Today in Globe Business

Economy braces for another hit

The bruised US economy, which had shown a few signs of life, took another beating yesterday with global concerns over the swine flu outbreak expected to hit travel and tourism the hardest.

The virus, which has sickened people across the United States and Europe and resulted in 149 deaths in Mexico, prompted the European Union's health commissioner to advise Europeans to avoid non-essential travel to Mexico and parts of the United States.

The warning yesterday could have a devastating effect on New England, where 95 percent of overseas travelers come from Europe.

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Wind turbine set for turnpike

Travelers along the Massachusetts Turnpike soon might spy something new on the horizon: a wind turbine.

State environmental and transportation officials are looking to install a wind turbine on a 68-acre site adjacent to the Blandford rest area, about 20 miles west of Springfield. The turbine, which would be paid for by the developer selected for the project, is part of a "Greening the Turnpike" initiative to address Governor Deval L. Patrick's goal to make state agencies more energy efficient and environmentally friendly.

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From muscle car to memory

Yesterday marks the beginning of the end of an era for Michael D'Arezzo.

General Motors Corp. said that it would close its Pontiac division by the end of next year. And just like that, D'Arezzo's 1979 Quazar-blue Pontiac Firebird complete with 8-track cassette player felt like a historic relic of America's muscle car era.

"Today's cars are all jelly bean cars - they all look the same, have the same shape," said D'Arezzo, a warehouse worker in Methuen and treasurer of the New England Firebird Auto Club. "You take a look at a Firebird and you know what it is. You see that big flaming bird coming down the road at you and you know what it is."

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Bankruptcy filing edging closer for Filene's Basement

Filene's Basement, the Massachusetts clothing retailer famous for its bargain prices on name-brand merchandise, will likely file for bankruptcy protection in the next few days, according to a person with ties to the company who has knowledge of the plans.

Retail Ventures Inc., an Ohio retailer that bought Filene's Basement out of bankruptcy nine years ago, also raised the possibility that the chain could seek bankruptcy protection in a filing yesterday with the Securities and Exchange Commission, but didn't provide any details.

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BOSTON CAPITAL: New heights of gall

Every time I think I've seen the new height of corporate gall, someone steps up and sets the bar a little higher.

The challenge is simple: What are you prepared to say or do with a straight face? A few of the recent responses took my breath away, competing with the kinds of things you might hear in a courtroom or in the halls of Congress.

Perhaps the new corporate gall is really no different than the old variety. It's possible my patience has been worn out by more than a year's worth of outrageous business misconduct and a startling lack of contrition. Maybe I've developed a thin skin.

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