Ayer

As president and CEO of the North Central Chamber of Commerce, Roy M. Nascimento hears a lot from local businesses about the cost of electricity.

Even though they may benefit financially, Central Massachusetts hospitals have joined together with their brethren from around the Bay State to oppose efforts to limit the pricing disparity between healthcare providers.

As the development of a state-run daily fantasy sports game and the potential regulation of the daily fantasy sports industry move forward on parallel tracks in Massachusetts, an anti-gambling organization headed up by a top aide to a former state senator warns that government sponsorship of Internet gambling will contribute to rising inequality

The North Central Massachusetts Development Corporation has released small-business loans totaling $109,500 to three local businesses, the organization announced last week.

When Worcester-based Reliant Medical Group announced the layoff of 78 employees early last month, the healthcare provider cited a projected budget shortfall.

These Central Massachusetts businesses filed incorporation papers with the Massachusetts Secretary of State's Office from July 16-31, 2015. Listed are the name, address, ZIP and president.

In fiscal 2014, Saint Vincent Hospital was the most profitable outside of Greater Boston at $65.2 million.

It would be the largest acquisition in the history of the technology sector, but for locals, the bigger story is what's ahead for EMC's Hopkinton operations when Dell acquires the data-storage giant for $67 billion.

The scope of workplace disfigurement injuries covered under workers' compensation policies would be expanded to injuries anywhere on a person's body, and the amount of compensation workers could receive would also be increased under a bill that cleared the Senate Thursday on a 36-1 vote.

The planned closure of Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station in Plymouth represents "a big step back" in meeting the state's emissions reduction and clean energy goals, and makes it "all the more important" that the Baker administration's hydroelectric and solar proposals move forward, Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Matthew Beaton said Thursday.