PSO imposes media blackout for strikePITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra’s management and musicians union have agreed to a media blackout as they try to end to a musician’s strike that began Sept. 30.A Pittsburgh newspaper learned of the blackout while contacting both sides Tuesday to determine whether any more concerts will be canceled. The orchestra has already canceled performances through Nov. 18 because of the strike.Both sides said only that negotiations were continuing.Management has sought a 15-percent wage cut, plus pension concessions it says are necessary to keep the symphony solvent in the face of more than $20 million in debt over the next five years.The union has said management is overstating the financial problems.

Pa. Supreme Court denies case requestPHILADELPHIA — The Pennsylvania Supreme Court Wednesday denied a request that it immediately take up a legal challenge to the city’s new tax on sweetened beverages.The decision means that Common Pleas Court will have to rule on the case first before it can be appealed to the Supreme Court.The tax, which is to go into effect Jan. 1, will add 1.5 cents per ounce to the cost of most sugary and diet beverages. Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney plans to use the revenue to expand early-childhood education opportunities and pay for a number of other initiatives.A group of residents, businesses and organizations has challenged the tax as unconstitutional. Expecting the case ultimately to wind up before the state Supreme Court, lawyers asked the court to hear it immediately. That it decided not to is “neither good nor bad,” said Shanin Specter, one of the lawyers for the plaintiffs.

Whole Foods to have 1 CEONEW YORK — Whole Foods, which has been run by two CEOs for six years, said Wednesday that it is shifting to a single chief executive, and reported that a key sales measure fell for the fifth straight quarter.Co-founder John Mackey will become the sole CEO at the end of the year. The other co-CEO, Walter Robb, will remain on Whole Foods’ board and be a senior adviser to the company.The natural foods grocer said sales fell 2.6 percent at established stores in the fiscal fourth quarter, worse than the 2 percent drop analysts expected, according to FactSet.

Facebook beats earnings forecastsMENLO PARK, Calif. — Facebook Inc. on Wednesday reported third-quarter earnings of $2.37 billion.The social media company said it had profit of 82 cents per share. Earnings, adjusted for one-time gains and costs, came to $1.09 per share.The results exceeded Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of 15 analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of 97 cents per share.The social media company posted revenue of $7.01 billion in the period, also surpassing market forecasts.