GateHouse News Service New England Budget • November 15, 2007

Here are the top New England regional stories coming today from GateHouse News Service. Stories are available at gatehousenewsservice.com. Please submit stories below no later than 6 p.m. local time, unless you have breaking news that is changing significantly. Questions?

Contact: Chris Biondi, (508) 626-4343, cbiondi@gatehousemedia.com

News

CARDINAL VOTERS - Cardinal O'Malley reportedly said it was "scandalous" that Catholics would back Democrats. What do local pols think? What about voters - specifically, registered Democrats?

Ledger, Benner, 15 inches, 8 p.m

AFTER SCHOOL REPORT - Four out of five students, on average, do not participate in after-school activities, which leaves them to roam the streets, hang out at malls, or sit in front of a TV. State commission wants to change that.

Enterprise, Scott, 19 inches, 6 p.m.

CSB RULES OUT NATURAL GAS IN DANVERSPORT EXPLOSION - The U.S. Chemical Safety Board on Thursday confirmed earlier findings that the overnight build-up of overheated flammable vapors in an unventilated factory caused the explosion that rocked Danversport one year ago.

CNC, O’Hare, 15 inches, on wire now

MAN RECORDS THREE HOLES IN ONE IN SAME HOLE WITHIN A MONTH - Within the span of a month, 69-year-old Dave Machado recorded three holes-in-one, on the par 3, third hole at Fall River Country Club, using his 3-hybrid club.

Herald News, Geary, 18 inches, on wire now

With photo

COHASSET WOMAN ON MISSION TO BUILD AN ORPHANAGE IN AFRICA – Retired teacher moved to action after a visit to Kenya with her missionary sister. “I cried for the first two days of the trip because of what I saw — the poverty and the horror.”

CNC, White, 20 inches, on wire now

With photo

COMING SOON: FIRE-SAFE CIGS; BIG FINES FOR SMOKES THAT DON’T EXTINGUISH SELVES - Starting Jan. 1, only cigarettes that are self-extinguishing will be legal for sale in this state. The so-called fire-safe kind go out by themselves unless they are puffed on frequently.

Ledger, Benner, 18 inches, on wire now

With fact box

JURY’S CALL IN MWRA CASE MAY AFFECT YOUR BILL - A Norfolk County Superior Court jury is mulling a $20 million question that could have reverberations for MWRA customers.

Ledger, Jette, 18 inches, on wire now

Business

MASS. GETS A NEW AUTO INSURER: N.H.-BASED PEERLESS TO BEGIN SELLING IN STATE AFTER 20-YEAR ABSENCE - The first auto insurer to join the Massachusetts auto insurance market under the state insurance commissioner’s new managed competition system isn’t a complete stranger around here.

Ledger, Chesto, 15 inches, on wire now

Opinions

MADDOCKS: UPSET AT NEW INQUIRY, BUSH THREATENS TO VETO MUKASEY\ - President Bush is threatening to veto Michael Mukasey after it was revealed Tuesday that the new attorney general had initiated the reopening of a long-dormant Justice Department inquiry into the government's warrantless wiretapping program.

Natick Bulletin, on wire now

EDITORIAL - With this year's presidential election, those who have been conflicted between their fealty to the church and the decision to support a candidate whose stands are far more diverse than Roman Catholic dogma have been given strong guidance from the nation's bishops with an acknowledgement that opposition to abortion is not the sole litmus test when casting a vote.

Ledger, 6 p.m.

MAHONEY CARTOON on Red Sox ticket price increase

Ledger, 6 p.m.

ALICE COYLE: IF YOU CAN'T WORK THE HEAT GET OUT OF THE LIVING ROOM - When it comes to finally turning on the heat each year I push it deeper and deeper into November to avoid the high cost of heating.

CNC, on wire now

Sports

A PRO SPORTS BUDGET will be e-mailed this afternoon

Lifestyles

BACKSTAGE PASS TO THE LEGENDS OF ROCK - Throughout the golden era of rock music, Ron Pownall's keen eye and Nikon cameras provided the ultimate backstage pass to hear legendary musicians and attend unforgettable concerts from Woodstock to the Boston Garden.

MetroWest, Bergeron, 20 inches, on wire now

With photos

MEGA FUN AT SUPER MEGAFEST - While actual space travel might not be in the cards (hey, remember what happened in "Galaxy Quest"?), this year's Boston Super Megafest should still be pretty thrilling.

MetroWest, Olesin, 10 inches, on wire now

With photo

BOSTON'S ANTIQUARIAN BOOK FAIR - Antiquarian Book Fair features rare books, prints from around the world.

MetroWest, Bergeron, 18 inches, on wire now

TURTLE LANE IN NEWTON PRODUCES AN HONEST 'KING AND I'  - This may not be the most fulsome production of "The King and I" that you've ever seen, but it will remind you of why it's such a classic musical, and it will offer children a good introduction to it.

MetroWest, Andrews, 20 inches, on wire now

With photo

SOUL COACHING LEADS TO SPIRITUAL AWARENESS  - Hingham woman recently took a reprieve from her psychotherapy practice only to find that after a year she wanted to get back to helping people. In what capacity, though, was uncertain until a friend suggested she explore “soul coaching.”

CNC, Meyer, 25 inches, on wire now

With photo

COMBINED PASSIONS: JAPANESE TRAVEL PHOTOGRAPHER EXHIBITS UNIQUE ART STYLE - Hiroko Okahashi’s fine-art exhibit runs through Nov. 29 at Abbot Library in Marblehead, and is a must-see for anyone in search of new and nontraditional photography. Her work incorporates haikus, calligraphy, a Japanese silkscreen technique and another technique unique to Okahashi: darkroom smudging, a process that is not for the patience-impaired.

CNC, Peters, 25 inches, on wire now

With photo

REVIEW: STEVIE WONDER BRINGS IT ALL TOGETHER AT MOHEGAN SUN - Stevie Wonder played to a near-sellout crowd at Mohegan Sun Arena Wednesday night, offering a large collection of his greatest hits during his 2 1/2-hour nonstop set.

Norwich, Malcolm, 15 inches, on wire now

With photo

ART EXHIBIT: DEEP STUDY UNEARTHS A NEW IRISH LANDSCAPE - Cyril O’Flaherty, along with fellow painter Lol Hardiman and photographer Nick Hitchcox provide their own takes on Irish landscape from the island of Achill Beag, now largely abandoned, in a show at the Celtic Corners Gallery, 196 Cabot St.

CNC, Mac Alpine, 15 inches, on wire now

With photo