HOUSING

Mary Ellen McCormack development in South Boston to be rebuilt

Another of Boston’s big old public housing projects is set for redevelopment. The Boston Housing Authority on Wednesday said it will seek partners to rebuild the Mary Ellen McCormack development in South Boston, likely allowing the developer to add hundreds of market-rate housing units in exchange for rebuilding the 1,016 heavily-subsidized apartments for low-income residents. The BHA has begun similar redevelopments, turning to private real estate companies because there is less public money to update the aging public housing stock. Last year, it awarded development rights to the Bunker Hill development in Charlestown to SunCal and Corcoran-Jennison Associates. And earlier in February, the BHA sought proposals for the Mildred C. Hailey Apartments — formerly known as Bromley-Heath — in Jamaica Plain. “It’s imperative that we think outside the box to preserve our existing affordable housing as well as develop new housing to meet the future housing needs of all of our city’s residents,’’ said Mayor Martin J. Walsh. BHA administrator Bill McGonagle said the agency expects strong proposals for the McCormack, which sits along Old Colony Avenue near Moakley Park in South Boston, and near two Red Line stations. Proposals are due in May. Any redevelopment is likely still years away and will need approval from the Boston Planning & Development Agency. — TIM LOGAN

AVIATION

Boeing to cut at least 1,800 jobs

Boeing is shrinking its Seattle-area workforce by at least 1,800 jobs this year as the company streamlines operations in a brutally competitive commercial-aircraft market. The plane maker approved voluntary layoffs for 1,500 mechanics, according to a person familiar with the situation who asked not to be named because it hasn’t been made public. Another 305 engineers and technical workers are leaving voluntarily, Bill Dugovich, a spokesman for their union, said Thursday. Boeing told employees in December that it would seek buyouts as part of an effort to cut costs and match employment to market requirements, company spokesman Paul Bergman said by e-mail. — BLOOMBERG NEWS

FAST FOOD

Dunkin’ to remove some artificial colors by end of 2018

The parent company of Dunkin’ Donuts and Baskin-Robbins says it will remove artificial colors from its products in the United States by the end of 2018. Dunkin’ Brands Group Inc. said the exception will be on brand-name ingredients it sources to use as toppings, ice cream mixes, and decorations for its sweets. It also noted that Baskin-Robbins will take longer to find replacements for ice cream cake decorations. Other chains including Subway, Panera, and Taco Bell have said they’re removing artificial colors and other ingredients in response to customer demand, but the changes can be challenging. Taco Bell, for example, said it would remove artificial preservatives by the end of 2017, but earlier this year said it’s taking longer to determine what maintains product freshness without sacrificing taste. — ASSOCIATED PRESS

MORTGAGES

Rates fall for first time in weeks

Long-term US mortgage rates fell this week, breaking a holding pattern that prevailed for more than a month. Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday the rate on 30-year, fixed-rate loans declined to 4.10 percent from 4.16 percent last week. The benchmark rate stood at 3.64 percent a year ago and averaged 3.65 percent through 2016, the lowest level in records dating to 1971. The rate on 15-year mortgages slipped to 3.32 percent from 3.37 percent last week. — ASSOCIATED PRESS

UNEMPLOYMENT

Benefit claims at lowest level in more than 40 years

Just 223,000 Americans applied for unemployment benefits last week, the fewest in nearly 44 years. The Labor Department says unemployment claims dropped by 19,000 from 242,000 the previous week to the lowest level since March 1973 when Richard Nixon was president. The four-week average, which is less volatile, fell by 6,250 to 234,250, the lowest since April 1973. Overall, 2.07 million Americans are collecting unemployment benefits, down more than 7 percent from a year ago. — ASSOCIATED PRESS

MANUFACTURING

Caterpillar facilities raided in Illinois

Federal law enforcement officials executed a search warrant Thursday at three central Illinois facilities of Caterpillar, one of the largest construction equipment manufacturers in the world. Caterpillar spokeswoman Corrie Heck Scott said in an e-mail that the company is cooperating with law enforcement but did not provide any further details. Sharon Paul, a spokeswoman for the US attorney’s office in Springfield, said ‘‘federal law enforcement activity’’ was being conducted at three Caterpillar locations, including the corporate headquarters in Peoria and facilities in East Peoria and Morton. Paul said the agencies involved included the Internal Revenue Service’s criminal investigation unit, the US Department of Commerce Office of Export Enforcement, and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.’s office of inspector general. — ASSOCIATED PRESS

AUTOMOTIVE

Ford recalls more than 36,000 vehicles over faulty air bags

Ford Motor Co. is recalling more than 36,000 vehicles in the United States and Canada because their air bags may not inflate properly. The recall affects the 2016-2017 Ford Edge, 2016-2017 Lincoln MKX, and 2017 Lincoln Continental. Most are in the United States but around 4,300 are in Canada. The air bags were made by Japanese supplier Takata Corp., but they don’t have the same deadly problem that has led to a recall of millions of Takata air bags. In that case, air bags can inflate with too much force and spew shrapnel at occupants. In Ford’s case, the air bags may not fill completely because of misaligned components. Ford is not aware of any injuries associated with the defect. Dealers will replace affected air bags for free. — ASSOCIATED PRESS

MEDIA

21st Century Fox head decries pols’ use of ‘fake news’ label

The chief executive officer of 21st Century Fox Inc. said he’s concerned the term ‘‘fake news’’ is being co-opted by politicians trying to dismiss critical coverage. At a conference Thursday, James Murdoch said the debate about fake news has changed from last summer when it was only about ‘‘deliberate falsehoods’’ spread on social media. 21st Century Fox is the parent of Fox News and the Murdoch family controls News Corp., owner of The Wall Street Journal. ‘‘That’s been co-opted by a political class to denigrate things that they don’t want to hear,’’ Murdoch said at the Enders Analysis media and telecom conference in London. ‘‘That’s around the world. That’s a real worry.’’ President Trump frequently calls the news media ‘‘fake news,’’ especially outlets that are critical of him like CNN and The New York Times. Trump also has personal ties with James’s father, Rupert Murdoch, who is chairman of News Corp., 21st Century Fox’s executive chairman, and has been running Fox News. Last month, Fox’s film studio apologized for a marketing campaign for the movie ‘‘A Cure for Wellness’’ that created sites meant to look like legitimate news outlets to spread false stories, some of which got shared on Facebook. — BLOOMBERG NEWS

CREDIT CARDS

American Express offers platinum customers $200 in free Uber rides

American Express is escalating the rewards war for premium credit cards, offering Platinum customers $200 of free Uber rides while raising the annual fee. Redesigned in stainless steel, the card will cost new holders $550 starting on March 30, a $100 increase that will take effect for existing users when they renew after Sept. 1. It’s the first fee hike in more than a decade, according to Janey Whiteside, AmEx’s senior vice president for global charge products, benefits, and services. The largest US credit-card issuer by purchases is under pressure to defend its dominance. Rival JPMorgan Chase made a splash in August with a Sapphire Reserve card featuring an initial sign-up bonus of 100,000 points, drawing so many applicants it temporarily ran out of materials to mint it. — BLOOMBERG NEWS