Tuesday, March 17, 2015
Wedgewood’s 20th
boardman
Wedgewood Pizza, 6200 South Ave., celebrated its 20th anniversary in the township Friday.
The store was custom- built to house the shop. The nine ovens at the location have seen a lot of use. The pizza shop specializes in extra-large orders and recently began serving beer and wine.
Gas prices drop
YOUNGSTOWN
Gas prices in the city average $2.303, according to AAA East Central’s Fuel Gauge report.
Northeast Ohio’s average price was $2.263, a week ago it was $2.358, and a year ago it was $3.633.
After rising for 40 days in a row, the national average price for regular gasoline now has fallen for nine-straight days to Monday’s average of $2.42 per gallon. Compared with this date last year, consumers are saving an average of $1.09 per gallon at the pump.
McDonald’s workers detail job hazards
NEW YORK
McDonald’s workers in 19 cities have filed complaints over burns from popping grease, a lack of protective equipment and other workplace hazards, according to labor organizers.
The complaints are the latest move in an ongoing campaign to win pay of $15 per hour and unionization for fast-food workers by publicly pressuring McDonald’s to come to the bargaining table. The push is being spearheaded by the Service Employees International Union and began more than two years ago. Already, it has included protests around the country and lawsuits alleging workers weren’t given their rightful pay.
The burns and other hazards were detailed in complaints announced Monday and filed with the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration in recent weeks. Workers cite a persistent lack of gloves for handling hot equipment and say they’ve been burned while cleaning grills that have to be kept on.
The complaints also detail a lack of training for handling hot fryers and slipping on wet floors.
2 plead guilty in chemical-spill case
CHARLESTON, W.Va.
Two former owners of Freedom Industries pleaded guilty Monday to environmental violations stemming from last year’s Charleston chemical spill that prompted a temporary tap-water ban for 300,000 residents.
At separate hearings, William Tis, 60, and Charles Herzing, 64, entered the pleas to causing an unlawful discharge of a coal-cleaning agent into the Elk River.
Each faces up to a year in prison when sentenced June 22. They also face fines of $25,000 per day per violation, or $100,000 — whichever is greater.
But after entering his plea, Tis expressed doubt when U.S. District Judge Thomas Johnston asked him whether he committed the crime.
“I have signed my name to these documents,” Tis said. “No, I don’t believe I have committed a crime, but I am pleading guilty.”
When pressed by the judge to explain, Tis said, “I do believe I am guilty of this offense. There are people we had hired. ... Their failure results in my failure.”
Vindicator staff/wire reports