Panera Bread faces struggle in Newton

This isn’t the first time Newton has stood out from other Massachusetts communities, but it might be one of the more telling examples, cutting to the heart of the identity of a city that struggles to feel like a town. By Lisa Kocian, Globe Staff

Divergent strategies for Brown, Coakley

From the opening moments yesterday of their special election battle for US Senate, the contrasts between Republican Scott Brown and Democrat Martha Coakley were clear. By Matt Viser and Eric Moskowitz, Globe Staff

Festivals, plays, and other variations on the holiday season

Holiday events are popping up all over the calendar. Get your fill of latkes, nutcrackers, menorahs, Santa sightings, dreidels, and Scrooge (and get in some shopping, too) at these seasonal favorites. By Denise Taylor, Globe Correspondent

GOP's Brown maps strategy in Mass. Senate campaign

Republican Scott Brown is hoping to ride a tide of voter anger at Wall Street bailouts and soaring national debt as he seeks to topple Democrat Martha Coakley in the race to fill the U.S. Senate seat held by the late Edward Kennedy. By Steve LeBlanc, Associated Press Writer

Warrant issued for suspect in Aug. killing

BOSTON The Suffolk district attorney issued an arrest warrant yesterday for the man suspected of killing a woman in Dorchester in August, according to Boston police. Investigators will seek to charge Amos “Ace’’ Don, 23, of Boston with the shooting death of Erica Field, 29, of Lewiston, Maine, and an additional charge of armed assault with intent to murder in ... Boston Globe

Overrides, local races also on ballot in Mass.

The race to fill the late Sen. Edward Kennedy's Senate seat were not the only issues facing Massachusetts voters. AP

Regional vaccination clinic in Arlington

Arlington’s Health Department is partnering with neighboring communities to offer a regional seasonal flu vaccination clinic today in Brookline. The clinic will be held at Brookline High School at 115 Greenough St. from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and will be open to anyone 6 months old or older. Anyone under 18 years old will need parental consent to ... Boston Globe

Brockton gets approval for state’s first urban sky farm

Once known as Shoe City USA, Brockton is looking to reinvent itself as a sustainable-growth leader: The city of 93,000 recently became the first in the state to allow and promote sky farming, an emerging industry that promises to offer fresh and affordable food to residents, one rooftop at a time. By Michele Morgan Bolton, Globe Correspondent

Letters to the Magazine editor

On Guard Congratulations on a well-written and insightful piece on Rajon Rondo (“The Stubborn, Impatient, Self-Centered, and Absolutely Essential Rajon Rondo,” November 15). As a Celtics fan for the past half century and a fan of good prose for almost that length of time, I enjoyed the way Charles P. Pierce melded those so well. Boston Globe

Belgrades offer visitors a lesson

On Belgrade Avenue in Roslindale yesterday, across from an Albanian-owned cafe and a block from a Greek Orthodox church, Serbian television commentator Vladimir Jelic was wrapping up his three-week odyssey through the American communities and byways that bear the name of his own capital city. By James F. Smith, Globe Staff

Needham company is banking on veggies in the sky

Once known as Shoe City USA, Brockton is looking to reinvent itself as a sustainable-growth leader: The city of 93,000 recently became the first in the state to allow and promote sky farming, an emerging industry that promises to offer fresh and affordable food to residents, one rooftop at a time. By Michele Morgan Bolton, Globe Correspondent

Western suburbs contribute generously to Democratic Senate candidates

When it came to writing checks, Newton was tops for Coakley and Capuano. Brookline covered Khazei. Pagliuca did swell in Wellesley. And Wrentham gave to Brown, the hometown candidate. By Lisa Kocian, Globe Staff

T fires train attendant in November case

MBTA officials said yesterday that a Red Line subway train attendant was fired, and the train’s operator was suspended for 10 days without pay after a November incident in which a woman’s handbag got stuck in the door of a subway car at South Station. “The behavior of the train crew in this incident was inexcusable and won’t be tolerated,’’ ... Boston Globe