Jewel-Osco parent calls off Rite Aid merger

Rite Aid and the grocer Albertsons called off an agreement to become a single company with the deal facing shaky prospects in a shareholder vote.

The owner of Jewel-Osco and other grocery brands had announced in February plans to buy Rite Aid’s more than 2,500 stores with the goal of becoming “a leader in food, health and wellness.” But a major shareholder and two proxy advisory firms came out against the deal.

Rite Aid Chairman and CEO John Standley said in a statement late Wednesday that after hearing the views of shareholders, the drugstore chain is “committed to moving forward and executing our strategic plan as a (stand-alone) company.”

270 KFC, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell franchises to get sensitivity training

JACKSON, Miss. — The management company of 270 KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell franchises nationwide has agreed to provide sensitivity training at those outlets after a May incident at a KFC in Mississippi in which a deaf woman felt she was being mocked. Disability Rights Mississippi said it reached an agreement on behalf of Bobbie Cole, of Byram, Mississippi, with Canada-based Franchise Management Inc., or FMI. FMI operates the fast-food franchises. Cole, who is deaf but can read lips, said she was made fun of by KFC employees while trying to order food May 30 at a Jackson area drive-through.

Tesla shares fall back after spike

After two days of turmoil, Tesla shares have fallen back near the level they were trading at before CEO Elon Musk tweeted Tuesday that he may take the company private. Prior to the tweet, shares closed Monday at $341.99. Two days after Musk’s tweet triggered a spkie up to $387, the stock had fallen back to $352.45.