REGION

REGION
Society of CPAs, YSU to hold Education Day
YOUNGSTOWN -- The Ohio Society of Certified Public Accountants and Youngstown State University will present Youngstown Continuing Professional Education Day from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday in the Chestnut Room of YSU's Kilcawley Center.
Experts will lead sessions on topics such as accounting and auditing, taxation, fraud in small business, pensions, tax shelters, computer security, risk management, investments and health insurance.
The cost is $175 for Ohio Society of CPAs members and $320 for nonmembers. Register by calling (330) 965-5800 or (877) YSU-9876.
NATION
SBC reaches tentative agreement with workers
SAN ANTONIO -- Local-phone giant SBC Communications Inc. reached a tentative contract agreement with more than 100,000 union employees early today, hours after workers ended a planned four-day strike, union and company officials said.
On average, employees will receive base wage increases of 2.3 percent per year for five years and lump sums averaging $300 per year, said SBC officials.
While some increases in copayments for medical services and prescription drugs were agreed upon, SBC will continue to provide fully paid health care benefits, the Communication Workers of America said. Active SBC employees will receive cash bonuses of $1,000 to help offset these higher costs. Retirees, who are now under a different plan from active workers, will receive $2,500.
Oil price at new high
WASHINGTON -- The price of oil reached a new high Monday, settling at $41.72 per barrel as traders shrugged off Saudi Arabia's pledge to immediately pump more crude because other OPEC members refuse to formally increase the cartel's daily production quota.
From Vindicator staff and wire reports