Business

With early achievement of planning goals, the Murray Calloway County Chamber of Commerce is focused on what it can do better to effect useful advances for local businesses. Today we continue our visits with area Chamber of Commerce executives – getting a read on business in 2012, holiday promotions, and planning for 2013.  Murray Calloway County Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Lance Allison chats with Kate Lochte next.

A German automotive parts company plans to open its first United States plant in Murray. iwis is hiring 75 employees for its plant that will make engine timing drives.

The company takes over a nearly 119-thousand square foot facility north of town. The building was held by another auto parts manufacturer, Webasto, that shut down in 2008.

State leaders say a nearly $1 billion project to update pollution controls at a massive Louisville power plant will be a boost for Kentucky's coal industry.

The upgrades at LG&E's Mill Creek Generating Station in southwestern Jefferson County are expected to add about 700 construction jobs. They will also allow the 1,400-megawatt plant to continue to burn coal by meeting stricter federal air regulations that go in force in 2016.

Patriot Coal’s federal bankruptcy case will no longer be heard in New York City. U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Shelley Chapman in New York ruled that the case be moved to St. Louis, where Patriot Coal is based. Chapman says there were hundreds of handwritten letters from retired coal miners.

A Peabody Energy Corp.  subsidiary is permanently closing a southern Illinois mine because it failed to meet safety, compliance and performance standards. Bay Ridge Inc. says operations at the Willow Lake Mine near Harrisburg are unsustainable. The mine closing will affect about 400 workers.