Today in Globe Business

Caritas to convert Landmark

Caritas Christi Health Care yesterday said it plans to convert Landmark Medical Center of Woonsocket, R.I., into a Catholic hospital if its agreement to acquire the financially ailing 214-bed community hospital is approved by a Rhode Island judge and state regulators.

The conversion would mean Landmark could no longer provide sterilization services — such as tubal ligation — barred by the ethical and religious directives of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops, the rules governing Catholic health care organizations.
Landmark does not perform abortions, another procedure prohibited by the conference’s ethical and religious directives.
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Lasell College agrees to settle lender gift allegations

Lasell College agreed to pay more than $191,000 to students to settle allegations it steered student loan applicants to Citizens Bank after the lender showered the school’s financial aid officers with free trips to sunny resorts and other gifts.

It was the second such settlement that Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley has reached with a local college, part of a wave of actions by government agencies against schools across the country over their cozy relations with student loan lenders.

In Lasell’s case, Coakley accused the Newton private college of falsely telling students they were required to borrow from Citizens, even though other lenders offered cheaper loans. At the same time, Lasell employees secretly received free entertainment, meals, and other gifts between 2003 and 2007. For instance, Citizens allegedly paid for the director of Lasell’s financial aid office to take trips to Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club Resort in Florida and Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain in Arizona through her involvement with Citizens’ “Educational Finance Advisory Board.’’
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August data show 'glimmer of hope" for US retailers

NEW YORK — This year’s back-to-school season isn’t as big a bust for retailers as they feared — or as big as last year’s — but it’s not great either.

Americans are spending only when the item and price are just right, according to August reports released yesterday by major retail chains. And analysts expect stores will need to keep discounting to keep shoppers spending this fall and in the holiday season while they grapple with job worries and tight credit.

“It’s a glimmer of hope that the numbers are coming in ahead of low expectations,’’ said Ken Perkins, president of research firm RetailMetrics.