Gunman kills nine at Oregon college

Jessica Vazquez (left) hugged her aunt, Leticia Acaraz, as they await word on Acaraz's daughter after a shooting at Umpqua Community College in Roseburg, Ore.

Michael Sullivan /The News-Review via AP

One survivor said the gunman, identified as Chris Harper Mercer, 26, demanded his victims state their religion before he started shooting.

President Barack Obama spoke about the shooting at Umpqua Community College on Thursday.

Nation is ?numb? to mass shootings, Obama says

?Our thoughts and prayers are not enough,? President Obama said in pointed comments arguing for stronger gun laws.

A bullet casing is marked at the scene of a deadly shooting at Umpqua Community College in Roseburg, Ore.

There have been more mass shootings this year than days

So far this year, there have been at least 294 mass shooting incidents. There have been 274 days.

Philanthropist Carolyn Lynch dies at 69

Mrs. Lynch and her husband, former Fidelity Magellan Fund manager Peter Lynch, supported a host of endeavors, many in education.

Hurricane Joaquin was seen over the Bahamas in the Atlantic Ocean on Thursday.

NOAA via REUTERS

Hurricane Joaquin strengthens to Category 4, batters Bahamas

Forecasters said it could grow still more intense before following a path that would near the US East Coast.

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2015/05/12/BostonGlobe.com/Sports/Images/028b8f5385c44998bf01c54ac015dc0e-028b8f5385c44998bf01c54ac015dc0e-0.jpg Bill Simmons bashes ESPN in first new podcast

The former ESPN personality called the network?s coverage of the Deflategate controversy ?embarrassing.?

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2015/10/01/BostonGlobe.com/Metro/Images/LenaBruce007.jpg Man charged in 1992 Lena Bruce murder case

Lena Bruce, 21, originally from Philadelphia, was a recent graduate of Tufts University when she was killed in the South End in 1992.

Foxborough- 09/30/15 - The Patriots held practice inside bubble at Gillette Stadium. Offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels talk to Tom Brady as Julian Edelman and Danny Amendola stand nearby. Boston Globe staff photo by John Tlumacki(sports)

How does having an early bye week affect NFL teams?

While there are exceptions, teams with byes in Week 4 or 5 usually follow a pattern.

Retired tennis player Bob Hewitt, pictured earlier this year.

Hewitt must pay $1.2m in Mass. sex abuse case

Disgraced tennis great Bob Hewitt was ordered by a judge to pay a woman he is accused of abusing while he was her coach.

Maura Healey (center) met with her staff in Boston.

Jessica Rinaldi/Globe Staff

Capital

Maura Healey doesn?t like to lose

Indefatigable drive and charisma have made Maura Healey the state?s attorney general and the one to watch in Massachusetts politics.

Boston Mayor Martin Walsh.

Walsh names investigator in Teamsters extortion case

Mayor Walsh hired Brian Kelly, who helped convict ?Whitey? Bulger, to investigate City Hall?s role in a union?s alleged extortion scheme.

Holbrook man in extortion case has long criminal record

John Fidler, 51, has been convicted of stabbing several people in downtown Boston, and once admitted to selling cocaine.

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2015/08/30/BostonGlobe.com/Metro/Images/avalena-8705.jpg Report faults DCF for licensing Auburn foster home

Two little girls found unresponsive this summer were living in a foster home that should never have been licensed, the report said.

Jesse Carrillo left the Hampshire County Superior Courthouse following his arraignment. He was released on $25,000 cash bail.

Barry Goldstein for The Boston Globe

Ex-UMass student arraigned for manslaughter

Jesse Carrillo allegedly supplied heroin to Eric Sinacori, who had been involved in a campus informant program.

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2015/10/01/BostonGlobe.com/Metro/Images/AP071121010301.jpg Harvard professor failed to disclose connection

Calestous Juma, an expert in international development, said he was not paid by Monsanto to extol the benefits of GMOs.

Opinion & Ideas

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2015/05/11/BostonGlobe.com/EditorialOpinion/Images/opinionreel-square-1253.jpg Opinion Reel: Announcing the Fall 2015 selections

These nine films were selected by a panel of Globe Opinion journalists and documentary film experts.

Ground Game

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2015/10/01/BostonGlobe.com/National/Images/clinton150-1548.jpg Evaluating campaign money reports gets more complicated

Just combining a candidate?s account and the candidate?s super PAC might not be the best way of doing things.

The Big Picture

Craig Ruttle/AFP/Getty Images

Pope Francis? mission to the US

The trip by the world leader of the Roman Catholic Church included a White House visit.

BetaBoston

Hiawatha Bray | Tech Lab

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2015/10/01/BostonGlobe.com/Business/Images/bray-4951.jpg Hang onto your wallet ? Samsung Pay is here

Samsung Pay works, and it?s cool, but ultimately it?s a dead end. Your wallet will still be there for years to come.

Crux

Analysis

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2015/09/30/BostonGlobe.com/Foreign/Images/pope150-1116.jpg What it means that Pope Francis met Kim Davis

The encounter was a broad gesture of support by the pope for conscientious objection from gay marriage law.