Unmanned aircraft maker Insitu Inc. of Bingen in Skamania County is working with the Federal Aviation Administration to research how remotely piloted planes would fit into the nation’s air traffic control system. Unmanned aircraft have been used extensively by the military. But the FAA wants to learn more about them and the differences in how air traffic controllers would manage such planes. The research will be done at the FAA’s Hughes Technical Center in Atlantic City, N.J. Under an agreement signed Tuesday, Insitu is supplying one of its ScanEagle planes and will train FAA employees to fly and maintain it. Insitu is owned by the Boeing Co.
Target raises quarterly dividend
Target Corp.’s chairman, CEO and president offered an upbeat assessment of its business to shareholders Wednesday as the discounter raised its quarterly dividend by 45 percent. But even though Target is benefiting from an improving economy, it’s still taking a cautious approach to expansion. “We are taking nothing for granted,” said Gregg Steinhafel in a brief address at the company’s annual meeting in Boulder, Colo. Target, based in Minneapolis, is on track to open 13 new stores this year, all in the second and third quarter. Steinhafel described it as the “low point” in its expansion but told investors Target will step up new store openings.
Wholesale goods increase in April
Inventories held by wholesalers rose for a fourth straight month in April while sales rose for a 13th consecutive time. Both gains were encouraging signs that point to a sustained economic recovery. Wholesale inventories increased 0.4 percent last month after a 0.7 percent gain in March, the Commerce Department said Wednesday. Sales increased 0.7 percent in April, helped by higher demand for autos, lumber, computers and electrical equipment. The rise followed a 2.4 percent surge in March. The hope is that a sustained rise in demand will prompt businesses to step up orders and restock depleted shelve. That would give a boost to factories and prompt increased hiring.
Committee raises automaker rules
A Senate committee Wednesday approved a bill that would require automakers to meet new safety standards, impose stiff penalties for companies that fail to quickly report defects, and double funding for the government agency overseeing car safety. The Senate Commerce Committee plan is part of a move by lawmakers to tighten the nation’s auto safety laws following Toyota’s massive recalls. “This is a critical public safety bill that will affect the lives of millions of Americans on the road,” said Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., the committee’s chairman. Congress hopes to approve the safety legislation by the July 4 holiday recess. It represents the most significant reforms to auto safety rules since the Bridgestone/Firestone Inc. tire recalls of a decade ago.
From Herald news services
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