BOSTON — Hardworking and humble: that’s the character Mike Sullivan hopes will resonate with voters who don’t agree with his conservative positions.

BOSTON — Members of Congress from Massachusetts introduced a joint resolution Wednesday “expressing support, sympathy, and prayers for all persons impacted by” the Boston Marathon explosions.

WASHINGTON — Republican Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida said a bipartisan deal on immigration legislation would need tough enforcement and even stricter penalties for those who came to the United States illegally.

BOSTON — The state Senate on Saturday overwhelmingly approved the latest version of a contentious transportation financing overhaul that aims to pump billions of dollars into the state’s aging and debt-ridden transportation system over the next several years.

BOSTON — The measure approved Saturday was one of dozens of proposed amendments to a transportation finance bill being considered by senators.

BOSTON — The Massachusetts Senate, meeting in a rare Saturday session, weighed the latest version of a contentious bill that would pump more dollars into the state’s aging and debt-ridden transportation system.

BOSTON — “It’s like the story of the three bears,” Sen. Karen Spilka said, explaining Beacon Hill’s tax-transportation debate.

BOSTON — A spokeswoman said Rep. Joseph Kennedy III formed the PAC because he wants to support candidates and causes he believes in.

BOSTON — Candidates Michael Sullivan and Gabriel Gomez have launched competing attack ads.

BOSTON — Michael Ross, 41, has represented the city’s District 8 since 1999.

BOSTON — The three Republican candidates in Massachusetts’ U.S. Senate race split Wednesday on the question of whether they would support a compromise gun measure designed to require expanded background checks.

BOSTON — Dorchester state Rep. Martin Walsh has represented the 13th Suffolk District in the Massachusetts House since 1997.

BOSTON — A former Massachusetts state representative has been sentenced to four months in prison for casting invalid absentee ballots in 2009 and 2010.

BOSTON — Time is running out to register to vote in the Republican and Democratic primaries in Massachusetts’ special U.S. Senate election.