Business

Carroll County’s healthy financial position and its proximity to Baltimore have led three independent credit rating agencies to again issue a Triple-A bond rating, which will allow government officials to hold a general obligation bond sale to finance $30 million in infrastructure and other capital investments for government, public schools, conservation and water resources.

A Pennsylvania-based insurer accused of pushing agents to avoid selling policies in areas with large minority populations is now claiming the Maryland Insurance Administration bowed to political pressure when it issued public findings against the company earlier this year. In court records filed before the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, Erie Insurance alleges that it is the victim of “politically motivated government overreach” that has caused the company “immense reputational harm.”

Bethesda biofuel producer Enviva Inc. (NYSE: EVA) has warned investors that it may not be able to stay in business after it suffered steep losses in the third quarter and projected even greater losses this quarter. The 19-year-old company, which manufactures energy-producing wood pellets from trees, shrubs and other woody biomass, reported a net loss of $85.2 million in the quarter, compared to a loss of $18.3 million in last year’s third quarter, due to a combination of rising costs and rapidly falling prices for its wood pellets.

At 4:55 p.m. on a Thursday in October, the three outdoor patio tables in front of Little Donna’s were already claimed. The doors to the Upper Fells Point tavern wouldn’t open for another five minutes, but enterprising diners had arrived early to snag some of the few reservation-free seats at a restaurant The New York Times named just a few weeks before to its 2023 list of the most exciting places to eat in America.

Several organizations and their leaders were recognized Thursday by the Allegany County Chamber of Commerce, including businessman Carl Belt and wife Jane for their community service. The Chamber’s 35th annual Business Recognition Reception was held at the Frostburg State University Lane Center and sponsored by UPMC Western Maryland and Verizon.

The United Auto Workers (UAW) laborers at Ford’s Louisville assembly and Kentucky truck plants have voted against a proposed four-and-a-half year contract, while the skilled trades workers voted in favor of the deal, the union’s local unit said on Facebook. The UAW Local 862 union said that 55% of the production workers voted against ratifying the contract. However, 69% of the skilled trades workers cast votes in favor of the contract.

Emirates Airline on Monday announced an order for 95 Boeing aircraft at a value of $52 billion, kicking off the first major deal of the 2023 Dubai Airshow. The state-owned flagship Dubai carrier, a subsidiary of Emirates Group, is ordering 55 additional Boeing 777-9s and 35 of its 777-8s, bringing the airline’s total orders for the 777X widebody jets to 205 units. It is also updating its order of Boeing 787 Dreamliners from 30 to 35, comprised of 15 787-10s and 20 787-8s.