Government
The Lead
First Class Of Veterans Complete ‘Get Skills To Work’ Program
March 15, 2013 11:05 am | by The Manufacturing Institute | News | Comments
With an estimated 600,000 open advanced manufacturing jobs across America, GSTW is joining major manufacturers — like Boeing and Alcoa — and educators to help close the skills gap through training and skills matching for U.S. veterans.
Senators Introduce Export Bill
June 18, 2013 2:19 pm | News | CommentsU.S. Sens. Jeanne Shaheen and Kelly Ayotte are teaming up to help small businesses make the most of their export opportunities. The senators on Tuesday reintroduced the bipartisan Small Business Export Growth Act, which is aimed at cutting down on bureaucratic hurdles and giving businesses more exporting assistance.
Obama: Difference Between Spying And Hacking
June 18, 2013 12:25 pm | News | CommentsObama says every country engages in intelligence gathering, which he called an occasional source of tension. But the president says there's a big difference between China trying to find out what he's saying in meetings with the Japanese and a hacker connected with the Chinese government breaking into Apple Inc. or other U.S. companies.
S. Korea Begins Bidding For $7.3B Fighter Buy
June 18, 2013 11:39 am | by Sam Kim, Associated Press | News | CommentsSouth Korea has begun accepting bids from aircraft makers to supply 60 new fighter jets at an estimated cost of $7.3 billion. Two arms procurement officials said the bidding began Tuesday and is scheduled to end next week. Boeing's F-15 Silent Eagle, EADS' Eurofighter Typhoon and Lockheed Martin's F-35 Joint Strike Fighter are competing.
Consumer Prices Rise Just 0.1 Percent
June 18, 2013 11:29 am | by Christopher S. Rugaber, AP Economics Writer | News | CommentsU.S. consumer prices rose slightly last month, as higher energy costs partly offset cheaper food. The small increase is further evidence that consumers are benefiting from mild inflation.The consumer price index ticked up a seasonally adjusted 0.1 percent in May from April, the Labor Department said Tuesday.
Lawmakers: Put Dangerous Chemical Site Info Online
June 18, 2013 7:51 am | by Will Weissert, Associated Press | News | CommentsOther state officials told lawmakers that 129 facilities store at least 5 tons of ammonium nitrate and other potentially explosive materials. Sixteen of those were fertilizer-mixing facilities similar to the West Fertilizer Co., which blew up following a fire that ignited ammonium nitrate.
Texas Governor Woos Disgruntled Conn. Gun Makers
June 18, 2013 2:36 am | by Stephen Singer, AP Business Writer | News | CommentsTexas Gov. Rick Perry extolled the tax policies and regulatory climate of his state as he courted gun manufacturers that have threatened to leave Connecticut since the state passed new gun-control laws in response to the Newtown school massacre.
EU Official: Trade Deal With U.S. A 'Game-Changer'
June 17, 2013 2:12 pm | News | CommentsThe top official with the European Union's executive arm says a free trade deal with the United States would be a "game-changer" for the global economy. European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso made the statement Monday ahead of a formal launch of the trade effort at the Group of Eight Summit in Northern Ireland.
China Announces New Measures To Curb Air Pollution
June 17, 2013 7:54 am | by Louise Watt, Associated Press | News | CommentsChina's growing middle class has become increasingly fed up with air, water and soil pollution that has resulted from development-at-all costs policies. Members of the public have virtually no say on industrial projects, and often protest against factories or petrochemical plants they fear could affect their health.
Europe Seeks Ways To Ease Youth Unemployment
June 14, 2013 9:33 am | News | CommentsEconomic and labor ministers from France, Germany, Italy and Spain are meeting in Rome to find a way to reduce record youth unemployment. Italian Premier Enrico Letta has made finding jobs for the young one of the battle cries of his new administration. About 40 percent of Italians aged 15-24 and active in the job hunt are unemployed.
Factory Output Barely Rises In May
June 14, 2013 9:22 am | by Martin Crutsinger, AP Economics Writer | News | CommentsU.S. factories barely increased their output in May after two months of declines, a sign that manufacturing is providing little support for the economy. The Federal Reserve says manufacturing production increased just 0.1 percent in May from April. Output fell 0.4 percent in April and 0.3 percent in March.
Record $11M Fine For Illegal California Gold Mine
June 14, 2013 9:12 am | by Don Thompson, Associated Press | News | CommentsRegulators say the miners have continued to scrape valuable ore from a ridge about 45 miles east of the state capital even though two of the operators also face criminal charges in El Dorado County. Joseph Hardesty and Rick Churches have another court appearance set for Friday.
U.S. Wholesale Prices Rise 0.5 Percent In May
June 14, 2013 8:57 am | by Christopher S. Rugaber, AP Economics Writer | News | CommentsA rise in food and gas costs drove a measure of wholesale prices up sharply in May. But outside those volatile categories, inflation was mild.The Labor Department said Friday that the producer price index rose 0.5 percent in May from April.
GAO Rejects Beechcraft's Protest Of Lost Contract
June 14, 2013 8:24 am | News | CommentsBoth companies issued statements Thursday announcing the decision by the Government Accountability Office. It's the latest development in a high-stakes competition that has taken nearly three years with legal challenges from both sides.
Ind. City Sues Over Failed Pharmaceutical Facility
June 14, 2013 7:57 am | News | CommentsGreenwood officials three years ago approved the project incentives, including a $6 million construction loan for 50,000-square-foot plant in a business park east of the city just south of Indianapolis. Elona said then it expected to employ some 70 workers and spend more than $25 million on a planned expansion.
FDA Aims To Prevent Hacking Of Medical Devices
June 14, 2013 7:53 am | News | CommentsThe Food and Drug Administration wants makers of medical devices to design future products to prevent hackers from targeting them and disrupting patient care. A draft of the agency's recommendations — what the FDA calls guidance — was posted on its website Thursday.
Revlon Paying $850K Penalty To Settle SEC Charges
June 14, 2013 7:47 am | News | CommentsCosmetics company Revlon Inc. has agreed to pay a $850,000 fine to settle federal charges that it withheld key information from shareholders about a "going-private" transaction. Going-private transactions are typically when a company seeks to cash out shareholders so it or a private equity firm can acquire all outstanding shares.
Gov't: LNG Export Decisions Due By End Of Year
June 13, 2013 4:15 pm | by Matthew Daly, Associated Press | News | CommentsMoniz, who took office last month, told a House energy panel Thursday that he has been reviewing the issue and will soon begin evaluating applications on a case-by-case basis. Asked whether he would make decisions on export applications this year, Moniz said "yes, absolutely," but he did not give a more specific timeframe.
NC Chamber Holds Manufacturing Summit
June 13, 2013 4:10 pm | News | CommentsJohn Bolla is a vice president at GlaxoSmithKline and will be the keynote speaker at the summit, which is being held Thursday in Greensboro. Other speakers include Dale Folwell of the state Division of Employment Security and Preston Howard of the N.C. Manufacturers Alliance.
Prosecutors Push For Anti-Phone Theft Measures
June 13, 2013 3:40 pm | by Meghan Barr, Associated Press | News | CommentsCiting statistics showing that 1 in 3 robberies nationwide involve the theft of a mobile phone, New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman announced the formation of a coalition of law enforcement agencies devoted to stamping out what he called an "epidemic" of smartphone robberies.
U.S. Unemployment Benefit Applications Fall
June 13, 2013 11:58 am | by Christopher S. Rugaber, AP Economics Writer | News | CommentsThe number of Americans seeking unemployment benefits dropped 12,000 last week to a seasonally adjusted 334,000, a decline that suggests steady job gains will endure. The less volatile four-week average decreased 7,250 to 345,250, the Labor Department said Thursday.
Businesses Increased Stockpiles In April
June 13, 2013 11:56 am | by Martin Crutsinger, AP Economics Writer | News | CommentsU.S. businesses increased their stockpiles in April but their sales fell for a second straight month, held back by a decline in orders to American factories. The Commerce Department said Thursday that business stockpiles rose 0.3 percent in April from March.
Retail Sales Jump 0.6 Percent In May
June 13, 2013 9:52 am | by Martin Crutsinger, AP Economics Writer | News | CommentsAmericans stepped up purchases at retail businesses in May, spending more on cars, home improvements and sporting goods. The gain shows consumers remain resilient despite higher taxes and could drive faster growth later this year. The Commerce Department said retail sales increased 0.6 percent in May from April.
U.S. Budget Deficit Widens In May
June 13, 2013 8:04 am | by Martin Crutsinger, AP Economics Writer | News | CommentsThe government says the U.S. budget deficit widened in May by $139 billion, but the annual deficit stayed on track to finish below $1 trillion for the first time since 2008. With the May increase, the deficit through the first eight months of this budget year totaled $626 billion.
Wisconsin Assembly Approves Lemon Law Changes
June 13, 2013 7:53 am | News | CommentsWisconsin's Assembly has passed a bill making changes to the state's lemon law which covers when consumers can sue auto manufacturers. The bill passed 88-8 on Wednesday. Most Democrats removed their opposition after bill sponsor Rep. Bill Kramer worked with them and trial attorneys on a compromise.
China's Shenzhou 10 Ship Docks With Space Lab
June 13, 2013 4:47 am | News | CommentsChina's latest manned space capsule docked with an orbiting space station Thursday, and the three astronauts climbed aboard what will be their home for the next week, state media reported. Automated controls guided the Shenzhou-10's docking with the space lab, the Xinhua News Agency said.
