Business notebook

Federal regulators have proposed an $11,200 fine against a manufacturer accused of dropping a large part destined for a Jenkinsville nuclear plant, then trying to cover it up.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission announced the penalty Tuesday against Chicago Bridge & Iron Co.’s facility in Lake Charles, La. That facility makes large components for nuclear plants under construction in Georgia and near Jenkinsville.

NRC officials said the prefabricated part for the plant fell March 1, 2013, because of improper rigging and lifting practices.

Investigators accused two CB&I officials of encouraging their employees to lie about the accident in their formal reports.

Lexington business center

A small business development center overseen by the University of South Carolina is set to open in Lexington July 1.

The center will operate three days per week at the office of the Greater Lexington Chamber of Commerce downtown. The step is in response to growing local demand for its help and advice, said Pete Oliver, area manager for such centers.

Texas-based Blue Bell Creameries has recalled all of its products after two samples of chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream tested positive for listeria, a potentially deadly bacteria.

Federal health officials said they’re now aware of 10 listeria illnesses linked to ice cream and other products made by the company over the last five years, including three deaths.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported illnesses or deaths in Kansas, Texas, Oklahoma and Arizona.

IN BRIEF

▪  Comcast Corp.’s turbulent bid to acquire Time Warner Cable Inc. shifts into high gear this week, 14 months after the $45 billion deal was announced. Company executives plan to meet with U.S. Justice Department officials in Washington on Wednesday to begin in-depth discussions about whether the government’s antitrust concerns are significant enough to torpedo the merger.

▪  Oil and gas operations are the most likely cause of dozens of earthquakes that began rattling the North Texas towns of Azle and Reno in November 2013, a group of scientists has concluded. The study, led by researchers at Southern Methodist University MU and published Tuesday in the journal Nature Communications, presents some of the most conclusive evidence yet that humans are shifting faults below Dallas-Fort Worth that have not budged in hundreds of millions of years.

▪  After the Apple Watch ships to initial customers Friday, thousands of motorists might be sneaking a glance to read text messages and other alerts. A lawyer has filed a lawsuit against Apple, Samsung, Microsoft and Google that seeks a court order for the technology companies to fund a $1 billion public education campaign about the dangers.

From Staff and Wire Reports.

This story was originally published April 21, 2015 at 9:04 PM with the headline "Business notebook."