Political Notebook

Joe Biden keeps up Democrats’ attack on Romney

The vice president said the Tea Party faction has blocked progress by President Obama.

Drop-off in gifts to Obama in Mass.

By Tracy Jan

The number of supporters contributing the maximum to President Obama’s campaign fund has plunged nearly 50 percent compared with his 2008 run.

How much is a drop of presidential blood worth? An on-line auction site is hoping to find out by selling a vial that it claims was used to draw President Ronald Reagan’s blood while he was recovering from the gunshot wound that nearly killed him in 1981.

Ryan Crocker to step down as Afghanistan ambassador

By Matthew Lee

The unflappable diplomat who became the civilian face of America’s wars in Iraq and Afghanistan is stepping down and retiring from the foreign service.

Mount Everest will be crowded again days after 4 climbers killed

By Binaj Gurubacharya

Days after four people died amid a traffic jam of climbers scrambling to conquer Mount Everest, Nepal officials said a similar rush up the world’s tallest peak will begin soon, and there’s little they can do to control it.

Iran signals openness to nuclear inspections

By Steven Erlanger

The move by Iran heartened the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency but prompted critics to suggest that Iran’s willingness was a bargaining tactic.

Jeff Jacoby

By Jeff Jacoby

For 19 years Israel has clung to a policy of appeasement that has made it seem weak and irresolute, and with each retreat it has lost respect.

Opinion | David Carrasco

The legacy of Carlos Fuentes

By David Carrasco

Carlos Fuentes was a living symbol and widespread communicator of the literary creativity of Latin America.

Scot Lehigh

By Scot Lehigh

A new book concludes that the Republican Party bears most of the responsibility for today’s political dysfunction.

By Lisa Kocian

The Supreme Judicial Court has ruled against the town of Weston in its nine-year-old fight with Regis College, which is seeking zoning protection for a proposed retirement community. Regis wants to build a 362-unit luxury retirement community under the so-called Dover Amendment, which bestows zoning exemptions for educational facilities.

By Jaclyn Reiss

Town Meeting members passed a measure forgiving taxes on a $143 million expansion of TJX’s corporate headquarters in exchange for the company staying in town and adding jobs.

By Andrew Ryan

After two years of decline, Boston’s property tax rolls are growing, driven by new construction and commercial properties previously exempt.

Mass. gets boost from shale boom

By Erin Ailworth

The unlocking of natural gas reserves hundreds of miles away promises to benefit Massachusetts companies and the state economy.

Around the Region

Rhode Island governor Lincoln Chafee said that former Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling’s troubled video game company has been “stonewalling” state officials trying to find out what happened to the company.

After coup, Verastem navigates choppy waters

By Robert Weisman

Verastem is one of the first biotech start-ups in years to take its shares public before its drugs entered clinical trials.

Obituary

Eugene Polley, 96; invented first wireless TV remote

By Carla K. Johnson

Mr. Polley's invention, the first wireless TV remote, began as a luxury, but with the introduction of hundreds of channels and viewing technologies it has become a necessity.

Bob Rittenburg, 78; track star at Boston Latin, Harvard

By Marvin Pave

Mr. Rittenburg, a hall of fame inductee for Boston Latin and the Harvard Varsity Club, died Monday of leukemia in Massachusetts General Hospital.

For Celtics, winning the third quarter is key

By Frank Dell’Apa

In their three victories, the Celtics have outscored the Sixers 82-57 in the third quarter. In their defeats, they’ve been outscored 49-28.

On basketball

Celtics must take 76ers seriously to finish series

By Gary Washburn

Boston has dominated the series, but must prevent Philadelphia’s strong fourth-quarter execution to close it out.

By Joseph White

It sounds as if at least one of the jurors in the perjury case has serious doubts about the credibility of Brian McNamee, the government’s key witness.

Names

Liz Claman comes back to familiar turf

By Mark Shanahan and Meredith Goldstein

The Fox Business Network anchor, who once lived in Boston, had breakfast at Charlie’s Sandwich Shoppe in the South End Tuesday.

Names

Tommy Tune stands tall at the Norties

By Mark Shanahan and Meredith Goldstein

Tommy Tune was the recipient of the 30th anniversary Elliot Norton Awards Lifetime Achievement Award.

Madison’s Fromagination showcases artisanal cheeses

By Cristin Nelson

The Wisconsin state capitol building towers over the narrow little store, where an uproar of the edible variety is taking place.