Governor views tornado destruction into early hours, and provides refuge to his staff

No time for Tanglewood, ghost stories, or even a meal, Ryan said; just a shower and a cup of coffee. No change of clothes either.

“It was getting kind of ripe by the end of Thursday,’’ Ryan said. (Except for Patrick, who always looks neat.)

Ryan said many of those in attendance had been to Sweet P before, when out west on state business or during gubernatorial campaigns. “It’s not unusual,’’ Ryan said. “He is always offering.’’

— Noah Bierman

Palin’s history lesson is a bit shaky in visit to Boston landmarksVoters may ultimately decide whether Sarah Palin is qualified to be president. But one thing seems certain after her visit to Boston: she is not ready to serve as a tour guide on the Freedom Trail.

The former Alaska governor, who draws inspiration from the heroes of the American Revolution, has been on a whirlwind tour of historic sites along the East Coast, handing out autographed copies of the Constitution and instructing schoolchildren to appreciate American history.

But she struggled a bit with the story of Paul Revere, whom she heard about during a visit to Old North Church in the North End on Thursday. A video of her slightly rambling account went viral among her critics, after it was shown on CNN.

“He, who warned the British that they weren’t going be taking away our arms, by ringing those bells, and by making sure, as he’s riding his horse through town, to send those warning shots and bells, that we were going to be secure, and we were going to be free, and we were going to be armed,’’ she told reporters at Parziale’s Bakery, a few blocks from the church.

Got that?

— Michael Levenson