By Tracy Jan

GOP leaders expressed a willingness to call a long-enough truce with their Democratic colleagues to allay fears of a shutdown at the end of the month.

Mitt Romney rues errors, says loss ‘kills me’

By Bryan Bender

In a TV interview, the former presidential candidate reflected on topics ranging from Washington gridlock to what he sees as Obama’s failings.

Voting rights march remembered

By Phillip Rawls

Thousands walked across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Alabama to commemorate the bloody civil rights march of 1965.

Discord in Rome greets cardinals on eve of conclave

By Lisa Wangsness

As the College of Cardinals prepares to choose a new pope to follow Benedict XVI, the tableau is rife with Vatican rivalry and controversy.

John Kerry, Egypt link US aid to economic talks

By Michael R. Gordon

The secretary of state announced $250 million in aid to Egypt after President Mohammed Morsi agreed to negotiate with the IMF on economic reforms.

The crisis began after about 200 members of a Philippine Muslim royal clan occupied a village last month to claim the territory as their own.

JOHN E. SUNUNU

Sequester debate is Washington’s version of ‘Who’s on First?’

By John E. Sununu

Washington remains a place where politicians often believe they are saying one thing while much of the world — and perhaps their adversaries — hears something entirely different.

Juliette Kayyem

US should focus aid on Syrian refugees

By Juliette Kayyem

Everyone will be better if the US uses humanitarian assistance toward temporary relief and emergency resources to keep refugees from destabilizing the region.

JAMES CARROLL

Will the church address its real issues?

By James Carroll

As the cardinals come together to choose a new pope, they must be open to someone who will move the church forward in its teachings on sex and gender equality.

Some preschools’ seats empty after freeze on state aid

By Akilah Johnson

In Mass., 30,000 children from low-income families linger on preschool waiting lists, unable to obtain the state voucher that will pay for their care.

By Emily Sweeney

Several human service agencies from Massachusetts plan to directly appeal to lawmakers in the nation’s capital this week.

YouthHarbors finds shelter for homeless adult students

By Meghan E. Irons

The program fills an urgent need in student homelessness and provides assistance to young adults struggling to make it on their own.

By Robert Weisman

There are signs the rate of increase in Massachusetts health care prices — and insurance premiums — may soon start accelerating again.

Children’s monitoring system predicts patients’ problems

By Karen Weintraub

New technology at Boston Children’s Hospital allows doctors to track several monitors providing data on a patient on a single display.

3-D pen garners $2m on crowd-funding site

By Michael B. Farrell

The Somerville toy and robotics start-up Wobbleworks far exceeded its $30,000 fundraising goal on Kickstarter for their 3-D pen, the 3Doodler.

Stanley Snadowsky, 70; ran noted music club

By Paul Vitello

Mr. Snadowsky, a founder of landmark Greenwich Village nightclub Bottom Line, had a reputation for staging high-quality shows.

Armando Trovajoli, 95; wrote songs for 300 films

By Frances D’Emilio

Mr. Trovajoli wrote the music for two of Sophia Loren’s most famous films, ‘‘A Special Day’’ and ‘‘Two Women,’’ which won her an Oscar.

By Craig R. Whitney

Marie-Claire Alain, 86, was a master French organist and teacher with admirers and distinguished former students around the world.

Canadiens 4, Bruins 3

Canadiens snap Bruins’ winning streak

By Fluto Shinzawa

The Bruins lashed out at Montreal after the loss with coach Claude Julien calling the Canadiens “embarrassing.”

on hockey

Bruins pay big for Zdeno Chara’s fight

By Kevin Paul Dupont

The Bruins captain stuck up for Tyler Seguin, then watched Montreal score 2 goals during his 17-minute penalty.

Christopher L. Gasper

Mike Napoli shows why Red Sox wanted him

By Christopher L. Gasper

Napoli’s prodigious home run Sunday was a good sign that the Red Sox didn’t end up with damaged goods.

Health

Adults with a lack of focus could have ADHD

By Jan Brogan

It’s not just a childhood problem. Millions of adults may have undiagnosed attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

Daily Dose

7 steps to help you make better decisions

By Deborah Kotz

In her new book, “Sidetracked,” Harvard business professor Francesca Gino details her research on mental hurdles.

Daily Dose

Painful sex? Menopausal women get new treatment

By Deborah Kotz

One of the most troubling side effects of menopause, painful sex, now has a new treatment approved last week by the FDA.