POSTED: 7:43 pm EST December 20, 2011
UPDATED: 8:11 pm EST December 20, 2011

CONCORD, N.H. — Just a year ago, tea party activists came roaring out of the congressional elections eager to shape the looming race for the White House. Other political news of note House rejects payroll tax stopgap First Read: Republicans in the House on Tuesday rejected the Senate’s two-month extension of an expiring payroll tax cut, and moved toward initiating formal talks with Democrats on a final deal. Gingrich accuses Romney of ‘smear campaigns’ Gingrich: Rivals ‘ought to be ashamed of themselves’ for negative ads Jindal lends Perry a hand in Iowa Readers respond: What matters Continue reading >>>

  Kristen Casey (L) Manuel Sheehan(R) A man and a woman, both residents of Somerville, were arrested this afternoon in connection with an investigation into multiple package thefts from area residences.  In recent days, Somerville Police and other greater Boston Police Departments have been investigating reports of thieves taking advantage of the seasonal spike in express deliveries by stealing packages from porches and doorways.  Acting on information from the Medford Police Department, Somerville officers today stopped a vehicle at Pearl Street and McGrath Highway that matched the description Continue reading >>>

The new public market will be across the street from the iconic Haymarket food market (pictured here) in downtown Boston. (AP) BOSTON — Plans for a year-round, indoor public market in downtown Boston are on the fast track after years of discussion. The state is now seeking proposals from potential developers and operators of the new public market. Haymarket is the iconic outdoor market, which has been a fixture in downtown Boston on Fridays and Saturdays for more than 170 years. There’ll soon be vendors nearby in another space, Continue reading >>>

Sports Injury Massage From Geri Costanza Massage Offers Clients Improved Overall Well-being Published on: December 20th, 2011 08:00am by: pahosa (0) Print This Release | Tell a Friend | Discuss This Press Release Marblehead, MA (OPENPRESS) December 19, 2011 - The human body is exposed to stressful situations on a daily basis. A person may go throughout their day with little or no sleep, minimal exercise, and the consumption of unhealthy food. With their busy lives, this may all go unaccounted for as people generally pay little attention to the body's wear and tear signs, which Continue reading >>>

International Ballet Academy of Norwell will present the Nutcracker Ballet for the first time on the Company Theatre stage in Norwell. Performances will take place at 7 p.m. on Dec. 21 and 22.

Professional dancers from Festival Ballet of Providence, R.I., and students from the South Shore and the Greater Boston area will perform in this ballet. It is a story that has been popular with people for almost 120 years, especially around the holiday season. Tickets are $25 and are available at the academy.

For more information, call 339-788-9670.