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Daily industrial news and top headlines for plant and maintenance managers
Manufacturers: Tax Hikes In Budget Hurt Competitiveness
April 10, 2013 12:17 pm | by National Association of Manufacturers | News | CommentsNational Association of Manufacturers (NAM) Vice President of Tax and Domestic Economic Policy Dorothy Coleman issued a statement in response to the release of the President’s budget for fiscal year 2014. The statement indicates how NAM thinks the budget will influence manufacturing.
Lawmaker Invites Gun Makers To Relocate To RI
April 9, 2013 2:13 pm | by The Associated Press | News | CommentsA Republican state lawmaker is inviting firearms manufacturers to relocate to Rhode Island from other states he says are "hostile" to gun owners' rights. House Minority Leader Brian Newberry of North Smithfield made the invitations Monday to Hartford, Conn.-based Colt's Manufacturing Co. and Beretta USA Corp. in Accokeek, Md.
Google Target Of Microsoft-Led Antitrust Complaint
April 9, 2013 2:09 pm | by Juergen Baetz | News | CommentsA group of companies led by Microsoft have called on European authorities to launch an antitrust investigation into Google and its hold over mobile internet usage on smartphones. The "FairSearch" initiative claims Google is acting unfairly by giving away its Android operating system to mobile device companies on the condition that the U.S. online giant's own software applications are prominently displayed.
Boeing's 787 Dreamliner Nightmare Nearing An End
April 9, 2013 1:09 pm | by Bloomberg TV | Videos | CommentsBloomberg's chief Washington correspondent Peter Cook reports that Boeing has tested its fix for the 787 Dreamliner battery and is set for an FAA review of the results. Friday's test flight outside of Seattle was the final certification test, according to Boeing. Cook speaks on Bloomberg Television's "In The Loop."
Judge Deals Blow To High-Tech Workers' Lawsuit
April 8, 2013 2:17 pm | by Michael Liedtke, AP Technology Writer | News | CommentsA federal judge on Friday struck down an effort to form a class action lawsuit to go after Apple, Google and five other technology companies for allegedly forming an illegal cartel to tamp down workers' wages and prevent the loss of their best engineers during a multiyear conspiracy broken up by government regulators.
AR House Approves Steel Mill Funding
April 8, 2013 2:13 pm | by The Associated Press | News | CommentsA proposal to provide a company with $125 million in state financing to build a new steel mill in northeastern Arkansas has won approval in the state House. By a 78-17 vote, lawmakers on Monday passed legislation authorizing Arkansas to issue bonds to provide a loan and pay some construction costs of a $1.1 billion steel facility in Osceola.
Brazil: Steel Company Must Move 750 People
April 8, 2013 2:10 pm | by The Associated Press | News | CommentsThe state environment minister has called on a Brazilian steel company to immediately move around 750 people living near its plant in a Rio de Janeiro suburb. Soil there was found to contain up to 90 times the legal limit of toxic and potentially carcinogenic substances including lead and cadmium. Carlos Minc says the National Steelworks Company could be fined as much as $25 million for what he called "several environmental crimes."
CA DA Says Toyota To Pay $16M Settlement
April 8, 2013 10:11 am | by Shaya Tayefe Mohajer, Associated Press | News | CommentsA $16 million settlement over the safety recall of Toyota vehicles that were at risk for unintended acceleration and braking issues was announced Friday by Orange County prosecutors and Toyota Motor Corp. The suit was one of a flood of cases brought against the automaker after more than 14 million vehicles were recalled in 2009 and 2010 - many of them still waiting to be heard or settled.
Tyson Agrees To $4M Penalty To Resolve EPA Case
April 5, 2013 1:58 pm | by Jim Suhr, AP Business Writer | News | CommentsThe U.S. government says Tyson Foods has agreed to pay roughly $4 million in civil penalties to settle alleged violations related to eight accidental releases of anhydrous ammonia that happened over a four-year span and caused one death.
AR House Delays Vote On Steel Mill Proposal
April 5, 2013 1:57 pm | by The Associated Press | News | CommentsThe Arkansas House delayed a vote on a proposal to provide a company with $125 million in state financing to help build a new steel mill in northeastern Arkansas. Lawmakers didn't take up the proposal on Thursday as the legislation's sponsor, Rep. Monte Hodges, made a technical change to the proposal. The measure could come up Friday.
AL Legislature Limits Aircraft Lawsuits
April 5, 2013 9:41 am | by Phillip Rawls, Associated Press | News | CommentsThe state Legislature passed a bill Thursday designed to make sure Alabama lands Airbus aircraft suppliers rather than its neighboring states. The Senate gave final approval to the bill 27-0 Thursday and sent it to the governor, who endorsed it and promised to sign it into law.
BP Appeals Judge's Ruling In Gulf Spill Settlement
April 5, 2013 9:39 am | by Michael Kunzelman, Associated Press | News | CommentsBP has appealed a federal judge's interpretation of settlement terms governing payouts to businesses that claim the company's massive 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico cost them money. BP asked the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to review last month's ruling by U.S. District Judge Carl Barbier.
MO Announces Order In Sweetener Plant Failure
April 5, 2013 9:36 am | by Jim Salter, Associated Press | News | CommentsMissouri Secretary of State Jason Kander announced action Thursday against a financial management company connected to the failed Mamtek artificial sweetener plant in mid-Missouri. Kander filed a cease-and-desist order against Morgan Keegan & Co. Inc., which was the underwriter for bonds for the Mamtek project at Moberly.
Cameron Dismissed From Trial Over Gulf Oil Spill
April 4, 2013 2:13 pm | by The Associated Press | News | CommentsA federal judge has dismissed all remaining claims against the company that made a key safety device on the drilling rig that exploded in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010, killing 11 workers and leading to the nation's worst offshore oil spill.
AR House Panel OKs Tax Cut For Manufacturers
April 3, 2013 10:15 am | by Michael Stratford, Associated Press | News | CommentsAn Arkansas House panel has endorsed a proposal to cut taxes on manufacturers in the state. The House Revenue and Taxation Committee on Tuesday voted to approve the measure, sending it to the full House for consideration. The bill would reduce the sales and use taxes on natural gas and electricity used by manufacturers.
Halliburton Worker Testifies At Gulf Spill Trial
April 2, 2013 2:20 pm | by Michael Kunzelman, Associated Press | News | CommentsA man who worked for BP's cement contractor on the drilling rig that exploded in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010 testified Tuesday that he didn't believe the oil giant's employees were risking workers' safety when they didn't follow his recommendations.
Claims Administrator Seeks Dismissal Of BP Lawsuit
April 2, 2013 10:24 am | by Michael Kunzelman, Associated Press | News | CommentsThe court-appointed claims administrator for a multibillion-dollar settlement between BP PLC and a team of private plaintiffs' attorneys asked a federal judge Monday to throw out the company's lawsuit against him. The suit that BP filed last month accuses Patrick Juneau of violating the settlement's terms in the way he is using a complex formula to determine payments.
AK Seeks To Woo CO Gun Company
April 1, 2013 1:52 pm | by Becky Bohrer, Associated Press | News | CommentsAlaska is making its pitch to woo a Colorado company that has threatened to leave that state over new restrictions on firearms. Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper last week signed bills that require background checks for private and online gun sales and ban ammunition magazines that hold more than 15 rounds.
Unhappy About New Limits, Gun Makers Urged To Move
April 1, 2013 10:00 am | by Becky Bohrer, Morgan True, Associated Press | News | CommentsFirearms manufacturers upset over newly restrictive gun laws and proposals in their home states are getting a message from other places: Move here, where the climate is favorable to your products and so are the tax codes. In New Hampshire, a group of conservative Republicans sent letters wooing gun companies.
Asian Giants Tiptoe Toward Free Trade Deal
April 1, 2013 9:55 am | by Youkyung Lee, AP Business Writer | News | CommentsChina, Japan and South Korea are inching ahead with talks for a free trade zone that would rival the European Union and North America in economic heft. Despite the achievement of setting aside their often acrimonious relations to begin negotiations, progress will be slow. An agreement to start talks took 10 years.
Honeywell Agrees To $3M Pollution Fine
March 29, 2013 2:00 pm | by The Associated Press | News | CommentsA major producer of ingredients used in nylon and fertilizer agreed Thursday to pay a $3 million civil penalty for alleged air pollution violations at its Hopewell plant. The agreement between federal authorities and Honeywell Resins and Chemicals LLC was filed in U.S. District Court in Richmond. The consent decree is subject to court approval.
EPA To Propose Rule To Clean Up Tailpipe Pollution
March 29, 2013 10:16 am | by Dina Cappiello, Associated Press | News | CommentsThe Obama administration will unveil a proposal Friday to clean up gasoline and automobile emissions, a step that officials say will result in cleaner air across the U.S. and slightly higher prices at the pump. The EPA estimates that the rule to reduce sulfur in gasoline and tighten emissions standards on cars beginning in 2017 could increase gas prices by less than a penny per gallon and add $130 to the cost of a vehicle in 2025.
NY Coke Plant, Manager Convicted In Pollution Case
March 29, 2013 10:09 am | by The Associated Press | News | CommentsA Buffalo-area industrial plant and its environmental control manager have been convicted of violating federal clean air laws and other environmental regulations. The U.S. Attorney's Office says a federal jury Thursday found the Tonawanda Coke Corp. guilty of 11 counts of violating the Clean Air Act and three counts of violating the Resource Conservation and Recovery act.
U.S. Takes Swipe At China For Hacking Allegations
March 28, 2013 2:03 pm | by Anne Flaherty, Associated Press | News | CommentsThe U.S. has taken its first real swipe at China following accusations that the Beijing government is behind a widespread and systemic hacking campaign targeting U.S. businesses. Buried in a spending bill signed by President Barack Obama on Tuesday is a provision that effectively bars much of the U.S. government from buying information technology made by companies linked to the Chinese government.
Nokia Disputes $368M India Tax Bill
March 28, 2013 1:59 pm | by Kay Johnson, Associated Press | News | CommentsMobile phone manufacturer Nokia is disputing a $368 million bill levied by tax authorities in India, the Finnish company said Thursday. Nokia Corp.'s India unit said it will "defend itself vigorously" and is "in full compliance with local laws as well as the bilaterally negotiated tax treaty between the governments of India and Finland."
