Gasoline prices rise

Gasoline prices rise

YOUNGSTOWN

The price of gasoline in Northeast Ohio rose almost 2 cents this week to $3.67 per gallon, according to AAA East Central.

Prices here kept pace with the national average, which also jumped 2 cents to $3.67 per gallon Tuesday. That was 14 cents more than the same time a month ago and 15 cents more than the same date last year.

AAA said gas prices were likely influenced by continued tension overseas and a seasonal draw-down in domestic supply, as refineries switch over to a summer blend of gasoline.

Press conference by fracking opponents

YOUNGSTOWN

Proponents of a charter amendment banning fracking within city limits will have a press conference at 1 p.m. today outside of City Hall, 26 S. Phelps St.

Ray and Susie Beiersdorfer of Frackfree Mahoning Valley will discuss the recent the Ohio Department of Natural Resources’ response to the Poland Township earthquakes and other topics.

Attacks on payment systems trail others

new york

While the theft of millions of credit-card numbers from Target customers last year drew attention to Internet crime, a new study finds that breaches of retail payment systems are less common than other kinds of attacks.

A report from Verizon found that Internet attacks in which data were compromised resulted more often from various small online acts, such people clicking on malicious Web links and choosing easy-to-guess passwords. The report is due out today.

IRS gives bonuses to owers of back taxes

washington

The Internal Revenue Service has paid more than $2.8 million in bonuses to employees with recent disciplinary problems, including $1 million to workers who owed back taxes, a government investigator said Tuesday.

More than 2,800 workers got bonuses despite facing a disciplinary action in the previous year, including 1,150 who owed back taxes, said a report by J. Russell George, the Treasury inspector general for tax administration. The bonuses were awarded from October 2010 through December 2012.

Baby-lobster decline

YARMOUTH, MAINE

The number of baby lobsters settling off the rocky coast of Maine continues to steadily decline — possibly foreshadowing an end to the recent record catches that have boosted New England’s lobster fishery, scientists say.

A University of Maine survey of 11 Gulf of Maine locations indicates that young lobsters have declined by more than half of their 2007 levels — significant since lobsters typically take about eight years to reach the legal harvesting size.

The downward trend has lobstermen, retailers, state officials, and ocean scientists concerned that the impact could soon be felt on dinner tables nationwide. Maine lobsters were 85 percent of the nation’s lobster catch in 2012.

Higher ocean temperatures, pollution, atmospheric conditions and changes in predation and availability of food could all be to blame, experts say.

Vindicator staff/wire reports

Selected local stocks

STOCK, DIVIDENDCLOSECHANGE

Aqua America, .61, 25.29 .08

Avalon Holdings,4.99.05

Clear Channel, .61 22.89 .37

Cortland Bancorp, 10.90.00

Farmers Nat., .127.60 —.12

First Energy, 2.20, 33.49.01

FirstMerit Corp., .64,19.04 —1.02

First Niles Financial, .32,7.50.00

FNB Corp., .48,12.83.09

General Motors,34.29.31

General Electric, .76,26.63.04

Huntington Bank, .20, 9.38.14

JP Morgan Chase, 1.52,55.90.87

Key Corp, .22,13.92.29

LaFarge, 23.01 .18

Macy’s, 1.00, 57.59.26

Parker Hannifin, 1.80, 125.22.03

PNC, 1.76,84.64.94

RTI Intl. Metals,28.25—.10

Simon Prop. Grp.,4.60,170.80.16

Stoneridge 11.49 .01

Talmer Bank, 13.72—.06

United Community Fin. 3.77.05

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