State to probe drunken driving acquittal rates

The state’s highest court opened an inquiry following a Globe Spotlight investigation into high acquittal rates in trials presided over by district court judges.

http://c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2011/10/31/BostonGlobe.com/National/Images/130990086.jpg Herman Cain decries ‘witch hunt’

The GOP presidential candidate said allegations that he sexually harassed women in the 1990s were false.

Critics say voters aren’t happy with Mayor Lisa Wong’s austerity cuts in Fitchburg.

Groundbreaking mayor losing favor

After helping pull Fitchburg from the brink of bankruptcy, Mayor Lisa Wong is being criticized for cutting and saving rather than spending some of that money.

Policing strategy making headway

Shootings and robberies have declined in the Boston hot spots where special police teams have been deployed, but there has been little change in killings and sexual assaults.

Patrick urges patience as crews work to restore power

Governor Patrick said crews were “making progress” on restoring power, but officials warned outages could last until Friday.

In some towns, Halloween is postponed due to storm

Dozens of towns and cities in Massachusetts have postponed trick-or-treating in the storm’s aftermath.

Athol, MA, 10/31/11, The Halloween storm brought down power lines, wreaking havoc. Trick or treating at night was cancelled due to snow conditions, so the town held a snowy day-time trick or treat on Main Street. Two year old Landen Lovely, cq. was too cold to wear his skeleton costume and it wouldn't fit over his snow suit. Section: metro Suzanne Kreiter/Globe staff

Suzanne Kreiter/Globe staff

Two-year-old Landen Lovely went trick-or-treating on Main Street in Athol today. The town canceled nighttime trick-or-treating.

for Metro - 01storm - A lawn sign alerts neighbors that a Halloween Bash is cancelled at a house in Montague Center on Monday, October 31, 2011. Many towns have cancelled trick or treating due to downed trees and power lines. (Matthew Cavanaugh for The Boston Globe)

Matthew Cavanaugh for The Boston Globe

A lawn sign alerted neighbors that a Halloween bash was canceled at a house in Montague Center today.

Athol, MA, 10/31/11, The Halloween storm brought down power lines, wreaking havoc. Trick or treating at night was cancelled due to snow conditions, so the town held a snowy day-time trick or treat on Main Street. Jennifer Coppolino and her daughters Jazmyn, 10 and one year old Jaya, all cq, wait for Jennifer's mother to catch up before going into their powerless home (rear left) to retrieve things for the baby's birthday party. They are told the will not have power until Thursday and are staying with relatives. Section: metro Suzanne Kreiter/Globe staff

Suzanne Kreiter/Globe staff

Jennifer Coppolino and her daughters Jazmyn, 10, and Jaya, 1, were without power due to downed power lines.

Acton, Ma., 10/31/11, Power lines brought low by the storm were toppled by a truck behind the Roach Brothers Supermarket. The live wires caught the asphalt on fire. Firefighters waited for the power company to come turn off the power before they could put out the fire. Section: metro Suzanne Kreiter/Globe staff

Suzanne Kreiter/Globe staff

In Acton, low power lines were toppled by a truck behind a supermarket, and the live wires caught the asphalt on fire.

for Metro - 01storm - A utility crew replaces a broken pole on Cheapside St in Greenfield, MA on Monday, October 31, 2011. Many people in Western Mass are facing the possibility of days without power due to the early winter storm. (Matthew Cavanaugh for The Boston Globe)

Matthew Cavanaugh for The Boston Globe

A utility crew replaced a broken pole in Greenfield today. More than 519,000 homes in the state were without power this morning.

for Metro - 01storm - A sign directs local residents to a Red Cross shelter for storm victims at Turners Falls High School in Turners Falls, MA on Monday, October 31, 2011. Many people in Western Mass are facing the possibility of days without power due to the early winter storm. (Matthew Cavanaugh for The Boston Globe)

Matthew Cavanaugh for The Boston Globe

A sign directed residents to a Red Cross shelter for storm victims at Turners Falls High School today.

for Metro - 01storm - 5 year old Angelica Jennings (R) and her 8 year old sister Harmony play a board game to pass the time at a Red Cross shelter for storm victims at Turners Falls High School in Turners Falls, MA on Monday, October 31, 2011. The girls and their family are staying at the shelter because their Shutesbury home has no power, water or heat. Many people in Western Mass are facing the possibility of days without power due to the early winter storm. (Matthew Cavanaugh for The Boston Globe)

Matthew Cavanaugh for The Boston Globe

Angelica and Harmony Jennings passed the time by playing games at the Turner Falls shelter.

for Metro - 01storm - 84 Year old Beverly Miner of Turners Falls rests on a cot at a Red Cross shelter for storm victims at Turners Falls High School in Turners Falls, MA on Monday, October 31, 2011. Miner has no power or heat at her home. Many people in Western Mass are facing the possibility of days without power due to the early winter storm. (Matthew Cavanaugh for The Boston Globe)

Matthew Cavanaugh for The Boston Globe

Beverly Miner, 84, rested on a cot at the Red Cross shelter at Turners Falls High School.

Athol, MA, 10/31/11, The Halloween storm brought down power lines, wreaking havoc. Trick or treating at night was cancelled due to snow conditions, so the town held a snowy day-time trick or treat on Main Street. Managing snow banks was work and fun for, left to right, Isaac Swan, cq, Xavier Ceja, 4, cq, Owen Chaplin, 4, cq, Kaleb Swan, 2, cq, Zachary Swan, cq., Section: metro Suzanne Kreiter/Globe staff

Suzanne Kreiter/Globe staff

Children went trick-or-treating on Main Street in Athol today.

for Metro - 01storm - A car that hit a fallen tree limb sits in the middle of Montague City Road in Greenfield, MA on Monday, October 31, 2011. Due to all the storm damage, many people in Western Mass are facing the possibility of days without power. (Matthew Cavanaugh for The Boston Globe)

Matthew Cavanaugh for The Boston Globe

A car that hit a fallen tree limb was in the middle of the road in Greenfield today.

Athol, MA, 10/31/11, The Halloween storm brought down power lines, wreaking havoc. Trick or treating at night was cancelled due to snow conditions, so the town held a snowy day-time trick or treat on Main Street. Susan Burns, cq, had a tree fall into her house. This is a view from the attic. See other photo of Susan bundled up with no power in her living room. Section: metro Suzanne Kreiter/Globe staff

Suzanne Kreiter/Globe staff

During the storm, a tree fell into the attic of a home in Athol.

for Metro - 01storm - A sign outside Carmelina's restaurant in Hadley, MA on Monday, October 31, 2011. Many Western Mass residents are without power due to downed trees and power lines from the winter storm. (Matthew Cavanaugh for The Boston Globe)

Matthew Cavanaugh for The Boston Globe

A sign outside Carmelina's restaurant in Hadley tried to entice passersby.

State of fear: Four haunting Mass. tales

It’s the season when the spirits come alive, and Massachusetts abounds in scary tales. Here are four of them.

Roxbury, MA -- 10/28/11 -- Brandy K. Cruthird displays a basket of the healthy alternatives that she is offering kids for Halloween as she stands inside Body by Brandy 4 Kidz, in Roxbury, MA. (Kayana Szymczak for The Boston Globe)

Halloween defies push for healthy habits

Child health advocates are advising parents to restrict their children’s candy intake on Halloween. But local parents seem to have one response: Yeah, right.

Metro

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Robert Kraft

Patriots owner Kraft evasive on casino plans

Robert Kraft was evasive, and a bit cryptic, this afternoon when asked about the potential for a casino on land he owns across from Gillette Stadium in Foxborough.

Business

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Robots as soldier stand-ins

Waltham’s Boston Dynamics has developed a Terminator-like robot that will help the Army test protective clothing.

Nation & World

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Sports

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On Football

Mark Anderson and the Patriots fell to 5-2 after yesterday’s loss.

Humbling by Steelers shows Patriots aren’t NFL elite

The Patriots have won and will win a lot of games, and that is a credit to coach Bill Belichick. But against teams with a certain formula, they can’t compete.

Health and wellness

G force

John McDonough, a professor at the Harvard School of Public Health.

Ensuring health care insurance

John McDonough, a professor at the Harvard School of Public Health, has just published a new book, "Inside National Health Reform."