Vermont Yankee critics renew town meetings campaign against re-licensing

BURLINGTON, Vt. (AP) - Vermont Yankee critics are gearing up for another campaign aimed at persuading state lawmakers to turn thumbs-down on the plant's request for a 20-year license extension.

Gay couples file lawsuit vs. DOMA

BOSTON - Gay married couples suing the government over a federal law that doesn't recognize same-sex unions say there is "no legitimate or plausible" reason for having a federal definition of marriage that excludes gay couples.

Senate hopefuls spar on lobbying

BOSTON - Democrat Alan Khazei on Tuesday turned an environmental forum into platform to criticize two leading U.S. Senate rivals for their connections to lobbyists and other special interests, but he quickly staged a pragmatic retreat himself.

PILOT cuts may hurt area towns

BOSTON - In announcing painful budget cuts last month, Gov. Deval Patrick highlighted the fact local aid - the money cities and towns use to fund schools and emergency services - would not be touched.

Immigrant tuition bill to get new push

CHELSEA - It seemed like a given that Mario Rodas would go to college.

The Guatemalan-born student certainly had the academic credentials, going from English as a second language classes to taking advanced placement exams for college credit his senior year at Chelsea High School.

Patrick recalls Marine's sacrifice

BOSTON (AP) - Gov. Deval Patrick says the importance of Veterans Day was driven home to him when he saw a young girl say "Hello Daddy" to her Marine father as he stood at attention while serving as a pallbearer at a funeral last week.

Rewards set in llama killings

LENOX (AP) - Radio show host Sherman Baldwin and a hunters' club have offered rewards for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of whoever used a bow to kill two llamas in Berkshire County. The animals were found dead Sunday morning at River Valley Farm in Lenox. Baldwin put up $200, then solicited contributions from listeners, boosting the reward to about $1,200 Tuesday.