People were already gathering ahead of the Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular on the Charles River Esplanade.

Wendy Maeda/Globe Staff

People were already gathering ahead of the Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular on the Charles River Esplanade.

A State Police dive team checked the waters of the lagoon at the Esplanade.

Wendy Maeda/Globe Staff

A State Police dive team checked the waters of the lagoon at the Esplanade.

Canine units patrolled the outer perimeter of the Esplanade.

Wendy Maeda/Globe Staff

Canine units patrolled the outer perimeter of the Esplanade.

A crowd gathered near the Clarendon Street entrance of the Esplanade.

Wendy Maeda/Globe Staff

A crowd gathered near the Clarendon Street entrance of the Esplanade.

Preparations are underway at the Esplanade

Bag and security checks started at 7 a.m., and people can now take spots near tonight?s Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular.

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2014/07/03/BostonGlobe.com/Metro/Images/maeda_04esplanade_met1%20(1).jpg Storms in forecast ahead of Pops concert, fireworks

The conditions will be less than ideal for the Esplanade celebration.

Bill Kirk of Ashland, Ky., took one last look at the ocean in front of the beach house he rented, before complying with the mandatory evacuation orders for Hatteras Island on Thursday.

Arthur strengthens to hurricane

The storm prompted a hurricane warning for much of the North Carolina coast.

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2014/07/03/BostonGlobe.com/Metro/Images/repeal150-13118.jpg Hotly debated Mass. casino repeal will be Question 3

The numbers to the ballot questions, unveiled Thursday, will become an inescapable part of the political landscape this fall.

Methuen schools to test out gunshot detection system

The idea of the high-tech system is to send an alert to local police the moment a gunshot is fired.

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2014/07/03/BostonGlobe.com/Business/Images/08e00e9df5054027b24290a337ae37e4-db6a3f277e7b4517911d66f473ea72d7-0.jpg US hiring strongest since late ?90s tech boom

The economy gained 288,000 jobs in June, the fifth straight month over 200,000, as the jobless rate fell to 6.1 percent.

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2014/06/18/BostonGlobe.com/Lifestyle/Images/rathe_unsettled_g06.jpg With affluent parents, ?four is the new three?

For parents who have one child, feelings of gratitude mingle with the occasional twinge of defensiveness.

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2014/07/03/BostonGlobe.com/Business/Images/b8fa600e934343a4891a153319a7fbbb-b8fa600e934343a4891a153319a7fbbb-0-7718--90x90.jpg Louis Zamperini, ?Unbroken? war hero, dies at 97

Zamperini?s story of surviving a bomber crash in the Pacific and two years in a Japanese prison was the subject of a 2010 bestseller.

Opinion

Alex Beam

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2014/07/03/BostonGlobe.com/EditorialOpinion/Images/BeamAlex-1765.jpg John Kerry?s nightmare dream job

Kerry wanted to be secretary of state, but when he speaks, it seems that no one listens.

BetaBoston

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2014/05/06/BostonGlobe.com/Business/Images/051814LocationPics03.jpg Green Line stops get some free WiFi (with a catch)

Comcast has installed WiFi hot spots along key Green Line MBTA stops, but noncustomers must pay to use them.