Export-sales record

Export-sales record

WASHINGTON

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker announced Tuesday that Ohio was one of 16 states that set new records for export sales in 2013.

Ohio recorded $50.5 billion in export sales last year, and the total value of goods and services exported from the United States reached a record level of $2.3 trillion in 2013.

Steel-import duties

WASHINGTON

U.S. Sens. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, and Rob Portman, R-Ohio, on Tuesday applauded a preliminary ruling by the U.S. Department of Commerce that it would maintain duties on steel imports from China.

Strong enforcement of anti-dumping and countervailing duties, they said, would prevent cheap Chinese products from flooding domestic markets.

The senators said the decision would benefit Ohio steel producers, such as Vallourec Star and U.S. Steel, by allowing them to compete with foreign producers.

Ribbon-cutting set

YOUNGSTOWN

The new Hot Head Burrito on the campus of Youngstown State University will celebrate its opening with a ribbon-cutting at 5:15 p.m. today at 315 Elm St.

About 200 to 250 people are expected at the event, which will feature appearances by Youngstown Mayor John A. McNally, Miss Ohio, and university representatives, said franchise owner Pam VonBergen of VB Companies.

Grand opening

ELLWOOD CITY, Pa.

A Bella Boutique will celebrate its grand opening at 10:45 a.m. Thursday with a ribbon-cutting and open house at 503 Lawrence Ave.

The upscale consignment shop, which offers women’s fashions and home-decor items, will offer refreshments at the event.

New Allegiant jet

ORLANDO, Fla.

Allegiant Air and the Make-A-Wish Foundation unveiled a new plane featuring both groups’ logos Tuesday.

Allegiant Air said the 177-seat Airbus A320 represents the company’s commitment to provide flights for Make-A-Wish families. The plane, based at Orlando/Sanford International Airport, will fly to more than 50 cities.

Allegiant Air has been operating flights to Florida out of Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport in Vienna since 2006.

Graco seat recall

DETROIT

Graco is recalling nearly 3.8 million car safety seats because children can get trapped by buckles that may not unlatch. But the company has drawn the ire of federal safety regulators who say the recall should include an additional 1.8 million rear-facing car seats designed for infants.

The recall covers 11 models made from 2009 through 2013 by Graco Children’s Products Inc. of Atlanta. It’s the fourth-largest child-seat recall in U.S. history, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the government’s road safety watchdog.

NHTSA also criticized Graco in a sternly worded letter dated Tuesday, saying the recall excludes seven infant car seat models with the same buckles.

Vindicator staff/wire reports