Charities struggle to meet demand as donations fall

Massachusetts charities are focused on finding creative new ways to collect donations while grappling with a still-steady stream of families who suddenly need help.

Keeping track on Black Friday

Today analysts will visit stores, count cars, and use high-tech means to collect data and find economic trends.

Yoon S. Byun/Globe Staff

At Occupy, disparate group finds harmony in protest

A survey of some 60 protesters at the Occupy Boston site, conducted by the Globe, sketches a portrait of a resilient, dedicated group drawn from surprisingly varied walks of life.

With wary optimism, Palmer pins hopes on casino

Like perhaps no other town in Massachusetts, Palmer has pinned its hopes on a casino as an economic savior that could reverse years of decline and usher in a new day.

Ready for a smooth run

Tropical Storm Irene wreaked havoc in Vermont, but ski areas are set to open as soon as the temperature drops low enough and long enough to make artificial snow stick.

A Boston Thanksgiving: Turkey with a twist

On Thanksgiving Day, the quiet streets of Boston provided sporadic sightings of people marking the all-American holiday in less-than-predictable fashion.

Dan Shaughnessy

CM stars left to ponder Penn State futures

It’s been a bit of a circus for Catholic Memorial’s Armani Reeves and Camren Williams since the scandal at Penn State, to which they’ve given verbal commitments.

Metro

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Menino decries redistricting plan

Mayor Thomas M. Menino yesterday panned a plan that would divide Chinatown and remove precincts from District Two, calling some features of the proposal “gerrymandering at its best.’’

Business

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Ready for a smooth run

Tropical Storm Irene wreaked havoc in Vermont, but ski areas are set to open as soon as the temperature drops low enough and long enough to make artificial snow stick.

Politics

“We shouldn’t do to any other country or any other people what we don’t want anybody to do to us,” Ron Paul said.

Paul goes against Republican grain on foreign policy

While most of the Republican candidates are open to military action against Iran, Ron Paul advocates diplomacy. He wants to slash the defense budget and opposes extending the Patriot Act.

Nation & World

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Three American students -- Luke Gates, 21, from Bloomington, Ind., Derrik Sweeney, 19, from Jefferson City, Mo., and Gregory Porter, 19, from Glenside, Pa., were arrested and held this week in Egypt.

Egyptian court orders release of 3 US students

The three who attend college in Cairo were arrested near Tahrir Square where they allegedly threw firebombs at security forces fighting with protesters.

Sports

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Patriots at eagles

Keeping the line straight

An offensive lineman on the Patriots knows he will have to learn the responsibilities of several positions, sometimes without room for a learning curve.

Movies

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Movie Review

M’Barka Ben Taleb

Singing with ‘Passione’

Actor-director John Turturro offers a visual and musical love letter to Naples.

Arts

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PHOTOGRAPHY REVIEW

Going ‘Solo,’ plus one

Rocker Patti Smith shuns images of fame for simplicity in “Patti Smith: Camera Solo,” at the Wadsworth Atheneum.

Special reports

Special Section

Director Caitlin Lowans (center, in black) directs a theatrical adaptation of “The Nutcracker” at the Stoneham Theater.

Holiday Arts Preview

Our critics give their top picks for what to see and experience this holiday season in the worlds of theater, dance, movies, DVDs, classical music, and pop music. This is your guide to holiday season entertainment.