at least 24 people were killed by security forces — and Yemen poured into the streets today and said their longtime rulers will be the next to fall.
Sports
Kraft talks Belichick, state of team, Red Sox
Patriots’ owner Robert Kraft opened up about the struggle to stay at the top, how long Bill Belichick would remain with the team, and the Red Sox’ recent troubles.
Movies
Movie Review
Finding drama in terms of the deal in ‘Margin Call’
First-time writer-director J.C. Chandor spins drama from invisible money and an assortment of actors attempting to mine theater from banker jargon.
Arts
Music Preview
Butch Walker produces by day, rocks by night
The twists and turns of Butch Walker’s career could fill a book. So he wrote one. The Globe chatted with Walker recently about his new album and memoir.
Opinion
“Washington isn’t shaping history. It is chasing history.”
Andrew J. Bacevich, on changes in the Middle East
Ideas
“A string of new studies suggests that the modern chase after happiness—and even happiness itself—can hurt us. Happy, it turns out, is not always the way you want to be.”
Gareth Cook, on the dark side of happiness