Mass. voters divided on Romney presidency

Massachusetts residents woke up to a startling realization yesterday: By the end of this new year, their former governor could be the president-elect.

With one day to go until the Iowa caucuses, Mitt Romney campaigned at the Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds in Davenport, Iowa.

AP

With one day to go until the Iowa caucuses, Mitt Romney campaigned at the Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds in Davenport, Iowa.

Ron Paul has been running nearly even with Romney in Iowa. He spoke with voters today in Des Moines.

AP

Ron Paul has been running nearly even with Romney in Iowa. He spoke with voters today in Des Moines.

A surging Rick Santorum greeted supporters during a campaign stop at the Rising Sun Cafe in Polk City, Iowa.

AP

A surging Rick Santorum greeted supporters during a campaign stop at the Rising Sun Cafe in Polk City, Iowa.

Newt Gingrich and his wife Callista met with Iowans in Independence. Gingrich has seen his support fall after topping polls just weeks ago.

AP

Newt Gingrich and his wife Callista met with Iowans in Independence. Gingrich has seen his support fall after topping polls just weeks ago.

Michele Bachmann, an early favorite in Iowa, has seen her support drop. She attended services in Oskaloosa on Sunday.

AP

Michele Bachmann, an early favorite in Iowa, has seen her support drop. She attended services in Oskaloosa on Sunday.

Rick Perry, hoping for support from evangelical voters, met with people before a church service in West Des Moines on Sunday.

AP

Rick Perry, hoping for support from evangelical voters, met with people before a church service in West Des Moines on Sunday.

Jon Huntsman has focused on winning the New Hampshire primary, skipping Iowa entirely. On Sunday, he spoke with voters in Derry, N.H.

AP

Jon Huntsman has focused on winning the New Hampshire primary, skipping Iowa entirely. On Sunday, he spoke with voters in Derry, N.H.

Mitt Romney addresses supporters during a campaign rally at the Weber Paper Company in Dubuque, Iowa, one day before the state’s first-in-the-nation cauceses.

Campaign 2012 | Iowa caucuses

On eve of Iowa, Romney peaking

Mitt Romney rallied supporters in Iowa today, as polls across the state showed him poised for a victory that seemed uncertain just weeks ago.

John E. Sununu | The Iowa caucuses

Primaries may be messy, but they make candidates stronger

The caucus is an unusual system and rarely reflects the broader Republican consensus, but it remains far better than the alternatives.

Mass. braces for winter freeze

Arctic air is expected to blanket the region starting tonight, with temperatures expected to drop to as low as 5 degrees below zero in some areas.

The area behind NewStreet at the corner of Sumner Street, with an expansive view of Boston Harbor, is the site of a proposed NewStreet project in East Boston.

Menino called key to East Boston hopes

If anyone can spur real growth along a section studded with crumbling piers and faded promises, many believe, it is Mayor Thomas M. Menino.

Billy St. Croix says his family was shattered by his father, Stephen ‘‘The Rifleman’’ Flemmi, and James ‘‘Whitey’’ Bulger.

Flemmi son says gangster’s kin also victims

Breaking his silence, Billy St. Croix says his family was shattered by his father, Stephen ‘‘The Rifleman’’ Flemmi, and James ‘‘Whitey’’ Bulger.

STAGE REVIEW

Making room for this ‘Uncle Vanya’

The Craig Lucas adaptation of ‘‘Uncle Vanya’’ at Chelsea Theatre Works is both sunny and stormy, and has an imaginative concept.

“The people who cut me out are leftists who have nothing to do with economics . . . It’s almost like the Spanish Inquisition — they didn’t give me a chance.”

Subramanian Swamy, on his dismissal from Harvard by fellow professors 

Metro

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BOSTON, MA 01/02/2012 : The 2012 Boston City Council at Boston City Hall, new president Stephen J. Murphy all smiles as he shakes hands with Salvatore LaMattina and other city council members for his election. ( David L Ryan / Globe Staff Photo ) SECTION: METRO TOPIC :03council REPORTER

Boston City Council to study gambling

Boston City Council President Stephen J. Murphy today appointed a councilor who wants a casino built at Suffolk Downs to lead a new committee to study gambling.

Nation & World

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Los Angeles Fire Department firefighters assist a man out of his apartment along with a cage of birds as multiple cars burn in a carport in the Sun Valley neighborhood of Los Angeles on Saturday, Dec. 31, 2011.

Los Angeles police question person of interest about arsons

A ‘‘person of interest’’ was taken into custody for questioning in connection with the dozens of suspicious car fires that have hit Los Angeles city since last week.

Sports

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Patriots 49, Bills 21

Patriots Antwaun Molden, Devin McCourty, and Patrick Chung appeared to walk on air following McCourty’s interception against the Bills in the regular-season finale yesterday at Gillette Stadium.

Patriots earn top seed in AFC

New England locked up home field advantage in the AFC playoffs by virtue of its 49-21 win against Buffalo, though once again it took a come-from-behind effort.

Health and wellness

G Force

Mindful of ways to get healthy

Jon Kabat-Zinn is a professor emeritus at the University of Massachusetts Medical School and founding director of its Stress Reduction Clinic.

Arts

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MUSIC REVIEW

Styles P turns on the chaos

Styles P's show at Showcase Live was perpetually chaotic, perplexingly unpredictable, briefly violent, altogether unhinged, and still somehow genuinely fun.