The Akron Beacon Journal from Akron, Ohio • Page 22

The Beacon Journal Wednesday, August 11, 1993 Page C6 fcw l-fi A new affection confection Sometimes a Hug is sweeter than a Kiss. Hershey's of Hershey, introduced a counterpart to its Kiss on Tuesday. The Hug is a Kiss with thin strips of white chocolate wrapped around it. The white chocolate provides the extra sweetness. Kisses were introduced in 1907, seven years after the original Hershey's milk chocolate bar.

Hershey began offering a version of the candy with almonds three years ago. i i I i i -ini 1 li i i Close: Close: Close: 249.63 439.19 717.08 0.45 0.33 Close: Close: Close: 3572.73 449.45 6.44 Rising from bankruptcy TWA is due to ask a bankruptcy court today for approval of its reorganization plan, the next-to-last step before formally emerging from Chapter 11. loadMocte NAFTA's way A tni TYrr mm i Jury clears American in pricing lawsuit A 1 1 i a ieuw tu jury in uaivesion, Texas, on Tuesday cleared American Airlines of accusations it tried to force rivals business last year by slashing Rep. Louis Stokes, D-Shaker Heights Rep. Ralph Regula, R-Navarre Undecided Rep.

David Mann, D-Cincinnati Rep. Rob Portman, R-Cincinnati Rep. Tony Hall, D-Dayton Rep. Paul Gillraor, R-Port Clinton Rep. David Hobson, R-Springfield Rep.

Martin Hoke, R-Lakewood Rep. John Kasich, R-Westerville Rep. Tom Sawyer, D-Akron Rep. Eric Fingerhut, D-Mayfield Heights For NAFTA Rep. John Boehner, R-West Chester Rep.

Mike Oxley, R-Findlay Rep. Deborah Pryce, R-Columbus Against NAFTA Sen. John Glenn, D-Ohio Sen. Howard Metzenbaum, D-Ohio Rep. Sherrod Brown, D-Lorain Rep.

Marcy Kaptur, D-Toledo Rep. Douglas Applegate, D-Steubenville Rep. James Traficant, D-Poland Rep. Ted Strickland, D-Lucasville fares. Deliberating less than three to prevail if a vote had been cast.

The meeting on NAFTA was an indication of the daunting task the president faces if he sticks to his goal of having the treaty approved by the end of 1993. It is a challenge he says he will meet while also trying to win approval of health-care reform. "It's not going anywhere without strong presidential leadership," Rep. Ralph Regu-la, R-Navarre, said Tuesday. If sentiment among Ohio's congressional delegation is any indicator, Clinton will have trouble duplicating with NAFTA the squeaker victories he mustered on the budget.

It is not likely that the vote on NAFTA will break along party lines. Instead, each member is likely to decide based on whether NAFTA would mean a gain or loss of jobs for his or her district, Regula said. Sens. John Glenn and Howard Metzen-baum, D-Ohio, oppose NAFTA. Only three of Ohio's 19 House members are for it.

All three John Boehner of West Chester, Deborah Pryce of Columbus and Mike Oxley of Findlay are Republicans who voted against the president on the Ohio congressional delegation isn't convinced trade agreement is best for their constituents BY William Hershey Beacon Journal Washington Bureau WASHINGTON: Four hours before Rep. Sher-rod Brown cast a crucial vote for President Clinton's budget last Thursday, Brown tried to orchestrate an embarrassing setback to fellow Democrat Clinton on another issue the North American Free Trade Agreement. Ultimately, Brown backed down from demanding that the 67 freshman Democrats vote on a resolution condemning NAFTA, which gradually would eliminate most trade and investment barriers among the United States, Canada and Mexico. He said later that he didn't want to put undecided freshmen on the spot. Brown, a Lorain Democrat who represents Medina and parts of Summit and Portage counties, however, had come to the session with pledges of support for the resolution from 34 freshman Democrats, enough nours, ine jury aeciaea American never intended to monopolize certain airline markets with its cut-rate fares.

Grants Qiimmit firm iine money for training A Summit County firm, nine Republican House members counted among the treaty's opponents. It's possible, he said, that he will change his mind before the vote is cast. A lot depends on the so-called side agreements on See NAFTA, Page C10 budget. Seven members currently oppose NAFTA, while nine are undecided. All 10 Democratic House members either oppose NAFTA or are undecided.

On the budget, all of them but Rep. David Mann, D-Cincinnati, voted with Clinton. Regula, so far, is the only one of Ohio's Maternity Infant Health Care, has won a $14(185(1 state errant to help unemployed Ohioans get jobs through education and training incentives. More Than Games More man ji minion in grants was awarded to 10 companies throughout the state as part of the Ohio Industrial Training Program's High Employment Population Program, which offers financial assistance to companies that provide on-the-iob traininff wape rpimhurspmpnt II and other supportive services. Power, steel from one plant Plans for $825 million, environmentally friendly project near final stages Akron-North Canton calls to cost less The cost of a telephone call between Akron and North Canton will drop by 90 percent after Friday.

Ohio Bell, the telephone 'A- company that serves exchanges in both areas, is introducing a program that extends local MtM Greensburg and North Canton also will be treated as local calls after Friday, Ohio Bell said. CABUS i Mt9 lit Nintendo by air, sea BY MICHAEL CONNOR ReuUrs NEW YORK: Nintendo of America Inc. has come up with a plan to reach kids over 18 years of age. The Japanese video game giant's U.S. unit will offer a broad range of entertainment services for use in airplanes, cruise ships, restaurants and hotel rooms the world over.

Credit cards, not coins, will pay for using the machines anywhere but the living room or game arcade, where children already have a monopoly. The Nintendo Gateway System including video games, movies, audio compact discs, telephone, shopping and airline gate and baggage information has already been picked up Northwest Airlines and LodgeNet, which provides entertainment to hotels and cruise ships. The system also offers a menu of information on restaurants, shopping, cultural and sporting events, recreational and entertainment activities, as well as a service for ordering tickets. By the end of the first year, Nintendo expects to be delivering the service to 20 million consumers. Nintendo officials say the system allows the company to offer the kind of interactive multimedia system that other technology companies are only talking about.

For instance, the system for airplanes allows passengers to order a game or movie on a pay-per-view or pay-per-play basis. They appear on a video screen on the rear of the passenger seat in front of the player, with a control device attached to a cord and stored in the side of the arm rest. The games cost $4 an hour. Movies beyond the typical free offering on most international flights are $6 apiece or, in package deals, two for $9 or three for $12. The cost of installation to the airline has been estimated at $4,000 a seat, including downtime for the aircraft and hardware.

for small companies failed Tuesday in its attempt to get the Federal Communications 1 Commission to suspend new came rate rules, Dut it won a temDorarv delav for comnanies with fewer than 1.000 subscribers. Retail Diilard reports sales, income on increase By Bob Downing Beacon Journal staff writer Cleveland: Plans are quietly proceeding to wrap up final details on an $825 million project to produce both steel and electricity. Centerior Energy LTV Steel Co. and Air Products and Chemicals Inc. of Allentown, are working on completing a business agreement.

At the same time, the three firms are negotiating with the U.S. Department of Energy to finalize a $148 million federal grant for the Cleveland facility. Both arrangements should be concluded by the end of the year, said Centerior spokesman Lee Bailey. "Plans are proceeding and they're proceeding well," he said. "We think the technology can work, and it's an exciting project." The tentative timetable calls for groundbreaking between 1994 and 1996 with the plant beginning operations in 1998-99, he said.

LTV officials had said earlier they were uncertain how many jobs would be created. The project it is being developed by CPICOR Management created by the three companies was one of five across the country to win Clean Coal Technology Demonstration program grants on May 4. There are now 46 projects under way in 21 states to use coal in cleaner, more environmentally sound ways. The five projects have a combined price tag of $2 billion, with the Department of Energy providing $568 million in its final round of grants. The Energy Department's See PLANT, Page C10 Associated Press Armond Williams of Team Nintendo demonstrates a Nintendo game in a mock airplane in New York on Monday.

The company plans to expand its entertainment services. Diilard Department Stores Inc. said sales for the quarter ended July 31 were $1.1 billion, up from last year's $975 million. Net income for the Arkansas retailer rose to $39.2 million from $36.5 million last year. U.S.

productivity declined in spring The productivity of American workers fell at a 2.5 percent annual rate from April through tho lnrapct Hvlinp in mm Russians learn at Wayne County bank Yuri and Galina Krolevets have' seen their country's currency go through a lifetime of changes. When Russian President Boris Yeltsin and the country's Central Bank called for the removal of all pre-1993 rubles by the end of August, the Krolevetses were im Ordinary U.S. concepts a surprise to Siberians by Maura McEnaney Beacon Journal business writer In the eight weeks since they've been in the United States, mersed in the world of banking, American style complete with automated teller machines, drive-up windows, credit reports and fluctuating interest rates. And when they return to their native Siberia this weekend, the Russian bankers, who are also husband and wife, say they aren't really sure what to expect. Right now, their heads are full of ideas on how to improve lending policies and technology at their own institutions.

Galina, a credit inspector, See BANK, Page C10 than four years, the government said Tuesday. Bucking the overall decline, manufacturing productivity jumped 5 percent, including a 7.1 percent jump in factories that make goods such as automobiles and appliances. WAL-MART Earnings, sales show a healthy increase Wal-Mart Stores Inc. of Bentonville, on Tuesday Home market healthy, 'but not fever pitch' Restacturing takes huge bite from More Americans can afford houses Housing affordabillty Index, annual average 147.9 April-June 1993 132.6 160- reported second-quarter earnings of $496 million, up from $420.4 million a year ago. The nation's largest retailer said sales rose to $16.2 billion from $13 billion a 120 consumer spending.

Cincinnati Hearing scheduled 80- 40- I i 01 1 iii wUiiipaiijr 9 idwauu fordability index for the first half of the year showed that half the families in the nation had at least 136.2 percent of the income needed to buy a home listed at the median price of $107,000 in the April through June period. The index has not been so high since late 1973, when it measured 137.2. A year ago, the figure was 118.9 percent. The local demand seems to be for homes priced in the $75,000 to $125,000 range, says Layne. Mortgage rates averaged 7.26 percent nationally in the second quarter, more than one percentage point below the rate a year ago.

Rates are the lowest since 1968, when they averaged 7.03 percent, the Federal Housing Finance Board said. From staff and wire reports Low interest rates are making homes more affordable to buy than at any time in almost 20 years, according to a report released Tuesday by the National Association of Realtors. Even with the low rates, though, a sense of uncertainty about the economy and insecurity about jobs is dampening what otherwise would be a roaring market, national and local real estate agents say. "It's a healthy market but it's not the fever pitch that you would think it would be," said Susan O'Neal, president of the Akron Area Board of Realtors. "There's a lot of interest out there," says Diane Layne, president of Frank Krause Realty Inc.

of Cuyahoga Falls. The NAR said its housing af- '83 '88 '93 73 78 charges in the fourth quarter came to $1.56 billion. The quarterly loss compares with a profit of $339 million a year ago. Even with the loss, said worldwide sales in the quarter grew 3 percent to $7.37 billion. Without the charge, the company said it would have earned $341 million for the quarter and $2.01 billion for the year.

In addition to the $1.5 billion charge to cover the cost of plant closings and other restructuring items, took a $1 billion charge for new accounting rules on retiree benefits and deferred taxes, and $200 million for an after-tax restructuring reserve set up to cover the cost of divesting juice business. The company's stocl- fell $1.13 to $46.25 Tuesday. Reuters CINCINNATI: One month after announcing a massive restructuring, Procter Gamble Co. has reported a $1.22 billion quarterly loss and a $656 million loss for the year. The consumer products company said the year's loss included a $2.7 billion charge to pay for the restructuring and changes in accounting rules and deferred taxes.

Last month, the company told Wall Street analysts it would shed 13,000 jobs and close 20 percent of its manufacturing plants as part of a plan seen as a reaction to stiff competition. Still, the earnings results showed a profit from consumer products, and were in line with analysts' expectations. Restructuring and accounting FoHpratpH npnartment Store's bid to keep a key executive from going to a competitor is going to court. A Hamilton County -common pleas court judge When index equals 100, the U.S. median family Income equals the amount needed to buy an average home with conventional financing and 20 down.

When Index is higher than 100, median income is more than needed to buy average home. SOURCE: National Association ol Realtors Tuesday scheduled a hearing "Aug. 19 in Federated 's lawsuit to prevent Roger N. Farah, 'chairman of New York-based Krighl-Mdder Tribune tUCl CllCVI iUCl LIUUIUUUI5 1 L1UJ11 working for competitor R.H..