OHIO

OHIO

Randall Park Mall to close; tenants must relocate

NORTH RANDALL, Ohio — The mayor in the Cleveland suburb of North Randall says a local mall once touted as the world’s largest will be closing in three weeks.

Mayor David Smith says owners of the 32-year-old Randall Park Mall have given its few remaining tenants until June 12 to go out of business themselves or relocate to empty storefronts nearby.

Smith calls the mall’s demise “an opportunity waiting to happen.” He says different investors have expressed interest in either redeveloping the buildings or tearing them down and putting up an industrial park.

NATION

McDonald’s french fries are now trans-fat free

CHICAGO — McDonald’s said Thursday its french fries are now trans-fat-free in all its restaurants in the United States and Canada, catching it up with its fast-food rivals in that category.

CEO Jim Skinner made the word official at its annual shareholders meeting at McDonald’s Corp. headquarters in Oak Brook, Ill.

McDonald’s has lagged other restaurant operators in switching over to a zero-trans-fat cooking oil out of worries it would compromise the taste of its trademark fries. It has been under increasing pressure from consumer advocates and some public officials to make the change, but did so quietly.

Associated Press