As the death toll rises, residents and police seek solutions to end the proliferation of gangs, drugs and guns. Jack Levin, a sociology and criminology professor at Boston’s Northeastern University, says it’s troubling that Chicago’s murder count is rising while it falls in other major cities. In 2010, Los Angeles had 297 murders, the lowest since […]

The new format for the presidential debate prompted plenty of partisan debate online — as did the performance of the moderator, Jim Lehrer. Mr. Lehrer’s light touch was widely criticized during and after the debate on Wednesday night, particularly by Democrats who felt that President Obama’s Republican challenger, Mitt Romney, effectively moderated the debate himself. […]

AUDIO: The greater Boston area is going through something of a bicycle renaissance. Thanks in part to 56 miles of new trails, the opening of the Hubway bike-share program, and a growing appreciation for healthy living, bike ridership has doubled since 2007. But unfortunately, the number of accidents and injuries is also rising – including […]

Incumbent presidents often take it on the chin when they return to the debate stage after a four-year absence. Wednesday night in Denver added another such instance to the history books. It’s not that Mitt Romney was particularly stellar, but rather that President Obama fell short.

As President Obama & Mitt Romney prepare for their first debate Wednesday in Denver, a look at their respective debating styles as well as how they’re preparing for the debate. Alan Schroeder, author of “Presidential Debates: 50 Years of High-Risk TV” and journalism professor at Northeastern University, and Warren Decker, director of debate at George […]

Televised debates between candidates for the White House are not perfect vehicles. But compared with other forms of political communication — speeches, interviews, advertisements, campaign Web sites and the like — they offer advantages found nowhere else.

Prospective Plus makes it easier for recruiters to hire entry-level candidates, and it’s launched its subscription service to the public today. “Hiring processes today are outdated, expensive, and time consuming,” said Phoebe Farber, the founder and CEO of the Boston-based company. The idea originated in January at Northeastern University, where Farber is a senior.  

Teachers and parents must collaborate in the education of children, write Eve Sullivan, founder of Parents Forum, and Teachers21 President John D’Auria.

Alan Schroeder and Patrick Millsaps discuss how humor and off-script exchanges can help or hurt a candidate in debates.

Trying to find a college that best suits your child’s specific interests can be overwhelming, but Kat Cohen of IvyWise is here to help, sharing the best schools for outdoor lovers, foodies, and more.

If history is a guide, Democrat Barack Obama will have a tough time in the first presidential debate on Wednesday, Republican Mitt Romney will be particularly aggressive, and both will risk committing a damaging gaffe if they wander off their talking points. “They are pretty evenly matched as debaters,” said Alan Schroeder of Northeastern University […]

The power to tax and the power to spend are two of the most important tools the federal government has to affect the broader economy. What direction should the next president take? More spending or less? Higher or lower taxes? And for whom? Longtime friends and colleagues — and economic advisers to presidents from different […]