MIT president Susan Hockfield to step down

In her letter to the university, Hockfield says she felt it would be best served by a new leader as MIT embarks on a major fund-raising campaign.

Colleges see record applicants

Applications have reached record highs at dozens of local colleges, with increased interest by foreign students among the reasons.

Loss to Santorum in Mich. would be blow to Romney

Rick Santorum is trying to broaden his coalition in Michigan by attracting blue collar fiscal conservatives — and do it all in Mitt Romney’s boyhood backyard.

Deal reached on treatment of state’s mentally ill inmates

The state Department of Correction’s agreement to provide better care for prisoners with severe mental illnesses comes years after an alarming series of suicides by inmates.

Joseph Kennedy III formally announces campaign

Kennedy, the grandson of Robert F. Kennedy, declared his candidacy for the seat being vacated by Barney Frank.

Newton, MA. 02/16/12, Joe Kennedy III officially launches his campaign for Congress Thursday, by visiting spots around the district. He greets commuters and supporters in Newton. Section: Metro Suzanne Kreiter/Globe staff

Suzanne Kreiter/Globe staff

Joseph P. Kennedy III visited spots around the district this morning, followed by supporters and the media.

Newton, MA. 02/16/12, Joe Kennedy III officially launches his campaign for Congress Thursday, by visiting spots around the district. He greets commuters and supporters in Newton. Section: Metro Suzanne Kreiter/Globe staffNewton, MA. 02/16/12, Joe Kennedy III officially launches his campaign for Congress Thursday, by visiting spots around the district. He greets commuters and supporters in Newton. Section: Metro Suzanne Kreiter/Globe staff

Suzanne Kreiter/Globe staff

He greeted commuters in Newton.

Newton, MA. 02/16/12, Joe Kennedy III officially launches his campaign for Congress Thursday, by visiting spots around the district. He greets commuters and supporters in Newton. Section: Metro Suzanne Kreiter/Globe staff

Suzanne Kreiter/Globe staff

If elected, he will be the first member of his family to return to Washington since his cousin, Patrick Kennedy, ended his House service last year.

Newton, MA. 02/16/12, Joe Kennedy III officially launches his campaign for Congress Thursday, by visiting spots around the district. He greets commuters and supporters in Newton. Section: Metro Suzanne Kreiter/Globe staff

Suzanne Kreiter/Globe staff

Kennedy received a hug from a Newton supporter this morning.

Newton, MA. 02/16/12, Joe Kennedy III officially launches his campaign for Congress Thursday, by visiting spots around the district. He greets commuters and supporters in Newton. Section: Metro Suzanne Kreiter/Globe staff

Suzanne Kreiter/Globe staff

Kennedy has declared that he will not rely on family recognition but on campaigning to win the race.

Curt Ingram has become a mini-celebrity in Brighton for doing iPhone repairs not covered by the warranty.

Dropped it in the toilet? iPhone Curt can help

Curt Ingram is part of the expanding mini-industry of repairmen working outside the realm of Apple, whose warranty does not cover “damage caused by accident.”

Track’s perceived clout may deter rivals

The perception that the Suffolk Downs casino proposal has a lock on development rights may be discouraging some companies from competing in the gambling market.

“You’re seeing that Anybody But Romney vote unite around Santorum here in Michigan.”

Steve Mitchell,  an East Lansing-based pollster

Globe Insiders

Globe Insiders Event | Feb. 27, 7 p.m.

http://c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2012/02/15/BostonGlobe.com/Special/Images/137921177-017--90x90.jpg Movie screening, Q&A with Emily Blunt

Join the Boston Globe’s movie editor Janice Page for a sneak screening of the movie and Q&A session with Emily Blunt, star of the new romantic comedy “Salmon Fishing in the Yemen.”

Inside The Boston Globe

State to back NStar, Northeast Utilities merger

ART REVIEW

Holt’s vision aligned with sun, earth
Last year’s PAX East drewabout 68,000 gamers to the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center. This year’s event is expected to bring 75,000.

PAX East locks in Hub site
The Patriots may need to get more help for Pro Bowl defensive lineman Vince Wilfork in the offseason.

On football: Season review

Patriots by the numbers: Lots to improve on

names

Elephants get support from Marblehead girl

BOOK REVIEW

‘Once Upon a Secret’ by Mimi Alford

Policing by the numbers

Drinks Special

The craft of mixing has made a unique Boston bar culture

Home of the housing bust
BOSTON, MA. 05/ 19 /2011: BOW WAKE from a tour boat on the Charles River also had a stern wake. ( David L Ryan / Globe Staff Photo ) SECTION : METRO/FEATURE SLUG : REPORTER 02water

To Grammar’s House

Swept away by colorful writing

Experiencing Leonardo from cinema seating
Fashion designer and Babson grad Michael Bastian. Handout photo 16bashian

NEW YORK FASHION WEEK

Revisiting Boston’s preppy chic style

Columnists

Tech Lab

Vita: too big, too pricey, no phone

Yvonne abraham

The senator and the slippery slope

Juliette Kayyem

Bridge to the future

Joan Vennochi

Telling the real story of Camelot
Jeremy Lin, right, hit a game-winning shot for the Knicks last night and has become a sensation in the NBA.

Bob Ryan

Lin just latest Ivy Leaguer to shine in NBA

Brian McGrory

A model city councilor
David Ortiz

Christopher L. Gasper

A happy David Ortiz is great for Red Sox

Jeff Jacoby

On birth control, Obama imperiously overreaches
Claude Julien’s Bruins are headed out on a six-game road trip.

Tony Massarotti

Bruins not as good as they think they are

Scot Lehigh

Raise the high school drop out age

kevin cullen

A sweet dish of revenge

Joanna Weiss

A path blocked by Lego toys

Metro

Tags in this section:

Police search for 2 passing fake $100 bills

Newburyport police are searching for two women who used counterfeit $100 bills in a supermarket earlier this month that were made from bleached $5 bills.

Business

Tags in this section:

Harvard challenges students to think big

Harvard University has posed a challenge to its students: come up with an entrepreneurial solution to the world’s social problems and win $100,000.

Nation & World

Tags in this section:

Explosives found in pickup near Kansas Statehouse

Several homemade bombs were found yesterday in Topeka, Kan., a pickup that had specialty license plates issued only to US military paratroopers.

Politics

Newton, MA. 02/16/12, Joe Kennedy III officially launches his campaign for Congress Thursday, by visiting spots around the district. He greets commuters and supporters in Newton. Section: Metro Suzanne Kreiter/Globe staffNewton, MA. 02/16/12, Joe Kennedy III officially launches his campaign for Congress Thursday, by visiting spots around the district. He greets commuters and supporters in Newton. Section: Metro Suzanne Kreiter/Globe staff

Joseph Kennedy III announces congressional campaign

Kennedy, the grandson of Robert F. Kennedy, declared his candidacy for the seat being vacated by Barney Frank.

Sports

Tags in this section:

On baseball

New Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine, second from left (with Red Sox Larry Lucchino, left, and JetBlue official Marty St. George, is set to run his first spring training camp with the team.

Bobby Valentine running camp his way

This year, there are few illusions the Sox are a 100-win team. In some ways, they are the underdog, a role the new manager relishes.

Style

COVER STORY / NEW YORK FASHION WEEK

Model Gisele Bundchen walks the runway in the Alexander Wang show during Fashion Week in New York, Saturday, Feb. 11, 2012. (AP Photo/Charles Sykes)

New York Fashion Week gets dark and masculine

In this year’s collections, military invaded the runway.

Arts

Tags in this section:

STAGE REVIEW

In ‘Daddy Long Legs,’ an old novel becomes a musical

Tony Award-winning director John Caird turns his attention to the intimate new production.

Magazine

The cover for the February 12 2012 issue

Boston wedding venue guide
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

The man who crushed the Keystone XL pipeline

Opinion

“The president’s proposal for highway, bridge, and mass transit projects should be just the beginning of efforts to promote resilient designs.”

Juliette Kayyem 

Ideas

“In the 50 years since the competition, architects have declared Kallmann and McKinnell’s City Hall one of the greatest buildings of the 20th century. Yet its relationship with the people of Boston has remained uneasy, even hostile.”

Leon Neyfakh on Boston’s City Hall