Robert DeLeo in glare at hiring trial

Prosecutors sought to show that the House speaker granted Probation Department officials favors in exchange for jobs for friends.

Yvonne Abraham

Facts get muddy at Probation trial

A couple of days in Courtroom 18 at the Moakley Courthouse leaves one with an overwhelming urge to shower.

Mass. House acts to beef up gun rules

The wide-ranging legislation is aimed at tightening state gun laws, already considered among the strictest in the nation.

Tech Lab

Paying the price for free software

For unwary users, a lot of free software can end up costing quite a bit more than they?d expect.

Police officers and SWAT members surrounded an area in Spring, Texas, on Wednesday, following the report of a shooting there.

Police say father killed 4 children, 2 other adults

The man also critically wounded his 15-year-old daughter, authorities said.

Deer?s incursion reflects wide intersection of species

The animal found its way into a Weymouth liquor store, causing an estimated $3,000 in damage.

Julie Smith of Milton, with granddaughter Juliana, uses Walpole?s Walmart for daily financial needs.

Pat Greenhouse/Globe Staff

More relying on Walmart for financial services

The behomoth chain is now the state?s dominant check-cashing operation.

Victor Rosario in 2010.

1983 murder verdicts overturned

A judge ruled that new evidence ?cast real doubt on the justice of the conviction? of a Lowell man in a fire that killed eight people.

Gordon College has come under fire because of its opposition to expected federal hiring protection for gays and lesbians.

Salem ends Gordon College?s use of hall, citing discrimination

Officials said they made the move because of the school?s opposition to federal hiring protections for gays and lesbians.

The Red Sox designated A.J. Pierzynski for assignment Wednesday, calling up Triple A catcher Christian Vazquez (above) to fill his spot on the roster.

CHRISTOPHER L. GASPER

Red Sox should look to 2015

It?s time to bring on the kids like Christian Vazquez, Anthony Ranaudo, and Deven Marrero.

video

We Like to Watch: Emmy nominations

Matthew Gilbert and Sarah Rodman talk about what shows and actors should be nominated for an Emmy Award. Nominations will be released later today.

BetaBoston

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2014/07/09/BostonGlobe.com/Business/Images/wheel.jpg Re-inventing the wheel: Why not? Many do

The Australian patent office has ? quietly ? revoked a patent it granted, in the year 2001, for the wheel.