REGION

REGION
UCFC dividend
YOUNGSTOWN -- United Community Financial Corp. declared a quarterly dividend of 7.5 cents a share, payable on June 15 to shareholders of record on May 31. Youngstown-based United Community is the holding company for Home Savings and Loan Co. and Butler Wick Corp.
First Place gets approvalfor Franklin Bancorp deal
WARREN -- First Place Financial Corp. said it has received regulatory approval for its acquisition of Franklin Bancorp. The deal, which was announced in November, is expected to close Friday. Franklin Bancorp is the holding company for Franklin Bank, which has five branches in Michigan. Warren-based First Place is the holding company for First Place Bank, which has 22 branches and 13 loan production offices.
NATION
Gas prices keep rising
LOS ANGELES -- Gasoline prices across the country rose more than 14 cents in the past two weeks and show no signs of slowing their climb, an industry analyst said Sunday.
The weighted national average for all three grades of gasoline was $2.10 per gallon Friday, according to Trilby Lundberg, publisher of the biweekly Lundberg Survey, which regularly polls 8,000 gas stations across the United States.
The national weighted average price of gasoline at self-serve pumps Friday, including taxes, was about $2.07 for regular.
Boeing announcesdetails of new contract
ST. LOUIS -- Machinists and aerospace workers for Boeing Co.'s St. Louis-based defense unit approved a new contract Sunday.
Under the new deal, Boeing will not provide health coverage during retirement for anyone hired beginning in 2005. It calls for wage increases of 3 percent in the contract's first and third years, plus a $3,000 signing bonus. Workers will receive a $2,000 payment next year.
From Vindicator staff and wire reports