Philadelphia plans airport expansion

PHILADELPHIA — The city of Philadelphia is hoping to buy a 27-acre property in Delaware County as part of a long-range expansion of Philadelphia International Airport.

An ordinance was introduced in city council paving the way for the city-owned airport to buy International Plaza, which has two office buildings that were once the headquarters of Scott Paper. Officials expected an agreement of sale to be signed Wednesday or today.

Duquesne U. sets $16/hour min. wage

PITTSBURGH — Duquesne University is increasing its employee minimum wage to $16 an hour, slightly more than twice the state and federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour.

University officials also agreed to a 0.5 percent raise for all employees earning less than $34,000 a year. Under the new budget, the school will contribute $500 to employee dependent care flex funds.

University spokesman Rose Ravasio said the new wage floor, effective July 1, affects 168 Duquesne employees who earn between $15 and $15.99 an hour.

Officials said the increase means total compensation for the lowest paid full-time employees is equivalent to $22 per hour when adding the value of benefits.

Office Depot pays for chair problems

NEW YORK — Office Depot will pay regulators $3.4 million to settle charges that it did not report defects of two of its office chair models fast enough, even after receiving more than 200 complaints.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said the seatbacks of some of the chairs fell off, resulting in back injuries.

The agency said Office Depot did not notify the regulator until it contacted the company. Companies must report issues with its products within 24 hours, the CPSC said.

Office Depot sold more than 1.4 million of the defective Gibson chairs between 2003 and 2012. They cost $40 each.

Office Depot sold 150,000 of the other model, called Quantum, which cost $350. That model was sold between 2006 and 2009. Office Depot received 186 reports of the seatbacks failing, and 39 reports of injuries, including a fractured back and hip, according to the CPSC

Ford recalls 423,000 vehicles

DETROIT — Ford has two new recalls involving 423,000 vehicles in North America with potential steering problems and 19,500 Mustangs with fuel tank issues.

The first recall covers some 2011-2013 models of the Ford Taurus and Flex vehicles, Lincoln MKS and MKT as well as 2011-2012 Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKZ sedans and the 2011 Mercury Milan, the automaker said. An electrical connection in the steering gear of these models could result in the loss of electric powering, which leaves the car with manual steering that is tougher to steer.

The second recall is for the 2015 Ford Mustang with a 2.3-liter engine. If the underbody is too hot for too long, the fuel tank and vapor lines can degrade, which could result in a fuel leak and cause a fire. The parking brake cable seals could also be damaged.

From combined wire sources