(NECN: Scot Yount, Methuen, Mass.) - The holiday season generally kicks off next week with Thanksgiving. But with temperatures above 60 degrees, you might find it a little difficult to get into the holiday spirit.

NECN's Scot Yount has been sampling people's holiday spirit.

(NECN: Ally Donnelly, Boston) - Children. Advocates call them the hidden faces of homelessness. In Massachusetts alone there are a reported 100-thousand children who don't have a permanent place to call home, half of these kids are under age six.

In Boston, one non-profit aims to give children a safe place to learn and grow while helping their parents become financially self sufficient.

In tonight’s cover story, NECN's Ally Donnelly profiles Horizons for Homeless Children.

A typical day for thousands of families across Massachusetts, daycare drop off.

(NECN: Jennifer Eagan, Worcester, Mass.) - A Worcester funeral home is among dozens across the state facing a fine. A state investigation found those homes were violating the law.

It's a time when many people are the most vulnerable, just after the loss of a loved one.

That's why there are state and federal laws in place to make sure anyone dealing with a funeral home isn't taken advantage of.

But during a recent sweep, dozens of funeral homes in the state including one in Worcester, allegedly violated those laws.

(NECN: Kenneth Craig, Worcester, Mass.) - It's been seven months in the making.

A report by an independent task force created to evaluate the Worcester pubic schools' human resources department.

One thing that was helpful is that they clarified the waiver system - and some misunderstandings that happened last year.

The task force was created just weeks after the hiring and firing of Donna Byrnes.

The former Superintendent's office manager turned special education teacher -- a 70 thousand dollar position for which she had no known qualifications.

(NECN: Katie Daly, Worcester, Mass.) - There were plenty of smiles inside Worcester trial court today, as dozens of families adopted children from the state's foster care system.

With a little help, 9-month-old Grace English signed her very first document.

And just like that it was complete. Anne English went from being Grace's Foster parent to official mother. Its something they have been waiting to hear for months.

While Anne admits being a single mother will be difficult, she felt that adopting was the right thing to do.

(NECN: Josh Brogadir, Boston, Mass.) - Two more Massachusetts residents have died of the swine flu. A child is on of the latest victims.

The child was under the age of four, and from Middlesex County. Officials would not say if it was a boy or a girl, and did not know if her or she had underlying medical conditions. The child died earlier this week.

The other death was a person between the ages of 45-64 from Suffolk County who did have existing medical conditions.

17 Massachusetts residents have died from swine flu since April.

(NECN) - In today's Talk Around the Globe, the story of an owl who has set up shop in Boston's Faneuil Hall. He's been there for about month, and is attracting quite the crowds.

Globe reporter Jack Nicas joins NECN with more on the bird who feels right at home among the shoppers and tourists.

(NECN: John Moroney, Plymouth, Mass.) - A final salute to a Massachusetts soldier who sacrificed his life for a fellow service member.

A funeral was held this morning in Plymouth for 21-year-old Army Sergeant Benjamin Sherman. Family members say he died in Afghanistan this month, after jumping into a river to try and save the life of a soldier.

Despite torrential rains, the funeral service attracted hundreds of family, friends and total strangers.

Sherman was a paratrooper with the 182nd Airborne Division. Sherman's wife Patricia is expecting the couple's first wife in March.

(NECN: Brad Puffer, Medford, Mass.) - State Senator Anthony Galluccio showed up in Medford District Court for the first time Friday as his hit and run case moves forward. Cambridge police revealed this week they had given Galluccio a ride home 13 hours before the accident because he was allegedly too drunk to drive.

State Senator Anthony Galluccio: "We've concluded the session. And I am focused on a number of life issues and personal issues and I am committed to doing that I can't a whole lot more right now."

(NECN: Lauren Collins, Lowell, Mass.) - The single misdemeanor charge against 17-year-old Michelle Medieros carries a fine or a maximum two years in prison. "In addition to that the investigation is not complete and is ongoing," says Lowell Police Deputy Superintendent Arthur Ryan.

More charges are expected to be filed, which the victim's family hopes will happen soon.