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NASHVILLE, Tenn. >> The historic Jack Daniel’s Distillery is planning a $140 million expansion project to help meet global demand for prized Tennessee whiskey.
The investment announced by Gov. Bill Haslam last week will be used to construct two new barrelhouses, expand the bottling facility and support the increasing number of visitors to the facility. Officials say more than 275,000 tourists from around the world visited the distillery in Lynchburg last year.
The Louisville, Ky.-based Brown-Forman company owns the distillery. Company officials say the expansion will create 30 new jobs in Moore County.
The distillery underwent a $103 million expansion less than three years ago that added stills, barrel warehouses and related infrastructure. Officials say that investment created 94 jobs.
The Jack Daniel’s Distillery is the oldest registered distillery in the U.S.
Toyota recalls Scions to fix key problem
DETROIT >> Toyota’s youth-oriented Scion brand is recalling about 28,000 FR-S sports cars in North America because drivers can take the keys out of the ignition without the car being in park.
The recall covers cars with automatic transmissions from the 2013 through 2016 model years.
Toyota says in some cases the mechanism that holds the key in the ignition unless the cars are in park might not have been connected before delivery. That makes it possible to remove the key while the cars are in gear, which could increase the risk of cars rolling away unexpectedly.
Total recall
About 800 Pier 1 Imports Capella Island Swivel Dining chairs in the U.S. are being recalled. The plastic wicker chairs have a natural wood color.
The chair is about 26 inches wide, 26 inches deep and 39 inches high. They were sold from January 2015 through October at Pier 1 stores and on the store’s website. They cost between $240 and $500.
The chairs can break at the base, posing a fall hazard.
Call Pier 1 Imports at 800-245-4595 from 4 a.m. to 3 p.m. Hawaii time Monday through Friday, Saturday from 5 a.m. to 1 p.m. or Sunday from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m., or visit Pier1.com and click on “Product Notes & Recalls” at the bottom of the page.
U.S.-Cuban pact to clear way for commercial flights
HAVANA >> The United States and Cuba will sign an agreement this week to resume commercial air traffic for the first time in five decades, starting the clock on dozens of new flights operating daily by fall, U.S. officials said Friday.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx is scheduled to fly to Havana on Tuesday to cement the deal. Barring other major announcements, it would be the most significant development in U.S.-Cuban trade since Presidents Barack Obama and Raul Castro announced in late 2014 that they would begin normalizing ties after a half-century of Cold War opposition.
The Obama administration is eager to make rapid progress on building trade and diplomatic ties with Cuba before the president leaves office. The coming weeks are seen as particularly crucial to building momentum ahead of a trip he hopes to make to Havana by the end of March.
Under the deal U.S. airlines can start bidding on routes for as many as 110 U.S.-Cuba flights a day — more than five times the current number. All flights operating today are charters.
Officials hope to parcel out the routes among carriers by this summer, allowing flights to begin by the time Obama leaves office.
Coming Up
>> Today: U.S. stock and bond markets are closed for Presidents Day.
>> Tuesday: National Association of Home Builders releases housing market index for February.
>> Wednesday: Commerce Department releases housing starts for January. Federal Reserve releases industrial production for January.
>> Thursday: Wal-Mart Stores Inc. reports financial results.
>> Friday: Labor Department releases Consumer Price Index for January. Deere & Co. reports financial results.
Thursday
>> Exchange Club: Field trip to Hawaii Pacific University’s new facilities and dorms at Aloha Tower Marketplace. Sam Moku, vice president of university relations, will accompany the group. Lunch will be provided. Cost: $25. Visit dexhon.com.
Feb. 25
>> Professional Women’s Network: Keynote speaker is Helen Goodwin, president/owner of Professional Image, speaks on “A Little Luck and a Lot of Hard Work.” Learn how to be successful through all kinds of adversity. 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. at a private club in downtown Honolulu. Cost: $37early-bird reservation by Friday; $40-$45 if RSVP’ing by Feb. 22. For more information and to register, visit pwnhawaii.org.
March 5 and 12
District 49 Toastmasters Spring Speech Contests: All contests will be held at Central Pacific Bank Training Room, 225 Queen St., fourth floor. Visit district49.org.
— Areas 2, 7, 9 and 16: Registration 9:30 a.m., contest 10 a.m. March 5
— Areas 4, 8 and 14: Registration 12:30 p.m., contest 1 p.m. March 5
— Areas 1, 6, 10 and 15: Registration 9:30 a.m., contest 10 a.m. March 12
— Areas 5, 11 and 13: Registration 12:30 p.m., contest 1 p.m. March 12
March 9
>> Hawaii Chapter of ARMA International: In “Does Your Company Properly Manage Its eDiscovery,” Robin Thompson offers information to improve one’s discovery response teams and workflow. 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at First Hawaiian Bank Center, 999 Bishop St., Pookela Room, sixth floor.Cost: $15 ARMA Hawaii Chapter members, $20 nonmembers. RSVP by March 2 or email rsvp@armahawaii.org.
March 16-18
>> 2016 Maui Energy Conference: 7 a.m.-6:30 p.m. March 16, 7 a.m.- 5 p.m. March 17 and 8:45 a.m.-noon March 18 at Maui Arts & Cultural Center. There will be numerous workshops, presentations and classes. Former Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter Jr., founder and director of the Center for theNew Energy Economy at Colorado State University, will speak on “What Everyone Should Know About America’s Renewable Energy Revolution.” Registration cost: $495; includes general sessions, exhibit venue, networking reception, conference materials and continental breakfast and lunch.Visit mauienergyconference.com.
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