The House and Senate yesterday approved a $28.2 billion state budget that significantly taps into the state's rainy day fund and boosts scores of budget accounts that lawmakers describe as critical priorities.

People who break the law and then go on to live without any more legal woes should not be shadowed by their mistakes for the rest of their lives, Gov. Deval Patrick told legislators yesterday.

Residents showed up at the polls in force yesterday and threw their support behind New York Sen. Hillary Clinton and former Gov. Mitt Romney in two of the most hotly contested presidential primaries in state history.

On the eve of Super Tuesday, most Bay State officials have been passionately backing their presidential picks for months, but some lawmakers are keeping quiet about how they will cast their ballots tomorrow.

BOSTON - Gov. Deval Patrick released a budget today that relies on hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue from sources not yet approved by the Legislature, including $124 million from projected casino licensing fees for local aid to cities and towns.

NORWOOD - Gov. Deval Patrick used his appearance at the annual meeting of the Neponset Valley Chamber of Commerce yesterday morning to preview his fiscal 2009 budget and explain how he plans to generate more money for the state.

SOMERVILLE - Gov. Deval Patrick announced today in Somerville that his budget would increase education aid funds by $368 million for fiscal 2009.

A possible Amtrak strike later this month could cripple commuter rail service from South Station, MBTA officials said yesterday, and create havoc area commuters.

BOSTON - A smiling Gov. Deval Patrick greeted the press before joining Barack Obama at a downtown fundraiser today, casting the Illinois senator’s second-place finish in New Hampshire as a near miss.

BOSTON - The Gun Owners' Action League, a Northborough gun rights protection group, has authored a bill that would make it illegal for police and public officials to seize legally owned weapons during a state of emergency.