Romney vetoes bill tripling damages for delayed wages

Governor Mitt Romney vetoed a bill that would have imposed triple damages on employers who fail to pay their workers in a timely manner. The veto lets stand a Supreme Judicial Court decision last year allowing judges to decide whether employers should be forced to pay workers three times the amount of money owed in back pay. Romney called mandatory treble damages ``unfair" because ``a judge would no longer be allowed to distinguish between an employer who is a true bad actor and an employer who merely had a good-faith wage dispute with an employee." Romney's move means workers who win wage-violation lawsuits could be reimbursed only back pay, plus interest. (Sacha Pfeiffer)

Abt Associates, a Cambridge economic and social sciences research firm, has won a five-year, $125 million grant from the US Agency for International Development to help it work with healthcare systems in other countries. Abt will support countries being helped under USAID's Health Systems 20/20 program that helps developing nations build or rebuild their healthcare infrastructure. (Keith Reed)

Carol Meyrowitz , president of TJX Cos., will take over as chief executive of the Framingham-based retailer in January as part of a succession plan approved by the board. Meyrowitz, 52, will succeed Bernard Cammarata, who has been acting chief executive since Ted English resigned from the post last fall. Cammarata will continue as chairman. Meyrowitz, who joined the company in 1983, was named president of the off-price discounter last October and will retain that title. (Jenn Abelson)

JPI, a national apartment development company, is buying 2.5 acres in Chelsea to build apartments to be known as Jefferson at Admiral's Hill, the company said. The project, on a former naval hospital site near Mary O'Malley Park, will include 160 luxury apartments, underground parking, a movie-screening room, a fitness center, a business center, and views of downtown Boston, the company said. Former Boston Redevelopment Authority director Thomas N. O'Brien, who is executive vice president and regional managing partner of JPI, said there will be 80 one- and 80 two-bedroom units. Construction on the first phase is expected to begin next year. (Thomas C. Palmer Jr.)

Governor Mitt Romney signed legislation, promoted by Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino, that will use a portion of state income and sales tax revenue generated by development projects to pay off bonds issued for those projects. Initially, developers would pay interest on bonds sold to pay for basics like streets, sidewalks, sewers, and parks. Expected revenue from the developments would be projected by state officials, under the law, and when the revenue comes in the state would take over the bond payments. The new law is capped at $200 million in bonding and applies to five locations, including parts of the South Boston Waterfront and the Fort Point Channel neighborhoods. Menino said the communities would guarantee the revenue the state expects to get. (Thomas C. Palmer Jr.)

THE NATION

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. will retool its 3,256 US stores over two years to give them a more customized mix of goods and layout for six key groups of customers, including Hispanics, African-Americans, and affluent shoppers, the executive in charge of US operations said. The move is the latest strategy for the world's largest retailer as it struggles to revive growth rates and after the company's first quarterly drop in profits in a decade. (AP)

The chairman of British online gambling company Sportingbet PLC has been detained in New York on a fugitive warrant, two months after the chief executive of BetOnSports PLC was arrested in the United States on racketeering charges. Peter Dicks was arrested at Kennedy International Airport Wednesday night on arrival from England, a Queens district attorney spokesman said. Customs, performing a routine name check, discovered Dicks had an outstanding warrant issued by the Louisiana State Police Gaming Enforcement Division. Dicks was taken into custody, where he remained yesterday awaiting arraignment in a state court. (AP)