Today in Globe Business

Amid calls to curb ads for illegal sex, Craigslist CEO defends status quo

Craigslist chief executive Jim Buckmaster denied yesterday that the website offered sex-related advertising, even as Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal called on the company to take stronger actions to combat pornography, prostitution, and child trafficking in its online classifieds.

"I would not describe any section of our site as 'sex related,' " Buckmaster wrote in response to a series of e-mailed questions from the Globe.

He acknowledged that Craigslist offers an "erotic services" section that should not include more than "legitimate escort services, sensual massage, exotic dancers, etc.," but said that offers to exchange sexual favors for money are "strictly prohibited" and removed from the site.

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Commercial properties fall to foreclosure

The foreclosure crisis is now claiming commercial properties across Massachusetts, prompting a surge of fire sales as the owners of office towers, hotels, and stores cannot meet or refinance sizable loan payments.

In the first four months of the year, some auctioneers report they have already handled double the number of distressed properties they did in all of 2008. Among the recent casualties are Glen Ellen Country Club in Millis, a prominent Art Deco building in Boston's Park Square, and a yacht club and inn with views of the city skyline.

"All of a sudden we're seeing substantial properties coming up for auction. The scope of it is growing pretty quickly," said Justin Manning, president of JJ Manning Auctioneers in Yarmouth Port.

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JetBlue adds flights to Baltimore-DC area

A lower-fare battle is beginning.

JetBlue Airways plans to announce today that on Sept. 9 it will begin daily flights from Logan International Airport to Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport.

Southwest Airlines earlier this month said it would launch service from Boston to Chicago Midway Airport and to Baltimore on Aug. 16.

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WGBX will end analog broadcast by midnight

Public television station WGBX will shut down its analog transmitter today and convert to all-digital broadcasting, nearly two months before the nation's major TV stations make the change.

Station spokeswoman Lucy Sholley said WGBX got special permission from the Federal Communications Commission to halt analog broadcasts tonight at 11:59, earlier than other stations, because of its aging analog transmitter. "It's on its last legs," Sholley said, "and we couldn't have continued broadcasting and using the transmitter until the FCC deadline on June 12."

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How Filene's Basement got sold at markdown

Through a succession of owners who expanded, pulled back, and tinkered with the brand, Filene's Basement has never been able to recapture the magic of its original Washington Street location.

"You always felt like you were treasure hunting," said Ellen Wallack, an interior designer living in Boston who shopped at Filene's Basement for 30 years.

In the decades after World War II, it was a Boston icon, a pioneer in the automatic markdowns and off-price retailing that drew swarms of budget-minded shoppers. This week, it was unceremoniously plucked from the bargain bin by a California liquidation company.

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"Green" plan may help cities get US dollars

A new state program meant to help Massachusetts communities "go green" could also make it easier for cities and towns to receive federal stimulus money.

The so-called Green Communities Program, a component of Governor Deval Patrick's state recovery plan, will provide technical assistance to communities looking for a portion of the $10 million in state-administered funds available every year for energy efficiency projects, or to bring renewable energy resources online, said Ian Bowles, secretary of the state's Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs. It will be administered by the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources, which is overseen by Bowles's office.

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TECH LAB: A cellular reminder for the stuff that matters

Every morning, heading out the front door, I slap my right hip, just to make sure I've strapped my cellphone on. It's a handy little habit that keeps me from forgetting it.

But now, my phone can slap me back. It can spit out SMS text messages, reminding me to meet with my editor or pick up a dozen eggs. It also lets me add items to my daily calendar by simply talking into it. By linking my phone to a new online service called Reqall, I may never again forget anything that really matters.

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