The Ticker

TurboTax shuts off state tax return filing

TurboTax, the country's most popular do-it-yourself tax preparation software, said yesterday that it has temporarily stopped processing state tax returns because of an increase in fraudulent filings.

The Massachusetts Department of Revenue says 160,000 refunds are currently in the pipeline, and due to the increase in the filing of fraudulent tax returns nationwide, it will more carefully scrutinize information on returns.

Other state agencies have also reported a rise in filings with stolen personal information, said Intuit, the company behind TurboTax. Most victims found out that a fraudulent tax return was submitted in their name when they received a rejection notice after filing their returns, said Intuit spokeswoman Julie Miller.

There haven't been issues with federal returns to date because the Internal Revenue Service has implemented stronger fraud detection policies, Miller said.

Intuit is working with security company Palantir to investigate the problem. So far, there has been no security breach of its systems, the company said. Instead, it believes personal information was stolen elsewhere and used to file returns on TurboTax.

West Coast dockworkers won't handle cargo due to labor dispute

Terminal operators at the 29 U.S. West Coast ports won't handle cargo this weekend as a labor dispute with dockworkers escalates, their bargaining agent said. Loading and unloading of vessels at ports from San Diego to Bellingham, Wash., will be suspended through Monday morning, according to an emailed statement from the Pacific Maritime Association.

Shipping lines and terminal operators can't justify paying overtime to unionized dockworkers who are handling cargo at reduced levels of productivity, an association spokesman, Wade Gates, said in the statement.

Consumer borrowing picks up in Dec.

Consumer borrowing picked up in December as Americans used their credit cards more after pulling back the previous month.

Total outstanding non-mortgage credit increased by $14.7 billion to $3.3 trillion, the Federal Reserve said yesterday. Economists expected a $15 billion rise.

Revolving debt, which includes credit cards, increased by $5.8 billion to $887.9 billion, the largest increase since April. That's a positive sign of growing consumer confidence amid strong job growth and falling gasoline prices.

Non-revolving credit, which is mostly auto and student loans, rose by $8.9 billion to $2.42 trillion. Auto sales have reached near-record levels as Americans replace aging vehicles and lending standards ease.

• Citizens Bank announced that Bradley L. Mattox, left, has been hired as a vice president and relationship manager for Citizens Commercial Banking. Mattox joins Citizens in Boston from BNY Mellon, where he was a vice president and senior private banker.

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Connector czar: It’s working great

The state's Obamacare czar yesterday proclaimed the Bay State to be "a million miles ahead of" last year's disastrous health care sign-ups, announcing the state has now enrolled 325,814 Bay Staters so far.

"That's a complete turnaround and, if we're being honest, not a lot of people thought it would be done," said Massachusetts Obamacare chief Maydad Cohen. "Just looking at the enormity of the problems and the calendar made even our biggest supporters skeptical."

To date, some 3.8 million users had accessed the state's pricey Obamacare website, and 440,546 users had determined which plans they're eligible for, Cohen said.

"The enrollment numbers themselves don't lie; the website is working," said Cohen. "People are getting insurance for themselves and their families and we're a million miles ahead of where we were last year — and that's an undisputable fact."

Open enrollment on the Health Connector website runs through Feb. 15. When the enrollment period started last year, the site crashed numerous times and it was plagued with problems for months, causing people to give up on trying to enroll and ultimately costing the state millions of dollars to fix.

It's hardly been a flawless process this year, as a representative from Attorney General Maura Healey's office noted during a conference call yesterday that many customers had called their hotline to complain.

A Healey spokesman said 131 consumer complaints had been received since open enrollment began on Nov. 15.

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Judge upholds ride-share rules

A bid by taxi medallion owners to halt regulations that have legalized transportation companies including Uber and Lyft has been rejected by a federal judge.

"Plaintiffs have failed to convince this court that medallion owners have a protected property interest in the market value of their medallions," U.S. District Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton said yesterday in a court order. "Purchasing a taxicab medallion does not entitle the buyer to 'an unalterable monopoly' over the taxicab market or the overall for-hire transportation market,"

Gorton said the Boston Taxi Owners Association was not convincing in its argument for a preliminary injunction, rejecting its claims of violation of equal protection and "unconstitutional taking of their property."

The association has sued both Boston and the state in an effort to halt state regulations for Uber and Lyft that it sees as unfair. Initial statewide regulations for so-called transportation network companies went into effect last month, but require legislative approval.

"In order for Massachusetts' economy to thrive, we must continue to embrace technology and innovation as a means for growth," Gov. Charlie Baker said in a statement.

Boston is in the middle of its own regulatory process, with a Taxi Advisory Committee that has been looking at the issue for months. A spokeswoman for Mayor Martin J. Walsh said the city is pleased with the decision.

A lawyer for the Taxi Owners Association did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

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Audi A4 earns a high grade

The efficient 2015 Audi A4 with go-anywhere, all-wheel-drive is a solid choice for the New Englander not willing to compromise on performance or craftsmanship.

Audi's quattro all-wheel-drive system intuitively sends power to the wheels with the most grip. Although our tester had 19-inch, low-profile summer tires, I found the sedan provided superb traction on both wet and snow-covered roads.

The quattro system, which has been around for more than 35 years, was equally impressive on dry roads, giving the A4 sharp handling with a decent amount of feedback and providing the driver with an intimate connection to the road. The A4's sport-tuned suspension settled through bumps on the corners and the sedan's electronic, speed-sensitive steering had a heavy, precision feel.

Under the hood, the A4 packs a turbocharged 2.0- liter, inline four-cylinder engine that cranks out 220 horsepower. Audi offers three transmission choices with the A4: a six-speed manual, a continuously variable automatic, and an eight-speed automatic with manual override. My tester had the eight speed with paddle shifters, which allowed me to take control of the sedan, especially through the corners and on steep highway ramps. The multitude of gears allowed for smooth downshifting and maximized the transfer of power from the efficient engine. The A4 balances a respectable amount power with decent fuel economy for an all-wheel-drive sedan. The A4 did 21 miles per gallon in the city and 30 mpg on highway.

Silver and gray trim highlighted my A4's black interior. Leather heated front seats were firm and supportive. The centerpiece of the A4's cockpit was a distinctive flat bottom steering wheel, which was part of the $1,500 sport plus package that included the paddle shifters, a black headliner, and 19-inch, 5-arm aluminum wheels with a titanium finish. Three-zone climate controls allowed driver and passengers to individualize the cabin temperature. While the A4 is listed as a five-seater, my children looked cramped in the backseat for the lift to school. The rear seats fold down with a 60/40 split.

Red backlighting on switches and buttons played well against the dark interior. A 7-inch display screen was neatly integrated into the A4's dashboard. Navigation, stereo, cellphone, and vehicle settings were controlled with a joystick knob surrounded by an array of buttons on the center console. While the center stack was imposing at first glance, I found operating the A4's infotainment features intuitive and straightforward. The cluster of controls reduced the need to drill down through layers of menus. A push-button ignition button was located beside a conveniently placed electronic parking brake control.

My only dislike with the A4 was the location of the cruise control stalk behind the steering wheel. I guess it's just a distinctive quirk with Audi, but cruise control is much easier to use when located on the steering wheel.

The solidly built Audi A4 starts at $37,600 and my tester topped out just over $46,000, which puts it in the mix with the other premium sedans from Germany, such as the BMW 3-series or Mercedes-Benz C300. The A4 is also worth a test drive when considering the Cadillac ATS, Lexus IS, or Infiniti Q50.

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Cambridge condo mixes style, comfort

This stylish new condo is one of three carved out of a long, narrow stucco house in North Cambridge that features a long front porch topped with private decks.

The end Unit 1 at 130 Rindge Ave. is the last of the condos for sale, on the market for $975,000, and it features three bedrooms and three levels of living space.

There's not much yard space around the 1875-built property, but the rebuilt front porch does overlook a large, open green space in front of the upscale Wyeth apartments next door. The house's exterior has been completely restored, with new black mullion windows and white trim.

The front porch leads into a foyer, with dark-stained red oak floors that are featured throughout the property, along with 9-foot ceilings with crown molding on the first floor.

To the left of the foyer sits a stylish recessed-lit kitchen,­ with 22 white-­painted wood cabinets and Carrara marble-topped counters with a white beadboard back­splash. There's also a separate Carrara-­topped gray-painted island with a breakfast bar that seats three as well as a double-doored pantry/storage closet. High-end stainless-steel appliances include a Bosch refrigerator and dishwasher as well as a professional-grade Viking gas stove and a matching microwave above.

Adjacent is a dining area, with glass doors that open out to a back porch and down to a private fenced-in patio.

Back inside, to the right of the foyer sits a good-sized recessed-lit living room with crown molding and four six-over-six windows on three sides.

Oak stairs lead up to three oak-floored bedrooms on the second floor with a window at the top of the landing.

The master suite covers half the second floor, with oak flooring, crown molding and recessed lighting. Two front windows bring in light and a pair of glass doors lead out to a private deck over the front porch with views of the open space next door.

The master suite has four closets, all with built-in shelving. The stylish en-suite bathroom is completely marble finished — from its small tile floors to gray tile around a deep soaking tub and shower. And there's a Carrara-topped double-sink wood vanity.

The second bedroom features two windows, two closets and an overhead light/fan. Across the hall sits a small third bedroom best suited as a home office or nursery. It has one deep closet.

The second full bathroom on this floor is equally stylish, with green-and-white small tile marble floors and white marble tile surround with small green tile inlay around a deep soaking tub and a shower. This bathroom also has a Carrara marble-topped wood vanity.

The unit has a fully finished basement, with oak stairs leading down to a carpeted family room.

The large family room has one window and two closets. One holds the unit's two-zone high-efficiency heating and cooling system, and the other has a washer-dryer hookup as well as a Navien tankless water heater.

There's a full bathroom on this level, with small white ceramic tile floors and white ceramic tile surround for a deep soaking tub and shower.

The condo comes with two outdoor parking spaces on a long shared driveway.

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Staples merger to cut stores

Hundreds to as many as a thousand Staples and Office Depot store closings are expected if federal regulators sign off on the planned $6.3 billion merger of the nation's two largest office supplies chains.

With about half of their combined 3,200-plus U.S. stores within five miles of each other, Citi analyst Kate McShane estimates more than 500 locations could be closed. "We think store closings are likely to be announced down the road, once the deal is approved by the (Federal Trade Commission) and closed," McShane said.

Those closings would be on top of ones already planned by the individual companies, which are downsizing their retail footprint as they struggle to compete with online rivals. Staples has about 55 stores slated to be closed out of 225 it previously announced as part of its retail "reinvention." Office Depot has about 235 stores remaining to be shuttered out of 400 planned closures, according to McShane.

The store closings would be a small part of the estimated $1 billion-plus in annual cost savings that the two companies expect by the end of the third year after a merger closed.

"Store closings and real estate optimization as well as sales initiatives may bear fruit over time, but for now sales and margins continue to decline," said Carol Levenson, director of research, at Gimme Credit, a corporate bond research service.

About 1,000 store closings — either voluntary or forced by the FTC — are expected by Janney Capital Markets analyst David Strasser. That would save the merged company 
$350 million-plus in rent expenses, he said.

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Data of 80M Anthem customers stolen

The computer breach at the country's second-largest insurer is the latest attack on a health care company as hackers aim their sights at valuable information found in medical records, one expert said.

"Everyone in health care knows it's a problem; everyone in health care is taking it very seriously," said John Halamka, chief information officer at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. "Protecting patient data is our mission, but the problem is getting harder to solve than ever."

Yesterday, Anthem Inc., which covers more than 37 million people throughout the country, said data for about 80 million customers were stolen, including names, Social Security numbers, birthdates and street addresses, in a "very sophisticated" attack. Bloomberg reported the company is eyeing Chinese state-sponsored hackers.

Halamka said medical records are an inviting target to hackers. On the black market, medical records go for about $150 each, compared to a dollar for a credit card.

"What we're talking about with medical identity theft is a health care shopping spree; I can get the surgery I need, the health care I can't afford," he said.

Halamka said Beth Israel is spending roughly $3 million a year to keep patient data safe.

"Every day when I wake up, security is one of the first things that I think of," he said.

Anthem does not write policies in Massachusetts, but residents who work for companies based in other states may be affected, according to the state Division of Insurance. Attorney General Maura Healey's office plans to investigate the scope of the data breach in Massachusetts.

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Hot Property: Take a swing at Big Papi’s condo

"Big Papi" wants to sell you his penthouse complete with his own furnishings.

Red Sox legend David Ortiz is selling his three-­bedroom condo atop a six-story midrise called the Water­mark. Built in 2007, the 81-unit building is part of the Waterworks at Chestnut Hill complex on the Brighton-Newton line that also includes three historic municipal water buildings converted into high-end condos on an 8.8-acre site.

The Watermark Penthouse 606 has almost 3,100 square feet of living space on one level and comes with two deeded garage spaces.

And while it is within the city borders, its sweeping views of the Chestnut Hill Reservoir across the street make Big Papi's place feel far way from congested Brighton, although it's only a quarter mile from Cleveland Circle.

But this penthouse retreat has a big signing price — $3.2 million.

Keep in mind the asking price includes the Ortiz family's living, dining, kitchen­ and bedroom furniture as well as its outdoor patio furniture. Big Papi is also throwing in five flatscreen TVs as well as central surround-sound system with high-end Bowers & Wilkins living-room speakers.

"All a new owner has to do is turn the key," said listing broker Paul Colleary of Braintree's Dream Realty, who has worked with Ortiz since 2004, taking him to see over 100 properties and helping him buy four places.

"David is a great guy to work with, very easygoing," said Colleary. "Whenever he signs a new contract, he starts looking around for a new place."

It's not that Ortiz is selling off all his belongings. The slugger's primary Bay State home is a secluded single-family in Weston. He bought the Watermark penthouse a few years ago as a quiet and convenient place for him and his family to stay during the long Red Sox season. Fenway Park is only three miles away.

The penthouse has star quality, most notably with its two large terraces with sweeping views, ideal for outdoor entertaining. Colleary said the view of the daily sunsets over the reservoir from the living-room deck are spectacular. But Ortiz found the larger of the two spaces, a 330-square foot deck off the kitchen, inviting for other reasons.

"It overlooks three community baseball diamonds at Cassidy Park, and Big Papi loved to sit out there and watch the kids play ball, including his son," said Colleary. "He also entertained out there a lot."

The interior of the penthouse is anything but average. There's floor-to-ceiling windows in the large living/dining area that has tray ceilings, a gas fireplace and an elaborate wood chandelier. And glass doors lead out to a 120-square-foot balcony with sweeping views.

The spacious kitchen has a large array of custom cherry­wood cabinets, granite counters and a cabinet-encased Sub-Zero refrigerator and a Wolfe gas oven and cooktop with an enormous wooden hood. There's an eat-in breakfast nook or else dine outdoors on the terrace.

The master bedroom suite is worthy of a star with floor-to-ceiling bedroom windows with automated shades and a king-size walk-in closet with cherrywood built-ins that held Big Papi's extensive wardrobe. There's the marble bathroom, with a supersized soaking tub, and there's even an attached home office with a separate entrance where Ortiz tended­ to business.

The other two bedrooms also each have en suite marble bathrooms.

There's some superstar expenses too. The yearly taxes are $28,047 and the condo fee is a steep $2,875 per month, but that does include heat, hot water and gas and a 24/7 concierge. And the Waterworks complex has a fitness facility, function room and even a Waterworks Museum on site.

Colleary said Ortiz's owner­ship has drawn some well-heeled sports fans to look at the property and that the penthouse could work well for another professional athlete, particularly someone just traded into Boston.

"We'll see what happens at Red Sox spring training," Colleary said. "If I haven't sold the property by then, there's some good prospects down there."

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Brian Williams and the lost art of the public apology

Brian Williams is sorry. The NBC anchor said so on his nightly newscast, on Facebook and in the pages of Stars and Stripes, the magazine that first unearthed his repeated lies about flying in a helicopter struck by an RPG over a decade ago in Iraq.

And yet it's not enough.

It's not that being apologetic isn't adequate repentance for Williams' sin. What isn't enough is the nature of the apology he is offering. Like so many wayward public figures who aren't getting the right damage-control advice, Williams seems to believe apologizing early and often will take care of the problem without giving sufficient attention to how they say they are sorry.

Williams and NBC Universal - which may be sweating even more than the anchor is about his future as the face of its news division-probably think they did their best just by addressing the situation head-on in multiple outlets. To make such an apology from the very anchor desk where so many Americans trust him to be unfailingly honest was intended to acknowledge the gravity of his fabrication.

But the substance of what Williams said, and the absence of even feigned contrition in his delivery, only made his predicament worse.

Let's start with the wording of his statement. First, the utterance "I made a mistake" should be retired by all crisis-PR experts for the rest of eternity. It is a sentence intended to sound forthright and remorseful in all its unambiguous pithiness. But overuse over the years has turned "I made a mistake" into the opposite of what it should be; it's such a stock phrase, it basically signifies nothing beyond doing what shamed public figures feel they have to do.

In situations where household names like Williams shock us with their misdeeds, people are more interested in hearing some sense of why the sinner in question did what they did than just blurting out "I'm sorry." Williams attempted to do this by offering what seems like a unbelievable excuse: the "fog of memory" led him to confuse the unharmed helicopter he was actually in with another helicopter that took fire.

Really?

It doesn't take a four-star general to remember correctly whether the aircraft they were in was struck by a missile.

But perhaps Williams could have even garnered some forgiveness for even such a far-fetched alibi had he squeezed even a scintilla of emotion into his written and oral apologies. This is where Williams and so many celebrities have gone wrong when the right words could actually do a lot to pull their feet out of the fire.

From Paula Deen to Amy Pascal, it's amazing how many public apologies are such bloodless, over-calculated nothingburgers that they do more harm than good.

Imagine had Williams spent more than just a minute at an anchor desk-perhaps even a good 10 minutes in a YouTube video, or even a whole hour on "Dateline NBC"-really speaking from the heart (or faking such sincerity).

Be authentic, even vulnerable. Agonize a little. Don't cry if it doesn't come naturally, but emote as if your career depends on it because-guess what?-it does.

Last year provided a decent example of a star who managed to do this correctly. Recall the accusations of homophobia Jonah Hill faced when he uttered some unfortunate epithets in a TMZ video. He went on "The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon" and either gave a performance even better than his role in "Moneyball" or resembled an actual choked-up, torn-up human being.

What if Williams had dropped the robo-anchor persona and, rather than saying he got confused, spoke at length on camera about what really happened that day. The sight of a genuinely repentant individual could go a long way to repairing his reputation.

All this criticism of Williams may sound unsympathetic, but to the contrary: If he makes the right moves, a man who by all other indications is a good person who, like all of us sometimes, made an unfortunate mistake can turn this around. It's not too late to save his career.

© 2015 Variety Media, LLC, a subsidiary of Penske Business Media; Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC

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Brian Williams' self-inflicted wound helps arm NBC's critics

Brian Williams is inevitably going to be criticized by lots of couch-bound observers who have never reported from a war zone (including yours truly), but given the forces eager to pounce on any slip by the news organization he represents, he has committed perhaps the worst kind of self-inflicted wound.

The NBC anchor's faulty and seemingly self-aggrandizing "memory" about his stint reporting from Iraq in 2003 pushes enough hot buttons to create a perfect storm of bad publicity. And NBC News has once again looked tardy, at best, in formulating a PR strategy in response to bad news, as it was during transitions at "Today" and "Meet the Press."

Williams has benefited from coming across as a likable anchor - as comfortable throwing out one-liners on a talkshow as he is delivering the news. But he has stepped into the proverbial hornets' nest, for reasons both of his own making and beyond his control.

Williams' embellishment of his experience is particularly damaging coming from a journalist. Essentially, his account has reduced him to the role of unreliable witness, somebody whose version of an event was exposed as being significantly at odds with the facts.

But the real problem is that the story itself - dealing with the military - hands a cudgel to those already inclined to hold a grudge against or distrust NBC News, which explains the almost-gleeful tone of the coverage on Websites like The Drudge Report and Breitbart.com.

Part of that has nothing to do with Williams. NBC happens to be affiliated with MSNBC, whose liberal profile and politics has made it a favorite target of conservatives. Although the two operate separately, they are part of the same corporate family and share talent, allowing many to conflate NBC and MSNBC into a single entity, feeding the perception of a liberal "mainstream media" that can't be trusted.

Those same quadrants were positively overjoyed when Dan Rather was involved in a report about then-President George W. Bush's National Guard service that hastened his exit from CBS News. And while Williams is unlikely to experience anything that serious in terms of the fallout, there's no doubt this cloud will linger over him for a while and be used to discredit or diminish both NBC News and its anchorman the next time the division is involved in something that irks the usual suspects.

Thus far, Williams' explanation of why he would foul up the story sounds like more of an evasion than a response, which won't hasten making the controversy go away. Certainly, the 12-year time lapse hardly covers mixing up something as memorable as being aboard a helicopter that was actually forced to land after having been struck by ground fire.

Finally, there's NBC News, which after awkwardly mishandling baton passes at "Meet the Press" and "Today" needed to look decisive in either disciplining Williams or giving him a vote of confidence. Admittedly, the story keeps changing -- with a helicopter pilot backing up part of what Williams has said on Thursday -- but either way, a guy who looked like the least of the division's problems has now added to its woes.

There's an old saying that just because you're paranoid doesn't mean that people aren't out to get you. But in this case, the reverse also applies: Just because people are out to get you doesn't mean that they're automatically wrong. On that score, Williams' Iraq war story is the epitome of an unforced error by providing his critics, even the unfair ones, legitimate ammunition.

© 2015 Variety Media, LLC, a subsidiary of Penske Business Media; Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC

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NBC's Brian Williams admits he told false story about Iraq expedition

The most-watched evening-news anchor on television today has acknowledged that he falsely claimed to have been on a helicopter that was shot down by enemy fire while on an NBC News reporting trip in Iraq in 2003.

In fact, Brian Williams of NBC News said in an interview with the military-focused outlet Stars & Stripes, he was on a different plane that was never under fire and that landed safely about an hour behind one that had.

Watch: Brian Williams tellI Iraq story to David Letterman in 2013

"I would not have chosen to make this mistake," Williams said in the interview. "I don't know what screwed up in my mind that caused me to conflate one aircraft with another."

And yet, as the newspaper determined, Williams has told the false story several times since making the 2003 trip. In promotional releases and in comments made as recently as earlier this month, Williams told and retold a story about how he and an NBC News crew had been aboard on a Chinook helicopter that was forced down by rockets and small-arms fire. In reality, according to crew members who were aboard the fallen whirlybird, Williams and his crew landed near the downed helicopter due to an impending sandstorm about to erupt in the Iraqi desert.

Williams addressed the issue Wednesday night on NBC's "Nightly News with Brian Williams," admitting that he "bungled" an attempt to thank one veteran in particular. "I made a mistake in recalling the events in 12 years ago. It did not take long to hear from the brave men and women and their crews," he said, alluding to the Iraq veterans who repudiated his account.

"I hope they know they have my greatest respect and now, my apology," he added.

A spokeswoman for NBC News did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment.

© 2015 Variety Media, LLC, a subsidiary of Penske Business Media; Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC

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Watch: Brian Williams tells Iraq story to David Letterman in 20

Brian Williams, who acknowledged Wednesday that he falsely claimed to have been on a helicopter that was shot down by enemy fire while on an NBC News reporting trip in Iraq in 2003, has apparently been telling the story for years.

In a 2013 clip from the "Late Show from David Letterman," Williams recounted the fabricated story to the CBS host, in which he claims to have been in the aircraft that came under attack.

"We were in the invasion," he said, noting it was the 10th anniversary of the incident.

"Two of our four helicopters were hit including the one I was in, RPG and AK-47."

But on Wednesday, the NBC News anchor admitted that he was on a different plane that was never, in fact, under fire and that he had "bungled" the true events.

"I don't know what screwed up in my mind that caused me to conflate one aircraft with another," he said in an interview published Wednesday.

According to military outlet Stars & Stripes, Williams has told the false story several times since making the 2003 trip, including once last month.

In 2004, Williams took over as NBC News anchor after veteran journalist Tom Brokaw retired.

"As a war correspondent, I am not terribly good at it," he said to Letterman in the 2013 video. "I do not do it full-time, I am New York based."

© 2015 Variety Media, LLC, a subsidiary of Penske Business Media; Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC

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Partners prescribes Dr. David Torchiana as new CEO

Partners HealthCare has named its newest chief executive officer after a four-month search — as the health care giant deals with a judge's rejection of a deal that would have allowed a merger between Partners and three regional hospitals.

Dr. David Torchiana will be the fifth CEO since the founding of Partners in 1994 and will serve as the president and CEO on a date to be determined in March, the organization said. He will succeed Dr. Gary Gottlieb, who is expected to step down by July 1 after five years at the helm.

Torchiana now serves as the chairman and CEO of Massachusetts General Physicians Organization, the largest such group in New England with more than 2,000 physicians.

"I am looking forward to my new role at Partners HealthCare as its next president and CEO," Torchiana said in a statement. "Improving patient care is the reason our institutions exist."

The announcement follows a blow to Partners' expansion plans late last month, when the proposed merger with South Shore, Lawrence Memorial and Melrose-Wakefield hospitals was nixed by Judge Janet Sanders. Attorney General Maura Healey has threatened to sue if Partners goes ahead without a negotiated deal to prevent costs from going up.

Torchiana is a Yale graduate who went on to Harvard Medical School, where he is an associate professor of surgery. He completed his residencies at Massachusetts General Hospital.

"Dr. Torchiana possesses the instincts and the political savvy to be an outstanding leader for Partners," said Edward Lawrence, chairman of the board of directors.

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Bridj-ing gap between Uber costs, T woes

The pop-up bus service Bridj is offering free rides in the Boston area through tomorrow night, a stark contrast to the ride-sharing service Uber, which capitalized on long MBTA delays this week by more than tripling fares at times.

Bridj's payment processor requires the company to list trips — which ordinarily cost between $3 and $5, depending on the time of day — for at least 50 cents, but all trips are free this week when cus­tomers download Bridj's app and use the promo code "isitsummer," spokesman Ryan Kelly said.

"We lose thousands of dollars every day by doing this, but hopefully will gain new customers who've never tried our service before," said CEO Matthew George.

"And it's just the right thing to do. When you combine this unprecedented bout of terrible weather with the T's aging infrastructure, that really disrupts transit service. For some people, that's just an inconvenience; for others, not being able to get to work can mean not being able to pay their rent."

But during the evening commute Tuesday, many commuters who hadn't heard of Bridj, which opened in Boston only last June, and tried to get around via Uber received an unwelcome surprise: Fares had climbed 3.2 times the normal rates.

"Dynamic pricing ensures a reliable ride at the push of a button, whenever and wherever you need it, especially at times when other transportation options aren't available," Uber spokesman Matthew Wing said in an email. "And remember that when the weather's bad, you can use our in-app Fare Split feature to share your ride and cut the fare in half."

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Hackers infiltrate insurer Anthem, access customer details

INDIANAPOLIS — Health insurer Anthem said hackers infiltrated its computer network and gained access to a host of personal information for customers and employees, including CEO Joseph Swedish.

The nation's second-largest health insurer said it was contacting customers affected by the "very sophisticated" cyberattack and was working to figure out how many people were affected.

The company said information the hackers gained access to included names, birthdates, email address, employment details, Social Security numbers, incomes and street addresses of people who are currently covered or have had coverage in the past.

The Indianapolis-based insurer said credit card information wasn't compromised, and it has yet to find evidence that medical information such as insurance claims and test results was targeted or obtained.

Anthem Inc., which recently changed its name from WellPoint, runs Blue Cross Blue Shield plans in more than a dozen states, including California, New York and Ohio. It covers more than 37 million people.

The insurer said all of its product lines were affected. It sells mainly private individual and group health insurance, plans on the health care overhaul's public insurance exchanges and Medicare and Medicaid coverage. It also offers life insurance and dental and vision coverage.

Affected brands include Anthem Blue Cross, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Georgia, Empire Blue Cross and Blue Shield and Amerigroup.

Anthem said Wednesday evening that the FBI is investigating and the company has hired Internet security company Mandiant to improve its network defenses. The insurer will provide free credit monitoring and identity protection services.

The FBI urged Anthem customers contacted by the insurer to report suspected instances of identity theft.

In 2013, the insurer agreed to pay $1.7 million to resolve allegations it left the information of more than 612,000 members available online because of inadequate safeguards. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said that security weaknesses in an online application database left names, birthdates, addresses, telephone numbers, Social Security numbers, and health data accessible to unauthorized users.

The Health and Human Services Department said then that the insurer didn't have adequate policies for authorizing access to the database, didn't perform a needed technical evaluation after a software upgrade, and did not have technical safeguards to verify that the people or entities seeking access were authorized to view the information in the database.

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'Kingsman' takes weekly ad spend crown

In this week's edition of the Variety Movie Commercial Tracker, powered by iSpot.tv, newcomer "Kingsman: The Secret Service" made a strong debut in first place with an estimated spend of $11 million for 1,012 national airings across 38 networks led by MTV and Comedy Central.

But the Super Bowl was the biggest story of the week, with two of the top five movies on the list reaching their position solely on the backs of one spot airing on one network during one broadcast. One of those is this week's second-place finisher, "Furious 7," which spent an estimated $8.8 million for one national airing on just one network, NBC.

Third and fourth positions were taken by non-Super Bowl advertisers. "The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water" reached third with $8.6 million spent on 1,671 national airings across 38 networks led by Nick and Teen Nick. Meanwhile last week's frontrunner, "Jupiter Ascending," descended to fourth place, with $8.4 million spent on 924 national airings across 47 networks, led by MTV and Comedy Central.

Rounding out the list was the other Super Bowl ad, this time for "Jurassic World," for which $5.9 million was spent on one national airing on NBC. That Super Bowl advertising is expensive is well known, but examining Super Bowl spending alongside more typical weekly movie advertising really puts the investment into perspective.

$11M - Kingsman: The Secret Service

Online Activity: 1.92% within the movie category*

National Airings: 1,012

Networks: 38

Most Aired On: MTV, Comedy Central

Creative Versions: 21

Est. Lifetime TV Spend: $24.8M

Studio: Twentieth Century Fox

Started Airing: 09/22/14

$8.8M - Furious 7 Super Bowl 2015

Online Activity: 2.99% within the movie category*

National Airings: 1

Networks: 1

Most Aired On: NBC

Creative Versions: 2

Est. Lifetime TV Spend: $8.8M

Studio: Universal Pictures

Started Airing: 02/01/15

$8.6M - The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water

Online Activity: 1.37% within the movie category*

National Airings: 1,671

Networks: 38

Most Aired On: Nick, Teen Nick

Creative Versions: 30

Est. Lifetime TV Spend: $21.8M

Studio: Nickelodeon Movies

Started Airing: 12/15/14

$8.4M - Jupiter Ascending

Online Activity: 1.39% within the movie category*

National Airings: 924

Networks: 47

Most Aired On: MTV, Comedy Central

Creative Versions: 28

Est. Lifetime TV Spend: $30.4M

Studio: Warner Bros.

Started Airing: 01/04/15

$5.9M - Jurassic World Super Bowl 2015

Online Activity: 3.78% within the movie category*

National Airings: 1

Networks: 1

Most Aired On: NBC

Creative Versions: 2

Est. Lifetime TV Spend: $5.9M

Studio: Universal Pictures

Started Airing: 02/01/15

¹ Movie titles with a minimum spend of $100,000 for airings detected between 01/26/2015 and 02/01/2015.
* Percent of digital activity captured across online video, social media, and search activity that was stimulated by these movie trailers and measured in comparison to all online activity in the movie category.

Variety has partnered with iSpot.tv, a company that catalogs, tags and measures activity around TV commercials in real time, to bring you this weekly look at what studios are spending to market their movies on TV. Learn more about the iSpot.tv platform and methodology.

© 2015 Variety Media, LLC, a subsidiary of Penske Business Media; Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC

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Staples buys Office Depot for $6 billion

NEW YORK — The rapidly changing tools of the work place and the way we shop has led to another major consolidation in the retail office supply business as Staples announced the $6 billion acquisition of rival Office Depot.

The cash-and-stock deal deal comes a little more than a year after Office Depot combined with OfficeMax, with too many stores fighting for too few sales.

Businesses and consumers have shifted rapidly to online shopping at the same time that printers and the use of other traditional office supplies have diminished. That shift coincided with a recession that substantially altered the way companies spend money.

The new company is expected to have annual sales of approximately $39 billion.

Office Depot Inc. shareholders will receive $7.25 in cash and 0.2188 of a share in Staples Inc. at closing. The transaction values Office Depot at $11 per share. The companies put the deal's equity value at $6.3 billion.

Staples has a market capitalization of approximately $11 billion, while Office Depot, which tied up with OfficeMax in November 2013, has a market capitalization of about $4 billion.

The two companies began talking about a buyout in September, they said Wednesday.

Staples said it will realize at least $1 billion in annual cost savings by the third full fiscal year after the transaction is complete.

"These savings will dramatically accelerate our strategic reinvention which is focused on driving growth in our delivery businesses and in categories beyond office supplies," Staples Chairman and CEO Ron Sargent said in a printed statement. Sargent will continue to serve in those roles and Staples will keep its corporate headquarters in Framingham, Massachusetts.

Last month activist hedge fund Starboard Value LP urged Staples to combine with Office Depot, based in Boca Raton, Florida. In a letter addressed to Sargent, Starboard suggested he immediately hire an investment bank and legal advisers to help the board evaluate, structure and execute a transaction with Office Depot.

Starboard disclosed in a regulatory filing in December that it had purchased a 5.1 percent stake in Staples and boosted its stake in Office Depot. New York's Starboard has a history of buying stakes in companies and then pushing for change.

Early last year Staples said that it was closing up to 225 stores by the end of 2015 because people were using less office supplies and shopping more online than they were at its stores.

The deal, which was unanimously approved by both companies' boards, is expected to close by year's end. It still needs approval from Office Depot shareholders. Once the closing occurs, Staples board will increase from 11 to 13 members and include two Office Depot directors approved by Staples.

Staples said that it is temporarily suspending its stock buybacks so that it can concentrate on paying down debt related to the deal.

Shares of Staples shed 22 cents to $18.79 in premarket trading.

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How long can 'Frozen' fever last for Disney?

Consumers still haven't grown cold on "Frozen."

The movie, which became the highest-grossing animated film after its release in November 2013, continues to play for Disney, this time in the retail aisle.

Merchandise tied to the toon was a significant seller for Disney, especially its Disney Stores, during the holidays, with the company's consumer products division reporting a 22% boost in revenue and profits by 46% during the Mouse House's first quarter of fiscal 2015, that ended Dec. 27.

"Frozen" merchandise may be hot, but it's not the only property making money for Disney's consumer products arm.

Disney counts 11 franchises that made $1 billion in retail sales last year, and are expected to do so again this year. That includes Disney Channel properties, Mickey and Minnie, Spider-Man and the Avengers. So far "Stars Wars" isn't one of them yet, according to the company.

Without revealing specific financial figures, "I don't think we can underestimate the impact that 'Frozen' has had across our company and all of our businesses," said Jay Rasulo, Disney's chief financial officer during a call with analysts. "We absolutely believe this is the beginning of a longterm franchise for the company that will reflect itself across all of our divisions."

Rasulo cautioned not to overestimate "Frozen's" dominance, however.

"Many other franchises were contributors (last quarter) to the success of the consumer products division," Rasulo said. "We like what 'Frozen' delivers but it's certainly not the only one for us. The consumer products business has a lot of breadth. 'Frozen' will continue to play a big part in it," but isn't yet such a dominant force that the company needs to worry about beating strong sales numbers each year.

Still, since making nearly $1.3 billion at the box office alone, "Frozen" has clearly cemented its place as one of Disney's biggest franchises -- one that it wants to continue to grow.

Disney already had announced "Frozen Fever" as a new animated short film that will reunite the toon's characters on the big screen when it debuts in March in front of a live action retelling of "Cinderella."

The seven-minute short is expected to put another spotlight on "Frozen" and its characters.

"We actually believe it will generate some more buzz for 'Frozen' and generate more buying in terms of consumer products," said Disney chief Bob Iger during a call with analysts to discuss the company's strong first quarter results.

Disney continues to see post holiday momentum when it comes to sales of "Frozen" merchandise, "which is unique," said Iger for any property during the weeks following Christmas. "It speaks to continued demand for our franchises."

While Iger was high on Disney's upcoming studio releases, particularly citing "Cinderella" as "a great film," "Avengers: Age of Ultron" also is expected to be a major seller of toys, apparel and other products tied to the Marvel sequel, as will "Star Wars," in December -- a film whose revenue will be counted at the start of Disney's fiscal 2016 year. Pixar's upcoming films, "Inside Out" and "The Good Dinosaur" are question marks, however.

"I don't know if any one of theme will drive significant consumer products" sales, Iger said of the films that are based on original concepts.

Of its 11 billion-dollar franchises, Iger still sees "a great opportunity to mine these franchises across Disney's (theme) parks," he said.

"Frozen" already has a presence at its resorts, with "Frozen Fun" having debuted at its California parks in January, and its Epcot park re-vamping the Norwegian ride, "Malstrom," around the toon.

© 2015 Variety Media, LLC, a subsidiary of Penske Business Media; Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC

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Sony trims full-year loss forecast to $1.4 billion

TOKYO — Sony Corp. trimmed its forecast of losses and gave a figure for damages from the Sony Pictures hack, but said it would suffer no significant harm from the cyberattack in the long run.

The entertainment and electronics giant delayed the announcement of its earnings for the October-December quarter because the hack affected its ability to compile its complete results in time.

The hack, which became public in December when the Hollywood studio's computers were crippled and sensitive documents were posted online, cost Sony about $15 million, it said.

"We don't expect leaks of unreleased films online or damage to our IT systems will cause a significant loss," Kazuhiko Takeda, vice president of Sony's corporate planning department, told reporters. "We had insurance against cyberattacks and will be able to recover a significant portion of the costs."

Sony issued new earnings forecasts for the fiscal year ending in March and said it was benefiting from strong sales of the PlayStation 4, other devices and network services.

The company is forecasting a loss of 170 billion yen ($1.4 billion) for the fiscal year, an improvement from a forecast made in October of a 230 billion yen loss. The company reported a 40 billion yen loss last fiscal year, which was the latest in a succession of losses as its TV business lost ground to cheaper competitors.

Hackers attacked Sony Pictures over its movie "The Interview," which spoofs an assassination of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, and leaked tens of thousands of emails.

The studio first suspended the movie's Christmas release, citing the concerns of cinema chains over threats of terrorist attacks, but later went ahead with it. The movie made at least $15 million from more than 2 million digital rentals and purchases in its first four days.

Sony's movie business nonetheless forecasts a nearly 12 percent fall in sales in the October-December quarter to 197.6 billion yen ($1.68 billion), and a 23 percent drop if valued in dollar terms. It attributed the declines to lower home entertainment revenues and strong theatrical release figures for the previous year.

Overall for the year, Sony Pictures is forecasting 890 billion yen ($7.6 billion) in total sales, up from its earlier forecast of 860 billion yen.

Seeking a fresh footing after losing ground in consumer electronics to rivals such as South Korea's Samsung and Apple Inc., the company has sold its Vaio computer business and is splitting off its TV division to run as a wholly-owned subsidiary.

It still is relatively strong in video games and its movie and music businesses have benefited from a weakening in the Japanese yen, which improves profit earned in dollars when it is brought back to Japan.

Foreign exchange fluctuations cut both ways, though, and a stronger dollar can wreak havoc with cost-cutting efforts in overseas markets.

In its update, Sony said stronger than expected sales of the PlayStation 4, higher network services revenue, robust sales of devices and a slight improvement in its financial services business will help counter a decline in its mobile business.

It expects to release its October-December quarterly results by the end of March.

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Boston Scientific beats 4Q profit forecasts

MARLBOROUGH — Boston Scientific Corp. (BSX) on Wednesday reported fourth-quarter profit of $87 million.

On a per-share basis, the Marlborough, Massachusetts-based company said it had net income of 6 cents. Earnings, adjusted for one-time gains and costs, came to 22 cents per share.

The results surpassed Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of 21 cents per share.

The medical device manufacturer posted revenue of $1.89 billion in the period, falling short of Street forecasts. Analysts expected $1.9 billion, according to Zacks.

For the year, the company reported net income of $267 million, or 20 cents per share, swinging to a profit in the period. Revenue was reported as $7.38 billion.

For the current quarter ending in March, Boston Scientific expects its per-share earnings to range from 19 cents to 21 cents.

The company said it expects revenue in the range of $1.74 billion to $1.8 billion for the fiscal first quarter. Analysts surveyed by Zacks had expected revenue of $1.83 billion.

Boston Scientific expects full-year earnings in the range of 88 cents to 92 cents per share, with revenue ranging from $7.3 billion to $7.5 billion.

Boston Scientific shares have climbed 11 percent since the beginning of the year, while the Standard & Poor's 500 index has stayed nearly flat. The stock has climbed 13 percent in the last 12 months.

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This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap ) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on BSX at http://www.zacks.com/ap/BSX

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Keywords: Boston Scientific, Earnings Report

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Australia cuts interest rate to record low 2.25 percent

SYDNEY — Australia's central bank cut its benchmark interest rate to a record low of 2.25 percent on Tuesday in a bid to jolt an economy weighed down by falling commodity prices.

The Reserve Bank of Australia's quarter percentage point rate cut at a monthly board meeting was its first since August 2013. It came as a surprise to many economists, who expected the bank to hold off on lowering the rate until later in the year. Subdued inflation, however, has given the central bank more scope to stimulate Australia's $1 trillion economy.

The news shook the Australian dollar which dropped 1.8 percent 76.5 cents. The stock market was boosted, with the S&P/ASX 200 up 1.5 percent.

Resource-rich Australia managed to avoid a recession during the global financial crisis thanks to a decade-long mining boom. But with the economy weakening in China, which is Australia's largest export market, prices for commodities such as iron ore and coal have dropped.

Australia's move follows monetary easing steps by other central banks though is modest compared with the unprecedented stimulus programs that Japan and Europe have embarked on to revive long stagnant economies.

In a statement, the central bank's governor Glenn Stevens said commodity prices have continued to decline, "in some cases sharply," particularly oil.

The bank also said that while the U.S. economy had strengthened, European and Japanese economies were weaker than expected, and forecasts for global growth this year were moderate.

"In Australia the available information suggests that growth is continuing at a below-trend pace, with domestic demand growth overall quite weak," Stevens said. The fall in oil prices would offer "significant support" to consumer spending but that is partly offset by weakening growth in incomes, he said.

"The economy is likely to be operating with a degree of spare capacity for some time yet," he said.

Treasurer Joe Hockey dubbed the rate cut good news that would bolster the country's economy.

"It is going to help to create more jobs because business is going to be able to pay less for their debt, as consumers should pay less for their debt and as people with a mortgage should pay less for their debt," he told reporters in Canberra, the nation's capital.

Stevens has repeatedly stressed that the Australian dollar is too high, despite the currency plummeting in recent weeks to around 77 U.S. cents, the lowest level since the global financial crisis. The Australian dollar reached an all-time high of $1.10 in 2011.

In his statement Tuesday, Stevens acknowledged the Australian dollar had declined noticeably, but said it remains above most estimates of its fundamental value. "A lower exchange rate is likely to be needed to achieve balanced growth in the economy," he said.

Spiros Papadopoulos, senior economist at National Australia Bank, suspects the bank will cut the rate again later this year, though not at its next meeting.

"The combination of weak growth, further increases in unemployment and a very subdued inflation outlook has really given them that room to maneuver," he said.

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Business Protocol: Let your voice lift resume from the digital dumpster

It's not so easy to stand out when submitting resumes these days when the process has been reduced to a matter of a few impersonal clicks. Education. Experience. Achievements. Your life must be squeezed on a formatted website.

A reader asked how to climb out of the digital dumpster:

Q. Often resumes must be submitted online and many HR departments deliberately remove all of the document formatting causing information to flow together and if you're lucky to even get an interview, it's done over the phone. All that is gained by presenting yourself as a quality candidate in person is lost. What can candidates do to overcome these indignities?

A. It's true, 90 percent of first interviews are conducted on the telephone. This is the first-blush assessment to essentially validate a candidate and ensure they meet background and experience requirements while weeding out people who simply don't qualify.

I cannot overstate the importance of projecting well on the telephone. Thirty-eight percent of your presentation to the world is verbal! Use the telephone to distinguish yourself and project energy, enthusiasm, even passion, while being personable.

Have your "story" ready to share.

Be that person other people want to know more. Assuming the content piece is in place, a candidate with a stellar telephone persona will (most likely) jump to the next level.

As for the resume, everything today is electronic. HR departments have applicant tracking systems and resumes do get reformatted. However, once you get through the door, hand them your "original" properly formatted resume. Here's some more resume tips:

• Print out your fabulous resume properly formatted and on quality paper (100 percent cotton stock), white or ecru are the most professional colors. And always bring extra copies.

• Send your resume by overnight delivery or priority mail ahead of your interview date. Doing so will not only help you stand apart, but it also begs the question, "What else (in business matters) do you take the time and make the effort to consider in advance?"

In addition, the interviewer may now freely make notes on their (reformatted) copy, and keep your professional resume in your folder as you move along the hiring process.

Good luck!

Judith Bowman is president and founder of Protocol Consultants International and author of "Don't Take the Last Donut: New Rules of Business Etiquette" and "How to Stand Apart @ Work … Transforming "Fine" to Fabulous!" Email her at Judith@protocolconsultants.com.

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Ink Block area to get boutique hotel

A contemporary 200-room, design-focused boutique hotel is planned for Boston's South End, next to the Ink Block project that's helping to reshape a once drab area now undergoing significant redevelopment.

Newton's National Development hopes to start construction this year on an AC Hotel by Marriott on the former FW Webb and Independent Taxi sites on Albany Street, with a 2017 targeted opening.

"We've been trying to ... create an interesting and exciting urban community, and the hotel really supports the restaurants and retail activity that we're creating," managing partner Ted Tye said.

The Ink Block occupies the former Boston Herald headquarters site and includes a new Whole Foods Market and apartments. The Sepia condos are set to open in September, and multiple retail shops and restaurants are in the works. Herald publisher Patrick J. Purcell has a minority stake in the development.

As a select-service property, the hotel will not have its own large restaurant or meeting space, but will have a fitness facility and small bar, with parking at the Ink Block.

"We'll really focus on using the restaurants within Ink Block for the hotel," Tye said. "I want the activity of the Ink Block to be a real draw for (guests) of the hotel who want to stay down in this neighborhood."

National Development will own the hotel as a Marriott franchisee and hire an outside company to manage it.

AC Hotels started in Europe in 1998 before affiliating with Marriott in 2011. The chain has one U.S. hotel, in New Orleans, with others slated to open this year in Washington, D.C., Miami Beach and Kansas City.

It's a great brand for urban locations, particularly hip and gentrified ones, according to Andrea Foster, senior vice president and New England practice manager for PKF Consulting.

"The South End is a good location for an AC Hotel within Boston," she said.

And now is a good time in the hotel industry to build.

"We're still seeing improvements in performance (in the Boston market), and now we're seeing a lot of development happening because occupancy and rate increases are so good," Foster said.

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Jury out on how win might affect Patriots brand

Opinions are split on how much equity the New England Patriots' fourth Super Bowl win will add to an already high-value sports brand in light of the Deflategate scandal following Spygate.

There's a tremendous amount of distrust of the Patriots outside of the region, and marketers will be wary of initiating new associations unless the NFL investigation clears the team in the deflated ball controversy, according to Seth Traum, a partner at Vivaldi Partners Group, a New York brand strategy consulting firm.

"The Patriots can — in spite of their success — be seen as a very risky proposition because, right now, the court of public opinion is they've done something wrong," Traum said, noting the team's fair share of "haters" and the "hate bandwagons" for winning teams. "From a consumer perception standpoint, the Patriots start to become public enemy No. 1."

Companies must think about the potential effects on their reputations, and there's a relatively short window to capitalize on a team's success, Traum said.

"Depending on how long and drawn-out the (NFL) investigation is, it could have a financial impact if brands play the waiting game," he said.

Forbes last year ranked the Patriots as the No. 2 most valuable NFL team based on revenue at $2.6 billion, behind the Dallas Cowboys at $3.2 billion.

And a sports team's true brand value is based on winning, according to Harvard sports marketing professor Stephen Greyser.

"The principle element of asset value is performance on the field," Greyser said. "(The Super Bowl win) is going to increase it. If it turns out that the investigation comes out with anything of substance, that will have an effect on the Patriots' brand to some extent."

But, he said, in addition to potentially increased Patriots ticket prices, the win should manifest itself in increased sales of licensed merchandise and increased values of sponsorships and advertising. The Patriots last week announced the Cross Insurance Pavilion and Business Center would open this summer at Gillette Stadium.

"They (Cross) already have seen — without ever being in operation — an increase in the value of their naming rights," Greyser said.

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Virgin Galactic gets back on track toward space tourism

UPHAM, N.M. — The only thing interrupting the creosote and mesquite that makes up one of New Mexico's most remote stretches of desert is a pristine runway where Virgin Galactic plans one day to launch the world's first commercial space-line.

In the four years since its completion, however, the runway has seen little use. No constant roar of jet engines. No screeches from landing gear. Just promises, year after year, that it would shuttle paying passengers to the edges of Earth.

Virgin Galactic had proclaimed 2015 was finally going to be the year. That was until the company's rocket-powered spacecraft broke apart over California's Mojave Desert during a test flight last fall, killing one pilot and igniting speculation about the future of commercial space tourism and Spaceport America.

Virgin Galactic CEO George Whitesides said things are on track now and testing will take off again this year.

"I really think we're turning the corner," Whitesides said. "We've gone through one of the toughest things a company can go through and we're still standing, and now we're really moving forward with pace."

He said the company and its investors aren't backing down from the goal of making space accessible.

Virgin Galactic's manufacturing crew is about two-thirds done with building a new spacecraft, and the operations team is ramping up for a test-flight program that will serve as one of the last major hurdles to getting off the ground.

"Our company has spent a lot of time and money to get to the point where we can carry out successful commercial operations at Spaceport America. We're still committed," he said.

Whitesides has always been reluctant to attach a timeline to the milestones the company needs to reach, but he's certain test flights will resume later this year.

That's what New Mexico taxpayers want to hear.

They've already funneled nearly a quarter of a billion dollars into the world's first purpose-built spaceport, and state lawmakers are being asked for nearly $2 million more this year to make up for the lost fees stemming from the delay in Virgin Galactic's commercial flights.

Some lawmakers have called for pulling the plug, adding fuel to criticisms that the project — first initiated by former Gov. Bill Richardson, a Democrat, and British billionaire Richard Branson — is a boondoggle.

Others, including Republican Gov. Susana Martinez's administration, say the state has a chance to carve out a new niche for economic development and position itself on the front end of space tourism.

New Mexico has struggled to rebound from the recession, creating only 14,000 jobs over the past year while neighboring states have bounced back to 2008 employment levels.

Whitesides visited Spaceport America in December. The runway was quiet, but workers inside the massive, futuristic hangar continued to outfit it for the day Virgin Galactic opens.

"I really think we're on the edge of something truly incredible, which is enabling people and students to experience space, whether going themselves or sending their experiments," he said.

He added, "These things are hard. That's why they haven't happened yet."

Christine Anderson, the head of New Mexico's Spaceport Authority, pointed to the ill-fated Apollo I test launch and the 1986 Challenger explosion as examples of space exploration efforts that resulted in tragedy. Still, astronauts and scientists pushed on, and she said those backing Virgin Galactic and Spaceport America are doing the same.

"We have invested $218 million, so there's absolutely no reason to stop now," she said.

Virgin Galactic continues to pay its lease, and more money will come from lease and user fees related to the testing scheduled to begin this spring for a reusable rocket being developed by Elon Musk's SpaceX. But Anderson acknowledged that the spaceport needs to entice more tenants and host other events, including fashion and auto photo shoots, conferences and more rocket launches by companies such as UP Aerospace.

The spaceport in late February also expects to open its visitors' gallery at the site, which spans more than 28 square miles.

"The challenge was to build a commercial spaceport here. There was absolutely nothing here. We did it," Anderson said. "It's amazing to think of it."

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Spark plugs need changing, but long warmup needless

I have a 2001 PT Cruiser with 100,000 miles on it. Would you recommend a spark plug change? Also, I keep hearing that it's not good to warm up your car nowadays. Hey, when it's 20-below I really don't care if it wastes a cup of gas! They say that the oil is much better these days, but is it really OK to jump in your car when it's very cold and take right off?

As I mentioned in my last column, there's no harm in allowing your vehicle to warm up a few minutes in extremely cold weather. Besides generating some temperature in the vehicle's fluids and warming the interior a bit, it gives you time to make sure the windshield, side and rear windows are clear of snow and ice before you drive.

Is it harmful to drive the vehicle as soon as it is started in cold weather? No. As you said, today's motor oils are far superior to oils of just a decade earlier. In addition, manufacturing materials and tolerances are far better and more precise. Add the engine management system's capabilities to fine-tune fuel/air mixture and ignition timing as well as limit engine output during the warmup period, and that means the most efficient and least stressful warmup method in all but extreme cold is to start the engine, let the idle stabilize and drop to normal, engage the automatic transmission, let it idle in gear for a moment or two, then drive the vehicle gently as it gets up to temperature.

My Alldata database says Chrysler recommends fresh spark plugs in this engine every 30,000 miles. After this many miles, take care in removing the old plugs to avoid stripping the threads in the cylinder head. Install new plugs with anti-seize on the threads.

Typically I change my own oil. Our newest vehicle has 23,000 miles on it and calls for 0W-20 synthetic oil. It's actually less expensive to let the dealer do it than to buy the oil and filter and do it myself. However, on the last two oil changes I've noticed that they seem to overfill it by 1⁄2 to 3⁄4 of a quart. What potential harm can come from overfilling?

Slightly overfilling the crankcase with oil, as you've described, usually isn't an issue. If the oil level is high enough to cause a problem, the excess oil is usually blown out of the engine through the PCV system, engine seals and gaskets as it seeks its normal oil level.

If the engine is grossly overfilled and the crankshaft whips the oil into a froth as it spins, the aerated oil can cause a loss of oil pressure and lubrication to engine bearings, potentially causing damage.

How can you tell if the engine is grossly overfilled? Fully warm up the engine while monitoring the oil pressure gauge or warning light. Shut the engine off and quickly pull the dipstick to check the oil for evidence of frothing.

I have a 2001 Toyota RAV4 with 68,248 miles. It has started to give out a puff of exhaust smoke when started in the morning. Oil and coolant levels show full and haven't changed. There is no smoke while driving. What could the problem be or is there even a problem?

I don't think there is a problem. A slight puff of bluish smoke on starting a 70G mile engine is not uncommon, nor is it harmful. The typical cause is oil that has collected on the valve stems slowly seeping past the valve seals and guides as the car sits overnight. When the engine is first started, this oil is drawn into the combustion chamber with the incoming air/fuel mixture and burned. Having owned and driven high-mileage vehicles for decades, I see this as
upper-cylinder lubrication at startup rather than a problem.

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 paulbrandstartribune.com. Please explain the problem in detail and include a daytime phone number. Because of the volume of mail, we cannot provide personal replies.

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Harvard hacks for congress

A group of techies, political scientists and open government advocates are putting their heads together at a hackathon this weekend to develop new digital tools, policies and technologies to overcome the dysfunction gripping Congress.

"There are about 250 people from many walks of life and many disciplines here at Harvard Kennedy School to think through and hopefully start solving some of the biggest problems facing Congress — problems of access, problems of understandability, what my elected official or legislator is actually doing," said Seamus Kraft, executive director and co-founder of The OpenGov Foundation, which is holding the #Hack4Congress event with Harvard Kennedy School. "How can we use technology, design, data science, good old-fashioned American common sense (to help)?"

Maggie McKinley, one of the organizers and a fellow at the Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation at Harvard Kennedy School, said everyone has a stake in improving how Congress functions.

"Our country is facing a mess of big-picture problems, global warming, the deficit, the tax code, health care. Everyone from either side of the political spectrum has something big that they care about that Congress can't remedy or even talk about," she said. "We've seen some of the most dysfunctional congresses in recent history."

The two-day event that ends today is focusing on five problems: improving the lawmaking process, facilitating cross-partisan discussion, modernizing congressional participation, closing the representation and trust gaps and reforming campaign finance.

One solution, McKinley said, could be software that helps lawmakers work together across the aisle.

"Cross-partisan deliberation is a really interesting area that not a lot of people are working in. We talk a lot about how difficult it is for Congress to function in an era of hyper-partisanship," she said. "This solution looks at a platform in which discussion could get started that's civil and productive."

Kraft, a former congressional employee, said technology on Capitol Hill needs to catch up.

"We are literally running a country with the best technology that 1997 has to offer," he said.

One of the solutions he has in mind is a simple collaboration tool such as Google Docs that would let lawmakers and their staff work together, but take into account security and other federal government mandated concerns.

The groups that come up with winning solutions will be flown to Washington, D.C., in the spring to present their projects to lawmakers.

Jackie Lender, a junior at Harvard, won't be competing because her startup PolityPro is not focused on Congress, but she planned to jump in and help out on other people's projects. She said building new technology and tools for government is critical.

"I think government right now could benefit from a reinvigoration from the entrepreneurship sector," Lender said.

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More millennials jumping into the mortgage market

WASHINGTON — Call them the prodigal millennials: Statistical measures and anecdotal reports suggest that young couples and singles in their late 20s and early 30s have begun making a belated entry into the home buying market, pushed by mortgage rates in the mid-3 percent range, government efforts to ease credit requirements and deep frustrations at having to pay rising rents without creating equity.

Listen to Kathleen Hart, who just bought a condo unit with her husband, Devin Wall, that looks out on the Columbia River in Wenatchee, Wash.: "We were just tired of renting, tired of sharing (housing) with roommates, and not having a place of our own. Finally the numbers added up."

Or listen to Erin Beasley, who with her fiance earlier this month closed on a condo unit in the Capitol Hill area of Washington, D.C. "With the way rents kept on going," she told me, "we realized it was time" after five years as tenants. "With renting, at some point you get really tired of it; you want to own, be able to make changes" that suit you, not some landlord.

Hart and Beasley are part of the leading edge of the millennial demographic bulge that has been missing in action on home buying since the end of the Great Recession. Instead of representing the 38 percent to 40 percent of purchases that real estate industry economists say would have been expected for first-timers, they've lagged in market share, sometimes by as much as 10 percentage points. But last week new signs began emerging that hinted that maybe the conditions finally are right for them to shop and buy:

• Redfin, a national real estate brokerage, said first-time buyers accounted for 57 percent of home tours conducted by its agents mid-month — the highest rate in recent years. Home-purchase education class requests, typically dominated by first-timers, has jumped so far this month by 27 percent over last January. "I think it is significant," said Redfin chief economist Nela Richardson. "They are sticking a toe in the water."

Kas Divband, a Redfin agent in D.C., assisted Beasley with her condo purchase.

• The Campbell/Inside Mortgage Finance HousingPulse Tracking Survey, which monthly polls 2,000 realty agents nationwide, reported that first-time buyer activity has started to increase much earlier than is typical. First-timers accounted for 36.3 percent of all home purchases last month, according to the survey.
• Anecdotal reports from realty brokers around the country also point to exceptional activity in the past few weeks. Perrin Cornell of Century 21 Exclusively in Wenatchee, Wash., who helped Hart and her husband buy their condo, said he is either actively working with or has serious inquiries from four times the number of first-timers than he'd typically see in January. Gary Kassan, an agent with Pinnacle Estate Properties in the Los Angeles area, said nearly half of his current clients are first-time buyers.

Assuming these early impressions could point to a trend, what's driving the action? The steady decline in interest rates, high rents and sheer pent-up demand play major roles. But there are other factors that could be at work. In the past few weeks, key sources of financing for entry-level buyers ­— the Federal Housing Administration and giant investors Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac — have announced consumer-friendly improvements to their rules. FHA cut its punitively high upfront mortgage insurance premiums and Fannie and Freddie reduced minimum down payments to 3 percent from 5 percent.

Price increases on homes also have moderated in many local areas, improving affordability across the board. Plus many younger buyers have discovered the wide spectrum of special financing assistance programs open to them through state and local housing agencies. Hart and her husband made use of one of the Washington State Housing Finance Commission's buyer assistance programs, which provides second-mortgage loans with zero interest rates to help with down payments and closing costs. Dozens of state agencies across the country offer help for first-timers, often with generous qualifying income limits.

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The Ticker

Feds recall faulty airbags for second fix

Drivers, bring your vehicles back to the shop for more work on faulty air bags.

The government said yesterday more than 2 million Toyota, Chrysler and Honda vehicles need a second fix for air bags that may inadvertently inflate while the car is running.

The recall includes some Acura MDX, Dodge Viper, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Honda Odyssey, Pontiac Vibe, Toyota Corolla and Toyota Avalon models made from 2002 to 2004.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says all of the vehicles covered in yesterday's announcement had already been under a recall for the faulty air bags.

Mass. OKs tribe's casino impact report

The Mashpee Wampanoag tribe announced that Massachusetts has approved the tribe's final environmental impact report for Project First Light.

The tribe wants to build a resort destination casino in Taunton that would fall outside the state's licensing of three gambling palaces.

"This report not only represents the final step in the state's environmental review process, it also affirms the significant economic benefits the project will bring to the region," said Mashpee Wampanoag Tribal Chairman Cedric Cromwell.

"The approval allows us to accelerate the final design phase of the overall project."

The Mashpee Wampanoag tribe is proposing to build a casino, with hotels, restaurants, shops and an events center on a 151-acre site. Project First Light will be built on land that will be acquired by the Department of the Interior and placed into trust on behalf of the tribe.

The Mashpee tribe is known as the "People of the First Light," hence the project's name.

TOMORROW

• Commerce Department releases personal income and spending for December.
• Institute for Supply Management releases its manufacturing index for January.
• Commerce Department releases construction spending for December.

TUESDAY

• Commerce Department releases factory orders for December.

WEDNESDAY

• Institute for Supply Management releases its service sector index for January.

THURSDAY

• Labor Department releases weekly jobless claims.
• Labor Department releases fourth-quarter productivity data.
• Commerce Department releases international trade data for December.
• Freddie Mac, the mortgage company, releases weekly mortgage rates.

FRIDAY

• Labor Department releases employment data for January.
• Federal Reserve releases consumer credit data for December.

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MassChallenge starts up 2015 with lots new

MassChallenge kicks off a new season on three continents this month, with a new managing director and new workspace for startups in Boston.

The accelerator and competition's programs in the Hub, Tel Aviv and its newest location — London — will accept applications from Feb. 11 to April 1.

At the helm of the Boston program is Scott Bailey, who started a year out of college as an unpaid intern at MassChallenge in 2010. Since then, he has held nearly every position at the startup accelerator, most recently leading partnerships and fundraising, before being promoted to managing director this month.

"It's been a wild ride," said Bailey, 27. "I feel like I've aged 10 years."

Bailey and Roman Kern, MassChallenge Boston's new director of programs and operations, will work closely with the board of advisers to refine and expand the organization's core offerings.

In addition to kicking off the Boston program this month, they'll launch Made@MassChallenge, a 5,000-square-foot space, adjacent to their Innovation District headquarters, where startups will be able to use hardware and software tools to build their prototypes.

MassChallenge also is in talks with the city of Newton about using a former branch library where the program's alumni could spend a year growing their companies.

"We're still shaping what that looks like," Bailey said. "We're always thinking of support for entrepreneurs, and there's a great mentor network there."

In the meantime, he said, MassChallenge is continuing to pursue its strategy of global expansion.

Boston will accept 128 startups into this year's class, Bailey said, and Israel will likely send 10 to 12 teams to the Boston program as finalists. The UK will decide how many finalists to accept, based on the quality of the applicant pool, he said. Applicants will be able to indicate which location they're interested in, Bailey said, and the finalists will be placed in the program that best suits their needs.

In Boston, finalists will be announced May 20 and have four months of free office space and mentoring, culminating in an Oct. 28 ceremony where they'll give their final pitches and compete for more than $1 million in no-strings-attached cash prizes.

The Israel and UK startups will not compete with the Boston finalists for the same prize money, Bailey said. Each program will award its own cash prizes.

Over the next five years, MassChallenge plans to open 10 new global hubs.

"We want there to be a MassChallenge location on every populated continent," Bailey said. "We have overwhelming interest and are researching the best places to open our next location."

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