http://www.toledoblade.com The Latest News from Toledoblade.com (v5) Thu, 09 Jul 2026 09:40:26 GMT en-us hourly 1 https://www.toledoblade.com/business/labor/2026/07/09/us-jobless-claims-dip-modestly-to-215-000-last-week-as-layoffs-remain-at-historically-healthy-levels/stories/20260709085 https://www.toledoblade.com/business/labor/2026/07/09/us-jobless-claims-dip-modestly-to-215-000-last-week-as-layoffs-remain-at-historically-healthy-levels/stories/20260709085#comments Thu, 09 Jul 2026 14:18:18 GMT https://www.toledoblade.com/business/labor/2026/07/09/us-jobless-claims-dip-modestly-to-215-000-last-week-as-layoffs-remain-at-historically-healthy-levels/stories/20260709085 WASHINGTON — The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits dipped slightly last week as layoffs in the U.S. remain historically low. A help wanted sign is seen outside of a company in Wheeling, Ill., on June 8. https://www.toledoblade.com/business/real-estate/2026/07/08/real-estate-transfers-19/stories/20260708001 https://www.toledoblade.com/business/real-estate/2026/07/08/real-estate-transfers-19/stories/20260708001#comments Wed, 08 Jul 2026 10:00:00 GMT https://www.toledoblade.com/business/real-estate/2026/07/08/real-estate-transfers-19/stories/20260708001 June 26-July 2, 2026 Information sign about open house for home sale is seen outside of a home in Wheeling, Ill., on June 8. https://www.toledoblade.com/business/stock-market/2026/07/08/oil-prices-rise-stocks-drop-worldwide-trump-says-cease-fire-iran-over/stories/20260708111 https://www.toledoblade.com/business/stock-market/2026/07/08/oil-prices-rise-stocks-drop-worldwide-trump-says-cease-fire-iran-over/stories/20260708111#comments Wed, 08 Jul 2026 21:12:20 GMT https://www.toledoblade.com/business/stock-market/2026/07/08/oil-prices-rise-stocks-drop-worldwide-trump-says-cease-fire-iran-over/stories/20260708111 NEW YORK — Oil prices rose, and stock markets dropped in shaky trading worldwide Wednesday after President Donald Trump raised doubts about the temporary truce in the war with Iran. Options traders Serge Marinovich, left, and Phil Phil Fracassini work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange on June 26. https://www.toledoblade.com/business/real-estate/2026/07/08/new-york-s-effort-to-convert-offices-into-housing-comes-with-challenges/stories/20260712035 https://www.toledoblade.com/business/real-estate/2026/07/08/new-york-s-effort-to-convert-offices-into-housing-comes-with-challenges/stories/20260712035#comments Wed, 08 Jul 2026 17:34:34 GMT https://www.toledoblade.com/business/real-estate/2026/07/08/new-york-s-effort-to-convert-offices-into-housing-comes-with-challenges/stories/20260712035 New York City has bet heavily on converting aging office buildings into apartments to help ease a housing shortage. But the threat of a partial collapse Tuesday by one such conversion in progress highlighted the significant challenges of those construction projects. People watch the unstable building at 235 E. 42nd St. on Tuesday in New York. The former Pfizer headquarters building is seen on Tuesday in New York City. Construction workers working on the former pharmaceutical company building, a high-profile housing project, were evacuated after it was determined that it was at risk of partial collapse. https://www.toledoblade.com/business/agriculture/2026/07/08/neighbors-speak-out-against-proposed-210-000-hen-poultry-operation/stories/20260708083 https://www.toledoblade.com/business/agriculture/2026/07/08/neighbors-speak-out-against-proposed-210-000-hen-poultry-operation/stories/20260708083#comments Wed, 08 Jul 2026 18:15:52 GMT https://www.toledoblade.com/business/agriculture/2026/07/08/neighbors-speak-out-against-proposed-210-000-hen-poultry-operation/stories/20260708083 DEFIANCE — Nearly every time a new plan emerges to build a major livestock facility in northwest Ohio, residents band together to raise concerns about anything from stench to potential impacts on water quality, air quality, roads, and property values. Some of the nearly 100 people who attended. Shirley Gebers, 89, lives in a house across the street from the proposed CAFO site. She has concerns about the ODA letting Mark and Diana Wachtman house 210,000 egg-laying chickens there. Deb Peter, Shirley Gebers' daughter, grew up in a house on Flory Road, across the street from the proposed CAFO site. She and her brother, Craig Gebers, of Toledo, said they want to maintain the area around the house they grew up in for their mother, who still lives in it. Jason Rickenberg, who lives along Flory Road less than a mile from the proposed CAFO site, provides his comments. Some of the nearly 100 people who attended. Sam Mullins, Ohio Department of Agriculture chief of livestock environmental permitting, talks with an attendee after the event. Sam Mullins, Ohio Department of Agriculture chief of livestock environmental permitting, talks with an attendee after the event. Sandy Bihn, Lake Erie Waterkeeper founder, delivers her testimony in the case as Sam Mullins, Ohio Department of Agriculture livestock environmental permitting chief, listens. Sandy Bihn, Lake Erie Waterkeeper founder, delivering her testimony in the case. https://www.toledoblade.com/business/stock-market/2026/07/07/ai-stocks-sink-drag-markets-lower-worldwide/stories/20260707109 https://www.toledoblade.com/business/stock-market/2026/07/07/ai-stocks-sink-drag-markets-lower-worldwide/stories/20260707109#comments Tue, 07 Jul 2026 20:52:03 GMT https://www.toledoblade.com/business/stock-market/2026/07/07/ai-stocks-sink-drag-markets-lower-worldwide/stories/20260707109 NEW YORK — The roller-coaster ride for AI stocks snapped back down on Tuesday and dragged Wall Street lower. Michael Pistillo, left, and Federico DeMarco work on the floor at the New York Stock Exchange on July 6. https://www.toledoblade.com/business/labor/2026/07/07/microsoft-cuts-4-800-jobs-including-many-at-xbox-in-a-reset-of-its-gaming-division/stories/20260707082 https://www.toledoblade.com/business/labor/2026/07/07/microsoft-cuts-4-800-jobs-including-many-at-xbox-in-a-reset-of-its-gaming-division/stories/20260707082#comments Tue, 07 Jul 2026 10:22:07 GMT https://www.toledoblade.com/business/labor/2026/07/07/microsoft-cuts-4-800-jobs-including-many-at-xbox-in-a-reset-of-its-gaming-division/stories/20260707082 REDMOND, Wash. — Microsoft is cutting 4,800 jobs, about 2.1% of its global workforce, including a large number of workers at its Xbox video game business. A man walks past the Xbox logo at the Microsoft booth during the E3 game show in Los Angeles, Tuesday, June 11, 2013 https://www.toledoblade.com/business/retail/2026/07/07/us-airlines-chase-profits-in-premium-cabins-deepening-a-fare-class-divide-on-flights/stories/20260707081 https://www.toledoblade.com/business/retail/2026/07/07/us-airlines-chase-profits-in-premium-cabins-deepening-a-fare-class-divide-on-flights/stories/20260707081#comments Tue, 07 Jul 2026 10:20:46 GMT https://www.toledoblade.com/business/retail/2026/07/07/us-airlines-chase-profits-in-premium-cabins-deepening-a-fare-class-divide-on-flights/stories/20260707081 They may arrive at the same destination, but two passengers on the same flight can have strikingly different travel experiences. A Delta Airlines flight takes off in Tampa, Fla. https://www.toledoblade.com/business/stock-market/2026/07/06/rebounding-ai-stocks-send-sp-500-within-record/stories/20260706082 https://www.toledoblade.com/business/stock-market/2026/07/06/rebounding-ai-stocks-send-sp-500-within-record/stories/20260706082#comments Mon, 06 Jul 2026 20:59:47 GMT https://www.toledoblade.com/business/stock-market/2026/07/06/rebounding-ai-stocks-send-sp-500-within-record/stories/20260706082 NEW YORK — A rebound for AI stocks lifted the U.S. market on Monday. Michael Pistillo works on the floor at the New York Stock Exchange on Juy 6. https://www.toledoblade.com/business/labor/2026/07/06/grim-job-outlook-meets-scrappy-work-force-administrative-assistants-ai/stories/20260706012 https://www.toledoblade.com/business/labor/2026/07/06/grim-job-outlook-meets-scrappy-work-force-administrative-assistants-ai/stories/20260706012#comments Mon, 06 Jul 2026 10:19:11 GMT https://www.toledoblade.com/business/labor/2026/07/06/grim-job-outlook-meets-scrappy-work-force-administrative-assistants-ai/stories/20260706012 With their numbers already in decline, secretaries and administrative assistants face another growing threat: artificial intelligence tools like ChatGPT and Claude that can accomplish aspects of their workload with a tap. https://www.toledoblade.com/business/development/2026/07/06/demolition-st-luke-s-site-moves-mixed-use-future/stories/20260623100 https://www.toledoblade.com/business/development/2026/07/06/demolition-st-luke-s-site-moves-mixed-use-future/stories/20260623100#comments Mon, 06 Jul 2026 10:16:11 GMT https://www.toledoblade.com/business/development/2026/07/06/demolition-st-luke-s-site-moves-mixed-use-future/stories/20260623100 As redevelopment of the former site of St. Luke’s Hospital in Maumee continues, excitement is building about what the project could become. An aerial view showcases the former site of St. Luke’s Hospital in Maumee on June 24. An aerial view showcases the former site of St. Luke’s Hospital in Maumee on June 24. An aerial view showcases the former site of St. Luke’s Hospital in Maumee on June 24. An aerial view showcases the former site of St. Luke’s Hospital in Maumee on June 24. An aerial view showcases the former site of St. Luke’s Hospital in Maumee on June 24. An aerial view showcases the former site of St. Luke’s Hospital in Maumee on June 24. https://www.toledoblade.com/business/technology/2026/07/06/planning-a-trip-this-summer-don-t-neglect-your-tech-safety-checklist/stories/20260705069 https://www.toledoblade.com/business/technology/2026/07/06/planning-a-trip-this-summer-don-t-neglect-your-tech-safety-checklist/stories/20260705069#comments Mon, 06 Jul 2026 10:19:48 GMT https://www.toledoblade.com/business/technology/2026/07/06/planning-a-trip-this-summer-don-t-neglect-your-tech-safety-checklist/stories/20260705069 Summer is time for that well-deserved vacation. To get ready for your trip, make sure to get your tech life in order alongside other tasks like packing and making sure you’ve got passports and tickets. Tourists with an umbrella take a photo in Paris, as France is enduring a grueling heat wave with temperatures soaring above 104 Fahrenheit on June 22. https://www.toledoblade.com/business/personal-finance/2026/07/06/ira-playbook-to-build-wealth/stories/20260706007 https://www.toledoblade.com/business/personal-finance/2026/07/06/ira-playbook-to-build-wealth/stories/20260706007#comments Mon, 06 Jul 2026 10:19:37 GMT https://www.toledoblade.com/business/personal-finance/2026/07/06/ira-playbook-to-build-wealth/stories/20260706007 In the world of financial planning, we often treat retirement accounts as static buckets. But for the savvy investor, an IRA has a life cycle that must evolve as they do. From a teen’s first summer job to a retiree’s final legacy bequest, the optimal way to use these accounts changes based on tax bracket and life stage. https://www.toledoblade.com/business/retail/2026/07/05/yarlu-african-market-fills-need/stories/20260701118 https://www.toledoblade.com/business/retail/2026/07/05/yarlu-african-market-fills-need/stories/20260701118#comments Sun, 05 Jul 2026 16:16:36 GMT https://www.toledoblade.com/business/retail/2026/07/05/yarlu-african-market-fills-need/stories/20260701118 Koko Yarlu Dahn brings foods to Toledo that can’t be found anywhere else in the city. Every Monday, she drives her van to suppliers in cities like Chicago and Pittsburgh to purchase ingredients for African dishes: palm oil, honey beans, cassava leaves, jollof rice seasoning, cocoyam fufu, goat meat, and mackerel. The next day, she opens her Yarlu African Market.  The small shop at 1827 Eastgate Rd. is packed with African culinary goods and beloved by regulars who seek out Miss Dahn’s selection. But when she left her home in Liberia for Toledo in 2003, there was no place in the city where immigrants from Africa could buy familiar ingredients. She decided to fill that need in the community. “After work, I used to go from house to house, you know, passing food around, telling people, ‘Oh, I have this,’” Miss Dahn says. “And then my uncle in Akron, he said, ‘Yarlu, why can’t you just open a store?’” She applied for a space on Eastgate Road. But before she could sign a lease, her mother fell ill and died two months later. Her landlord, sympathetic to her loss, held the space and gave her three extra months to get back on her feet. She moved in with seven boxes of food.  “I still had the confidence that I could do it,” she says. “And by the grace of God, I’m here.”  Today, a portrait of her mother hangs on the wall behind the register. The Yarlu African Market opened in 2021. Her brother, Hastings Gokor, says he’s proud of how she’s built a cornerstone of the community.  “She started from scratch. From the basement. Now look at the improvement she has made thus far,” he says. “All the Africans come to this store, and she sells good products to us.” Toledo’s African community numbers in the thousands, drawn from Liberia, Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon, Kenya, and elsewhere. For some, the store is where they first meet each other. Students from Africa attending the University of Toledo stop by for ingredients they can’t find at Kroger or Walmart.  But what makes Miss Dahn a staple of the African community is not just her selection of products. She has something that can’t be bought: a warm character that welcomes all.  “She’s very friendly and makes you feel at home when you come into the store,” says one regular customer, Lovett Okoyomo. “That’s why I always come to this store. She’s like a sister.”  Miss Dahn’s goal is to expand her store into an international restaurant that serves dishes made by cooks from all over the world. She hopes to pass her market — and her roots in the community — down to her granddaughter, Hina.  “We are not too big, but we are together. I thank God for Toledo.” Koko Yarlu Dahn, store owner, shows some of the popular items at Yarlu African Market in South Toledo on June 30. Fufu for sale at Yarlu African Market in South Toledo on June 30. Koko Yarlu Dahn, store owner, shows some of the popular items at Yarlu African Market in South Toledo on June 30. Koko Yarlu Dahn, store owner, shows some of the popular items at Yarlu African Market in South Toledo on June 30. Koko Yarlu Dahn, store owner, shows moin moin leaves for sale at Yarlu African Market in South Toledo on June 30. Plantains, at front, among other produce at Yarlu African Market in South Toledo on June 30. Purses are for sale at Yarlu African Market in South Toledo on June 30. Koko Yarlu Dahn is the store owner at Yarlu African Market in South Toledo on June 30. Koko Yarlu Dahn is the store owner at Yarlu African Market in South Toledo on June 30. Yarlu African Market is located in South Toledo on June 30. Lovett Okoyomo shops at Yarlu African Market in South Toledo on June 30. Lovett Okoyomo shops at Yarlu African Market in South Toledo on June 30. Koko Yarlu Dahn, store owner, left, rings up the items for customer Lovett Okoyomo at Yarlu African Market in South Toledo on June 30. Koko Yarlu Dahn, store owner, right, helps Hastings Gokor find what he was shopping for at Yarlu African Market in South Toledo on June 30. https://www.toledoblade.com/business/personal-finance/2026/07/05/how-trump-accounts-compare-to-other-savings-plans-for-your-child/stories/20260706004 https://www.toledoblade.com/business/personal-finance/2026/07/05/how-trump-accounts-compare-to-other-savings-plans-for-your-child/stories/20260706004#comments Sun, 05 Jul 2026 10:00:00 GMT https://www.toledoblade.com/business/personal-finance/2026/07/05/how-trump-accounts-compare-to-other-savings-plans-for-your-child/stories/20260706004 NEW YORK — Parents across the United States can now start contributing to a Trump Account, the newest option to invest in their child’s future. Choosing the right savings account can be confusing, since many can be used for similar goals. https://www.toledoblade.com/business/technology/2026/07/05/china-humanoid-robots-rental-market-exposing-limits/stories/20260630090 https://www.toledoblade.com/business/technology/2026/07/05/china-humanoid-robots-rental-market-exposing-limits/stories/20260630090#comments Sun, 05 Jul 2026 11:00:00 GMT https://www.toledoblade.com/business/technology/2026/07/05/china-humanoid-robots-rental-market-exposing-limits/stories/20260630090 HONG KONG — When humanoid robots dominated the stage of last year’s Spring Festival Gala with sleek dance routines, Ai Lin saw more than a spectacle. He saw a business. A robot factory in Beijing aims to ship 10,000 units by the end of 2026 and 500,000 by 2030, in line with the industry's goal of humanoid mass production. https://www.toledoblade.com/business/automotive/2026/07/04/behind-the-wheel-30-000-ev-comparison-chevrolet-bolt-vs-nissan-leaf/stories/20260704018 https://www.toledoblade.com/business/automotive/2026/07/04/behind-the-wheel-30-000-ev-comparison-chevrolet-bolt-vs-nissan-leaf/stories/20260704018#comments Sat, 04 Jul 2026 12:37:45 GMT https://www.toledoblade.com/business/automotive/2026/07/04/behind-the-wheel-30-000-ev-comparison-chevrolet-bolt-vs-nissan-leaf/stories/20260704018 Many new electric vehicles are prohibitively expensive for car shoppers. But there are a few relatively low-cost options that provide plenty of usable range and utility. The 2027 Chevrolet Bolt is an affordable EV that is back on the market with more range, quicker charging, and improved technology features. The 2026 Nissan Leaf, a small EV, has been redesigned with flashier styling and a max EPA-estimated range of more than 300 miles. https://www.toledoblade.com/business/personal-finance/2026/07/04/how-to-talk-about-money-with-your-kids/stories/20260704009 https://www.toledoblade.com/business/personal-finance/2026/07/04/how-to-talk-about-money-with-your-kids/stories/20260704009#comments Sat, 04 Jul 2026 12:37:16 GMT https://www.toledoblade.com/business/personal-finance/2026/07/04/how-to-talk-about-money-with-your-kids/stories/20260704009 NEW YORK — At the grocery store, Jamie Corum sets a two-minute timer for her 10-year-old daughter to look around. Then she resets it to 10 minutes so her daughter can choose one thing to buy, making sure she considers her budget and how much tax she’ll have to pay. Jamie Corum, her children Ivy Edgar, 10, Cash Edgar, 17, and wife Jessica Edgar-Corum pose for a portrait in their neighborhood in Pflugerville, Texas. Ivy Edgar, 10, cooks pasta with her parents Jessica Edgar-Corum and Jamie Corum at their home in Pflugerville, Texas. Cash Edgar, 17, sits next to his mother Jamie Corum and dog Oslo at their home on in Pflugerville, Texas. Jessica Edgar-Corum, her daughter Ivy Edgar, 10, and wife Jamie Corum prepare dinner at their home in Pflugerville, Texas. Jamie Corum and her wife Jessica Edgar-Corum pose for a portrait outside their home in Pflugerville, Texas. https://www.toledoblade.com/business/retail/2026/07/03/longtime-skate-shop-kickflips-downtown/stories/20260703024 https://www.toledoblade.com/business/retail/2026/07/03/longtime-skate-shop-kickflips-downtown/stories/20260703024#comments Fri, 03 Jul 2026 16:40:13 GMT https://www.toledoblade.com/business/retail/2026/07/03/longtime-skate-shop-kickflips-downtown/stories/20260703024 A beloved skate shop is rolling into a new downtown location. Just Skateboarding is leaving its longtime Perrysburg location and moving to 617 Adams St., as new ownership looks to build a bigger hub for the area’s growing skating scene.  “I’ve always seen the heart of the skateboarding community in Toledo to be downtown,” said Wade Vickers, the store’s new owner. The move marks a new chapter for the 30-year-old business. Founded by Scott Tutak in 1996, the store has long served as a gathering place for local skaters.  Mr. Vickers’ connection to Just Skateboarding stretches back decades, beginning with a childhood fascination sparked by the 1980s film Back to the Future. As a child in Perrysburg, he said he remembers the rattle of a wooden board beneath his feet, the rush of racing through Toledo streets, and the pull of a skate shop where the thing he loved seemed to fill every corner. “To work at a skate shop was everything,” he said. “I was surrounded by skateboarding, talked about skateboarding, and was involved with it in all aspects of my life.” Mr. Vickers later worked at Just Skateboarding as a teen, even competing on the shop’s skate team. Now, he said, he saw the chance to carry the shop into its next era while keeping it in the hands of people who grew up through the local skate scene. The new downtown location will double the shop’s current footprint and include an indoor ramp, giving skaters a place to drop in when winter pushes them off the streets. Being downtown also puts the shop closer to skaters across the city, and to the streets and spots skaters have used for decades. Brendo Schack, Just Skateboarding’s store manager, said the move is a natural next step for a business that has shaped both his life and the local skateboarding community. “We’re still here and there’s still a community that’s thriving,” he said. “Being able to manage this store is like a dream come true.” Staying true to its name, Mr. Schack said the shop will continue to sell everything a skater could need — from boards and specialty shoes to apparel, accessories, and artwork created by local skateboarders. “It’s still in the hands of skateboarders — owned, operated, and run by skateboarders from here,” he said. Longtime customer Justin Lecompte said the move is bittersweet but promising. Mr. Lecompte, who has shopped at Just Skateboarding for about 20 years, called the store a home and the flagship of Toledo skateboarding. “Toledo has a lot to offer for skateboarding, but we’re just on the cusp of really exploring that,” he said. Kyle Boyers, owner of Ridge & River Outdoor Gear and Ski Shop, said he’s excited about the skateboard shop moving in next door.  “We’re looking forward to another store that serves outdoor communities and revives downtown,” he said. Just Skateboarding plans to open its downtown location by the end of the summer, Mr. Vickers said. Once there, the shop will continue supporting the community and hosting events. His larger goal is to give Toledo skaters a stronger home base — and make the city a stop on the broader skateboarding map. “We plan on making Toledo a skateboarding destination that everybody can be a part of,” he said. Brendo Schack, manager of Just Skateboarding, skates at the DIY Skatepark in North Toledo on July 3. Brendo Schack, manager of Just Skateboarding, and Justin Lecompte skate at the DIY Skatepark in North Toledo on July 3. Brendo Schack, manager of Just Skateboarding, skates at the DIY Skatepark in North Toledo on July 3. https://www.toledoblade.com/business/retail/2026/07/03/laibe-electric-fourth-generation/stories/20260619112 https://www.toledoblade.com/business/retail/2026/07/03/laibe-electric-fourth-generation/stories/20260619112#comments Fri, 03 Jul 2026 11:08:49 GMT https://www.toledoblade.com/business/retail/2026/07/03/laibe-electric-fourth-generation/stories/20260619112 When Evan Dzierwa was choosing a place for a summer internship earlier this year, it wasn’t a hard choice. President Mike Deaton talks about some details in the company's history as it turns 100 this year, during a tour of Laibe Electric Co. on June 16 in Perrysburg. A server room is "guarded" by lamps that look like robots, a gift from grandfather, at the generationally owned Laibe Electric Co. on June 16 in Perrysburg. President Mike Deaton and CFO Lauren Dzierwa give a tour of Laibe Electric Co. on June 16 in Perrysburg. President Mike Deaton and CFO Lauren Dzierwa give a tour of Laibe Electric Co. on June 16 in Perrysburg. President Mike Deaton talks about some details in the company's history as it turns 100 this year, during a tour of Laibe Electric Co. on June 16 in Perrysburg. Lauren Dzierwa, CFO, talks about the family company turning 100 years old during a tour of Laibe Electric Co. on June 16 in Perrysburg. Prefab manager David Crawford works in the factory floor at Laibe Electric Co. on June 16 in Perrysburg. Fritz Kunz discusses his nearly 40 years working at Laibe Electric Co., which is 100 years old, on June 16 in Perrysburg. Lauren Dzierwa, CFO, talks about the family company turning 100 years old during a tour of Laibe Electric Co. on June 16 in Perrysburg. Lauren Dzierwa, CFO, with her interning son Evan, and president Mike Deaton stop by a sign in their factory floor during a tour of Laibe Electric Co. on June 16 in Perrysburg. Laibe Electric Co. is celebrating turning 100 years old on June 16 in Perrysburg.