BUSINESS DIGEST ||

$1B invested in Mahoning Valley

YOUNGSTOWN

Private companies invested more than $1 billion in the Mahoning Valley, according to data compiled by the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber and its economic development partners, and published in the chamber’s 2016 Economic Development Report Card.

In 2016, 111 projects resulted in $1,092,613,252 invested, 1,253 new jobs and an additional 3,092 retained jobs, the chamber says.

In 2015, 78 projects resulted in nearly $93 million of investment and 1,006 new jobs.

The chamber and 15 other agencies gather data on economic development investment in the Valley annually.

The entities’ combined resources assist companies with infrastructure investment, tax incentives, loans, project coordination, grant oversight, technical advisement, property development and other services.

Ohio gas prices slip

COLUMBUS

Drivers around Ohio have seen gas prices slip a bit lower since last week.

The state average for regular fuel was about $2.32 per gallon in Monday’s survey from auto club AAA, the Oil Price Information Service and WEX Inc. That’s down a few cents from the average of $2.38 a week ago, but up from about $2.11 at this time last year.

The national average rose two pennies from last week to about $2.41 on Monday. It was much cheaper a year ago, averaging $2.11.

Netflix on verge of hitting milestone

SAN FRANCISCO

Netflix is on the verge of surpassing 100 million subscribers, a testament to how much the video streaming service has changed the entertainment landscape since its debut a decade ago.

The milestone will be reached this weekend if Netflix’s projections are correct. Netflix made the prediction Monday with the release of its first-quarter earnings.

The video service added nearly 5 million subscribers during the first three months of the year to end March with 98.7 million customers in roughly 190 countries.

Gorsuch hears first Supreme Court case

WASHINGTON

Justice Neil Gorsuch dived into the public side of his new job Monday, piping up early and often as he took his seat on the Supreme Court bench for the first time to hear arguments.

The new justice waited just 11 minutes before asking questions in the first of three cases the court heard Monday, its first session since President Donald Trump’s pick was sworn in one week earlier.

The 49-year-old Gorsuch echoed his own confirmation hearing testimony with questions focused on the text of federal laws and rules at issue before the court.

He employed a bit of humor, expressed a modicum of humility, showed a hint of irritation and even channeled Justice Antonin Scalia, the man he replaced, with a touch of sarcasm.

Staff/wire reports