'3 Minutes With' Andy Birol, Birol Growth Consulting
Thursday, January 09, 2014YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio -- In today's "3 Minutes With,” Andy Birol, owner of Birol Growth Consulting, discusses how area companies can capitalize on the shale industry and how long the area economy can benefit from it. Birol spoke Wednesday at a seminar hosted by HbK Energy at the Youngstown Country Club (READ STORY).
Pennex Aluminum to Invest $33M at Leetonia Plant
Wednesday, January 08, 2014LEETONIA, Ohio -- Pennex Aluminum Co. today confirmed that it plans to invest $33 million to expand its extrusion facility here. The investment at the Leetonia Trade Park will include a new extrusion press line, a specialized fabrication production center, and a 170,000-square-foot addition to its building.
The project is expected to create 65 new jobs with the new capacity scheduled to come on line in late 2014.
Brown Touts Benefits Extension, Job Creation Aid
Wednesday, January 08, 2014YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio -- The failure of Congress to pass legislation to fund an extension of unemployment benefits means the cutoff of benefits to more than 2,500 unemployed workers in the Mahoning Valley region, and more than 52,400 around the state, figures released today by U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown’s office show.
On a conference call with reporters, Brown pressed for an extension of unemployment insurance benefits and called for implementing familiar measures to help create jobs, including passage of his "Sectors" legislation to help train individuals for high-tech jobs.
HMA Shareholders Approve Merger with CHS
Wednesday, January 08, 2014YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio -- Shareholders for Health Management Associates Inc. voted to adopt the previously announced merger agreement with Community Health Systems Inc. of Franklin, Tenn., the companies announced Wednesday.
According to a joint statement, HMA shareholders approved the transaction with approximately 98.7% of the votes cast at today’s special meeting voting in favor of adoption of the merger agreement. The votes cast in favor of the merger represented about 81.7% of HMA’s outstanding common shares as of Nov. 22, 3013, the record date for the special meeting.
Kent State University Names Warren Its Next President
Wednesday, January 08, 2014KENT, Ohio -- Kent State University today named Beverly J. Warren, currently provost and senior vice president of Virginia Commonwealth University, as its next president.
KSU hired Warren at a special board meeting this morning. She will begin serving as the university’s 12th president on July 1, succeeding retiring President Lester A. Lefton, who has served as Kent State’s chief executive officer since July 2006.
Chesapeake Energy Secures 5 New Permits in Utica
Wednesday, January 08, 2014YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio -- Chesapeake Exploration LLC, a subsidiary of Chesapeake Energy Corp., continues to be the most aggressive exploration company in terms of permitting and drilling in the Utica shale, according to government records.
Last week, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources issued five new permits for horizontal wells in the Utica, all to Chesapeake, according to state data.
The Oklahoma City-based company secured one permit Jan. 2 for a new well at the Briceland Trust pad in Franklin Township in Columbiana County, ODNR reports.
Gulfport Energy Reports Record Production in 2013
Wednesday, January 08, 2014OKLAHOMA CITY -- Gulfport Energy Inc. said Monday that it achieved record daily production of approximately 27,780 barrels of oil equivalent per day, or BOEPD, as of Dec. 31.
Prices of Houses Drop in Youngstown-Warren Area
Wednesday, January 08, 2014IRVINE, Calif. -- In Youngstown-Warren-Boardman area, house prices, including distressed sales, declined 1.4% in November 2013 compared to November 2012. On a month-over-month basis, house prices, including distressed sales, fell 2.7% during the period.
Distressed sales include short sales and real-estate owned transactions.
Excluding distressed sales, year-over-year prices declined 1.5% during the period, the most recent CoreLogic Home Price Index says. Month-over-month, excluding distressed sales, the Index indicates house prices were 3.4% lower.
Design Review Committee Approves NYO Signage
Wednesday, January 08, 2014YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio -- The city’s Design Review Committee approved a 2.5-story temporary sign Tuesday for NYO Property Group, about a month after the company placed the sign on one of its buildings.
Ryan, Burga Urge Benefits Extension, Johnson Unsure
Wednesday, January 08, 2014YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan and the president of Ohio’s AFL-CIO, Tim Burga, pressed the case for Congress to extend emergency unemployment benefits during a conference call with reporters Tuesday.
The press event, which took place shortly before Senate legislation to extend the benefits cleared a procedural hurdle, was intended to put pressure on House Speaker John Boehner, a Republican who also represents a congressional district in Ohio, and many of his top lieutenants, as well as U.S. Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio.