CHICAGO -- Discount clothing chain Goody's Family Clothing will begin liquidating its stores on Friday as the retailer becomes one of the year's first victims of the worsening economy.

The move, which comes less than four months after the privately held retailer emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, affects the Knoxville, Tenn.-based chain's 287 stores scattered throughout 20 Midwestern and Southern states.

Stores in the region include Ashland; Portsmouth, Ohio; and Nitro, Charleston and Logan in West Virginia. The company's Barboursville store closed last year.

Weirton Medical Center announces February layoffs

 

WEIRTON, W.Va. — Weirton Medical Center will eliminate the equivalent of 36 full-time jobs next month but can’t yet say how many employees will be laid off.

President Joseph Endrich says the cuts will save $2 million a year. He said Wednesday they will include union, non-union and management positions.

Endrich says the administration spent five months identifying areas where patient care could be provided at lower cost. Operations and staffing levels in every department were compared to more than 400 similar hospitals nationwide.

He says the reductions won’t affect the quality of care, but will position the hospital for growth.

Spokesman Kevin Brown says the reductions have more to do with sound fiscal management than the overall economy. The hospital employs 1,090 people.

Menighan to lead pharmacy group

WASHINGTON -- Former Huntington pharmacy owner Thomas E. Menighan has been named executive vice president and CEO of The American Pharmacists Association.

Menighan is president of SynTegra Solutions Inc. in Germantown, Md., and received his pharmacy degree from West Virginia University. Menighan also was a 20-year Medicine Shoppe owner in Huntington.

Water officials to discuss issues today on WVPBS

CHARLESTON -- West Virginia American Water President Wayne Morgan and other industry officials will discuss water issues on West Virginia Public Broadcasting following a documentary today, Jan. 8.

The documentary airs at 9 p.m. with the 30-minute roundtable discussion, which is called "West Virginia Assets: Infrastructure in the Mountain State," set to begin at 10:30.

Panelists also include: West Virginia Water Development Authority Executive Director Chris Jarrett; West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection Water and Waste Management Division Director Mike Johnson; Beckley Water Company President and Chief Executive Officer Matt Stanley; and Steptoe and Johnson Attorney John Stump.

Wal-Mart names head of international division

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- Wal-Mart Stores Inc., the world's largest retailer, on Wednesday named the president and CEO of its Sam's Club warehouse division to fill the same roles at its expanding international unit.

Doug McMillon, 42, will head the company's second-largest operating segment, which had been run by Mike Duke, vice chairman of Wal-Mart's international division, before Duke was tapped in late November to succeed Lee Scott as Wal-Mart's president and chief executive.

Toyota to roll out safety, driver-assist systems

NEW YORK -- Toyota Motor Corp. says it plans to roll out new features on certain models later this year that can summon help if you crash or call an operator for roadside assistance or information.

The Japanese automaker's system was unveiled Wednesday at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. It marks the first major competition for Detroit-based General Motors' OnStar service, which started 12 years ago and has about 5.7 million subscribers.

Toyota says the system in Toyota and Lexus vehicles will offer safety systems, while the luxury Lexus version also includes driver convenience features such as driving directions and an advanced voice command program.

Bed Bath & Beyond earnings fall 36 percent

UNION, N.J. -- Home decor chain Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. said Wednesday that its third-quarter earnings fell more than 36 percent as revenue and same-store sales slipped on a continued pullback in consumer spending.

The company said given current economic trends, it expects fourth-quarter earnings will fall below analyst estimates. For the quarter ending Nov. 29, the company earned $87.7 million, or 34 cents per share. That's down from a year-ago profit of $138.2 million, or 52 cents per share.

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