2012-02-11T07:32:32-05:00 urn:uuid:88d73174-4931-42b4-818f-5360d44cc568 urn:uuid:2ba1bf65-bfac-43a8-91ea-587a3953a998 2012-02-11T04:38:00-05:00

New England will once again be the focus of the Republican presidential sweepstakes tonight when the party announces the results of city and town caucuses in Maine. But they are unlikely to bring much clarity to a race in which Mitt Romney, despite a few key victories and a decided advantage in money and organization, has failed to close the deal with voters.

David M. Shribman urn:uuid:3ba30224-70bc-4fb7-bcf1-604981e3e172 2012-02-11T04:37:00-05:00

In World War II he tamed America's allies and conquered its adversaries. As a conservative college president, he defended liberal professors caught in a virulent red scare. As NATO commander, he projected strength without projecting force. In the White House, he presided over the sort of peace and prosperity that today's presidential candidates can't plausibly promise.

From News staff and wire reports urn:uuid:d9faa02d-7c9a-4ef8-8206-eec73a96d373 2012-02-11T04:36:00-05:00

" Right now costs are not sustainable. I would feel like I was not doing my job if we did not pursue this. "<br /> Peabody Mayor Ted Bettencourt defending his effort to get the city to adopt a state law giving him greater flexibility in negotiating health benefits with city unions

urn:uuid:52cc7e18-40a7-4815-bddc-39371957f831 2012-02-10T04:36:00-05:00

On the one hand it's an encouraging sign of spring's approach when landscapers start stockpiling mulch to spread around homes and office buildings when the threat of snow has vanished. But such piles become problematic when they catch on fire as happened on Farm Avenue in Peabody Monday.

urn:uuid:227416b5-34bc-4047-bd2f-dd3e9d446e26 2012-02-10T04:35:00-05:00

<p> Salem&#39;s Kim Driscoll is simply the latest municipal chief executive paying the price for labor giveaways of the past.<br /> More than a third-century ago, someone at City Hall apparently thought it would be no big deal to provide retiring superior officers in the Police Department with a parting gift in the form of benefits they would have earned through the remainder of the fiscal year.</p>

Nelson Benton urn:uuid:75f71075-ca24-4ca5-9f6d-f721af062da8 2012-02-10T04:34:00-05:00

Despite Gov. Patrick's desire to get something done quickly, state Rep. Steven Walsh, D-Lynn, says it's more important to get it right when it comes to containing the cost of health care in the Bay State.

Project for PEM: Restoration of Grimshawe House urn:uuid:8e85a6dd-ce24-4daf-b0b3-1836ce88d892 2012-02-10T04:33:00-05:00

To the editor:<br /> Now that the Peabody Essex Museum has become a major landlord in downtown Salem, it might be time for this institution to perform a noble restoration.<br /> By this I mean bringing the "Grimshawe House," Nathaniel Hawthorne's wife's former residence, back to its Federalist-period glory.

urn:uuid:953d8a1c-10fb-428d-8f41-f2f63b741caf 2012-02-10T04:32:00-05:00

To the editor:<br /> My son Jack is 6 years old and autistic. Though high functioning, he still possesses all of the characteristics of an autistic child. <br /> My husband and I are constantly trying to involve him in physical activities in order to help make him feel more included and keep him physically active. This is, of course, challenging for a child that has difficulty attending or paying attention to instruction and waiting his turn. We recently enrolled him in karate with the understanding that in order for him to participate, either my husband or myself or Jack's therapist will be next to him the whole time supporting him and helping to keep him on task.

urn:uuid:72d5de4c-05ee-4a19-ac4d-88f1d4e07109 2012-02-10T04:31:00-05:00

To the editor:<br /> My thanks, and the thanks of every person in the audience, for the 2012 season of the Salem Philharmonic Orchestra.<br /> Salem is made up of many historic and cultural resources that trace their roots from its early settlement to the present day.

urn:uuid:d1833334-6f64-40a8-a4f3-d5c59ffb6af2 2012-02-10T04:30:00-05:00

To the editor:<br /> I just received my annual form from the Beverly assessors' office listing all personal property at my business that is subject to taxation.<br /> I am required to pay yearly taxes of $25.59 per $1,000 of value on every item I own, including my kitchen sink.