[naviga:h3]Mine workers conduct protest[/naviga:h3]

CANONSBURG — Hundreds gathered at the Western Pennsylvania headquarters of Consol Energy for a United Mine Workers protest.

The union said Wednesday morning’s rally was to protest what it called attempts by the company to reduce health benefits for retirees and to protect pensions of retired coal miners.

President Cecil Roberts in a statement said Consol was leaving the coal business but “trying to leave behind all its obligations” to workers who made the company successful for decades.

The company said in a statement that it was “one of only a few companies” that has met its obligations “without resorting to the bankruptcy courts.”

Consol Energy accused the union of trying to distract from its “poor decisions” in supporting Obama administration policies that contributed to the downturn in the coal industry.

[naviga:h3]Dick’s cuts 160 jobs in region[/naviga:h3]

IMPERIAL — Dick’s Sporting Goods has cut 160 jobs in the Pittsburgh-area, most at its Store Support Center in nearby Findlay Township.

The retailer announced the cuts along with its first-quarter earnings on Tuesday.

The company said it’s investing in its online businesses, including its website and Team Sports HQ business that focuses on team sports customers at the high school level and below.

Chairman and CEO Edward Stack said the company is making the moves as part of a long-range plan that takes into account the short-term pain being experienced in the retail sector generally.

The chain operates 690 stores and Stack says there are no store closings “on the horizon.”

[naviga:h3]Cracker Barrel settles lawsuit[/naviga:h3]

PITTSBURGH — Cracker Barrel Old Country Store has settled a class-action lawsuit brought by a Pittsburgh woman who plays on the U.S. Women’s Wheelchair Basketball Team that claims handicapped parking spaces at some restaurants are too steep or otherwise violate federal law.

Officials with the Lebanon, Tenn.-based chain didn’t immediately comment on the settlement which was preliminarily approved Monday.

Sarah Heinzl sued in 2014 because the parking spaces at the restaurant in Robinson Township were so sloped her wheelchair would roll away before she could get in it, so she would bring someone along to help her.

Under the settlement, Cracker Barrel has 2½ years to fix slope and other handicapped parking problems at 107 restaurants in seven states, and up to seven years fix any problems revealed by a court-ordered architectural survey of its 536 other restaurants.