The Boston Globe

BRA speeds up proposal reviews

As Mayor Tom Menino’s term nears an end, the agency’s board has started meeting twice a month.

Walsh’s push for binding arbitration draws criticism

Government watchdogs argue that Marty Walsh’s proposal would eliminate financial safeguards for cities and towns.

GOP under pressure to toe the line

Aggressive tactics by conservative political groups are one reason Republicans have chosen a course of action that resulted in the government shutdown.

Social media ignites Spark Capital

An investment five years ago in Twitter, back when it had few users and many skeptics in the technology field, could net Spark Capital $640 million.

C.J. Olivolo, 9, of Hilton Head, S.C., chose a favorite player’s face to hold for a photographic “portrait.”

Sox fans skip work, flock to Fenway Park

Sporadic rain and middle-of-the-day timing did not deter thousands of fans from descending on Fenway Park for the heavily anticipated playoff opener.

Christopher L. Gasper

Jonny Gomes really got them going

Gomes, taking advantage of a miscue in the outfield, picked the perfect time to deliver his first career postseason hit.

Reebok embraces personal fitness trend

Reebok’s Braintree store opens its “FitHub” on Saturday, part of a six-month rollout of the concept in East Coast stores.

State freezes university’s funding

The plans come after Westfield State University President Evan Dobelle failed to meet the deadline for submitting a detailed defense of his spending habits.

Opinion

Derrick Z. Jackson

The vanishing monarch butterfly

From Mattapan to Minnesota and up through Maine and Canada, scientists and volunteers are recording low numbers.

Globe exclusives

Stephen Drew (center) was pumped as the Red Sox welcomed him to the dugout after scoring in the fourth inning.

RED SOX 12, RAYS 2

Red Sox win ALDS opener

Caroline Kennedy spoke during the Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on her nomination.

Japan abuzz at prospect of Ambassador Kennedy

The royalties from Edith Wharton’s novels paid for her Lenox home, The Mount, and its furnishings.

G cover

Learning from the homes of famous writers

Alexander Bradley appeared in Hartford Superior Court with his lawyer on Friday.

Hernandez associate arrested in Conn.

Exclusive Sunday Preview | Ideas

How ‘impermanence’ can help us all get along

Russian President Boris Yeltsin in 1999.

A story in tweets

Remembering the Yeltsin-Russian parliament standoff

Boston Red Sox celebrated the last out clinching the Division title.

MLB Playoffs | Special section

Red Sox in the postseason

New math standards being adopted across the state push reasoning and abstract thinking, says eighth-grade teacher Michelle Calioro. “I think that was really missing from the old standards.”

Exclusive Sunday Magazine preview | The Education Issue

Aiming higher

Photo gallery

Globe photos of the week, Oct. 4, 2014

Patrica Donahue, with sons Tom (left) and Michael (right), left a court session during the James “Whitey” Bulger trial.

Widow of Bulger victim says money should go to families

Shirley Leung

The Seaport’s Silver Line solution

kevin cullen

Still inspiring others

Sports

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on baseball

Jon Lester was brilliant, fanning seven as the Red Sox took Game 1 of the ALDS.

Jon Lester was on target from the first pitch

Lester, who last started Sept. 28, was brilliant in his return to the mound, giving up just three hits over 7⅔ innings.

Boston mayoral race

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Politics

Mayoral candidates Marty Walsh (left) and John Connolly shook hands Wednesday as they crossed paths at a school presentation in Roxbury. Later in the day, Connolly abnd Walsh took turns being questioned by members of the Massachusetts Association of Minority Law Enforcement Officers.

Candidates address minority officers at forum

John Connolly and Martin Walsh spoke about public safety, police diversity, and poor city services in minority neighborhoods.

Metro

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Glen James earned praise when he turned in a back pack containing $2,000 in cash, $39,000 in American Express Travelers Checks and a passport last month.

Homeless man who returned $42,000 now has a home

A trust fund is being set up to accept more than $150,000 that has been collected for Glen James, who is preparing to move into transitional housing within days.