[naviga:h3]Woman receives free hearing aid[/naviga:h3]

The Miracle-Ear Foundation of Butler has provided Linda Michaels, a Butler resident, with a free hearing aid.

In partnership with local franchisee Julie McKelvey, the Miracle-Ear Foundation, a Minneapolis-based nonprofit organization with chapters across the country, helps underserved adults and children across the country with their hearing health care needs.

“We know that hearing loss lowers the quality of life for adults at any age,” said McKelvey. “When hearing loss goes undetected, it can lead to social isolation, strained relationships, and can even impact earning potential.”

Working with Miracle-Ear nationwide, the foundation has donated more than 16,000 hearing aids to more than 11,700 individuals. Miracle-Ear has 32 locations across the state.

[naviga:h3]Gas company gives back to community[/naviga:h3]

Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania published its annual giving back report on Wednesday.

Columbia Gas services some homes in Butler County.

Last year, Columbia Gas and its employees donated more than $683,000 to more than 200 individual charities and the United Way.

The $683,000 includes the contribution of $178,300, representing employees' personal income pledged to the United Way.

“This is the 13th consecutive year that we increased donations for the United Way campaign,” said Mike Huwar, Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania chief operating officer and president.

Also last year, more than 210 Columbia Gas employees participated in more than 70 different company-organized volunteer events, totaling more than 1,730 hours of volunteerism.

In addition to company-organized volunteer opportunities, 220 Columbia Gas employees self-reported participating in 75 volunteer projects during their personal time, benefiting local communities with an additional 430 hours of volunteerism.

“This is a true testament to our employees' commitment to the communities in which they live and work,” Huwar said.

[naviga:h3]Dunkin' to open in Slippery Rock[/naviga:h3]

Dunkin' will unveil its newest Next Generation store in Western Pennsylvania in Slippery Rock.

The new Dunkin' restaurant will be an example of its rebrand with a modern atmosphere and new technologies and design elements.

To celebrate the new store, Dunkin' is hosting a grand opening event at 10 a.m. Monday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, giveaways and more.

All customers who visit the new Slippery Rock location during the event can enter to win free coffee for a month.

The prize will be awarded in the form of a gift card that is valid at any of Heartland Restaurant Group's 55 Western Pennsylvania locations. Heartland owns 50 Dunkin' locations across southwestern Pennsylvania.

The first 100 guests who visit the new store Jan. 27 can take home a free Dunkin' travel mug.

[naviga:h3]Toyota is recalling 361K more vehicles [/naviga:h3]

DETROIT — Toyota is recalling 361,000 more vehicles worldwide to replace Takata air bag inflators that could explode and hurl shrapnel.

The vehicles date to 1997 and have older inflators that are different from Takata products that use volatile ammonium nitrate to fill air bags in a crash. Those are the devices that led to numerous deaths. But the inflators in this recall can also explode with too much force and spew metal fragments that can endanger people.

The recall covers gas and electric versions of the RAV4 SUV and the Celica sports car from 1997 to 1999. Also included are the 1997 through 1998 Supra sports car.

About 139,000 vehicles in the U.S. are covered.

Toyota will notify owners by mail starting in mid-March. The company doesn't have a fix yet but will tell owners when one is ready.

Owners can call Toyota at 800-331-4331.