La-Z-Boy to acquire independently owned Boardman, Howland stores

La-Z-Boy to buy 2 stores in Valley

YOUNGSTOWN

The Michigan-based La-Z-Boy Inc. announced Thursday it plans to acquire two independently owned La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries stores in Boardman and Howland, which have a combined revenue of about $6.5 million.

Since 1975, the stores have been owned and operated by independent dealers Ron and Marisa D’Alesandro, who are retiring.

The stores will become part of La-Z-Boy’s retail operation after the deal closes in mid-November, and will bring the total company-owned store count to 98. Terms of the transaction are not being disclosed.

Road-salt savings

COLUMBUS

Ohio taxpayers could save about $5 million this year as the price the state pays for road salt continues to decrease with the help of regional bidding efforts.

The Columbus Dispatch reports that for the second year in a row, the Ohio Department of Transportation has asked salt companies to provide bids for regional transportation districts, instead of just on a county-by-county basis.

In previous years, salt companies were required to provide the state with an estimated price per ton of salt for each of Ohio’s 88 counties and the lowest bid per county won.

The statewide average cost this year is $35.83 per ton of salt, down from $40.91 last year. The price was $54.02 per ton in 2011, prior to the bid changes.

Auto recalls on hold

WASHINGTON

Lives and property are at greater risk because auto recalls and investigations of safety defects have been put on hold during the partial government shutdown, safety advocates said.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has furloughed employees who investigate safety complaints and order carmakers to recall vehicles. The public still can file safety complaints through the agency’s website, but no one has been investigating them since the shutdown began more than a week ago.

Manufacturers can still voluntarily recall vehicles, but major recalls typically are negotiated between the government and automakers.

Vindicator staff/wire reports