IN BRIEF
Nurses to vote on union representation
Nurses inside three local hospitals were scheduled to vote Wednesday night at around 9 p.m. for new union representation.
Nurses with the St. Rose Dominican system, which has two campuses in Henderson and one in southwestern Las Vegas, were set to vote on switching union representation from the Service Employees International Union to the California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee.
The California Nurses Association picked up about 500 members four months ago at Reno's St. Mary's Hospital, which belongs to St. Rose Dominican parent Catholic Healthcare West. The union also represents about 10,000 other nurses at Catholic Healthcare West hospitals across the region.
About 1,100 nurses were scheduled to vote.
Titanium Metals shares rise on demand outlook
Titanium Metals Corp. rose the most in almost two years on the New York Stock Exchange after the maker of specialty metals for jet planes said demand will increase and first-quarter profit met analyst estimates.
Shares of Titanium Metals rose $1.83, or 11.55 percent, to $17.67 on the New York Stock Exchange, the largest gain since July 28, 2006.
"The long-term outlook for our business and the industry as a whole remain strong, and we expect that future demand in all major market sectors will accelerate," Chief Executive Officer Steven Watson said in the statement.
Dallas-based Titanium Metals operates a plant in Henderson.
NEW YORK
'Grand Theft Auto IV' sales top 6 million units
"Grand Theft Auto IV" raked in more than $500 million in its first week in stores, selling more than 6 million units worldwide, the video game's publisher said Wednesday.
The game from Take-Two Interactive Software has received raves along with criticism for its violent content. The game follows Eastern European immigrant-turned gangster Niko Bellic on crime missions around a fictional Liberty City.
The title sold about 3.6 million units on April 29, its opening day, bringing in roughly $310 million.
NEW YORK
Oil futures rise again, setting another record
Oil futures extended their seemingly relentless advance Wednesday, rising to a record near $124 a barrel as investors captivated by the market's upward momentum looked past the government's report of an increase in crude and gasoline supplies. At the pump, gasoline prices rose for the first time since last week.
Light, sweet crude for June delivery hit a trading record of $123.93 in after-hours activity on the New York Mercantile Exchange after settling up $1.69 at a record close of $123.53 a barrel.
Analysts attributed oil's rise to continued buying from the surge that pushed prices past $120 for the first time earlier this week.
KANSAS CITY, Mo.
Clearwire, Sprint revive mobile Internet plan
Clearwire and Sprint Nextel have resurrected their plan to offer high-speed mobile Internet service with the help of some deep-pocketed supporters.
The companies announced Wednesday they will combine their wireless broadband units to create a $14.55 billion communications company, to be called Clearwire, that will continue developing a mobile network based on WiMax technology.
WiMax is similar to the Wi-Fi service found in coffee shops, airports and many homes but more powerful. It can cover larger areas, sometimes whole cities, and promises faster speeds than the latest cellular networks for movies, games and other data services.
TOKYO
Toyota will raise prices on some U.S. models
Toyota Motor Corp., the world's second-biggest automaker by annual vehicle sales, is raising its prices on some U.S. models later this month amid increased worries about its profit growth in the American market.
The price increases, which will start in mid-May, include a $200 boost of the 2008 Yaris sedan, raising the base model's cost to $12,425; models with extra features will cost more. The 2009 Camry will go up $200, to $18,920 for a model without any extras, the automaker's U.S. unit said in a statement released Friday.
The base hybrid Camry, introduced as a 2007 model in late 2006, will cost $300 more, at $25,650, Toyota said.
Texan hits Megabucks, winning $21 million
Nothing like winning $21 million to rekindle the romance in a marriage.
Connie Thiele, a 58-year-old tourist from Austin, Texas, won a $21 million Megabucks jackpot at the Palms on Wednesday during her annual trip to Las Vegas with her husband, Robert.
"He's in love with me all over again after 36 years," the state agency worker joked.
After dropping $150 on one machine, Theile walked around to the other side and dropped her coins in for the winning pull.
She said she plans to use the money to pay bills, take care of the grandchildren and buy a new car.
This is the third time Megabucks has hit at the Palms. The first two coming in 2004.
The record Megabucks jackpot is $39.7 million hit at the Excalibur in March 2003.
NEW YORK
Rising oil prices spook traders; Treasurys rise
Treasury prices advanced Wednesday as investors unnerved by crude oil's record-breaking run pulled money out of the stock market and transferred it to the safety of government debt.
At the close of regular trading, the benchmark 10-year Treasury rose 0.56 points to 97.19 and yielded 3.85 percent, down from 3.92 percent late Tuesday, according to BGCantor Market Data.
Meanwhile, the 30-year long bond rose 1.06 to 96.28 and yielded 4.60 percent, down from 4.67 percent late Tuesday.
