Senators: Probe password request

Senators: Probe password request

seattle

Two U.S. senators are asking Attorney General Eric Holder to investigate whether employers asking for Facebook passwords during job interviews are violating federal law, their offices announced Sunday.

Troubled by reports of the practice, Democratic Sens. Chuck Schumer of New York and Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut said they are calling on the Department of Justice and the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to launch investigations. The senators are sending letters to the heads of the agencies.

The Associated Press reported last week that some private and public agencies in the U.S. are asking job-seekers for their social-media credentials. The practice has alarmed privacy advocates, but the legality of it remains murky.

Ohio micro-distillery 1st to get new permit

columbus

A central Ohio micro- distillery has become the first such business in the state to benefit from a new law allowing sales of samples in the businesses’ tasting rooms.

Columbus-based Watershed Distillery received the new liquor permit created by House Bill 243 last week, The Columbus Dispatch reported. The law allows micro-distilleries to operate similarly to wineries.

BATS CEO: Sorry for not measuring up

new york

The CEO of BATS Global Markets is offering a public apology for withdrawing his company’s initial public offering after an embarrassing computer glitch.

“BATS experienced a serious technical failure Friday morning, and I want to apologize for not measuring up,” said Joe Ratterman, CEO of BATS in a mass email addressed to customers and members of the trading community.

Ratterman sent the email Sunday evening.

American Eagle to close PR operations

san juan, puerto rico

A Puerto Rican newspaper says the regional affiliate of American Airlines is planning to suspend its operations in Puerto Rico next year as it tries to shave $75 million per year from labor costs.

El Vocero reported Sunday that American Eagle will close its Puerto Rico operations by March 2013. The paper is citing a Friday memo from the Association of Flight Attendants to American Eagle’s roughly 150 employees on the U.S. island. The flight attendants union did not immediately respond to calls Sunday seeking comment.

Vindicator wire reports

Selected local stocks

STOCK, DIVIDENDCLOSECHANGE

Aqua America, .66, 22.15 .30

Avalon Holdings,4.53.20

Clear Channel, .77 69.90 —.06

Cortland Bancorp, 7.85.00

Farmers Nat., .126.22 .04

First Energy, 2.20, 44.72.10

FirstMerit Corp., .64,16.87 .16

First Niles Financial, .32,8.25.00

First Place Fin., .77.02

FNB Corp., .48,12.19.09

General Motors,25.17.12

General Electric, .68,19.78—.07

Motors Liquidation, .0422.00

Huntington Bank, .16, 6.295—.05

JP Morgan Chase, 1.00,45.16.51

Key Corp, .12,8.35.00

LaFarge, 11.67 .32

Macy’s, .80, 39.84—.22

Parker Hannifin, 1.56, 85.63.74

PNC, 1.40,63.36.76

RTI Intl. Metals,22.53.18

Simon Prop. Grp.,3.80,143.62.85

Stoneridge 10.00 —.07

United Community Fin. 2.02.17

Selected prices at 4 p.m. Friday. Provided by Stifel Nicolaus. Not to be construed as an offer or recommendation to buy or sell any security.