Bill would allow drug tests in injuries

COLUMBUS - Workers suspected of abusing drugs or alcohol while suffering an on-the-job injury could face testing for substance abuse under a bill the Ohio House has approved.

The bill is similar to one rejected by the Ohio Supreme Court in 2002. The court said that law violated constitutional protections against unreasonable searches.

The current bill, sponsored by Rep. Bob Gibbs, a Lakeville Republican, would require a doctor or law enforcement officer - and not the employer - to request the test.

Cinergy Solutions, Pa. plant strike deal

Cinergy Solutions, an energy services unit of Cinergy Corp., has agreed to provide operation, maintenance, dispatch and coal purchasing for a Pennsylvania power plant.

Financial terms of the deal with Horsehead Corp., which owns the 110-megawatt G.F. Weaton power plant in Monaca, Pa., weren't disclosed.

Horsehead, the largest U.S. zinc producer, said the deal would allow it to significantly lower operating costs. Cinergy Solutions operates and maintains cogeneration and other energy plants for utilities, manufacturers and municipalities.

LexisNexis acquires judicial e-services

LexisNexis U.S., the Dayton, Ohio-based legal, news and e-filing information service, Wednesday said it had acquired Verilaw Technologies Inc., a provider of judicial e-service systems.

LexisNexis File & Serve and Verilaw enable the electronic filing and exchange of documents among the parties to a legal case. With the acquisition of Verilaw, LexisNexis is expanding into the emerging segment of e-service, which is the electronic exchange of documents among attorneys in cases without e-filing.

Gap describes poor factory conditions

SAN FRANCISCO - In an unusual display of corporate candor, Gap Inc. on Wednesday acknowledged that many of the overseas workers making the retailer's clothes are mistreated and vowed to improve often shoddy factory conditions by cracking down on unrepentant manufacturers.

The San Francisco-based owner of the Gap, Old Navy and Banana Republic stores made the comments Wednesday in its first ever "social responsibility" report - a 40-page document that mixed contrition about the past with promises to do better in the future.

NYSE disciplines five member firms

NEW YORK - The New York Stock Exchange has taken disciplinary actions against five member firms and 14 people for violations of NYSE rules and federal securities laws.

The cases, prosecuted by the NYSE Division of Enforcement, may be subject to review by the Securities and Exchange Commission and, thereafter, federal courts.

Corn, soybeans ahead of schedule

WASHINGTON - The nation's soybean supply could bounce back from current scant stocks if this year's harvest lives up to expectations, the Agriculture Department said Wednesday.

The department projected production to rise 23 percent to almost 3 million bushels. The result may be a record supply of soybeans, a turnaround from the lowest beginning stocks since 1977, USDA said.

Soybean planting is ahead of schedule, the USDA report said. Taking advantage of good planting weather, corn farmers also were ahead of schedule in getting their crops in the ground, the department said.

DPL chairman says he turned over files

DAYTON, Ohio - After investigators said they found hundreds of files were erased from the personal laptop computer of DPL Inc.'s chairman, the executive said that he provided all relevant information for the review of the utility's finances and executives' compensation.

About 740 files were erased from the laptop of DPL Chairman Peter Forster days after investigators asked managers to keep documents related to their review, the investigation found.

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