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March 14 Business briefs

MERIDIAN WELCOMES NEW STAFF: Meridian HealthCare announced the addition of several new providers to its growing team, according to a news release. This continued growth reflects Meridian’s commitment to accessible, person-centered care. By expanding its medical and behavioral health teams, Meridian HealthCare can accept new patients and ensure that they can receive comprehensive services in one coordinated system, reducing barriers, improving outcomes, and making it easier for individuals and families to get the support they need. Joining the Meridian staff are: • Dr. Lewis ...

Bloomberg ranked as top donor for 3rd straight year

For the third consecutive year, Michael Bloomberg landed the No. 1 spot on the Chronicle of Philanthropy’s exclusive ranking of the 50 biggest donors of 2025. The founder of the Bloomberg financial-news empire and former New York mayor gave $4.3 billion to support arts, education, the environment, public health, and programs to improve city governments. Bloomberg is followed on the Philanthropy 50 list by three donors who each gave $1 billion or more to charity last year. Bill Gates (No. 2) gave $3.7 billion to the Gates Foundation, and his former Microsoft colleague, the late Paul ...

New EV models to be excited about in 2026

After years of experimentation and early adoption, automakers are rolling out the next generation of electric vehicles that better align with people’s needs and expectations. This year, you can expect to see new EVs that have more range, easier charging, lower pricing and distinctive designs. The experts at Edmunds have identified the five most compelling electric vehicles that will debut in 2026. BMW iX3 Most luxury electric SUVs to date have been either expensive, high-end offerings or entry-level models with limited appeal. The 2027 BMW iX3 has us excited because it hits the ...

US stocks lose ground as war with Iran keeps pressure on oil prices

Wall Street’s losses deepened Friday as the ongoing fallout from the war in Iran keeps pushing oil prices higher, ratcheting up inflationary pressure on the global economy. The S&P 500 fell 0.6% after having been up as much as 0.9% in the early going. The benchmark index is now down 3.1% so far this year. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 0.3%, and the Nasdaq composite finished 0.9% lower. The indexes also ended the week with their third straight weekly loss. After briefly easing early Friday, crude oil prices rose again, bringing the benchmark oil price back above $100 a ...

Ohio reports increase in jobless claims

Ohioans filed 5,611 initial unemployment claims last week, the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services reported Thursday. That’s 713 more than the previous week. Ohioans filed 60,147 continued unemployment claims last week, which was 1,979 fewer than the previous week. The total number of claims filed from March 1 to March 7 was 65,758. Ohio’s unemployment rate in December was 4.5%. The national unemployment rate in December was 4.4%. Ohio’s labor force participation rate in December was 62.3%. The national labor force participation rate in December was 62.4%.

Vallourec enters year on solid footing

Vallourec, the multinational manufacturer of tubes used in global energy production, closed 2025 with solid financial results and a plan for one of its largest shareholder payouts to date, the company announced Feb. 27 in a news release. Vallourec operates its main U.S. production facility along the Trumbull and Mahoning County border in Youngstown and Girard. The company reported fourth‑quarter EBITDA — a measure of operating profit before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization — of 214 million euros (1 euro equaled $1.18 U.S. dollars on Feb. 27, according to ...