Briefcase

Businesses, groups garner Agora Awards

Greater Spokane Incorporated on Wednesday announced seven winners in its annual Agora Awards, which recognize excellence in area businesses.

Winners include: Desautel Hege Communications, for small business; Horizon Hospice, medium business; Spokane Industries Inc., large business; Vanessa Behan Crisis Nursery, Entrepreneurial Spirit award; Northwest Farm Credit Services, community service winner; Spokane Lilac Festival Association, small nonprofit; Second Harvest Food Bank, large nonprofit.

This marked the 26th time the awards have been presented to firms and groups.

Tom Sowa

Checking second bag to Europe to cost more

Baggage fees between the U.S. and Europe are rising.

Both Delta Air Lines Inc. and United Continental Holdings Inc. are raising fees to check a second bag on flights to Europe. The first bag is still free. Previously, they both charged $50 for a second bag. Now Delta will charge $60 if it’s checked online, $75 at the airport. United and Continental are charging $70 to check a second bag.

Delta is also adding a $30 fee for a second bag between the U.S. and most of Latin America. Its previous fee of $150 for overweight bags on flights to Europe will drop to $75.

Associated Press

Union vote at Delta to undergo review

WASHINGTON – Federal labor regulators say they’re going to investigate the election at Delta Air Lines Inc. that kept a flight attendants union out.

The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA narrowly lost the election in November, with 51 percent of votes coming in against the union. The union had represented flight attendants at Northwest before it was bought in 2008 by Delta.

The union claimed Delta illegally intimidated workers. Delta raised allegations that the union had intimidated workers by demanding to know how they had voted.

The National Mediation Board could potentially order a new vote.

Associated Press

Union Pacific, EPA reach $25 million settlement

OMAHA, Neb. – Union Pacific and the Environmental Protection Agency are ending their long dispute over lead contamination in Omaha with a settlement reducing the railroad’s share to $25 million instead of the more than $200 million once sought.

The dispute dealt with nearly 6,000 lead-contaminated Omaha properties. The settlement agreement reviewed Wednesday by the Associated Press includes no admission of wrongdoing by the railroad.

Most of the $25 million UP agreed to pay will focus on lead paint problems and children’s health.

Associated Press