FirstEnergy Corp. electric rates to fall, by John Funk, Cleveland Plain Dealer, May 15, 2009
Cleveland—FirstEnergy Corp. must trim its electric rates, state regulators ruled Thursday, to conform with the results of an auction the company sought.

More job cuts at Alcoa, Timken, by Frank Bentayou, Cleveland Plain Dealer, May 15, 2009
Cleveland and Canton—Alcoa's Cleveland Works and Canton steel and bearings maker Timken Co. both acknowledged scores of job cuts at their Northeast Ohio facilities, as the recession continues to beat down manufacturing operations.

EPA Chief: CO2 danger finding may not 'mean regulation,' Wall Street Journal, May 12, 2009 (Subscription)
Washington—The head of the Environmental Protection Agency said Tuesday a finding that greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide are a public-health danger won't necessarily lead to government regulation of emissions, an apparent about-face for the Obama administration.

Patients injured by faulty medical devices want laws to hold manufacturers accountable, by Sabrina Eaton, Cleveland Plain Dealer, May 12, 2009
Washington—Individuals who say they were injured by faulty medical devices want Congress to pass legislation that would override a Supreme Court decision which found that consumers can't sue medical device companies over medical devices that have been approved by the FDA. The House Commerce Committee's health subcommittee will hold a hearing on the issue today.

Chapter 11 filing on GM's horizon, by Tom Krisher, AP via Akron Beacon Journal, May 12, 2009
Detroit—Bankruptcy protection for the nation's biggest automaker is becoming more probable with a deadline just over two weeks away, the company's top executive told reporters Monday.

China's metal imports raise records and eyebrows, by Chuin-Wei Yapm WSJ China Journal Blog, May 12, 2009
New York—Customs data shows China’s imports of copper and iron ore set fresh records in April even amid the global downturn, raising the risks that the domestic market will see a flood of unwanted supply. Yet China’s steel industry remains in rough shape.

Honda to increase production, by Yoshio Takahashi, Wall Street Journal, May 12, 2009 (Subscription)
Tokyo—Sounding a note of cautious optimism, Honda Motor Co.'s finance chief said the company plans to increase output slightly this quarter.

New MAGNET program thinks ecologically, by Paula Schleis, Akron Beacon Journal, May 11, 2009
Cleveland—The nonprofit Manufacturing Advocacy & Growth Network has launched its eco-SMART Manufacturing Program, joining with experts in Canal Fulton and Columbus to give clients a full ecological review.

Chrysler Twinsburg workers demand help in keeping plant open, by Robert Schoenberger, Cleveland Plain Dealer, May 11, 2009
Twinsburg, Ohio—Hundreds of United Auto Workers members packed into Local 122's union hall Monday to ask Sen. Sherrod Brown and other politicians for help in keeping Chrysler's Twinsburg Stamping Plant open.

• Chrysler plant backers rally in Twinsburg, by Jim Mackinnon, Akron Beacon Journal, May 11, 2009

ArcelorMittal shuts Flats plant indefinitely, by Frank BentayouCleveland Plain Dealer, May 11, 2009
Cleveland—ArcelorMittal Cleveland said today that it has temporarily closed its plant in the Flats, putting 912 steelworkers out of work in response to a 45 percent decline in the global steel market.

American Greetings files breach of contract suit over Care Bears deal, by Janet H. Cho, Cleveland Plain Dealer, May 11, 2009
Brooklyn, Ohio—American Greetings Corp. and Cookie Jar Entertainment Inc. of Toronto have each filed lawsuits accusing the other of bad faith over a deal to sell Strawberry Shortcake and the Care Bears.

Ford offering 300 million shares in public offering, AP via Cleveland Plain Dealer, May 11, 2009
New York—Ford Motor Co. said Monday it is launching a public offering of 300 million shares of common stock, which it will use in part to help fund its retiree health care trust.

GM chief leaves door open to move out of Detroit, AP via Cleveland Plain Dealer, May 11, 2009
Detroit—General Motors Corp.'s chief left the door open Monday to the automaker moving its corporate headquarters out of Detroit, prompting concern by some lawmakers and clarification by the automaker.

Darker times for solar-power industry, by Leila Abboud, Wall Street Journal, May 11, 2009 (Subscription)
New York—The global recession and tight credit conditions have cast a chill on the solar-power industry after years of breakneck growth, and could usher in long-term changes in the industry.

Hoping to make food safer, states decide to go it alone, by Jane Zhang, Wall Street Journal, May 11, 2009 (Subscription)
New York—When it comes to food safety, state lawmakers around the country seem to believe in the adage, if you want something done, you have to do it yourself. In all, some 600 bills addressing food safety have been introduced in state legislatures since January.

Smart manufacturers are gearing up for a turnaround in the economy, by Frank Bentayou, Cleveland Plain Dealer, May 10, 2009
Cleveland—Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke's assessment last week that the economy should start growing again later this year was a wake-up call for manufacturers and suppliers. When the logjam breaks, a flood of new orders could flow to factories. MAGNET VP Ed Nolan says the new eco-SMART Manufacturing Program will help manufacturers get ready for the recovery by conserving resources and cutting waste while developing new markets.

Time running out for Penske to bid on Saturn, AP via Akron Beacon Journal, May 9, 2009
Indianapolis—Roger Penske of Bloomfield Hills, Mich.-based Penske Automotive Group Inc., said Friday that he knows he's operating in a ''short time frame'' if he wants to bid for the Saturn brand of General Motors Corp.

GM prepares to cut more salaried jobs, Bloomberg News via Akron Beacon Journal, May 9, 2009
Detroit—Sources say General Motors asked managers to start reviewing their work forces for more possible reductions this month.

Chrysler will base new cars in U.S. on Fiat Alfa Romeo model, Akron Beacon Journal, May 9, 2009
Detroit—As part of its planned alliance with Fiat SpA, Chrysler plans to build new cars in the U.S. based on engineering of an Alfa Romeo model under development in Italy.