Windows 10 will undo 8’s miscues

Microsoft's upcoming Windows 10 platform is a promising attempt to make up for a trail of unhappy consumers and businesses who were force-fed a touchscreen-centric interface that they never asked for nor wanted.

Windows 8 constituted one of the most serious market misreads since Segways. But to Microsoft's credit, it has spent the past two years with its ear to the ground, if the early beta version of Windows 10 is an indication.

Although a preview of Windows 10 is available for download, don't rush to grab it. Only programmers and computer enthusiasts who have a throwaway PC lying around should even consider loading unfinished, buggy software onto their machines. What you see today isn't necessarily what you'll encounter when you go to buy your next PC.

Domestic sales of Macs and Google's Chromebooks are on the rise and Windows PC sales are declining. This year, Windows PCs slipped 4 percent in the U.S. — from 72 percent to an estimated 68 percent, according to the NPD Group.

But Microsoft's business model is much more dependent on the enterprise market. The success of Windows 10 will almost entirely rest on whether chief information officers decide to upgrade. Far too many took a pass on Windows 8. Of the 715 million copies of Windows installed in businesses worldwide last year, only 16 million — or just 2 percent — were running Windows 8.

If those 98 percent of businesses still clinging to old software don't like Windows 10, it's hard to imagine anything but a catastrophe taking hold in Redmond, Wash.

And it's hard to imagine that Google and Apple won't make a giant play for those business customers, that is if they aren't already preparing to do so.

Windows 10 appears to be a case of what's old is new again. The familiar start menu and desktop setup is back. The search option within the Start Menu is back, and it's in the task bar too.

One of the biggest problems with Windows 8 was that apps take up the entire screen when they're open. With Windows 10 they are resizable. And an improved "snap" feature allows users to more easily organize multiple tasks at once. A feature allowing users to create and open multiple desktops at once shows huge promise in a world where workers increasingly use their personal devices.

And by eliminating an awkward so-called "charms" feature for desktop users and keeping it only on touchscreens, Microsoft seems to have accepted a difficult truth: the market wants to keep its mouse and cursor.

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Nearly century-old Lawrence business closes

LAWRENCE, Mass. — A nearly 100-year-old fish market in Lawrence is closing its doors for good later this month.

Siblings Tom Pappalardo and Mary Pappalardo-Raymond say they are getting old and want to step aside, and no one in their family wants to take over the business. The Boston Fish Market was founded in 1919 by their grandfather.

Tom Pappalardo is 68 and tells The Eagle-Tribune  he wants to retire. Mary Pappalardo-Raymond is 53 and has a career as a nurse.

They have sold the business but are not quite sure what the new owners have planned, but doubt it's a fish market.

The owners say the business has changed. All the seafood they sold 40 or 50 years ago used to be caught locally. Now most is imported.

___

Information from: Eagle Tribune (North Andover, Mass.), http://www.eagletribune.com

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Chrysler 200 stands out from crowd

The mid-sized sedan market is a challenge to shop as cars become indistinguishable when comparing features. Then there's the 2015 Chrysler 200, which stands out from the crowd with a comfortable, quiet ride and an abundance of state-of-the-art, easy-to-use technology.

Its rounded exterior corners and flowing lines give the Chrysler 200 a coupe-like appearance and a tasteful amount of chrome trim on the grille, bumpers and around the windows add just a touch of sophistication.

Chrysler offers the 200 with two engine choices, a 3.6-liter V6 that churns out 295 horsepower and a diminutive, fuel-sipping, 2.4-liter, inline-4 that produces 184 horsepower. My 200 with the smaller engine yielded 28 miles-per-gallon in combined city and highway driving, thanks in part to a 9-speed automatic transmission that reduces the gaps between shifts. While the boost in fuel economy was appreciated, it was short on punch. A smooth ride with lively handling through the corners compensated for the deficiency in power.

The Chrysler 200 starts at $21,700. The top-of-the-line C model, with the character of a luxury sedan, reached $30,475, which included a $1,295 safety technology package and a $1,395 package that bundled together navigation and an upgraded sound system.

The safety technology package is highlighted by lane departure warning with lane keep assist, forward collision warning, park assist with stop and adaptive cruise control. Adaptive cruise control, an advanced feature once reserved for the high-end segment is now available on just about everything, and is one feature that I'm finding difficult to live without.

The off-white soft leather interior was accentuated with conspicuous stitching. A blue bezel surrounding the instrument panel glowed from behind a leather-wrapped steering wheel. An 8.4-inch touchscreen provided easy access to the 200's radio and navigation features without overwhelming the center console.

Full electronic gear shifting via a rotary shift knob created additional storage space within the center console. The area was further enhanced with sliding cup holders that provided storage flexibility and an opening to run cables through for smartphone connections.

Both driver and passenger seats were firm, yet comfortable. While the back seats needed an inch or two of additional leg room, the trunk had plenty of storage space.

The 2015 Chrysler 200 is worth a test drive when considering the Accord, Camry, Fusion, Mazda 6 or Passat. I like the options that Chrysler has to offer with the 200. If the standard engine is too small, they offer a best-in-class for horsepower V6 and if you're worried that front-wheel-drive might be inadequate for New England winter driving, there's an all-wheel-drive model.

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British retail boss sorry for anti-French remarks

LONDON — It was a speech that got lost in translation.

The boss of British retail chain John Lewis apologized Friday for saying France is "in decline" and "finished."

The Times newspaper reported that managing director Andy Street had made the critical comments at an event for entrepreneurs in London this week.

It said he described France as "sclerotic, hopeless and downbeat," and said "nothing works and worse, nobody cares about it."

Street also described the Gare du Nord station in Paris — terminus for Eurostar trains from London — as "the squalor pit of Europe" and told his audience: "If you've got investments in French businesses, get them out quickly."

In a statement Friday, Street said his comments "were supposed to be lighthearted views, and tongue in cheek."

"On reflection I clearly went too far," he said. "I regret the comments, and apologize unreservedly."

The French embassy in London was unamused by the comments. It told the Times that France had the world's fifth-largest economy, with world-class public services, a first-rate health care system and higher workforce productivity than many other developed countries.

John Lewis operates upmarket department stores in Britain. It does not have any stores in France but is planning to launch a website for French customers.

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Palestinian university expels Israeli visitor

RAMALLAH, West Bank — The expulsion of an Israeli journalist from an academic conference hosted by a top Palestinian university has unleashed a fierce debate about academic freedom in the West Bank.

It is also shining a spotlight on the apparent radicalization of some young Palestinians who are disillusioned by years of failed peace efforts and have grown up with little contact with Israelis.

While Bir Zeit University has apologized to journalist Amira Hass, some student activists say they support her expulsion and want the school to rescind its apology. In Israel, officials say such attitudes violate the spirit of academic freedom.

Hass, who writes for the liberal Israeli daily Haaretz, is a popular figure in Ramallah, one of a few dovish Israeli Jews who live in the Palestinian city. In Israel, she is well known — and reviled by some— for her scathing criticism of Israeli policies toward the Palestinians.

But when she attended a conference at Bir Zeit on Sept. 23, she ran into trouble when she listed Haaretz as her professional affiliation.

She said two professors asked her to leave. "They said, 'There is a law in the university that Israelis cannot enter the university,'" she said. One even told her that she should leave for her own safety. Hass, who said she has been to the university dozens of times previously, decided to leave.

"I was at that moment reminded of the image that Israelis commonly have of Palestinians: irrational hotheads," she wrote in Haaretz.

In an interview, Hass said she has received messages of support from many Palestinians. Hundreds signed a petition saying they were shocked by the expulsion, calling her a courageous defender of Palestinian human rights.

Ghassan Zaqatan, a prominent columnist, called the treatment of Hass "shameful."

Bir Zeit expressed regret and said it will work with students and faculty to help them understand university policies that "oppose discrimination based on identity."

The university "takes pride in observing the academic boycott of Israel," but this applies to institutions, not individuals like Hass who have "distinguished themselves by being on the side of justice and humanity," Bir Zeit said in a statement.

The affair has been hotly debated on campus. On Thursday, the student council demanded the university withdraw its apology. "We say that any Israeli Zionist is not welcome in Bir Zeit University," said Mustafa Mustafa, head of the student council.

He said that Israel should cease to exist, and "if Amira really supports the Palestinian struggle against the occupation, she needs to leave the country."

Baraa al-Qadi, another activist, said that while the general student body is apathetic, most student leaders reject the efforts by the Fatah-led Palestine Liberation Organization to pursue peace with Israel.

Ghassan Khatib, a senior university official, said the school has no official policy banning contact with Israelis, and plans to invite Hass back. He said that while he personally favors interaction with Israelis, the current attitude on campus is that "supporters of the occupation" should not be welcomed.

He said he could not remember the last time an Israeli official had spoken on campus and could not envision leaders of moderate Israeli parties being invited. Students are "willing to listen to views they are not happy with, but when it comes to the occupation, it's another category," he said.

Khatib, a former Palestinian government spokesman, blamed the downfall of Israel's "peace camp" for the hardening of Palestinian attitudes. "For the new generation in Palestine now, it is extremely difficult to notice the existence of any peace camp in Israel, which weakens the argument of the need for dialogue and interaction," he said.

Dovish Israeli political parties advocating broad withdrawals from lands occupied since 1967 have seen their fortunes tumble following a Palestinian uprising in the early 2000s, repeated failures in peace negotiations and three wars against Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip. Palestinians are disillusioned by two decades of failed negotiations, and the continued expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank and east Jerusalem, occupied lands they seek for their independent state.

The political impasse is accompanied by growing separation.

Since a second Palestinian uprising began in 2000, Israel has imposed a number of restrictions that prevent most Palestinians from entering Israel and bar Israelis from Palestinian areas in the West Bank.

That contrasts sharply with the situation 20 years ago when thousands of Palestinian workers came to Israel on a daily basis, and many Israelis visited the West Bank for shopping, eating and sightseeing.

In consequence few young people on either side have much contact with the other — unless it is during clashes between the Israeli army and Palestinian demonstrators.

Bir Zeit is considered the best university in the West Bank, and it has long been a center of political activism. Last year, protesters angry over British policies in the Middle East blocked the British consul general from entering the campus and forced him to cancel a speech.

Academic boycotts are nothing new to Israel. University associations in the U.S., Britain and elsewhere have attempted — and sometimes succeeded — to cut off ties with Israeli counterparts.

Israel's committee of university heads said it rejects any academic boycott.

Israel's Hebrew University, for instance, maintains a number of partnerships with the Palestinians, including a collaborative training program that trains dentists from the West Bank and a master's degree in public health that accepts Palestinian students.

Uri Savir, a former Israeli peace negotiator, said he believes the young Palestinians who reject contact with Israel arel a small but vocal minority.

But he warned that the continued failure by both sides to reach a peace agreement would only strengthen these voices. "The longer the time that there is no realistic horizon of the two-state solution, the secular minority of extremists will either go with Hamas or grow within the Fatah," he said.

___

Federman reported from Jerusalem.

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Baker Chocolate complex has sweet condos

If you're looking for an alternative to the Hub's astro­nomical condo prices, you may want to stop looking along the Charles River and set your sights on the Neponset.

The Baker Chocolate complex, a 14-acre village of brick factory buildings along the Neponset River in Dorchester's Lower Mills, has some new high-end condos that start at just $450,000. Owners have access to an indoor lap pool with a hot tub, a fitness facility, a conference room and a dog park. Units come with deeded parking out back and condo fees include heat.

The Lofts at Lower Mills were transformed into one- and two-bedroom market-­rate apartments with historic preservation tax credits five years ago, and now Hub owner Winn­ Develop­ment has been converting them to condos as the credits expire.

Three buildings are being transitioned into 77 condos, with 58 of them in a six-story Romanesque Revival building built in 1891 and known as the Baker Mill. The developer is adding hardwood floors, some updated appliances, and even opening up some unused loft spaces on the top floor.

The condos have 13-to- 18A-foot-high wood-beam ceilings, tall windows, exposed brick walls and lots of original detailing.

We took a look at model Unit B-601, a 2,000-square-foot one-bedroom-plus duplex that's on the market for $660,000. The sixth-floor unit's living room has soaring 18A-foot ceilings and a large multipart arched window that overlooks the river. Its one bedroom, reachable by a newly added steel and wood staircase, is a remarkably large 750 square feet. The unit has two full bathrooms with glass-enclosed showers and a soaking tub, an in-unit washer/dryer, a dining room/den space and an open kitchen with quartz countertops, wood cabinets and stainless-steel appliances.

The Baker complex is within a short walking distance of Dorchester's Lower Mills retail area and Milton Village just across the Neponset, but it feels self-contained. Out back there's the picturesque Baker Dam and you can connect with Neponset River Walk that leads down to the Pope John XXIII park. There's a Red Line trolley stop to Ashmont just across the street, making for an easy city commute.

"It's got a neighborhood feel, and it's affordable," said Jonathan Keith of Keith Brokerage in Canton, who is exclusively marketing the units. The building was rehabbed into apartments by his family's construction company.

Condo fees range from $600-$900 a month, and include gas heat from a central system. Owners also get access to the complex's renovated lap pool and fitness facility.

"We're attracting a lot more empty nester buyers than we thought we would," said Keith, who said 32 units have closed. "We're getting people from suburbs like Hingham and Cohasset who want to be close to the South Shore but are looking for a city feel. The complex has really developed into a friendly neighborhood with a great mix of people."

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The Ticker

AG asks DPU to ease electric rate hikes

With significantly higher heating prices expected this winter, Attorney General Martha Coakley has asked the Department of Utilities to help mitigate electricity "rate shock" to consumers and open an investigation into ways to reduce these sudden spikes. The AG's office is also requesting a one-month extension to the state's winter moratorium, banning companies from shutting off electric or gas supplies to consumers struggling to pay their heating bills.

The AG's office asked the DPU to work with National Grid to determine what part of the cost recovery of the winter rates, if any, may be deferred until after May 1, 2015.

Last month, National Grid filed its basic service rates and warned that, due to higher power supply prices, typical residential customers will see an increase from last year on their winter electric bills of 
37 percent, or about $33, each month from Nov. 1 to April 30, 2015. The DPU approved the filing Sept. 23.

Don Law buys Somerville post office

The city of Somerville has been informed that the U.S. Postal Service has completed the sale of the former Union Square Post Office at 237 Washington St. to Boston arts and entertainment promoter Don Law for $2.75 million. Asked about his plans for the facility, the Live Nation impresario told the Herald, "I honestly don't really have one, and I'm not being coy; we just don't know exactly what it will be. But I love the building. And I know food will be a major component."

Apartments proposed in Brighton

Allston-based Partners Properties LLC gave notice to the city yesterday of its intention to redevelop an "underutilized," six-story office building at 1505 Commonwealth Ave. in Brighton into an 85-unit apartment building with parking for 74 cars. The company plans substantial exterior improvements to the building and wants to add an 8,000-square-foot addition over the existing parking deck. It bought the property for 
$7.45 million in June, according to documents filed with the Registry of Deeds.

TODAY

• Labor Department releases employment data for September.
• Commerce Department releases international trade data for August.
• JLL Capital Markets announced that George Gregory, left, has joined the firm's Boston office as an associate focusing on underwriting and analysis across all property types, performing valuations and other market studies. Previously Gregory was an account and project manager for six years at Triumvirate Environmental Inc., where he specialized in the sale of environmental services to the life sciences industry.

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JPMorgan breach heightens data security doubts

LOS ANGELES — New details on a cyberattack against JPMorgan Chase & Co.'s computer servers this summer add to increasing doubts over the security of consumer data kept by lenders, retailers and others.

The New York-based bank disclosed Thursday that the breach compromised customer information pertaining to roughly 76 million households and 7 million small businesses.

Among the customer data stolen were names, addresses, phone numbers and email addresses, though only customers who use the websites Chase.com and JPMorganOnline and the apps ChaseMobile and JPMorgan Mobile were affected, the bank said.

JPMorgan stressed that there's no evidence that the data breach included account numbers, passwords, Social Security numbers or dates of birth. It also noted that it has not seen any unusual customer fraud stemming from the data breach.

The server breach follows data thefts that have hit financial firms and major retailers this year, adding to consumer concerns over the risk of identity theft and fraud.

The Chase heist is even more disturbing than the recent retail breaches because banks are supposed to have fortress-like protection against intruders, said Gartner security analyst Avivah Litan.

"This is really a slap in the face of the American financial services system," Litan said. "Honestly, this is a crisis point."

JPMorgan Chase, the nation's biggest bank by assets, has been working with law enforcement officials to investigate the cyberattack.

The bank discovered the intrusion on its servers in mid-August and has since determined that the breach began as early as June, spokeswoman Patricia Wexler said.

"We have identified and closed the known access paths," she said, declining to elaborate.

She also declined to comment on whether JPMorgan has been able to determine who was behind the cyberattack on its servers.

In response to the data breach, the company has disabled compromised accounts and reset passwords of all its technology employees, Wexler said.

In a post on its Chase.com website, the bank told customers that it doesn't believe they need to change their password or account information. It also noted that customers are not liable for unauthorized transactions when they promptly alert the bank.

The breach is yet another in a series of data thefts that have hit financial firms and major retailers.

Last month, Home Depot said that malicious software lurking in its check-out terminals between April and September affected 56 million debit and credit cards. Michaels and Neiman Marcus also have been attacked by hackers in the past year.

A data breach at Target in December compromised 40 million credit and debit cards. TJX Cos.'s theft of 90 million records, disclosed in 2007, remains the largest data breach at a retailer.

Chase's assurances that it hasn't found any evidence of the personal data being misused shouldn't be misinterpreted as a reason to rest easy. The information still could be used in a variety of ways to rip off people in the months and years ahead.

That means consumers and business owners need to be more vigilant than ever, making sure to pore over their financial statements each month for any sign of suspicious activity. People also should be more leery than ever of unsolicited phone calls from purported bank representatives, emails fishing for their financial information and even uninvited guests knocking at their doors.

"You have to be paranoid now. You can't slack off," Litan said. "There is no such thing as data confidentiality anymore. Everything is out there."

Jamie Dimon, the bank's CEO, said in this year's annual report that despite spending millions on cybersecurity, JPMorgan remained worried about the threat of attacks. By the end of this year, the bank estimates that it will be spending about $250 million annually on cybersecurity and employing 1,000 people in the area.

In August, the FBI said that it was working with the Secret Service to determine the scope of recent cyber attacks against several American financial institutions.

Last month, JPMorgan began notifying customers that it would reissue credit or debit cards in the wake of the data breach at Home Depot. Wexler said the bank doesn't plan to reissue cards as a result of the breach of its servers, noting that customer account information was not stolen.

____

AP Technology Writer Michael Liedtke in San Francisco contributed to this report.

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Company proposes a safer Zohydro to FDA

The maker of the controversial painkiller Zohydro is seeking federal approval of a harder-to-abuse version, but its lawsuit against the state is "ongoing," even though a judge struck down Massachusetts' ban of the drug and some of the subsequent restrictions the state put on it.

San Diego-based Zogenix said it has submitted a supplemental application to the Food and Drug Administration for a new form of Zohydro extended-release capsules that is more difficult to snort or inject. If it is approved, as the company expects, in the first quarter of 2015, the drugmaker would replace the current version of Zohydro in the second quarter.

The company still, however, is challenging U.S. District Judge Rya W. Zobel's July 8 decision upholding a state Board of Registration in Pharmacy regulation requiring that only pharmacists handle Zohydro in a drug store.

"That legal action is ongoing in federal court, and the company will provide additional updates as it moves through the process," Zogenix said yesterday in a statement.

A hearing on the company's complaint is expected in December.

"Our office has urged the FDA as well as manufacturers to make abuse-resistant and tamper-resistant formulations of their drugs, especially potent opioids," Christopher Loh, a spokesman for Attorney General Martha Coakley, said in a statement yesterday. "That continues to be an important tool in the fight against abuse and a minimum safeguard that should be employed by manufacturers of painkillers."

The FDA approved Zohydro last October. But in late March, Gov. Deval Patrick declared a public health emergency because of a growing number of opiate overdoses and banned the prescription and sale of hydrocone-only drugs, of which Zohydro is the only one.

The company sued, arguing that it was being singled out unfairly, and in April, Zobel lifted the ban. Within days, the boards of registration in medicine and pharmacy and the Board of Registration of Physicians Assistants passed regulations placing restrictions on how the drug could be prescribed and sold.

In July, Zobel struck down a requirement that doctors or physicians assistants certify in a "letter of medical necessity" that "other pain management treatments have failed" for a patient who has been prescribed Zohydro.

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GM issues 2 more recalls for SUVs, mini cars

DETROIT — General Motors announced two more recalls, pushing its total for the year to 71, affecting almost 30 million vehicles in North America.

The biggest of Friday's recalls covers just over 430,000 Cadillac SRX and Saab 9-4X SUVs, mainly in North America. The company says some rear suspension nuts may not have been tightened properly. That could cause the toe link adjuster to separate from the suspension, possibly causing a crash.

The recall affects SRXs from the 2011 through 2015 model years and Saabs from the 2011 and 2012 model years. GM says the problem has caused three crashes and two injuries.

Dealers will inspect the SUVs and install a new assembly if needed. Unsold SRXs are being checked to make sure the nuts are tightened properly.

The other recall covers nearly 94,000 Chevrolet Spark mini-cars from 2013 through 2015 in the U.S. and Canada. Rust can cause a secondary hood latch to stick, and the hood can open unexpectedly, blocking the driver's vision and causing a crash. GM says it knows of no crashes or injuries from the problem.

Dealers will replace the latch when parts are available. GM has told dealers not to sell about 13,000 cars on their lots until the repairs are made.

The company found out about the problem in March when it got reports of three latches corroding prematurely in the United Kingdom. In all three cases, the hood opened while the cars were being driven, according to documents GM filed with U.S. safety regulators. The company also received 10 warranty complaints in the U.S. for rusted latches.

GM traced the problem to an anti-corrosion coating on the latch that didn't meet company specifications. The coating was changed at the factory on July 31.

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Asian stocks down on recovery, Ebola worries

SEOUL, South Korea — Asian stocks fell Thursday amid worries about the strength of U.S. and European recoveries and the first American case of Ebola.

KEEPING SCORE: Japan's Nikkei 225 index lost 1.7 percent to 15,815.45 points and South Korea's Kospi fell 0.9 percent to 1,973.31. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 declined 0.7 percent to 5,295.7. Stocks in Southeast Asia also lost ground. Markets in Hong Kong and China were closed for a public holiday.

SLOW GERMAN DATA: A survey showed German manufacturing unexpectedly contracted in September for the first time in 15 months, the latest sign Europe is being hurt by sanctions imposed on Russia over its role in Ukraine.

US MANUFACTURING: A closely watched monthly survey by the Institute for Supply Management came in below expectations, helping to drive a selloff on Wall Street.

EBOLA: U.S. airlines were among the hardest hit as investors fretted people would be discouraged from traveling after reports of the country's first case of Ebola.

ANALYST TAKE: "Confirmation of a case of Ebola in the U.S. has joined a growing list of bad news stories with geo-political tensions in Ukraine and Hong Kong, and growth concerns around China and Europe sapping risk appetite," said Niall King of CMC Markets in a commentary.

WALL STREET: The Dow Jones industrial average index lost 1.4 percent to 16,804.71. The broader Standard & Poor's 500 declined 1.3 percent to 1,946.16 and the Nasdaq composite fell 1.6 percent to 4,422.09.

EUROPEAN CENTRAL BANK FOCUS: Caution prevailed among investors ahead of a meeting of European Central Bank policymakers. Though no change in interest rates is anticipated, there will be great interest in what ECB President Mario Draghi says about possible monetary stimulus following recent weak economic news in Europe.

US DATA: The U.S. Labor Department is due to report the number of people who applied for unemployment benefits last week. Economists forecast that weekly applications rose a slight 5,000 to a seasonally adjusted 298,000. The Commerce Department will report August factory orders. Orders in July rose 10.5 percent in their biggest one-month gain since 1992.

ENERGY: Benchmark U.S. oil added 17 cents to $90.90 per barrel in electronic trading in New York. The contract fell 43 cents to settle at $90.73 on Wednesday. The price of oil was pushed down by plentiful supplies and a rise in the U.S. dollar — in which oil sales are priced — against other currencies.

CURRENCIES: The dollar fell to 108.65 yen from 109.07 yen. The euro rose to $1.266 from $1.262.

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Activists demand WGBH dump David Koch

Nearly 100 environmental activists protested outside WGBH's Brighton studios yesterday calling for conservative billionaire David Koch's ouster from the public broadcaster's board of trustees.

"I am here today because David Koch is a climate denier and 'GBH has scientific programs and he should have absolutely no influence on PBS and public broadcasting," said Nate Goldshlag of Arlington.

Some protesters dressed as Sesame Street characters Elmo, Big Bird and the Count joined the crowd. Dozens then packed the board of trustees meeting.

A Herald videographer was not allowed to record the meeting, but Emily Southard of Forecast the Facts said that though they weren't allowed to address the board, some protesters interrupted the meeting to complain about Koch's involvement.

Koch has contrib­uted millions of dollars to WGBH — and specifically to its science-based "NOVA" program — over the past 30 years.

WGBH officials have insisted that trustees don't influence the content of programming and that Koch will remain on the board.

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Wayfair raises IPO price

Boston home furnishings online retailer Wayfair Inc. was set to start trading today at a higher than ex­pected share price on the New York Stock Exchange — the 20th Massachusetts company to undergo an initial public offering this year.

Wayfair last night said it would offer 11 million shares at $29 a share — higher than the $25 to $28 range it had set in regulatory filings — in a deal that will raise $319 million.

As a high-growth com­pany with no profits to show, Wayfair comes with pluses and minuses for investors. On the positive side, it has lots of room for growth. Its 6 percent market share makes it the leading company in the under-penetrated online home goods market, which accounts for just 7 percent of total home goods sales, said Kathleen Smith, principal of Renaissance Capital, an IPO exchange-traded fund manager.

And Wayfair has been growing fast, with a nearly 50 percent revenue increase in the first half of the year to $574.1 million, and 52.4 percent year-over-year growth to $915.8 million in 2013.

"And they're pricing at a fairly reasonable (price) relative to other similar companies," Smith said.

Wayfair is not making money, however. It lost $51.4 million in the first half of the year, after a 2013 loss of $15.5 million, primarily due to increased adver­tising spending. And those losses are expected to persist for a couple of years.

"This is the dark side," said Rett Wallace, co-founder of Triton Research, a financial data and intelligence firm. "It's not clear that they can ever be profitable."

But losses aside, Wayfair is a "valid business," according to Smith. "Investors are looking for these high-growth companies, figuring that they can figure out their model," she said. "Even Amazon doesn't earn money, and investors have been tolerating their negligible earnings."

Wayfair formerly operated through hundreds of niche websites before consoli­dating under Wayfair.com in late 2011 and changing its name from CSN Stores. The company holds little inventory, shipping to customers directly from its suppliers.

The company, which was in a quiet period yesterday, was unable to comment.

Wayfair's IPO is the 20th by a Massachusetts-based company this year and the largest since Samsonite International raised $1.3 billion in its June 2011 IPO on the Hong Kong stock exchange, according to Dealogic,­ a New York financial software company that tracks IPOs.

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Insurer taps techies for fresh ideas, apps

The largest insurance company in the state is tapping more than 100 techies and entrepreneurs to create apps that will help solve some of the biggest health care issues.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts will hold a one-and-a-half month program with as many as 120 "innovators" to tackle health care for millennials, the rising­ number of elderly who will need health care and how to improve community engagement, said Jason Robart, senior vice president and head of human resources for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts.

"We want fresh perspective coming at these issues," Robart said. "We want to tap into the expertise and experience in a way we don't (normally) have an opportunity to."

The U.S Census estimates there are more than 80 million Americans between 13 and 32, many of whom soon will be in charge of their own health care.

Robart said getting ideas from people who are not entrenched in an insurance company will hopefully pay dividends.

"These are people who are thinking about new and innovative ideas in their leisure time," he said.

One of the main goals of the program, which will pair up techies to work on one of the issues until mid-November, will be to produce an app — or something like an app.

Chris Edell, CEO of Elevar, which is helping Blue Cross with the program, said health care doesn't have the same one-stop app as banks.

"It's not as simple as building an app and saying use it," Edell said. "(We want) health insurance and your visits to the hospital to have the whole end-to-end experience."

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Ebola, manufacturing woes shake Wall St.

The first case of Ebola to be diagnosed in the U.S. sent ripples through Wall Street yesterday, as airline stocks slid while shares of drugmakers with potential treatments soared.

The Dow Jones industrial average ended the day down more than 200 points as it was hit with disappointing economic news in addition to Ebola worries.

At first stocks were driven lower by word that German manufacturing had slowed last month. The selling accelerated after a separate survey indicated U.S. manufacturing slowed as well.

News that a Liberian man visiting family in Dallas had been diagnosed with Ebola caused investors to dump airline stocks out of fear that people would be reluctant to travel.­ JetBlue, Delta, American and Southwest Airlines all fell by more than 3 percent.

"The worse the news headlines get about this, the more risk there is to airlines," Joe Denardi, a Stifel financial Corp. analyst, told Bloomberg.

But shares of drug­makers with potential vaccines or treatments for Ebola rose. Shares of Tekmira Pharmaceuticals, whose TKM-Ebola drug was given to Holden physician Richard Sacra after he contracted the disease in West Africa, soared more than 18 percent. Meanwhile, shares of Cambridge-based Sarepta Therapeutics, whose experimental drug AVI-7537 showed promise before federal funding dried up, rose 3.70 percent.

Other companies that fared well due to the Ebola news included Lakeland Industries, which makes hazmat suits, and Alpha Pro Tech, which makes face masks and eye shields. Lakeland shares soared 29.64 percent, while Alpha Pro Tech rose 10.46 percent.

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US companies add jobs at healthy clip in September

WASHINGTON — U.S. businesses continued hiring at a solid pace in September, according to a private survey. The result marks the the sixth straight month of solid gains.

Payroll processer ADP says private employers added 213,000 jobs last month, up slightly from 202,000 in August. Job gains above 200,000 are usually enough to lower the unemployment rate.

The figures suggest the government's jobs report on Friday could show a rebound in hiring. The government said employers added only 142,000 jobs in August. But the ADP numbers cover only private businesses and sometimes diverge from the government's more comprehensive report. ADP's August figure was much higher than the government's.

Economists surveyed by FactSet forecast that the government's report will show 215,000 jobs were added in September, while the unemployment rate remained 6.1 percent.

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Dorchester locale ranked among ‘10 greatest neighborhoods’ in U.S.

Fields Corner in Dorchester has been crowned one of the 10 greatest neighborhoods in the country by the American Planning Association.

The Washington- and Chicago-based nonprofit announced this morning the "close-knit community ties" of its 20,000 residents "set Fields Corner apart."

The neighborhood is "home to a large Vietnamese-American population that influences the array of cultural shops and restaurants along its commercial corridor," the association wrote.

In addition, APA said Fields Corner "organizations have developed affordable housing, commercial spaces and a community center for cultural events, providing support networks for residents. One organization, Fields Corner Main Street, promotes activities to support the neighborhood, including storefront improvements and streetscape beautification projects, while providing tools and assistance to local merchants, and recruiting and marketing new and existing businesses into the neighborhood.

"After four years of planning and community meetings, Fields Corner underwent a multi-million dollar facelift in 2010, part of the Dorchester Avenue Project led by the Boston Redevelopment Authority," the APA said. "The upgrades included a more attractive streetscape, new crosswalks, wider sidewalks, new bike lanes and racks, new trash receptacles, solar-powered trash compactors, tree planting, energy efficient lighting and many other improvements. A major focus of the project was Hero Square, built to create a larger plaza area with seating and landscaping upgrades."

The nine other neighborhoods recognized by APA are Adams Morgan in Washington, D.C., Arbor Hill in Albany, N.Y., Central West End in St. Louis, Mo., the Fan District in Richmond, Va., Fremont in Seattle, Wash., Greater Belhaven in Jackson, Miss., Lincoln Park in Denver, Colo., Uptown in Oakland, Calif., and the Victorian District in Savannah, Ga.

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General Mills plans to cut about 700 to 800 jobs

NEW YORK — General Mills plans to cut approximately 700 to 800 jobs, the second time it's trimmed its work force in a month, as the food company adjusts for a shift by U.S. consumers away from boxed or frozen meals.

The Minneapolis company that owns Betty Crocker and Green Giant brands said in a regulatory filing that the job cuts will take place mostly in the U.S. It expects about $135 million to $160 million in restructuring charges and foresees annual cost savings of approximately $125 million to $150 million, starting in fiscal 2016.

General Mills Inc. anticipates the current restructuring to be completed by fiscal 2015's end.

Other household names in the U.S. like Kellogg Co. and H.J. Heinz Co., have also had to readjust to shifting American diets.

Last month General Mills, which also makes Cheerios and Yoplait yogurt, said that it was closing a facility in Methuen, Massachusetts, which would eliminate about 250 positions. It also announced plans to close a plant in Lodi, California that would result in approximately 430 jobs being cut. General Mills said in a regulatory filing at the time that the decision on the Lodi facility was tentative, as it still had to have negotiations with the union there. The company said that the closing of the Lodi plant would eliminate excess cereal and dry mix from its supply chain.

General Mills has been tweaking its recipes and getting into new foods as it tries to satisfy an American palate heading in a new direction. It gave Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal a stronger cinnamon taste, removed aspartame sugar substitute from Yoplait Light and released a new line of Cheerios with added protein.

General Mills also announced in September that it plans to buy Annie's, the maker of rabbit-shaped organic mac and cheese, for $820 million. The deal is expected to close later this year.

Shares of General Mills rose 79 cents to $51.24 before the opening bell Wednesday.

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Legendary, Derek Jeter launch digital media startup for pro athletes to post 'unfiltered' content

Derek Jeter, the now-retired New York Yankees ballplayer, has a new career: multimedia entrepreneur.

Jeter is teaming up with movie studio Legendary Entertainment to launch The Players' Tribune, a digital startup that promises to be a home for professional athletes to share "their unfiltered, honest and unique perspectives, bringing fans closer to the games they love."

"I do think fans deserve more than 'no comments' or 'I don't knows,'" Jeter, the company's founding publisher, wrote in a post on The Players' Tribune website. "We want to have a way to connect directly with our fans, with no filter."

The Players' Tribune will let athletes develop and create content ranging from first-person written features to videos, podcasts, photo galleries, polls and more. The New York-based company plans to announce "all-star professional athlete contributors" in the coming weeks.

"I have had the privilege of knowing Derek for a number of years," Legendary chairman and CEO Thomas Tull said in a statement. "His idea of providing athletes with a platform to communicate directly with their fans and the world at large is a forum that we are excited about."

Tull is a well-known sports fan, who translated his love of baseball into "42," chronicling Jackie Robinson's break through baseball's color barrier. Tull is also a board member of The Baseball Hall of Fame and part of the ownership group of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Legendary, in addition to producing films including "Godzilla," "Pacific Rim" and "The Dark Knight," also operates pop-culture website Nerdist.com and also produces content via its Legendary Digital banner.

The Players' Tribune has hired Gary Hoenig, former editorial director of ESPN Publishing and a founding editor of ESPN The Magazine, as editorial director. Maureen Cavanagh, former photo director for Time Inc.'s Sports Illustrated, is the creative director and Sarah Turcotte, former senior writer/general editor at ESPN The Magazine, is executive editor. Alex Rose the company's g.m. and Mark Grande is VP of content and strategy.

© 2014 Variety Media, LLC, a subsidiary of Penske Business Media; Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC

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As economic news picks up, markets drift

LONDON — Stock markets around the world drifted lower Wednesday ahead of a raft of major economic news events that could make for a volatile few days.

KEEPING SCORE: In Europe, Germany's DAX fell 0.5 percent to 9,426 while the CAC-40 in France fell 0.9 percent to 4,378. The FTSE 100 of leading British shares was 0.8 percent lower at 6,567. Wall Street looked set modest declines at the open, with both Dow futures and the broader S&P 500 futures down 0.2 percent.

US DATA IN FOCUS: Ahead of Friday's U.S. nonfarm payrolls report for September which often sets the market tone for a week or two after its release, traders have a raft of news to digest. On Wednesday, private payrolls firm ADP found 213,000 jobs were generated during September. The increase was largely in line with expectations and cemented views about Friday's official data. The ADP report also helped ease concerns over a surprisingly weak consumer confidence number from the Conference Board on Tuesday. Later, the Institute for Supply Management publishes its closely watched manufacturing reported.

ANALYST TAKE: "While no one report or indicator is perfect, the fact that ADP was not similarly weak is a positive development and should leave estimates roughly unchanged for monthly payroll gains," said Dan Greenhaus, chief strategist at BTIG.

ECB LOOMING: Traders are also gearing up for Thursday's European Central Bank policy meeting in Naples, Italy. Though no change in policy is anticipated, there will be great interest in what ECB President Mario Draghi says about a possible monetary stimulus from the central bank following further weak inflation data.

CURRENCIES: The foreign exchange markets are likely to be busy over the rest of the week given the number of potentially market-moving developments on the calendar. On Wednesday, the mood was fairly benign with the euro down 0.1 percent at $1.2615 and the dollar unchanged at 109.69 yen.

ASIA'S DAY: Tokyo's Nikkei 225 index shed 0.6 percent to 16,082.25 after a survey showed business conditions deteriorated. Shanghai and Hong Kong were closed for China's National Day holiday. Seoul's Kospi tumbled 1.4 percent to 1,991.54 on weaker factory output.

HONG KONG IN SPOTLIGHT: Across Asian financial markets in particular, there's great interest in the pro-democracy demonstrators that are taking place in Hong Kong. Streets in the business district have closed in the biggest threat to Beijing's authority since China took control of the former British colony in 1997. Some banks, schools and stores have closed, though analysts say they see no significant damage to the economy of this Asian financial center.

ENERGY: Benchmark U.S. oil added 55 cents to $91.71 per barrel in electronic trading in New York. The contract dropped $3.41 on Tuesday to $91.16, pushed down by plentiful supplies and a rise in the U.S. dollar — in which oil sales are priced — against other currencies. Brent crude, used to price international oils, fell 10 cents to $96.90.

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Hong Kong protests weighing on global markets

LONDON — At the start of a busy week on the economic news front, global stock markets have largely edged down as investors fret over the pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong, where the main Hang Seng index closed down 1.9 percent on Monday at 23,229.21.

KEEPING SCORE: In Europe the CAC-40 in France was 0.7 percent lower at 4,365 while Germany's DAX fell the same rate to 9,429. The FTSE 100 of leading British shares was 0.3 percent lower at 6,627. Wall Street was poised for a lower opening with Dow futures and the broader S&P 500 futures down 0.7 percent.

HONG KONG TENSIONS: Pro-democracy protests escalated Monday, raising concerns business in this Asian financial hub might be disrupted. In a rare scene of disorder, thousands of people took to the streets over the weekend in a challenge against Beijing's decision to limit political reforms. Police fired tear gas and detained 78 protesters but failed to break up the rally.

ANALYST TAKE: "Sentiment is downbeat for a variety of reasons, not least due to the growing unrest in Hong Kong," said Fawad Razaqzada, technical analyst at Forex.com.

ASIA'S DAY: Concerns over the situation in Hong Kong weighed on most markets in Asia. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 fell 0.9 percent to 5,269.60 and stocks in Taipei, Seoul and Singapore also edged down. However, Japan's Nikkei 225 index rose 0.5 percent to 16,310.64 and China's Shanghai Composite added 0.4 percent to 2,357.71.

BUSY WEEK AHEAD: As well as monitoring developments in Hong Kong as well as other geopolitical hotspots around the world, investors have a raft of economic news to digest. As well as Thursday's monthly policy meeting of the European Central Bank, there's a flow of U.S. economic data that culminates Friday with the nonfarm payrolls report for September. That often sets the market tone for a week or two as traders assess what impact it may have on the policy of the Federal Reserve. Last month's 142,000 increase was lower than anticipated and pushed out market expectations of when the central bank will start raising interest rates. Traders will want to see whether August's modest increase was a one-off or the start of a period of slower jobs growth in the world's largest economy.

CURRENCIES: The dollar could be a key mover in the wake of the payrolls figures. On Monday, the euro was up 0.2 percent at $1.2700 while the dollar was flat at 109.21 yen. The dollar has been in the ascendant over the past few months as the U.S. economy has outperformed its major competitors and as traders price in the prospect of interest rate increases from the Fed in contrast to the European Central Bank and the Bank of Japan where monetary policy remains super-cheap and easy.

ENERGY: Benchmark U.S. crude oil fell 25 cents to $93.29 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

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Coakley/Partners HealthCare deal heads to judge

BOSTON — A revised agreement by Attorney General Martha Coakley and Partners HealthCare over the company's plans to acquire Hallmark Health Centers is heading before a judge.

Under a revised deal announced last week, Partners has agreed to cap prices at Hallmark for 6½ years if it acquires the company, which owns Lawrence Memorial Hospital in Medford and Melrose-Wakefield Hospital.

Coakley said Partners also agreed to maintain current psychiatric and behavioral health services at its Hallmark and North Shore facilities.

Coakley says the amended consent judgment is expected to be considered by Suffolk Superior Court Judge Janet Sanders. The next court date is Monday.

Coakley, who is running for governor, has been criticized over the deal by political rivals, including Republican candidate Charlie Baker, who said the deal is too complex.

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Vehicles damaged at Billerica used car lot blaze

BILLERICA, Mass. — Officials say a two-alarm fire at a used car lot in Billerica destroyed or damaged almost 30 vehicles.

The blaze at Jack's Used Cars and Parts was reported at about 2:30 p.m. Sunday.

It was under control within about an hour and there were no reports of injuries.

The cause remains under investigation.

Mike Foley, whose father owns the yard, said they have not had any problems before.

Firefighters from Tewksbury, Chelmsford and Bedford helped fight the blaze.

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Macy's holiday hiring up 3.6 pct

NEW YORK — Macy's plans to hire about 86,000 seasonal holiday workers nationwide to bolster its stores, call centers and distribution hubs. That number represents a 3.6 percent increase from a year ago.

The department store chain, which also operates Bloomingdale's, said Monday that the growth is being fueled by its expanding online business. This year, about 10,000 of the total 86,000 seasonal workers will be based in eight distribution centers.

A store's hiring plans can indicate its expectations for the holiday shopping season, which accounts for 20 percent of the retail industry's annual sales, according to the National Retail Federation.

Shares of Macy's Inc., based in Cincinnati, are down slightly in premarket trading.

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US consumer spending up 0.5 percent in August

WASHINGTON — Americans boosted spending by a healthy amount in August, offering welcome evidence that the economy is on solid footing heading into the final quarter of the year.

Consumer spending in August rose 0.5 percent from the previous month after showing no gain in July, the Commerce Department reported Monday. About half of the increase was driven by auto sales. It was the best result since spending also expanded 0.5 percent in June.

Helped by strength in wages and salaries, income rose a modest 0.3 percent in August, slightly faster than a 0.2 percent July increase.

The spending gain was another sign that the economy is maintaining strength in the current July-September quarter. Consumer spending accounts for about 70 percent of economic activity, and the slowdown in July had raised concerns about whether the economy would retain the momentum it showed in the spring after a harsh winter.

Paul Dales, senior U.S. economist at Capital Economics, said that consumer spending was the strongest in six months after the effects of inflation were removed.

"Overall, faster income growth, the recent rises in the saving rate and the latest loosening in credit conditions suggest that consumption growth will accelerate in the fourth quarter and next year," Dales said.

The saving rate dipped slightly to 5.4 percent of after-tax income in August. That was down only slightly from a saving rate of 5.6 percent in July, which had been the highest monthly rate since December 2012.

Inflation was well contained in August, with an inflation measure tracked closely by the Federal Reserve showing no change after a 0.1 percent July increase. Over the past 12 months, this measure of inflation is up just 1.5 percent, well below the Fed's 2 percent target.

About half of the spending growth came from a big jump in car sales in August. That helped push durable goods purchases up 1.8 percent in August after no change in July. Sales of nondurable goods actually fell 0.3 percent in August, a decline that likely reflected falling gas prices. Spending on services including utilities and rent rose 0.5 percent in August.

The government on Friday reported that the overall economy as measured by the gross domestic product grew at a rapid 4.6 percent annual rate in the April-June quarter, a significant rebound after the economy had gone into reverse in the first quarter.

Many expect that the momentum created in the spring will keep activity rising at a solid pace for the rest of this year and into 2015. The latest outlook from top forecasters with the National Association for Business Economics predicts the economy will grow at a 3 percent rate in the second half of this year and will average 3 percent in 2015, which would give the country its strongest annual growth rate in a decade.

Since the recession ended five years ago, growth has averaged a lackluster 2 percent. The optimism for a breakout to higher growth stems on the belief that rising employment will generate growing incomes, which would then support more consumer spending. In addition, the significant drag from cutbacks in government spending and higher taxes are beginning to wane.

Responding to stronger job growth, consumer confidence rose in September to 84.6, the highest point in 14 months and the second highest level in the past seven years.

The Federal Reserve is continuing to pursue its ultra-low interest rate policies as a way to make sure that the forecasts for stronger growth are not suddenly derailed by rising borrowing costs. At its last meeting two weeks ago, it retained language that it expected to keep rates low for a "considerable time," which was seen as a strong signal by many economists that its key short-term interest rate will remain at a record low near zero until next summer.

The Fed has been able to maintain low rates because inflation has remained well below the Fed's 2 percent target.

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Groceries from local producers

There's a new player in the grocery delivery game, and it's mixing the tech-savvy of Instacart, local sourcing of Whole Foods and low prices to attract Hub consumers.

It's called Watershed Exchange and was launched this month.

"The way we differentiate ourselves from everyone else, is that we want to be a platform for local producers to sell direct to consumers. It's taking a farmer's market to another level. Why shouldn't you be able to access farmed products seven days a week 24 hours a day?" said Ryan Schoen, 32. He and Jeremy Stanfield, 34, came up with the idea while living in New York and working in operations for upscale grocer Dean & DeLuca. They greenlighted the idea in April, raised about $200,000 from angel investors in August and officially launched Watershed Exchange.

Here's how it works: Consumers order food from such vendors as Red's Best Seafood in Boston, or Maple Heights Farm in Westminster from Watershed's mobile-enabled website and then set a delivery window, typically between noon and 5 p.m.

Anything Watershed can't source directly is fulfilled by Pemberton Farms in Cambridge — mainly items such as beer, wine and spirits as the startup doesn't have a liquor license.

When they do source items that are not local, such as oranges, avocados or coffee, their aim is to use Fair Trade products.

"This (service) appeals to anyone who wants to connect more with their food," said Stanfield.

Schoen and Stanfield fill the orders and deliver the goods themselves in a custom bright blue and wood paneled refurbished school bus. So far, they've delivered more than 100 orders in their first three weeks.

Convenient, tech-savvy, local — but how are the prices?

Right now they have fresh Cape Cod scallops on their site for $13-per-lb. vs. Costco's $18-per-lb. frozen. They also have local apples for $1 per lb. "You shouldn't have to pay a premium for convenience," said Schoen.

Local farmers and artisans get 75 cents on the dollar versus the industry standard of 20 cents.

Chalk it up to seriously low overhead. Technology handles most of the transaction, there's no expensive real estate, store front, food waste, register clerks, shelf stockers, etc. And they reduce the distribution cost by dealing directly with the artisan.

"We are trying to create an alternative system to other food delivery services where it's better for the producer of the food to communicate their products directly to the consumer," said Schoen.

Delivery areas include Boston, Metro West, Somerville and Cambridge, with a plan to expand to more communities. The delivery is free for September but will be $5-$10 after the introductory promotion is over.

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Massachusetts electric rates shoot up 37 percent

BOSTON — Many Massachusetts households are going to see their electric bills shoot up 37 percent this winter, a rate increase that some advocates fear will put additional strain on low-income families.

State regulators approved the increase for National Grid household customers that would mean an average of $33 per month more for the typical residential customer and would push a typical monthly bill higher than $150.

Large-business customers will see even higher increases.

National Grid has almost 1.3 million residential and business electric customers in Massachusetts. The new rates take effect in November.

"This is pretty bad, and it's going to really have a bearing on a lot of Massachusetts households' abilities to just make ends meet this winter," John Howat, senior energy analyst at the National Consumer Law Center in Boston, told The Boston Globe.

The utility blame the rate hikes on the cost of buying electricity from power plants, which has soared because of an increased demand for natural gas used to generate electricity.

"This is something that's not within National Grid's control," spokesman Jake Navarro said. "This is a market-based problem."

The rate hikes will also hurt businesses.

"It's a very difficult thing, particularly for small businesses at a time when they're already struggling with the highest health care costs in the country and soon to be highest minimum wage," Jon Hurst, president of the Retailers Association of Massachusetts, told the Boston Herald. "All these things are required costs of doing business, and it's very difficult to be profitable."

NStar, with more than 1.1 million customers in the state, and Western Massachusetts Electric Co., with about 213,000 customers, also expect to seek rate increases, a spokesman said.

Those companies, both owned by Northeast Utilities, won't file their winter rate requests until later this fall.

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Cuba hands Canadian businessman 15-year sentence

HAVANA — A Canadian automobile executive has been sentenced to 15 years in Cuban prison on corruption-related charges that officials here call part of a broad campaign against graft, his company said Saturday.

Ontario-based Tokmakjian Group said the charges against its president, Cy Tokmakjian, 74, were concocted as an excuse to seize the automotive firm's $100 million in assets in Cuba. The company described the case Saturday as "absurd" and a "travesty of justice."

The company's Cuban offices were raided in 2011 as Cuba launched an anti-graft drive that has swept up foreign business executives from at least five nations as well as government officials and dozens of Cuban employees at key state-run companies.

Foreign business people have long considered payoffs ranging from a free meal to cash deposits in overseas accounts to be an unavoidable cost of doing business in Cuba. President Raul Castro has said that rooting out rampant corruption is one of the country's most important challenges.

More than 150 foreign business people and dozens of small South American and European companies have been kicked out of the country under the anti-graft drive. Several dozen defendants have ended up in jail, including a few foreigners and high government officials accused of influence-peddling and taking bribes.

Such cases, and questions about their fairness, have chilled many current and potential investors in Cuba, which is trying to attract foreign capital to jumpstart the stagnant economy.

Cuba's judicial system is known for speedy proceedings behind closed doors with little or no media access. Cuban officials have said little about the Tokmakjian case beyond announcing last year that the Tokmakjian Group's operating license had been rescinded due to unspecified actions "that are contrary to the principles and ethics that should characterize commercial activity, and contravene Cuban judicial order."

Tokmakjian managers Claudio Vetere and Marco Puche got 12- and 8-year sentences, respectively, company vice president Lee Hacker told The Associated Press. He said the company's lawyers were notified of the sentences on Friday.

The Canadian company said its president had been allowed to call only four of the 18 expert witnesses he wanted to testify.

"The deception taking place in Cuba is beyond imagination," the company said. "Lack of due process doesn't begin to describe the travesty of justice."

___

Michael Weissenstein on Twitter: https://twitter.com/mweissenstein

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APP helps EMTs alert hospitals

For emergency medical technicians, every bit of information can be the difference between life and death.

A MassChallenge finalist called Twiage has developed a mobile app that can help. With just the touch of a button or voice-activated Google Glass, EMTs can use the app to send hospitals videos of patients and any injuries, voice memos with their symptoms and vital signs, and electrocardiograms, or EKGs, a test that checks for problems with the electrical activity of the heart.

All of the information is then pre-transcribed on a dashboard for doctors and nurses to see before patients arrive at the hospital.

"With a two-way radio, 20 percent of the time the hospital couldn't hear what I was saying, so they couldn't prepare for the patient until we arrived," said Crystal Law, an MIT-trained engineer and former EMT. "I thought, what if we could use the technology people use today for fun, for something as important as an emergency?"

Law teamed up with Dr. YiDing Yu, a Harvard physician, and John Rodley, an Android and Google Glass developer, to found Twiage, one of 128 finalists now competing for a share of more than $1 million in prize money through the MassChallenge start-up accelerator.

For the past two months, the app has been tested by South Shore Hospital and three paramedics, with plans to expand it to more, said Eugene Duffy, emergency medical services manager.

"It's been fantastic," Duffy said. "The quality of information coming from ambulances now is second to none."

Dr. William Tollefsen, the hospital's medical director of emergency medical services, said Twiage has proven especially useful in cases such as acute stroke, where doctors have only a 4 1⁄2-hour window from the time a patient was last seen normal to administer a "clot-busting" drug to prevent damage such as loss of speech or the ability to walk.

"The faster I can get information like the severity of the symptoms and the last time the patient appeared normal, the faster I can activate a neurologist, nurses and a pharmacist," Tollefsen said. "It can make all the difference between a good outcome and results that can be catastrophic."

Twiage also can save hospitals thousands of dollars in false alarms and save patients and their insurers thousands more in unnecessarily long hospitalizations, Law said.

Advance notification of a stroke, for example, can allow hospitals to prepare and reduce the cost of hospitalization by half, or by $10,000, said Dr. Yu, Twiage's chief medical officer.

Twiage will be offering the app to five other hospitals through the end of this year, Law said, and it will be available to all hospitals for a subscription fee by next summer.

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Jeep’s brake rotors seem to be failing at warp speed

I have a 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee with 160,000 miles on it. The problem is with the brake rotors warping. Every time I've had the brakes worked on, they start to pulsate again after a few thousand miles. Last time the dealer installed new pads and rotors, but the same thing happened. Are there certain types of rotors or pads I can use to prevent this?

First, let's review the primary causes of brake rotor warping — excessive heat or manufacturing defect. Seems unlikely you and the many other Jeep owners who've complained about the same problem would continually get faulty replacement rotors.

Thus, focus on excess heat. If a driver consistently brakes late and hard for stops or drags the brakes while driving, the heat buildup in the rotors can eventually cause distortion, uneven wear and warpage. Always brake early and brake lightly whenever possible. And here's a little tip. Once stopped for a light, let the car roll a foot or so forward to move the pads off the "hot spot" on the rotor. During a long stop, do this a couple of times — safely, of course. This reduces "heat soak" in the rotors, where one section is significantly hotter than the rest of the rotor.

Design, manufacturing and mechanical issues can certainly contribute to warped rotors. Undersized calipers and rotors may not be able to dissipate heat fast enough during aggressive braking to prevent eventual warpage. Better quality replacement rotors and pads may help this type of issue. If a mechanical or hydraulic issue is preventing the brake proportioning valve or rear brakes from doing their share, the front brakes can be overworked and overheated in "normal" driving.

Sticky caliper pistons and/or binding caliper slider pins are a primary cause of rotor warpage and uneven rotor wear. An often overlooked cause for warped rotors is improper or uneven torque on the wheel lug nuts. Always — every single time — make sure the wheels are tightened in a symmetrical order in stages to the proper torque specification. Similarly, rust or corrosion between the hub face and rotor can lead to uneven brake wear.

Remember, you will feel a vibration in the pedal or steering wheel when rotors have much more than two-thousandths of an inch of lateral run-out — that's .002"!

A final thought. Proper rotor and pad "bedding" or break-in when new can significantly affect brake performance and life expectancy. Here's how I do it: Find a lightly traveled 45- to 50-mph road. With no vehicles behind you, accelerate up to 45 mph, then brake very firmly down to rolling speed. Repeat this a few times until you smell the tinge of brake heat or feel the beginning of brake fade. Then just cruise along at the speed limit, allowing the brakes to cool back to normal temperature. This process "beds" the brakes, making the pad and rotor surfaces "happy" with each other. Once properly bedded, the brakes should perform well for their full service life.

Need some advice for my daughter and her husband. They bought a 2006 Nissan 350Z — smart folks, 'cause they won't let me drive it. No problems with it, but a headlight quit working. The Nissan dealer wants $1,300 to replace it. Any comment or suggestions? This seems sort of excessive.

I'd suggest that you offer a much less expensive fix in exchange for driving privileges! According to my Alldata automotive database, this Nissan is fitted with xenon HID headlamps. Nissan service bulletin NTB10-061A dated June 2010 suggests that a failed headlamp bulb, about $180, or HID control unit, $400-$500, is the most likely cause of an inoperative headlight. Even with an hour or so of labor, that's a far cry from $1,300 to replace the entire headlight assembly. There's a very good chance you can solve the problem, save them money and, most important, end up with driving privileges! Remember, I'm an instructor for the Skip Barber Racing School — you'd have lots of fun learning how to properly drive that performance car!

Paul Brand, author of "How to Repair Your Car," is an automotive troubleshooter, driving instructor and former race-car driver. Readers may write to him at: Star Tribune, 425 Portland Ave. S., Minneapolis, Minn., 55488 or via email at paulbrand@
startribune.com. Please explain the problem in detail and include a daytime phone number.

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