Train operator fines piling up

MBTA commuter rail operator Keolis Commuter Services continues to rack up fines for delayed trains and other performance issues, with penalties totaling $1.62 million for November and December.

The MBTA, which awarded the French transportation giant an eight-year, $2.7 billion contract last January with a July start date, said 
84.37 percent of commuter rail trains arrived on time in November, with a rate of 89.82 percent in December, resulting in maximum contractual penalties of $434,425 each month.

Keolis penalties for other infractions, including station maintenance, train capacity, cleaning and staffing, were the maximum allowable $434,425 in November and $325,750 in December.

The new fines are in addition to the more than $800,000 in penalties Keolis racked up in its first five months of operations.

"While certain indicators are trending in the right direction, the penalties make it clear that there is much room for improvement," MBTA spokesman Joe Pesaturo said. "The MBTA will continue to work with its commuter rail partner to improve service delivery and enhance our customers' overall experience."

In a statement, Keolis said it is focused on improving the reliability of the service.

"We are seeing increases in on-time reliability system-wide and will continue to work on all levels to strengthen that performance," Keolis spokesman Mac Daniel said.

It's not acceptable that Keolis' performance has been so poor, according to Greg Sullivan, former state inspector general and now the research director for the Pioneer Institute.

"They've got the management skills and ability to have our system run on time," he said. "I'm confident that they will improve their performance after paying this kind of money."

But Sullivan gave kudos to the MBTA for including a zero-tolerance policy in Keolis' contract.

"Under the prior contract, more than half of the late trains were forgiven and not reported as late even though the commuters were late for work," he said. "Under the new contract, the MBTA is holding the commuter rail operator's feet to the fire, and it should. It's the only way to get the attention of the company."

Keolis won the contract over Massachusetts Bay Commuter Railroad Co., which had run the commuter rail since 2003.

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Acura TLX more than sporty sedan

The longer I drove this car, the more I liked it. And, as it revealed more of its personality to me, the more I realized the subtle sophistication of the 2015 Acura TLX SH-AWD.

From the fuel-efficient yet powerful 3.5-liter 290-hp VTEC V­6 turbo engine to the excellent all-wheel drive to the quiet, tight upscale cabin, Acura has done an excellent job of blending the popular TL and TSX sedans to produce this terrific-driving car.

My first inkling that I was driving more than just a well made sports-styled sedan was when I ran through an hour of heavy rain and noticed how well the car handled in the river of water on the highway. Despite the lower profile 18-inch 225/50 tires, the all-wheel drive kept me connected to the road, not hydroplaning or skittering.

The fantastic steering response and tight cornering came next. The chassis and suspension channeled a racing profile, pulling the car flat through turns and minimizing body roll. Capping the driving experience was the quick and powerful engine mated to a silky smooth 9-speed transmission. I ran the car in all five driving modes from economy, which delivered well over 30 miles per gallon on the highway, to sport, and loved that the engine was spirited in all modes.

Cabin fit and finish also grew on me. The comfortable leather-clad ventilated seats, wood inlays and aluminum trim smartly accented the conservative interior. The textured plastics and dash framed a two-gauge cluster that included the speedometer and tach. Electronic information gauges were embedded on the display and toggled through steering wheel controls.

Acura engineers have not forgotten safety in the TLX. The standard Tech and Advance Packages include lane departure, back-up camera, adaptive cruise control, heads-up warning when someone gets too close, blind-spot monitoring, rear pedestrian crossing alerts and collision mitigation braking for in-town driving.

The center 
console-mounted push-button gear selector for the automatic transmission took some getting used to and even after a few days into the test period I still occasionally went looking for a gear shifter. I also found the infotainment center a bit confusing to use despite the touch screen panel.

The trunk was spacious despite the visually shorter lid, but some rear seat legroom suffered for it. The car has superb curb appeal and Acura has reclaimed some of the angular lines of the popular mid 2000s TL, sharpening the softer, rounded fenders from the previous car. The trademark chrome beak, a design that drew so much criticism in the previous generation TL it forced a mid-cycle rework, is much smaller. With the new LED headlamps, the entire nose of the car is much more sporty and aerodynamic.

A base model TLX starts at a MSRP of $31,445 while our loaded version hit $45,595, making this a must drive when comparing sporty sedans such as the BMW 328 and Audi A4. Acura may have hit on a worthy competitor.

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Governor reassures leaders local aid won’t get cut

Gov. Charlie Baker has vowed not to cut local aid to close a $765 million budget gap, and the head of the Massachusetts Municipal Association says he expects the state's chief executive will leave alone the money that is vital to cities and towns in coming years too.

"Certainly the governor and lieutenant governor have made their impressions and their thoughts known," said Kevin Dumas, the mayor of Attleboro and president of the MMA. "That would have to be a dire last circumstance. That's not something that's even being discussed right now."

Baker yesterday spoke to a crowd of roughly 900 local leaders at the MMA's annual meeting. He reiterated his pledge not to plunder local aid as he grapples with how to eliminate the 
$765 million budget shortfall.

"We've made very clear from the beginning, and we're pleased to see the Senate president and the speaker support us on this, that the path to balancing the commonwealth's budget is not going to run through local aid for the cities and towns," Baker said.

The governor also announced that Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito will head up a new community compact cabinet to cut red tape for cities and towns.

"Sometimes it takes the commonwealth four, five, six, seven, eight months to respond to cities and towns on relatively simple requests that (cities and towns) need to be able to move and make decisions on," Baker said.

Dumas said he expects Baker to follow through and to be a strong partner for local communities.

"I think the governor's going to be fantastic to work with really building that strong partnership between cities and towns in Massachusetts," he said.

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Bow-front duplex is decked out

This stylish duplex condo in the Eight Streets area of the South End has had a recent high-end makeover and includes two private decks as well as an outdoor parking space.

The three-bedroom condo at 38 Upton St. No. 4, on the market for $1,995,000, occupies the top two floors of a 1899-built bow-front brownstone that was redone into four condos in 2012.

Unit 4 has a reverse layout, with the living spaces on the top floor — leading up to a private roof deck —and the bedrooms a floor below. The levels are connected by stylish oak staircases with modern iron railings.

The top floor is a contemporary-style open kitchen/dining/living area with new walnut-stained oak floors and recessed lighting.

The high-end kitchen, with two windows and a skylight, features 16 custom white cabinets, including large pantry ones, honed Absolute black granite counters and a glass-mosaic-style backsplash. There's a separate island that seats three with a prep sink, a U-Line wine cooler and built-in microwave. Stainless-steel Thermador appliances include a double-door refrigerator, gas cooktop and wall oven. There's also a cabinet-faced Bosch dishwasher.

Off the kitchen is a half bathroom with a wall-­mounted sink and there's an adjacent utilities/storage closet.

The living/dining area has a built-in gas fireplace with black-honed granite surround, and there's a dining nook in the bow-front with three windows. The far corner of the room has a full wall of built-in bookcases and a window seat with storage.

Stairs lead up to a skylight door opening onto a 25-by-14-foot private roof deck with panoramic Boston views. The deck has gas, electric and water lines.

The unit's three bedrooms are on the third floor, all with walnut-stained oak floors. The front-facing master bedroom has a bow-front window, as well as a large walk-in closet with built-in storage. The en-suite master bathroom has radiant-heated marble-tiled floors as well as marble walls and surround for a glassed-in steam shower. There's a double-sink vanity topped with white quartz countertops.

The rear-facing second bedrooms are off an oak hallway with two closets, one for storage and the other­ holding a stacked Frigidaire washer and dryer.

The second bedroom, which has a built-in Murphy bed, is on the small side. And the narrow third bedroom, which has a built-in desk and bookcase, is even smaller, better suited to its current use as a home office. But there is a glass door from this bedroom out to a private balcony with views over the South End.

A second full bathroom features slatted marble floor tiles and surround for a deep soaking tub, as well as a floating vanity.

The unit has a new two-zone gas-fired heating system with Nest thermostats and a porthole central air-conditioning system. It has a central humidification system as well as a security system.

Unit 4 also comes with a deeded oversized parking space behind the building with access to an electric charging station.

Home Showcase

• Address: 38 Upton St. No. 4, South End
• Bedrooms: Three
• Bathrooms: Two full, one half
• List price: $1,995,000
• Square feet: 1,784
• Price per square foot: $1,118
• Annual taxes: $16,246
• Monthly condo fee: $286
• Location: Block from restaurants and shops along Tremont Street, the South End's main retail district; one block in other direction to offerings on Washington Street and Silver Line stop
• Built in: 1899; redone in 2012
• Broker: Michael Harper of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage at 617-480-3938

Pros:

• Stylish kitchen with custom cabinets, center island, Thermador, Bosch appliances
• Open living area with gas fireplace, bow-front dining nook and library area
• Private roof deck with panoramic city views and second deck off guest bedroom
• Comes with one outdoor parking space near electric charging station

Cons:

• Lots of stairs to climb
• Guest bedrooms on the small side

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Hands-on with Microsoft's hologram device

REDMOND, Wash. — Microsoft didn't use skydivers or stunt cyclists to introduce what it hopes will be the next big leap in computing technology. Instead, with its new HoloLens headset, the company is offering real-world examples to show how you might use three-dimensional digital images — or holograms — in daily life.

And that might be what it takes to get people to buy a computer they wear on their face.

I got a brief peek at what wearing the HoloLens could be like in different scenarios: performing a simple home repair, pretending to be a scientist studying the surface of Mars and exploring a colorful, animated game that added new dimensions to an unremarkable room.

Microsoft unveiled HoloLens at its headquarters this week, on the same day the company touted its upcoming Windows 10 software release. What I saw of the device seems unfinished, but it shows potential.

___

A CROWDED FIELD:

Some of the world's biggest tech companies are working on wearable devices that aim to create realistic, three-dimensional representations of alien worlds or imaginary creatures.

Google's computerized eyewear, Glass, isn't technically a virtual-reality device, but it shows the challenges of winning consumer acceptance. Google introduced Glass in 2012 with a Vegas-style stunt that included mountain bikes and skydivers landing on the roof of a convention center. Last week, it suspended consumer sales after many people balked at the notion of wearing a digital camera and Internet-connected device on their head.

Meanwhile, Google has invested in a secretive start-up, Magic Leap, that's working on virtual reality. Samsung and Oculus VR — which Facebook bought for $2 billion last year — are developing gaming headsets that essentially block the wearer's view and replace it with an imaginary world. Smaller companies have developed headsets for industrial or business uses.

Microsoft's HoloLens was built by engineers who created the Kinect motion-sensing system for Xbox games. It projects a realistic image on a screen in front of your eyes, but the screen is transparent, so you can still see what's in front of you. The holograms respond to gestures and spoken commands, detected by cameras and other sensors in the device.

___

WALKING ON MARS:

The most striking demonstration involved a project in which Microsoft partnered with scientists from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. They've created a vividly realistic, three-dimensional landscape by knitting together photographs and data collected by NASA's Curiosity rover.

When I moved my head, the landscape shifted as if I was actually walking on the planet. I peered under a rock outcropping. I was joined by a digital avatar, playing the part of a JPL scientist. We spoke and used hand gestures to place digital markers on different rocks, in an exercise simulating how scientists might use the system to direct the rover's exploration.

A more whimsical demonstration involved the Microsoft-owned "Minecraft" game. In a small living room, the HoloLens projected three-dimensional structures and animated creatures on an actual coffee table. I summoned imaginary tools and blasted a simulated hole in the room's actual wall — and was surprised to see cartoon bats fly out.

But another exercise brought home how useful the gadget might be. I was guided through the process of installing an electric light switch. I saw a woman who showed me a series of sketches and talked me through each step. She was working in real time in another room, drawing sketches on a tablet computer and using Skype to talk with me. I could see the sketches, super-imposed over an actual wall outlet and protruding wires, while her face appeared to one side.

___

WHAT'S THE POTENTIAL?

Microsoft engineer Alex Kipman said the company has built programming tools so outside developers can use Windows 10 to create more holographic apps. Kipman called HoloLens "the next step" in moving "beyond today's digital borders." Meanwhile, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has said virtual reality will be the next major wave in computing and communications.

Microsoft executives talked about other uses — from helping a surgeon learn a new operating technique to designing objects for 3-D printers. I could also see applications in the kitchen, classrooms and retail shops.

But it's not yet clear when HoloLens will be out, or how much it will cost. While executives showed off a sleek prototype, they used a heavier, clunkier version for up-close demonstrations. It had cumbersome straps, wires and extra gear stowed in a pouch around the wearer's neck.

Still, if Microsoft can produce a working product at a reasonable price, it might help move computing to another level.

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New AG: Casinos should follow consumer laws

Attorney General Maura Healey yesterday made a series of recommendations to the state Gaming Commission, including re-examining part of its proposed gambling regulations that would allow casinos to seek exceptions from the rules.

"We believe that no casino should be allowed to deviate from important consumer protection regulations and that any other variance should be sought subject to a full and transparent public process," she said.

On her first full day as the state's chief law enforcement officer yesterday, Healey testified before the commission, which also reviewed new renderings of Wynn Resorts' planned Everett casino, a curved, 629-room tower with bronze-colored glass that Commissioner Enrique Zuniga called "iconic."

Citing "significant ambiguity" over whether existing law prohibits the placement of ATMs in casinos, Healey also urged the commissioners to explore the issue through a "standalone public process" and, should they conclude that the law does allow ATMs in casinos, to consider a "wide range of protections," including requiring that the machines be placed a certain distance from the casino floor, prohibiting credit card cash advances and capping withdrawals.

Commission Chairman Stephen Crosby said the state Division of Banks interpreted the law as allowing ATMs inside casinos, provided they are not in the "gaming area." Proposed regulations restrict ATMs from being closer than 15 feet to the area. But Crosby said the commission may reconsider that, given all the comments it has received.

Healey also urged the commission to add to its proposed prohibition on placing a lien on a homeowner's primary residence to collect outstanding gambling debt, and explicitly ban casinos from selling consumers' gambling debt.

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Prof: Globe site should retract story

The Harvard professor accused by the Boston Globe's Boston.com of sending a racist email to a Chinese restaurant in a dispute over a food bill says "good journalistic practices" dictate that the website should officially retract the story.

Harvard Business School professor Ben Edelman said then-deputy editor Hilary Sargent, demoted after the website said it could not verify that Edelman had written the racist email, never contacted him before posting the story.

"My sense is that good journalistic practices would call for both a retraction and an admission that they didn't follow the procedures understood to be appropriate — for example, publishing the piece without even attempting to reach me first," Edelman told the Herald yesterday in an email.

"A deleted tweet from Hilary Sargent indicates that she had doubts about the authenticity of the emails, but published the piece anyway — which I found particularly puzzling," Edelman wrote.

But the professor said he would "leave it to Boston
.com readers" to demand a retraction. Asked if he was considering taking legal action, Edelman said he didn't "have any specific plans at this time."

In an email response to the Herald, Boston.com General Manager Corey Gottlieb said, "We're more than happy to speak with Professor Edelman directly."

Sargent's story was pulled from the site shortly after it was posted and replaced by an editor's note saying that Boston.com could not verify Edelman had sent it. The professor denies writing or sending the email containing a racial slur, which was sent through an online forum on the restaurant's website.

Edelman came under intense social media fire after Sargent wrote about his emails demanding a refund from Sichuan Garden in Brookline over a $4 difference between his food bill and the restaurant's prices as advertised online.

Sargent was later suspended for five days after she created T-shirts mocking Edelman and put them up for sale online.

Sargent declined to comment yesterday. Mike Sheehan, CEO of Boston Globe Media Partners, which includes both the broadsheet and its two main websites, did not return calls seeking comment.

Sheehan was forced to apologize to U.S. House Speaker John Boehner last week for what he admitted was a "tasteless" Boston.com story that mocked death threats aimed at the Ohio Republican. The associate editor who wrote that story was fired.

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Measles outbreak casts spotlight on anti-vaccine movement

LOS ANGELES — A major measles outbreak traced to Disneyland has brought criticism down on the small but vocal movement among parents to opt out of vaccinations for their children.

In a rash of cases that public health officials are rushing to contain, at least 70 people in six states and Mexico have fallen ill since mid-December, most of them from California. The vast majority of those who got sick had not gotten the measles-mumps-rubella, or MMR, vaccine.

While still a scourge in many corners of the world, measles has been all but eradicated in the U.S. since 2000 because of vaccinations. But the virus has made a comeback in recent years, in part because of people obtaining personal belief exemptions from rules that say children must get their shots to enroll in school.

Others have delayed getting their children vaccinated because they still believe now-discredited research linking the measles vaccine to autism.

"Some people are just incredibly selfish" by skipping shots, said Dr. James Cherry, a pediatric disease expert at the University of California, Los Angeles.

As cases mount, several newspapers have criticized the anti-vaccine movement.

Measles "is a disease that has been beaten by modern medicine. That makes it all the more frustrating that anti-science stubbornness has proven, in the case of the Disneyland-related measles, that when it comes to contagious diseases, it's a small world after all," the Los Angeles Times said in an editorial last week.

Barbara Loe Fisher, director of the National Vaccine Information Center, a Virginia-based nonprofit that favors letting parents decide whether to vaccinate, said, "I don't think it's wise or responsible to blame" unvaccinated people for the Disney outbreak. She noted that a small number of those stricken had been fully vaccinated.

Health authorities believe the outbreak was triggered by a measles-stricken visitor to one of the Disney parks who brought the virus from abroad last month.

As one of the world's biggest tourist destinations, Disney was a perfect spot for the virus to spread, with large numbers of babies too young to be vaccinated and lots of visitors from countries that do not require measles shots. The disease has since spread beyond Disneyland.

The infected ranged from 7 months to 70 years old, including five Disneyland workers.

"It's tragic to see measles making a resurgence," said Deanne Thompson, a spokeswoman for the Orange County Health Care Agency. "When our immunity falls, it creates a problem for the whole community."

While all states require certain vaccinations for schoolchildren, parents in certain states such as California can opt out if they sign a personal belief waiver.

In the past five years, the percentage of kindergartners in California who are up to date on all vaccinations has held pretty steady from 90.7 percent in the 2010-11 school year to 90.4 percent in 2014-15. But there are some wealthy communities in Los Angeles and Orange counties and in Northern California with double-digit vaccination exemption rates.

To control this latest outbreak, those who are not vaccinated were warned this week to stay away from Disney theme parks. Disney employees who have no proof of immunization and may have come into contact with sick colleagues were placed on paid leave until they are given the medical all-clear.

At Huntington Beach High School in Orange County, two dozen unvaccinated students were ordered home until the three-week incubation period is up.

More than 30 babies in Northern California's Alameda County have been placed in home isolation after possible exposure.

"I'm terribly upset that someone has made a choice that not only affects their child but other people's children," said Jennifer Simon, whose 6-month-old daughter, Livia, was isolated after it was learned she may have been exposed to measles during a visit to the doctor's office.

___

Contact Alicia Chang at http://twitter.com/SciWriAlicia

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Occupational deaths rise sharply in 2013

Fatal occupational injuries in the Boston metropolitan area nearly doubled in 2013 compared to the previous year, when the number was the lowest in more than a decade, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics said yesterday.

There were 42 such fatalities in 2013, the most recent year for which statistics are available, up from 22 a year earlier in the metro area, which includes Suffolk, Middlesex, Essex, Norfolk and Plymouth counties in Massachusetts and Rockingham and Strafford counties in New Hampshire.

"2012 was kind of an outlier," said Mark Maggi, a bureau spokesman, noting that since 2000, fatal work injuries have ranged from a high of 49 in 2005 to a low of 22 in 2012. "It was just a year in which there were fewer fatalities on the job. 2013 is a return to a more normal average."

Of the 42 fatalities, violence and other injuries by people or animals resulted in 15 deaths — seven of them suicides. Transportation incidents were responsible for nine deaths, as were falls, slips and trips. Contact with objects and equipment accounted for six deaths, exposure to harmful substances or environments resulted in two, and fire or explosion resulted in one.

The construction sector had the largest number, 12, five of which were caused by falls. Trade, transportation and utilities, grouped together as one sector, accounted for 11.

"It's no real surprise that construction is one of the most dangerous industries," said Mark Erlich of the New England Regional Council of Carpenters. "It's important that every stakeholder in the industry understands that there's no building, no amount of money, that's worth the loss of a life."

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Mohegan suit seen as long shot

A lawsuit the city of Revere, Mohegan Sun and a local electrical workers union filed yesterday against the state Gaming Commission, claiming members "ignored the law and manipulated the application process" when they gave Wynn Resorts the Boston region's sole gaming license, will be extremely difficult to win, according to a leading expert on gaming law.

"These (lawsuits) are almost always unsuccessful," said I. Nelson Rose, a professor at Whittier Law School in Costa Mesa, Calif. "I don't think it's going to mean much. I'm not even sure it's going to delay the plan (to build a Wynn resort casino in Everett)."

A Wynn spokesman pointed­ to part of the state gaming law that says applicants "have no legal right or privilege to a gaming license and shall not be entitled to any further review if denied by the commission."

Rose said he doesn't know if a provision limiting challenges of the gaming panel's decision would hold up in court, "but even without it, courts generally defer to the decisions of regulators. I've never seen one of these challenges succeed on the grounds of bias. The only way they can succeed is if the regulators didn't follow the statute or their own written procedures."

Mohegan Sun, which lost its bid to build a casino in Revere, claims to have been "substantially harmed" by the commission's "numerous violations of its statutory obligations" and members' "arbitrary and capricious actions" prior to granting the license to Wynn in September, according to the complaint filed in Suffolk Superior Court.

The suit blasts "the Commission's exhibition of extreme favoritism" toward Wynn Resorts and accuses members of "applying a different set of rules to Wynn than (they) did for all other applicants for a gaming license."

"We're not suing to get the license," Mitchell Etess, CEO of the Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority, told the Herald. "We're asking that the license be revoked and a fair and impartial process be run."

In a statement yesterday, Gaming Commission spokeswoman Elaine Driscoll said "each gaming license was awarded based solely on merit and the decision-making process was executed with unprecedented transparency. ... We remain confident that this complex licensing process has been accomplished in a manner that is comprehensive, thoughtful and fair."

Michael Weaver, another Wynn spokesman, said the lawsuit will not delay construction, which is scheduled to begin in the spring.

The suit is the latest to be filed against the Gaming Commission.

Boston, Revere and Somerville have each sued the panel.

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Kickass Cupcakes stales, files bankruptcy

Another local cupcake company crumbled this week, filing for bankruptcy after closing its Somerville store in August.

Kickass Cupcakes filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, a proceeding used to liquidate a company's assets to pay off its debts. The company owes its creditors $263,000, according to court documents filed late Tuesday.

Kickass opened in Davis Square in 2007 and had moved to a new location on Highland Avenue in May before shutting down. It also had expanded to a food truck and was involved in several food truck "throwdowns."

Sara Ross, the company's owner who formerly wrote for the Herald's Fork Lift blog on food, fun and drink, could not be reached for comment.

The bankruptcy still leaves many cupcake options available in the crowded Boston-area market. Hub-based Sweet has six shops in Boston, Harvard Square and Chestnut Hill; Washington, D.C.'s Georgetown Cupcakes has a single Boston store on Newbury Street; and Treat Cupcake Bar has Natick and Chestnut Hill locations.

Cohasset's Wicked Cupcakes — which sells cupcakes in a jar and whose owners appeared on ABC's "Shark Tank" and paired with one of its investors, Kevin O'Leary — operates at Faneuil Hall Marketplace.

Crumbs Bake Shop also reopened in Boston last fall after the formerly public New York chain filed for bankruptcy in July and was taken over by Marcus Lemonis, an entrepreneur and host of CNBC's reality series "The Profit."

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The Ticker

Bill would regulate sites like Airbnb

A bill filed in the state House of Representatives seeks to regulate the short-term rental industry made popular by websites such as Airbnb, requiring hosts to register with the state, obtain liability insurance and pay an excise tax.

"There would be a registration process to make sure consumers felt safe during their stays," said state Rep. Aaron Michlewitz (D-Boston), co-author of the bill. "It's trying to create a safe and secure environment while allowing these operations to continue to thrive."

A spokesman for Airbnb said the company is reviewing the proposed legislation. The company claims short-term rentals through its website are responsible for $51 million in economic impact in Boston.

S&P settles with SEC, two states

Standard & Poor's agreed yesterday to pay the U.S. government and two states more than $77 million to settle charges tied to its ratings of mortgage-backed securities.

In its first enforcement action against a major rating agency, the Securities and Exchange Commission accused S&P of misconduct, saying the company loosened standards to drum up business in recent years. The agreement requires S&P to pay more than $58 million to the Securities and Exchange Commission, $12 million to New York and $7 million to Massachusetts. S&P said in a statement that it did not admit or deny any of the charges.

As part of its agreement with the SEC, Standard & Poor's Ratings Services, a division of McGraw Hill Financial, will take a "time out" from rating certain types of mortgage-backed securities for a year.

Power grid shifting to natural gas

New England's power system is increasingly shifting from aging oil- and coal-fired plants to natural gas, which relies on pipelines experiencing bottlenecks that drive up prices, the region's electric grid operator said yesterday.

ISO-New England officials said wind and solar resources are a small but growing part of the region's energy mix, though they are not always available when needed by the region's 14 million residents — peak demand for power in winter typically occurs after the sun has set.

"There's plenty of natural gas," said Gordon van Welie, president and CEO of Holyoke-based ISO-New England. "The problem we've had in the region is we've not matched the need for natural gas with infrastructure."

The proportion of natural gas in the region's energy mix was 44 percent in 2014, up from 15 percent in 2000. At the same time, coal- and oil-fired generation dropped to 6 percent from 40 percent.

TODAY

 
Labor Department releases weekly jobless claims.

 Freddie Mac, the mortgage company, releases weekly mortgage rates.

TOMORROW

 National Association of Realtors releases existing home sales for December.

THE SHUFFLE

Christopher McLean has joined Boston-based Vanderweil Engineers as a project director for critical facilities. McLean most recently was director of data center design and construction with The Markley Group, where he was responsible for the design and construction of data centers and their infrastructure.

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Contractors seek exemption from new sick-time law

A group of construction trade associations is asking a federal court judge to rule that the Bay State's newly passed sick-time law does not apply to them because it is pre-empted by the federal Labor Management Relations Act.

"When a state law comes out and establishes a working condition — and in this case also a wage — our argument is that those are exclusive to the bargaining parties under federal labor law," said James Grosso, an attorney for the trade associations, which include general, electrical and mechanical contractors. "They can't come in and dictate to employers and employees what they're going to have in their collective bargaining agreements."

The new sick-time law, which becomes effective July 1, requires employers with more than 10 workers to allow them to accrue up to 40 hours of paid sick leave per calendar year.

The trade associations, which negotiate collective bargaining agreements with various labor unions, say the new law allows the Massachusetts Attorney General's Office to bring suits against companies in state court, while federal law requires those same disputes to be hashed out in federal court.

Meanwhile, Raise Up Massachusetts, the group that pushed for the sick- time law, said there had been many debates on how the new referendum would work, and the trade associations never came to the bargaining table.

"This was an issue that was debated for months, and it passed overwhelmingly by the voters of Massachusetts," said Steve Crawford, Raise Up's spokesman. "The people who are bringing this legal action were virtually silent throughout the process."

The AG's office, which had not yet been served with a copy of the petition, could not comment.

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Eateries to donate brunch proceeds

Nearly 20 Boston-area restaurants will give customers the chance to both eat well and do good this weekend by donating all of the proceeds from the 33rd annual Super Hunger Brunch to The Greater Boston Food Bank.

Diners can order from menus designed especially for the fundraiser and priced at $25, $35 or $50 per person. Every dollar spent will pay for three nutritious meals for people in need.

"For us, it's very simple just to do our part to help feed hungry people," said Jim Solomon, chef and owner of The Fireplace in Brookline, where the price will be set at $25 Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

"Super Hunger Brunch provides not only an opportunity for people to give back in a fun way," said Catherine D'Amato, president of The Greater Boston Food Bank, "but also a way for the chefs and restaurant community to come together to end hunger here in our community."

For a complete list of participating restaurants and prices, visit www.gbfb.org/events/super-hunger-brunch.php/.

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The Ticker

Amazon.com selling $1M Japanese fighting robot

A robot that takes its cues from its operator's facial expressions to shoot at enemies is now for sale on Amazon, suggesting that you can buy just about anything on the e-commerce giant's website.

The Kuratas robot starter's kit is being offered on Amazon Japan for a little more than $1 million.

Standing nearly 13 feet tall and weighing 5 tons, Kuratas looks like something out of a Hollywood action movie.

While it may have the feel of a tank, the gasoline-fueled robot moves at a top speed of 6 mph.

The rider climbs on board the robot, presses a button and slips into the cockpit from which the robot is controlled. Kuratas can also be operated via a smartphone hooked to a 3G network.

The Kuratas doesn't come with weaponry, and some assembly is required, according to the website.

Oxfam: Richest 1 percent to hold half the world's wealth by 2016

Wealth accumulated by the richest 1 percent will exceed that of the other 99 percent in 2016, the Oxfam charity said yesterday, ahead of the annual meeting of the world's most powerful at Davos, Switzerland.

"The scale of global inequality is quite simply staggering, and despite the issues shooting up the global agenda, the gap between the richest and the rest is widening fast," Oxfam executive director Winnie Byanyima said.

The richest 1 percent's share of global wealth increased from 44 percent in 2009 to 48 percent in 2014, the British charity said in a report, adding that it will be more that 50 percent in 2016.

The average wealth per adult in this group is 
$2.7 million, Oxfam said.

Of the remaining 52 percent, almost all — 46 per-cent — is owned by the rest of the richest fifth of the world's population, leaving the other 80 percent to share just 5.5 percent with an average wealth of $3,851 per adult, the report says.

Today

 National Association of Home Builders releases housing market index for January.

TOMORROW

 Commerce Department releases housing starts for December.

THE SHUFFLE

Hub-based law firm Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo is expanding its white collar defense practice with the addition of Mark E. Robinson a nationally recognized expert in government investigations and enforcement, cybersecurity defense and a former deputy chief of the criminal division of the U.S. Department of Justice. Bringing more than 30 years of experience in government and law, Robinson will serve as co-chairman of Mintz Levin's white collar defense practice.

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Business Protocol: Don’t wed business with personal events

Today, when many of us traverse in and out of companies and continents, the need to establish connections from business-related events and social settings is indispensable, but at personal events such as a wedding it can be hazardous.

Tact and discretion are absolutely key here. You are attending this wedding for a purpose. Engage your target with something pertaining specifically to the event — the reason you are both here. Make the conversation, your curiosity and excitement all about that event you are experiencing together. Look for points of connectivity with the other person through the prism of the event.

• Never ask for a business card — only at social events with a business undercurrent, such as charity auctions or softball tournaments, may cards be exchanged freely without concern of impropriety.

• Tell your target you have enjoyed meeting them and would like to stay in touch.

• Do not be one of those hangers on. Walk away!

• Ask your host — after the event — to connect you with the person of interest. Your host will no doubt delight knowing they were able to help forge a connection.

When you do follow up, mention the wedding; reference the connector. Remember, it's not about the business, it's about the connection.

Keep initial contact brief and reflective back to the event you both attended, with personal notes about where you met, where you shared the fact that you both always cry at weddings, where you enjoyed the beautiful music, admired the imported flowers, or laughed at the hysterical toasts. The wedding is your common denominator. Only then, explore business interests.

Underscore what's in it for them. Determine their receptivity level and proceed accordingly. If not, you'll always have Paris!

If you merely exchange contact information, subtly and quickly, by smartphone, you risk losing the opportunity to engage and connect on all the above points of confluence.

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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Boston games could show off high-tech

The possibility of the Olympics coming to Boston in 2024 is an unprecedented opportunity for the local science and technology scene to usher in a new era of innovation.

Already, the city — selected by the U.S. Olympic Committee as the nation's official entrant to host in 2024 — is uniquely positioned to pioneer these top five innovations that could enhance the experience of spectators and athletes:

• Devices that let users speak a new language without learning it. (For "Star Trek" fans, think "universal translator.") A beta version of that technology already exists: the Skype Translator, designed by Microsoft. Microsoft's New England Research and Development Center in Cambridge could lead the way in adapting that technology to the needs of Olympic tourists.

• Augmented-reality viewing. Imagine being able to wear wireless glasses that provide comprehensive information about the athlete you're watching from the stands, from their vital signs in real-time to their biography. Alternatively, augmented reality could come in the form of new super-mobile apps, guiding visitors around an unfamiliar city and serving as a digital tourist assistant. The MIT Media Lab is the perfect clearinghouse to design a new way to watch the games and visit Boston.

•   Holographic viewing for at-home spectators. Microsoft is working on holographic technology that could bring a 3-D version of what you're watching to your living room or even project immersive views beyond the television and onto an empty wall.

•   New athlete wearables. Boston is a health IT hub and host to extraordinary app makers like Runkeeper. We're in the perfect position to design new hardware and software that detects and delivers the most accurate and interesting real-time information about athletes. Not only will that be a fun development for spectators, but also a potential method to detect and prevent doping.

• Automated transportation. Whether it's Boston's Zipcar or the many innovators at MIT who have explored autonomous vehicles, the Hub should be the city that brings self-driving cars to consumers. That technology is likely to go mainstream before 2024, but all the better if visitors to Boston get first crack at being ferried from venue to venue — even those outside the city — without having to drive themselves.

App developers, entrepreneurs and other innovators should share their own ideas, too. And there are many opportunities, such as Boston 2024's first Citizens Advisory Group meeting, scheduled for Wednesday at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center at 6 p.m.

"With Boston's high-tech sector and wealth of local talent, Boston 2024 will showcase our innovation economy and groundbreaking technologies as we build off of what previous Olympic Games have done," said Boston 2024 executive vice-president Erin Murphy Rafferty, noting that both the Sochi and London games featured user-friendly fan apps.

With the International Olympic Committee pushing for a greater emphasis on innovation and sustainability, Boston's unique technological prowess may just be what puts its application above the rest.

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Inspector Gadget: New Droid fills void in smartphone market

Motorola Droid Turbo (Verizon Wireless, $199.99 with contract)

Available with a grippy black or smooth cherry red backing, this is the latest addition to Motorola's Droid family of smartphones.

The good: With a 21-megapixel camera, up to 48 hours of battery life and an incredible HD display, Motorola brought its A-game to the spec war with this phone. Not only does the battery feature super-fast charging, this may be my favorite screen on any smartphone to date.

The bad: Not the easiest phone for a one-handed user, this phone seems a bit heavy and can heat up with heavy use.

The bottom line: The Motorola Droid Turbo is a powerful and hefty device that Android lovers should seriously consider.

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Wynn, Jay Ash try to make nice

Boosters for the Wynn casino in Everett have found themselves in the awkward position of having to make nice with one of their most vocal former opponents — former Chelsea City Manager Jay Ash, who backed the defeated Mohegan Sun proposal in Revere and now serves as Gov. Charlie Baker's Secretary of Housing and Economic Development.

Ash, who took office with Baker last week, battled Wynn tooth and nail in arbitration over millions in impact payments and harshly criticized Wynn publicly for its dealings with Chelsea. Both sides now say it's all water under the bridge.

"I butted heads with them, but I've always been in support of expanded gambling in Massachusetts," Ash told the Herald. "I thought Suffolk Downs was the place that it should be, but this is not inconsistent at all with where I've been. And now, as incoming secretary of the commonwealth, anyone who wants to spend $1.8 billion or more is a group that I want to get know."

Ash attended a celebration last week at Everett City Hall to mark Wynn closing on its Mystic River site, and received glowing words and hearty congratulations from the dais by Wynn and city officials. Wynn spokesman Michael Weaver said the company has "absolutely no concerns about working with Secretary Ash."

"We are looking forward to working with him and believe he will be helpful and supportive as we move forward to create jobs and generate incremental tax revenue for the commonwealth," Weaver said.

Just a year ago, Ash was fretting publicly that he was "befuddled and incensed" with Wynn after the company did not name Chelsea a surrounding community to its casino, a seeming jab for his Mohegan support. The lack of designation deprived Chelsea of the right to a mitigation agreement like the one it cut with Mohegan worth $2.5 million a year.

At the time, Wynn said Chelsea would not be negatively impacted by its casino despite its proximity. Wynn eventually agreed to grant Chelsea the status, but the sides couldn't reach a deal. They then entered arbitration, where Ash drove a hard bargain. Wynn, for instance, proposed paying Chelsea a $300,000 upfront fee for traffic improvements, while Ash asked for $1.55 million. The arbitrator sided with Wynn.

Ash said he remains concerned about traffic impacts from the Wynn project, which will need a bevy of state permits for road modifications and environmental cleanup.

"I think there's still a lot of questions we heard about traffic, and I think that all of the parties recognize that traffic needs to be dealt with, and there are environmental issues that need to be dealt with," Ash said. "We're ready to work with Wynn provided that they can get these things resolved."

Everett Mayor Carlo DeMaria said he is "excited" at Ash's appointment and that the two have "been friends for a long time." He said Ash sent encouraging signals after Mohegan lost the license race to Wynn and a repeal of the state's casino law was on the ballot.

"He was on that side of the Suffolk Downs group and then when they were no longer successful he actually worked very hard on the 'No on 3' campaign," DeMaria said. "He always saw it the way I saw it."

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China shares dive as regulators clamp down on margin trading

TOKYO — Chinese shares plunged about 8 percent Monday after the country's securities regulator imposed margin trading curbs on several major brokerages, a sign authorities are worried about the market's big gains. Other markets in Asia and Europe were mostly higher.

KEEPING SCORE: The Shanghai Composite Index dived 7.7 percent to close at 3,116.35, giving investors a wild ride after a year of surging prices despite slowing economic growth; at its nadir, the index was down 8.3 percent. For the past three months, the index is still up 32 percent. Its dive rubbed off on Hong Kong where the Hang Seng was off 1.5 percent at 23,738.49. In Europe, Germany's DAX rose 0.6 percent to 10,225.72 and Britain's FTSE 100 added 0.4 percent to 6,574.95. France's CAC-40 edged 0.1 percent higher to 4,382.02. Wall Street is closed for a public holiday.

CHINA CURBS: The China Securities Regulatory Commission imposed curbs late Friday on margin financing, or borrowing to purchase stocks, following an investigation of the industry. The three affected brokerages, Citic Securities Co., Haitong Securities Co. and Guotai Junan, were forbidden to lend money and shares to new customers for three months after they allegedly were caught extending margin trading contracts in violation of the rules. The Shanghai Composite has soared almost 60 percent in the past year. Investors fear regulators believe prices have risen too much recently and might impose more curbs.

THE QUOTE: Dickie Wong, executive director of research at Kingston Securities in Hong Kong, said regulators want to tamp down some of the riskier financing practices underpinning the mainland Chinese stock market's astonishing surge. With the rally "overdone," regulators want to "simply give pause" to the brokerages, he said. "The recent bull market is mainly driven by margin financing." Mainland Chinese regulators allowed margin financing and short selling only in recent years and Wong said many mainland investors may still be unaware of the risks involved.

MORE CHINA, ECB: Investors are awaiting China's economic growth data due Tuesday, which is likely to show a further slowdown in the fourth quarter, and are also anticipating possible stimulus moves by the European Central Bank. Markets generally settled down after volatility provoked by the Swiss central bank's shock decision Thursday to untether the Swiss franc from the euro. Japan's central bank is not expected to make any major moves in a policy meeting that wraps up Wednesday.

ASIA SCORECARD: Japan's Nikkei 225 rose 0.9 percent to 17,014.29 after a government report showed rising consumer confidence. South Korea's Kospi gained 0.8 percent to 1,902.62. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 rose 0.2 percent to 5,309.10. Shares were also higher in Taiwan, New Zealand and Southeast Asia.

ENERGY: Benchmark U.S. crude was down 66 cents at $48.03 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract jumped $2.44 on Friday to settle at $48.69. Brent crude, a benchmark for international oils, fell 57 cents to $49.61 a barrel in London.

CURRENCIES: The euro rose to $1.1577 from $1.1561 late Friday. The dollar dropped to 117.26 yen from 117.57 yen.

___

AP Business Writer Kelvin Chan in Hong Kong contributed.

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New Hampshire delegation requests openness in pipeline plan

CONCORD, N.H. — New Hampshire's congressional delegation is calling for an open and transparent process before a final decision is made about a proposed natural gas pipeline route in the state.

Texas-based Kinder Morgan wants to construct about 70 miles of pipeline through southern New Hampshire. About 90 percent of the project would be along an existing power line corridor.

In letters to Kinder Morgan and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Sens. Jeanne Shaheen and Kelly Ayotte and Reps. Frank Guinta and Annie Kuster requested that New Hampshire residents have ample opportunity to express their views.

The letter, dated Wednesday, notes Kinder Morgan filed its latest proposal Dec. 8, which shifts much of the pipeline out of northern Massachusetts into a number of southern New Hampshire towns.

The towns include Winchester; Richmond; Troy; Fitzwilliam; Rindge; New Ipswich; Greenville; Mason; Milford; Brookline; Amherst; Merrimack; Litchfield; Londonderry; Hudson; Windham; Pelham; and Salem.

The delegation requests "that Kinder Morgan provide the public, municipal officials in potentially affected municipalities, and our offices with additional information on the timeline for the current pre-filing phase." It also urges the company "to extend that timeline to ensure that New Hampshire's residents have a full and equal opportunity to understand, assess, and comment on this project before any decisions are made finalizing the project or its route."

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Dodgers star Yasiel Puig buys home in Sherman Oaks

Anyone who knows a thing about Your Mama knows we don't know a damn thing about professional baseball. So, when good ol' Yolanda Yakketyyak got in touch to let us know that Dodger outfielder Yasiel Puig quietly (and via trust) dropped $1.8 million on a gated micro-mansion in Sherman Oaks, CA, we said, "Ya-who?"

Turns out Mister Puig, just 24 years old, was a star player on Cuba's junior and national teams and -- so the scuttlebutt goes -- an occasional state informant. After a handful of thwarted attempts, a clearly very determined Mister Puig -- along with a boxer, a pinup girl and a Santeria priest -- was successfully smuggled out of Cuba in June 2012 by some pretty nefarious sounding characters and almost immediately signed by the L.A. Dodgers to a seven-year contract worth $42 million. By all accounts the franchise, now owned by the high-powered investment consortium Guggenheim Partners, is getting its money's worth from Mister Puig who was named to the 2014 Major League Baseball All-Star team.

• BUYER: Yasiel Puig
• LOCATION: Sherman Oaks, CA
• PRICE: $1,800,000
• SIZE: 4,663 square feet, 6 bedrooms, 6 bathrooms

According to a report in L.A. Magazine, once signed to the Dodgers and flush with his new-found wealth, young Mister Puig initially moved in to a loft space in downtown Los Angeles but, so swears Yolanda, now has a big new house set behind elaborately scrolled iron gates in a leafy and affluent if nondescript Sherman Oaks neighborhood. Listing details call the 4,663-square-foot residence a "Grand Contemporary Mediterranean" -- we'd call it a quintessential and architecturally challenged San Fernando Valley macmansion -- with half a dozen bedrooms and as many bathrooms.

A stone-floored center hall entry has beige walls, beige inlaid stone tile floors and curved, wrought iron railed staircase that sweeps up to a circular second floor gallery with domed sky light. The pretty much all beige open plan living spaces at the rear include a built-in wet bar, a roomy dining area, formal sitting area and family room with bookshelf flanked and television surmounted fireplace and a built-in aquarium. The (also very beige) adjoining kitchen has a sizable center island, room for a breakfast table next to a sizable center island, speckled granite counter tops, completely average although probably custom-crafted raised panel cabinetry and medium-grade stainless steel appliances.

The second floor has an informal lounge area, four guest/family bedrooms -- two with private balconies, and a spacious master suite with sitting area, fireplace, elevated bed platform, two walk-in closets, a slender wrought iron railed balcony, and an all-beige bathroom with jetted garden tub separate stall shower.

The main living spaces on the lower level open to a fairly compact backyard with stamped concrete terracing around a circular spa that spills in to a small free-form swimming pool and a built-in barbecue center with stone-countered bar, wine fridge and warming drawer.

Listing photos: Sotheby's International Realty

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

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Boston accelerator to help international firms take off

A Boston company whose long-term goal is to be a resource for all international entrepreneurs looking to break into the U.S. market will kick off Feb. 1 with a three-month accelerator for 15 Spanish startups.

For Dat Venture, Spain was the logical country from which to draw its first class. Two of its five founders are Spanish, and its parent company, Efron Group, a multinational consulting company with a Boston office, is headquartered in Madrid.

"Spain also is not exactly welcoming to innovators, even though the unemployment rate for people under 25 is over 50 percent," said co-founder Matt Hurley, a former Techstars associate. "So these young millennials who can't find work there are bootstrapping companies of their own and looking for access here."

Since starting Dat Venture in August, Hurley and his co-founders held a pilot accelerator for two Spanish companies, one of which is returning to Boston next month to open an office here. But the real test, he said, will begin next month with their first full class.

Dat Venture had three main prerequisites for the startups: They had to have traction, be fluent in English and have a great team, Hurley said.

The 15 companies he and his co-founders selected run the gamut of industries, from robotics to machine-learning to clean tech, with a combined revenue of more than $10 million.

Although Dat Venture does not take any equity in the startups, it charges $10,000 per CEO or whoever else the companies choose to represent them in the program. That fee covers airfare; office space at WeWork South Station; housing at Krash, a Boston co-living space for entrepreneurs; and a business class of their choice at Harvard Extension School.

Dat Venture will host seminars taught by guest lecturers on topics including what American venture firms look for in a pitch and how to market and sell to the American consumer.

The company also has taken pains to arrange matches between the startups and mentors who have deep knowledge of the teams' fields, something many accelerators do poorly, Hurley said.

"We see ourselves as temporary co-founders for these companies," he said. "We are totally dedicated to making sure they leave better off than they came."

The accelerator will culminate in a demo day, giving the startups the chance to pitch to local venture firms.

"The whole goal is to help them gain enough traction that they'll be able to open permanent offices here," Hurley said. "It will be an economic boost both for Boston and for Spain."

Dat Venture plans to hold three accelerators each year and is currently deciding whether its summer program will accept another group of Spanish startups or a mix of international companies, he said.

"Having a group that all speaks the same language is kind of cool, but I also see the benefit of having companies from many different countries working alongside," Hurley said. "Ultimately, our goal is break out and be a resource for entrepreneurs from around the world."

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Voxel8 sets tone for 3-D printing

A 3-D printed iPhone? It's not possible yet, but thanks to a new startup, custom gadgets spit out by a 3-D printer are on their way.

Voxel8, based in Somerville, recently unveiled its 3-D printer, which can print and layer conductive ink to act as internal wires and circuits, integrating electrical components into design in a way that would be impossible with traditional methods.

"It allows free-form geometries of electronics, where they've been really stuck in 2-D geometries for decades now," said Daniel Oliver, a co-founder of Voxel8. "We believe that electronics need to get more places and be more seamlessly integrated in the products they're already in, and this is a technology that does it."

3-D printing has taken off in recent years, but currently the most practical use for a 3-D printer is to make plastic objects with limited utility.

By integrating the electronics as part of the design, products can be designed more efficiently, Oliver said. Other products, including a smaller, more effective antenna, could only be designed using this method.

"Where this really fits in are those products that can't be made any other way," Oliver said.

Right now, the company is printing working quadcopters and LED lights to demonstrate what the technology can do. He said they plan to develop and create wearable devices using their system.

Future models of their printer, Oliver said, will be able to print single-piece custom hearing aids, a painstaking, delicate process today.

The company was spun out of Harvard University thanks to research by professor Jennifer Lewis. Her work with the conductive ink is what makes Voxel8's system work.

While the thick silver conductive ink acts as internal wires inside a gadget, it cannot replace other important components, including batteries and processors. To address this, Voxel8 has teamed up with Autodesk, a California company that is one of the leaders in design software.

"It enables a whole new category of objects to be created," said Karl Willis, principal research engineer for Autodesk's Project Wire. "It really just seemed like something we could contribute to on the software side."

Project Wire is Autodesk's software for systems like Voxel8, and includes a way for the printer to stop when necessary so the engineer can place a processor in the design. Autodesk has embedded an engineer in Voxel8's office to work on development of Project Wire. Willis said Project Wire and Autodesk's collaboration with Voxel8 is "an investment in the future."

"We don't know what's going to be made," he said. "We think it's going to be an amazing surprise to see the things that people make."

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