Obama to shift on birth control rule

After a political uproar from religious groups, the administration now plans to make insurance companies responsible for birth control.

Boston, Mass--090911--Sal DiMasi leaves the Moakley Federal Court after his sentencing. He was given 8 years to serve at Devens. His stepson Chrisitian puts his hand on his shoulder as he gets into a waiting car..Boston Globe staff photo by John Tlumacki (metro)

DiMasi may testify before grand jury today

Former House speaker Salvatore F. DiMasi is reportedly en route to Worcester, where he is expected to appear before a grand jury.

Mitt Romney releases letter from Mass. conservative leaders

The letter, clarifying his conservative record while governor, comes as Romney addresses the Conservative Political Action Conference today.

Republican presidential candidate, former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, flanked by his wife Karen, right, and daughter Elizabeth, addresses the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Washington, Friday, Feb. 10, 2012. He is joined by his wife Karen at right. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Rick Santorum casts himself as true conservative

Speaking at the Conservative Action Conference, the GOP presidential candidate appealed to conservatives saying he will keep the ‘‘honor’’ and stay true to their principles.

A bullet sent him to Salem, a dream sent him home

Muktar Alkhazmi was eager to go home to help build a new Libya after undergoing surgery and rehabilitation in Boston.

Salem, MA., 12/22/11, A group of Libyan freedom fighters are recovering from their injuries at Shaughnessy-Kaplan Rehabilitation Hospital. Mukthar Alkhazmi works on physical therapy for his shoulder and arm injuries. His occupational therapist is Lori Beal, cq. Section: Metro, Reporter: Martine Powers Suzanne Kreiter/Globe staff

Suzanne Kreiter/Globe Staff

Libyan rebel Mukthar Alkhazmi worked with therapist Lori Beal to improve a shoulder injury he received while fighting to overthrow Moammar Khadafy.

Salem, MA., 12/22/11, A group of Libyan freedom fighters are recovering from their injuries at Shaughnessy-Kaplan Rehabilitation Hospital. Mohktar works on physical therapy for his shoulder and arm injuries. Lori Beal, cq, is his occupational therapist. Section: Metro, Reporter: Martine Powers Suzanne Kreiter/Globe staff

Suzanne Kreiter/Globe Staff

He and a group of Libyan freedom fighters were treated for their injuries at Spaulding Hospital North Shore in Salem.

Salem, MA., 12/22/11, A group of Libyan freedom fighters are recovering from their injuries at Shaughnessy-Kaplan Rehabilitation Hospital. Mukthar Alkhazmi works on physical therapy for his shoulder and arm injuries. On left is physical therapist Annette Cote, cq, on right is occupational therapist Lori Beal, cq. Section: Metro, Reporter: Martine Powers Suzanne Kreiter/Globe staff

Suzanne Kreiter/Globe Staff

Alkhazmi was impatient to return home to post-Khadafy Libya. Here, he worked with therapists Annette Cote, left, and Beal.

Salem, MA., 12/22/11, A group of Libyan freedom fighters are recovering from their injuries at Shaughnessy-Kaplan Rehabilitation Hospital. Mohktar works on physical therapy for his shoulder and arm injuries. After a session of physical therapy, he heads to another session of rehabilitative work. Section: Metro, Reporter: Martine Powers Suzanne Kreiter/Globe staff

Suzanne Kreiter/Globe Staff

Against his doctors’ advice, Alkhazmi decided to return to Libya last month.

Opinion | Brian McGrory

I’ll take Tom, and hold the Mayo

I regret implying that Tom May could be Boston’s most overpaid executive. Constellation Energy Group’s Mayo Shattuck III makes more and is far less impressive, writes Brian McGrory.

Bob Ryan

Lakers’ win nothing to get nostalgic about

This was no Finals preview. This was a 14-10 Celtics team fulfilling a scheduling date with a 14-11 Lakers squad.

Banks still face mountain of lawsuits

Even after a $25 billion settlement with the US government and 49 attorneys general, Bank of America Corp. and other large banks are still facing other lawsuits.

“People look at the park and think it’s beautiful, but if you spend more time there you realize the grass is patchy, and the soil is like concrete.”

Sylvia Salas,  executive director of The Esplanade Association

Globe Insiders

Globe Talks | Feb. 15, 6 p.m.

http://c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2012/02/01/BostonGlobe.com/Special/Images/greenhouse_movies2_business[1].jpg Talk movies with Ty and Wesley

Join the Boston Globe’s movie critics, Ty Burr and Wesley Morris, for a conversation about this year’s Academy Awards.

Inside The Boston Globe

Blueprint expands Esplanade access, amenities
Dave Maynard in an undated handout photo from WBZ.

Obituary

Boston broadcaster Dave Maynard dies at 82

CRITIC'S NOTEBOOK

Romance is alive and well in pop music
Greenbean Recycle, a Cambridge start-up that operates high tech recycling machines, brings its users together on a Facebook page.

The social network, smaller
FOXBORO: December 17, 2008: During a VIP reception before the screening of

Sports Media

It was OK for Steve DeOssie to root for Giants

Blue Nile adds Ethiopian food to Jamaica Plain

Mass. granted ‘No Child’ waiver
Paul Pierce passed Larry Bird to become the Celtics’ second all time leading scorer on Tuesday.

Pierce gets All-Star nod; Garnett, Allen left out

MOVIE REVIEW

Sweet nothings in ‘The Vow’

The dos and don’ts of date night

‘Oil Can’ Boyd says he used cocaine with Sox
Wellfleet, Cape Cod--02/09/12 A rare Laszuli bunting was spotted at the Mass. Audubon Society's Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary. It is the first time the bird has been spotted on the Cape. It has a distinguishing blue color near it's neck when mature. This one has not reached full maturity and are common in the Rockies out west. Boston Globe staff photo by John Tlumacki (metro)

Rare bird sighted in Wellfleet

Columnists

SCOT LEHIGH

Money, machine, but no message

Joan Wickersham

A valentine to Ella
Josh Bekcett and the Red Sox will begin spring training next week.

Tony Massarotti

Josh Beckett must take responsibility

Edward L. Glaeser

Gaffe gives Romney chance to redesign safety net

Opinion | Brian McGrory

I’ll take Tom, and hold the Mayo

Bob Ryan

Lakers’ win nothing to get nostalgic about

ALEX BEAM

Poe — we hardly knew ye

Boston Capital

Shrinking the foreclosed real estate glut
Mattapan, MA 020412 Jennifer Smith (cq), of Mattapan picks up her son Sammy Aaron, (cq), 6, his Mather School in Dorchester elementary school every day. She doen't let him ride the school bus since he was dropped off at the wrong stop on January 4, 2012.(Essdras M Suarez/ Globe Staff)/MET

Yvonne Abraham

Wrong bus stop, wrong response

Brian McGrory

Joey’s long legacy

Juliette Kayyem

Tweeting with a pile of Saudi money

Gareth Cook

Why scientists are boycotting a publisher

Metro

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BOSTON,MA 02/ 09/ 2012: A meeting with residents at 90 Tyler St in Chinatown, about Harrison Ave apartment building where residents were forced to move out because building's structure was unsound. ( David L Ryan / Globe Staff Photo ) SECTION: METRO TOPIC : 10chinatown REPORTER

Uncertainty for displaced tenants

Residents of a condemned Chinatown building are scrambling to find a place to stay while they wait to learn whether their landlord will bring the building up to code.

Business

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Bedford company iRobot Inc. Library Tag 03262011 Business

iRobot shares plunge on predicted losses from defense cuts

Shares of Bedford robot maker iRobot Corp. plunged more than 30 percent to close at $25.17 yesterday, after the company warned of possible losses.

Nation & World

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US allows more combat-related jobs for women

The Defense Department announced it would open about 14,000 combat-related positions to female troops, including tank mechanics and intelligence officers on the front lines.

Politics

Political Notebook

Two Romney surrogates in Oklahoma don’t follow script

Two Oklahoma state officials supporting Mitt Romney’s campaign held their fire yesterday on a conference call billed as an attack on rival Rick Santorum.

Sports

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OTTAWA, ON - JANUARY 27: Team Chara goalie Tim Thomas of the Boston Bruins speaks with the press during the 2012 NHL All-Star Game Player Media Availability at the Westin Ottawa on January 27, 2012 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

Tim Thomas still mum on Facebook post

An annoyed Bruins goalie insisted his hockey life and private life were separate. Coach Claude Julien said Thomas is not a distraction to the team.

Movies

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MOVIE REVIEW

‘Safe House’ plays it a little too ‘Safe’

This CIA thriller shows a cool and calm Denzel Washington, but the charisma is missing.

Arts

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Stage Review

‘69° S.’ is entrancing

The near-mythic dimensions of the Shackleton expedition story have prompted a spate of retellings.

Magazine

The cover for the February 5 2012 issue

What if the lights go out?
The cover for the January 29 2012 issue

Reversing a restaurant curse
The cover for the January 22 2012 issue

Mother worries about her Occupy Wall Street protester son
The cover for the January 15 2012 issue

Mass. voting maps reflect State House evolution

Opinion

“He’s got money. He’s got a machine. But he’s missing the M-word essential to a persuasive campaign: A message.”

Scot Lehigh, on Mitt Romney

Ideas

“For American enthusiasts of the Kagame regime, the Ingabire case points to a dilemma: Rwanda’s remarkable reconciliation and success have gone hand in hand with severely curtailed freedom of speech.”

Peter Canellos,  on free expression in Rwanda