REGION

REGION
Bruce & amp; Merrileesis selling division
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Bruce & amp; Merrilees Electric Co. is selling its material sales division to Yesco Inc. of Youngstown. Yesco said it will retain all employees at the current location. It said it has signed a long-term lease for the property.
The material sales division provides electrical and building materials to contractors.
Bruce & amp; Merrilees said the sale will allow the company to focus on its core business of managing electrical installations in 10 northeastern and midwestern states.
WCI employeeswill share profits
WARREN -- WCI Steel employees will get a share of the steel mill's recent profits in the form of profit-sharing checks for hourly workers and company performance compensation checks for salaried employees.
The company, which is working to emerge from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, posted a profit for its second fiscal quarter ending April 30.
Hourly workers are eligible for $2.62 for every hour they worked in the quarter, an average of $1,362 for those who worked 40 hours. Half will be paid out June 10, according to WCI's contract with the United Steelworkers of America Local 1375, and the second half will be held in reserve until February, 2005.
NATION
Economy's growthsurpasses expectations
WASHINGTON -- The economy grew a bit faster than previously thought in the first quarter of 2004, fresh evidence of momentum heading into the summer. Higher energy prices, though, could weigh modestly on future growth, some analysts said.
The Commerce Department reported Thursday that gross domestic product from January through March increased at a 4.4 percent annual rate. That was an improvement from both the 4.2 percent pace first estimated for the quarter a month ago and the 4.1 percent growth rate registered in the final quarter of 2003.
From Vindicator staff and wire reports