BUSINESS DIGEST ||

Apprenticeship applications

LORDSTOWN

Applications for United Auto Workers/General Motors skilled-trade apprenticeships will be accepted from midnight June 23 through midnight June 30. The applications are only for internal employees.

The UAW/GM skilled trades include occupations in these areas: electrical, mechanical and engineering/die making trades. More information on the trades is available during the application process.

Questions can be directed to Jamie Ventimiglia, UAW/GM apprenticeship chairman, at 330-824-7641 or james.r.ventimiglia@gm.com.

Walmart welcomes home veterans

COLUMBUS

Walmart announced it has hired 5,114 veterans in the state since introducing its Veterans Welcome Home Commitment in May 2013.

The commitment guarantees a job offer to any eligible, honorably discharged U.S. veteran. With a goal to hire 250,000 veterans nationwide by the end of 2020, Walmart has since hired more than 170,000 veterans nationwide and more than 22,000 have been promoted to jobs of greater responsibility.

To commemorate Memorial Day and support military families, Walmart is giving a $100,000 grant to the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors.

Ohio home sales

COLUMBUS

The rate of homes sold across Ohio in April nearly mirrored the level posted during the month a year ago, falling a negligible 0.3 percent, according to Ohio REALTORS.

April’s average home price of $170,318 reflects a 5 percent increase from the $162,228 mark posted during the month last year.

Sales in April reached a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 152,322, a slight 0.3 percent decrease from the 152,708 level during the month a year ago. The market experienced a 2.4 percent decrease in sales from March’s seasonally adjusted annual rate of 156,096.

Around the state, 13 of the 18 markets tracked reported an uptick in average sales price. A total of five markets experienced an increase in sales activity.

Jury of 12 on Cosby sex-assault case includes 2 blacks

PITTSBURGH

The jury that will hear the sex-assault case against Bill Cosby will include two blacks among its 12 members in a case Cosby believes could be racially motivated.

Prosecutors and the defense team Wednesday also chose six alternate jurors, two of them black.

Cosby’s lawyers had complained this week that prosecutors were trying to keep blacks off the jury with their seven strikes. The judge, though, found prosecutors had other valid reasons to strike two black women earlier this week. The jury makeup of 17 percent is higher than the 13 percent black population in Allegheny County.

Staff/wire reports

Selected local stocks

STOCK, DIVIDENDCLOSECHANGE

Alcoa Inc., .1233.510.25

Aqua America, .71 32.520.35

Avalon Holdings,2.500.07

Chemical Bank, .2746.650.10Community Health Sys. 9.56 -0.05

Cortland Bancorp, .2818.50-0.19

Farmers Nat., .1613.650.00

First Energy, 1.44 28.670.17

Fifth/Third, .5224.48-0.26

FirstMerit Corp.,--

First Niles Financial, .129.670.00

FNB Corp., .4813.73-0.02

General Motors, 1.5233.20-0.02

General Electric, .9227.83-0.45

Huntington Bank, .28 12.82-0.07

iHeartMedia Inc.,2.150.00

JP Morgan Chase, 1.9285.71-0.05

Key Corp, .3418.070.02

LaFarge, .34--

Macy’s, 1.51 23.180.13

Parker Hannifin, 2.52 159.521.47

PNC, 2.20120.96-0.19

Simon Prop. Grp., 6.60159.782.53

Stoneridge 16.07-0.26

United Comm. Fin., .12 8.04-0.12

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