Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, October 30, 1993 TAG: 9310300110
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: A4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Staff and wire reports
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
WASHINGTON - The Agriculture Department will issue new regulations requiring safe-handling labels for raw meat and poultry rather than appeal a court ruling striking down the old set.
Agriculture Secretary Mike Espy said Friday that pursuing a lengthy court battle would thwart the goal of providing safety information to consumers quickly.
The new regulations will be published next week and consumers could see the mandatory labels by February or March, according to a department official who spoke on condition of anonymity.
The scope of the new regulation could not be learned. A federal judge had ruled the earlier requirements were applied too quickly and too broadly.
All uncooked ground or chopped meat sold at supermarkets and other outlets was to have the labels starting Oct. 15. But the day before, U.S. District Judge James Nowlin in Austin, Texas, blocked the requirement, agreeing with food-industry groups that the department had failed to show enough of an emergency to require labels with just two months' notice. - Associated Press
Worldwide, airlines post record red ink
GENEVA - The global airline industry posted a record loss of $4.8 billion in 1992, sliding into the red by $800 million more than the previous year, the International Air Transport Association said.
"The main inescapable reason for these losses has been overcapacity," said Pierre J. Jeanniot in the 1993 IATA annual report. But he said the recession and fundamental changes in the way airlines do business also contributed to the crisis.
He singled out the "vicious fare wars" for adding to the bad results.
The report said freight carried on all international flights in 1992 totaled 8.9 million metric tons, up 7.5 percent from 1991. - Journal of Commerce
UMW ends strike against Virginia firm
BECKLEY, W.Va. - The United Mine Workers union on Friday ended a seven-week strike against a data processing company in Manassas, Va.
UMW District 29 President Everett Acord said more than 100 workers at Keydata Systems Inc., which does contract work for the Internal Revenue Service, voted to return to work.
Keydata workers voted in June to join the UMW's Office of Allied Workers. They went on strike Sept. 10, alleging unfair labor practices. - Associated Press
6 businesses file in bankruptcy court
Six petitions with business connections have been filed in U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Virginia in Roanoke.
Jimi-Mac Belt Sales Inc. of Grundy asked for liquidation. The stockholders, Jimmy Rife and Melvin Ashby, said they had no assets and liabilities of $269,482.
Kenneth W. Ball, trading as Paradise Waterbeds at Pounding Mill, sought liquidation, listing assets of $6,025 and liabilities of $38,800.
Harold Webster Hamilton and Peggy Ernestin Hamilton of Bristol sought liquidation, listing assets of $12,087 and liabilities of $40,319. They said they operate a shoe repair shop.
Flavia D. Tanger of Grandin Road, a self-employed translator, filed for liquidation, listing assets of $2,000 and liabilities of $20,534.
Arvil Dan Begley of Montrose Avenue Southeast, a self-employed brick mason, sought reorganization and protection from creditors, listing assets of $25,500 and liabilities of $49,297.
Terry L. Moore and Karen H. Moore of Atkins filed for a reorganization plan, showing assets of $12,181 and liabilities of $34,661. He operates B&B Construction Co. - Staff report
Briefly . . .
\ Virginia College, a junior college offering programs in electronic and computer technology, has opened a facility at 2163 Apperson Drive, Salem.
\ Olver Inc., a Blacksburg environmental engineering and analytical laboratory firm, has developed an association with UNIPRO, a San Juan, Puerto Rico engineering, planning and architectural firm. Earnings . . .
\ Uni-Marts Inc., which operates convenience stores in the Roanoke Valley, said Friday it had a record 1993 fiscal year. Net earnings of $3.1 million were up 88.5 percent from 1992. Revenues increased 4.7 percent, to $339.4 million. Merchandise sales at comparable stores were 2.24 percent higher and petroleum gallons sold at comparable stores were 6.22 percent higher. The company, based in State College, Pa., operates 438 stores in six states.
by CNB