More than 100 shale projects in Ohio

April 3, 2014 at 12:00a.m.

COLUMBUS

There now are more than 100 shale-related projects taking place in Ohio worth $18 billion in investments, according to the law firm Bricker & Eckler LLP.

The projects are taking place in 25 counties, though most development is occurring in the eastern portion of the state.

The Mahoning Valley is home to 30 projects. Trumbull County leads the way with 15, while Columbiana County has nine and Mahoning County has six.

AT&T plans hiring event in Boardman

BOARDMAN

AT&T announced Wednesday that it is hiring more than 3,000 retail employees nationwide in the coming months, including 200 in Ohio.

AT&T will host a hiring event Saturday at its Boardman Call Center, 8089 South Avenue, from 9 a.m. to noon.

Chrysler recalling 867,795 SUVs

DETROIT

Chrysler is recalling nearly 870,000 SUVs because corrosion may make the vehicles’ brakes harder to use.

Jeep Grand Cherokee and Dodge Durango SUVs from the 2011 through 2014 model-years are involved.

Chrysler says crimp joints in the brake boosters can corrode if they’re exposed to water. If the water freezes, the boosters won’t aid braking as they usually do.

Chrysler began investigating after some customers said their brakes felt too firm when pressed down. The company knows of one accident, but no injuries, due to the defect.

Dealers will install a shield to protect the boosters for free and replace boosters that aren’t working properly.

Chrysler has since changed the design to make the boosters more corrosion-resistant.

Chrysler will notify owners of the recall, which involves 867,795 vehicles.

Lufthansa cancels nearly 900 flights

BERLIN

Lufthansa canceled almost 900 domestic and intercontinental flights Wednesday after the pilots union started a three-day strike in a wage dispute with Germany’s largest airline.

In all, the airline expects to cancel about 3,800 flights through Friday, affecting more than 425,000 passengers, spokeswoman Barbara Schaedler said.

Lufthansa Cargo and its budget airline Germanwings also were affected by the strike, which the company estimates will cost it “tens of millions” of dollars.

The carrier has been trying to cut costs amid tough competition from European budget carriers and aggressively expanding government-owned Gulf airlines.

The pilots union Vereinigung Cockpit announced the strike in advance, giving Lufthansa time to prepare by canceling flights and offering passengers alternative travel arrangements.

One of the pilots’ main demands is that Lufthansa keep paying a transition payment for those who want to retire early at age 55. The airline wants to cut those payments. The pilots also are asking for a salary increase of 10 percent.

Vindicator staff/wire reports