Business news digest

REGION

Packer Thomas named one of best employers

YOUNGSTOWN — Packer Thomas, an accounting firm, recently was named one of the best employers in Ohio. The third annual ranking was created by the Ohio Chamber of Commerce in partnership with the Manufacturer’s Education Council, Society of Human Resource Management, Ohio Matters and Best Companies Group.

The list included 10 companies with between 25 and 249 employees and 10 companies with 250 or more employees. Packer Thomas, which has offices in Youngstown and New Castle, Pa., has 60 employees.

Rankings were made after an evaluation of company policies, practices, philosophies, systems and demographics and a scoring of employee surveys.

Consignment store features children’s items

WARREN — Shannon Lewis-Hentosh has opened Couture and More Consignment Boutique at 5000 E. Market St. The consignment store features gently worn and like-new children’s apparel. Sizes range from newborn to junior and include many brand names.

NATION

Toyota recalls SUVs

WASHINGTON — Toyota Motor plans to recall about 90,000 Highlander sport utility vehicles in the United States. The Japanese automaker wants to fix a problem that could prevent the seat belt in a third-row seat from securing a rear-facing child seat.

Toyota spokesman Bill Kwong said Friday the company had issued a stop sale of the 2008 Highlander SUV and hybrid version with third-row seats to retrofit changes to the seat belt. There have been no complaints or injuries tied to the seat belts. The vehicles under the recall were built between May 2007 and March 2008. Kwong says owners will be notified of the recall in June, and dealers will install a newly designed seat belt component.

Wire and staff reports