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In reversal, Holyoke mayor backs casino plan

Mayor Alex B. Morse now supports building a casino in Holyoke, a sharp reversal from his earlier stance that could shake up competition for the sole casino license in Western Mass.

A State Police officer inspected the rubble after a natural gas explosion leveled Scores Gentleman’s Club and damaged several nearby buildings on Worthington Street in Springfield.

Aram Boghosian for The Boston Globe

Officials investigate Springfield explosion

An area of about five city blocks was cordoned off by police and residents began cleaning up damaged areas following a blast that injured 18 people.

Exclusive Sunday Preview

A sampling of stories from this Sunday's Globe.

 

Joe Mauer and Josh Hamilton for the Boston Red Sox?

AP/Getty Images

Sunday Baseball Notes

Sox should go after Mauer or Hamilton

The Red Sox have signed good complimentary players, but they need to make a splash -- and could do just that by chasing stars Joe Mauer or Josh Hamilton.

book review

‘Flight Behavior’ by Barbara Kingsolver

A tale of inner and outer climates.

At the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, the Paul Rudolph-designed Claire T. Carney Library is a beacon of activity even as work continues on its renovation by Boston architecture firm designLAB.

Robert Campbell

Paul Rudolph’s Brutalism, reworked, at UMass Dartmouth

Student guides giving tours of the campus used to inform visitors that the architect was a Satanist.

After a 2007 Second City performance of “Between Barack and a Hard Place,” the cast posed with (back row, center to right) Michelle Obama and her sister- and brother-in-law, Maya Soetoro-Ng and Konrad Ng.

Critic’s Notebook

In gratitude for Michelle Obama’s applause

If you worry about the vitality and visibility of live performance, Michelle Obama deserves a prominent spot on your list of people to be thankful for.

Sports

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Hector

Boxer ‘Macho’ Camacho dies in Puerto Rico

Former championship boxer Hector ‘‘Macho’’ Camacho died Saturday in Puerto Rico, where he has been hospitalized since he was shot in the face.

Nation & World

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Business

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A group of protesters gathered on Black Friday at a Walmart in Secaucus, N.J.

Protesters take aim at Walmart

Walmart workers and supporters marched in protest at a number of stores nationwide Thursday and Friday, blasting the wages, benefits, and treatment of employees.