Lt. Gov. Bruce Johnson said Thursday that the bond extension was recommended by the Minority Development Financing Development Board and is subject to approval by the State Controlling Board. Five Star employs three people in providing commercial, industrial and residential electrical work.

- Electronics companies are offering free repairs for more than 80 models of digital cameras and camcorders that may contain a faulty imaging chip.

The defect, which affects mostly older-model products, occurs under hot and humid conditions and leads to either distorted or blank images on the viewfinder or liquid-crystal display, the companies say.

Models affected include those made by Sony, Canon Inc., Nikon Corp., Olympus Corp., Ricoh Co., Fuji Photo Film Co., and Konica Minolta Holdings Inc.

Excluding the tax benefit, earnings for the Dayton-based computer-services company rose 93 percent from the third quarter of 2004, in part because of higher-than-expected revenue from its data warehousing business and improved profits in the financial self-serve unit.

NCR reported earnings of $222 million, or $1.18 a share, for the three-month period that ended Sept. 30. That included $137 million from settlement of the tax audits and compared with earnings of $44 million, or 23 cents a share, for the same period in 2004.

NCR shares closed down 7 cents at $30.33 in trading Thursday on the New York Stock Exchange. Its shares have traded between $25.83 and $39.84 in the past year.

- Wendy's International Inc. on Thursday said third-quarter earnings edged higher on a 5 percent rise in sales, but the company trimmed its full-year earnings forecast.

The hamburger chain posted net income of $72.1 million, or 61 cents per share, compared with $69.1 million, or 60 cents per share, in the prior-year period. A stronger Canadian dollar lifted recent results by 7 cents per share and a real estate sale added a penny per share to net income. Offsetting the gains, higher beef costs weighed on results by a penny per share.

The Cincinnati Area Chapter of the American Red Cross Business Emergency Planning Association will focus on how businesses survive after natural disasters at its third annual conference next month in Mason.

The conference will provide instructions on how local businesses can develop a working business plan to keep them afloat during and after a disaster. A panel of experts will address crisis communication, and business-impact analysis.

The conference will be 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Nov. 9 at the Manor House Banquet and Conference Center, 7440 Mason-Montgomery Road, Mason. Registration will be accepted through Nov. 7. Cost is $125 for members, $150 for non members, and includes continental breakfast and lunch.

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