Religious exemption to hiring rule urged

Gordon College?s president objects to an order barring federal contractors from discriminating in hiring on the basis of sexual orientation.

Ideas preview

1776: Not just the Revolution

We forget that across a continent, the future United States was being shaped in other ways.

Scrutiny eases on MBTA pensions

The state Legislature abandoned its effort to make the T retirement fund follow disclosure and ethics rules that apply to other pension funds.

Man wounded in drive-by shooting in Cambridge

The man, who had serious injuries, was likely targeted, police said.

Hurricane Arthur could dump 6 inches of rain in Eastern Mass.

The forecasters are warning of tropical storm conditions, with winds of 40 miles per hour or more, on Cape Cod and Nantucket.

Power company trucks traveled along Highway 64 after flooding caused by Hurricane Arthur July 4, 2014 in Nags Head, N.C.

Mark Wilson/Getty Images

Power company trucks traveled along Highway 64 after flooding caused by Hurricane Arthur July 4, 2014 in Nags Head, N.C.

A Military truck drove  in front of a sign advertising jet ski rentals in Nags Head, N.C.

Mark Wilson/Getty Images

A Military truck drove in front of a sign advertising jet ski rentals in Nags Head, N.C.

A television reporter on the scene in Nags Head.

Mark Wilson/Getty Images

A television reporter on the scene in Nags Head.

A beachcomber walks by the Oceanana Fishing Pier in Atlantic Beach, N.C.

Randall Hill/AP

A beachcomber walks by the Oceanana Fishing Pier in Atlantic Beach, N.C.

Vehicles navigated a flooded state highway through Nags Head, N.C., early Friday.

Gerry Broome/Associated Press

Vehicles navigated a flooded state highway through Nags Head, N.C., early Friday.

The storm made landfall late Thursday and had sustained winds of up to 100 mph.

Chris Keane/Reuters

The storm made landfall late Thursday and had sustained winds of up to 100 mph.

Carter Cromley carried the cover for his jet ski that was blown off while Arthur ravaged Nags Head, N.C., early Friday.

Chris Keane/Reuters

Carter Cromley carried the cover for his jet ski that was blown off while Arthur ravaged Nags Head, N.C., early Friday.

A NOAA satellite image taken early Friday showed Hurricane Arthur rolling across the Outer Banks of North Carolina.

NOAA/Associated Press

A NOAA satellite image taken early Friday showed Hurricane Arthur rolling across the Outer Banks of North Carolina.

Arthur moves back toward open water

After hitting the North Carolina coast, the storm weakened to Category 1 Friday morning.

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2014/07/04/BostonGlobe.com/Metro/Images/esplanade18-13316.jpg Storms force early end to Esplanade show

Officials ordered the crowd to evacuate once the fireworks display ended as severe weather arrived.

Fireworks exploded over the Charles River on Thursday night.

Music Review

Boston Pops don?t miss a beat

Thursday night?s performance was just as festive as if it had happened on the correct date.

Capital

Weekly Poll

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2014/05/03/BostonGlobe.com/HealthScience/Images/Lee_marijuana7_met.jpg Half of Mass. voters OK with legalized marijuana

The poll suggests the state could be fertile ground for a ballot campaign to legalize the drug here in 2016.