Santorum roars back with wins in 3 states

A resurgent Rick Santorum won election contests in Colorado, Minnesota, and Missouri in a stunning sweep that raised fresh questions about front-runner Mitt Romney.

Obama seeks to defuse contraception rule uproar

Facing vocal opposition from religious leaders, the White House sought to ease objections to a new rule that would require health insurance plans to offer free birth control.

Longfellow loses outbound car lane in new design

As part of a new design, the rebuilt Longfellow Bridge will shrink to a single lane bound for Cambridge, keep two headed for Boston, and gain wider bike lanes and sidewalks.

Senator seeks Chelsea inquiry

Senator Charles Grassley of Iowa is demanding an explanation for why the Chelsea Housing Authority permits managers to live in public housing projects almost rent-free.

Suzanne Kreiter/Globe Staff

Missing: 5.4 million workers from labor force

A record-high number of people have disappeared from the labor force in the past three years, most so discouraged they have given up looking, according to a Northeastern study.

No say for some who would be casinos’ neighbors

The new casino bill gives tremendous power to local residents to decide if a casino will be built in their community, but residents in neighboring towns are not so fortunate.

Kam Man opens new store in South Bay

After a two-year legal battle, Wincent International, which operates the Kam Man Market in Quincy, will open its first Boston location Saturday on the site of a former Super 88.

Celtics 94, Bobcats 84

Pierce points way for Celtics

A 3-pointer with 10:23 left in the third quarter against the Bobcats pushed Paul Pierce 1 point past Hall of Famer Larry Bird for second on the Celtics’ all-time scoring list.

“What else will I do if that resume doesn’t work?’’

Barbara Bobea, laid off from a human resources job two years ago 

Globe Insiders

Globe Talks | Feb. 15, 6 p.m.

http://c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2012/02/01/BostonGlobe.com/Special/Images/greenhouse_movies2_business[1].jpg Talk movies with Ty and Wesley

Join the Boston Globe’s movie critics, Ty Burr and Wesley Morris, for a conversation about this year’s Academy Awards.

Metro

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Residents turn to towns for help battling coyotes

In Brookline, Newton, and Belmont, where coyote sightings have become more frequent, residents are urging town officials to take steps to control the population.

Business

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Fans flock to Schilling’s midnight delivery

More than 250 people waited Monday night for Curt Schilling to autograph their copies of “Kingdoms of Amalur,” the first release from his video game company.

Nation & World

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US to drastically scale back expansive embassy in Iraq

Less than two months after US troops left, the State Department is preparing to slash by as much as half the enormous diplomatic presence it had planned for Iraq.

Sports

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Women's Beanpot

Huskies work OT for all the beans

Northeastern’s captain converted a feed from freshman Kendall Coyne 5:27 into overtime to lift the Huskies past Boston University, 4-3, in the Beanpot championship game.

Food and dining

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02/01/2012 WATERTOWN, MA A chocolate

Art of the Heart: Not just any chocolates

Valentine’s Day is payday for chocolate shops, and since the treats can set you back $30 or more a pound, we decided you need help with the research, and we would oblige.

Opinion

“A newly released report found that a range of insect-eating songbirds can concentrate mercury in their blood at rates that can stunt reproduction.”

Derrick Z. Jackson 

Ideas

“For American enthusiasts of the Kagame regime, the Ingabire case points to a dilemma: Rwanda’s remarkable reconciliation and success have gone hand in hand with severely curtailed freedom of speech.”

Peter Canellos,  on free expression in Rwanda