Contract extended

Contract extended

YOUNGSTOWN

The contract between the Youngstown General Duty Nurses Association and ValleyCare Health System has been extended through March 31. The contract was due to expire before midnight Friday.

Eric Williams, president of the Youngstown General Duty Nurses Association, said the hospital accepted the contract extension requested by the union, which represents about 280 registered nurses at Northside Medical Center on Gypsy Lane.

Contract talks began early this month, and another negotiation meeting is scheduled for March 19, Williams said.

America Makes puts out project call

YOUNGSTOWN

America Makes, the National Additive Manufacturing Innovation Institute, announced its next project call for additive manufacturing applied research and development projects.

Driven by the National Center for Defense Manufacturing and Machining, America Makes will provide up to $8 million in funding toward these projects with at least $8 million in matching cost share from the awarded project teams for total funding worth $16 million.

Realtors report

COLUMBUS

The Ohio Association of Realtors reports the number of single-family homes and condominiums put under agreement in January increased 19.5 percent from the level posted during the month a year ago.

The rate of purchase-contract signings in January fell 7.2 percent from the market’s December 2014 pace.

US rig count drops

HOUSTON

Oilfield services company Baker Hughes Inc. says the number of rigs exploring for oil and natural gas in the U.S. fell by 43 this week to 1,267 amid depressed oil prices.

The Houston-based company said Friday in its weekly report that 86 rigs were exploring for oil and 280 for gas. One was listed as miscellaneous. A year ago 1,769 rigs were active.

Of the major oil- and gas-producing states, North Dakota’s count fell by 11, Oklahoma lost nine, Louisiana seven, Texas six, New Mexico four, Colorado three and Wyoming two. West Virginia, Ohio and Kansas dropped one each.

Fiat Chrysler recalls more than 467K SUVs

DETROIT

Fiat Chrysler is recalling more than 467,000 Dodge and Jeep SUVs worldwide to fix a faulty fuel pump relay at the root of a potential stalling problem.

It’s the same problem that caused the recall of 189,000 other SUVs in September of last year, bringing the total to more than 656,000. A safety advocate says the recall should be expanded even further, contending that problems affect up to 5 million Fiat Chrysler vehicles with similar parts.

The recall announced Friday by the company covers 2012 and 2013 Dodge Durangos and 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokees outside North America. The Jeeps have diesel engines.

Vindicator staff/wire reports

Selected local stocks

STOCK, DIVIDENDCLOSECHANGE

Aqua America, .61, 26.39 .12

Avalon Holdings,3.10.00

Clear Channel, .46 19.13 —.02

Cortland Bancorp, 15.71—.02

Farmers Nat., .127.88 .04

First Energy, 1.44, 34.98—.63

Fifth/Third, .5219.37—.07

FirstMerit Corp., .64,18.20 —.18

First Niles Financial, .32,9.15.00

FNB Corp., .48,12.83—.07

General Motors, 1.2037.36—.20

General Electric, .88,26.00.11

Huntington Bank, .20, 10.93—.04

JP Morgan Chase, 1.60,61.40—.18

Key Corp, .26,13.92—.12

LaFarge, 18.65 —.11

Macy’s, 1.25, 63.74.16

Parker Hannifin, 1.92, 122.79—.43

PNC, 1.92,92.01—.15

RTI Intl. Metals,27.89—.01

Simon Prop. Grp.,5.20,190.383.24

Stoneridge 11.55 .22

Talmer Bank, 14.12—.04

United Comm. Fin., .04 5.25.06

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