Black commuters face longer trips to work

White commuters who drive have the shortest trips to work, while black bus riders have the longest, with commutes exceeding 46 minutes each way.

In reversal, Holyoke mayor backs casino plan

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

Christina and Tony Loftis of Wayland are sharing what they have learned about using social media to find runaways.

Suzanne Kreiter / Globe Staff

Runaway’s parents seek to help others

Social media helped a Wayland couple find their 13-year-old, who ran away from home. Now, they hope to help other parents find runaway children.

Burlington firm simplifies global Web commerce

Seven-year-old i-parcel promises Internet merchants a less expensive and more customer-friendly way to move goods around the globe.

Masterpieces on loan leave MFA walls lacking

Eager to raise revenues, the MFA is also renting out many of its most prized works for large, undisclosed fees, frustrating some local supporters.

Lindsay Bogar (left), Rachel Shepard, and Lexi Swartz frolicked in the snow on Loon Mountain on Saturday in Lincoln, N.H.

Will the New England ski season fall short again?

After a few years with sometimes little more than trace amounts of snow, it is hard for skiers to have clear expectations.

Lieutenant Governor Tim Murray

Joan Vennochi

Tim Murray’s delusional ambitions

Fellow Democrats may think of the lieutenant governor as a likeable enough guy. But as a candidate for governor, his delusions are much grander than his prospects for victory.

Kathy Knapp (left) helped Jenna Dupre and Jimmy Craig buy engagement rings at DeScenza Diamonds. Employees have been so busy lately that the family-owned jeweler has started ordering in lunch.

Shoppers showing signs of confidence

Increasingly confident that the economy is on the mend, US consumers are starting to spend more freely again.

Firefighters battled the blaze on Main Street in Leominster.

Firefighters battle six-alarm blaze in Leominster

Firefighters from several nearby towns were called in to help as the fire spread through large sections of a downtown building.

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Craftboston Holiday at the Cyclorama in the Boston Center for the Arts, December 7-9, 2012

Globe exclusives

Joe Mauer and Josh Hamilton for the Boston Red Sox?

Sunday Baseball Notes

Sox should go after Mauer or Hamilton
As part of his “No More Bullies” campaign, ex-Canadien, Bruin, and Ranger Chris Nilan addresses students at Lakeshore Catholic High School in Port Colborne, Ontario.

Chris Nilan didn’t knuckle under
Isabelle Huppert, Kris Kristofferson in “Heaven’s Gate.”

Ty Burr revisits ‘Heaven’s Gate’

How to donate to Globe Santa
Ten-month-old Amara plays at home in Billerica with mom Kate Mazzola and her surrogate, Courtneylee Martinez.

A lasting surrogacy bond
George Wendt and Shelley Long

10 holiday TV movies: the real and the surreal
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

Brutalism, reworked, at UMass Dartmouth

book review

‘Flight Behavior’ by Barbara Kingsolver
Blake Boston became a Web sensation when his photo as a teenager was posted online, followed quickly by ridicule.

The Internet’s Favorite punching bag
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

pop music

Music blogger Ryan Spaulding takes to the airwaves

Evan Theroux, 9, of Smithville, R.I., watched as confetti fell on the crowd at the Macy's tree lighting.

Boston tree lighting gets the holidays started

Sports

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Zoltan Mesko’s focus has been put to the test with so few punting chances thanks to the Patriots’ potent offense.

Patriots punter Zoltan Mesko ready when needed

Mesko’s focus has been put to the test with so few punting chances thanks to the Patriots’ potent offense.

Metro

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A State Police official and his K-9 partner at the explosion site.

Cause of Springfield gas explosion sought

Officials continued to investigate the strip club explosion, and a dancer who worked there said the smell of gas had been in the air for months.

Columnists

49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick stepped in for the concussed Alex Smith and was brilliant.

Christopher L. Gasper

Fact is, injuries can cost you a job in sports

Jeff Jacoby

Warren’s welcome farm-subsidy stance
Lieutenant Governor Tim Murray

Joan Vennochi

Tim Murray’s delusional ambitions

Beverly Beckham

Ken Burns’s Christmas present for all
The Boston Innovation Center, now being built on Northern Avenue, is set to open in the spring. It will be the first structure in Seaport Square.

Innovation Economy

Innovation Center must make effort to energize Seaport

Lawrence Harmon

Kids’ CSI: Evidence of a great idea
The 300-square-feet micro units include just enough space for a kitchenette, bathroom, bed alcove, counter seating, built-in shelving, and bicycle hanger.

Renée Loth

Micro units: Perfect pad, imperfect price

Boston Capital

Reasons to back Amazon deal
Rex Ryan greeted Bill Belichick after the Jets’ loss.

Christopher L. Gasper

Patriots-Jets rivalry is over

Yvonne Abraham

A sweet new business in Dorchester’s Fields Corner

Joan Vennochi

Mitt Romney loses the battle of ideas
An Iron Dome launcher fired an interceptor rocket near the Israeli city of Ashkelon on Monday.

juliette kayyem

Israel’s Iron Dome

Nation & World

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US infrastructure wasn’t built for extreme weather

The nation’s roads, airports, railways, and transit systems are getting hammered by extreme weather.

Politics

Senator Harry Reid of Nevada, the Democratic leader, says he will move on the first day of the 113th Congress to diminish the power of Republicans to obstruct legislation.

As gridlock continues, Senate looks to rules change

The first fight of the next Senate is not likely to be over policy, but rather over how and whether to change the legislative quagmire of the body.

Business

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On the Hot Seat

Roger Dow, chief executive, US Travel Association.

Travel is serious business, trade group says

The Globe recently spoke with Roger Dow, chief executive of the US Travel Association trade group.

Arts

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George Wendt and Shelley Long

10 holiday TV movies: the real and the surreal

Here are 10 holiday movies. Five are fake, five are scheduled between now and Christmas. You decide which ones will actually air.

Books

book review

Waves from Hurricane Sandy lashed the coast in Scituate last month. Half the world lives within 120 miles of the sea,

‘The Human Shore’ by John R. Gillis and ‘Among the Islands’ by Tim Flannery

It is strange to read both of these books in the wake of both Hurricane Sandy and the presidential election.

Travel

Layovers | The city

Dim sum at Lin Heung Tea House.

Making the most of a Hong Kong layover

Sampling Hong Kong’s cuisine and night life over two 10-hour layovers that bookend an Asia trip.

Magazine

The cover for the November 25 2012 issue

One Direction + Drew Brees = A social media goldmine for Pepsi
The cover for the November 18 2012 issue

7 holiday styles that shine
The cover for the November 11 2012 issue

Vacation options for single seniors and gays and lesbians
The cover for the November 4 2012 issue

How to be a New England vegetarian in winter

Opinion

“However obvious the problem to others, [Lieutenant Governor Tim] Murray is unlikely to set aside reason and ambition on his own. He lives in the bubble that insulates Massachusetts Democrats from harsh political outcomes.”

Joan Vennochi 

Ideas

“To its fans in the plastics industry, and there are many, the supermarket shopping bag—or ‘T-shirt bag,’ as it’s known in the business—is a triumph of cost-effective engineering.”

Leon Neyfakh 

“We want a system where nobody’s commute is longer because of the color of their skin. What would it take to create that system?”

Stephanie Pollack,  associate director of Northeastern’s Dukakis Center for Urban and Regional Policy