ELKINS, W.Va. -- A Chinese commodities exchange is interested in buying hardwood from West Virginia producers.

A six-member delegation from Tianjin Commodities Exchange met with timber producers this week at the West Virginia Wood Technology Center in Elkins.

Randolph County Development Authority executive director Robbie Morris tells The Inter-Mountain that purpose of the meeting was for the parties to become acquainted.

The group's representative, Advocom Group CEO Lane Bailey, says the exchange probably would make a large purchase but wouldn't say how much it wants to buy.

Morris says any deals with the exchange would give wood producers a new market.

University of Louisville announces partnership with KentuckyOne

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- The University of Louisville has announced a partnership with a group of Kentucky hospitals.

The partnership is between the university's medical center and KentuckyOne, which is a merger of Jewish Hospital & St. Mary's HealthCare and St. Joseph Health System in Lexington.

The Courier-Journal reports that U of L President James Ramsey says the partnership will allow University Hospital's board to continue control over the "public asset."

Gov. Steve Beshear blocked U of L Hospital's effort earlier this year to merge with the other hospitals over concerns about losing public control along with church and state issues, since Denver-based Catholic Health Initiatives would have had majority control in the deal.

KentuckyOne and the university said Wednesday that the hospital's policies for reproductive and end-of-life care would not be affected by the new partnership.

National Video