Business news digest

REGION

Youth-leadership program

BOARDMAN — Youth Leadership Mahoning Valley Class of 2009 will be honored Tuesday during a commencement dinner at 6 p.m. at Antone’s Banquet Centre.

Ninety-two high school sophomores and juniors from across the Mahoning Valley participated in the extensive youth-leadership program.

The mission of Youth Leadership Mahoning Valley is to identify, develop and motivate potential leaders among area youths to address challenges and celebrate the opportunities of the Mahoning Valley.

NATION

Chrysler bondholders to drop opposition to plan

NEW YORK — A group of dissident Chrysler bondholders says it’s dropping its opposition to the automaker’s proposed restructuring plan.

Geoffrey Gwin, principal of the Group G Capital Partners hedge funds, said Friday that after reviewing their options, the group realized it couldn’t effectively challenge the plan in court.

Earlier this week, the group’s nine funds said they represented $295 million of Chrysler LLC’s total secured debt of $6.9 billion. That was down from previous estimates of 20 members with about $1 billion in debt.

Economy forcing parks, historic sites to cut back

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. — Cash-strapped Americans looking for a cheap getaway at a state park or campground might be thwarted this summer.

The head of a national group of state parks directors says parks and historic sites have had to cut back because of budgets stressed by the recession. Philip McKnelly of the National Association of State Parks Directors says Americans may find reduced hours, higher fees and closed beaches and pools.

From staff and wire reports