Obama and Boehner discuss fiscal cliff by phone

By David Espo

Officials provided no details of the conversation, which came on the day Obama warned Republicans not to threaten to default.

Report details Mass. fallout if no deal is made

By Matt Viser

No deal in fiscal cliff negotiations could cost 562,000 families in Massachusetts an average of $1,000 a year.

Fire damages 12 homes on NJ shore hit by storm

By WAYNE PARRY

Since Hurricane Sandy smashed the Jersey shore, owners of flood-damaged homes up and down the coast feared something else might happen to their properties, sitting vacant and largely unwatched.

Egypt crisis grows

By Hamza Hendawi and Aya Batrawy

At least 211 people were wounded Wednesday over the constitution drafted by Islamist allies of President Mohammed Morsi.

By Amy Teibel

Palestinians and Israelis hardened their positions Wednesday over a contentious new settlement push around Jerusalem.

By James Risen, Mark Mazzetti and Michael S. Schmidt

The Obama administration secretly gave its blessing to arms shipments to Libyan rebels from Qatar last year, but US officials later grew alarmed.

Joan Vennochi

Are photojournalists obligated to help in rescues?

By Joan Vennochi

A man about to be hit by a train; a girl falling from a fire escape: For photojournalists, the choice isn’t always clear.

Juliette Kayyem

McGovern, Kerry tackle the Cold War

By Juliette Kayyem

The case of a lawyer who died in a Russian jail has come to the fore as the US considers normalizing trade relations with Russia.

editorial

The treaty, which forbids discrimination against people with disabilities, fell victim in the US Senate to scare tactics, wildly inaccurate statements, and rote ideological claptrap.

By John R. Ellement and Travis Andersen

The state’s highest court ruled police do not need a search warrant to look at cellphone call lists following a person’s arrest.

Boylston boy’s joy delights web viewers

By James H. Burnett III

Any day with a set of Legos is a good day for 11-year-old James Groccia of Boylston, the star of a YouTube home video with more than 1 million views.

Yvonne Abraham

Child-safe lockups

By Yvonne Abraham

Even though 37 other states, the US Supreme Court, and common sense agree that 17-year-olds are still kids, our state’s justice system treats them as adults.

As NHL lockout drags, no gain for colleges and minors

By Callum Borchers

In the Bruins’ absence, fans are not flocking to college and minor league games. In fact, attendance is down or flat.

By Beth Healy

Nonprofits in Boston and across the country are pressing lawmakers to preserve tax breaks for charitable giving.

Tech Lab

Low-priced Google laptop is a great idea

By Hiawatha Bray

The newest Chromebook’s performance is impressive, and the $249 price makes it one of the best bargains in the digital world.

Pianist, composer Dave Brubeck, 91; helped elevate jazz in ’50s

By Mark Feeney

Brubeck’s cerebral approach to music helped him create the first jazz record to sell a million copies and first jazz single to reach 500,000 sales.

Jack Brooks; congressman helped write Civil Rights Act

By Michael Graczyk

Mr. Brooks, 89, hounded government bureaucrats, drafted President Nixon’s articles of impeachment, and supported civil rights bills in a congressional career spanning 42 years.

Elisabeth Murdoch, 103, mother of newspaper, media baron

By Robert D. McFadden

Dame Elisabeth was the mother of the media tycoon Rupert Murdoch, the widow of an Australian newspaper baron, and one of her nation’s most noted philanthropists.

Texans have a one-man swat team

By Michael Whitmer

Tom Brady might see a few of his passes swatted right back at him by J.J. Watt, Houston’s destructive defensive end.

Christopher L. Gasper

Staying with Sanchez makes it stickier for Ryan

By Christopher L. Gasper

New York Jets coach Rex Ryan isn’t exhibiting loyalty by sticking with quarterback Mark Sanchez. He is stiff-arming reality, Heisman Trophy-style.

Celtics 104, Timberwolves 94

Celtics shake off slow start and win

By Gary Washburn

With Rajon Rondo back in the lineup, the Celtics put away the Timberwolves.

G cover

The anatomy of a pop-up store

By Kathleen Pierce

On Beacon Hill, he’s known as “the pop-up guy.” For the second year in a row, Michael Hunter has swooped into town with a sleighful of style.

By Kathleen Pierce

Style

The Sartorialist: Birth of an image maker

By Jessica Teich

Scott Schuman, the street fashion photographer behind The Sartorialist blog, didn’t expect to settle into his career.

Friends and mentors: Ayan and Cathy

By Kathy McCabe

Ayan Kassim, 15, of Lynn, spends time every Monday after school with Cathy Tobyne, 54, of Danvers, a volunteer mentor with Children’s Friend and Family Services of Salem.

Everett

Not all in Everett willing to gamble on casino

By John Laidler

A potential resort-style casino development by Las Vegas mogul Steve Wynn is stirring a mostly cautious response from city leaders.

North Andover

By Brenda J. Buote

Local leaders are set to hold their annual tax classification hearing, a meeting held each December to determine how much of the local tax burden each property owner must shoulder.

Hingham fifth-graders learn social graces and dance steps

By Rebecca Delaney

The eight-week class, run by Boston Assemblies, teaches children dance steps and social skills.

During a Boston Assemblies social dance class, fifth-graders also learn social and etiquette skills.

Duxbury

Clipper publisher to step away from ownership

By Sarah Coffey

Duxbury Clipper owner Josh Cutler plans to step down as the paper’s publisher and divest his interest in the business as he prepares to be sworn in as state representative.

Interest widens in proactive approach to school crises

By Meg Murphy

Hundreds of school districts nationwide have adopted a controversial safety protocol known as ALICE: alert, lockdown, inform, counter, evacuate.

Used by most school districts nationwide when an armed intruder enters a school building or grounds, the lockdown protocol asks staff and students to sound alerts, lock doors, and remain calm while waiting for help.

Weston

By Jose Martinez

Opponents of deer hunting on Weston town land are working to prevent a pilot deer population-control program from continuing next fall.