Supporting casinos
Supporting casinos
YOUNGSTOWN
The Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber, along with the Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce, the Ohio Fraternal Order of Police, the Seafarers Entertainment and Allied Construction Trades Union, the Affiliated Construction Trades Ohio Foundation and Lebanon City School District submitted a friend-of-the-court brief to the Ohio Supreme Court in support of the defendants in Walgate v. Kasich — the ongoing lawsuit seeking to reverse the legalization of casinos and video-lottery terminals at racetracks in the state.
In its brief, the groups join in support of an industry that has provided thousands of jobs and more than a billion dollars in construction development since casinos first were approved by Ohio voters in 2009.
HCTC amendment
YOUNGSTOWN
U.S. Sens. Sherrod Brown, D-Cleveland, and Rob Portman, R-Cincinnati, members of the Senate Finance Committee, introduced an amendment Wednesday to extend the Health Coverage Tax Credit.
The senators’ bipartisan amendment to the Hire More Heroes Act would extend the HCTC for three years. The amendment would make the tax credit retroactive to Jan. 1, 2014, and extend HCTC through Dec. 31, 2016, to help retirees maintain affordable health care.
McDonald’s selects Easterbrook as CEO
OAK BROOK, ILL.
McDonald’s Corp. on Wednesday tapped Chief Brand Officer Steve Easterbrook as its new president and CEO to succeed Don Thompson.
McDonald’s has been dealing with intense competition and changing consumer tastes. Earlier this month, the world’s largest hamburger chain reported falling earnings and sales for its fourth quarter and said it is going to take action this year to save money and bring back customers. It’s also making menu changes.
Thompson will retire March 1.
Ford, Nissan recalls
Ford is recalling more than 221,000 cars and vans to fix problems with door latches and seat belts.
The biggest recall covers nearly 205,000 Ford Taurus, Lincoln MKS and Police Interceptor models in North America from the 2010 to 2013 model years. Ford says a door-latch spring can become unseated, allowing the door to unlatch in a side-impact crash. The second recall covers more than 16,000 Transit Connect small vans in the U.S. from the 2014 model year. Seat-belt fasteners can loosen, causing the belts to malfunction.
Nissan is recalling nearly 768,000 SUVs worldwide to fix faulty hood latches and electrical shorts that could cause fires. The larger Nissan recall announced Wednesday covers more than 552,000 Rogue small SUVs from 2008 through 2013 and Rogue Select SUVs from 2014. Snow and salty water can seep through the driver’s side carpet to a wiring harness, causing electrical shorts. The second recall covers nearly 216,000 Nissan Pathfinders from 2013 and 2014, and Infiniti JX35s from 2013 and QX60s from 2014. The secondary hood latch could stay open when the hood is closed.
Vindicator staff/wire reports
Selected local stocks
STOCK, DIVIDENDCLOSECHANGE
Aqua America, .61, 27.65 —.05
Avalon Holdings,2.95—.05
Clear Channel, .46 19.12 .00
Cortland Bancorp, 15.70—.20
Farmers Nat., .127.70 .08
First Energy, 1.44, 40.77—.36
Fifth/Third, .5217.25—.41
FirstMerit Corp., .64,16.53 —.77
First Niles Financial, .32,9.15.00
FNB Corp., .48,12.03—.30
General Motors, 1.2032.84—.58
General Electric, .88,23.87—.51
Huntington Bank, .20, 9.80—.24
JP Morgan Chase, 1.60,54.87—1.33
Key Corp, .26,12.95—.36
LaFarge, 16.99 —.03
Macy’s, 1.25, 64.90—.61
Parker Hannifin, 1.92, 117.12—4.23
PNC, 1.92,83.77—1.73
RTI Intl. Metals,21.77—.16
Simon Prop. Grp.,5.20,203.95—.73
Stoneridge 12.82 —.35
Talmer Bank, 13.55.04
United Comm. Fin., .04 5.20—.02
Selected prices at 4 p.m. Wednesday. Provided by Stifel. Not to be construed as an offer or recommendation to buy or sell any security.