Former comptroller general to speak at chamber luncheon


February 18, 2015 at 12:00a.m.

Former comptroller general to speak at chamber luncheon

HOWLAND

David M. Walker, who served as the seventh U.S. comptroller general, will speak during a Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber government-affairs council luncheon at Leo’s Ristorante, 7042 E. Market St., at 11:15 a.m. March 5.

Walker will visit the Mahoning Valley to rally support for No Labels, which calls for a new governing process to build a national strategic agenda centered on four goals: creating 25 million jobs over 10 years; balancing the federal budget by 2030; securing Social Security and Medicare for another 75 years; and making America energy secure by 2024.

Tickets are available online at regionalchamber.com. They are $20 for chamber members and $30 for nonmembers.

Mobile-banking apps awarded

YOUNGSTOWN

Charter One and parent company Citizens Banks’ mobile-banking applications for iPhone and Android won mobile-banking leader awards from Javelin Strategy and Research.

Citizens’ mobile apps were found to be among the best in the industry, with average customer ratings of 4.2 out of 5 stars.

Citizens received similar recognition from Javelin last year in the research firm’s 2013 mobile-banking report.

Workplace injuries, illnesses in Ohio

Recently released statistics from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics show nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses in Ohio are below the national average.

The 2013 survey of occupational injuries and illnesses found Ohio public and private employers combined for an incidence rate of 3 cases per 100 full-time workers compared with the national rate of 3.5.

Ohio also saw a 5 percent drop in total estimated injuries and illnesses with 122,600 recordable cases in 2013 compared with 129,200 cases in 2012.

Local UPS drivers inducted into Circle of Honor

YOUNGSTOWN

Some local United Parcel Service drivers were among the 75 Ohio drivers to be inducted to the worldwide Circle of Honor, an honorary organization for UPS drivers who have achieved 25 or more years of accident-free driving.

Thomas Buchert and David Maushart, both of Liberty, and Ellis Weston of Warren were inducted.

US homebuilder confidence slides

WASHINGTON

U.S. homebuilders say sales prospects and buyer traffic fell slightly this month. The National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo builder sentiment index released Tuesday slipped to 55 in February from 57 in January.

Despite the decline, builders remain relatively optimistic a month before the start of the spring buying season. Readings above 50 indicate that more builders view sales conditions as positive rather than poor. Lower mortgage rates, coupled with job gains over the past year, point to stronger sales.

Vindicator staff/wire reports

Selected local stocks

STOCK, DIVIDENDCLOSECHANGE

Aqua America, .61, 25.70 -0.15

Avalon Holdings,$3.510.01

Clear Channel, .46 18.58-0.11

Cortland Bancorp, 15.610

Farmers Nat., .127.99 0.12

First Energy, 1.44, 36.86-0.37

Fifth/Third, .5219.440.18

FirstMerit Corp., .64,18.28 0.01

First Niles Financial, .32,9.150

FNB Corp., .48,13.170.06

General Motors, 1.2037.18-0.44

General Electric, .88,25.12-0.03

Huntington Bank, .20, 10.720.02

JP Morgan Chase, 1.60,59.990.32

Key Corp, .26,14.150.04

LaFarge, 18.49 0.06

Macy’s, 1.25, 63.51-0.82

Parker Hannifin, 1.92, 122.89-1.17

PNC, 1.92,92.29-0.09

RTI Intl. Metals,28.620.59

Simon Prop. Grp.,5.20,192.70-0.41

Stoneridge 12.15 0.02

Talmer Bank, 13.98-0.04

United Comm. Fin., .04 5.300.02

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.