Trump’s global trade war comes to Alabama
Trade wars Jimmy Lyons ought to be sleeping soundly. Business is good at the port in Mobile, which he oversees as chief executive officer of the Alabama State Port Authority. European aviation giant Airbus SE is expanding a plant nearby that relies on the port for shipments of critical parts. And near Tuscaloosa, things are humming at a Mercedes-Benz plant, which is one reason the port authority is building a new auto export facility. But Lyons has plenty to worry about. “The thing that keeps me up at night is a global recession,” says Lyons. “I’ve seen what it can do to our business. It dips very quickly and comes back very slowly.” – Bloomberg
How some Birmingham malls are planning for the future
It’s the last days of Sears at the Riverchase Galleria. The national retailer is closing 26 large-format stores around the country, as traditional big box chains continue to fall, casualties to retail’s changing economic landscape. That’s 147,000 square feet of space suddenly vacant at the Hoover mall by the end of October. What does this mean for the future of the Galleria, Alabama’s largest shopping mall? It could mean a new direction for the complex off Interstate 459, as well as a new performing arts center for the City of Hoover. – AL.com
BurgerFi to open Montgomery location Monday
National gourmet burger chain BurgerFi is set to open its fourth Alabama location next week. The chain will open Monday at Montgomery’s The Shoppes of EastChase, 7413 EastChase Parkway. BurgerFi has about 100 locations around the U.S. The Montgomery location will be open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. – AL.com
ImaginAb Enrolls First Patient at UAB for clinical trial
ImaginAb Inc., a clinical-stage immuno-oncology imaging company, today announces it has enrolled its first patient for the Phase II clinical trial of its lead product CD8 tracer at the O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). This study is a collaboration between UAB’s Division of Hematology and Oncology and Division of Molecular Imaging and Therapeutics, reflecting UAB’s commitment to world-class research and clinical care. – News release
Frontier Airlines takes seasonal hiatus at BHM in November
Frontier Airlines will begin a seasonal hiatus in mid-November at Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport. The company announced the hiatus today. Corporate communications manager Zach Kramer said the airline is currently in the development phase of its spring 2020 schedule. Frontier began flights in Birmingham last year with service to Philadelphia, Denver and Orlando. – AL.com
Daimler hit with $960M fine for emissions cheating
Mercedes-Benz parent company Daimler has been hit with an €870 million (roughly $960 million) fine as part of a settlement with German prosecutors over the automaker’s own diesel cheating scandal. The fine comes in at the lower end of what was expected earlier this year. Germany’s motor authority found that some 280,000 Mercedes-Benz C-class and E-class vehicles had been outfitted with software that made them look cleaner than they were during testing. – The Verge
Volkswagen top executives charged with market manipulation
Three current and former Volkswagen executives have been charged with market manipulation in connection with a diesel emissions scandal. Chief executive Herbert Diess, chairman Hans Dieter Pötsch and ex-boss Martin Winterkorn did not inform investors early enough about the financial fallout, German prosecutors allege. The firm admitted in 2015 using illegal software to cheat on emissions tests. VW said it was confident the allegations would prove groundless. – BBC
