US jobless rate remains 8.3%

The country added 227,000 jobs in February, and a revised estimate for January showed a 284,000 gain that was bigger than first estimated.

http://c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2012/03/09/BostonGlobe.com/Metro/Images/09maginn_photo--90x90.jpg Bay State GOP chief taking some heat

In an election year characterized by voter resentment of the wealthy, some GOP critics see symbolic danger in Robert A. Maginn Jr.’s ties to Mitt Romney.

In ad, Scott Brown takes credit for spending pledge

Brown praises his Democratic opponent Elizabeth Warren on the agreement to curb outside spending, while taking full credit for initiating the pact.

SCOT LEHIGH

Maybe it’s not Mitt’s fault

What if the real problem is less with Mitt Romney than with the conservatives and Tea Party types he’s having trouble winning over?

songwriter and performer Lori McKenna

Bob Packert

Exclusive Sunday Preview | Globe Magazine

Lori McKenna is writing her heart out

Fifteen years after she broke into the Boston folk scene, Lori McKenna is becoming one of Nashville’s most in-demand country songwriters. But the Stoughton mother of five is still home for dinner.

http://c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2012/03/09/BostonGlobe.com/Sports/Images/wall77--90x90.jpg JetBlue Park’s ‘Monster’ has its own quirks

The Red Sox’ new spring home has a replica Green Monster that blends the charm of Fenway with modern amenities for fans and players.

http://c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2012/03/09/BostonGlobe.com/Metro/Images/09somervpic.jpg In era of cuts, students in Somerville play on

At a time when dozens of schools around the state have cut music education, Somerville is aiming to raise $100,000 to help launch an after school music program.

“For anyone who thinks this isn’t life-changing, consider that more than 90 percent of the kids at East Somerville Community, where we’ll start our El Sistema, are recipients of the free instruments.”

Joanne Sadler,  teacher in Somerville

Globe Insiders

Globe Talk | March 21, 6 p.m.

http://c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2012/03/02/BostonGlobe.com/Special/Images/lennyclarke copy-018--90x90.jpg Boston, a Comedy Capital

Join Dave Russo, Anthony Scibelli, Tony V, Jimmy Tingle, and Lenny Clarke for a talk about the city’s comedy scene. Laughs guaranteed.

Inside The Boston Globe

Companies scramble to use Pinterest

New Hampshire seeks to rein in loud motorcycles
Freshman Johnny Gaudreau has accounted for 15 points in the Eagles’ 11-game winning streak.

Johnny Gaudreau fitting in nicely at BC

Movie Review

In ‘John Carter,’ sci-fi goes back to its roots
Tanisha Andrade, center, was honored by the 911 for Kids organization Thursday at the Yard House Restaurant in Boston.

Two children honored for making critical 911 calls

Movie Review

In ‘Silent House,’ you can hear yourself think

Winter’s waning days glow bright in Boston

GLOBE 10.0 VIDEO

Will Tom Brady suffer Peyton Manning’s fate?

Scientists say solar flare-up is minor
Senator Olympia Snowe spoke at a news conference in Maine last week.

Olympia Snowe endorses Scott Brown

Syrup makers toil this winter
Rick Santorum (right), stood with Hawkeye Industries owner Bryan Hawkins in Tupelo, Miss., on Wednesday.

Santorum’s faith isn’t driving vote of Catholics

Metro

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Siblings Shane and Colleen McGloin surveyed the damage after wind-driven flames destroyed four beachfront homes on Humarock Beach Road in Scituate Thursday. High gusts intensified other fires around the state.

Blaze consumes 4 Scituate houses

A three-alarm fire stoked by high winds destroyed four beachfront homes yesterday and injured three firefighters.

Business

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State gained fewer jobs than thought in ’11

Mass. added about 9,000 jobs in 2011, far below earlier estimates, according to revised data.

Columnists

SCOT LEHIGH

Maybe it’s not Mitt’s fault
John Barros is both a School Committee member and head of a nonprofit which supplies school services.

LAWRENCE HARMON

A little too close for comfort

Boston Capital

Markets rebound. Now what?

Brian McGrory

The politics of panic

JOAN WICKERSHAM

Ghosts of artists past

Joan Vennochi

Taking measure of health and wealth

Juliette Kayyem

Ocean planning and Massachusetts

Tech Lab

New Windows has a different touch
The Penn bench - including Dau Jok (standing) - watches a chance at an Ivy League title (and NCAA berth) slip away in a loss to Princeton.

Bob Ryan

Penn falls to Princeton, leaving Harvard on top

Jeff Jacoby

Apologize like you mean it, Rush

Scot Lehigh

Releasing fuel could pump economy

Dan Shaughnessy

Dan Duquette returns to Fort Myers with Orioles

Nation & World

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US urges greater efforts to curb teenage smoking

Almost one in five high school-aged teen smokes, according to the US Surgeon General’s office.

Politics

political notebook

Pipeline proposal blocked in Senate

The Democratic-controlled Senate blocked a GOP bid Thursday to speed approval of the Keystone XL oil pipeline.

Sports

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On hockey

Gregory Campbell, center, celebrated his goal with teammates Dennis Seidenberg, left, and Shawn Thornton in the second period.

Bruins now buoyed by winning streak

The Bruins had been a sluggish, middling bunch for the past two months. But is their latest win finally the start of a positive trend?

Movies

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Movie Review

Catch and release: ‘Salmon Fishing’ is harmless, flavorless

The movie is about the big vat of “I think you’re swell’’ the leading stars fall into, and it couldn’t be more dull, writes Wesley Morris.

Arts

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television review

Ed Harris is John McCain and Julianne Moore is Sarah Palin in HBO’s “Game Change.’’

‘Game Change’ more complex than a caricature of Palin and McCain

HBO’s portrayal of the Republican side of the 2008 presidential campaign isn’t a Sarah Palin hatchet job. But it’s no love letter either, writes Sarah Rodman.

Magazine

The cover for the March 4 2012 issue

Putting college degrees to work
The cover for the February 26 2012 issue

24 hours in Kendall Square
The cover for the February 19 2012 issue

Renovated Newport firehouse is calm, cool, and collected
The cover for the February 12 2012 issue

Boston wedding venue guide

Opinion

“Unless the GOP is suicidal, [Mitt] Romney will ultimately persevere, and with good reason: He’s the only remotely plausible president in this field.”

Scot Lehigh 

Ideas

“The story of St. John’s University reflects the power — and the threat — that such an education still represents to a proud nation that nevertheless hungers for new ideas.”

Patricia Wen  on the lost liberal arts university of China