Engineer's 'switch from hell' began GM recall woes

DETROIT — Inside General Motors, they called it "the switch from hell." The ignition switch on the steering column of the Chevrolet Cobalt and other small cars was so poorly designed that it easily slipped out of the run position, causing engines to...

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Large lot adds appeal to Milton home

This Milton home, built in 1995, sits on two acres that back up to 26 acres of conservation land and is also near the entrance to the Blue Hills Reservation. The four-bedroom hip-roof Colonial at 3 Green St. has a blue clapboard exterior with black...

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Key ways the US job market has changed since 2007

WASHINGTON — Six and half years later, nearly everything about the job market is different. When the Great Recession hit in December 2007, 138.4 million people were working at U.S. businesses, nonprofits and government agencies. By February 2010, that...

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Billionaire seeks to help climate-change victims

FRESNO, Calif. — An environmentalist billionaire who has pledged to spend tens of millions of dollars targeting Republicans who reject climate change announced Friday that he is now creating a fund to help victims of extreme weather disasters, starting...

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`Star Wars' fans pressure Disney into selling Princess Leia toys

At least one rebellious alliance has convinced a far-reaching, influential empire to bow to its whims."Star Wars" fans were thrilled to learn that Carrie Fisher would be reprising her role as Princess Leia in Disney's upcoming sequels to the original...

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Emotional robot set for sale in Japan next year

TOKYO — A cooing, gesturing humanoid on wheels that can decipher emotions has been unveiled in Japan by billionaire Masayoshi Son who says robots should be tender and make people smile. Son's mobile phone company Softbank said Thursday that the robot...

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Noncompetes out of control

Teenage camp counselors, personal trainers, salon assistants and even interns are being forced to sign controversial noncompete agreements typically reserved for high-tech executives in a sign the practice of blocking employees from jumping to a competitor...

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Melrose development rock solid

Wood Partners is betting big on Melrose and so far it's paying off. The first two buildings of the developer's 212-unit Alta Stone Place are 98 percent leased — with 67 units rented — and pre-leasing has just begun on two others, one a 93-unit building...

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Janitors balk at being broomed by MBTA

The union representing MBTA janitors yesterday called on lawmakers to oppose plans to cut cleaning staff by one-third and reduce the hours of those still on the job by Sept. 1 — steps they said will lead to dirtier stations as employees bear heavier...

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Lawyer blasts GM firings

A lawyer for families of people killed and hurt in accidents allegedly caused by faulty ignition switches in now recalled General Motors cars said the automaker's firing of 15 workers doesn't go far enough. "It's the wrong focus," said Robert C. Hilliard...

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Massachusetts closes shellfish harvesting areas

GLOUCESTER, Mass. — The state Division of Marine Fisheries has shut down all shellfish harvesting areas from Newbury to Gloucester because of elevated levels of the marine biotoxin commonly known as red tide. The closure, which includes the harvesting...

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City to keep, upgrade school dept. site

The Boston School Department's downtown headquarters will be renovated over three years starting this summer, quelling a watchdog's fear that the city might try to turn the building into fast cash after a developer bought the property next door for $31...

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City Council votes to back ban on noncompetes

Advocates of a ban on noncompete agreements are setting their sights on House lawmakers after Speaker Robert A. DeLeo didn't address the issue in his economic development bill, and they're getting some support from an unlikely source — the Boston City...

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Emotional robot set for sale in Japan next year

TOKYO — A cooing, gesturing humanoid on wheels that can decipher emotions has been unveiled in Japan by billionaire Masayoshi Son who says robots should be tender and make people smile. Son's mobile phone company Softbank said Thursday that the robot...

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Correction: Wall Street story

NEW YORK — In a story June 4 about U.S. financial markets, The Associated Press reported erroneously that the annual inflation rate in the 18 countries that use the euro currency was 0.7 percent in May. Inflation in the eurozone was 0.5 percent last...

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US service firms grow at fastest pace since August

WASHINGTON — U.S. service firms grew more quickly last month as production, hiring and new orders increased, adding to signs that the economy is accelerating after dipping at the start of the year. The Institute for Supply Management said Wednesday...

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Uninspiring economic reports send stocks lower

NEW YORK — Stocks are opening lower on Wall Street as traders found little to like in the latest batch of reports on the U.S. economy. Handbag and luxury accessory maker Coach slumped 3 percent in early trading. TripAdvisor also fell 1.6 percent. Protective...

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A new 'Destiny' for non-sequel video games at E3

LOS ANGELES — Don't call it a comeback. The recent success of "Titanfall" and "Watch Dogs" has laid the foundation for several new video games that don't contain numbers in their names to be hyped at next week's Electronic Entertainment Expo, the gaming...

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US trade deficit at two-year high in April

WASHINGTON — The U.S. trade deficit jumped to a two-year high in April, as exports declined and imports surged to a record high. The deficit rose to $47.2 billion in April, up 6.9 percent from an upwardly revised March deficit of $44.2 billion, the...

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US stocks drift lower after hiring weakens

NEW YORK — Stocks moved slightly lower in early trading Wednesday after a private jobs report suggested that U.S. employers pulled back on hiring last month. KEEPING SCORE: The Dow Jones industrial average lost 16 points, or 0.1 percent, to 16,706 in...

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Fatal accident at Kellogg, Idaho, silver mine

KELLOGG, Idaho — A worker was killed in a mine shaft accident Monday afternoon at the Sunshine Mine near Kellogg, in northern Idaho, officials said Tuesday. The Mine Safety and Health Administration says the miner died about 2 p.m. Monday after becoming...

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Automakers see big US sales gains in May

DETROIT — Brisk demand for SUVs and pickup trucks — and five sunny weekends — likely pushed U.S. auto sales to a seven-year high in May. Chrysler, Nissan and Toyota all reported double-digit sales gains over last May. Even General Motors, battling bad...

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US factory orders up for third month in April

WASHINGTON — Orders to U.S. factories rose for a third consecutive month in April, adding to evidence that manufacturing is regaining momentum after a harsh winter. Orders increased 0.7 percent in April, pushed higher by a surge in demand for military...

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Panera swears off artificial ingredients

NEW YORK — Panera says it will remove artificial colors, flavors, sweeteners and preservatives from its food by 2016, a reflection of the growing distaste people are showing for such ingredients. The chain of bakery cafes, which has about 1,800 U.S....

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Stocks drift lower; Hillshire bidding war heats up

NEW YORK — U.S. stocks are heading lower in late-morning trading Tuesday, a day after major indexes reached new highs. KEEPING SCORE: The Dow Jones industrial average dropped 45 points, or 0.3 percent, to 16,699 as of 11 a.m. Eastern. The Standard &...

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After record week, a quiet open for US stocks

NEW YORK — U.S. stock indexes are mixed in early trading as the market comes off its latest record high last week. The Dow Jones industrial average edged up 22 points, or 0.1 percent, to 16,740 in the first few minutes of trading Monday. The Standard...

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Russia gives Ukraine more time to reach gas deal

BRUSSELS — Russia on Monday granted Ukraine another week before it will start demanding prepayment for gas, without which it has threatened to cut off supplies. The announcement by Russia's state gas company Gazprom came at the outset of a second round...

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US construction spending up 0.2 percent in April

WASHINGTON — U.S. construction spending posted modest gains in April, driven by an uptick in home building and government construction that lifted total activity to the highest level in five years. Construction spending rose 0.2 percent in April to...

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US manufacturing expanded at slower pace in May

WASHINGTON — U.S. manufacturers grew at a slower pace in May as measures of orders and production fell. Factories also added jobs at a slower pace. The Institute for Supply Management said Monday its manufacturing index fell to 53.2 last month from...

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Obama carbon rule gives states more time to comply

WASHINGTON — In a sweeping initiative to curb pollutants blamed for global warming, the Obama administration unveiled a plan Monday that cuts carbon dioxide emissions from power plants by nearly a third over the next 15 years, but pushes the deadline...

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Suburban owner wonders why sunroof won’t close

The sunroof on my 2005 Suburban will not close. I turned on the ignition switch to lower the windows and open the sunroof to air out the interior a couple of weekends ago. I left the key on after opening the windows and discharged the battery to the...

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Cape Cod apartments for those with limited vision

YARMOUTH, Mass. — Life with limited vision can be challenging, but a partnership between a local nonprofit organization and a Cape Cod assisted living facility could make it a little brighter. The Cove at Thirwood Place, located on Flax Pond in South...

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Philadelphia Inquirer co-owner dies in plane crash

PHILADELPHIA — Philadelphia Inquirer co-owner Lewis Katz was killed along with six other people in a fiery plane crash in Massachusetts, his business partner said Sunday. Harold H.F. "Gerry" Lenfest confirmed Katz's death to The Associated Press, saying...

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Obama to urge Europe to keep up pressure on Russia

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama will press European leaders this week to keep up pressure on Russia over its threatening moves in Ukraine, while seeking to assuage fears from Poland and other NATO allies that the West could slip back into a business-as-usual...

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