Menino orders oversight of busing

Outraged over the continued late arrival of Boston public school buses, Mayor Thomas M. Menino ordered a top aide to monitor dispatchers and bus drivers.

Children’s SSI program examined

More than half of the young adults who are part of the children’s Supplemental Security Income program eventually seek benefits from the adult part of the same program.

Rick Perry has unveiled his own flat-tax plan.

Scot Lehigh

Flat-tax fantasies — and the realities

If flat-tax rhetoric sounds too good to be true, it is. Rick Perry’s new plan may sound beguiling, but as policy, the idea is a decided dud.

Oblivious to a damning backdrop, Bill Buckner takes part in a 1986 World Series 25th anniversary event in New York.

Stan Grossfeld/Globe Staff

Bill Buckner at peace with error after 25 years

Time, and a couple of Red Sox championships, have healed the wounds from Buckner’s 1986 World Series error that became an iconic image of the Red Sox’ loss.

Mixed feelings as Hub heroes explore movie on its villain

To many involved in the real-life James “Whitey” Bulger saga, there’s much to celebrate about Ben Affleck and Matt Damon’s plans — yet much to be concerned about, too.

As colleges go global, recruiting goes private

Three University of Massachusetts campuses are using a company called Navitas to recruit foreign students and shepherd them through their first year of college.

Metro

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FOR METRO. Fitchburg, MA 10/27/2011 A pedestrian walks along North St. near Fitchburg State University, as snow starts to gather on parked cars in the early evening in Fitchburg, MA on Thursday, October 27, 2011. (Yoon S. Byun/Globe Staff) Section: METRO Slug: n/a Reporter: n/a LOID: 5.0.426299454

Early snow brushes over Boston area

Snow greeted Boston with a light first fall of the season, but the wintry weather made a much more forceful introduction in central and western parts of the state.

Politics

Political Notebook

Mitt Romney and Rick Perry (right) have gone after each other in this campaign’s Republican presidential debates.

Perry may skip some upcoming debates

Rick Perry may take a pass on some upcoming GOP presidential debates, sidestepping a campaign staple that has raised questions about the Texas governor in his first two months on the national stage.

Nation & World

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Man freed from debris 4 days after Turkey earthquake

Television footage showed a rescue team cheering and clapping as the man, wearing a red sweater and strapped to a stretcher, was carried out of the debris.