REALTORS
Akron board faces decision
Members of the Akron Area Board of Realtors will vote today on whether to merge with the Cleveland Area Board of Realtors.
The vote comes after more than a year of merger discussions at both groups, which each have seen a decline in membership over the last 10 years.
Consolidated operations of two associations would provide for cost savings, according to the merger website: www.akronclevelandrealtors.com.
Both the Cleveland and Akron boards charge $190 a year for local dues, and dues for the unified organization would remain the same in 2014. After that, the board of directors would set dues annually during the budgeting process, according to the website.
The new group would be called the Akron Cleveland Association of Realtors, and the current Cleveland board and Akron board buildings are to be retained by the new association.
“The locations may be consolidated at some point in the future, but both buildings are under lease through 2016,” a statement said.
The statement, however, goes on to say, “It was clear that through merger members of both associations will have increased access to services through multiple locations.”
Today’s vote will be at 9:30 a.m. at Guy’s Party Center, 500 E. Waterloo Road, Akron.
The proposed merger agreement was approved by directors of the Akron area board on April 25.
Goodyear to report earnings
Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. will report its second-quarter financial results before the stock market opens on July 30.
Goodyear senior executives will host a conference call with industry analysts at 9 a.m. The public can listen in but not participate in the call.
Richard J. Kramer, chairman and chief executive officer, and Darren R. Wells, executive vice president and chief financial officer, will take part.
The second-quarter results and related materials will be posted online about 8:15 a.m. at http://investor.goodyear.com.
To listen in to the July 30 call by telephone, call 800-895-1085 or 785-424-1055 before 8:55 a.m. The conference ID is “Goodyear.” People can also listen in via computer by going to http://investor.goodyear.com
DQ grills on Ohio Turnpike
Two new DQ Grill and Chill restaurants have opened in service plazas on the eastern end of the Ohio Turnpike. The westbound location is located in the Mahoning Valley Service Plaza at mile marker 223. It is the first travel plaza inside Ohio as travelers proceed west from Pennsylvania.
The eastbound location is in the Glacier Hills Service Plaza at mile marker 223. It is the last Ohio Turnpike service center before reaching the Pennsylvania Turnpike.
Each restaurant, a Covelli Enterprises operation, is 625 square feet, with 40 employees.
FirstEnergy declares dividend
FirstEnergy Corp. declared an unchanged quarterly dividend of 55 cents per share, payable Sept. 1 to shareholders of record as of Aug. 7.
WALL STREET
Dow Jones drops 32 points
The Dow Jones industrial average dropped 32.41 points, or 0.2 percent, to 15,451.85. Shares of Coca-Cola fell 1.9 percent, pacing the index’s losses after the beverage maker reported a drop in quarterly earnings. The Standard & Poor’s 500 index slipped 6.24 points, or 0.4 percent, to 1,676.26, retreating from the previous session’s record closing high. The Nasdaq composite declined 8.99 points, or 0.3 percent, to 3,598.50. Oil futures fell 32 cents to finish at $106 a barrel.
TECHNOLOGY
Apple has TV plans
Apple Inc. is developing ad-skipping technology that would let owners of its Apple TV set-top box and future television devices watch shows without commercials, Bloomberg News reported. Apple executives have briefed at least two owners of broadcast TV networks and cable channels, as well as some of the biggest U.S. pay-TV systems. One proposal is for Apple to reimburse programmers for skipped ads. The company is seeking to develop TV products with broader appeal than Apple TV, a set-top device purchased by 13 million consumers, Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook said in May.
Ford supplying upgrade
Ford Motor Co. is offering free software upgrades to customers of its 2013 model-year hybrid vehicles intended to improve fuel economy. The models fell short of promised mileage levels. Ford is sending notices about the voluntary upgrades to owners of the C-Max, Fusion and Lincoln MKZ hybrids.
Compiled from staff and wire reports