NATION

NATION
Extending abatements
COLUMBUS -- Property tax abatements for companies that create jobs could be granted for 15 years instead of 10 years, under a bill Republican Gov. Bob Taft signed into law Wednesday.
The new law expands the time restraints on Ohio Enterprise Zones, programs that permit businesses tax breaks based on the promise of creating jobs. It also doubles the funding for the Ohio Investment in Training program and creates the so-called Worker Guarantee Program to recruit, train and screen workers for companies expected to create at least 100 jobs.
Phone company ruling
WASHINGTON -- In a victory for regional telephone companies, the Bush administration decided Wednesday to let stand a ruling freeing them from sharing their networks with competitors. Consumer advocates said the decision would drive up costs for phone customers.
May to acquire Field's
MINNEAPOLIS -- May Department Stores Co. announced Wednesday that it will pay $3.24 billion in cash to acquire the Marshall Field's division from Target.
The chain gives St. Louis-based May a far bigger Midwest footprint, with 62 Marshall Field's stores, mostly in the Chicago, Detroit and Twin Cities areas, along with three distribution centers, nine Mervyn's locations in the Twin Cities, plus about $600 million owed on Marshall Field's credit cards.
Wal-Mart rejected
DECATUR, Ind. -- The city's planning commission rejected a zoning change needed for a proposed Wal-Mart supercenter, dealing the retailer a third setback in Indiana in less than a week. City council, which still could approve the rezoning, will take up the matter this summer.
From Vindicator staff and wire reports