var left_bar={"items":[{"name":"Top Stories","link":"\/Boston\/Top-Stories","items":[{"title":"Police deal with attacks in Boston, Springfield","description":"BOSTON (AP) - Police on both ends of the state are dealing with\r\nseparate, brutal attacks.\r\n     \r\n In Boston, police say two men were attacked by a...","link":"\/Boston\/New-England\/2009\/11\/21\/Police-deal-with-attacks-in\/1258845106.html","created":"1258845106"},{"title":"High-risk residents receive H1N1 vaccine in Boston","description":"(NECN: Jeff Saperstone, Boston, Mass.) - On Friday, health officials announced that two more Massachusetts residents had died from complications of...","link":"\/Boston\/Health\/2009\/11\/21\/Highrisk-residents-receive\/1258843429.html","created":"1258843429"},{"title":"First Lady of Mass. endorses Capuano for Senate","description":"(NECN: John Moroney) - Diane Patrick, the Governor's wife made her choice for U.S Senate.  Another high-profile female endorsement for Michael...","link":"\/Boston\/Politics\/2009\/11\/21\/First-Lady-of-Mass-endorses\/1258842537.html","created":"1258842537"}]},{"name":"New England","link":"\/Boston\/New-England","items":[{"title":"Police deal with attacks in Boston, Springfield","description":"BOSTON (AP) - Police on both ends of the state are dealing with\r\nseparate, brutal attacks.\r\n     \r\n In Boston, police say two men were attacked by a...","link":"\/Boston\/New-England\/2009\/11\/21\/Police-deal-with-attacks-in\/1258845106.html","created":"1258845106"},{"title":"Two teens die in Conn. accident","description":"(NECN) - Police in Shelton, Conn. are reconstructing the scene of an accident after two teenagers died in an overnight crash.\r\n\r\nPolice say the crash...","link":"\/Boston\/New-England\/2009\/11\/21\/Two-teens-die-in-Conn\/1258825411.html","created":"1258825411"},{"title":"Flu clinic held for high risk groups in Dorchester","description":"(NECN: Jeff Saperstone, Dorchester, Mass.) - The scramble to get the swine flu vaccine continues.\r\n\r\nToday, a health center in Boston's Dorchester...","link":"\/Boston\/Health\/2009\/11\/21\/Flu-clinic-held-for-high-risk\/1258823175.html","created":"1258823175"},{"title":"Mass. readies for holiday travel crunch","description":"BOSTON (AP) - Transportation officials say planning ahead and\r\navoiding traffic \"hot spots\" could make things a lot smoother for\r\nThanksgiving...","link":"\/Boston\/New-England\/2009\/11\/21\/Mass-readies-for-holiday\/1258822010.html","created":"1258822010"}]},{"name":"Nation","link":"\/Boston\/Nation","items":[{"title":"59 and counting: Health care bill nears test vote","description":"WASHINGTON (AP) - And then there was one.\r\n\r\n      Historic health care legislation advanced to a Saturday night\r\nSenate showdown as centrist Sen...","link":"\/Boston\/Politics\/2009\/11\/21\/59-and-counting-Health-care\/1258828858.html","created":"1258828858"},{"title":"UC Berkeley protest ends with arrests","description":"(NECN\/KGO\/ABC News: Berkeley, Calif.) - A protest at the University of California, Berkeley ended with dozens arrested Friday night.  \r\n\r\nThe...","link":"\/Boston\/Nation\/2009\/11\/21\/UC-Berkeley-protest-ends-with\/1258814893.html","created":"1258814893"},{"title":"First Senate vote looms on health legislation","description":" WASHINGTON (AP) - A crucial first Senate vote on President\r\nBarack Obama's health care overhaul in a rare Saturday night\r\nsession looms as a test of...","link":"\/Boston\/Politics\/2009\/11\/21\/First-Senate-vote-looms-on\/1258810105.html","created":"1258810105"},{"title":"Obama trumpets Asia trip as boost to US economy","description":"(NECN\/AP\/ABC News) - President Barack Obama is touting his recent\r\nAsian trip as a way to drum up thousands of jobs back home.\r\n\r\n      In his radio...","link":"\/Boston\/World\/2009\/11\/21\/Obama-trumpets-Asia-trip-as\/1258807326.html","created":"1258807326"}]},{"name":"World","link":"\/Boston\/World","items":[{"title":"Pope meets Anglican leader, pledges closer relations despite Catholic invitation ","description":"(NECN\/CTV: Vatican City) - The Archbishop of Canterbury held his first talks on Saturday with Pope Benedict XVI since the Roman Catholic church's...","link":"\/Boston\/World\/2009\/11\/21\/Pope-meets-Anglican-leader\/1258827372.html","created":"1258827372"},{"title":"Rocket hits outside luxury hotel in Afghan capital","description":"(NECN\/APTV: Kabul, Afghanistan) - A rocket landed outside the luxury Serena Hotel in Afghanistan's capital Kabul late on Saturday, wounding two...","link":"\/Boston\/World\/2009\/11\/21\/Rocket-hits-outside-luxury\/1258826807.html","created":"1258826807"},{"title":"China says 42 dead, 66 trapped in mine explosion","description":"(NECN\/AP\/CCTV: Harbin, China) - A gas explosion tore through a state-run coal\r\nmine in northern China on Saturday, killing 42 people and leaving\r\n66...","link":"\/Boston\/World\/2009\/11\/21\/China-says-42-dead-66-trapped\/1258811720.html","created":"1258811720"},{"title":"Russia president criticizes ruling party over vote","description":"  ST.PETERSBURG, Russia (AP) - Russia's President Dmitry Medvedev\r\non Saturday sharply criticized officials in the ruling\r\nKremlin-backed party for...","link":"\/Boston\/World\/2009\/11\/21\/Russia-president-criticizes\/1258808328.html","created":"1258808328"}]},{"name":"Health","link":"\/Boston\/Health","items":[{"title":"High-risk residents receive H1N1 vaccine in Boston","description":"(NECN: Jeff Saperstone, Boston, Mass.) - On Friday, health officials announced that two more Massachusetts residents had died from complications of...","link":"\/Boston\/Health\/2009\/11\/21\/Highrisk-residents-receive\/1258843429.html","created":"1258843429"},{"title":"Landrieu to vote to move ahead on health care bill","description":"WASHINGTON (AP) - Democratic Sen. Mary Landrieu says she will\r\nvote \"yes\" on a crucial test vote on the health care bill.\r\n\r\n      The Louisiana...","link":"\/Boston\/Politics\/2009\/11\/21\/Landrieu-to-vote-to-move-ahead\/1258826140.html","created":"1258826140"},{"title":"New studies fuel debate over health care","description":"(NECN\/ABC News) -  The health care reform bill will face a key procedural vote in the Senate tonight. \r\n\r\nNo Republicans are backing this bill, which...","link":"\/Boston\/Politics\/2009\/11\/21\/New-studies-fuel-debate-over\/1258825012.html","created":"1258825012"},{"title":"Flu clinic held for high risk groups in Dorchester","description":"(NECN: Jeff Saperstone, Dorchester, Mass.) - The scramble to get the swine flu vaccine continues.\r\n\r\nToday, a health center in Boston's Dorchester...","link":"\/Boston\/Health\/2009\/11\/21\/Flu-clinic-held-for-high-risk\/1258823175.html","created":"1258823175"}]},{"name":"Politics","link":"\/Boston\/Politics","items":[{"title":"Democrats secure votes to move health care bill forward","description":"(NECN: Josh Brogadir) - Today, Senate Democrats hit the magic number 60, and will move ahead to debate the historic health care legislation. \r\n\r\nThe...","link":"\/Boston\/Politics\/2009\/11\/21\/Democrats-secure-votes-to-move\/1258843873.html","created":"1258843873"},{"title":"First Lady of Mass. endorses Capuano for Senate","description":"(NECN: John Moroney) - Diane Patrick, the Governor's wife made her choice for U.S Senate.  Another high-profile female endorsement for Michael...","link":"\/Boston\/Politics\/2009\/11\/21\/First-Lady-of-Mass-endorses\/1258842537.html","created":"1258842537"},{"title":"Sen. Burr: \"This is the Harry Reid layaway plan\"","description":"(NECN: Washington) - Senate Democrats hit the magic number of 60, and will move ahead to debate the historic health care legislation. \r\n\r\nTwo final...","link":"\/Boston\/Politics\/2009\/11\/21\/Sen-Burr-This-is-the-Harry\/1258838248.html","created":"1258838248"},{"title":"Dems snare 60 votes to move ahead on health care","description":"WASHINGTON (AP) - Democratic leaders secured the last two votes\r\nto move ahead on historic health care legislation, clearing the way\r\nfor a Saturday...","link":"\/Boston\/Politics\/2009\/11\/21\/Dems-snare-60-votes-to-move\/1258835226.html","created":"1258835226"}]},{"name":"Arts & Entertainment","link":"\/Boston\/Arts-Entertainment","items":[{"title":"Harvard, Yale face off in Quidditch","description":"(NECN: New Haven, Conn.) - Hogwarts could have some competition. This fall, Harvard joined the ranks of more than 200 universities that play...","link":"\/Boston\/Arts-Entertainment\/2009\/11\/20\/Harvard-Yale-face-off-in\/1258771246.html","created":"1258771246"},{"title":"\"New Moon\" worth sinking your teeth into?","description":"(NECN: Jay Carr) -  The madness over \"New Moon\" started even before the movie hit theaters. \r\n\r\nNow that it's finally here, the Twilight sequel is...","link":"\/Boston\/Arts-Entertainment\/2009\/11\/20\/New-Moon-worth-sinking-your\/1258754722.html","created":"1258754722"},{"title":"In Focus: Tim's Friday Pics","description":"(NECN) - Meteorologist Tim Kelley shares his weekly pics. This week Tim's photos include Hingham's 375th birthday celebration, some shots from around...","link":"\/Boston\/Arts-Entertainment\/2009\/11\/20\/In-Focus-Tims-Friday-Pics\/1258752967.html","created":"1258752967"},{"title":"Oprah will end show after 25 seasons ","description":"(NECN\/ABC) - After 25 years of Hosting \"The Oprah Winfrey Show,\" Oprah will say goodbye.\r\n\r\nShe became a national name in 1986, reshaping the talk...","link":"\/Boston\/Arts-Entertainment\/2009\/11\/20\/Oprah-will-end-show-after-25\/1258739344.html","created":"1258739344"}]},{"name":"Sports","link":"\/Boston\/Sports","items":[{"title":"Dixon's 4-yard TD gives UConn 33-30 win over ND","description":"SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) - The Connecticut Huskies finally won one\r\nfor their slain teammate, handing Notre Dame and coach Charlie Weis\r\na second...","link":"\/Boston\/Sports\/2009\/11\/21\/Dixons-4yard-TD-gives-UConn\/1258848081.html","created":"1258848081"},{"title":"Holland scores 21 as Boston U. beats Indiana 71-67","description":"  SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) - John Holland scored 21 points, Jake\r\nO'Brien had 14 points and 13 rebounds, and Boston University\r\nrallied to beat...","link":"\/Boston\/Sports\/2009\/11\/21\/Holland-scores-21-as-Boston-U\/1258810871.html","created":"1258810871"},{"title":"Russia may face sanctions for doping in skiing","description":"MOSCOW (AP) - The head of skiing's governing body says the\r\nRussian ski federation and Olympic committee could face sanctions\r\nif there are more...","link":"\/Boston\/Sports\/2009\/11\/21\/Russia-may-face-sanctions-for\/1258809014.html","created":"1258809014"},{"title":"Playoff repeat: Magic beats Celtics 83-78","description":"  BOSTON (AP) - Kevin Garnett missed last season's playoff series\r\nagainst Orlando with a knee injury. Rasheed Wallace signed with\r\nBoston after it...","link":"\/Boston\/Sports\/2009\/11\/21\/Playoff-repeat-Magic-beats\/1258806489.html","created":"1258806489"}]},{"name":"Business","link":"\/Boston\/Business","items":[{"title":"MHT: Tech Citizenship Awards","description":"(NECN) - In this down economy, many people and business find it challenging to match past donations to charities. Which is why it's somewhat...","link":"\/Boston\/Business\/2009\/11\/20\/MHT-Tech-Citizenship-Awards\/1258763830.html","created":"1258763830"},{"title":"Market Analysis with Jim Lowell","description":"(NECN) - Stocks fall, ending lower for the week.\r\n     \r\nThe major indexes were down by less than one percent.\r\n\r\nThe Dow Jones industrial average...","link":"\/Boston\/Business\/2009\/11\/20\/Market-Analysis-with-Jim\/1258749315.html","created":"1258749315"},{"title":"BBJ: Preventing start-ups from jumping ship","description":"(NECN) - A bunch of 20-something entrepreneurs in Boston have taken on a mission.  They want to prevent promising start-ups from leaving...","link":"\/Boston\/Business\/2009\/11\/20\/BBJ-Preventing-startups-from\/1258722100.html","created":"1258722100"},{"title":"Stronger dollar, weak economic data pummels stocks","description":"NEW YORK (AP) - Signs of a subdued economic recovery sent\r\ninvestors out of stocks Thursday and in search of safer assets like\r\nthe dollar.\r\n     \r\n...","link":"\/Boston\/Business\/2009\/11\/19\/Stronger-dollar-weak-economic\/1258674494.html","created":"1258674494"}]},{"name":"Sci-Tech","link":"\/Boston\/Sci-Tech","items":[{"title":"Atlantis astronauts take second spacewalk of mission","description":"(NECN\/AP\/NASA: Cape Canaveral, Fla.) - An astronaut anticipating the birth\r\nof his daughter at any moment embarked on the first spacewalk of\r\nhis...","link":"\/Boston\/SciTech\/2009\/11\/21\/Atlantis-astronauts-take\/1258819808.html","created":"1258819808"},{"title":"Europe: Proton beams circulate in Big Bang machine","description":"(NECN\/AP: Geneva, Switzerland) - Scientists switched on the world's largest atom\r\nsmasher for the first time since the $10 billion machine suffered...","link":"\/Boston\/SciTech\/2009\/11\/21\/Europe-Proton-beams-circulate\/1258807998.html","created":"1258807998"},{"title":"Germany calls for binding climate deal in 2010","description":"BRUSSELS (AP) - German Chancellor Angela Merkel called Friday\r\nfor all countries to fix binding climate change targets next year\r\nat the latest,...","link":"\/Boston\/SciTech\/2009\/11\/19\/Germany-calls-for-binding\/1258654564.html","created":"1258654564"},{"title":"Great ball of fire flashes in Utah sky","description":"(NECN: Utah) - Anyone out in Utah at around midnight Wednesday night heading into Thursday morning saw one great ball of fire in the sky.\r\n\r\nAn...","link":"\/Boston\/SciTech\/2009\/11\/19\/Great-ball-of-fire-flashes-in\/1258638345.html","created":"1258638345"}]},{"name":"Weather","link":"\/weather","items":[{"title":"11\/21\/09: NECN weather forecast, 5pm","description":"(NECN) - Meteorologist Tim Kelley says tonight will be mostly clear and cool. Light northwest wind. Lows in the 30's, 20's in northern...","link":"\/Boston\/Weather\/2009\/11\/21\/112109-NECN-weather\/1258843642.html","created":"1258843642"},{"title":"11\/21\/09: NECN weather forecast, 12pm","description":"(NECN) - Meteorologist Joe Joyce says tonight it'll be mostly clear and cool. Light NW wind. Lows in the 30's, 20's in northern valleys. Sunday,...","link":"\/Boston\/Weather\/2009\/11\/21\/112109-NECN-weather\/1258824751.html","created":"1258824751"},{"title":"11\/21\/09: NECN weather forecast, 6am","description":"(NECN) - Meteorologist Joe Joyce says today we'll see a blend of sun & clouds. Highs in the middle 50s to around 60 in southern New England, 40s...","link":"\/Boston\/Weather\/2009\/11\/21\/112109-NECN-weather\/1258803239.html","created":"1258803239"},{"title":"11\/20\/09: NECN weather forecast, 9pm","description":"(NECN) - Meteorologist Tim Kelley says Saturday will have a blend of sun & clouds. Highs in the middle 50s to around 60 in southern New England,...","link":"\/Boston\/Weather\/2009\/11\/20\/112009-NECN-weather\/1258769335.html","created":"1258769335"}]}]};