BOSTON — Democratic U.S. Senate hopeful Stephen Lynch tried to shift the focus of the special election campaign to the economic plight of the poor and middle class.

BOSTON — The Republican candidates are asking their rival to disavow ads from the Conservative Campaign Committee.

BOSTON — A political newcomer and a veteran city politician have won special elections to fill vacant state legislative seats in Peabody and Everett.

Daniel Conley has been the county’s district attorney since 2002.

BOSTON — Historian Robert Dallek says Caroline Kennedy’s ambassadorship would be a continuation of, but also a change in, the Kennedy dynasty.

BOSTON — Party Executive Director Nate Little says in the complaint that Markey used what he called prohibited video on the ads, including footage of committee hearings.

BOSTON — As mayor, Thomas Menino’s biggest legacy may be the South Boston waterfront he’s branded the “Innovation District.”

BOSTON — John O’Brien, the department’s former commissioner, goes on trial in an alleged scheme to land his wife a job with the state lottery.

PEABODY, Mass. — Special elections are being held to fill two vacant seats in the state House of Representatives.

BOSTON — Rev. Ray Hammond says any mayoral candidate needs to be inclusive of every neighborhood and people of every ethnicity.

WASHINGTON — Even with one of the largest hurdles to an immigration overhaul overcome, lawmakers on Sunday cautioned much work remains and that no final deal has been reached.

WASHINGTON — Big business and labor have struck a deal on a new low-skilled worker program, removing the biggest hurdle to completion of sweeping immigration legislation allowing 11 million illegal immigrants eventual U.S. citizenship, a person with knowledge of the talks said Saturday.

SEOUL, South Korea — The White House said Saturday it is taking seriously new threats by North Korea but also noted Pyongyang’s history of “bellicose rhetoric.”

BOSTON — One day after Boston Mayor Thomas Menino said he would not run for an unprecedented sixth term, the field of potential candidates is getting crowded.