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27 Boston Market restaurants ordered closed in New Jersey for unpaid wages | CNN Business

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27 Boston Market restaurants ordered closed in New Jersey for unpaid wages | CNN Business



New York
CNN
 — 

New Jersey ordered more than two dozen Boston Market locations to close Tuesday because regulators found “multiple violations of workers’ rights,” including failure to pay wages, and fined the restaurant chain nearly $2.6 million.

In a release, the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development said it issued 27 “stop-work” orders to Boston Markets across the state because the agency found more than $600,000 in back pay owed to 314 workers and $1.2 million in liquidated damages.

The nine-month long investigation followed complaints from at least three dozen Boston Market employees that the company failed to pay minimum wage, to pay earned sick leave and to maintain records for earned sick leave.

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“With restaurants across the country, Boston Market needs to set a better example for fair treatment of its workers,” said Joseph Petrecca, assistant commissioner of NJDOL’s Division of Wage and Hour and Contract Compliance, in the statement. A full list of locations are available on NJDOL’s website.

The privately owed chain was also slapped with an additional $1.2 million in liquidated damages and $570,000 in administrative fees and penalties.

Boston Market didn’t immediately respond for comment.

NJDOL said it’s monitoring the locations where the stop-work orders are and the chain could be fined an additional $5,000 per day if they reopen. The order could be “lifted if and when any remaining back wages and penalties have been paid and all related issues have been resolved,” the agency said.

Boston Market has struggled since it was acquired three years ago by Engage Brands, part of the Rohan Group of Companies.

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The chicken chain is dealing with is a $12 million lawsuit from food distributor US Foods alleging that Boston Market owes it $11 million in unpaid bills from the past two years. That’s on top of other lawsuits from landlords and more back pay issues in Arizona and Massachusetts.

Boston Market had more than 1,000 locations across the United States just a few years ago. That has shrunk dramatically, and it’s now down to just about 300.



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New Jersey

Cubs unveil a new jersey celebrating Chicago's blues legacy

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Cubs unveil a new jersey celebrating Chicago's blues legacy


CHICAGO — There is a long list of things that the city of Chicago has become known for around the globe. Day games at Wrigley Field certainly make the list, as would the vibrant blues scene and its part in music’s history and evolution.
This summer, the Cubs plan on



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New Jersey

Many police departments in New Jersey say there’s an increase in unlocked car thefts

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Many police departments in New Jersey say there’s an increase in unlocked car thefts


Home security video obtained by CBS News Philadelphia shows a brazen thief in action rummaging through Denni Paolini’s SUV while it was parked in her driveway on Meadowlark Road in Stratford, New Jersey. 

“The fact there was a bunch of men and two vehicles, it’s a little freaky,” Paolini said. 

Paolini thought her Durango was locked, but when she came outside Tuesday morning, she found the center console in her SUV open and papers and cards thrown all over. 

“Like they were searching for something … my manual booklet was on my passenger seat left open, which I thought was weird,” Paolini said. 

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Stratford Police tell CBS News Philadelphia they’re investigating at least five car break-ins since Monday, and now they’re circulating a crime alert to residents warning them about the rash of thefts. Police say a group of thieves on foot are searching for unlocked cars, and part of their plan involves being followed by getaway drivers, who are often riding in a stolen car. 

“I definitely think there is some sort of organized plan,” said Thomas Reinholt, the acting chief in Evesham Township. 

Evesham Township Police say they’re looking into at least six car break-ins this week, and we’re told several cars were also broken into in Cherry Hill. 

Investigators call it a crime of opportunity, and they say thieves are looking for money, a key fob to possibly steal the car, and a garage door opener to get inside the victim’s home. 

Multiple police departments are now working together because they believe some of these cases could be connected. 

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“It’s out of character to have it in this weather. Usually we see it in nicer weather when it’s not as cold,” Reinholt said. “They know what they’re doing, they’re looking for cars that are unlocked and they’re looking for sources they can get in and out as quick as possible.” 

A woman in Voorhees who didn’t want to be identified said her son’s car was stolen this week and it was later found in Delaware. 

Police are reminding everyone to always make sure your car is locked and never leave anything valuable inside.

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New Jersey

N.J. lawmaker pushing a plan to help homeowners save money on their mortgages

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N.J. lawmaker pushing a plan to help homeowners save money on their mortgages


Rutgers University economist James Hughes, dean emeritus of the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, said allowing homeowners to set up this kind of payment schedule does make sense for them financially.

“They’ll be building up equity faster than if it were a monthly payment, but it’s not a silver bullet that’s going to change the world,” Hughes said.

He said depending on the length of someone’s mortgage, it can take several years to see the benefit.

McCoy said as a homeowner’s mortgage balance decreases, equity, which she described as the cornerstone of financial stability, increases, and that gives people options.

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“If you’ve got kids going off to college, you want to get the kitchen and the bathroom done, home improvements, if there are some crazy emergencies, these are the things pulling that equity out of your home [can cover] to help you with those particular expenses,” she said.

“It’s sort of a painless way of saving,” Hughes said. “Very few of us have the discipline to religiously put away a portion of our salary to build up equity.”

The legislation would also prohibit financial companies from imposing penalties on borrowers who want to pay additional amounts toward their principal.

“By offering this flexibility it really is a measure that helps homeowners manage their cash flow more effectively,” McCoy said.



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