var left_bar={"items":[{"name":"Top Stories","link":"\/Boston\/Top-Stories","items":[{"title":"Rocket hits outside luxury hotel in Afghan capital","description":" KABUL (AP) - A rocket hit outside the luxury Serena Hotel in\r\nAfghanistan's capital late Saturday, wounding at least two, the\r\nInterior Ministry...","link":"\/Boston\/World\/2009\/11\/21\/Rocket-hits-outside-luxury\/1258813637.html","created":"1258813637"},{"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":"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":"New England","link":"\/Boston\/New-England","items":[{"title":"Salvation Army to give away 1,200 holiday meals","description":" BOSTON (AP) - Salvation Army officials are expecting a record\r\nturnout when they distribute 1,200 Thanksgiving food baskets.\r\n\r\n      The Salvation...","link":"\/Boston\/New-England\/2009\/11\/21\/Salvation-Army-to-give-away\/1258817928.html","created":"1258817928"},{"title":"3 Vermont ski areas postpone opening day","description":"      MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) - Mother Nature has postponed opening day\r\nfor some Vermont ski areas.\r\n\r\n      Stowe, Sugarbush and Okemo Mountain Resort...","link":"\/Boston\/New-England\/2009\/11\/21\/3-Vermont-ski-areas-postpone\/1258809914.html","created":"1258809914"},{"title":"Maine governor: Cuts not pretty","description":"AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) - Gov. John Baldacci says nearly every\r\ndepartment in state government will see further cuts in their\r\nprograms.\r\n\r\n      In his...","link":"\/Boston\/New-England\/2009\/11\/21\/Maine-governor-Cuts-not\/1258809802.html","created":"1258809802"},{"title":"Maine woman says meat caused E. coli sickness, sues company","description":"PORTLAND, Maine (AP) - An Augusta woman who says she contracted\r\nan E. Coli infection after eating meat produced by New York-based\r\nFairbank Farms has...","link":"\/Boston\/New-England\/2009\/11\/21\/Maine-woman-says-meat-caused\/1258804844.html","created":"1258804844"}]},{"name":"Nation","link":"\/Boston\/Nation","items":[{"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"},{"title":"Levin: could be more e-mails from Ft. Hood suspect","description":" WASHINGTON - The government intercepted at least 18 e-mails\r\nbetween the alleged Fort Hood gunman and a radical Muslim cleric,\r\nand a key senator...","link":"\/Boston\/Nation\/2009\/11\/21\/Levin-could-be-more-emails\/1258801145.html","created":"1258801145"}]},{"name":"World","link":"\/Boston\/World","items":[{"title":"Rocket hits outside luxury hotel in Afghan capital","description":" KABUL (AP) - A rocket hit outside the luxury Serena Hotel in\r\nAfghanistan's capital late Saturday, wounding at least two, the\r\nInterior Ministry...","link":"\/Boston\/World\/2009\/11\/21\/Rocket-hits-outside-luxury\/1258813637.html","created":"1258813637"},{"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"},{"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":"Health","link":"\/Boston\/Health","items":[{"title":"Pap smear screening controversy  inflames health care debate","description":"(NECN\/ABC news) - For the second time this week, new guidelines urge women to get less screening for cancer.\r\n\r\n\"We're more concerned that people are...","link":"\/Boston\/Health\/2009\/11\/21\/Pap-smear-screening\/1258806154.html","created":"1258806154"},{"title":"Two more deaths linked to H1N1 virus in Mass.","description":"(NECN: Josh Brogadir, Boston) - Two more deaths linked to the H1N1 virus have been reported in Massachusetts. One of the fatalities is a young child. ...","link":"\/Boston\/Health\/2009\/11\/20\/Two-more-deaths-linked-to-H1N1\/1258769249.html","created":"1258769249"},{"title":"New guidelines recommend fewer pap smears ","description":"(NECN: Anya Huneke, Winooski, VT) - Women have a lot of new information to digest this week. First, new recommendations about mammograms, now new...","link":"\/Boston\/Health\/2009\/11\/20\/New-guidelines-recommend-fewer\/1258756668.html","created":"1258756668"},{"title":"H1N1 outbreak: What you need to know","description":"(NECN) - Dr. Peter Greenspan of Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, joins NECN with what you need to know about H1N1 flu. \r\n\r\nDr. Greenspan...","link":"\/Boston\/Health\/2009\/11\/20\/H1N1-outbreak-What-you-need\/1258752544.html","created":"1258752544"}]},{"name":"Politics","link":"\/Boston\/Politics","items":[{"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":"Senate candidates present conflicting views on shaping economy","description":"(NECN: Peter Howe, Boston) - Four of the six U.S. Senate candidates for Massachusetts mixed it up over fixing the economy Friday -- with some sparks...","link":"\/Boston\/Politics\/2009\/11\/20\/Senate-candidates-present\/1258763546.html","created":"1258763546"},{"title":"Broadside: Joyce, Malone on political hot seat","description":"(NECN) - With six weeks remaining in 2009, doesn't the Massachusetts legislature still have work to do? There's no doubt in Governor Patrick's mind...","link":"\/Boston\/Politics\/2009\/11\/20\/Broadside-Joyce-Malone-on\/1258761985.html","created":"1258761985"},{"title":"Sen. Dodd confident heading into health care vote","description":"(NECN: Brian Burnell, Hartford, Conn.) - The health care showdown moves to the U.S. Senate. A test vote is set for Saturday. Majority Leader Harry...","link":"\/Boston\/Politics\/2009\/11\/20\/Sen-Dodd-confident-heading\/1258761337.html","created":"1258761337"}]},{"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":"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"},{"title":"FIFA: France-Ireland result stands","description":"ZURICH (AP) - FIFA has ruled out the possibility of replaying\r\nthe disputed France-Ireland World Cup qualifier.\r\n      \r\nThe sport's governing body...","link":"\/Boston\/Sports\/2009\/11\/20\/FIFA-FranceIreland-result\/1258713465.html","created":"1258713465"}]},{"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":"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"},{"title":"Web moments of the decade, and Microsoft debuts new Office","description":"(NECN: Ted McEnroe) - Brace yourself for a whole lot of looking back as we bring the first decade of the new millennium to a close. \r\n\r\n(Sorry about...","link":"\/Boston\/SciTech\/2009\/11\/19\/Web-moments-of-the-decade-and\/1258634365.html","created":"1258634365"}]},{"name":"Weather","link":"\/weather","items":[{"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"},{"title":"11\/20\/09: NECN weather forecast, 4pm","description":"(NECN) - Meteorologist Tim Kelley says tonight will be partly cloudy north with a few mountain rain and snow showers. West wind 5-15 mph. Lows in the...","link":"\/Boston\/Weather\/2009\/11\/20\/112009-NECN-weather\/1258753813.html","created":"1258753813"},{"title":"11\/20\/09: NECN weather forecast, noon","description":"(NECN) - NECN meteorologist Joe Joyce is calling for a few embedded thunderstorms today with a half inch to inch of rainfall likely in most areas...","link":"\/Boston\/Weather\/2009\/11\/20\/112009-NECN-weather\/1258738235.html","created":"1258738235"}]}]};