BUSINESS DIGEST || Insurance courses offered

Courses offered

MINERAL RIDGE

The Western Reserve Association of Health Underwriters is offering two continuing-education courses next Thursday: “Voluntary Benefits/Flexible Benefits” and “Long Term Care Overview.” Each is approved for one continuing- education credit.

Registration and lunch for the event, at The Fifth Season, 1400 Niles-Canfield Road, begins at 11:30 a.m. followed by the continuing- educations programs at noon, presented by Paul Reeves, regional instructor for Colonial Life.

Admission is $5 for members and $35 for nonmembers. The price includes lunch and CE credit. For reservations, call 330-273-5756.

D’Vino opens

niles

D’Vino Ristorante has opened in the lower level of Alberini’s Restaurant, 1201 Youngstown-Warren Road.

D’Vino is operated by Daimer Cescon, a three-star Michelin chef from Venice, Italy. He is one of seven three-star Michelin chefs in the U.S., according to the restaurant’s press release.

D’Vino will be open for lunch and dinner seven days a week. The menu includes daily specialties with all fresh ingredients made from scratch.

Brown unveils plan to lower drug costs

washington

U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Avon, outlined his three-point plan to reduce the deficit by lowering prescription-drug costs for consumers and taxpayers at a Wednesday news conference.

Brown, chairman of the Senate Finance Subcommittee on Social Security, Pensions and Family Policy, also released a county-by-county report showing how reforms made through the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act already have saved nearly 179,000 Ohio seniors a combined $138.5 million on their prescription-drug costs in 2012, with the average beneficiary saving $774, according to the report.

Since 2010, Ohio seniors have saved a combined $278.7 million, the report says.

US economy is growing, Fed says

WASHINGTON

Strong auto sales, better hiring and a continued housing recovery helped the U.S. economy grow in January and February throughout the country, according to a survey released Wednesday by the Federal Reserve.

The survey noted that 10 of the Fed’s 12 banking districts reported moderate or modest growth, while the Boston and Chicago districts reported slow growth.

Consumer spending increased in most regions, although spending growth slowed in many districts, and much of the gains were driven by auto sales. Many districts said consumers pulled back slightly elsewhere after seeing taxes rise and gas prices increase.

Housing markets showed more strength in nearly all parts of the country. Manufacturing grew modestly in most regions after struggling through most of 2012. And many districts reported improvement in individual jobs markets.

Vindicator staff/wire reports