Since it was filed more than a year ago, the federal suit brought by South Middlesex Opportunity Council against the Town of Framingham and some of its leading officials has been among the most controversial and expensive in recent memory. While the suit has sparked extensive and often emotional public debate, its legal underpinnings are little understood by many of those not directly involved.

PDF: Read the SMOC lawsuit, part 1

PDF: Read the SMOC lawsuit, part 2

On policy, on vision, on temperament and skills, America's voters have rarely faced a clearer choice. With hope and enthusiasm, we endorse BARACK OBAMA for president of the United States.

As in previous campaigns, the Daily News has offered candidates the opportunity to communicate directly with voters. All candidates in contested, local races for the Massachusetts Legislature have been invited to submit 150-word essays, which will appear each Sunday in the Opinion section up to the Nov. 4 election. Candidates in uncontested races may also submit statements, which will appear as space allows.

Question 1, the ballot initiative repealing the state income tax, isn't just a bad idea. It is a symptom of a disillusionment with state government that runs deep in the Massachusetts electorate.

Again this year, the Daily News has offered local candidates for state office the opportunity to communicate directly with voters. All candidates in contested, local races for the Massachusetts Legislature have been invited to submit 150-word essays, which will appear each Sunday  in the Opinion section up to the Nov. 4 election. Candidates in uncontested races may also submit statements, which will appear as space allows.

Possession of even the smallest amount of marijuana is illegal in all 50 states, and has been since 1938. That hasn't stopped Americans from using the drug. Estimates gauge the number of adults that have smoked marijuana as high as 100 million. A federal study a few years back concluded that 12 percent of Boston area residents had used marijuana in the past month.

The golden age of greyhound racing, if there was one, is long past. Nationwide, at least a dozen tracks have closed since 2004, and business is off sharply at Massachusetts' two remaining dog tracks. Wonderland is now closed six months out of the year and Raynham's revenue is down by more than a third.

With revenues running behind expectations, Gov. Deval Patrick took a sharp knife to the state budget last week, cutting more than $900 million in spending. About 1,000 state employees will lose their jobs and hundreds of programs, from pre-school to elder services, will feel the pinch. As the economy continues its slide into recession, there is reason to expect these are the first cuts, not the last.

Again this year, the Daily News has offered local candidates for state office the opportunity to communicate directly with voters. All candidates in contested, local races for the Massachusetts Legislature have been invited to submit 150-word essays, which will appear each Sunday  in the Opinion section up to the Nov. 4 election. Candidates in uncontested races may also submit statements, which will appear as space allows.

Again this year, the Daily News has offered local candidates for state office the opportunity to communicate directly with voters. All candidates in contested, local races for the Massachusetts Legislature have been invited to submit 150-word essays, which will appear each Sunday  in the Opinion section up to the Nov. 4 election. Candidates in uncontested races may also submit statements, which will appear as space allows.