Special courts to hear cases in drug lab scandal

The courts are being established to handle the wave of cases that could be reopened after a state chemist admitted altering drug test results and forging colleagues’ initials.

Retired Navy reservist Tyre Nelson is a Republican but says he will most likely be voting for President Obama this election, citing concerns over veterans services.

In swing state Virginia, both sides court military vote

President Obama and Mitt Romney appealed for support Thursday from a large voting bloc that could prove crucial: military members, veterans, and their families.

Goldman Sachs agrees to $16m fines

The financial giant was fined about $16 million for a pay-to-play scheme involving a former employee who was also a close associate to former state Treasurer Timothy P. Cahill.

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2012/09/28/BostonGlobe.com/Metro/Advance/Images/SILBER%20INTERVIEW%201--90x90.jpg John Silber, terrain-changing BU leader, political force, dies

Silber, who spent a tempestuous quarter-century as president of Boston University, and in 1990 came within 77,000 votes of becoming governor of Massachusetts, died Thursday. He was 86.

Favorable weather has brought predictions of bright foliage.

BILL GREENE/GLOBE STAFF

Vermont looks to make up for lost leaf season

As New England settles into autumn, “leaf-peepers” are readying for what promises to be a stellar season for foliage, a blitz of bright hues expected to result from favorable weather.

Brian McGrory

A rare triumph for expertise

When the real NFL officials take the field Sunday, celebrate not just the restoration of the game, but the triumph of competence.

Miguel Cabrera belts his 42d round-tripper Saturday, temporarily making the AL leader in home runs, average, and RBIs

Miguel Cabrera is chasing history and Carl Yastrzemski

The Detroit Tigers third baseman is making a serious bid to be the first hitter since Boston’s Yastrzemski in 1967 to win the Triple Crown.

Microsoft’s facility at One Cambridge Center is not set up like a typical office. Mobile workers don’t have desks. There are lockers for them to store their stuff, and they can set up at empty work stations. The phone system is also nontraditional.

Microsoft says new Cambridge center will help clients

The Kendall Square facility is designed to let the company develop specialized computing solutions for customers and keep it close to innovators.

Sports

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On football

Patriots players were back at work Thursday, and when they play Buffalo, the NFL officials will be back at their jobs, too.

NFL officials are as much to blame as owners

The real NFL officials had just as much to do with the game being held hostage for the first three weeks as team owners and commissioner Roger Goodell, writes Greg A. Bedard.

Metro

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Business

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Greece’s government agreed Friday on the main points of a $17.4 billion austerity package, tied to EU-IMF rescue loans.

Outlook for Europe remains unsettled

Data showed confidence among European businesses and consumers continued to fall in September, and Spain prepared to unveil a plan to restore its finances next year.

Nation & World

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