British cellphone research finds no tumor connection
London – Mobile-phone users can dial without concern after another study found no evidence of a link between the ubiquitous devices and brain tumors.
The study, conducted by the London-based Institute of Cancer Research and published this week on the British Journal of Cancer’s website, found no increased risks of a rare benign tumor in the nerve that links the ear to the brain.
It echoed the findings of a similar study by Swedish investigators last year and of scores of other studies investigating a possible link between the use of cellular phones and brain cancer.
Researchers questioned 678 patients already diagnosed with the tumor – acoustic neuroma – and 3,553 who did not have it, about their cellphone use. There was no increased risk of tumor associated with using the phones for at least 10 years.
Retrospective questionnaires are not considered the most accurate method of determining a link between behavior and disease.
Several previous studies, using more rigorous methods, have also found no evidence that the phones pose a health risk.
NEW YORK
Charter completes merger of Rudi’s
New York-based Charter Baking Co. on Wednesday said it completed its merger of Boulder-based Rudi’s Organic Bakery with the Vermont Bread Co. and Adams Baking Co.
Rudi’s Organic was previously owned by the Iowa Farm Bureau, which will remain a shareholder in the company.
Additional terms were not disclosed. Rudi’s Organic had annual sales of $20 million.
Charter Baking is owned by the Charterhouse Group Inc., a private equity firm.
CHICAGO
United calling back 415 flight attendants
United Airlines plans to call another 415 flight attendants back to work Nov. 1, according to the Association of Flight Attendants at United. The recall affects 61 flight attendants based in Denver. It is in addition to 31 flight attendants scheduled to return to work Oct. 31, including five in Denver.
DENVER
Unemployment rate stable locally in July
The unemployment rate in July for the Denver-Aurora metro area didn’t budge from June’s rate of 5.3 percent, the U.S. Labor Department reported Wednesday.
That rate is based on 69,600 unemployed people out of a civilian labor force of 1.3 million in the metro area.
DENVER
Sprint, Nextel stores getting new look
The 31 Sprint and Nextel retail stores in Colorado will have a different look today. Three weeks after the close of the Sprint-Nextel merger, the new entity is rebranding with a new yellow-and-black Sprint logo.
Sprint-Nextel employs 2,400 workers in Colorado, including 350 store workers who were working throughout the night Wednesday to finish the image makeover.
BOULDER
Wild Oats terminates operations official
Boulder-based Wild Oats Markets Inc. has terminated Dan Bolstad, whom the company hired a month ago as senior vice president of operations.
Wild Oats spokeswoman Sonja Tuitele said Bolstad was found to be in violation of company policies; she would not specify what policies were referred to. She said the violations would not have a material financial impact on the company.
VAIL
United adds route to Vail from S.F.
United Airlines has added nonstop roundtrip Saturday air service from San Francisco to Colorado ski resort country.
United will fly into Vail/Eagle County Airport on its 757 aircraft, beginning Dec. 17 and running through April 1.
FREDERICK
UQM gets funding for electric pickup
UQM Technologies Inc., a developer of alternative energy technologies, announced Wed- nesday it has received additional funding from the Air Force to purchase and evaluate a high- voltage battery-charging system and to engineer an electric pickup truck for the future installation of a fuel-cell power unit.
The $120,000 in incremental funding raises the total value of the contract to $750,000.
McLEAN, Va.
MCI shareholders to vote on Verizon deal
MCI Inc. shareholders will vote Oct. 6 on a proposed $8.5 billion acquisition by Verizon Communications Inc. as the two telecommunications companies seek to complete their deal by the end of the year, according to a Wednesday filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
WASHINGTON
Freddie Mac earnings tumble nearly 60%
The earnings of mortgage giant Freddie Mac dropped nearly 60 percent in the first half of the year amid continued volatile interest rates as it emerged from its accounting crisis.
The second-largest U.S. buyer of home mortgages reported Wednesday that its net income fell to $1.64 billion, or $2.22 a share, in the period from January to June from $4.07 billion, or $5.74 a share, in the same period last year.
NEW YORK
MasterCard to sell 49 percent of equity
MasterCard Inc., the No. 2 U.S. credit-card company, plans to sell half the company to the public to pay off 1,400 owner banks and obtain $650 million to revive competition with rival Visa International Inc.
Members of the public will own 49 percent of MasterCard’s equity and 83 percent of its voting rights.
CINCINNATI
Federated completes purchase of May
Federated Department Stores Inc. on Tuesday completed its $11 billion purchase of May Department Stores Co., operator of Foley’s stores in Colorado.
Cincinnati-based Federated said it will close two stores in New York, one in Massachusetts and four in California.
NEW YORK
Palomino Park phases sold to TIAA-CREF
Wellsford Real Properties Inc. announced Tuesday it has entered into an agreement to sell the three operating phases of the Palomino Park apartment complex to TIAA-CREF for $176 million.
The three phases total 1,184 units with $1.3 million square feet. A fourth phase of the development was converted to condominiums, and the fifth will be sold as condominiums.
