Deval Patrick

President Clinton has settled on Boston lawyer Deval L. Patrick in a third effort to fill the top civil rights enforcement position at the Justice Department, Administration sources said Saturday. The nomination of Patrick, 37, a Harvard Law School graduate who has worked closely with the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund Inc., is expected to be announced shortly, perhaps early this week, the sources said. The President withdrew his first nominee, C.

— At least two tornadoes swept through western and central Massachusetts on Wednesday, slamming debris into buildings, toppling trees and killing four people, the governor said. The storms did extensive damage in Springfield, the state's third-largest city with 150,000 people. About 40 people were injured, Mayor Domenic J. Sarno said. One person died in Springfield, two in West Springfield and another in Brimfield, authorities said. Tornadoes were reported in several other communities, including Monson and Sturbridge.

— At least two tornadoes swept through western and central Massachusetts on Wednesday, slamming debris into buildings, toppling trees and killing four people, the governor said. The storms did extensive damage in Springfield, the state's third-largest city with 150,000 people. About 40 people were injured, Mayor Domenic J. Sarno said. One person died in Springfield, two in West Springfield and another in Brimfield, authorities said. Tornadoes were reported in several other communities, including Monson and Sturbridge.

Deval Patrick, the governor of Massachusetts and a close ally of President Obama, said Thursday that questions surrounding the president’s birth represent “a new low in American politics.” Patrick was appearing on his weekly segment on WTKK-FM in Boston, when he was asked by the program’s hosts, Jim Braude and Margery Eagan, whether Obama had played into Donald Trump’s hands by publicly discussing the matter of his birth certificate....

The new assistant attorney general for civil rights had sailed through his confirmation hearings, earning swift and unanimous approval. And with the scrutiny of the U.S. Senate fresh behind him, 37-year-old Deval L. Patrick could finally relax for a moment and admit that while Washington's ritual inquisition was nobody's idea of fun, it wasn't the toughest hurdle he had ever encountered, either.

In one brief letter, Massachusetts Sen. Edward M. Kennedy underscored both the fragility of his own health and of the Democratic consensus on healthcare. The ailing liberal icon wrote this week to his home-state governor, Deval Patrick, and state legislative leaders, asking them to alter the method by which Kennedy's successor could be chosen. Massachusetts law calls for a special election to be held when a Senate vacancy arises, a process that would take months. Kennedy urged the Legislature to act to allow Patrick, a fellow Democrat, to appoint an interim replacement until such an election could be held.

Paul G. Kirk Jr., a longtime friend and advisor to the late Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.), was named today to fill the senator's seat until a special election can be held in January. His appointment by Gov. Deval Patrick means another crucial Democratic vote in the Senate at a time when President Obama is pushing for a sweeping overhaul of the health insurance system. Republicans have decried the interim appointment as a Democratic effort to force a healthcare bill through Congress.

Gov.-elect Deval Patrick said he would rescind a new agreement between the state and federal authorities that allows state troopers to arrest illegal immigrants. The incoming governor said he thinks troopers have enough to do without having to also enforce the nation's immigration laws. On Dec. 13, Republican Gov. Mitt Romney signed the agreement with federal authorities.

The NAACP has endorsed Deval Patrick, a Boston lawyer who is President Clinton's nominee to head the Justice Department's civil rights division, and vowed to push for a quick confirmation. Patrick appeared before the NAACP board at its national meeting Friday.

Massachusetts lawmakers fulfilled Sen. Edward M. Kennedy's dying wish, granting the governor the power to appoint an interim replacement for him so President Obama can regain a crucial 60th Senate vote needed to pass a healthcare overhaul this year. Gov. Deval Patrick vowed to fill the seat "very, very soon." Patrick refused to discuss potential appointees, though a top aide confirmed that Kennedy's sons had lobbied for the appointment of former Democratic National Committee Chairman Paul G. Kirk Jr.

President Obama laid out a broad case Saturday for rejecting Republican candidates in the upcoming midterm elections, accusing his political opponents of cynically refusing to cooperate in difficult times while accepting help from secretive special-interest groups pumping millions of dollars into various campaigns. Obama spoke at a rally for a longtime political ally and friend, Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick, who is locked in a tough reelection campaign against Republican Charlie Baker.

Paul G. Kirk Jr., a longtime friend and advisor to the late Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.), was named today to fill the senator's seat until a special election can be held in January. His appointment by Gov. Deval Patrick means another crucial Democratic vote in the Senate at a time when President Obama is pushing for a sweeping overhaul of the health insurance system. Republicans have decried the interim appointment as a Democratic effort to force a healthcare bill through Congress.

Massachusetts lawmakers fulfilled Sen. Edward M. Kennedy's dying wish, granting the governor the power to appoint an interim replacement for him so President Obama can regain a crucial 60th Senate vote needed to pass a healthcare overhaul this year. Gov. Deval Patrick vowed to fill the seat "very, very soon." Patrick refused to discuss potential appointees, though a top aide confirmed that Kennedy's sons had lobbied for the appointment of former Democratic National Committee Chairman Paul G. Kirk Jr.

Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick said Monday that he would work to change state law so that he could appoint a temporary replacement for the late Sen. Edward M. Kennedy before a special election next year. Appointing an interim senator would ensure that Massachusetts is fully represented, Patrick said at a news conference at the statehouse in Boston. He said he would seek the individual's personal assurance that he or she wouldn't run in the special election to serve out the veteran Democrat's term, which runs through 2012.

In one brief letter, Massachusetts Sen. Edward M. Kennedy underscored both the fragility of his own health and of the Democratic consensus on healthcare. The ailing liberal icon wrote this week to his home-state governor, Deval Patrick, and state legislative leaders, asking them to alter the method by which Kennedy's successor could be chosen. Massachusetts law calls for a special election to be held when a Senate vacancy arises, a process that would take months. Kennedy urged the Legislature to act to allow Patrick, a fellow Democrat, to appoint an interim replacement until such an election could be held.

Gov.-elect Deval Patrick said he would rescind a new agreement between the state and federal authorities that allows state troopers to arrest illegal immigrants. The incoming governor said he thinks troopers have enough to do without having to also enforce the nation's immigration laws. On Dec. 13, Republican Gov. Mitt Romney signed the agreement with federal authorities.

I read with amusement the commentary by Donna Britt--"Power of Words, Race Bring a Hollywood Ending" (Sept. 8). At a time when many white males feel displaced in the job market by affirmative action (what a joke, since 95% of all decision-making positions are held by them!), they will vote in large numbers for Prop. 209, I'm sure. Enter executive producer David Milch's remarks that he tends to hire people whose background is similar to his due to manageability. Huh? Is it any wonder we have affirmative action?

Deval Patrick, a Democrat making his first run for elective office and a bid to become Massachusetts' first black governor, beat two opponents in Tuesday's gubernatorial primary to win a place in November's general election. Patrick, 50, headed the Justice Department's civil rights division under President Clinton. He will face Lt. Gov. Kerry Healey, the Republican nominee.