Red-state Democrats may defect on budget plan

By Kathleen Hunter

Senate Democrats may have to contend with wariness from seven members who face reelection in states Mitt Romney won.

A federal judge ruled Monday against churches who had sued to keep the tradition alive amidst a takeover by atheists.

At least four petroglyphs — some 2 feet wide and located 15 feet above the ground — were hacked from lava cliffs in the Eastern Sierra.

Hamas chief scoffs at Israel’s ground invasion threat

By Alan Cowell and Fares Akram

Hamas dared Israel to invade as the Israeli military countered Gazan rockets with a new wave of deadly airstrikes.

Rebels believed to be backed by Rwanda fired mortars and machine guns Monday, threatening to capture one of the largest cities in eastern Congo.

Colombian rebels announce cease-fire

Ivan Marquez said the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia would stop all military operations against government and private property until Jan. 20.

Farah Stockman

Baby, please don’t go

By Farah Stockman

Talk of secession could be a sign of irreconcilable differences in our relationship to the federal government.

Joanna Weiss

Organizing a real Dumbledore’s Army

By Joanna Weiss

Fans of the Harry Potter novels are finding they can channel that enthusiasm into addressing problems in the real world.

Paul McMorrow

By Paul McMorrow

The approach most cities and towns in Mass. have taken toward building housing chases young, talented workers out of the state.

By Beth Daley

A new study underscores the explosion risk and environmental damage from aging infrastructure under city sidewalks and streets.

Hospital room is now Mayor Menino’s office

By Andrew Ryan

For the past 25 days, the mayor has been working from Brigham and Women’s Hospital, where he is being treated for a ­variety of ailments.

Mass. seeks new policy on life sentences

By Maggie Mulvihill

The state has to be brought into compliance with new federal law outlawing mandatory juvenile life without parole for murder.

Kremlin critics ask West to stop ads on biased TV

By Mansur Mirovalev

Russian opposition and human rights groups urged Western consumer products giants to stop advertising on a Kremlin-friendly TV network.

By Jenifer B. McKim

Nearly 4,000 Mass. borrowers have received some kind of housing-debt relief this year as part of a national mortgage settlement involving five major lenders.

NYC jumps ahead of Boston in tech start-ups

By Michael B. Farrell

New York ranked fourth, ahead of Boston, in a new study rating regions around the world based on the amount of start-up activity this year.

Seth P. Tillman, 82, key Fulbright foreign policy aide

By Emily Langer

Mr. Tillman helped shape late Senator J. William Fulbright’s powerfully influential opposition to the Vietnam War.

Thomas W. Wolfe, 93, former Treasury official

By Neil Irwin

Wolfe, a Treasury Department official, managed the United States’ move off the gold standard and its economic consequences.

With his wife Barbara, he formed The Prophets and recorded “I Got the Fever.” Other hits included ­‘‘California’’ and ‘‘Seaside Love’’ as the Georgia Prophets.

What happens now with Rob Gronkowski out?

By Shalise Manza Young

Aaron Hernandez and Visanthe Shiancoe may attempt to fill in, but the truth is likely that no one can replace Gronkowski’s production.

Dan Shaughnessy

Why are Patriots mum on Gronkowski injury?

By Dan Shaughnessy

It’s not like the Jets are game-planning for the tight end to play on Thursday night, so why do fans accept Bill Belichick’s refusal to discuss issues like this?

‘Great’ Red Sox team is planned, but for when?

By Peter Abraham

“We hope it’s 2013,” GM Ben Cherington said of his plans for a Red Sox revival. But rebuilding this team could take longer.

G Cover

Taking a break from beauty

By Linda Matchan

Phoebe Baker Hyde spent a year away from makeup and fashion and came away with a book — and a better sense of herself.

Tips on how to keep from stressing about beauty

By Linda Matchan

Author Phoebe Baker Hyde shares a few lessons she learned from her year of forgoing the glam.

Television review

‘American Masters’ profiles mogul David Geffen

By Matthew Gilbert

“Inventing David Geffen,” a new installment of the PBS series, is an effort to show how influential Geffen’s ability to recognize talent has been.