Jerky-store opening

Jerky-store opening

HUBBARD

Owners Neil and Erin Stahurski of Cleveland will open the second location for Tommy’s Jerky Outlet at 1482 W. Liberty St. on Friday.

The store sells about 30 flavors of jerky and smokies, made from elk, buffalo, venison and more-exotic animals such as alligator, salmon and kangaroo.

To celebrate the opening, the owners will provide free samples of everything in the store and raffle off a fishing trip on Mosquito Lake, valued at $2,500. The drawing will take place Sunday.

The store is open this weekend from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.

Normal business hours are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

Gas prices fall 7 cents

YOUNGSTOWN

Gas prices in Northeast Ohio fell 7 cents this week to an average of $3.56 per gallon, according to AAA East Central.

The national average rose to $3.53 per gallon. That was 1 cent more than last week, 12 cents higher than a month ago and 14 cents less than a year ago.

This week’s prices were affected by seasonal refinery maintenance, as the refineries prepare to switch over to producing summer-blend gasoline.

Help for businesses

YOUNGSTOWN

The Mahoning Valley Economic Development Corp. has opened two newly organized Regional Minority Business Assistance Centers to provide support to small, minority and disadvantaged businesses in its service area.

The Youngstown Area Development Corp., 2132 Belmont Ave., is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

The Greater Warren-Youngstown Urban League, at 290 W. Market Street, Warren, is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays.

Wal-Mart settles suit

AKRON

Wal-Mart Stores East L.P. has agreed to pay $363,419 to settle a sexual harassment and retaliation lawsuit brought by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the agency announced Tuesday.

According to the suit, Wal-Mart violated federal law by allowing a co-worker to sexually harass an intellectually disabled employee at an Akron store. The harassed employee later was fired when she made a formal complaint to management, according to EEOC.

Unannounced cruise inspections begin

MIAMI

The Coast Guard has begun unannounced inspections of cruise ships at U.S. ports, targeting those with patterns of safety problems, officials told the National Transportation Safety Board at its first forum on safety on board the vessels.

Capt. Eric Christensen, who oversees ship inspection policy for the Coast Guard, also said that regular twice-a-year inspections of 140 cruise ships based at U.S. ports in 2013 found 351 deficiencies, most frequently problems with fire doors and lifeboats.

The inspection program began this month.

Vindicator staff/wire reports