Hagel has necessary votes to become defense chief

By Donna Cassata

Barring any new, damaging information, Chuck Hagel has secured the necessary votes for the Senate to confirm him.

By Russ Bynum

A small plane aborted its landing at a Georgia airport before it hit a 60-foot utility pole and crashed, killing five people on board.

By Julie Carr Smyth

A former superintendent went to prison in Texas for conspiring to remove low-performing students from classrooms to boost average test scores.

By Kathy Gannon

The development underscores the difficulties in reaching a political deal with the Taliban before the end of 2014.

By Chris Brummitt

Vietnam and the US are close to an agreement allowing Americans to adopt Vietnamese children again, five years after a ban.

By OMER FAROOQ

A pair of bombs exploded Thursday evening in a crowded shopping area in the southern Indian city of Hyderabad.

SCOT LEHIGH

Ed Markey: A campaign snapshot

By Scot Lehigh

Markey is a committed prograssive with a long record of accomplishment, but hyper-cautious and wordy, he often seems like a throwback to another era.

joan wickersham

Navigating the grammatical thicket

By Joan Wickersham

Grammar and usage may sound like boring things to care about, but we need to care, in order to be taken seriously when we speak and when we write.

editorial

The sequester is a bad idea. But it is finally forcing an important reckoning at the Pentagon regarding spending and cost savings.

By James Vaznis

The Boston Renaissance Charter School is facing possible probation because of declining academic achievement, a sanction that could lead to closure.

Kevin Cullen

Changes are in the air for The Boston Globe

By Kevin Cullen

The Globe isn’t going anywhere. It’s changing owners. Who knows, maybe Rupert ­Murdoch will throw his hat in the ring. Stranger things have happened.

By Mark Arsenault

The commission will address the future of casinos in Southeastern Massachusetts amid questions on the progress of the Mashpee Wampanoag.

Menino takes on Boston buildings’ energy use

By Alyssa Edes

Mayor Thomas M. Menino is proposing a new law that would require commercial building owners to report annual energy and water use to the city.

By Jenifer B. McKim

Massachusetts mortgage borrowers received millions in help last year as part of a settlement with five major US banks.

Seeking a higher rate? Bank won’t always steer you online

By Todd Wallack

Salem Five is one of more than a dozen banks across the country that have separate Internet banking units that offer sharply higher savings account rates online.

Bill Spang, 97; adventurer sold steaks, houses, dolls

By Todd Feathers

Mr. Spang was president a cube steak manufacturing company in Needham.

Magic Slim, 75; delta blues guitarist got start in Chicago

By Mark Scolforo

Magic Slim was a younger contemporary of blues greats Muddy Waters and Howlin’ Wolf who helped shape the sound of Chicago’s electric blues.

By Matt Schudel

Mr. Almer was 23 when he wrote the catchy pop song that topped out at No. 7 on the Billboard charts.

Bruins 4, Lightning 2

Bruins bolt past Lightning

By Fluto Shinzawa

Nathan Horton had two goals and Brad Marchand added a goal and an assist as the Bruins imposed their will in Tampa.

Dan Shaughnessy

How much like J.D. is Stephen Drew?

By Dan Shaughnessy

The new Red Sox shortstop wears the same number, 7, that his brother J.D. wore in Boston. The similarities don’t end there.

Celtics settle for small move at deadline

By Gary Washburn

In landing Jordan Crawford from Washington, the Celtics eschewed a bigger trade, like one that would have netted Josh Smith.

Wahlberg discusses new Boston police reality show

By Sarah Rodman

Singer and actor Donnie Wahlberg talks about the new reality show “Boston’s Finest,” and how his Hub ties helped it along.

Police hope to show ‘human side’ of department on ‘Boston’s Finest’

By James H. Burnett III

Greg Dankers and Diamantino Araujo are just two of the Boston Police officers featured on the new TNT reality show “Boston’s Finest” which follows police department gang unit and fugitive squad members on the job.

Television Review

‘Out There’: Coming of age, ’toon-style

By Matthew Gilbert

This quiet animated comedy takes a gentle look at nerdy high school boys coming of age.