Business News in Brief

REGION

2 stores to open in Warren

WARREN — Two businesses in the Warren area will officially open Wednesday with ribbon- cutting ceremonies. They are:

UWatch Battery Express, 3731 Elm Road N.E., a locally owned and operated business established in 2001. The Elm Road store is the third in the Mahoning Valley, joining locations in Niles and Boardman. The ribbon-cutting for Watch Battery Express, a full-service watch and jewelry repair store with the convenience of a drive-thru, is 10 a.m. The owner is Darrell Hatton.

UHibachi Sushi Supreme Buffet, 4379 Mahoning Ave. N.W. The ribbon-cutting is at 11 a.m. Hibachi Sushi has 12 buffet tables that rotate more than 200 items, including soup, appetizers, salad, sushi, entrees, desserts and much more. The menu features both Chinese and Japanese cuisine. Hours of operation are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday.

Gasoline prices are stable

COLUMBUS — It has been a week of stable gasoline prices in Ohio, despite rising oil prices.

Auto club AAA, the Oil Price Information Service and Wright Express reported Monday that the statewide average for a gallon of regular-grade gas was $2.54 per gallon, unchanged from a week earlier.

Ohio gas is more than $1 cheaper than it was last year at this time, when the average was $3.66.

NATION

Inspect stadium light poles

WASHINGTON — School officials and facility managers should immediately inspect outdoor stadium light poles made by Whitco Co. LP because the poles can crack and fall, putting bystanders at risk, the government’s safety agency said Monday.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission said it knew of nine incidents in which poles installed from about 2000 through 2006 fell, including one pole that went through the roof of a school gymnasium. On two occasions, a pole fell onto outdoor bleachers.

The commission, which is investigating the poles, said it is not aware of any injuries. Most incidents occurred in Texas, but the poles have been installed in other states, the CPSC said. The safety agency said the Fort Worth, Texas, company is no longer in business.

Staff and wire reports