Builders hurry to win city approval

Developers in Boston are lining up to seek key approvals for mega projects before the election of a new mayor, or a blip in the economy, can upend their plans.

Marla Levenson, a military contracting officer, said a 20 percent pay cut has been a struggle.

Jessica Rinaldi for The Globe

Mass. feels pinch on federal workers

Employees are losing as much as 30 percent of their salaries to comply with a law aimed at reducing the federal deficit.

Efforts grow in Mass. to turn food waste into energy

An array of industrial plants from Bourne to Greenfield will convert hundreds of thousands of tons of food waste into energy.

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2013/07/22/BostonGlobe.com/Metro/Images/victims90.jpg Marathon victims get help making homes accessible

The Boston Survivors Accessibility Alliance is a volunteer network offering free home-accessibility modifications for victims.

Hunter Perry gets picked up near his office on Harrison Avenue by Lyft, whose vehicles sport a pink mustache.

Essdras M Suarez/Globe Staff

A post-taxi population opts for ride-sharing

As the cab industry seethes, tech-savvy drivers and passengers are embracing a burgeoning ride-sharing business model.

Engineers involved with the project say that the new State House system, which includes other lightning rods in addition to the pine cone, is essential to protect the building.

State House given protection from lightning

A lightning rod will crown the State House for the first time when capitol refurbishing is completed in the next few weeks.

At Carroll Center for the Blind, students tried a new smartphone.

Software helps the blind see — via smartphones

The Visus Visual Assist System provides visual and audio aids to blind people using the camera and other devices on a cellphone.

Mike Napoli was surrounded by his teammates at home plate after hitting a walkoff home run.

red sox 8, yankees 7 | 11th inning

Mike Napoli’s walkoff blast lifts Red Sox

Napoli’s second home run of the game was a walkoff in the 11th inning that gave the Red Sox an 8-7 win over the Yankees.

Opinion

JOHN E. SUNUNU

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2013/07/22/BostonGlobe.com/EditorialOpinion/Images/jsununu-1545.jpg Surveillance state

The argument that “you only need to worry if you are doing something wrong” takes from us a sense of trust and shared responsibility.