Regional Business Digest

REGION

U.S. Playing Card to move from Ohio to Kentucky

CINCINNATI — Ohio is being dealt a losing hand by the company considered the world’s largest maker of playing cards.

After more than 100 years in the Cincinnati suburb of Norwood, United States Playing Card Co. has announced it’s moving its headquarters, manufacturing facility and distribution center to northern Kentucky.

The company will be taking 500 jobs when it relocates.

Vice president of operations Jim Owen said Tuesday the company needed room to expand and wanted a more energy-efficient building. U.S. Playing Card will be moving into a building formerly used as a Gap Inc. warehouse in Boone County, Ky.

The company is best-known for its Bee, Bicycle, Aviator and Hoyle playing cards.

The move is scheduled to begin early next year.

NATION

Salmonella outbreak is worst from food in years

WASHINGTON — The toll in the salmonella outbreak linked to tomatoes has passed 1,000 confirmed ill, making it the worst food outbreak in years. Now the government says some types of hot peppers may be implicated, too.

Federal health officials say raw jalapeno peppers apparently made some people sick, but do not explain all the illnesses. Raw tomatoes are a chief suspect. Fresh serrano peppers as well as fresh cilantro also are being investigated.

The confusing news comes as the toll reported Wednesday reached 1,017 confirmed illnesses. One death is confirmed — a man in his 80s in Texas.

GM records record sales in Europe in 1st half of ’08

DETROIT — Despite trouble on the home front, General Motors Corp. is booming in Europe.

GM said Wednesday it recorded record sales of nearly 1.2 million vehicles in Europe in the first six months of this year. That is an increase of 3 percent over last year.

GM’s sales grew 58 percent in Eastern Europe and 60 percent in Russia, offsetting a weaker market in Spain and Italy. Even Hummer, a brand GM is considering selling because of slow U.S. sales, saw a 21 percent jump in Russia.

GM says its European market share remained steady at 9.5 percent.

Source: Associated Press