Volkswagen's Audi luxury brand is recalling nearly 75,000 cars and SUVs in the U.S. because fuel leaks in the engine could cause fires.
The recall covers certain A6, A7, and Q7 SUVs from the 2016 through 2018 model years. Also included are A8 sedans from 2015 through 2018.
The company says in documents posted Tuesday by the U.S. government that parts of the fuel injection system can leak, and if the fuel hits an ignition source, it can catch fire. The documents didn't list any fires or injuries. A message was left Tuesday for an Audi spokesman.
Dealers will replace the left and right fuel injector rails at no cost to owners.
Audi says owners will be notified by mail in mid-March.
Papa John's founder leaves the board
Papa John's has reached a settlement agreement with founder John Schnatter that will see him step down from the company's board.
The agreement comes after more of a year of tussling between the Louisville-based pizza chain and Schnatter, who made a series of racially insensitive remarks that caused sales to plummet. Schnatter stepped down as CEO in late 2017 and resigned as chairman in July after facing backlash for blaming disappointing sales on NFL player protests and used the N-word during a company conference call.
Under the settlement, Schnatter and the board will mutually agree on an independent director who will replace Schnatter on the company's nine-member board.
Papa John's International Inc. will remove a provision of a 'poison pill' plan adopted in July 2018 that restricted Schnatter's ability to communicate with other shareholders.
In return, Schnatter will withdraw two lawsuits against Papa John's.
"I founded Papa John's, built it from the ground up and remain its largest shareholder. I care deeply about its employees, franchisees and investors and I'm thankful that I've been able to resolve these important issues," Schnatter said in a statement.
Mechanics strike hurts Southwest Airlines
The CEO of Southwest Airlines says that a spike in planes grounded by mechanics' concerns is costing the carrier millions each week by causing more delayed and canceled flights.
Gary Kelly didn't give a precise figure Tuesday, but said the financial damage prompted the airline's lawsuit last week against the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association, which Southwest claims is aiding an illegal work slowdown.
"The company filed suit against AMFA last week to recover those damages and prevent more from occurring," Kelly said at a JPMorgan investor conference.
Southwest says some workers are writing up minor mechanical problems such as missing seat-row numbers and grounding planes to gain leverage in negotiations over a new labor contract. Mechanics rejected a proposed deal last year, and the sides remain apart on wages and outsourcing.
The union denies that mechanics are conducting a work slowdown. It says they are simply doing their job and keeping the airline safe.
Home sales rise 3.7 % in December
Sales of new U.S. homes climbed in December to their highest pace in seven months, a sign that lower mortgage rates are helping the real estate market.
The Commerce Department said Tuesday that new-home sales rose 3.7 percent in December to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 621,000. November's sales were revised down to 599,000 from an annual rate of 657,000.
For all of 2018, new-home sales rose 1.5 percent. Purchases began to dip in June as higher mortgage rates worsened affordability, but mortgage rates have fallen since peaking in early November and that appears to be supporting a sales rebound.
The sales gains point to a potentially stronger 2019. The purchase of new homes not yet under construction surged 22.4 percent in December from the prior month. Average 30-year mortgage rates at 4.35 percent, down from nearly 5 percent in early November, have also eased some affordability pressures.
Price growth has stalled as sales sipped last year. The median sales price of a new home in December was $318,600, a 7.2 percent drop from a year ago.