Murray Energy, union reach pact

Murray Energy, union reach pact

ST. CLAIRSVILLE, OHIO

America’s largest coal-mining company says it’s reached a tentative labor agreement with unionized miners.

Murray American Energy announced Friday a 5-year pact struck between the United Mine Workers of America and the Bituminous Coal Operators Association, representing mine operators in Ohio and West Virginia.

The union plans a membership vote next week on the contract, which would run from Thursday through 2021.

No TSA PreCheck on boarding pass? This might be why

NEW YORK

Thousands of fliers enrolled in trusted traveler programs such as PreCheck aren’t getting the expedited screening they paid for because of clerical errors with their reservations.

The most-common problem is that their date of birth or government “known traveler number” has been entered incorrectly into a reservation.

Other times, the name on the itinerary doesn’t match the name used to enroll in PreCheck, Global Entry or one of the other government programs. This is particularly a problem when bookings are made through travel agents who might transpose information, airlines say.

There always have been issues matching passenger data, but with recent long lines at Transportation Security Administration checkpoints leading to a spike in PreCheck enrollments, there are now more data problems, too.

Insurer’s limits on insulin pumps worry patients

DATELINE

Stephanie Rodenberg-Lewis wasn’t happy with her insulin pump and switched two years ago to another brand. Now her health insurer is pushing her to go back.

UnitedHealth Group Inc. has made a deal with device maker Medtronic that will slash options for diabetics who use the portable pumps, which costs thousands of dollars. The move has angered Rodenberg-Lewis and others who will be limited to three pump choices instead of nine.

Health insurers, big employers and other bill payers have been trying for years to rein in costs and improve care by steering clients to certain doctors and hospitals. They’ve also restricted options for some prescriptions and lined up deals for smaller-ticket items.

Limiting choice for medical equipment that a patient usually selects is uncharted territory. UnitedHealth rivals Aetna and the Blue Cross-Blue Shield insurer Anthem say they haven’t done this. Experts say it could become more common.

United, union pact

CHICAGO

United Airlines has tentatively negotiated a new contract for its 25,000 flight attendants, who will hold a ratification vote.

If approved, the agreement between United and the Association of Flight Attendants would let the airline mix cabin crews from United and Continental Airlines, which merged in 2010.

Associated Press

Selected local stocks

STOCK, DIVIDENDCLOSECHANGE

Alcoa Inc., .129.38-0.77Aqua America, .71 34.080.26

Avalon Holdings,2.170.07

Cortland Bancorp, .2814.90-0.39

Farmers Nat., .128.85-0.48First Energy, 1.44 32.88-0.28

Fifth/Third, .5217.50-1.61

FirstMerit Corp., .6819.76-1.42First Niles Financial, .209.150.00FNB Corp., .4812.31-0.93

General Motors, 1.5228.35-1.47

General Electric, .9229.82-1.37

Huntington Bank, .28 8.61-0.82

iHeartMedia Inc.,1.250.08

JP Morgan Chase, 1.7659.60-4.45Key Corp, .3011.07-0.92

LaFarge, .3417.570.00

Macy’s, 1.44 32.08-1.30Parker Hannifin, 2.52 105.91-8.10PNC, 2.0481.08-5.59

Simon Prop. Grp., 6.40206.50-2.59

Stoneridge 15.03-1.47

Talmer Bank, .20 18.83-1.23

United Comm. Fin., .10 5.78-0.25

Selected prices from Friday’s 4 p.m. close.