BUSINESS DIGEST ||

Tech Belt center plans luncheon

WARREN

The Tech Belt Energy Innovation Center will have a Valley Alliance for Science and Technology luncheon from noon to 1:15 p.m. Sept. 16 at 125 W. Market St.

Join the Valley Alliance for Science and Technology for a presentation featuring the development of the Ohio Federal Research Network and its mission, objectives and potential impact for coalescing the research and development interests of industry, academia and government in Ohio.

Space is limited for this event. VAST Members get in free and nonmembers pay $25. Register by emailing: rose@tbeic.org.

Leadership class to have breakfast

COLUMBIANA

The board of directors of Leadership Columbiana County will have the Class of 2016-17 kickoff breakfast at 8:30 a.m. Sept. 7 at Das Dutch Haus Restaurant, 14895 South Ave. Ext.

Class participants, alumni, sponsors and guests are welcome to attend. Class size is limited and registration has started.

LCC provides training in leadership skills, project management, team building, goal setting and communication.

For more information, contact LCC Director Amanda Frost at 330-853-2639 or by e-mail at Amanda.R.Frost@Citizensbank.com.

Economy expands at sluggish pace

WASHINGTON

The U.S. economy expanded at a sluggish 1.1 percent pace this spring as businesses sharply reduced their stockpiles of goods and spent less on new buildings and equipment. Yet most analysts forecast much faster growth in the summer and fall, fueled by healthy consumer spending.

Friday’s estimate is slightly below the Commerce Department’s previous figure of 1.2 percent growth as measured by gross domestic product, the broadest gauge of the economy.

Consumers offset the corporate cutbacks in the April-June quarter by spending at the fastest pace in six quarters, Commerce said Friday. That suggests steady job growth and modest pay gains are making Americans more confident and willing to spend.

Facebook reduces human editors’ role in ‘trending topics’

SAN FRANCISCO

Facebook is taking new steps to reduce the role of human judgment in its “Trending Topics” feature, which drew controversy earlier this year over claims the service was suppressing conservative views.

Although it denied bias, Facebook has sought to reassure users that it’s not showing favoritism when it highlights stories that are drawing comment on the social network.

Facebook says topics are selected by an algorithm that considers how often users post or share articles. Editors still will vet the list, but the feature will no longer include headlines or summaries written by editors. Instead it will show a selection of user comments and an excerpt from a news article.

Earlier, Facebook said editors would stop relying on outside news outlets to help decide which topics should be highlighted.

Associated Press