Pennsylvania's unemployment rate rose by just one-tenth of a percentage point in August, to 8.6 percent, as the state's civilian labor force declined by 37,000 people to hit a 17-month low. The civilian labor force is defined as the number of people -- now 6.3 million in Pennsylvania -- who are either working or looking for work.

Unite Here, a national labor union that represents 265,000 who work in the hospitality, gaming, food service, manufacturing, textile, laundry and airport industries, has reaffiliated with the 11.5 million-member national AFL-CIO. Unite Here and several other unions departed in 2005 after claiming there was too much emphasis on politics and not enough on organizing. The move was announced yesterday at the national AFL-CIO convention in the David L. Lawrence Convention Center.

The H.J. Heinz Co. has sold its Kabobs frozen hors d'oeuvres business, including a factory in Lake City, Ga., according to a regulatory filing. The business was purchased by the Hunt Group, a private investment group in Atlanta, according to a Heinz spokeswoman. The Pittsburgh food company said the business, which had sales of about $17 million, was part of its U.S. Foodservice operation serving restaurants and cafeterias. As a result of the deal, Heinz will record a pre-tax loss of about $15 million.

Bookseller Barnes & Noble has signed a lease to put a new store in the Settlers Ridge development in Robinson, which will replace its existing store at the Pointe at North Fayette. The new location is scheduled to open next spring, according to the New York-based chain.

The region's first fuel tank that allows motorists to choose what blend of biodiesel to use in their vehicles will begin operation today at the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank in Duquesne, launching the Pittsburgh Region Clean Cities "Clean Pump Initiative." The PRCC is a coalition of organizations working to develop Western Pennsylvania's market for alternative fuels. The 5,000-gallon tank will initially provide fuel for the Food Bank's vehicle fleet. With the addition of tanks at Construction Junction in North Point Breeze and Transportation Solutions, Uptown, all PRCC members will be served.

A restaurant, a wine bar and a coffee shop are the latest tenants to secure space at the new Three PNC Plaza office building on Fifth Avenue, Downtown. The restaurant Habitat will occupy second floor space in the building. The wine bar, Andys, named after famous Pittsburghers Andrew Carnegie and Andy Warhol, will take part of the first floor. Both will open in the spring along with the Fairmont Hotel. The locally owned 21st Street Coffee and Tea also will open an outlet in the building. No date has been set. PNC also will open its new 8,000-square-foot park at Liberty and Fifth avenues adjacent to the office building today.