In brief: Ex-franchisee says she warned Subway about Fogle

NEW YORK – A former franchisee alerted a Subway advertising executive in 2008 about her concerns about pitchman Jared Fogle, according to her lawyer.

Cindy Mills exchanged phone numbers with Fogle after they met at an event, said Robert Beasley, a lawyer who represents Mills.

After Fogle began talking about paying for sex with minors, Beasley said Mills alerted a regional Subway contact in Florida where she is based. Later, she alerted Jeff Moody, who was in charge of the Subway Franchisee Advertising Fund Trust, he said.

The company has previously said it does not have a record of Mills’ complaints, which were previously reported by Business Insider.

CEO says 1 billion used Facebook on Monday

NEW YORK – For the first time, a billion people used Facebook in a single day Monday.

CEO Mark Zuckerberg marked the occasion with a post on his Facebook page, saying that one out of seven people on Earth logged in to the social network to connect with their friends and family.

Poker pro plays hand of booze, sexy servers

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. – Poker pro Phil Ivey is using an unusual defense against allegations he and a partner cheated Atlantic City’s Borgata casino out of $9.6 million at cards: He claims the casino uses free liquor served by scantily clad waitresses to distract gamblers.

Both sides are suing each other over the poker player’s winnings in 2012 at baccarat.

The Borgata claims Ivey and an associate exploited a defect in cards that enabled them to sort and arrange good cards.

The casino says the technique, called edge sorting, violates New Jersey casino gambling regulations.

But Ivey’s motion said his win was simply the result of skill and good observation.

‘Natural’ tobacco makers get warning

NEW YORK – The Food and Drug Administration issued warning letters to the makers of Winston, Natural Spirit and Nat Sherman cigarettes over their “additive-free” and “natural” label claims.

The agency issued the warnings to ITG Brands LLC, Santa Fe Natural Tobacco Co. Inc. and Sherman’s 1400 Broadway N.Y.C. Ltd. The issue over the claims is that they may lead consumers to believe the products pose a lower risk. That claim has to be scientifically proved.

Mortgage rates drop to lowest since May

WASHINGTON – Average long-term U.S. mortgage rates dropped this week to their lowest levels since May, in a week marked by turmoil in global markets that was stoked by economic developments in China.

Mortgage giant Freddie Mac said Thursday the average rate on a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage fell to 3.84 percent from 3.93 percent a week earlier. The benchmark rate hasn’t been that low since May 21.

The rate on 15-year fixed-rate mortgages declined this week to 3.06 percent from 3.15 percent.

The panic selling and extreme gyrations in stock markets sent investors to the safety of U.S. government bonds, raising their prices and dampening their rates. Mortgage rates often track the yield on the 10-year Treasury bond, which dipped below 2 percent Monday, a day of epic losses and price swings on Wall Street. The yield recovered to 2.18 percent Wednesday. That compared with 2.22 percent last Wednesday.