Topic: Massachusetts
Top galleries, list articles, quizzes
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Thanksgiving Day by the numbers: 10 mind-stuffing facts
Data from the Census and other sources provide some numerical insights into Thanksgiving, arguably the most cherished national holiday.
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Election 2012: 12 reasons Obama won and Romney lost
President Obama went into his reelection fight facing significant head winds – most important, high unemployment and slow economic growth. But for a multitude of reasons, including Obama’s positives and Republican challenger Mitt Romney’s negatives, Obama succeeded. Here’s our list.
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Seven battleground states: Does economy help Obama or Romney?
Seven states have emerged as battlegrounds that may well determine the 2012 presidential election. Here's a look at seven battleground states and how their economic situation is shaping the presidential election:
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Sylvia Plath: 10 quotes on her birthday
These 10 quotes mark what would have been the 80th birthday of American poet Sylvia Plath.
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Obama or Romney? How 5 undecided voters are making up their minds.
Last month, the Monitor profiled five undecided voters whose allegiances were especially prized because they live in swing states. Now, less than two weeks before Election Day, we check in with them to see what they’re thinking now.
All Content
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Congress will vote on Sandy aid this week, says Boehner
House Speaker John Boehner rescheduled a vote on Sandy relief funding for Friday at the urging of lawmakers from the storm's hardest hit regions. The funding is slated to go toward immediate relief for victims as well as rebuilding efforts.
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Snow piles up in New England
On Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning parts of southern New England and the Northeast received up to a foot of snow. Some lost power, while others were stranded trying to travel.
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Maine same-sex couples marry in first hours of law
After waiting years, gay couples in Maine's largest city didn't have to wait a moment longer than necessary to wed, with licenses issued at the stroke of midnight as the law went into effect.
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No Ben Affleck? That's OK, Massachusetts Senate race still poised to be big.
If John Kerry's seat needs to be filled next year, it will be the fourth time Massachusetts voters have chosen Senate candidates in a six-year period. Actor-director Ben Affleck said Monday he won't run.
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Decoder Wire
Might Ben Affleck try leap from Hollywood to US Senate? So far, he's cagey.The actor and director says he's 'happy being involved from outside in government.' But Ben Affleck didn't exactly put the kibosh on talk about a possible run for John Kerry's Senate seat.
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Cover Story
Who's filling America's church pewsIn Puritan New England, Protestant and Catholic churches are declining while evangelical and Pentecostal groups are rising. Why the nation's most secular region may hint at the future of religion.
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Audits looking for undocumented immigrants on the rise
Immigration and Customs Enforcement has reported auditing more companies than ever before to look for undocumented workers on the payroll. Though President Obama has supported a path to legal status for many immigrants, he also supports penalties for companies that purposely hire illegal immigrants.
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John Kerry as secretary of State: expect a more traditional style (+video)
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, with her late-night dancing and talks with children, was known for her 'people to people' style. John Kerry is expected to adopt a more traditional version of diplomacy.
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Obama chooses John Kerry for secretary of State. How might he do?
President Obama is expected on Friday to name Sen. John Kerry to replace Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. He'd come with his own pet issues – as well as a reputation as a patient negotiator.
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Decoder Wire
Sen. Ben Affleck? Fearing loss of Mass. Senate seat, Democrats scramble.A poll shows outgoing GOP Sen. Scott Brown leading potential Democratic opponents for Sen. John Kerry's seat, if the latter becomes secretary of State. Ben Affleck hasn't flatly denied a possible run.
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Gun sales spike in some states, while others stock up on armored backpacks
The Sandy Hook Conn. school shooting has lead to mixed reactions amongst shoppers. Some states have seen record gun sales, while self-defense retailers have also noticed an increase.
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Change Agent
Nonprofits' message: Keep firewood close to homeEnvironmental groups are sending out a warning that transporting firewood across state lines can spread insects and diseases, wiping out swaths of forest and causing economic and environmental damage.
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Reports: Sen. John Kerry to be named Secretary of State (+video)
Now that Susan Rice has withdrawn her name, President Obama reportedly will name Senator John Kerry to take over as Secretary of State when Hillary Clinton resigns.
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Obama says going after marijuana 'not a top priority' (+video)
Marijuana remains an illegal drug under federal law even though voters in Colorado and Washington State recently approved ballot measures legalizing small amounts of pot for adults.
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Difference Maker
Entrepreneur Joe Edwards helps make St. Louis vibrant againBy restoring buildings and activity to a historic St. Louis neighborhood Joe Edwards has become a powerful force for civic good.
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Why Susan Rice withdrew her name as secretary of State (+video)
Republican senators had vowed a fight if Obama nominated Susan Rice to be his next secretary of State. Their opposition centered on her erroneous public statements about the attack on the US consulate in Benghazi, Libya.
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Google Zeitgeist reveals the most searched terms of 2012
Google Zeitgeist 2012 reports that people wanted to know about Whitney Houston, PSY, iPad, and many other terms.
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Supreme Court invites lawyer to argue DOMA is outside their jurisdiction
Vicki C. Jackson will be arguing that it's improper for the Supreme Court to even consider making a ruling on a federal law that treats gay married couples differently from heterosexual married couples.
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How does US compare in math, science, reading? Younger students do better.
Two international studies show fourth- and eighth-grade scores in math, science, and reading in 2011. In the US, there’s no cause for alarm, or celebration.
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In right-to-work debate where's the evidence? (+video)
Neither supporters nor opponents of right-to-work legislation in Michigan have been able to prove right-to-work laws in other states have a significant impact on the economy.
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Same-sex couples trade first 'I do's' in Washington
Due to a three-day waiting period, Sunday was the first day same-sex couples could be married after picking up marriage licenses Thursday in the state of Washington.
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Supreme Court takes up gay marriage: what the justices have to decide
The main question before the Supreme Court is not whether the Constitution protects gay marriage, but whether Prop. 8 and DOMA discriminate in violation of the 14th Amendment.
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Energy Voices
Heating oil: a last stand in the Northeast?The gap between heating oil and natural gas prices is the largest in at least a decade, causing Northeast homeowners to convert to natural gas.
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Should US export natural gas? Study for DOE fuels fiery debate.
According to the study, global market conditions are not yet ripe for US natural gas exports, but when they are, the exports would benefit the economy. A key issue is how that benefit is shared.
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Same-sex weddings in Washington State: Breakthrough for gay marriage?
On Election Day, voters in Maine, Maryland, and Washington State approved same-sex marriage – the first time such unions had been approved by popular vote. Same-sex marriage licenses in Washington were issued for the first time Thursday.
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