The Indiana Department of Labor announced Wednesday that a Jeffersonville plant owned by Fort Wayne-based Steel Dynamics Inc. will be fined in relation to a fatal accident there.

On Aug. 8, an employee died after entering a permit-required confined space and becoming overcome by nitrogen, said Sean M. Keefer, a Labor spokesman. Another employee who tried to help him was also overcome by fumes but survived, Keefer said. The safety order addresses a number of shortcomings and includes a fine of $240,000, according to a Labor Department release. Inspections Aug. 10-Oct. 1 found violations that included a failure to review the permit-required confined-space program and not establishing or maintaining safe work conditions.

SDI has a right to contest the fines within 15 business days of receiving the notice.

WASHINGTON — Sales of new homes dropped unexpectedly last month as the effects of a temporary tax credit for first-time owners started to wane.

The Commerce Department said Wednesday that sales fell 3.6 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 402,000 from a downwardly revised 417,000 in August. Economists surveyed by Thomson Reuters had expected a pace of 440,000.

It was the first decline since March.

WASHINGTON — The unemployment rate fell in September in most metro areas, although that's largely because more people gave up on job searches than found new work.

The September unemployment rate fell in 223 of 380 metro areas, rose in 123 areas and was unchanged in 34.

NEW YORK — Verizon Wireless' answer to the iPhone - the Droid - will go on sale for $200 next week. The Droid could help Verizon retain its status as the nation's largest wireless carrier.