OHIO-MADE BEERS MAY GET STRONGER
If some members of the Ohio state legislature have their way, beer bottled in the Buckeye State will have more kick. The state capital bureau of Gannett says that a bill is awaiting the signature of that state's governor. It would allow the production and sale of beers with higher alcohol content.
The bill's biggest impact would actually be on a number of imported beers, including Sam Adams Winter Lager, which currently has a content of 6.9 percent.
The bureau says that under current Ohio law, beer must have an alcohol level of 6 percent. Nationally sold beers are usually in the 4 percent to 5 percent range.
It would appear that the bill will eventually become law. Ohio's governor, Bob Taft, has signaled no objections to it, though the wording would permit brews with up to a 12 percent alcohol content sellable as "beer" in that state. The bill is said to be good news for the growing microbrewery industry.
HAWAII BOWL GETS MAINLAND SPONSOR
An agreement has been reached between one of the regional ESPN networks and ConAgra, one of the nation's largest sellers of food products, to become the main sponsor for this coming December's Hawaii Bowl. The Pacific Business News says that a multi-year agreement has been worked out that proved attractive to the network, Aloha Stadium and the food conglomerate.
The University of Hawaii's athletic director, Hugh Yoshida, tells the publication that many would like to see the bowl gain in stature. He says that it can now become a "national event" with the level of sponsorship and name recognition offered by ConAgra.
Among the ConAgra brands are Healthy Choice, Banquet meals, Armour meats, Bumble Bee tuna, Butterball turkeys and Slim Jims.
BUFFETT: LET'S BAIL, BAIL, BAIL!
Billionaire financier Warren Buffett and two others say they will pump about half a billion dollars into Level 3 Communications. On news of the proposed prop-up, the company's stock soared on Wall Street.
Buffett's main holding company -- Berkshire Hathaway Inc. -- has, according to Bloomberg News, joined with two other investment groups in making the announcement.
Level 3 is among several companies that invested incredible sums of money to help prepare for what they thought would be a huge worldwide investment in a spider's web of fiber optics paths. The product began to materialize but there were few takers.
Another company that tried but failed to capitalize on the worldwide communications trend was Global Crossing.
COLORADO 'DUMPER' GIVEN 17 YEARS
A court in Colorado has convicted a businessman who was charged with illegally getting rid of hazardous and other waste gathered from dry cleaners over a multi-year period. According to that state's attorney general, Ken Salazar, the case is a first of its kind in the way it dealt with a major polluter.
The waste collector, a resident of California, was found guilty of the illegal dumping of materials from a variety of dry cleaners around the state. He was sentenced to 17 years in prison.
Meanwhile, court records show that he may have taken similar actions in dealing with byproducts of cleaners in as many as half a dozen other Western states.
According to KUSA TV news, many of the products that were not properly disposed of are listed as health hazards.
