March figures hint at larger economic slowdown

Employers added fewer jobs in March than expected as the labor market began to fall in line with other signs that the economy is lagging, said analysts who predict slower hiring will continue in the coming months.

"Disappointing is the key word for sure, but in retrospect it really shouldn't have been surprising," said Doug Handler, chief U.S. economist for IHS Global Insight. "There will be a period of weak employment until we can kick out the last few months."

Employers added 126,000 jobs last month, far below the 245,000 jobs that was the consensus expectation of economists, the Labor Department said yesterday. January and February job numbers also were revised downward a combined 69,000 jobs. The unemployment rate remained at 5.5 percent.

The sluggish job growth comes as other economic indicators have lagged as well, putting the economy's strength into question. Exports and home sales have disappointed in recent months, and plunging gasoline prices have not had the expected impact on consumer spending.

"It does add to some other recent data that suggests the economy was doing not very well in the first quarter," said Nigel Gault, co-chief economist at The Parthenon Group.

For the 12 months prior to March, at least 200,000 jobs had been added every month, gains that at times seemed to far outpace other economic numbers.

"I think the numbers are going to improve, but I doubt we're going to be running consistently at 250,000, 300,000 a month," Gault said. "The labor market, employment increases, are going to be softer than they were."

The unexpectedly weak job growth also may throw a wrench in the plans of the Federal Reserve, which has been eyeing an interest rate increase in the coming months.

"It does seem pretty unlikely that the Fed will raise interest rates in June," Gault said.

Fed chairwoman Janet Yellen has said the central bank will only raise rates when it is confident the economy can withstand the higher cost of borrowing money.

U.S. Labor Secretary Thomas Perez, speaking in a live Periscope broadcast yesterday, said the economy remains on track.

"We have more work to do, there's no doubt about it," he said, "but the economy continues to move in the right direction."

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Westport farm restricted from selling animals

A Westport dairy farm has agreed to stop selling animals for human consumption after federal regulators said they found illegal drug residues in cattle.

During an inspection last June, the Food and Drug Administration documented multiple violations of federal food laws at Michael P. Ferry Inc., after the U.S. Department of Agriculture found illegal residues of penicillin and other drugs in cattle Ferry sold for slaughter — violations similar to those the FDA documented in an Aug. 11, 2011, letter to Ferry.

Illegal drug residues can pose a "significant public health risk," the agency said, because certain consumers may have "severe allergic reactions" after eating food containing "above-tolerance" antibiotic levels.

"When a company refuses to comply with food safety laws and regulations, the FDA must take legal action to protect public health," said Daniel McChesney, director of the Office of Surveillance and Compliance at the FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine. "We ... will continue to monitor the dairy to confirm that the terms of the agreement are met."

The agreement prohibits the farm from selling animals for human consumption until it implements record-keeping systems to identify and track animals that have been treated with drugs, and ensure that drugs are not used in a way contrary to the labeling without a valid veterinarian-client-patient relationship.

A call to the dairy farm was not returned yesterday.

Since 2005, the FDA has sent 449 warning letters nationally about illegal drug residues, adulterated animals sold for slaughter and extralabel drug use.

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Brooks rocks lobster shoe for marathon

Brooks Running Co. has launched a limited edition Boston-themed version of its Launch 2 sneaker, just in time for the Boston Marathon.

The Lobster Launch 2 has images of the crustacean, a blue ocean midsole, rope laces and wood lace aglets that represent fishing traps.

"Through imagery of the New England lobster and product details inspired by the region's famed fishing industry, the Lobster Launch 2 embodies the toughness and resiliency of the Northeast," said Shane Downey, senior business manager.

The shoe, which is available at specialty running stores in Boston, the Brooks Running booth at the Boston Marathon expo and online, comes packaged in a white fishing net.

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Benz with 449 hp is a head-turner

Here's what a friend of mine had to say about the 2015 Mercedes-Benz S550 4­Matic Coupe: "It looks like it's going 100 mph sitting still!"

This handsome and fast coupe's interior is elegantly trimmed in "Designo" Napa leather with piano black lacquer solid surfaces and is a dream to drive. Whether set in the Econ/Comfort or performance-minded Sport mode, the S550 — formerly badged the CL — is lightning-quick and exquisitely precise.

The front seats automatically adjust as you swing through turns, keeping you and your passenger snug in the racing-inspired leather. The front seats also electronically slide forward, revealing a smallish back seat. Although it's more than a two-seater, folks in the back might be a bit squeezed. The panoramic sunroof gives the cabin an airy feeling but maintains the feline shape and slick aerodynamics of the body.

Powered by a 449-hp V­8 4.7-liter twin turbo and mated to a silky smooth seven-speed automatic transmission, the Mercedes­-Benz powers from a stop and has plenty extra when you boot the sport-styled accelerator pedal looking to move through traffic. Reset the driving mode to Sport and you feel the air-suspension stiffen and the shift-points change to make this a formidable full-sized grand tourer.

Don't mistake the S550 for a lithe sports car, though this more than 4,500-pound machine is only eight inches shorter than the full four-door sedan it shares the class with.

The all-wheel-drive melds the car to the road, providing you a sense of complete control and confidence in the car. Sweeping on and off ramps, the S550 flattens out nicely, so maintaining a good head of steam through them is a snap. Rain and wet roads are no issue and snowy terrain is easily handled with winter-mounted 
Pirelli performance snow tires. And the accurate and sure braking keeps this two-door safely grounded.

Speaking of safety, the S550 has a full array of sensors and alerts to help keep you in your lane, awake at the wheel and at an appropriate distance from cars in front of and behind you. Bird's-eye, front and rear cameras, head's-up display and blind-spot monitors help you pilot the Mercedes free and clear of danger.

Despite what appears to be a daunting electronic display, managing your listening needs, navigation and Bluetooth integration is straightforward and simple. The "Command" system only takes a short time to learn and with audible and steering wheel controls, in addition to a center stack mouse and controller wheel, setting your favorites is quick and pain-free. Cellphone integration is a one-click setup and there's no need to raise your voice to talk. The whisper-quiet interior is only interrupted when you ask the beefy engine to get going, but the reward is a gutsy roar that settles into a dynamic hum even at highway speeds.

I took it on a coast run to Portland, Maine, in Econ mode and got a reasonable 24 mpg while managing about 16 in local driving. It loves super high test gas but only requires 91 octane to keep the fuel lines happy.

With all the technology, creature comforts, craftsmanship and performance, this classy car has a delivered MSRP of $149,875 and competes in class with the BMW 6 Series and Bentley GT.

Sadly, I had to turn the test car back in, and they had to pry the key from my fingers.

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Restored church worthy of worship

A growing number of shuttered churches in the Boston area have been converted to condominiums, but few have been to such beautiful effect as the former Mount Vernon Church in the Back Bay.

Built around 1891 by C. Howard Walker, the church at the corner of Beacon Street and Massachusetts Avenue was destroyed by fire in 1978. But the Gothic stone facade mercifully was spared and today frames a manicured, sun-drenched courtyard attached to the seven-story brownstone Graham Gund Architects designed in 1983.

Today, it's known as Church Court, and on the fourth floor, overlooking the courtyard, one of its 42 units is for sale for $1.35 million.

"What makes it special is it has a lot of amenities, but it's also in a historically significant building," said broker Todd Mikelonis of Charlesgate Realty Group.

The two-bedroom condo spans 1,132 square feet, with central heating and air and new bamboo floors, except in the two bathrooms, which have tile floors and glass showers.

The master suite consists of a bathroom, two large closets, and a bedroom with southern and western exposure and double-paned windows to keep city noise at bay.

The guest bedroom is smaller and has a closet with a sliding door and built-in storage space. And tucked in a hallway closet is a washer and dryer.

The renovated kitchen has a four-burner Bosch cooktop, an oven, a microwave, a dishwasher, a large refrigerator and ample cabinets — all paneled in dark wood with granite countertops.

The kitchen also has a pass-though opening to the living room, which has bay windows, track lighting and enough space for a dining area.

The unit comes with its own parking space and storage locker in the garage, which is accessible by elevator. Without the parking space, the unit would sell for $1.2 million to $1.225 million.

The condo is occupied by a tenant until June 1, making it one of eight units in the building that are currently rented.

The building is monitored by video and a 24-hour concierge who buzzes residents into the lobby, which has a sitting area and access to the courtyard.

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Marty Walsh, Stephen Lynch want feds to nix local pipeline OK

Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh and elected officials representing West Roxbury are asking federal regulators to reconsider their approval of a natural gas pipeline proposed near an active quarry, saying it's a potential public safety nightmare and they won't stop fighting it until the plans are changed.

"We can't compromise the public safety, we've got to fight," U.S. Rep. Stephen Lynch said. "Most people, even a layperson, would understand that it's not a wise decision to locate a high pressure gas pipeline in an active blast zone."

The officials yesterday filed for a rehearing before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, which last month issued a final environmental impact statement to allow the expansion of Spectra Energy's Algonquin pipeline. In West Roxbury, the pipeline would run along Washington Street and Grove Street, with a metering and regulation station next to a quarry that uses dynamite.

"I think they've got a very dangerous three-legged stool between a high pressure pipeline in a residential neighborhood next to a highly active quarry," said Andrea Carlson, a West Roxbury resident and member of Stop the West Roxbury Lateral Pipeline.

Spectra Energy defended the safety of the pipeline.

"Spectra Energy takes safety very, very seriously," said spokeswoman Marylee Hanley. "Spectra Energy spends $1 billion a year on integrity management on our pipelines."

But Walsh said the pipeline "poses real public safety risks," and Lynch said he and the mayor have met with the attorney general to discuss legal options.

"I said (to Spectra), think of us as plaintiffs, because that's where we're going," Lynch said. "We know we're going to have to get lawyered up here."

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B.R.A. joins digital world

The Boston Redevelopment Authority has converted its 108 property leases into digital files and is preparing to audit if it has received all of the money it was owed after a scathing report last year faulted the agency for losing track of delinquent rent payments and having no centralized way to track them.

Some 100,000 pages of lease documents — most of them with tenants of BRA-owned property at the Marine Industrial Park in the Seaport District and the Charlestown Navy Yard — have been scanned and will be entered into a property management system the BRA has purchased.

The system will send agency staffers automatic reminders when lease payments are due, when deals are expiring, and if tenants owe money and are up to date on insurance. Previously, the complex lease agreements were only on paper and housed in a variety of locations.

"It's going to bring us into the 21st century," BRA Comptroller LeAnn Coleman said. "We're going to be able to proactively manage it to look at what leases have option dates that are upcoming, so we can make better decisions about what's happening with our lease portfolio."

The agency, for instance, will be able to use the system to ensure new rental rates are negotiated in advance of leases expiring, Coleman said.

In an audit last year, accounting giant KPMG found that the BRA and its subsidiary, the Economic Development Industrial Corp., had allowed a combined $5.1 million in delinquent rent to go uncollected as of last April because of the agency's lax, archaic record-keeping. By November, the BRA said it had brought the outstanding rents down to $950,000.

The audit also faulted the agency for not having a "central repository" for its documents and for lacking "internal controls" and standard business "document protocols."

The new system — which the BRA will pay $30,000 a year to license, in addition to startup costs — will also allow the BRA to easily track the hodgepodge of different payment clauses contained in leases.

Once the system is up and running, Coleman said the BRA will perform an audit to ensure it is properly billing for and collecting all payments.

"There will be no detail left unturned, believe me," Coleman said.

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Wage hike move sparks protest at McDonald’s

Boston-area fast-food workers and their supporters demonstrated outside a McDonald's yesterday, a day after the company announced it was giving workers at restaurants it owns a pay raise — a move protesters said was a publicity stunt that would only help about 10 percent of its employees.

Passing drivers honked their horns in support as about 50 people gathered outside a McDonald's on Massachusetts Avenue, vowing to keep up pressure on the company to raise wages for all employees to at least $15 an hour and acknowledge their right to unionize.

"I shouldn't have to struggle just to survive," said Darius Cephas, 23, who has been working at a Dorchester McDonald's for 2 1⁄2 years and makes $9.25 an hour.

Beginning July 1, employees at about 1,500 restaurants McDonald's owns in the U.S. will be paid at least $1 an hour more than the local minimum wage, and those who have worked for the company a year or more can accrue paid time off. But those changes won't apply to employees of McDonald's franchisees, the bulk of the company's more than 14,300 locations, who set wages for their own employees.

"This is an important and meaningful first step as we continue to look at opportunities that will make a difference for employees," McDonald's said in a statement yesterday.

But one of the protesters, state Sen. Daniel A. Wolf (D-Harwich), who has filed legislation that would raise the minimum wage from $9 to $15 an hour for workers at fast-food restaurants and big box retailers, said when companies such as McDonald's and Wal-Mart refuse to pay their workers a living wage, forcing them to turn to public assistance, taxpayers end up footing the bill.

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The Ticker

Plans filed for 69-room hotel in West Roxbury

Plans have been filed with the city for a 69-room hotel — the King David Hotel — in West Roxbury.

Builder Nissim Trabelsi is proposing a four-story limestone and brick hotel with a restaurant and bar, ballroom, indoor pool and exercise room on a three-acre site at 1625 VFW Parkway.

"We intend this location to serve as a model first hotel in a national hotel chain," Trabelsi said in documents submitted to the Boston Redevelopment Authority, noting King David Hotels Corp. plans a public offering to raise $10 million.

Adidas, BAA, and Marathon Sports team up for RunBase museum, store on Boylston St.

Adidas and the Boston Athletic Association are collaborating with Marathon Sports to open RunBase — a store and museum that will sell running shoes and clothing and celebrate the Boston Marathon.

The 2,000-square-foot store at 855 Boylston St., at the finish line of the Boston Marathon, will be an "epicenter" for running, according to the companies and BAA, which organizes the marathon. It's slated to open this month.

The year-round RunBase will sell Adidas footwear and seasonal and official Boston Marathon merchandise and sport inspirational displays with items from the BAA archives. Hosted events will include community runs, expert speakers, visits from elite athletes, training plan assistance and nutrition education. A special treadmill will allow customers to run any part of the marathon route with simulated visuals and terrain, and runners also will be able to use RunBase's changing room, lockers and showers.

Revere mayor: Probe MBTA-Wynn land sale

The mayor of Revere is asking the state inspector general and the attorney general to investigate the sale of MBTA land to a subsidiary of Wynn Resorts, which is seeking to build a casino in Everett.

Gov. Charlie Baker said yesterday his administration is looking into the issue, while a Wynn spokesman declined comment.

In a letter Wednesday to Inspector General Glenn Cunha, Revere Mayor Daniel Rizzo said the MBTA and Wynn knowingly closed on the land transaction before the completion of a review under the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act (MEPA). Rizzo sent a similar letter yesterday to Attorney General Maura Healey.

Rizzo wrote that the MEPA office has confirmed the MBTA's conveyance of the land to Wynn was "illegal."

On March 3, Wynn Resorts reported it closed on a $6 million purchase of 1.75 acres of MBTA land next to the site of its $1.6 billion casino.

TODAY

• Labor Department releases employment data for March.
• The Savings Bank Life Insurance Co. of Massachusetts has announced that Matthew C. Regan III has joined the company as senior vice president and general counsel. Prior to joining SBLI, Regan spent 17 years with the Massachusetts Division of Insurance.

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Helping new grads calculate rent

With cap and gown season approaching for local colleges, a new interactive mapping tool reveals the best places for newly 
minted graduates to live based on how much of their salary would go toward rent.

"College graduates today face the challenge of entering an increasingly expensive rental market on an 
entry-level salary," said John Doherty, senior marketing manager at San Francisco's HotPads, an online apartment and home rental search engine. "That's why we created this tool — to provide clarity into where they can best afford to live in the cities where they're accepting jobs."

Grads can search interactive maps for 11 of the 
nation's largest metropolitan areas, including Boston.

After selecting their profession from a drop-down menu, they can click on the neighborhoods of each city and surrounding communities to see the median per-person monthly rent for studio to three-bedroom apartments and what percentage of their gross salary would be devoted to paying rent. HotPads used census data for full-time, 22- to 30-year-old workers with four-year college degrees for the median incomes provided for entry-level occupations.

A computer programmer making $60,000, for example, would pay 52 percent of his salary on rent in the Back Bay, where the median per-person rent is $2,600 per month, according to the HotPads map. In Dorchester, where the median per-person rent is $750, the figure drops to 15 percent.

With parents likely no longer footing the bill for rent, recent grads who want to stay in Boston and avoid the college crowds can look near Cleveland Circle, off Beacon Street in the Strathmore and Chiswick roads area of Brighton, 
according to Cari Hook, a real estate broker at Metro Realty Corp. in Brookline.

"You kind of avoid a lot of the undergrad crowds, 
because students want to be closer in general to school," Hook said. "You can find one-bedrooms ranging from $1,450 to $1,650. You can find studios for $1,150 to $1,400."

First-year medical residents coming to Boston right now to work in the Longwood Medical area are heading outside of the hospital area for rentals, 
according to Hook.

"They make $59,000, and they can't afford Brookline or Fenway anymore, so they're heading to Jamaica
Plain," she said. "Hyde Square is very good."

"It's tough right now," Hook said of the rental market, pointing to the pipeline of luxury apartments in the Fenway, Seaport District and Downtown Crossing. "We have no idea who's going to afford those. Even couples are still going to have to pay $1,500 each, and that's a lot for a starting salary."

Immediately outside of Boston, a dietician or 
nutritionist earning a $36,105 salary would find themselves paying 43 percent of that on rent in Cambridge, ($1,283 per month median per-person rent) and 30 percent in Somerville ($900).

There's an influx of 23- to 27-year-olds looking to live in Somerville's Davis Square, according to Craig Scanzio of Benoit Real 
Estate Group in that city.

"It's the place where kids want to live once they get out of college," Scanzio said. "They room together in three- and four-bedrooms, and each one is paying $800, $900 month."

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Test drives city to expand ParkBoston

The city is expanding its ParkBoston app to all 8,000-plus parking meters, letting drivers pay remotely with their cellphones, after a successful pilot of the program in the Back Bay.

"Thousands of Bostonians have already embraced this new and convenient technology, and expanding this service throughout the city will make the experience of paying for parking easier for each and every user," Mayor Martin J. Walsh said in a statement.

More than 15,000 people downloaded the Park­Boston app — available for iPhones and Android devices — since the pilot program launched in January. Officials plan to roll out the app to all the city's meters in phases, beginning with the rest of the Back Bay and the Fenway/Kenmore area this week, with the goal of having it completed by the end of the summer.

"Certainly the more options you give someone to pay the meter, the more often they will pay the meter," said Gina Fiandaca, commissioner of the Boston Transportation Department.

The expansion of ParkBoston comes on the heels of Walsh's announcement last week that the city would replace all parking meters with new smart meters that accept credit cards and will collect data about space usage. That project, estimated at $5 million
to $6 million, is scheduled to start by the end of the year.

The smart meters will be able to detect whether a spot is in use.

"(It will) help us strategically manage curbside space by providing information on duration of parking sessions," Fiandaca said.

That data could also be used for demand-based pricing, she said, including the possibility of extending hours or raising pricing­ near the TD Garden or Fenway Park.

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Putnam tees up PGA players for campaign

Putnam Investments has added to its athlete marketing roster with the signings of two more PGA Tour players.

The Boston investment management company has new sponsorship deals with Hopkinton native Jon Curran and Brendan Steele, who'll be part of its "Performance in Motion" campaign that also features golfer Keegan Bradley.

Putnam will debut digital advertising featuring the trio during the 79th Masters Golf Tournament that starts next week at Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia. The ads also will run on the PGA Tour and ESPN mobile applications.

"Golf really is a sweet spot of our target audience, and it has broad reach across broadcast television," said Mark McKenna, Putnam's global marketing head. "We're giving people an inside glimpse at what it takes psychologically to perform at this level."

Curran and Steele also will join Bradley, another Hopkinton native who's been affiliated with Putnam since 2011, in wearing Putnam-branded clothing during tournaments and participating in Putnam client events.

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Southie industrial site slated for housing, retail

A six-block mini-community with hundreds of housing units, a grocery store and a public green is under design for a swath of unused industrial land in South Boston.

Boston developer Core Investments Inc. and real estate investment firm Ad Meliora LLC's plans for the mixed-use development at Old Colony Avenue and Dorchester Street near Andrew Square include approximately 700 housing units, mostly apartments and many of which would be targeted toward middle-class tenants, the companies said in a statement yesterday. Representatives were unavailable for comment.

The still-unnamed project also would incorporate 76,000 square feet of ground-level retail space, including a 20,000-square-foot-plus grocery store, and a 1-acre central outdoor public gathering space.

The goal is to bring economic vitality to Andrew Square by creating a walkable neighborhood with community-focused businesses, according to the development team, which is operating under the name of DJ Properties LLC.

"After working with and listening to the community in and around Andrew Square for more than four years, we have begun shaping a project that we think will be a huge improvement to the neighborhood in many ways — from the new middle-class homes to places to shop and eat, and, in addition, a large place for people to meet," DJ Properties said in a statement. "There will be better connectivity with the surrounding neighborhoods via new pedestrian ways and public streets."

The five-acre development would include eight buildings along Old Colony Avenue and Damrell Street and on either side of Alger Street, which would be extended to Dorchester Street. Vacant industrial buildings currently occupy the site, where DJ Properties has been acquiring parcels for about the past four years.

The project currently calls for two "slender" retail towers with 20 and 21 floors — and heights of 230 and 240 feet, respectively — and retail and parking at the bottom. The six other buildings would range from three to six floors. Garage parking for 450 cars and 130 surface spaces for retail customers is planned.

The project would be built in phases, with the grocery store and park constructed first.

DJ Properties, which said it has had early talks with the Boston Redevelopment Authority about the project, plans to file initial documents with the agency "in the near future."

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Clouds on horizon for solar projects

Municipal and large commercial solar projects in Massachusetts are being stymied by caps on net metering, which gives a credit for any unused energy they provide to the electrical grid, and incentive to install new panel arrays, advocates said yesterday.

The caps for both large private and public solar projects in National Grid territory were hit within the past two weeks, putting the state's solar industry and its 12,000 jobs at risk, said Ben Hellerstein, of Environment Massachusetts.

"We have seen the number of kilowatts of solar energy in Massachusetts increase 127 percent annually for the last three years," Hellerstein said. "Unless the Legislature and the governor raise the caps, we could see that rapid growth slow down or come to a halt."

Small solar installations, such as those on homes, are exempt from the limits.

Solar energy advocates are lobbying for the passage of a House bill that would raise the caps to 1,600 megawatts and set a goal of getting at least 20 percent of the state's electricity from solar power by 2025. Raising the caps now also would allow the state to take advantage of a 30 percent federal investment tax credit, which expires at the end of 2016, said Emily Rochon, a fellow at Boston Community Capital.

A task force set up by the Legislature is reviewing alternatives, including requiring at least 1,600 megawatts of solar energy by 2020.

"The administration is committed to working with the task force and energy community to achieve continued solar growth ... and establish a framework for a sustainable program with reasonable ratepayer costs going into the future," said Katie Gronendyke, a spokeswoman for the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs.

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Owner of Mystic Pizza pleads guilty to tax charges

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. — The owner of the Mystic Pizza restaurant made famous in a 1988 movie has pleaded guilty to federal tax charges.

The U.S. Attorney's Office says 48-year-old John Zelepos of North Stonington faces up to 15 years in prison after pleading guilty Tuesday to tax evasion and financial structuring offenses.

Prosecutors say that between 2006 and 2010 Zelepos diverted just over $567,000 from Mystic Pizza's gross receipts into his personal bank accounts and those of family members. They say he then filed false tax returns to hide the income.

Mystic Pizza has become a tourist attraction since Julia Roberts starred in the movie about the lives of three waitresses working at the small-town pizza parlor.

Zelepos is scheduled to be sentenced on June 23.

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The Ticker

Dot proposal could aid ill with housing needs

A 39-unit apartment building that would allow people with multiple sclerosis and other neurological diseases to live independently is being proposed in Dorchester.

The Boston Home Inc., which operates a 96-bed nursing facility serving adults with progressive neurological diseases, hopes to build the mixed-income housing complex on its Dorchester Avenue campus.

The 134-year-old nonprofit is partnering with Boston-based Affirmative Investments Inc. on the $11 million project, which would include 30 units for people — and their families — with significant physical disabilities transitioning from long-term care, and people already living in the community who need additional support.

The goal is to create a national model for independent community living incorporating advanced technology and specialized support services, Boston Home said in documents filed with the Boston Redevelopment Authority.

Backers plead for film tax credit

Supporters of the state's film tax credit packed a State House hearing to argue against Gov. Charlie Baker's proposal to do away with the decade-old tax break for movie and TV production in Massachusetts.

Baker wants to use the money that would be saved to double the state's earned income tax credit that goes to low-income working families.

Secretary of Economic Affairs Jay Ash told the Legislature's Revenue Committee that for each dollar spent on tax incentives for the film industry, the state gets only 13 cents back in revenue. Administration officials also said nearly two-thirds of film production spending wound up in the hands of non-Massachusetts residents or businesses.

But supporters of the tax credit strongly disagreed, telling lawmakers it has helped create thousands of jobs and boost thousands of small businesses around the state.

Quincy clothing retailer J.Jill sold

Quincy-based women's clothing retailer J.Jill said yesterday that it is being acquired by an investment management firm. J.Jill has about 250 stores around the country that sell clothing, shoes and accessories. It is being acquired by TowerBrook Capital Partners L.P. which is buying it from the investment firm Arcapita and private equity firm Golden Gate Capital. Financial terms of the deal, which is expected to close in the second quarter, were not disclosed. TowerBrook owns high-priced denim brand True Religion and previously owned the high-end Jimmy Choo shoe company before selling it off in 2011.

TODAY

 Institute for Supply Management releases its manufacturing index for March.

 Commerce Department releases construction spending for February.

 Automakers release vehicle sales for March.

THE SHUFFLE

Cambridge-based GNS Healthcare, a provider of analytics solutions for matching health interventions to individuals, announced that Tom McNamara has joined the company as chief revenue officer. McNamara will shape the GNS sales organization to serve an expanding roster of clients, including health plans, health care providers, biopharmaceutical companies and foundations.

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App troubleshoots car issues, delivers quotes

It strikes fear in the hearts of drivers — the ominous "check engine" light.

But a Cambridge-based startup is aiming to take the worry out of car ownership, launching a new service that can alert drivers when there's a problem with their vehicle, remotely diagnose the issue, and track down local mechanics to provide bids on the repairs.

"We'll be able to diagnose that check-engine light for you in real time, we'll know what the error codes are, we'll know the severity," said Rob Infantino, founder and chief executive of Openbay. "We'll also tell you the number of shops willing to do the repair and their rating and location."

Using a small device that plugs into a car's on-board 
diagnostic system, the com-
pany's OpenbayConnect service wirelessly gathers information, automatically analyzes the data and translates trouble codes when something goes wrong. If the issue is serious, OpenbayConnect will survey nearby mechanics in its database to find price quotes and availability, and deliver binding quotes through the Openbay app.

Manufacturers are placing more sensors throughout veh-icles, making it easier to figure out the problem automatically, Infantino said. The device will fit in any car made after 1996, which is more than 80 percent of cars on the road, the company said.

"The more and more sensors we have, the more we can 
detect," Infantino said, "and what we detect, we can diagnose."

Through an early-access program to get feedback and to help improve the service, Boston drivers can get a free diagnostic device. Eventually, Openbay will likely partner with one of the 
existing companies that produce and sell the devices.

"The reality of it is, this is the future," said John Paul, "Car Doctor" for AAA New England. "This part is cutting-edge right now, and the concept sounds great."

Still, there are some complications OpenbayConnect must deal with in order to get it right, Paul said.

"(A check-engine light) could generate an oxygen sensor code, but the code could have nothing to do with an oxygen sensor failure," he said.

Backed by venture capital investment, including from Google Ventures, Openbay.com launched in 2013 as an auto 
repair marketplace.

"This has been my vision since we started the company," Infantino said. "The connected car has been my vision, to completely automate the end-to-end process."

Plugged in: How it works

OpenbayConnect uses a device to plug into a vehicle's diagnostics system to automatically determine what's wrong with it, who can fix it and at what cost. Here's how it works:

• An on-board diagnostic 
device plugs into a vehicle's OBDII port.

• It detects an issue.

• Trouble codes and diagnostics are wirelessly transmitted.

• Codes and diagnostics are analyzed.

• An alert explains what's wrong and includes estimates from local mechanics to fix it.

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Committee to tackle wage equity

A new advisory committee tackling wage equality in Massachusetts can expect to encounter two types of CEOs: those whose hearts are in the right place, but have to be shown how to implement it, and those who must be convinced it's of value to their companies as well as society.

That's according to James Roosevelt Jr., CEO of Tufts Health Plan, one of 16 members of the committee formed by state Treasurer Deborah B. Goldberg to follow through on one of her campaign planks.

"There are CEOs for whom this is not at the top of their lists when they think about how to show value to their customers and how they differentiate their products from their competitors," Roosevelt said. "You have to have the commitment from the top of the organization that ... every factor that goes into what people are paid — men and women — will be approached with the requirement that there be true equality. It's like any other major management issue. The CEO has to be sure that his or her management team applies that principle in every hiring decision, in every promotion and every salary-setting decision."

White women in Massachusetts earn 82 cents for every $1 earned by a man, according to Goldberg. African-American women earn 61 cents, and Latina women earn 50 cents.

"Pay equity is not a partisan issue, nor solely a women's issue," Goldberg said in a statement. "It is a family issue, and it affects the economic health and well-being of our entire state."

The committee will focus on providing government agencies with tools to review their pay structures; creating a wage equality tool kit for businesses; organizing roundtables to field business input on how a public-private partnership can work; and launching a state-run equal pay website for employers and employees.

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Discount Chromebooks spur laptop war

The release of Google's cheapest Chromebook laptops yet — two versions priced at $149 each — is good news for students, and the cost will likely go even lower in the company's ongoing price war with Microsoft, analysts said.

"It really is excellent news for kids and for education," said Brad Reback of Stifel Nicolaus and Company in Atlanta. "You can now put computing power into the hands of many more kids. And (the price) will go lower. Google will continue to push pricing down to put pressure on Microsoft."

The newest versions of the Chromebook that Google announced yesterday are made by Hisense and Haier, PC manufacturers that have been working with Google to design lightweight laptops that run on the Chrome operating system.

Their arrival coincides with Microsoft's rollout of a lower-priced Surface tablet in an effort to reach students and budget-conscious families. Pre-orders for that device began yesterday, too. The cheaper version of the Surface Pro 3 sells for $499, compared with $799 to $1,949 for the higher-end models.

The Chromebooks don't have a hard drive and function as terminals dependent on an Internet connection to get most work done. The Chrome system is set up so users will automatically begin using Google's search engine and other services, such as Gmail and YouTube. Google also has used the Chromebooks as a prod to bring down the prices of all PCs.

"It has been good news for consumers, but not so good for vendors," said International Data Corp. analyst Jay Chou.

Herald wire services contributed to this report.

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Domestic workers enjoy tougher protections as law kicks in

BOSTON — Domestic workers in Massachusetts can begin enjoying tougher labor protections under a new law set that takes effect Wednesday.

The law requires people who hire nannies, caregivers and other domestic workers in Massachusetts to adhere to established labor standards and other worker protections.

The bill defines domestic workers as individuals who provide in-home services including housekeeping, laundering, cooking and even companionship.

The new law — which was signed by former Gov. Deval Patrick last year — also makes clear that domestic workers are eligible for government services and benefits such as unemployment insurance, workers compensation and minimum wage protections.

The law sets rules for sleep, meal and rest periods, and requires female domestic workers receive at least eight weeks maternity leave if they're full-time employees.

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Business Protocol: Executive assistant to CEO? Commitment, confidence key

If you've been an executive assistant for 20 years and developed experience enough to be a top manager, how do you break through and move up? Can it be done?

Yes, indeed. I have groomed several executive assistants for executive director positions. Many astute and ambitious admins have developed the business acumen and technical expertise to make the jump. They know the players and are capable of stepping into the corner office.

The biggest single barrier is self-confidence. They have to believe they can. After that, it's all about self-
motivation and cultivating a positive attitude.

You don't have to look far for other examples. Many years ago, Jack Connors, then president of Hill Holliday, one of the top advertising agencies in the country, reportedly told his young receptionist she was the "face and voice of Hill Holiday."

Karen Kaplan took Connors' words very seriously and considered her position to be the "CEO of Reception." Kaplan had the confidence and ambition to take that advice and run with it. Her brains, work ethic and dedication were noticed, admired and rewarded in each of the 12 positions she held at the company.

Today, Karen Kaplan is the CEO of Hill Holliday.

There is great merit in being committed to one's career — especially these days when statistics suggest that most people will hold four, five or more jobs in their lifetime. If you are going to be an admin, be the best. The sky may be the limit.

Sandy Knott, past president of the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce's Chapter of the International Association of Administrative Professionals, told me she was thrilled to have almost doubled their membership during her tenure.

She explained the upturn, saying that during the Great Recession, she encouraged admins to hold themselves to a high standard and show they were committed to their careers. She suggested that by showing they weren't going anywhere, admins would be more valued, more respected and more sought-after as professionals in their field.

Knott advocated for professional accreditation and certification and urged admins to join professional organizations such as the International Association of Administrative Professionals. Ultimately this advanced the position of administrative assistants while enhancing their value to the company.

Bottom line: Never approach a position believing this will be the job you will have forever, especially if you don't want it to be so.

Judith Bowman is founder of Protocol Consultants International and author of "Don't Take the Last Donut: New Rules of Business Etiquette."

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Jay Z launches Tidal streaming-music service at star-studded event

Music impresario Jay Z has launched Tidal -- positioned as an ad-free, high-quality streaming-music subscription service priced starting at $10 per month -- with the participation of numerous big-name artists including Alicia Keys, Beyonce (who is married to Jay Z), Chris Martin of Coldplay, Usher, Nicki Minaj, Rihanna, Kanye West and Madonna.

Jay Z, the stage name of Shawn Carter, in January acquired Sweden-based Aspiro for $56 million. The artists announced onstage at the New York event Monday were introduced as co-owners of the company, representing the first artist-owned digital-music service -- a salvo lobbed against companies like Spotify and Pandora.

"Our goal is simple: We want to create a better service and a better experience for both fans and artitsts," Alicia Keys said at the event. "We believe that it is in everyone's interests -- fans, artists and the industry as a whole -- to preserve the value of music, and to ensure a healthy and robust industry for years to come."

Tidal's mobile launch partner is Sprint. Other artists participating in the service include Arcade Fire, Calvin Harris, Daft Punk, Jack White (formerly of the White Stripes) and Deadmau5.

The Tidal service will compete with other subscription-music services including Spotify and Apple's forthcoming music-streaming service, based on its acquisition of Beats Music, which is expected to launch this summer.

Tidal will not offer a free version of the service; the standard-audio version (Tidal Premium) will be $9.99 per month and the high-def audio version (Tidal HiFi) will be $19.99 per month. Both tiers are free to try out for 30 days, according to the company.

Tidal says it provides a library of more than 25 million tracks, 75,000 music videos and curated editorial articles. The service is available across iOS and Android devices, as well as in Web browsers and desktop players, available in the U.S. and 30 other countries at launch. Tidal provides streaming quality at more than four times the bit rate of competitive services, according to the startup.

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

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The Ticker

BU business school gets $50M gift from graduate

Boston University received $50 million, its largest gift ever, for its management school from retailing executive Allen Questrom and his wife, Kelli. The renamed Questrom School of Business will use the donation to endow 10 faculty positions and help pay for added facilities for the graduate program, the university said. Questrom, 74, who earned a bachelor's degree from BU in 1964 and is a trustee, has led retailers including Barneys New York Inc., J.C. Penney Co., Federated Department Stores and Neiman Marcus. He is currently a senior adviser to Lee Equity Partners LLC, a New York private equity firm.

McDonald's to test all-day breakfast

McDonald's Corp. will experiment with serving breakfast all day at some San Diego-area locations as CEO Steve Easterbrook seeks to pull the restaurant chain out of a U.S. sales slump.

The test, slated to begin next month, will keep hash browns, Egg McMuffins and other sandwiches on the menu beyond the standard breakfast hours. McDonald's is the fast-food breakfast leader, and the morning menu accounts for about 25 percent of its business. As more Americans eat breakfast away from home, competitors such as Taco Bell and Starbucks have tried to take market share from McDonald's with expanded offerings.

Woman denies defrauding One Fund

A Boston woman has pleaded not guilty to fraudulently receiving thousands of dollars by claiming she was injured in the Boston Marathon bombings.

Joanna Leigh was arraigned yesterday on charges of larceny and making a false claim to a government agency. She was released without bail and ordered to surrender her passport and not travel outside New England or New York. Her attorney said she's "a very fragile person."

Prosecutors say Leigh got $8,000 from The One Fund victims' charity; $18,000 from a state victims' compensation fund; $9,000 from an online fundraiser; and $1,700 raised by Boston school students.

Authorities say she was at the April 2013 marathon but wasn't hurt. Leigh, 41, says she suffered traumatic brain injuries, and the charges are retaliation for her criticism of The One Fund for not helping people with brain injuries.

TODAY

 Standard & Poor's releases S&P/Case-Shiller index of home prices for January.

 Conference Board releases the Consumer Confidence Index for March.

TOMORROW

 Institute for Supply Management releases its manufacturing index for March.

 Commerce Department releases construction spending for February.

 Automakers release vehicle sales for March.

THE SHUFFLE

North Andover-based Watts Water Technologies has named Todd A. Trapp as its chief financial officer, effective April 9. Trapp most recently was vice president of financial planning and analysis at Honeywell International Inc., where he was responsible for leading the annual strategic planning processes for the $40 billion conglomerate. Prior to his 12-year Honeywell career, he held several treasury and finance operational roles at United Business Media Inc. and Pearson Inc.

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Harman buying Bang & Olufsen Automotive audio business

NEW YORK — The audio and electronic systems company Harman International Industries Inc. will buy Bang & Olufsen Automotive for about $157.3 million.

Bang & Olufsen makes sound systems, which are available in high-end luxury cars including Audi, Aston Martin, BMW and Mercedes-Benz car models. Stamford, Connecticut-based Harman brands are in more than 25 million cars and include AKG, Harman/Kardon, Infinity, JBL, Logic 7, Mark Levinson, Lexicon, Revel, Selenium, and yurbuds.

In January, Harman reported-better-than-expected quarterly financial results as it continues to benefit from an industry trend toward cars that provide users with Internet-connected audio and entertainment options. The company expects demand will remain strong and forecast profit of $5.85 per share for the fiscal year through June on revenue of $6 billion.

The Bang & Olufsen deal includes a purchase price of 145 million euros, or about $157.3 million, as well as license payments for an exclusive license to the Bang & Olufsen and B&O PLAY brands within the automotive industry.

"Bang & Olufsen is a distinctive brand that will complement our existing premium branded offerings and strengthen HARMAN's position in this segment," said Harman President and CEO Dinesh C. Paliwal, in a statement.

Harman will assume all Bang & Olufsen Automotive customer programs, and all Bang & Olufsen Automotive development and production resources will be transferred to Harman.

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US home prices rise modestly, weigh on affordability

WASHINGTON — U.S. home price increases continued to rise at a steady pace in January, as the housing market deals with affordability problems and few properties listed for sale.

The Standard & Poor's/Case-Shiller 20-city home price index rose 4.6 percent in January compared with 12 months earlier, S&P said Tuesday. That is up from growth of 4.4 percent in December.

Few Americans have listed their homes for sale, with the tight inventory keeping prices higher. Robust hiring and low mortgage rates have raised the possibility of stronger sales, yet home prices have appreciated at a significantly faster pace than earnings.

"Home prices are rising roughly twice as fast as wages, putting pressure on potential homebuyers and heightening the risk that any uptick in interest rates could be a major setback," said David Blitzer, chairman of the index committee for S&P Dow Jones Indices

The Case-Shiller index covers roughly half of U.S. homes. The index measures prices compared with those in January 2000 and creates a three-month moving average. The January figures are the latest available.

Housing inventories have been tight since December. The number of homes for sale in February was equal to just 4.6 months of sales, compared to an average of 5.2 months last year. Six months of supply is typical for a healthy housing market.

All 20 cities reported higher prices than a year earlier. Denver reported the largest gains, with prices up 8.4 percent. Miami prices jumped by 8.3 percent, while Dallas homes appreciated at 8.1 percent. Home appreciation nearly plateaued in Washington, DC, where prices rose just 1.3 percent.

Signed contracts in February suggest that sales will rebound after a sluggish start to 2015, when sales were running below last year's relatively pace.

The number of signed contracts rose 3.1 percent last month, which should be reflected by more sales being completed in March and April, according to the National Association of Realtors.

A new housing indicator by the insurer Nationwide suggests that the housing market was stable at the end of 2014. That index released Tuesday said the housing market is at its healthiest level since 2001, with few regional markets at risk of a downturn.

Based on employment, demographics, mortgages and home prices, the index found the healthiest markets to be in Pittsburgh, Cleveland and Philadelphia metro areas.

Historically low mortgage rates and solid hiring have laid the foundation for stronger sales this year.

Average 30-year fixed rates were 3.69 percent last week, according to the mortgage giant Freddie Mac. The average has plummeted from a 52-week high of 4.41 percent, making it cheaper for would-be homeowners to buy.

Separately, employers have added 3.3 million jobs over the past 12 months, including 295,000 jobs in February. The hiring spree pace has caused the unemployment rate to drop to 5.5 percent from 6.7 percent. As more people in the economy hold jobs, more paychecks exist to fund home purchases.

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US consumer spending edges up 0.1 percent in February

WASHINGTON — U.S. consumers spent just slightly more in February even though their income rose by a healthy amount. But economists hope bigger paychecks will give spending a bigger boost in the coming months.

Consumer spending edged up a tiny 0.1 percent following declines of 0.2 percent in both January and December, the Commerce Department reported Monday. The result reflected a 0.4 percent increase in nondurable goods such as food and energy coupled with a 0.1 percent fall in durable goods such as automobiles.

Income grew a solid 0.4 percent in February, matching January's rise. With income growing faster than spending, the saving rate jumped to 5.8 percent of after-tax income — the highest level since December 2012.

Economists said the rise in the saving rate reflects in part the big drop in recent months in gas prices, which acts like a tax cut that leaves more money in consumers' pockets. Falling gas prices and continued employment growth set the stage for stronger consumer spending in the months ahead as the weather improves.

"Households are still flush with the money saved from the big drop-off in gasoline prices and, with the labor market still on fire, incomes should continue to increase at a solid pace," said Paul Ashworth, chief U.S. economist at Capital Economics. "That provides the scope for a big gain in consumption in the second quarter."

Severe winter weather kept shoppers away from the malls and auto showrooms in both January and February.

An earlier report showed retail sales fell in February for a third straight month as Americans cut back on car buying by the most in more than a year. Sales also fell at restaurants, home improvement centers and electronics and appliance stores. Harsh winter weather in much of the country was blamed for the decline.

The weather-related weakness is expected to dampen overall economic growth during the January-March quarter, with many economists forecasting growth to slow to around 1.5 percent during the quarter. But analysts are also optimistic for a rebound in coming quarters to growth of 3 percent or better.

If the economy does hit 3 percent growth this year, it would be the fastest pace for the economy in a decade.

Robust employment gains of the past year should continue this year, and the stronger job market will likely lead to rising household incomes and more consumer spending.

Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen said Friday an increase in the Fed's key interest rate could come later this year. Any rate hikes, however, will likely be very gradual.

Many economists believe that with inflation still running below the Fed's target of 2 percent, the Fed will be cautious in raising rates and hold off on the first rate hike until September. The Fed's target for short-term rates has been at a record low near zero since December 2008.

The new report on consumer spending, which accounts for 70 percent of economic activity, showed that an inflation gauge tied to consumer spending patterns rose 0.2 percent in February after three months of declines. Excluding food and energy, this inflation gauge was up 0.1 percent in February and has risen just 1.4 percent over the past 12 months, well below the Fed's 2 percent target.

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PlayStation gets Spotify, replacing Sony's own music service

NEW YORK — Spotify is coming to the PlayStation, replacing Sony's own Music Unlimited service, as the company continues to expand the game console into an entertainment hub beyond video games.

Spotify hits the PlayStation 3 and 4 on Monday, with a new app adapted for large television screens. Sony says partnering with Spotify expands its music service to 41 countries, rather than the 19 available with Music Unlimited, and offers better tools for playlists and music discovery.

PlayStation users have long been able to watch DVDs and stream Netflix, Amazon and YouTube shows with the console. Just two weeks ago, Sony launched an online television service, PlayStation Vue, offering more than 50 over-the-air and cable channels starting at $50 a month.

Spotify has 60 million active users worldwide, including 15 million paid subscribers. Its music app is available on some Internet-connected TVs and set-top boxes, but Spotify says it worked closely with Sony to optimize its service for the PlayStation. Notable features include: the ability to listen to music while playing a game and still listening to sound effects, or automatically pausing the game while changing volume or playlists.

The service is free with ads, or costs $10 a month for a premium ad-free version that offers offline playback. Although free users aren't allowed to choose specific songs on mobile devices, they will be able to on the PlayStation, just as they now do on traditional computers.

Customers who do not already have a Spotify account can sign up on the PlayStation. Existing Spotify customers will get access to the PlayStation app with their usual sign-in. Music Unlimited subscribers won't be automatically switched over; those that subscribe on other devices such as Sony phones, will need to get the Spotify app.

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Lincoln Continental, the car of presidents, is returning

DEARBORN, Mich. — Elvis Presley had one; so did Clark Gable. It was even the sedan of presidents. Then the name vanished amid an invasion of newer luxury cars from Europe and Asia.

Now, the Lincoln Continental is back.

Thirteen years after the last Continental rolled off the assembly line, Ford Motor Co. is resurrecting its storied nameplate. The new Continental debuts in concept form at this week's New York auto show. The production version of the full-size sedan goes on sale next year.

After more than a decade of toying with alphabetical names like LS and MKS to be more like its foreign rivals, Ford's 98-year-old Lincoln brand is embracing its heritage. It's a measure of the growing confidence at Lincoln, which is finally turning around a decades-long sales decline. And it's a nod to the importance of China, where customers know the Continental name and appreciate brands with a rich history.

Ford CEO Mark Fields says the Continental always represented the best of Lincoln. Resurrecting it sets higher expectations, both within the company and outside of it.

"When we get a chance to work on an iconic nameplate like that, it's a mixture of pride and a mixture of fear, because when you put that name out there, it's got to deliver," Fields told The Associated Press in a recent interview.

The Continental was born in 1938, when Henry Ford's son Edsel commissioned a convertible he could use on his spring vacation. Thrilled by the reception he got as he drove the elegant sedan around Palm Beach, Edsel made the Continental part of Lincoln's lineup.

The Continental soon became the pinnacle of American luxury. Warner Brothers gave Elizabeth Taylor a 1956 Continental with a custom paint color to match her eyes. A darker historical note: John F. Kennedy was riding in the back of a 1961 Continental convertible when he was assassinated in Dallas.

Continental sales peaked in 1990 at 62,732. But after that, Lincoln's sales began slipping.

Ford had acquired other luxury brands such as Jaguar and Volvo. Lincoln's designs got dull and failed to stand out from lower-priced Fords. The Continental was also squeezed by competition from the midsize Lincoln LS, which debuted in 2000, and the bigger Town Car.

Ford also underestimated the threat posed by German rivals, who were expanding their lineups, and newer Japanese luxury brands. By 2000, Lexus was the top-selling luxury brand in the U.S.; last year, BMW was.

To make its way back, Lincoln isn't trying isn't trying to be sporty like BMW or showy like Cadillac. Instead, Fields says, it wants to give drivers an experience that is elegant and serene.

"We want folks to get into our vehicles and — for lack of a better term — chill," Fields said.

It appears to be working. Lincoln's U.S. sales rose 16 percent last year, making it one of the fastest-growing luxury brands in the market. The midsize MKZ was the brand's top seller.

Full-size sedans like the Continental are a tough sell in the U.S., where buyers tend to prefer midsize sedans or SUVs. U.S. sales of Lincoln's current full-size sedan, the MKS, fell 24 percent last year.

But globally, the segment is growing, Fields says. Ford has high hopes for the Lincoln brand in China, where it's opening dazzling new dealerships complete with waterfalls. Ford began selling Lincolns in China late last year, and the company will open more than 20 dealerships there this year.

The concept car being unveiled Monday in New York is painted a deep Prussian blue, an homage to Continentals of the 1950s and 1960s. But there are few other references to its history.

Lincoln's split-wing grille, a feature that dates to the 1940s, has been replaced by a tight, rectangular mesh grille, its shiny chrome patterned with tiny versions of Lincoln's rectangular logo. The sides are smooth; even the door handles are hidden within a narrow strip of chrome at the beltline.

The concept is a technology showcase. The driver's seat has a patented split cushion, so if the driver holds one leg out further than another, it will support each leg separately. The moonroof glass turns opaque with the touch of a button. Another button automatically moves the front passenger seat forward and fully reclines the rear passenger seat. That's another nod to China, where luxury car owners often have their own drivers.

Under the hood is a 3-liter V6 EcoBoost engine that's unique to Lincoln. Ford isn't yet revealing more details, like whether the car is front- or rear-wheel drive. The Continental switched to a front-wheel-drive sedan in the 1980s, but many of its current competitors — the Infiniti Q70, Mercedes Benz S-Class and Lexus LS — are rear-wheel drive.

The Continental is expected to replace the seven-year-old MKS, which currently sits atop Lincoln's car lineup.

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Cook calls 'religious objection' laws dangerous

NEW YORK — Apple CEO Tim Cook said that so-called "religious objection" legislation being introduced in a number of states is dangerous and bad for business.

The bills, like the one enacted last week in Indiana, create a legal framework for individuals, mostly business owners, to claim that a law or regulation mandated by the government infringes on their religious beliefs.

In an op-ed piece for The Washington Post, the leader of the nation's largest corporation said that the bills under consideration "have the potential to undo decades of progress toward greater equality."

He cited actions taken by lawmakers in Texas, Indiana and Arkansas, but said that a "wave of legislation" has been introduced in more than two dozen states.

Cook said he was opposing the legislation on behalf of Apple Inc. He came out as gay in October, saying that he wanted to make a difference for others.

In a letter he wrote then, Cook said, "there are laws on the books in a majority of states that allow employers to fire people based solely on their sexual orientation. There are many places where landlords can evict tenants for being gay, or where we can be barred from visiting sick partners and sharing in their legacies. Countless people, particularly kids, face fear and abuse every day because of their sexual orientation."

Cook said in his criticism of religious objection laws that he has great respect for religious freedom, but that it can never be "used as an excuse to discriminate."

The legislation is not a political or religious issue, but rather "about how we treat each other as human beings," Cook said.

"Opposing discrimination takes courage. With the lives and dignity of so many people at stake, it's time for all of us to be courageous," Cook said.

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JetBlue computer outage causes delays for passengers

NEW YORK — A computer outage that caused delays for thousands of JetBlue Airways passengers early Monday morning has been resolved, the company said.

JetBlue Airways said it had fixed a systemwide computer problem by 6:15 a.m. Eastern that has caused delays because the airline had to manually check in passengers.

NBC News reported that the airline had to issue handwritten boarding passes to passengers at many airports.

The company said in an email that passengers might experience delays throughout the day. It did not specify how long it would take to work through delays and get operations back to normal.

The airline did not immediately respond to inquiries on how many flights were affected, but passengers at airports in Boston; Orlando, Fla., and Washington, D.C., took to social media to report long lines and delays.

A list of flights on the website of New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport, JetBlue's busiest airport, showed delays of 60 to 90 minutes for early morning flights and numerous delays but there were shorter delays for more recent flights.

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Mad*Pow forum mixes health care, design, tech

As co-founder and chief experience officer at Mad*Pow, a Portsmouth, N.H.-based company that has offices in Boston, Amy Cueva focuses on "human-centered" design that "involves people — the ones who'll be affected by the solutions we create — in the creative process."

But the health care industry is "a little behind" in how it uses design, Cueva said, because organizations such as hospitals and insurance companies, by their very nature, are risk-averse. So when she realized there was no forum that specifically addressed the overlap of health, design and technology, she created one.

This Wednesday and Thursday, about 500 designers, doctors, nurses and entrepreneurs from around the world will gather at the Westin Hotel in Boston's Seaport District for the fifth Health Experience Refactored conference.

"In the health care industry, one of the most complex problems is getting people to change their behavior," Cueva 
said. "We're telling people they need to lose weight, exercise more, eat better, watch their blood pressure. But behavior change really involves the overlap of design, technology and psychology. What leads to lasting change is finding out what people 
really want in their lives."

Cueva recalled one man who was diabetic and so overweight that he needed to use a wheelchair. He wanted to attend his daughter's wedding, but it was going to be held on a beach, which wouldn't be wheelchair-
accessible.

"So we designed a digital diabetic weight-loss program in partnership with Joslin Diabetes Center in Boston," she said. Mad*Pow took the classroom material from the center's weight-loss program and put it online, with videos and a social network for diabetics in the program.

"It was effective in supporting diabetic weight-loss," Cueva said. "Now, Joslin is exploring how to get that technology in the hands of other hospitals and clinicians so that it can help other patients."
Another of the 50 speakers at the conference is Jon Michaeli of MediSafe, an Israeli startup that raised $6 million earlier this year to open new office space in Boston.

MediSafe created an iOS and Android mobile app and cloud-synced database to remind people when to take their medication and alert their family or caretaker if they did not.

"It's really important to have a holistic approach," Michaeli said.

Another keynote speaker, Dr. Darshan Mehta, medical director of the Benson-Henry Institute for Mind Body Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital, will focus on how stress affects health and how meditation can counter that stress. And, to help make his point, Mehta will lead the audience in a group meditation.

"This one will be unique, both in size and the number of savvy individuals with skepticism who'll be there, which is good," he said. "I'm hoping people will see that while we're talking about technological advances, let's not forget about the simple stuff."

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Bird flu found in a top Minnesota turkey producing county

MINNEAPOLIS — An outbreak of a deadly bird flu strain spread to one of the top poultry producing counties of the nation's top turkey producing state of Minnesota, government officials confirmed on Saturday, raising fears that the that the highly contagious disease could seriously damage the industry.

The highly pathogenic H5N2 strain of avian influenza has infected a third turkey farm in the state, this time a commercial flock of 39,000 birds in Stearns county in central Minnesota. The county is No. 2 in turkey production in Minnesota and is also one of the state's top chicken and egg producers.

State Veterinarian Bill Hartmann said one of the four barns at the Stearns County farm was infected and that many turkeys in it had already died. As is standard procedure, the farm has been quarantined and the remaining birds will be killed. The discovery followed the infections of two other farms in Pope and Lac qui Parle counties of western Minnesota, which have killed thousands of turkeys.

"This is obviously a huge concern to the industry. We are very worried because of the increased turkey production in this specific area," state Agriculture Commissioner Dave Frederickson said.

Hartmann said there is no apparent connection between this flock and the previous two but investigations continue.

The announcement came one day after authorities announced the outbreak at the Lac qui Parle County farm, where the virus quickly killed 22,000 turkeys in one barn. That farm had to kill 44,000 birds in two other barns.

Scientists consider wild migratory waterfowl to be a natural reservoir for avian influenza. While they don't generally get sick from flu viruses, they can spread them through their droppings, and farm workers and rodents can track the virus into poultry barns. But top researchers say they don't know how the virus got to Minnesota or how it got into the closed barns.

The confirmation at the Pope County farm on March 5 marked the first detection of H5N2 in the Mississippi Flyway, a major wild bird migration route. H5N2 was also found within the next several days in commercial and backyard flocks in Arkansas, Missouri and Kansas. The same strain also has turned up in several western states in the Pacific Flyway.

More than 40 countries have banned poultry imports from Minnesota since the virus was first detected in the state. Frederickson urged poultry producers in Stearns County and elsewhere to do everything possible to increase their biosecurity.

"This industry is so important to the economy of Minnesota. ... It is so important for all of us to continue to reassure our trading partners that our products are indeed safe," he said.

State Health Commissioner Ed Ehlinger reiterated that this H5N2 virus poses no threat to the general public and raises no food safety concerns, but farm workers who've had contact with the infected flocks will be monitored.

Hartmann said officials were counting up how many flocks are located within the 10-kilometer-radius restricted zone around the Stearns County farm. He said all flocks within that circle are under quarantine and will be tested. Farms in a ring extending 10 kilometers farther out will be notified and asked to watch for any increased mortality in their flocks.

It's not clear why only turkey farms have been affected in Minnesota because chickens can get the disease too, Hartmann said.

Hartmann said he didn't know where this farm's turkeys normally go. The Lac qui Parle County farm supplied Jennie-O Turley Store, but a company statement Saturday said the Stearns County farm did not. The Pope County farm was a breeding operation.

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The Ticker

Fatal bird flu outbreak widens in Minnesota

MINNEAPOLIS — An outbreak of a bird flu strain that is deadly to poultry deepened yesterday when state and federal officials confirmed a third Minnesota turkey farm has been infected, this time in one of the state's top poultry producing counties.

The federal Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service said a commercial flock of 39,000 turkeys in Stearns County of central Minnesota has been infected with the highly pathogenic H5N2 strain of avian influenza, which also killed tens of thousands of turkeys at two other farms in Pope and Lac qui Parle counties of western Minnesota.

The confirmation at the Pope County farm on March 5 marked the first detection of H5N2 in the Mississippi Flyway, a major bird migration route. H5N2 also was found within the next several days in commercial and backyard flocks in Arkansas, Missouri and Kansas. The same strain also has turned up in several western states in the Pacific Flyway.

More than 40 countries have banned poultry imports from Minnesota, the country's top turkey producing state, since the virus was first detected in the state.

British Airways accounts hacked

NEW YORK — Some British Airways frequent flier accounts have been hacked, but the airline said most personal information is safe. The London-based airline did not say how many accounts were compromised, but said they have been locked down and can no longer be accessed.

The breach apparently was the result of a third party using information obtained elsewhere on the Internet, via an automated process, to try to gain access to accounts. It follows problems for hotel companies Hilton and Starwood as well as United and American airlines.

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AG developing online claims system for consumers

The state Attorney General's office is working on an online system for people to file claims when its Consumer Protection Division obtains judgments or settlements calling for restitution to consumers.

The idea of an online claims system was broached as a way to make the claims process easier on consumers in a recent Boston Herald Radio interview with Attorney General Maura Healey.

Earlier this month, Healey announced a $260,000 settlement with Isis Parenting, the Needham-based prenatal and parenting retailer that abruptly shut down last year, leaving many parents and expectant parents in a lurch. Customers still owed money for unpaid merchandise, classes and other services have been advised to start a claims process to recoup money by calling the AG's consumer hotline.

"Isis (Parenting) is the jumping-off point," Healey spokeswoman Cyndi Roy Gonzalez said. "If we can do an online claims process for Isis, then our hope is that going forward, when we have settlements of the same nature, we can put in place the same online process."

"Given that we are in 2015, it makes perfect sense," Gonzalez said. "Our whole effort right now is meeting people where they are. So if it's easier for them to do it online, we want to make that accommodation."

Isis Parenting customers who may be entitled to restitution include those who prepaid for classes never held or completed; prepaid for annual memberships after July 27, 2013; or prepaid for consultations never delivered. Customers with unfulfilled gift cards or credits issued after July 27, 2013, also may be entitled to some reimbursement.

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Revamped prayer book offers 
modern take for Reform Jews

Hundreds of thousands of Reform Jews will celebrate the High Holidays of Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur this fall with a revamped prayer book that puts a new emphasis on inclusiveness toward gays, lesbians and atheists, according to a Boston rabbi who was instrumental in the book's creation.

Mishkan HaNefesh, or "Sanctuary of the Soul," the Reform movement's first High Holidays prayer book in 37 years, includes gender-neutral blessings for transgender people and refers to God as both "Loving Father" and "Compassionate Mother," while leaving room for those who doubt that there is a God at all, said Rabbi Elaine S. Zecher of Temple Israel in Boston, who served as one of the editorial team's advisers.

"It's a monumental moment for the Jewish community because it's a beautiful work in lots of different ways," said Zecher, who also led the 2008 think tank that ultimately led to the consensus that a new prayer book for the High Holy Days was needed. "It is a recognition of the diversity of our community, a sense of welcoming for the lots of different people who come though our doors."

The prayer book — a major focus of this month's convention of the Central Conference of American Rabbis, the rabbinical arm of Reform Judaism — also includes poetry and artwork, and incorporates the writings of Henry David Thoreau and Langston Hughes with the Torah, transliterating Hebrew prayers into English so that anyone can participate, said Rabbi Denise L. Eger, who was installed as the group's first openly gay president.

"This book has had tremendous input — from rabbis, from lay people, from cantors," said Eger, the founding rabbi of Congregation Kol Ami in West Hollywood, Calif. "It takes the best of Jewish tradition and melds it with the hopes and anxieties and joys of today. The result is the product not of a top-down process, but really of a bottom-up one."

Of the first edition of 250,000 copies that will be available in June, about 150,000 already have been pre-ordered through the CCAR Press, she said, although she did not immediately have the dollar amount of sales because various discounts are available through April 1. After that, a two-volume set — one for Rosh Hashana, the other for Yom Kippur — will sell for $42, and a pulpit edition of the set will sell for $75.

"We're hoping it will go into multiple printing editions," Eger said, noting that there are about 1.5 million Reform Jews in more than 900 congregations in North America. Eventually, it also will be available electronically, she said.

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