In the Region
J&J names quality overseer
Johnson & Johnson is creating a position to oversee companywide quality, manufacturing, and compliance issues. The health-care giant's once-stellar reputation for quality has been tarnished by repeated recalls of nonprescription medicines. J&J on Wednesday named corporate vice president Ajit Shetty to oversee the push for quality improvements in its pharmaceutical, medical device, and consumer-products groups. Since September, the New Brunswick, N.J., company has announced eight recalls. The recalls, which included liquid Tylenol for children and infants, involved products made at the Fort Washington factory shut down in April - and expected to remain closed for another year while it is upgraded - plus another factory in Las Piedras, Puerto Rico. Food and Drug Administration inspections also uncovered problems at a factory in Lancaster, which is run in a joint venture with
Merck & Co. Inc. - AP
N.J. unemployment edges higher
New Jersey's unemployment rate edged higher in July, increasing one-tenth of a percentage point to 9.7 percent, the state said. The increase was the first in the state since the rate reached a recessionary high of 10 percent in December. The loss was mainly due to a decline in public-sector payrolls at the federal and local government levels, the
New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development said. According to preliminary estimates, total nonfarm wage and salary employment in the state fell 21,200 jobs in July, from June, to 3.84 million. The public sector accounted for 18,100 of those lost jobs, the state said. Average hourly earnings decreased 9 cents, to $18.85, the department said, and weekly earnings were down $3.64, to $763.43. Compared with July of last year, the unadjusted workweek was lower by one hour, average hourly earnings increased 55 cents, and weekly earnings were up $3.98.
- Reid Kanaley
Pa., N.J. receive network funds
Pennsylvania and New Jersey will receive $76.8 million in federal stimulus money to build broadband and wireless networks, Vice President Biden said. In New Jersey, $39.7 million will allow public safety organizations in the northern part of the state to deploy an interoperable wireless public safety broadband network. In Pennsylvania, $36.4 million will allow
Keystone Wireless L.L.C. to offer 3G broadband service to nearly a million people in central Pennsylvania counties, including Berks County. A $784,000 project in Pittsburgh will provide Internet computer access to low-income neighborhoods.
- Jane M. Von Bergen
Met-Pro gets $950,000 order
Met-Pro Corp., Harleysville, said its Strobic Air Corp. subsidiary has received a $950,000 order for laboratory fume hood exhaust equipment for a U.S. health facility. The company did not identify the facility that placed the order. Met-Pro, with annual revenue of about $83 million, makes product-recovery, pollution-control, and fluid-handling equipment.
- Reid Kanaley
Center focuses on Marcellus Shale
Pennsylvania State University has established an education and research center devoted to natural gas drilling in the Marcellus Shale. University president Graham Spanier said the Marcellus Center for Outreach and Research would work with state agencies, communities, industry, and environmental groups to protect water resources, forests, and transportation infrastructure.
- AP
Elsewhere
Small hike for Medicare drug plans
