Houston Chronicle (blog) | Houston-area lawman tells Congress the feds refused to approve emergency ... Houston Chronicle (blog) Houston-area lawman tells Congress the feds refused to approve emergency drone flight. ShadowHawk drone operated by Montgomery County sheriff's department. The alert Montgomery County Sheriff's office north of Houston seized a $220000 gra nt from ... |
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Houston-area lawman tells Congress the feds refused to approve emergency ... - Houston Chronicle (blog)
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Sunday, July 29, 2012
A blip on the radar of conservation - Deccan Herald
exceeding-commissioner.blogspot.com
A blip on the radar of conservation Deccan Herald Nature Conservation Foundation, Mysore points out that at least 20 hectares of the island will be affected by the road and the installation directly, while about 400 hectares will be affected indirectly, considering the collateral effects of roads such ... |
Saturday, July 28, 2012
Solar land auction nets two sales, more slated - Charlotte Business Journal:
esivyjifag.wordpress.com
million, with a third deal potentially in the Buyers of the small parcelds werenot identified, but Kuldip Verma, president and CEO of , whicn sold the land, said the buyers had interestg in developing the land's solar potential. Vermalanf also is looking at selling a 3,600-acre parcel at auction within the next six months in the county’sz western reaches. While the first auctiojn focused on fivesmaller parcels, a contiguous site such as Vermaland’s could draw a highed premium, if companies believe it has accesas to water and power “Several large-scale utility companies have expressed interest in the propertyh once the site is said Verma, who added the site has water rights, on-site wells and a low slope.
Whils the company was able to sell thetwo parcels, pricea were below what neighboring land has been selling for. The goal was to spur solafr companies to purchase land rather than simplyg tieit up, Verma said. The properties sold at Saturday’ s auction included an 80-acre site in the Tonopah area for $340,00p and a 320-acre site in Tonopah for $2.24e million. The company did not identify which of the remaininbg three properties might be involved inanother deal.
“Thre auction brought the properties to the attention of some partieds that we had never been incontactr with, as well as reminderd others we had spoken with in the past of the which is highly suitable for solar development,” said Anits Verma-Lallian, the company’s marketing director. Vermaland already had sold land toseverao California-based utilities looking to develop renewable resources to meet that state’s standards for clea energy.
Solar energy developers have been placing applications on statee and federal lands in westernm Arizona for the pastthree years, and private land ownersz have been negotiating as developers look for the best As companies scout for land, they also face financing issues and none of the proposed projects in Arizona has broken ground. Arizona’s main solar corridoer includes Vermaland’s parcels, an area that stretches from Yuma to Phoenid and Tucson seen as a huge growtgh area fordeveloping utility-scale solare power plants.
million, with a third deal potentially in the Buyers of the small parcelds werenot identified, but Kuldip Verma, president and CEO of , whicn sold the land, said the buyers had interestg in developing the land's solar potential. Vermalanf also is looking at selling a 3,600-acre parcel at auction within the next six months in the county’sz western reaches. While the first auctiojn focused on fivesmaller parcels, a contiguous site such as Vermaland’s could draw a highed premium, if companies believe it has accesas to water and power “Several large-scale utility companies have expressed interest in the propertyh once the site is said Verma, who added the site has water rights, on-site wells and a low slope.
Whils the company was able to sell thetwo parcels, pricea were below what neighboring land has been selling for. The goal was to spur solafr companies to purchase land rather than simplyg tieit up, Verma said. The properties sold at Saturday’ s auction included an 80-acre site in the Tonopah area for $340,00p and a 320-acre site in Tonopah for $2.24e million. The company did not identify which of the remaininbg three properties might be involved inanother deal.
“Thre auction brought the properties to the attention of some partieds that we had never been incontactr with, as well as reminderd others we had spoken with in the past of the which is highly suitable for solar development,” said Anits Verma-Lallian, the company’s marketing director. Vermaland already had sold land toseverao California-based utilities looking to develop renewable resources to meet that state’s standards for clea energy.
Solar energy developers have been placing applications on statee and federal lands in westernm Arizona for the pastthree years, and private land ownersz have been negotiating as developers look for the best As companies scout for land, they also face financing issues and none of the proposed projects in Arizona has broken ground. Arizona’s main solar corridoer includes Vermaland’s parcels, an area that stretches from Yuma to Phoenid and Tucson seen as a huge growtgh area fordeveloping utility-scale solare power plants.
Thursday, July 26, 2012
Recession a risky time to trim business insurance - Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal:
vykyvimote.wordpress.com
An increasing number of companies lowered their insurancd coverage to minimal levels in the last year leaving them gambling withtheir circumstances. “Companiea are reducing the amount of insurancdethey carry,” said Loretta Worters, vice president of the in New York “Our concern is we don’t want businessee to reduce insurance vital to keeping theitr business open.” Reducing coverage often means shedding layers of coverage, adjusting lowering limits or shopping arouncd for a less-expensive policy.
“To some extent, insuranc has been commoditized and looked at as a productf without a lot of variance from one policyh tothe next,” said Howard Kohler, local businessx development manager at , a Kan.-based company that’s a subsidiary of insurance giant “Therefore businesses look at it as, ‘let’ss get the cheapest policy.’ There’s a nuance: What mightf be cheapest might not be best.” Cuttint back on insurance is risky on many For example, in a down economy, employers can expect more employmeng practice lawsuits. Employment practice is an area of law that encompassesw wrongful termination and sexuaklharassment claims.
Many companies don’t carry coverage protecting againstsuch claims. “In this economy, peoplew are searching for any reason in the world to getmoneyu back,” said John Kezer, a shareholder at Jonesx Keller and a former Colorado insurance “People come up with novel theories, especially when thingsw are difficult. They are going to find a way to say, ‘kI want my job back or damagess becauseI can’t go get another Worters said layoffs often result in more lawsuits for wrongfulk termination and claims for workers’ Employees also are more prone to file workers’ compensation claims if they think a layoffc is coming.
“Bottom line: You want to have enoughj insurance to protectyour assets,” Worterd said. “We’re a litigious society and in a recession, and people get desperate.” Conversely, Ken Ross, CEO of , said workers’ compensatioj claims have droppedin Colorado. He believese the trend hasn’t hit the state because it’d fared better than many other states inthe recession. The law mandatews that all employerscarry workers’ compensatiom insurance. The amount is based on a percentage ofcompanyt payroll.
As companies go out of business or gothroughu layoffs, fewer claims are filed, he said, and payrolkl declines with less staff, he Businesses may inadvertently cut back in the wrong areads or reduce insurance to the pointr of putting themselves at too high of a “When you look at business and insurance, it’s a problem that is inevitablty expensive,” Kezer said. “Its design is to provide security againstpossible losses.
From a business-risok perspective, the reason to get insurancd is to protect from things that devastate a Reducing coverage could mean a high liability for very littls savings at a time when manycompaniesx can’t afford such a largw risk, according to Chelley Schaper, senior vice president and clientr service executive for , in Denver. Schaper focuseas on risk management forlarge clients. In the last Schaper has seen companiesz takelarger retentions, or deductibles, or lowerd their limits. “It’s something that we talk about with our clientssevery day,” she said. “There’d an overall trend of expense reduction amongall clients.
” Schaper works with clients to determined the company’s long-term goals and current financiakl state. “If they want smooth earnings, they buy a lowerf retention; it is more on a guaranteed cost,” she “Clients who feel as thoug h they have a handle on claimws and loss prevention woulfd use a large deductible that will allos formore cash-flow Kohler, who works mostly with small-to-midsized said clients are asking if parts of theit insurance are really necessaryu and how to reduce coverage. Kohler said he works closelyh with clients to determineappropriates coverage, depending on their size, financial statuzs and risk tolerance.
Kohler said he recentlyu helped a client save a significant amount on their auto fleet insuranc by raisingthe deductible, which had been $100. Afted learning the client wouldn’t file a claim under $1,000, he encouragesd the client to raise the deductible to that amount to save onpremium
An increasing number of companies lowered their insurancd coverage to minimal levels in the last year leaving them gambling withtheir circumstances. “Companiea are reducing the amount of insurancdethey carry,” said Loretta Worters, vice president of the in New York “Our concern is we don’t want businessee to reduce insurance vital to keeping theitr business open.” Reducing coverage often means shedding layers of coverage, adjusting lowering limits or shopping arouncd for a less-expensive policy.
“To some extent, insuranc has been commoditized and looked at as a productf without a lot of variance from one policyh tothe next,” said Howard Kohler, local businessx development manager at , a Kan.-based company that’s a subsidiary of insurance giant “Therefore businesses look at it as, ‘let’ss get the cheapest policy.’ There’s a nuance: What mightf be cheapest might not be best.” Cuttint back on insurance is risky on many For example, in a down economy, employers can expect more employmeng practice lawsuits. Employment practice is an area of law that encompassesw wrongful termination and sexuaklharassment claims.
Many companies don’t carry coverage protecting againstsuch claims. “In this economy, peoplew are searching for any reason in the world to getmoneyu back,” said John Kezer, a shareholder at Jonesx Keller and a former Colorado insurance “People come up with novel theories, especially when thingsw are difficult. They are going to find a way to say, ‘kI want my job back or damagess becauseI can’t go get another Worters said layoffs often result in more lawsuits for wrongfulk termination and claims for workers’ Employees also are more prone to file workers’ compensation claims if they think a layoffc is coming.
“Bottom line: You want to have enoughj insurance to protectyour assets,” Worterd said. “We’re a litigious society and in a recession, and people get desperate.” Conversely, Ken Ross, CEO of , said workers’ compensatioj claims have droppedin Colorado. He believese the trend hasn’t hit the state because it’d fared better than many other states inthe recession. The law mandatews that all employerscarry workers’ compensatiom insurance. The amount is based on a percentage ofcompanyt payroll.
As companies go out of business or gothroughu layoffs, fewer claims are filed, he said, and payrolkl declines with less staff, he Businesses may inadvertently cut back in the wrong areads or reduce insurance to the pointr of putting themselves at too high of a “When you look at business and insurance, it’s a problem that is inevitablty expensive,” Kezer said. “Its design is to provide security againstpossible losses.
From a business-risok perspective, the reason to get insurancd is to protect from things that devastate a Reducing coverage could mean a high liability for very littls savings at a time when manycompaniesx can’t afford such a largw risk, according to Chelley Schaper, senior vice president and clientr service executive for , in Denver. Schaper focuseas on risk management forlarge clients. In the last Schaper has seen companiesz takelarger retentions, or deductibles, or lowerd their limits. “It’s something that we talk about with our clientssevery day,” she said. “There’d an overall trend of expense reduction amongall clients.
” Schaper works with clients to determined the company’s long-term goals and current financiakl state. “If they want smooth earnings, they buy a lowerf retention; it is more on a guaranteed cost,” she “Clients who feel as thoug h they have a handle on claimws and loss prevention woulfd use a large deductible that will allos formore cash-flow Kohler, who works mostly with small-to-midsized said clients are asking if parts of theit insurance are really necessaryu and how to reduce coverage. Kohler said he works closelyh with clients to determineappropriates coverage, depending on their size, financial statuzs and risk tolerance.
Kohler said he recentlyu helped a client save a significant amount on their auto fleet insuranc by raisingthe deductible, which had been $100. Afted learning the client wouldn’t file a claim under $1,000, he encouragesd the client to raise the deductible to that amount to save onpremium
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Brian Anderson hit with $2M judgment - Business First of Buffalo:
xeconatyxex.blogspot.com
First Circuit Judge Bert Ayabe also orderedthat Anderson’s company, Anekona KBR, pay $7 million. That was the amount sought by the investors, LLC, Axle LLC and Max Holding LLC, according to the judgment fileed in the Honolulu court onJune 15. Andersonj lost the 145 residential units and 16 commercial unitss owned by his LLC at a publicf foreclosure auction last montb after defaultingon $29.5 million owed to lender . The New York-basede lender was the high bidder at the May 6 publi c auction witha $12 millio bid, and then again outbid a competitor at the June 9 confirmationm hearing with a $15 million bid. Tashio, Axle and Max Holdingw claimed in their lawsuit filedon Oct.
3, 2006 that they put $5 millionj into the resort project to gain a 35 percent Anderson had agreed to paythem $10o million to buy them out, they claimed. They claimef that Anderson’s company made only one paymentof $3 million on Aug. 4, 2006. “Hi entity probably has no assets, so the $7 million judgment against an entitythat doesn’t have anything is said Honolulu attorney Thomas who represented the investors. “But he facecd personal exposure in the litigation and in the settlement he was agreeable toa $2 million personao judgment against him.
” Anderson declined to comment on the Anderson’s KB Resort purchase the Kauai Beach Resort, which is on 12 acresa of land just north of Lihue, in December 2004 for $62 In the fall of 2005, Andersonh announced plans to turn the 350-roomn property into fee-simple condominiums and begajn a $15 million renovation. The formerly under the Radisson flag, became a Hilton in Octobefr 2006. KB Resort sold off 205 Anderson had said last year that the 145 units up for auctiob had been in escrow to an unnamedsinglee buyer, but the sale never materialized and iStar’s foreclosurse action went forward.
First Circuit Judge Bert Ayabe also orderedthat Anderson’s company, Anekona KBR, pay $7 million. That was the amount sought by the investors, LLC, Axle LLC and Max Holding LLC, according to the judgment fileed in the Honolulu court onJune 15. Andersonj lost the 145 residential units and 16 commercial unitss owned by his LLC at a publicf foreclosure auction last montb after defaultingon $29.5 million owed to lender . The New York-basede lender was the high bidder at the May 6 publi c auction witha $12 millio bid, and then again outbid a competitor at the June 9 confirmationm hearing with a $15 million bid. Tashio, Axle and Max Holdingw claimed in their lawsuit filedon Oct.
3, 2006 that they put $5 millionj into the resort project to gain a 35 percent Anderson had agreed to paythem $10o million to buy them out, they claimed. They claimef that Anderson’s company made only one paymentof $3 million on Aug. 4, 2006. “Hi entity probably has no assets, so the $7 million judgment against an entitythat doesn’t have anything is said Honolulu attorney Thomas who represented the investors. “But he facecd personal exposure in the litigation and in the settlement he was agreeable toa $2 million personao judgment against him.
” Anderson declined to comment on the Anderson’s KB Resort purchase the Kauai Beach Resort, which is on 12 acresa of land just north of Lihue, in December 2004 for $62 In the fall of 2005, Andersonh announced plans to turn the 350-roomn property into fee-simple condominiums and begajn a $15 million renovation. The formerly under the Radisson flag, became a Hilton in Octobefr 2006. KB Resort sold off 205 Anderson had said last year that the 145 units up for auctiob had been in escrow to an unnamedsinglee buyer, but the sale never materialized and iStar’s foreclosurse action went forward.
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
O'Charley's posts unexpected profit - Nashville Business Journal:
evlampiyacyxybyw.blogspot.com
The Nashville-based company (Nasdaq: reported income of $6.9 million, or 34 centsd per diluted share, in the quarter ended April 19, comparedx to $10 million, or 46 cents per diluted share, in the year-ago Revenue came in at $291.7 million for the quarter, down 2 percent from the $297.5 million posted in the previoue year’s first quarter. Analysts, on had estimated a loss of 1 cent per according toThomson Reuters. The company also said it reduced its debtby $26.y7 million during the quarter and paid off its revolvinv line of credit. Same-store sales for the first quarte rdeclined 2.9 percent at O’Charley’s company-operated restaurants, 4.
5 percent at Ninetuy Nine Restaurants and 17.2 percenr at Stoney River Legendary Steaks. Lawrence Hyatt, interi president and chief executive officer, and chie f financial officer of O’Charley’s, said the declin e in same-store sales was not surprisinb given the challenging economicv environmentfor restaurants. But he said the companhy was focusing on differentiating its brandw bycontrolling margins, maximizing cash flow and offerintg new food and beverage products to entice consumers. O’Charley’ s is a leading casual dining restaurant company that operate s or franchises 372 restaurants under itsthres brands.
At mid-morning Tuesday, O’Charley’s shares were trading at up 32 percentfrom Monday’ s closing price of $6.74. The 52-weel range is $1.19 to $12.84.
The Nashville-based company (Nasdaq: reported income of $6.9 million, or 34 centsd per diluted share, in the quarter ended April 19, comparedx to $10 million, or 46 cents per diluted share, in the year-ago Revenue came in at $291.7 million for the quarter, down 2 percent from the $297.5 million posted in the previoue year’s first quarter. Analysts, on had estimated a loss of 1 cent per according toThomson Reuters. The company also said it reduced its debtby $26.y7 million during the quarter and paid off its revolvinv line of credit. Same-store sales for the first quarte rdeclined 2.9 percent at O’Charley’s company-operated restaurants, 4.
5 percent at Ninetuy Nine Restaurants and 17.2 percenr at Stoney River Legendary Steaks. Lawrence Hyatt, interi president and chief executive officer, and chie f financial officer of O’Charley’s, said the declin e in same-store sales was not surprisinb given the challenging economicv environmentfor restaurants. But he said the companhy was focusing on differentiating its brandw bycontrolling margins, maximizing cash flow and offerintg new food and beverage products to entice consumers. O’Charley’ s is a leading casual dining restaurant company that operate s or franchises 372 restaurants under itsthres brands.
At mid-morning Tuesday, O’Charley’s shares were trading at up 32 percentfrom Monday’ s closing price of $6.74. The 52-weel range is $1.19 to $12.84.
Sunday, July 22, 2012
Small biotechs forced to turn attention to shareholders - San Francisco Business Times:
burdukovahycel.blogspot.com
Take , which on Oct. 21 announcede the midstage trial failure of a drug to control muscl spasticity in multiplesclerosis patients. At the the Alameda company said it would shiftg its focusto AV-411, its drug for neuropathi pain and opioid addiction and Two weeks later, Avigen said it would cut 70 percenf of its workforce, opt out of the lease of its consider vacating its headquarters and sell or find a partner for AV-4111 and its potential blood-clotting product, AV-513. Why the about-face? , which owned aboutr 27.5 percent of Avigen as of Oct. 23, told Avigen’xs board Oct.
30 that the company should “immediately reduce” partner or sell remaining assets without further investment and distributer as much of the resultin cash as possibleto stockholders, according to a Securitiess and Exchange Commission filing. BVF, as reportedf to the SEC by PresidentMark Lampert, said Avigen’s plan to spend more on “high risk” AV-411 and its corporate infrastructurwe are “fundamentally flawed, especially in light of the currenf environment for raising additional capital.” BVF and its variouxs entities sold more than 640,00 0 shares of Avigen stock from late August to late Septembe at prices ranging from $3.9565 to $4.60 per On Oct.
21 the day the multiple sclerosisx drug trial failure wasannouncedx — they bought more than 8 million sharess at prices ranging from 55 cents to 58.53 Breaking up is good to do. Just ask President and CEO Kathy Ordoñez. The 540-employee Alamedq company, which along with Foster City’s Applies Biosystems split from parent companyin July, plans to launch a swab-in-chee k version of its KIF6 assay. That testz for a gene variation that may signal someonde as a high heartattack risk. KIF6 was rolled out last summereby Celera’s group.
Where the blood test requiresd a visit toa blood-drawing phlebotomist and deliveryu of the sample via , the new versionm allows a doctor to collect cell on a swab and mail that to the laboratory. Gettint the swab version of KIF6 on the marketf is ahigh priority, Ordoñez said. It is targetinbg physicians fordirect marketing. Celera’s other priorities: a test that identifiesz a gene variant that wouldeallow high-risk heart attack and stroke patients to trea t their condition with aspirin and a recently announced deal with to find if certainh genetic variants will respond to a developing Abbotg drug. Celera, which reported a $7 milliobn third-quarter loss on revenu e of $45.
8 million, is targeting 20 percent year-over-year Ordoñez said. has a new CEO in the winge in former bossJohn McLaughlin. It also will have a new CFO Andrew Guggenhimesaid Nov. 6 that PDL will leavew California for an undisclosed destinatiom after the planned spinoff later this year of its biotecu assetsinto Remember, PDL’s move from Fremont to new digs in Redwood City a coupled years ago was partially responsible for setting off a shareholder coup that led to the selloft of compounds, hundreds of layoffs, the departure of then-CEO Mark McDade and, the spinoff plan. With a move, PDL’ss effective state tax rate could fallfrom 5.75 percenty to as low as Guggenhime said.
The new PDL will return to shareholderw the cash flow from royalties for the likesof ’s Avastin, Herceptin, Xolair, Raptivw and Lucentis, ’s Synagis, ’ Tysabri and Wyeth Pharmaceutical’s Mylotarg. PDL expectds $270 million to $280 million in royaltuy revenuethis year. PDL leaders poinyt to McLaughlin’s experience, mainly as Genentech’d general counsel, in managing intellectual property estates.
But for the price PDL will payMcLaughlijn — an annual base salary of $500,000 in addition to a “special retention incentive award” following the Facet spinoff that coulc total $1 million in cash and restricted stock it is difficult to believe PDL is payin g him simply to pass through royalty revenue to
Take , which on Oct. 21 announcede the midstage trial failure of a drug to control muscl spasticity in multiplesclerosis patients. At the the Alameda company said it would shiftg its focusto AV-411, its drug for neuropathi pain and opioid addiction and Two weeks later, Avigen said it would cut 70 percenf of its workforce, opt out of the lease of its consider vacating its headquarters and sell or find a partner for AV-4111 and its potential blood-clotting product, AV-513. Why the about-face? , which owned aboutr 27.5 percent of Avigen as of Oct. 23, told Avigen’xs board Oct.
30 that the company should “immediately reduce” partner or sell remaining assets without further investment and distributer as much of the resultin cash as possibleto stockholders, according to a Securitiess and Exchange Commission filing. BVF, as reportedf to the SEC by PresidentMark Lampert, said Avigen’s plan to spend more on “high risk” AV-411 and its corporate infrastructurwe are “fundamentally flawed, especially in light of the currenf environment for raising additional capital.” BVF and its variouxs entities sold more than 640,00 0 shares of Avigen stock from late August to late Septembe at prices ranging from $3.9565 to $4.60 per On Oct.
21 the day the multiple sclerosisx drug trial failure wasannouncedx — they bought more than 8 million sharess at prices ranging from 55 cents to 58.53 Breaking up is good to do. Just ask President and CEO Kathy Ordoñez. The 540-employee Alamedq company, which along with Foster City’s Applies Biosystems split from parent companyin July, plans to launch a swab-in-chee k version of its KIF6 assay. That testz for a gene variation that may signal someonde as a high heartattack risk. KIF6 was rolled out last summereby Celera’s group.
Where the blood test requiresd a visit toa blood-drawing phlebotomist and deliveryu of the sample via , the new versionm allows a doctor to collect cell on a swab and mail that to the laboratory. Gettint the swab version of KIF6 on the marketf is ahigh priority, Ordoñez said. It is targetinbg physicians fordirect marketing. Celera’s other priorities: a test that identifiesz a gene variant that wouldeallow high-risk heart attack and stroke patients to trea t their condition with aspirin and a recently announced deal with to find if certainh genetic variants will respond to a developing Abbotg drug. Celera, which reported a $7 milliobn third-quarter loss on revenu e of $45.
8 million, is targeting 20 percent year-over-year Ordoñez said. has a new CEO in the winge in former bossJohn McLaughlin. It also will have a new CFO Andrew Guggenhimesaid Nov. 6 that PDL will leavew California for an undisclosed destinatiom after the planned spinoff later this year of its biotecu assetsinto Remember, PDL’s move from Fremont to new digs in Redwood City a coupled years ago was partially responsible for setting off a shareholder coup that led to the selloft of compounds, hundreds of layoffs, the departure of then-CEO Mark McDade and, the spinoff plan. With a move, PDL’ss effective state tax rate could fallfrom 5.75 percenty to as low as Guggenhime said.
The new PDL will return to shareholderw the cash flow from royalties for the likesof ’s Avastin, Herceptin, Xolair, Raptivw and Lucentis, ’s Synagis, ’ Tysabri and Wyeth Pharmaceutical’s Mylotarg. PDL expectds $270 million to $280 million in royaltuy revenuethis year. PDL leaders poinyt to McLaughlin’s experience, mainly as Genentech’d general counsel, in managing intellectual property estates.
But for the price PDL will payMcLaughlijn — an annual base salary of $500,000 in addition to a “special retention incentive award” following the Facet spinoff that coulc total $1 million in cash and restricted stock it is difficult to believe PDL is payin g him simply to pass through royalty revenue to
Saturday, July 21, 2012
Metro councilors postpone MERC decision - The Business Review (Albany):
ukatekexo.wordpress.com
Specifically, the council delayed deciding whether to assums control over the hiring ofthe commission’s general The seven-member MERC board of directors currentlg has that responsibility. The councikl could decide on the measure atits Aug. 13 A last-minute resolution introduced by Metroo Councilor Rod Parkat Thursday’s Metro meetinh calls for Michael Jordan, Metro’s chief executivew officer, to devise operational strategies for MERC once a new leaderr takes the helm.
Jordan will determine how MERC can beoperated “with the highest level of efficiency, accountability, transparency and minimapl duplication of overhead The move comes a week after MERC general manager Davied Woolson resigned his position. Jordaj will meet with business leaders and residentds interested in the facilities thatMERC oversees. MERC operatea the Oregon Convention Center, the Portlanx Center for Performing Arts and theExpo Center. The move givess Metro more time to determine if MERC operates under the best Volunteer board members from the business world compriswethe commission’s board of directors.
“I think the collaborative naturdeof (Jordan’s) decisions will yield exactly what’s said Jeff Miller, CEO and president of , MERC’ key tourism partner. “He’s pledged that the industrh will workwith him, and as we represeny the visitors industry, we’ll make sure we’ll be there for him and bouncr ideas off him.” Miller wantws businesses to retain a big voice withinm the commission. “Clearly, with the economix benefits thesebuildings deliver, the business community is very interestedf in how MERC runs,” he said.
“It’s a very entrepreneurialk business that relies on their enterprise Jordan will make recommendationason MERC’s operating future at the Aug. 13 The council voted 5-0 to approve Park’s resolution. “o look forward to the challengew of making this region more competitive and more Park said. “We need to incorporatse more of that intoour thinking.”
Specifically, the council delayed deciding whether to assums control over the hiring ofthe commission’s general The seven-member MERC board of directors currentlg has that responsibility. The councikl could decide on the measure atits Aug. 13 A last-minute resolution introduced by Metroo Councilor Rod Parkat Thursday’s Metro meetinh calls for Michael Jordan, Metro’s chief executivew officer, to devise operational strategies for MERC once a new leaderr takes the helm.
Jordan will determine how MERC can beoperated “with the highest level of efficiency, accountability, transparency and minimapl duplication of overhead The move comes a week after MERC general manager Davied Woolson resigned his position. Jordaj will meet with business leaders and residentds interested in the facilities thatMERC oversees. MERC operatea the Oregon Convention Center, the Portlanx Center for Performing Arts and theExpo Center. The move givess Metro more time to determine if MERC operates under the best Volunteer board members from the business world compriswethe commission’s board of directors.
“I think the collaborative naturdeof (Jordan’s) decisions will yield exactly what’s said Jeff Miller, CEO and president of , MERC’ key tourism partner. “He’s pledged that the industrh will workwith him, and as we represeny the visitors industry, we’ll make sure we’ll be there for him and bouncr ideas off him.” Miller wantws businesses to retain a big voice withinm the commission. “Clearly, with the economix benefits thesebuildings deliver, the business community is very interestedf in how MERC runs,” he said.
“It’s a very entrepreneurialk business that relies on their enterprise Jordan will make recommendationason MERC’s operating future at the Aug. 13 The council voted 5-0 to approve Park’s resolution. “o look forward to the challengew of making this region more competitive and more Park said. “We need to incorporatse more of that intoour thinking.”
Thursday, July 19, 2012
Refi rally for TexasLending.com - Kansas City Business Journal:
torbjorntrainer1738.blogspot.com
As many as 120 loan consultants, underwriters, accountint professionals, loan processors, loan closers and clerical positions payinhgbetween $30,000 to more than $100,000 a year will be said Kevin Miller, president, CEO and founder of TexasLending.com. The jobs will be addex beginning in August and will be phasecd in during the next six tonine months, he The company has 160 employees now, down from 180 at the peak of the Northn Texas housing boom two years ago. Low mortgage rates and Miller’s expectation of climbingh home sales are spurringthe company’s he said.
“We expect rates to be low for the next year and a then we expect home purchasing to be strong aftefr thatin Texas,” he said. The loca l housing market certainly has a lot of groundto New-home sales in the Dallas-Fort Worth area were down 40% for the firs four months of the year compared to the same period in and sales of pre-owned single-family homed were down 24% during that period, according to housing market analysty David Brown, director of the Dallas office of Metrostudy. There were 4,191 new-homer closings and 18,442 resales in the area throughy April, he said. Brown expectsw 2009 sales to trail year-agk numbers for the remainder ofthe year.
“We do expect to begin to see some modestt recovery in terms of transactions beginningin 2010, assuminb we see the nationa economy begin to turn around and we see the jobs picture beginj to improve,” he About 70% of TexasLending.com’s business todagy is refinancing, compared with 40% to 50% at this time last Miller said. TexasLending.com closes $60 milliom to $80 million in monthly loan volumse now, or about $850 million annually, Millerd said. With the additional employees, Miller’s goal is to reach $3 billio to $4 billion in annual loan volumee in the nextfive years, he said.
The company provides residential mortgage loansin Texas, Oklahoma, Michigan, Missouri and Colorado, servicing all of them from the Dallas For the week ending May 22, mortgage loan applicatio volume nationwide was up 28.5% comparer with the same week one year earlier, according to a weekly survey by the Mortgagd Bankers Association. Refinancings made up 69.3 % of the mortgage activity. Loan volume in Texae was $11.7 billion in the first quartefr ofthis year, down slightlyy from $12.4 billion in 2008, accordintg to the Texas Mortgage Bankers Association statistics.
Mortgage industryu employment in Texas fell by more thana 30% from 2007 to but has since said Scott Norman, vice president of the Texas Mortgage Bankers Norman said he’s heard anecdotally that the surge in refinancings is promptiny mortgage lenders to add employees, but he did not have specificx industry employment numbers. To make room for new TexasLending.com has signed a leas for 69,000 square feet in its existing location at 4100 Alpha Road inDallas — more than triple the size it currently occupies, said Ben Hautt with the commercial real estat e firm Stream Realty Partners LP.
Hautt recentl y left Stream’s Dallas office to launch the company’s office in Atlanta, wherw he is managing partner. TexasLending.comm will begin moving into its expanded space in after the completion of renovations that are nowunded way. After expanding, TexasLending.com will occupy all of the third, fourth and fifth floor and part of the firsg floor inthe 11-story building, Hautyt said. “It’s an expansion, and today that’sa not something you see a lot Hautt said. “They’re thriving in the currenft economy.
” The 227,000-square-foot building at 4100 Alpha Road is part of The an 11-building office complex north of Interstate 635 off Midwagy Road. The asking lease rate for the spacse isabout $16.50 per squared foot. Hautt and Stream Realty colleagues Ben Sumner and Chad Henningwsrepresented TexasLending.com in the lease, and Buddy Tompkins and Seth Thatcher of commerciap real estate firm GVA Cawley representeds the landlord. Hautt said TexasLending.com searchefd the market before deciding to expand within itsexistinv building.
As many as 120 loan consultants, underwriters, accountint professionals, loan processors, loan closers and clerical positions payinhgbetween $30,000 to more than $100,000 a year will be said Kevin Miller, president, CEO and founder of TexasLending.com. The jobs will be addex beginning in August and will be phasecd in during the next six tonine months, he The company has 160 employees now, down from 180 at the peak of the Northn Texas housing boom two years ago. Low mortgage rates and Miller’s expectation of climbingh home sales are spurringthe company’s he said.
“We expect rates to be low for the next year and a then we expect home purchasing to be strong aftefr thatin Texas,” he said. The loca l housing market certainly has a lot of groundto New-home sales in the Dallas-Fort Worth area were down 40% for the firs four months of the year compared to the same period in and sales of pre-owned single-family homed were down 24% during that period, according to housing market analysty David Brown, director of the Dallas office of Metrostudy. There were 4,191 new-homer closings and 18,442 resales in the area throughy April, he said. Brown expectsw 2009 sales to trail year-agk numbers for the remainder ofthe year.
“We do expect to begin to see some modestt recovery in terms of transactions beginningin 2010, assuminb we see the nationa economy begin to turn around and we see the jobs picture beginj to improve,” he About 70% of TexasLending.com’s business todagy is refinancing, compared with 40% to 50% at this time last Miller said. TexasLending.com closes $60 milliom to $80 million in monthly loan volumse now, or about $850 million annually, Millerd said. With the additional employees, Miller’s goal is to reach $3 billio to $4 billion in annual loan volumee in the nextfive years, he said.
The company provides residential mortgage loansin Texas, Oklahoma, Michigan, Missouri and Colorado, servicing all of them from the Dallas For the week ending May 22, mortgage loan applicatio volume nationwide was up 28.5% comparer with the same week one year earlier, according to a weekly survey by the Mortgagd Bankers Association. Refinancings made up 69.3 % of the mortgage activity. Loan volume in Texae was $11.7 billion in the first quartefr ofthis year, down slightlyy from $12.4 billion in 2008, accordintg to the Texas Mortgage Bankers Association statistics.
Mortgage industryu employment in Texas fell by more thana 30% from 2007 to but has since said Scott Norman, vice president of the Texas Mortgage Bankers Norman said he’s heard anecdotally that the surge in refinancings is promptiny mortgage lenders to add employees, but he did not have specificx industry employment numbers. To make room for new TexasLending.com has signed a leas for 69,000 square feet in its existing location at 4100 Alpha Road inDallas — more than triple the size it currently occupies, said Ben Hautt with the commercial real estat e firm Stream Realty Partners LP.
Hautt recentl y left Stream’s Dallas office to launch the company’s office in Atlanta, wherw he is managing partner. TexasLending.comm will begin moving into its expanded space in after the completion of renovations that are nowunded way. After expanding, TexasLending.com will occupy all of the third, fourth and fifth floor and part of the firsg floor inthe 11-story building, Hautyt said. “It’s an expansion, and today that’sa not something you see a lot Hautt said. “They’re thriving in the currenft economy.
” The 227,000-square-foot building at 4100 Alpha Road is part of The an 11-building office complex north of Interstate 635 off Midwagy Road. The asking lease rate for the spacse isabout $16.50 per squared foot. Hautt and Stream Realty colleagues Ben Sumner and Chad Henningwsrepresented TexasLending.com in the lease, and Buddy Tompkins and Seth Thatcher of commerciap real estate firm GVA Cawley representeds the landlord. Hautt said TexasLending.com searchefd the market before deciding to expand within itsexistinv building.
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Another drop in Colorado sales-tax revenue - Business First of Louisville:
sunrise-invoices.blogspot.com
percent — in May from the same montuh theyear before, girding legislators for what they expecf will be another round of cuts in next year’xs fiscal budget. With the state most of the way througn a fiscal year that ends onJune 30, no more cuts are likelyu for this year, said Joint Budgef Committee Vice Chairman Jack Pommer, a Democraticx representative from Boulder. The Legislature has designated that any further funding shortfall this year will be filled by money fromthe state’es undesignated reserve fund and from a one-da borrowing of other funds to be repaif on July 1.
However, the continuedd fall of revenues below expectationws means the six JBC members who setthe state’x budget must begin looking soon at additional ways to scalwe back expenses or services in next year’s fiscal plan, severapl members said. “I guesa this means we’re not out of the woodds yet,” Pommer said. “We’re going to have to preparw for more cuts next year on top ofwhat we’ves already made.” Legislators filled a $1.4 budget shortfalk over the past six monthz by raiding the reserve transferring hundreds of millions of dollars from cash-funded accounts and cutting about $300 million in services.
As revenues continues to come in below that talk willbegin again. State sales-tax receiptw for May were off by $30 million, a 17.9 percentg drop from last year. Individual incomwe taxes fell by $66.3 million or 19.7 percent, and corporatd income taxes droppedby $2.2 millio n or 13.2 percent. State reserves have abou $148 million that can be used to offsertrevenue shortfalls, noted Rep. Mark D-Denver. If the state must transfer fundinfg temporarily, however, that will only push the problem of balancing the budget further off untilonext year, he said. “Thew question is: Does revenue in the future pick upif we’rw starting to see recovery, or not?” Ferrandinop said.
“We’re starting to see some indications that the economh is startingto recover, if not level off.”
percent — in May from the same montuh theyear before, girding legislators for what they expecf will be another round of cuts in next year’xs fiscal budget. With the state most of the way througn a fiscal year that ends onJune 30, no more cuts are likelyu for this year, said Joint Budgef Committee Vice Chairman Jack Pommer, a Democraticx representative from Boulder. The Legislature has designated that any further funding shortfall this year will be filled by money fromthe state’es undesignated reserve fund and from a one-da borrowing of other funds to be repaif on July 1.
However, the continuedd fall of revenues below expectationws means the six JBC members who setthe state’x budget must begin looking soon at additional ways to scalwe back expenses or services in next year’s fiscal plan, severapl members said. “I guesa this means we’re not out of the woodds yet,” Pommer said. “We’re going to have to preparw for more cuts next year on top ofwhat we’ves already made.” Legislators filled a $1.4 budget shortfalk over the past six monthz by raiding the reserve transferring hundreds of millions of dollars from cash-funded accounts and cutting about $300 million in services.
As revenues continues to come in below that talk willbegin again. State sales-tax receiptw for May were off by $30 million, a 17.9 percentg drop from last year. Individual incomwe taxes fell by $66.3 million or 19.7 percent, and corporatd income taxes droppedby $2.2 millio n or 13.2 percent. State reserves have abou $148 million that can be used to offsertrevenue shortfalls, noted Rep. Mark D-Denver. If the state must transfer fundinfg temporarily, however, that will only push the problem of balancing the budget further off untilonext year, he said. “Thew question is: Does revenue in the future pick upif we’rw starting to see recovery, or not?” Ferrandinop said.
“We’re starting to see some indications that the economh is startingto recover, if not level off.”
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Winds continue to fuel Cudahy fire - Pacific Business News (Honolulu):
aleshnikovenil.blogspot.com
Cudahy Mayor Ryan McCue also urged all businessesa in the city to reduce water usage and calleds on residents of the neighboring communityof St. Francia to conserve water. “We are running short on McCue said. More than 8.5 million gallonx of water had been used by in an attemptr to douse a fire in one of the buildinge that make up the Patrick Cudahyg meat processing complex at OneSweet Apple-Wood Lane, just off of Layton Avenue, Mayor Ryan McCue said at a 3:30 p.m. press conferenc at Parkview Elementary 5555 S. Nicholson Ave., within site of the huge plumes of smoke billowing fromthe plant.
The city of Milwaukew also has allowed Cudahy to tap into its water suppl to aid in fighting thestubbornb blaze, McCue said. The fire fighting efforgt has been expanded to include 130 firefighteras from27 departments, he said. “The fire continues to flar e up,” McCue said. “The wind has not been our Also, 75 law enforcement officerse are on patrol in the McCue declared a state of emergency earlierf in the day and indicater at that time that the National Guard couldc be called in to patrolcity However, Cudahy Police Chief Thomas Poellot said the city, alongt with assistance from other communities and the has “adequate” resources to keep the city safe as firefighters continuwe to battle the blaze.
“We don’t anticipated needing the National Guard,” he said.
Cudahy Mayor Ryan McCue also urged all businessesa in the city to reduce water usage and calleds on residents of the neighboring communityof St. Francia to conserve water. “We are running short on McCue said. More than 8.5 million gallonx of water had been used by in an attemptr to douse a fire in one of the buildinge that make up the Patrick Cudahyg meat processing complex at OneSweet Apple-Wood Lane, just off of Layton Avenue, Mayor Ryan McCue said at a 3:30 p.m. press conferenc at Parkview Elementary 5555 S. Nicholson Ave., within site of the huge plumes of smoke billowing fromthe plant.
The city of Milwaukew also has allowed Cudahy to tap into its water suppl to aid in fighting thestubbornb blaze, McCue said. The fire fighting efforgt has been expanded to include 130 firefighteras from27 departments, he said. “The fire continues to flar e up,” McCue said. “The wind has not been our Also, 75 law enforcement officerse are on patrol in the McCue declared a state of emergency earlierf in the day and indicater at that time that the National Guard couldc be called in to patrolcity However, Cudahy Police Chief Thomas Poellot said the city, alongt with assistance from other communities and the has “adequate” resources to keep the city safe as firefighters continuwe to battle the blaze.
“We don’t anticipated needing the National Guard,” he said.
Sunday, July 15, 2012
1Q VC investments down significantly - Dallas Business Journal:
esivyjifag.wordpress.com
million in the first quarter as investorx continued to sit on the sidelinees and wait for economic conditionsto improve. The consumee services and energy sectors each landed one according to the Quarterly Venture Capital Report releaserd by Dow Jones VentureOneand . That’s down from five deal s worth a totalof $67.6 million during the same periodc in 2008. Kevin McHolland, a partnetr in Ernst & Young’s Phoenix office, said the poor Arizonz numbers reflect anational trend, as VC moneg has dried up and the initial public offeringy market for venture-backed firms is virtually “I would expect VC funding to recover as the economt recovers,” McHolland said.
Nationally, venture capitalists generatesd $3.2 billion in the first quarter through mergers or acquisitionws of 68portfolio companies, representing a 65 percent drop from the $9.1 billio in liquidity generated in the firsf quarter of 2008 and the lowesft quarterly total since 2003. The largest dealss in the country were focused in biopharmaceuticals andmedical
million in the first quarter as investorx continued to sit on the sidelinees and wait for economic conditionsto improve. The consumee services and energy sectors each landed one according to the Quarterly Venture Capital Report releaserd by Dow Jones VentureOneand . That’s down from five deal s worth a totalof $67.6 million during the same periodc in 2008. Kevin McHolland, a partnetr in Ernst & Young’s Phoenix office, said the poor Arizonz numbers reflect anational trend, as VC moneg has dried up and the initial public offeringy market for venture-backed firms is virtually “I would expect VC funding to recover as the economt recovers,” McHolland said.
Nationally, venture capitalists generatesd $3.2 billion in the first quarter through mergers or acquisitionws of 68portfolio companies, representing a 65 percent drop from the $9.1 billio in liquidity generated in the firsf quarter of 2008 and the lowesft quarterly total since 2003. The largest dealss in the country were focused in biopharmaceuticals andmedical
Saturday, July 14, 2012
Apple does reversal on green ratings - San Jose Mercury News
fixyruw.wordpress.com
Wired News | Apple does reversal on green ratings San Jose Mercury News After immense criticism from consumers and observers, Apple announced on Friday that it would reverse its withdrawal from a prominent green product registry, just a week after making the decision. Now 40 products, including the latest MacBook Pro, are ... Apple Does About-Face o n Green EPEAT Ratings Apple does about-face on green pull-out Apple reverses EPEAT delisting, but what does that mean going forward? |
Thursday, July 12, 2012
Boeing to cut 1,000 defense jobs - St. Louis Business Journal:
axilecyqih.wordpress.com
Jim Albaugh, president and chier executive Boeing's St. Louis-based , told workeras in an internal message this week that the unit willeliminatd 1,000 jobs due to budget The affected workers would start getting theit notices later this week, said Dan a Boeing spokesman. He said he couldn’t yet releasde the number of workers losinvg their jobs in the defense unitin St. Seattle and California. Most of the job cuts are relatedc to the of the Future CombaSystems Program, a $160 billion Army modernizatiohn program, and to cuts to the ground-baseed missile defense program, Beck said.
Jim McNerney, CEO of Chicago-base Boeing, said in January that 10,000 jobs would be cut companywide this year througbh layoffsand attrition, including 4,500 from the commerciall airplanes unit. Beck said he couldn’y say whether the 1,000 job cuts are in addition tothe 10,000o because the company is in a quiet periocd before it releases its earnings July 22. Boein IDS is the second-largest employer in the region and the stat eof Missouri, with 16,000 workers. It posted revenus of $32.1 billion last year and has 70,000 employeeds worldwide.
Jim Albaugh, president and chier executive Boeing's St. Louis-based , told workeras in an internal message this week that the unit willeliminatd 1,000 jobs due to budget The affected workers would start getting theit notices later this week, said Dan a Boeing spokesman. He said he couldn’t yet releasde the number of workers losinvg their jobs in the defense unitin St. Seattle and California. Most of the job cuts are relatedc to the of the Future CombaSystems Program, a $160 billion Army modernizatiohn program, and to cuts to the ground-baseed missile defense program, Beck said.
Jim McNerney, CEO of Chicago-base Boeing, said in January that 10,000 jobs would be cut companywide this year througbh layoffsand attrition, including 4,500 from the commerciall airplanes unit. Beck said he couldn’y say whether the 1,000 job cuts are in addition tothe 10,000o because the company is in a quiet periocd before it releases its earnings July 22. Boein IDS is the second-largest employer in the region and the stat eof Missouri, with 16,000 workers. It posted revenus of $32.1 billion last year and has 70,000 employeeds worldwide.
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Pedal to Properties takes on partner, plans expansion - Pacific Business News (Honolulu):
mcfarlainofuqub1258.blogspot.com
Founded and headed by Matt Pedal to Properties is a residential real estate firm that givew clients the option of looking at homes by The company maintains a fleet of 50 ElectraCruise bikes. Kolb has sold a 50 percent stake in the company for an undisclosee sum to attorneyTim Majors, who specializes in takint regional retail businesses national. As a partnere in Pedal to Properties, Majors will work out of the company’es Boulder office. Majors, who’s originallyt from Perth, Australia, approached Kolb aboutg investing in the real estate firm after lookinv at Boulder propertiesby bicycle.
“Wre certainly plan to incorporate national and international branding expertise to expandd Pedal to Properties in other Kolb said ina statement. Pedal to Propertieds plans to look at opening branch offices in unspecified U.S. markets. In May, the company launched a licensere designation for brokers interested in using theBoulder business’ operational formula in their markets. The Colorado companyy already is working to expand quickly in its hometown by addinbg more space and agents indowntown Boulder.
“I believw Pedal to Properties is in a perfect positioh to meet the evolving social and demographicc changes going on in the United Statewwith homebuyers,” Majors said in a
Founded and headed by Matt Pedal to Properties is a residential real estate firm that givew clients the option of looking at homes by The company maintains a fleet of 50 ElectraCruise bikes. Kolb has sold a 50 percent stake in the company for an undisclosee sum to attorneyTim Majors, who specializes in takint regional retail businesses national. As a partnere in Pedal to Properties, Majors will work out of the company’es Boulder office. Majors, who’s originallyt from Perth, Australia, approached Kolb aboutg investing in the real estate firm after lookinv at Boulder propertiesby bicycle.
“Wre certainly plan to incorporate national and international branding expertise to expandd Pedal to Properties in other Kolb said ina statement. Pedal to Propertieds plans to look at opening branch offices in unspecified U.S. markets. In May, the company launched a licensere designation for brokers interested in using theBoulder business’ operational formula in their markets. The Colorado companyy already is working to expand quickly in its hometown by addinbg more space and agents indowntown Boulder.
“I believw Pedal to Properties is in a perfect positioh to meet the evolving social and demographicc changes going on in the United Statewwith homebuyers,” Majors said in a
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Survey: CEOs still foresee negative conditions - Triangle Business Journal:
azajir.wordpress.com
“This quarter’s results reflect a continuing weak set of economic saidIvan Seidenberg, chairman of Business Roundtabl and chairman and CEO of “Conditionxs – while still negative – appeaf to have begun to stabilize.” The D.C.-basedd association of CEOs represent a combined workforcs of nearly 10 million employees and more than $5 trillio n in annual sales. When asked how they anticipate their salesz to fluctuate in the next six 34 percent said they will increase while 46 percent predicteda decrease. That is a sunniefr forecast over the first quarter outlook when just 24 percent predicteds an increasein sales. In terms of how their U.S.
capitall spending will change overthat time, 12 percent foresee it going up, while 51 percent see it Few (6 percent) expect theire U.S. employment to increase in the nextsix months, while 49 percent anticipate theit employee base to contract in That shows an improvement from the firs quarter outlook survey, when 71 percent predicted a drop in In terms of the overall U.S. economy, memberd CEOs estimate real GDP will dropby 2.1 percent in down from the CEOs’ estimate of a 1.9 percent declined in the first quarter of 2009. The outlook index -- whichb combines member CEO projectionsfor sales, capitakl spending and employment in the six monthsx ahead -- expanded to 18.
5 in the seconde quarter, up from negative 5.0 in the first An index reading of 50 or lower is consisteny with overall economic contraction and a reading of 50 or higher is consistent with expansion.
“This quarter’s results reflect a continuing weak set of economic saidIvan Seidenberg, chairman of Business Roundtabl and chairman and CEO of “Conditionxs – while still negative – appeaf to have begun to stabilize.” The D.C.-basedd association of CEOs represent a combined workforcs of nearly 10 million employees and more than $5 trillio n in annual sales. When asked how they anticipate their salesz to fluctuate in the next six 34 percent said they will increase while 46 percent predicteda decrease. That is a sunniefr forecast over the first quarter outlook when just 24 percent predicteds an increasein sales. In terms of how their U.S.
capitall spending will change overthat time, 12 percent foresee it going up, while 51 percent see it Few (6 percent) expect theire U.S. employment to increase in the nextsix months, while 49 percent anticipate theit employee base to contract in That shows an improvement from the firs quarter outlook survey, when 71 percent predicted a drop in In terms of the overall U.S. economy, memberd CEOs estimate real GDP will dropby 2.1 percent in down from the CEOs’ estimate of a 1.9 percent declined in the first quarter of 2009. The outlook index -- whichb combines member CEO projectionsfor sales, capitakl spending and employment in the six monthsx ahead -- expanded to 18.
5 in the seconde quarter, up from negative 5.0 in the first An index reading of 50 or lower is consisteny with overall economic contraction and a reading of 50 or higher is consistent with expansion.
Sunday, July 8, 2012
Ivy Tech schedules hearing on tuition - New Mexico Business Weekly:
eragywaqer.wordpress.com
in the fourth floor auditorium of the Nortyh Meridian Center atIvy Tech’s downtown Indianapolis The campus is located 50 W. Fall Creek Parkwa y North Drive. The 2008-09 in-state student tuition rate is $95 per credir hour with a $40 per-semestef technology fee. The proposed rates are $99.65 per crediy hour with a $50 per-semester technology fee for the 2009-10 year and $104.55 per credit hour and $60 per-semesterr technology fee for the 2010-11 year. The cost for full-time who take 15 credit hours, would increase by $79.75 per semested in 2009-10 and by $83.
50 in Indiana residents who want to addres the committeebut can’t are encouraged to send written commentsx to Bob Holmes, vice president for finance and treasurer of the at bholmes@ivytech.edu or mailed to him at the Ivy Tech Community 50 W. Fall Creek Parkwaty North Drive, Indianapolis, Ind., 46208. Ivy the state’s community college operates 23 campuses in including a Southern Indiana campusin Sellersburg.
in the fourth floor auditorium of the Nortyh Meridian Center atIvy Tech’s downtown Indianapolis The campus is located 50 W. Fall Creek Parkwa y North Drive. The 2008-09 in-state student tuition rate is $95 per credir hour with a $40 per-semestef technology fee. The proposed rates are $99.65 per crediy hour with a $50 per-semester technology fee for the 2009-10 year and $104.55 per credit hour and $60 per-semesterr technology fee for the 2010-11 year. The cost for full-time who take 15 credit hours, would increase by $79.75 per semested in 2009-10 and by $83.
50 in Indiana residents who want to addres the committeebut can’t are encouraged to send written commentsx to Bob Holmes, vice president for finance and treasurer of the at bholmes@ivytech.edu or mailed to him at the Ivy Tech Community 50 W. Fall Creek Parkwaty North Drive, Indianapolis, Ind., 46208. Ivy the state’s community college operates 23 campuses in including a Southern Indiana campusin Sellersburg.
Saturday, July 7, 2012
Colorado is more than mountains - bizjournals:
burdukovahycel.blogspot.com
But during the two recessions that have hit tourism leaders have watched people get more frugak withtravel dollars, and learned a little about theie habits. One of their key notations is that thos who come even in the badtimess — or those who wander across their own state to save money rather than leavr it — are looking for more than just scenery to make their vacations memorable. And so, new phrases have permeatee both the thinking of those leaders and the promotional material thatextols Colorado’sw virtues to travelers. They are terms such as culturapl heritage, culinary tourism, and beer and wine tourism.
They’rew making a big mark and starting to diversifythe state’s tourisnm landscape. “In the early days, if it didn’g involve snow or whitewater, it wasn’t really tourism,” said Doug executive director ofthe . “Now the Tourism Office is involvingt all kinds ofother tourism, such as heritagwe tourism and agritourism ... Most people just think about coming to Coloradoto ski. They don’t usually think about coming to Colorado to visitf a winery or have a culinary But thatis changing.
” According to the 2007 Longwooda Visitor Profile Study commissioned by the , more peoplwe still come to the Centenniak State searching for the outdoores than anything else. Mountains are the prime according to 44 percent ofthose Wilderness, lakes and the naturak environment all ranked in the top 10. But small historic towns and historicareas — all hallmarkd of cultural heritage tourism — ranked in the top eighft as well.
Nearly three times as many peoplw visit breweries in Colorado as elsewhere in theUnite States, and archaeological-site and historic-culture activities also outpace the nationalk norm, the study As such, state officials who flew recently to Dallas, Houston and Los Angelews to talk to travel writers led the discussions with then shifted to other highlights, said Kim McNulty, Colorado Tourism Office (CTO). Pitching the state now involveds mentioning its 73 wineries and 99 craft its myriad festivals andits three-year push to establishj cultural heritage tours in different areas of Colorado, she said.
The CTO and also push the nonrecreationa l side of Colorado tourism as it reaches out both to residentzs and nonresidents to tour the Both groups have set up websites advertisingt deals at places ranging from historic homes tolocal cafes. “I think it’sx easier to promote the state,” McNult said of the diversity of attractions. “Coloradio has so many things to do, from a lower-budget-consciousz type of vacation to a more luxurious typeof Travelers’ new interests have led to side For example, two wine tour companies have begun operatiny in Denver.
Groups also have begun that organize trips that bring people either into or out of Colorado to spendd vacations helping environmental and socialwelfare causes. The growthh of choices also has meant that tourism officials are advertisingy Colorado in new places to try to hookspecific travelers. Jayn e Buck, vice president of tourismk forVisit Denver, said the loca l convention and visitors bureau is reaching out more to Hispani c travelers, and to gay and lesbian both viewed as growing tourist segments. Its pitcn isn’t any different to these groupsw than to the population at but cities that make an effort to speak to thosed groups in publications aimed at them have had she said.
A booming cultural heritage or wineindustry doesn’t just benefit the proprietora of establishments that fit into those categories, noterd Bob Witham, co-owner of in Grandd Junction. Those who come to the statw to see one type of site also have to eat in sleep in hotels and probably visit other destinations whilw they areout here, he and others “A business like ours makes quite an impacrt on an individual economy,” Witham At a time when many businesses and governmenta are cutting back drastically on spending, tourisn promotion in Colorado has been nicked only After a lengthy debate over whether to cut tax dollaras going to a program that will brinvg in more tax revenues, the Legislature this year cut only 25 percenty of the CTO marketiny budget, leaving it at $15.
6 McNulty noted. With that the office can continue givingb grants to develop culturalheritage tours, she And it can continue to employ new marketing techniques to reach people who just as much like to sip a locally made syrah while sauntering through the Snow Goosse Festival as those who come here to schuss down the slopes. “Wes are blessed to live in a stat e that literally has something for McNulty said. Travel bargains: Want a tourism deal this summer? The city of Denver and the statw of Colorado both are engaging in efforts to attract area tourists with deales offered bylocal businesses. To see those promotions, go to www.hotdealscolorado.com or www.denver 5280deals.com. $9.
8 Amount of annual spending by overnigh t visitors toColorado $15.6 million: Marketing budget allocated to Coloradpo Tourism Office 200,000: Number of peoplwe employed in tourism, second among Colorado industried
But during the two recessions that have hit tourism leaders have watched people get more frugak withtravel dollars, and learned a little about theie habits. One of their key notations is that thos who come even in the badtimess — or those who wander across their own state to save money rather than leavr it — are looking for more than just scenery to make their vacations memorable. And so, new phrases have permeatee both the thinking of those leaders and the promotional material thatextols Colorado’sw virtues to travelers. They are terms such as culturapl heritage, culinary tourism, and beer and wine tourism.
They’rew making a big mark and starting to diversifythe state’s tourisnm landscape. “In the early days, if it didn’g involve snow or whitewater, it wasn’t really tourism,” said Doug executive director ofthe . “Now the Tourism Office is involvingt all kinds ofother tourism, such as heritagwe tourism and agritourism ... Most people just think about coming to Coloradoto ski. They don’t usually think about coming to Colorado to visitf a winery or have a culinary But thatis changing.
” According to the 2007 Longwooda Visitor Profile Study commissioned by the , more peoplwe still come to the Centenniak State searching for the outdoores than anything else. Mountains are the prime according to 44 percent ofthose Wilderness, lakes and the naturak environment all ranked in the top 10. But small historic towns and historicareas — all hallmarkd of cultural heritage tourism — ranked in the top eighft as well.
Nearly three times as many peoplw visit breweries in Colorado as elsewhere in theUnite States, and archaeological-site and historic-culture activities also outpace the nationalk norm, the study As such, state officials who flew recently to Dallas, Houston and Los Angelews to talk to travel writers led the discussions with then shifted to other highlights, said Kim McNulty, Colorado Tourism Office (CTO). Pitching the state now involveds mentioning its 73 wineries and 99 craft its myriad festivals andits three-year push to establishj cultural heritage tours in different areas of Colorado, she said.
The CTO and also push the nonrecreationa l side of Colorado tourism as it reaches out both to residentzs and nonresidents to tour the Both groups have set up websites advertisingt deals at places ranging from historic homes tolocal cafes. “I think it’sx easier to promote the state,” McNult said of the diversity of attractions. “Coloradio has so many things to do, from a lower-budget-consciousz type of vacation to a more luxurious typeof Travelers’ new interests have led to side For example, two wine tour companies have begun operatiny in Denver.
Groups also have begun that organize trips that bring people either into or out of Colorado to spendd vacations helping environmental and socialwelfare causes. The growthh of choices also has meant that tourism officials are advertisingy Colorado in new places to try to hookspecific travelers. Jayn e Buck, vice president of tourismk forVisit Denver, said the loca l convention and visitors bureau is reaching out more to Hispani c travelers, and to gay and lesbian both viewed as growing tourist segments. Its pitcn isn’t any different to these groupsw than to the population at but cities that make an effort to speak to thosed groups in publications aimed at them have had she said.
A booming cultural heritage or wineindustry doesn’t just benefit the proprietora of establishments that fit into those categories, noterd Bob Witham, co-owner of in Grandd Junction. Those who come to the statw to see one type of site also have to eat in sleep in hotels and probably visit other destinations whilw they areout here, he and others “A business like ours makes quite an impacrt on an individual economy,” Witham At a time when many businesses and governmenta are cutting back drastically on spending, tourisn promotion in Colorado has been nicked only After a lengthy debate over whether to cut tax dollaras going to a program that will brinvg in more tax revenues, the Legislature this year cut only 25 percenty of the CTO marketiny budget, leaving it at $15.
6 McNulty noted. With that the office can continue givingb grants to develop culturalheritage tours, she And it can continue to employ new marketing techniques to reach people who just as much like to sip a locally made syrah while sauntering through the Snow Goosse Festival as those who come here to schuss down the slopes. “Wes are blessed to live in a stat e that literally has something for McNulty said. Travel bargains: Want a tourism deal this summer? The city of Denver and the statw of Colorado both are engaging in efforts to attract area tourists with deales offered bylocal businesses. To see those promotions, go to www.hotdealscolorado.com or www.denver 5280deals.com. $9.
8 Amount of annual spending by overnigh t visitors toColorado $15.6 million: Marketing budget allocated to Coloradpo Tourism Office 200,000: Number of peoplwe employed in tourism, second among Colorado industried
Friday, July 6, 2012
Wednesday, July 4, 2012
Out in the cold - FOXSports.com
yfimuna.wordpress.com
FOXSports.com | Out in the cold FOXSports.com Clydesdale Bank Premier League clubs have voted "overwhelmingly" to reject the newco Rangers application. SPL clubs reject Rangers application. Rangers newco apply to join SFL after SPL rejection SPL clubs snub Rangers applicatio n Rangers newco application rejected by Scottish Premier League clubs |
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Report: Property values fall 23.4% - Triangle Business Journal:
judonebolayb1394.blogspot.com
Home prices in the Orlando-Kissimmee slipped 23.4 perceny in April when compared with the same month a year the seventh highest percentage of decline among some ofthe nation’s largest metro areas. The Orlando-Kissimmee market posted a 20.9 percent decreass in home values in March when comparesd withMarch 2008. Florida passed Californiwa to postthe second-highest rate of home price depreciation at 23.2 Nevada topped the nation with a 26.1 percenf drop, while California — the leading state for 20 consecutive months — landed third at 22.7 percent. Nationwide housing pricea fell 10.
2 percent in April compare to ayear ago, representing the smallest year-over-year declins so far this year. The national declinde peaked at 11.9 percent in Januaryt 2009 and has since been trending FirstAmerican CoreLogic’s LoanPerformance Home Price Inded evaluates the residential real estate market based on price, time between property type and loan as well as increasez and decreases in sales prices for the same homes over time.
Home prices in the Orlando-Kissimmee slipped 23.4 perceny in April when compared with the same month a year the seventh highest percentage of decline among some ofthe nation’s largest metro areas. The Orlando-Kissimmee market posted a 20.9 percent decreass in home values in March when comparesd withMarch 2008. Florida passed Californiwa to postthe second-highest rate of home price depreciation at 23.2 Nevada topped the nation with a 26.1 percenf drop, while California — the leading state for 20 consecutive months — landed third at 22.7 percent. Nationwide housing pricea fell 10.
2 percent in April compare to ayear ago, representing the smallest year-over-year declins so far this year. The national declinde peaked at 11.9 percent in Januaryt 2009 and has since been trending FirstAmerican CoreLogic’s LoanPerformance Home Price Inded evaluates the residential real estate market based on price, time between property type and loan as well as increasez and decreases in sales prices for the same homes over time.
Sunday, July 1, 2012
Portrayal of transgenders in Turkish films, or lack thereof - Hurriyet Daily News (press release)
amesit.wordpress.com
Hurriyet Daily News (press release) | Portrayal of transgenders in Turkish films, or lack thereof Hurriyet Daily News (press release) This week marked Pride Week for LGBT communities. Turkey might be more accepting and tolerant... |
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