Gas prices drop

Gas prices drop

YOUNGSTOWN

Northeast Ohio gas prices are 22 cents lower this week than last week, according to AAA East Central’s Fuel Gauge report.

This week’s NEO average price is $1.85 compared with $2.80 during the week of Dec. 2, 2014.

The Youngstown average this week is $1.88. The national average is $2.04.

Drivers this year paid the lowest gas prices for Thanksgiving since 2008, and the national average has fallen for 24-straight days.

BWC public forum

YOUNGSTOWN

The Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation directors will have a public forum at 9 a.m. Thursday at the BWC Youngstown Service Office, 242 W. Federal St., Suite 200.

BWC board members will conduct a roundtable discussion about the state agency and how policy decisions are made by the board through its committee structure. This also is an opportunity for the directors to learn which issues are most important to stakeholders in the area, and the suggestions they may have for improvement.

Miracle Ear moves

BOARDMAN

The Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber will have a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 10 a.m. today at Miracle Ear in Southern Park Mall, 7401 Market St. Miracle Ear was located inside Sears and now is across from the Art Cafe.

The Boardman location is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and Saturdays by appointment. For information, visit www.miracle-ear.com/locations/boardman-oh/.

Ford adding 2K jobs at Ky. Truck Plant

LOUISVILLE, Ky.

Ford Motor Co. said Tuesday that it will add 2,000 jobs and invest $1.3 billion at the Kentucky Truck Plant to support production of new aluminum-body Super Duty trucks, deepening the automaker’s ties to a city where it has two large production facilities.

The investment, cheered by plant workers and Kentucky politicians, includes putting more workers on the final assembly line for the all-new 2017 F-Series Super Duty trucks, said Joe Hinrichs, Ford’s president of the Americas.

The automaker said the investment includes adding a new body shop, upgrading facilities and retooling at the sprawling plant – one of Ford’s largest – to build the 2017 models.

Nonprofit funded by Coke to disband

NEW YORK

A nonprofit funded by the Coca-Cola Co. to combat obesity is disbanding after revelations about the beverage maker’s involvement with the group.

The Global Energy Balance Network said on its website Monday night that it is “discontinuing operations due to resource limitations.” The decision was effective immediately.

The group previously had said that it received an “unrestricted gift” from Coke and that the Atlanta-based soft-drink giant had “no input” into its activities.

But last week, The Associated Press reported on emails showing that Coke helped with the selection of the group’s leaders, edited its mission statement and suggested content for its website.

Staff/wire reports