New Planet Fitness

New Planet Fitness

AUSTINTOWN

Planet Fitness will open its Austintown location in mid-February at 6000 Mahoning Ave. The business will have a grand-opening celebration with a ribbon-cutting Feb. 22.

TCTC program

WARREN

The Trumbull Career and Technical Center will offer a free seven-week Manufacturing Readiness Program starting March 8.

The program offers workplace and personal skills through manufacturing- related learning, advancement along a career path in manufacturing, basic skills for advanced manufacturing, mock interviews and seven credentials that include WorkKeys National Career Readiness Certificate, OSHA-complaint 10-hour safety for general industry and the Manufacturing Skills Council Certified Production Technician credential.

There are only 15 spots available for the program.

Those interested should call 330-480-4384, ext. 1214 or 1222, to find out more.

Talmer 4Q earnings

TROY, MICH.

Talmer Bancorp Inc. on Wednesday reported fourth- quarter 2015 net income of $13.1 million, compared with $12.5 million for the fourth quarter of 2014.

Earnings per diluted common share were $0.19 for the fourth quarter of 2015, compared with $0.16 for the fourth quarter of 2014.

In addition, on Monday, the board of directors of Talmer increased the quarterly cash dividend on its Class A common stock to $0.05 from $0.01 per share.

New-home sales up

WASHINGTON

Americans rushed to buy new homes in December at the strongest pace in 10 months, with 2015 marking the strongest year for this segment of the housing market since 2008.

The Commerce Department said Wednesday that new-home sales surged 10.8 percent last month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 544,000. It was the third-consecutive monthly gain since sales collapsed in September.

The increase nearly pulled the sales rate even with the level of 545,000 in February 2015 and points to continued momentum for real estate and construction in the opening months of this year, department officials said.

Ohio Dems’ agenda

COLUMBUS

Democratic state lawmakers pushed an economic agenda Wednesday that included bills to increase Ohio’s minimum wage, provide paid family and medical leave and promote equal pay for women.

The House and Senate’s Democratic leaders told reporters at a Statehouse news conference that they’re focused on bolstering Ohio’s economy and its middle class, saying too many residents feel like they are just getting by.

Senate Minority Leader Joe Schiavoni of Boardman, D-33rd, said, “What you need to do is you need to drive issues that are important to people. And you have to continue to drive those issues until someone from the majority [Republicans] either decides to work on it with you or the public puts so much pressure that it’s forced to pass.”

Staff/wire reports