Sen. Pres. Murray: Mass. casino bill is jobs bill

Sen. Pres. Murray: Mass. casino bill is jobs bill

Senate President Therese Murray is defending a casino bill set to come up before the Massachusetts House, calling it a jobs plan for those most desperate for work.

Murray told The Associated Press on Tuesday that there’s a cultural divide between those who look down on casinos because they want Massachusetts to be known for its arts and history, and those who need a decent job with benefits to pay their rent and feed their families.

The Plymouth Democrat said the bill includes protections to address some of the social ills that casino critics warn will be created by the three casinos and slots parlor licensed by the bill.

The bill could come up for debate in the Senate in the next few weeks.

Murray declined to predict whether the bill would pass the Senate.

Attorney General Martha Coakley warns of robo-scam to steal credit/debit card numbers

Attorney General Martha Coakley is warning consumers about a robo-calling scam to steal credit and bank card numbers, and Social Security information.

Coakley says her office has received many complaints that people are getting the calls, often late at night on their cell phones.

She says the automated calls claim to be a bank or credit card company saying a card has been locked. The consumer is told to enter the card number to unlock it. Some also have been asked for Social Security numbers.

Coakley says people should hang up and contact the attorney general’s hotline, 617-727-8400.

If you have given out the information, Coakley advises placing a fraud alert with a major credit reporting bureau and alerting the bank or credit card company.

Boston Globe launches new pay website

The Boston Globe has launched a subscription-only website that offers readers the content of the daily newspaper as well as breaking news.

Bostonglobe.com, launched Monday, will be free for the rest of the month before readers will be required to pay $3.99 per week. Home delivery subscribers will not have to pay extra. The Globe had announced plans for the site last year.

The new site has been customized for different digital devices, including smartphones and tablets. It offers extras, including the ability to save stories for later offline reading, additional video and photography and archives.

The paper’s current site, Boston.com, will remain free and offer daily sports coverage as well as five stories daily from the print edition.

Publisher Christopher Mayer says the new site offers the paper’s “full range and depth of journalism.”

Bay State mayors want emphasis on preventive care

Dozens of elected officials, along with community groups across the state, are pressing Massachusetts lawmakers to emphasize disease prevention as they weigh legislation designed to overhaul the way the state pays for health care.

In a letter delivered to Senate President Therese Murray and House Speaker Robert DeLeo on Monday, the signers urge that any changes in the state’s health care payment system “promote prevention and wellness” by focusing on the prevention of illness.

The letter argues while the bulk of spending in the health care system is focused on treating disease, basic prevention has the potential to provide the greatest cost saving by helping residents stay healthy.

The letter is signed by the heads of dozens of health and civic groups and the mayors of Boston, New Bedford, Peabody, Revere, Somerville, Weymouth, Woburn and Worcester.

Material from the Associated Press contributed to this report.