O’Reilly ceremony

O’Reilly ceremony

BOARDMAN

O’Reilly Auto Parts recently opened at 8308 Market St. and plans a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 10 a.m. March 12. Store Manager Dustin Bowers, on behalf of the entire company, will present a $200 check to the Salvation Army.

Cafaro donation

NILES

Anthony Cafaro Sr., on behalf of the Cafaro Foundation, will make a donation Thursday to the Howland Community Stadium Foundation for the renovation and modernization of the stadium complex at Howland High School.

The event will take place at noon in center court at Eastwood Mall, 5555 Youngstown-Warren Road.

Ohio gas prices

COLUMBUS

Ohio gas prices are on par with the national average to start the week but remain significantly cheaper than at this time last year.

The state average for a gallon of regular gas was $2.43 in Monday’s survey from auto club AAA, the Oil Price Information Service and WEX Inc. That’s up 10 cents compared with a week ago, but it’s down $1.17 from a year ago.

The national average was the same as Ohio’s at $2.43 Monday. That’s up 13 cents from a week earlier but is about a dollar cheaper than a year ago.

Before February, gas prices mostly had dropped for months. Analysts say an increase in crude-oil prices and labor strikes at several refineries helped push gas prices higher.

The Youngstown area average was $2.41 Monday compared with $2.24 last week and $2.01 a month ago, according to AAA.

Ohio sues BP

COLUMBUS

Ohio is suing BP for more than $33 million, alleging the company double-dipped by taking state funds and money from insurers to clean up accidental leaks from underground storage tanks at hundreds of its gas stations around the state.

The state’s attorney general and the Ohio Petroleum Underground Storage Tank Release Compensation Board filed the lawsuit Monday. The board administers a fund used as a last resort when tank owners lack coverage or don’t accept insurance money.

The lawsuit alleges BP wrongfully obtained $33.3 million in reimbursements from the fund, claiming it had no insurance for the leaks when it often accepted insurance money for the same releases.

BP spokesman Jason Ryan says the company acted in good faith at all times and will defend itself against the lawsuit.

Vindicator staff/wire reports