Patrick targets public housing boards

Governor Deval Patrick will propose replacing 240 public housing authorities with six regional agencies in an effort to eliminate waste and corruption.

At this year’s Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas are appliances that can communicate with each other, such as this LG refrigerator or ADT’s Pulse, which offers smart TV controls.

Photos by Mike Stotts for The Boston Globe

Tech Lab

Smart appliances help run your household

Dozens of companies scrambling to create new kinds of data networks that will link just about every device in our lives.

Hard Rock reportedly in deal on Western Mass. casino

Hard Rock International is expected to pursue casino development rights at the Eastern States Exposition site in West Springfield.

Boston declares a flu emergency

Health care centers in the city will offer free vaccines. A surge in cases has clinic waiting rooms overflowing, and hospitals scrambling to find beds for patients.

Parishioners and visitors at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross can donate with credit cards.

DINA RUDICK/GLOBE STAFF

Parishes offer a collection e-basket

Leaders at the South End’s Cathedral of the Holy Cross have installed a credit card kiosk so parishioners can make donations electronically.

Yvonne Abraham

Taking Mayor William ­Lantigua out with the trash

Lawrence supporters deserve a new mayor who can clean their streets without dragging them through the mud.

G Cover

Why many women delay revealing pregnancies

Many women delay revealing their pregnancy in the workplace as long as possible. Some fear miscarriage, and some worry that their status at work will be diminished.

Dan Shaughnessy

No one elected to Baseball Hall of Fame, for good reason

A lot of the voters believe in withholding immortality for those who tilted the playing field during their years of dominance.

Metro

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Tracy A. Miner could be facing a year in prison.

Defense lawyer in trouble after rowdy teen party

Tracy A. Miner could face criminal charges after hosting what police records describe as an alcohol-fueled New Year’s Eve party for her teenage daughter at their Scituate home.

Nation & World

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Politics

political notebook

Vice President Joe Biden met with victims groups and gun safety organizations in Washington on Wednesday.

Biden says action will be taken on guns

Vice President Joe Biden vowed urgent action against gun violence, pledging steps that he said could ‘‘take thousands of people out of harm’s way.’’

Business

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Joanna Marsden browsed at The Concord Shop on Wednesday. The cookware shop was among those to report disappointing holiday sales.

Holiday sales off target for retailers

Sales at local merchants in November and December grew 2.76 percent compared with the previous year — below the 3.5 percent increase projected.

Arts

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The “1600 Penn” cast includes Jenna Elfman as first lady Emily Gilchrist, Bill Pullman as President Dale Gilchrist, and Martha MacIsaac as daughter Becca.

‘1600 Penn’ mines first family for laughs

The NBC sitcom, which kicks off in its regular time slot Thursday night, does not focus on politics, but rather how public figures struggle with private issues.