U.S. Steel to reduce operations further, idle more Houston jobs

United States Steel Corp. (NYSE: X) is temporarily reducing more operations in Houston and Texas, affecting more than 200 additional employees.

Last week, the Pittsburgh-based company sent three Workforce Adjustment and Retraining Act letters to the Texas Workforce Commission regarding the additional reductions.

All the cuts were attributed to a decline in tubular market conditions, which is impacting demand for the company’s products.

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Temporary…

New 158-unit retirement community proposed in Grove City

A Michigan developer is at least doubling its Ohio presence with retirement communities planned for Grove City and outside Dayton.

Preliminary plans for a 158-unit, 180,000-square-foot StoryPoint senior living facility – with separate wings for independent apartments, assisted living and a sort of hybrid between the two – go before Grove City’s Planning Commission on Wednesday.

As well as 92 independent apartments, it would include a wing with 30 apartments for seniors still living independently…

Washington's population growth is slowing down

Washington is a region known for its booming, growing economy. But the growing part is changing — or at least slowing down.

The Washington Post takes a look at new census numbers that show some big changes happening in our region. One of the biggest: More people in Fairfax County, Arlington County and Alexandria moved out than in over the past year.

In the District, with all the luxury condos popping up around the city, people migrating in dropped by half.

While the region is still growing due…

Brace yourself for a pinch at the pump: Gas prices rising again in Charlotte, nationwide

Gasoline prices in the Charlotte region and across the nation have reversed course, jumping a nickel or more per gallon in recent days after weeks of declining or steady prices, according to AAA.

A gallon of regular unleaded in the Charlotte-Gastonia-Rock Hill metro area costs an average of $2.31 today, up from $2.25 a week ago, AAA Carolinas says. A month ago, the local average was $2.30 per gallon.

Still, gas prices remain will below year-ago levels. On this date in 2014, drivers in the Charlotte…

While natural gas wells rise in Marcellus Shale country, DEP finds methane and CO2 levels drop

The number of wells and midstream facilities reporting air pollution emissions to the state Department of Environmental Protection increased in 2013, but the amount of methane and carbon monoxide they produced decreased.

The DEP released its annual air emissions inventory on Monday, showing the number of facilities reporting emissions increased by 18 percent, but the tons of methane they produced dropped by about 13 percent. The tons of carbon monoxide also dropped 10 percent.

However, emissions…