BOSTON — Library trustees, who must decide how to cut the Boston Public Library budget by 10 percent, are finding there is likely to be plenty of opposition to whatever choices they make. More than 50 people spoke out against proposed cut backs at the first public comment session Tuesday night.

BOSTON — Massachusetts House Speaker Robert DeLeo made the case for legalizing gambling in the state on Thursday, but how substantial could the benefits be? Many parts of the gambling industry are struggling during the economic downturn, and no one is sure how long the slump will continue.

BOSTON — 2010 census forms are due to be mailed out to every home in the country in just a few weeks. With millions of federal dollars at stake, Massachusetts officials are scrambling to make sure that historically under-counted minority and immigrant communities fill out and mail in their forms. But aside from the issue of whether people are counted, there’s also the issue of how they’re counted.

BOSTON — With such a thin margin between the Senate front-runners, the independent candidate could prove a deciding factor. Joseph P. Kennedy espouses a set of libertarian principles that in recent years have gained popularity through the candidacy of Texas Congressman Ron Paul and the “Tea Party” movement.

BOSTON — Student health centers all over the city are overcrowded with young adults with influenza-like illnesses. The challenge for many health care officials on campus is trying to keep the flu from spreading on crowded campuses.

BOSTON — Around this time every year, Northeastern University political economist Barry Bluestone offers-up a widely-read assessment of the housing market and the economy as a whole in Greater Boston. In 2008, it was pretty scary. This year’s report indicates several green shoots.

BOSTON — “Up from the West Indies, cradle of hurricanes, moved the terror,” begins an old WPA documentary about the Great New England Hurricane of 1938. “A pit of low atmospheric pressure into which the air rushed from all directions to form a whirling shrieking vortex of high wind and heavy rain. Hurricane!”

BOSTON — The special election to replace former speaker Sal DiMasi, who resigned in January, is heating up. As WBUR’s Adam Ragusea reports, the candidates to succeed DiMasi are turning traditional notions of Boston’s political demography upside down.

BOSTON — BOSTON — Following Governor Sarah Palin’s debut speech as the Republican Vice Presidential candidate last night at the Republican National Convention, tonight the presumptive nominee, Senator John McCain, is in the spotlight.
It’s McCain’s turn to address the delegates and appeal to potential voters watching and listening at home. (NPR)
WBUR’s Bob Oakes is in St. Paul, [...]

BOSTON — BOSTON — Delegates at the Republican National Convention in Saint Paul are eagerly awaiting tonight’s speech from Alaska Governor Sarah Palin. The GOP Vice Presidential hopeful will introduce herself to much of the country in tonight’s prime time address. (NPR)
WBUR’s Bob Oakes has been gauging the mood on the floor, particularly in response to news [...]

BOSTON — BOSTON — The Republican National Convention is moving forward. In St. Paul, Minnesota tonight, the schedule is more comprehensive than it was on opening day yesterday, when the Party postponed most events due to Hurricane Gustav. (NPR)
WBUR’s Bob Oakes is in St Paul following developments with the Massachusetts delegation and with party organziers. He joins [...]

BOSTON — BOSTON — The Republican National Convention opened this afternoon, albeit scaled back by Hurricane Gustav. Cindy McCain, wife of the GOP presidential candidate John McCain, and First Lady Laura Bush addressed the crowd in St. Paul, Minnesota, appealing for aid to the Gulf Coast. (AP)�
Meanwhile, early in the proceedings, the delegates gathered heard from a Massachusetts [...]

BOSTON — BOSTON — As Gulf Coast residents evacuate from the path of Hurricane Gustav, the GOP is substantially paring down the schedule for Day One of the Republican National Convention in Saint Paul, Minnesota. (AP)
Presumptive nominee John McCain announced today that Monday’s events will consist only of official party business; no partisan speeches. Speaking to party [...]

BOSTON — BOSTON — Senator Barack Obama accepted the nomination of the Democratic Party for the presidency before a crowd of 84,000 people at Invesco Field at Mile High Stadium in Denver.
Sen. Obama pledged to cut taxes “for 95 percent of working families,” end the war in Iraq, and break America’s dependence on foreign oil within 10 [...]

BOSTON — BOSTON — In Denver this afternoon, the crowd is building at Invesco/Mile High stadium. That’s where the Denver Broncos play football.
But tonight, it’s where the Democratic National Convention caps off its convention with a speech by the Party’s nominee, Barack Obama.
WBUR’s Bob Oakes is at the stadium as final preparations are underway and joins WBUR’s [...]

BOSTON — BOSTON — Massachusetts Senator John Kerry says America is closer to electing a Democrat president now than it was four years ago when he was the party nominee.
Kerry made numerous references to his failed presidential campaign of 2004, even poking fun at some of his most memorable gaffes. “Candidate McCain says he would vote against [...]

BOSTON — BOSTON — Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick used his personal story to emphasize the importance of the “American dream” as he addressed convention delegates. In three years, Gov. Patrick has gone from being a political unknown to taking a prime speaking slot at the DNC between the keynote and Senator Hillary Clinton’s remarks.

Gov. Patrick’s speech highlighted [...]

BOSTON — BOSTON — Democratic Party leaders take on the challenge of trying to reunify the Party tonight at its convention in Denver.
Senator Hillary Clinton, who lost the primary battle to presumptive nominee Sen. Barack Obama, addresses the convention tonight. She’s expected to take the podium at about 10:30 Eastern. (NPR)
WBUR’s Bob Oakes joined us again from [...]

BOSTON — BOSTON — Senator Edward Kennedy, who is suffering from brain cancer, delivered a rousing, unscheduled speech on the first night of the Democratic National Convention in Denver. (NPR)
Click here for Sen. Kennedy’s complete remarks, both audio and text. (WBUR)
Sen. Kennedy looked and sounded strong, and walked to the podium unassisted. He told the delegates that he [...]

BOSTON — BOSTON — A prominent Democrat from Massachusetts will be receiving much of the attention tonight in Denver.  Aides confirm that Senator Edward Kennedy, who is being treated for brain cancer, will attend the convention tonight, where he will be honored. WBUR’s Steve Brown and Bob Oakes gauged the Democratic reaction to the news. (WBUR)
Sen. Kennedy won’t [...]