Kraft in discussions to propose casino near Gillette
Patriots owner Robert Kraft is negotiating with Las Vegas mogul Steve Wynn to propose a $1 billion casino near Gillette Stadium.
Unemployment rate falls to 8.6%, lowest since 2009
Small businesses and startups hired in bigger numbers this fall to help drive unemployment down, although 300,000 people also stopped looking for work.
Bobby Valentine’s Red Sox era begins with optimism
Saying he dreamed about the opportunity to manage the Red Sox, Valentine took the reins of a roster he called “a gift” because of its talent level.
Aram Boghosian for The Boston Globe
The 70th annual Christmas tree lighting on the Boston Common kicked off last night with Mayor Thomas M. Menino and Santa.
Aram Boghosian for The Boston Globe
Joey McIntyre of New Kids on the Block was a popular draw for the crowd.
Aram Boghosian for The Boston Globe
Fellow bandmate Jordan Knight, left, joined McIntyre on stage.
Aram Boghosian for The Boston Globe
Despite the chilly night, Ryan Tracey watched the ceremony with his mother, Cathy.
Aram Boghosian for The Boston Globe
Members of the Boston Ballet performed scenes from "The Nutcracker."
Aram Boghosian for The Boston Globe
Musician Grace Kelly played sax for the crowd.
Aram Boghosian for The Boston Globe
The Rockettes wowed the people gathered on the Common.
Aram Boghosian for The Boston Globe
This year's 70th annual lighting was a family affair.
Aram Boghosian for The Boston Globe
The tree was lit for the first time yesterday and will be on the Common for all to enjoy this season.
Brian McGrory
Plenty to crow about
You think your winters are bad, try mine. Try spending the season with a screaming, screeching, white-feathered beast that can’t stand the sight of you.
Gingrich’s surge gives Romney camp pause
Mitt Romney’s strategy of focusing on President Obama rather than his GOP competition has created new problems that threaten his candidacy, analysts said.
“Our suit alleges that the banks have charted a destructive path by cutting corners and rushing to foreclose on homeowners without following the rule of law.”
Attorney General Martha Coakley
Inside The Boston Globe
Columnists
Metro
City puts restriction on use of e-cigarettes
Boston health officials voted to treat electronic cigarettes like tobacco products, banning use of the increasingly popular products in the workplace and restricting their sale to adults.
Business
Bain Capital mulls bid for Yahoo, despite challenges
It may not have the sheen of Facebook or the girth of Google, but Yahoo is still the biggest provider of e-mail services in the US and the most popular source of online news.
Politics
campaign 2012
Huntsman seeks N.H. boost
Jon Huntsman has the resume of a strong candidate, but he has been unable to distinguish himself in a crowded Republican field.
Nation & World
Calm is the unusual order of the day at protests in Greece
As 20,000 Greeks marched yesterday in central Athens against government cutbacks, one key element of most Greek protests was lacking — violence.
Sports
Celtics will patiently fill in roster gaps
The Celtics are already over the salary cap, so Danny Ainge will have to construct this team by doing some bargain shopping to fill the eight roster spots.
Movies
Critic's Notebook
Romanian shorts in ‘Tales From the Golden Age’
Per capita, Romania might be the world’s greatest film industry.
Arts
Photography Review
Uncommon beauty in Janelle Lynch’s ‘Los Jardines de Mexico’
Part of the beauty of the show is how loosely Lynch defines “garden.’’
Opinion
“Ideas are a weakness for him. In private or in public, they shoot from his head by the dozen, as many bad as good.”
John E. Sununu, on Newt Gingrich
Ideas
With quantum computing, today’s researchers are trying to perform a sort of jujitsu.
Joshua Rothman