Gas leaks cost customers $1.5b, study says

Massachusetts consumers have paid for fuel they didn’t receive because utilities aren’t replacing miles of old, leaky pipelines quickly enough.

With only 17 months left in his term, Governor Deval Patrick could be facing some treacherous times.

Pat Greenhouse/Globe Staff

Patrick enters his final stretch

In the next 17 months, critics will label the governor a lame duck, candidates will take aim at his record, and legislators may ignore him.

Walsh tops Boston mayoral candidates in July fund-raising

State Representative Martin J. Walsh of Dorchester collected almost $245,000 last month, with nearly half of it from labor.

Ayr Muir was forthcoming about a salmonella outbreak that closed his Clover Food Lab locations for two weeks.

For Clover CEO, openness is first

Clover Food Lab chief executive Ayr Muir was forthright when a salmonella outbreak was tied to his restaurant chain.

James “Whitey” Bulger team builds its defense

Lawyers for Bulger sought to bolster their claims that the gangster never killed women and was falsely branded an informant.

Defense submits photos of James ‘Whitey’ Bulger

Late Wednesday, lawyers for James “Whitey” Bulger filed a series of photos chronicling his life and will ask the judge to let them present the photos as evidence to jurors.

Tech Lab

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2013/08/01/BostonGlobe.com/Business/Images/Bray_90px-4670.jpg Leap Motion controller is futile gesture

Engineers at Leap Motion, a device that turns gestures into digital commands, have created a solution to a problem that nobody’s got.

President Obama is expected to play a round at Vineyard Golf Club when his family comes to the island for vacation.

Taking a peek at a presidential playground

President Obama made his first visit to Vineyard Golf Club when he was a senator from Illinois, and the club is expecting Obama again later this month when he visits Martha’s Vineyard.

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2013/07/31/BostonGlobe.com/Metro/Images/tlumacki_eyeandearshooting_metro775.jpg Prisoner, sheriff shot at Mass. Eye and Ear

The prisoner remained in critical condition Wednesday night at Massachusetts General Hospital, officials said.

Opinion

NICHOLAS BURNS

John Kerry’s six-month report card

Kerry as secretary of state is reasserting America’s primacy in the two pivotal regions for US security — the Middle East and Asia.

Sports

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red sox 5, mariners 4 (15 innings)

Stephen Drew (center) celebrated with David Ortiz, Shane Victorino, and other teammates after Drew’s 15th-inning single won the game for the Red Sox.

Red Sox win on Drew’s walk-off hit

Stephen Drew came through with a clutch hit in extra innings, scoring Dustin Pedroia and putting the Red Sox back on top of the AL East.

Politics

political notebook

President Obama met with House Democrats on Wednesday, including minority leader Nancy Pelosi (far right) and James Clyburn (far left), as well as with hisparty’s senators, giving a pre-summer break pep-talk.

Obama gives pep-talk to weary Democrats

President Obama sought to calm Democrats as they prepared to head home to face voters, assuring them they are “on the right side of history.”

Business

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