Business news digest

OHIO, PA.

Governor wants
departments well-staffed

COLUMBUS — Gov. Ted Strickland wants state agencies to review employee work schedules to make sure departments are adequately staffed during traditional business hours.

Some state employees have worked flexible schedules for years to accommodate child care needs, spend more time with family members or make car pool arrangements with neighbors.

Strickland wants sufficient staffing levels from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. However, each agency would retain the right to set flexible work hours for employees as needed.

The Ohio Civil Service Employees Association says it is getting complaints and plans to meet with the administration about any changes.

Public hearing postponed

PITTSBURGH — The owners of a planned slot machine casino in Pittsburgh have postponed a public hearing on lighting and landscape designs.

Majestic Star Casino owners say it makes no sense to seek public approval for those amenities while a planning watchdog group is suing to change other parts of the casino design.

The Pittsburgh Riverlife Task Force has appealed city planners’ approval of a 10-story parking garage planned next to the casino. The task force says a garage that tall will mar the city skyline and dwarf the casino it is meant to serve.

That appeal is pending. The hearing set for the other amenities on Tuesday is postponed indefinitely.

Casino officials say construction remains on schedule for a planned opening in May 2009.

NATION

Prison term in Enron scam

HOUSTON — One of the three British bankers who pleaded guilty for their roles in a fraudulent scheme with former Enron Chief Financial Officer Andrew Fastow was sentenced Friday to just over three years in prison.

A federal judge sentenced David Bermingham to 37 months in prison. Sentencings were set for later Friday for Giles Darby and Gary Mulgrew, who face up to five years and a fine of up to $250,000.

In November, the three men each pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud as part of a plea agreement after initially saying they did not collude with Fastow in a secret financial scam in 2000 to enrich themselves at their employer’s expense.

Federal prosecutors had been recommending that U.S. District Judge Ewing Werlein Jr. sentence each of the men to just over three years in prison.

All three have also agreed to pay their former employer more than $13 million.

Associated Press