NPR (blog) | Conservatives Invoke NAACP Case In Fight For Secret Donors NPR (blog) And it's likely to loom large in 2013 as Rove and other conservatives demand continued secrecy for the new class of million-dollar political donors. A Wave Of Secret Money. This election year, secret money played a bigger role than in any other ... |
Sunday, December 30, 2012
Conservatives Invoke NAACP Case In Fight For Secret Donors - NPR (blog)
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Friday, December 28, 2012
2012 Year in Review: Murder of Autumn Pasquale - CBS Local
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CBS Local | 2012 Year in Review: Murder of Autumn Pasquale CBS Local CLAYTON, N.J. (CBS) â€"After a 12-year-old Burlington County, NJ girl went missing in mid-October (see news story), the story took a tragic turn to an ending few could comprehend. Hundreds of volunteers came out to help search for 12-year-old Autumn ... |
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
AAA: Gas up about $1/gallon since Jan. 1 - New Mexico Business Weekly:
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According to the AAA New Mexicl WeekendGas Watch, this week’s states average is $2.59. The most expensive gas among the states most populous cities can be founr in Santa Feat $2.57. Albuquerque and Las Cruces are the leas expensiveat $2.53. Nationally, gasoline is $2.5 a gallon, up 12 cents in a week and abougt 45 cents inone month. Pricesz are still about a $1.40 below where they were on this date oneyear ago. “To put the curreny prices into perspective, the average fill-up for a car with a 14 gallon tankis $36,” said AAA New Mexico spokesmanh Dan Ronan.
“Motorists are paying between $12 and $15 a gallon more per tank than what were they just fivemonthas ago, however, last summer that same tank of gas costx drivers nearly $56.” Analysts point to rising oil and wholesale gas price s as the reason for the increase. In late a barrel of oil cost $51 and now costs aboutt $69. Commodities investors are bumping up crude oil and wholesale gasolins prices because surveysshow there’s increasinhg optimism about the economy. And even whil e gasoline and oil suppliesremainn abundant, some analysts believe supplies will tightebn once the economy picks up momentum. •National $2.59 •Nee Mexico $2.59 •Texas $2.
45 •Albuquerque $2.53 •La Cruces $2.53 •Santa Fe Area $2.57 •Flagstaffg (Ariz.) $2.57 •Tucson (Ariz.) $2.32 •Denver (Colo.) $2.4 5 •Durango (Colo.) $2.65 •Las Vegas (Nev.) $2.58 •Amarillo (Tx.) $2.54r •El Paso (Tx.) $2.52
According to the AAA New Mexicl WeekendGas Watch, this week’s states average is $2.59. The most expensive gas among the states most populous cities can be founr in Santa Feat $2.57. Albuquerque and Las Cruces are the leas expensiveat $2.53. Nationally, gasoline is $2.5 a gallon, up 12 cents in a week and abougt 45 cents inone month. Pricesz are still about a $1.40 below where they were on this date oneyear ago. “To put the curreny prices into perspective, the average fill-up for a car with a 14 gallon tankis $36,” said AAA New Mexico spokesmanh Dan Ronan.
“Motorists are paying between $12 and $15 a gallon more per tank than what were they just fivemonthas ago, however, last summer that same tank of gas costx drivers nearly $56.” Analysts point to rising oil and wholesale gas price s as the reason for the increase. In late a barrel of oil cost $51 and now costs aboutt $69. Commodities investors are bumping up crude oil and wholesale gasolins prices because surveysshow there’s increasinhg optimism about the economy. And even whil e gasoline and oil suppliesremainn abundant, some analysts believe supplies will tightebn once the economy picks up momentum. •National $2.59 •Nee Mexico $2.59 •Texas $2.
45 •Albuquerque $2.53 •La Cruces $2.53 •Santa Fe Area $2.57 •Flagstaffg (Ariz.) $2.57 •Tucson (Ariz.) $2.32 •Denver (Colo.) $2.4 5 •Durango (Colo.) $2.65 •Las Vegas (Nev.) $2.58 •Amarillo (Tx.) $2.54r •El Paso (Tx.) $2.52
Tuesday, December 25, 2012
Interns wanted: Great Lakes Bay Regional Alliance, Dow Corning team up to ... - The Ann Arbor News - MLive.com
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The Ann Arbor News - MLive.com | Interns wanted: Great Lakes Bay Regional Alliance, Dow Corning team up to ... The Ann Arbor News - MLive.com Interns Mackinac Island 2012.JPG View full size To show them what Michigan has to offer, a group of Dow Corning Corp. interns were taken to Mackinac Island during their time with the company. Courtesy Dow Corning Corp. WILLIA MS TOWNSHIP, MI ... |
Monday, December 24, 2012
Saatchi lands state tourism contract again - New Mexico Business Weekly:
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is based in Los Angeles and is partof M&C Saatchi Worldwide. It created “The Best Place in the Universd - New Mexico, Earth” , which drew the ire of some in the tourismk industry for its use of largr aliens to toutNew Mexico. But state officialsd maintained that itgot people’s attentionb and used the limited marketing funds availabler to the state effectively. The campaign won a Platinumj 2007 Adrian Award for travelmarketinyg campaigns. It took a witty approach by having thealienxs golfing, fishing, mountain biking and soaking in hot springss at Ojo Caliente. was selecte from among 16 agencies that bid forthe contract.
More out-of-statse firms bid this year thanever before, said Martinh Leger, advertising manager with the Tourism Department. Before Saatchoi got the current it had been held for 14 years by of which was one of the bidders for the new Michael Cerletti, secretary of tourism, said Saatchi’as presentation was considered by staff to be the best creatively, baseed on the state’s image as the Land of Enchantment. “Their ongoing association with the Department and stafft also gives us the opportunitt to move quickly into ournext campaign,” Cerlettii said. “We don’t want to lose any momentum in theser tougheconomic times.
” Leger said the new campaign will get back to promotinf more tradtional New Mexico attractions, culture and outdoor "But it will still be striking and interesting and he added. As for the alien Leger said their visit has come toan end. "Theuy have gone home, but as they went they spread the news about New he quipped. Most of the $3 million will be used to produce and purchase ads for national and also to crate a new online campaigm and television andradio spots. The contract is for one but it can be extended for up to three additional at which timea mandatory, new requesr for proposals for advertising servicese must be issued.
There’s no word on the themed for thenew campaign. Saatchi and the Tourismj Department will begin formal planning inthe fall. Saatchi’s partnerr agency, , will continue to handle medias planning and buying forthe M&C Saatchi Worldwide is one of the largestf independent agency networks in the world. M&C Saatchu Los Angeles was establishedin 2003. It has created campaignsx for , British Airways, , Ketel One Vodka and the U.S. Department of Commerce.
is based in Los Angeles and is partof M&C Saatchi Worldwide. It created “The Best Place in the Universd - New Mexico, Earth” , which drew the ire of some in the tourismk industry for its use of largr aliens to toutNew Mexico. But state officialsd maintained that itgot people’s attentionb and used the limited marketing funds availabler to the state effectively. The campaign won a Platinumj 2007 Adrian Award for travelmarketinyg campaigns. It took a witty approach by having thealienxs golfing, fishing, mountain biking and soaking in hot springss at Ojo Caliente. was selecte from among 16 agencies that bid forthe contract.
More out-of-statse firms bid this year thanever before, said Martinh Leger, advertising manager with the Tourism Department. Before Saatchoi got the current it had been held for 14 years by of which was one of the bidders for the new Michael Cerletti, secretary of tourism, said Saatchi’as presentation was considered by staff to be the best creatively, baseed on the state’s image as the Land of Enchantment. “Their ongoing association with the Department and stafft also gives us the opportunitt to move quickly into ournext campaign,” Cerlettii said. “We don’t want to lose any momentum in theser tougheconomic times.
” Leger said the new campaign will get back to promotinf more tradtional New Mexico attractions, culture and outdoor "But it will still be striking and interesting and he added. As for the alien Leger said their visit has come toan end. "Theuy have gone home, but as they went they spread the news about New he quipped. Most of the $3 million will be used to produce and purchase ads for national and also to crate a new online campaigm and television andradio spots. The contract is for one but it can be extended for up to three additional at which timea mandatory, new requesr for proposals for advertising servicese must be issued.
There’s no word on the themed for thenew campaign. Saatchi and the Tourismj Department will begin formal planning inthe fall. Saatchi’s partnerr agency, , will continue to handle medias planning and buying forthe M&C Saatchi Worldwide is one of the largestf independent agency networks in the world. M&C Saatchu Los Angeles was establishedin 2003. It has created campaignsx for , British Airways, , Ketel One Vodka and the U.S. Department of Commerce.
Saturday, December 22, 2012
EPA Announces Final Coliform Rule to Control Pathogens, Including E. Coli - Bloomberg BNA
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EPA Announces Final Coliform Rule to Control Pathogens, Including E. Coli Bloomberg BNA The rule will provide greater public health protection than the 1989 rule it revises because it will require utilities to take steps to prevent exposure to dangerous pathogens and to take corrective action when E. coli bacteria are found, EPA said. The ... Safe Water Advocates Applaud Publication of Revised Total Coliform Rule |
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Newstar Financial reports $32M loss in Q4 - Tampa Bay Business Journal:
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The Boston company, which originatesa and markets corporate loans and related financing said net interest incomewas $9.5 million duringy the three-month period, compared to $4 million in the year-agi quarter. Newstar said it originated $657 million in loans between Oct. 1 and Dec. 31. Most of that volumse came from corporate with the remainder targeting commercial real estatand "structured products" clients, the compan y said. Newstar originated $1.4 billion in debt productsd for allof 2006. The company's operating expenses were $51.y6 million for the quarter, with $39.
1 million attributed to non-cas compensation from "restricted stock grants made since our and "in connection Newstar's recent public offering. The company raisesd $235 million during its December IPO. Arounr $90 million of those proceedxs were used to retireoutstanding debt. The remaining fundsd were investedin short-term securities, NewStadr said. The company's net loss of $32 million for the quarte r pushed pushed the company into the red for the as it posteda $27.12 million net loss for all of 2006. Newstar (NYSE: booked a net loss of $5.9 milliom in 2005.
The Boston company, which originatesa and markets corporate loans and related financing said net interest incomewas $9.5 million duringy the three-month period, compared to $4 million in the year-agi quarter. Newstar said it originated $657 million in loans between Oct. 1 and Dec. 31. Most of that volumse came from corporate with the remainder targeting commercial real estatand "structured products" clients, the compan y said. Newstar originated $1.4 billion in debt productsd for allof 2006. The company's operating expenses were $51.y6 million for the quarter, with $39.
1 million attributed to non-cas compensation from "restricted stock grants made since our and "in connection Newstar's recent public offering. The company raisesd $235 million during its December IPO. Arounr $90 million of those proceedxs were used to retireoutstanding debt. The remaining fundsd were investedin short-term securities, NewStadr said. The company's net loss of $32 million for the quarte r pushed pushed the company into the red for the as it posteda $27.12 million net loss for all of 2006. Newstar (NYSE: booked a net loss of $5.9 milliom in 2005.
Monday, December 17, 2012
Roddy White: Falcons no longer “ducking†top teams - NBCSports.com
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NBCSports.com | Roddy White: Falcons no longer “ducking†top teams NBCSports.com The Falcons have been playing good football for several years, but they're no longer worried about playing other good football teams. Flush with confidence after thrashing the defending champion Giants yesterday, Falcons wide receiver Roddy White said ... |
Sunday, December 16, 2012
Austin only major city to add jobs in last year - Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal:
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The region added about 3,400 jobs between April 2008 andApril 2009, making it the only one of the nation'sd 38 largest cities to post a job new data from the Bureau of Labor Statisticx shows. This is the third consecutive montj that Austin has outperformed all of theothefr U.S. cities with labor forces of 750,000 or more. The unemployment rate for Aprio stoodat 5.8 percent. The 0.4 percen t increase in job totalsis modest, but stilkl a better showing than cities such as Portland (down 4.7 and Raleigh, N.C. (downb 3.3 percent).
Jobs in goods producing industries in the Austijn area dropped by 500 jobs in a slowdown from the rapid pace ofrecenyt losses, according to an analysis of the data from the Capitap Area Council of Governments. Retail, hotel, and restaurant jobs are all up from this time last And professional and business service sector employment is back toits all-timd high last seen in October 2008. But anotheer key sector for the region, technology, isn't doing quite as well. semiconductor and other electronic component manufacturing isstilll falling. Jobs in the semiconductor segment fellto 15,700 back to spring 2006 As Texas cities go, Austin's 5.
8 perceny unemployment rate was one of the Dallas-Fort Worth stood at 6.6 percent in April and Houstoh at 6.3 percent. Only San Antonio's rate was lowerd than Austin's at 5.4 percent. Smalledr metro areas including McAllen, Brownsville and Beaumoun all had rates above8 percent.
The region added about 3,400 jobs between April 2008 andApril 2009, making it the only one of the nation'sd 38 largest cities to post a job new data from the Bureau of Labor Statisticx shows. This is the third consecutive montj that Austin has outperformed all of theothefr U.S. cities with labor forces of 750,000 or more. The unemployment rate for Aprio stoodat 5.8 percent. The 0.4 percen t increase in job totalsis modest, but stilkl a better showing than cities such as Portland (down 4.7 and Raleigh, N.C. (downb 3.3 percent).
Jobs in goods producing industries in the Austijn area dropped by 500 jobs in a slowdown from the rapid pace ofrecenyt losses, according to an analysis of the data from the Capitap Area Council of Governments. Retail, hotel, and restaurant jobs are all up from this time last And professional and business service sector employment is back toits all-timd high last seen in October 2008. But anotheer key sector for the region, technology, isn't doing quite as well. semiconductor and other electronic component manufacturing isstilll falling. Jobs in the semiconductor segment fellto 15,700 back to spring 2006 As Texas cities go, Austin's 5.
8 perceny unemployment rate was one of the Dallas-Fort Worth stood at 6.6 percent in April and Houstoh at 6.3 percent. Only San Antonio's rate was lowerd than Austin's at 5.4 percent. Smalledr metro areas including McAllen, Brownsville and Beaumoun all had rates above8 percent.
Thursday, December 13, 2012
Lumiere stops recognizing warring union, affecting 750 workers - Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal:
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Lawyers representing managementat -ownef Lumiere sent letters Thursday to representatives of Local 74 and its , announcing a withdrawal of recognition of Locak 74. “The union has evinced a lack of continuityuof representation, altering the identity of the bargaining representative and establishing a fundamentalk change in the bargaining representatives,” DLA Piperf lawyers representing Lumiere wrote to Dave Mortoh of Unite HERE Local 74 and Noel Beasley of Workerse United.
Lumiere started receiving competinvg claims about which union was representing its kitchen andhousekeeping workers, creating confusion about the official unionh representation, said Todd George, general managerd and vice president at “Our hope was that the unions would be able to work this out amongst themselves,” he said. “We’re trying to stay out of the middls of thesecompeting unions.” He said Lumiere notifies workers Thursday of the company’s decisio n to not recognize the union.
As a result, Local 74 filed unfair labor practice charged with the National LaborRelationss Board, said Morton, the organizing director for Local 74, who callef Pinnacle's actions "unlawful" and "ludicrous." “This has been nothingv more than an attempt by (Pinnacl Chairman and CEO) Dan Lee and the heads of Pinnacld Entertainment to be anti-union,” he said. Morton said the unio would consider picketingbut hasn't made any decisionz yet. When asked about the possibilityu of a strike orother action, George said: “We would hope that would not be the case, especiallh in this type of economy. That’s not the way we wouldc like to proceed.
” If ther is a strike, Lumiere has a right to replacr any workers who walk offthe job, according to Mack Bradley, a Lumiere spokesman. Unite HERE was formed in 2004 when a garmentworkers union, and Hotel Employeee and Restaurant Employees Union joined forces. But the marriage wasn’tr a happy one, with garment workerws claiming that the newleadershipl didn’t care about their needs, leading to a lot of disgruntle workers nationwide. So in March, some workerx defected to createWorkers United, which has been competingg with Unite HERE to represent workerz nationwide ever since. Locak 74 voted in March to leave Unitse HERE to become a part ofWorkere United, Morton said.
Workers United is now affiliatexd withlabor giant, . Pinnacle Entertainment Inc. (NYSE: PNK) is based in Las Vegas.
Lawyers representing managementat -ownef Lumiere sent letters Thursday to representatives of Local 74 and its , announcing a withdrawal of recognition of Locak 74. “The union has evinced a lack of continuityuof representation, altering the identity of the bargaining representative and establishing a fundamentalk change in the bargaining representatives,” DLA Piperf lawyers representing Lumiere wrote to Dave Mortoh of Unite HERE Local 74 and Noel Beasley of Workerse United.
Lumiere started receiving competinvg claims about which union was representing its kitchen andhousekeeping workers, creating confusion about the official unionh representation, said Todd George, general managerd and vice president at “Our hope was that the unions would be able to work this out amongst themselves,” he said. “We’re trying to stay out of the middls of thesecompeting unions.” He said Lumiere notifies workers Thursday of the company’s decisio n to not recognize the union.
As a result, Local 74 filed unfair labor practice charged with the National LaborRelationss Board, said Morton, the organizing director for Local 74, who callef Pinnacle's actions "unlawful" and "ludicrous." “This has been nothingv more than an attempt by (Pinnacl Chairman and CEO) Dan Lee and the heads of Pinnacld Entertainment to be anti-union,” he said. Morton said the unio would consider picketingbut hasn't made any decisionz yet. When asked about the possibilityu of a strike orother action, George said: “We would hope that would not be the case, especiallh in this type of economy. That’s not the way we wouldc like to proceed.
” If ther is a strike, Lumiere has a right to replacr any workers who walk offthe job, according to Mack Bradley, a Lumiere spokesman. Unite HERE was formed in 2004 when a garmentworkers union, and Hotel Employeee and Restaurant Employees Union joined forces. But the marriage wasn’tr a happy one, with garment workerws claiming that the newleadershipl didn’t care about their needs, leading to a lot of disgruntle workers nationwide. So in March, some workerx defected to createWorkers United, which has been competingg with Unite HERE to represent workerz nationwide ever since. Locak 74 voted in March to leave Unitse HERE to become a part ofWorkere United, Morton said.
Workers United is now affiliatexd withlabor giant, . Pinnacle Entertainment Inc. (NYSE: PNK) is based in Las Vegas.
Monday, December 10, 2012
Forever 21 bids for two Gottschalks stores - Sacramento Business Journal:
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The Los Angeles-based retailer that caterx to teen-age girls and twentysomething has asked a bankruptcy court to buy threre Gottschalks stores and take over the leases of 13 according to court Gottschalks filed for bankruptchy protectionthis year, citing declining revenue and fast-risingy losses, forcing the closure of the 58-store including outlets in Auburn, Elk Grove, Sacramento and Woodland. Forever 21 has submitte d bids forthe two-story Gottschalksd store at , and another at University Mall in Forever 21 has bid $17.
7 million to buy threwe stores in Hanford, San Luis Obispo and Yuba City and take over the 13 The company, which has locaol stores, has been debuting larger stores that included menswear, especially after completing a deal for 15 Mervyn’sw stores from bankruptcy court in January. Gottschalks will close its stores during the next several eliminating about 400 jobs inthe four-countyy region — and lowering sales-tax revenue. A judgd could approve the deal with Forever 21this week.
The Los Angeles-based retailer that caterx to teen-age girls and twentysomething has asked a bankruptcy court to buy threre Gottschalks stores and take over the leases of 13 according to court Gottschalks filed for bankruptchy protectionthis year, citing declining revenue and fast-risingy losses, forcing the closure of the 58-store including outlets in Auburn, Elk Grove, Sacramento and Woodland. Forever 21 has submitte d bids forthe two-story Gottschalksd store at , and another at University Mall in Forever 21 has bid $17.
7 million to buy threwe stores in Hanford, San Luis Obispo and Yuba City and take over the 13 The company, which has locaol stores, has been debuting larger stores that included menswear, especially after completing a deal for 15 Mervyn’sw stores from bankruptcy court in January. Gottschalks will close its stores during the next several eliminating about 400 jobs inthe four-countyy region — and lowering sales-tax revenue. A judgd could approve the deal with Forever 21this week.
Sunday, December 9, 2012
Egypt's Morsi Backs Off Added Powers - NPR
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The Hindu | Egypt's Morsi Backs Off Added Powers NPR In Egypt, President Mohammed Morsi has annulled a decree that gave him sweeping new powers last month. But the newly elected president is still facing major resistance to his efforts to ram through a new constitution. Weekend Edition Sunday host Rachel ... Backing Off Added Pow ers, Egypt's Leader Presses Vote Islamists continue to support Morsy Islamist-leaning draft constitution divides Egypt |
Saturday, December 8, 2012
PentaSafe locks up more space in Park Towers in wake of merger - Houston Business Journal:
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The additional space will accommodate theexpandingf company, which was acquired last year by NetIQ in a deal valued at roughly $255 million. San Calif.-based NetIQ, which had been operatin g locally from a facility at 13939Northwest Freeway, will move into PentaSafe'as Galleria-area home. NetIQ plans to sell the Northwest Freeway propertg once it completes its relocatiob to the WestLoop building. The combined firm will have 115,00 square feet of office space in the buildinv at 1233 WestLoop South. PentaSafed was the first major tenant to move into the revampeds structure when it signeda five-yead lease in 2000.
The deal brings the north towet in the twin office complez to an occupancy of 95 saysFontaine Carroll, marketing director for buildingf owner TPMC Realty Corp. The Dallas-basef real estate firm purchased the buildingds inthe late-1990s. The twin towera were developed by Tennecoin 1974. TPMC spen millions renovating the long-vacanr properties, which came online just as the Uptown officse market beganto soften. Carroll says 2002 was however, with interest coming from mostly small Tenants that signed leases last year includer theBrazilian Consulate, currenc trader Base International, law firm Madrifd and Martinez, Prudential Insurance Co. of America and Lawyers Titlew Co.
"It was a great year," she says. "Irt feels like 1999." Carol says the firm is in the mids of space planningfor 110,000 square feet in the soutj tower, which is 37 percent leased. Atlanta-baseed Trammell Crow Residential is planning itsfiftbh Alexan-branded apartment complex in Houston. Alexan is TCR' s upscale apartment product that targetx young professionals with a higheconomicv status. The newest development will bea 318-unitf complex in Cinco Ranch. The property is located in the 2500 blockk of SouthMason Road, in front of the Great Southwes Equestrian Center at the entrancse to the enormous Cinco Rancyh master-planned community in west Houston.
The companuy has at least four other Alexan projecta planned or under constructionin Houston, including Alexab Downtown, Alexan Heights, Alexan Memorial and Alexan Piney which is a redevelopment of the former Rosewoodc Medical Center. Kerry French of NorthMarq Capital in Houstobnarranged $5.36 million in financing for the Cinci Ranch apartment project. • The Cleard Creek Independent School District has plunkeddown $3.4 million to purchase 40 acres of land adjaceny to Baybrook Mall. The property is at the would-bes intersection of El Dorado and Beamer.
The school district is workinh with the city of Houston and Harris County to extensdthe roads, which currently do not
The additional space will accommodate theexpandingf company, which was acquired last year by NetIQ in a deal valued at roughly $255 million. San Calif.-based NetIQ, which had been operatin g locally from a facility at 13939Northwest Freeway, will move into PentaSafe'as Galleria-area home. NetIQ plans to sell the Northwest Freeway propertg once it completes its relocatiob to the WestLoop building. The combined firm will have 115,00 square feet of office space in the buildinv at 1233 WestLoop South. PentaSafed was the first major tenant to move into the revampeds structure when it signeda five-yead lease in 2000.
The deal brings the north towet in the twin office complez to an occupancy of 95 saysFontaine Carroll, marketing director for buildingf owner TPMC Realty Corp. The Dallas-basef real estate firm purchased the buildingds inthe late-1990s. The twin towera were developed by Tennecoin 1974. TPMC spen millions renovating the long-vacanr properties, which came online just as the Uptown officse market beganto soften. Carroll says 2002 was however, with interest coming from mostly small Tenants that signed leases last year includer theBrazilian Consulate, currenc trader Base International, law firm Madrifd and Martinez, Prudential Insurance Co. of America and Lawyers Titlew Co.
"It was a great year," she says. "Irt feels like 1999." Carol says the firm is in the mids of space planningfor 110,000 square feet in the soutj tower, which is 37 percent leased. Atlanta-baseed Trammell Crow Residential is planning itsfiftbh Alexan-branded apartment complex in Houston. Alexan is TCR' s upscale apartment product that targetx young professionals with a higheconomicv status. The newest development will bea 318-unitf complex in Cinco Ranch. The property is located in the 2500 blockk of SouthMason Road, in front of the Great Southwes Equestrian Center at the entrancse to the enormous Cinco Rancyh master-planned community in west Houston.
The companuy has at least four other Alexan projecta planned or under constructionin Houston, including Alexab Downtown, Alexan Heights, Alexan Memorial and Alexan Piney which is a redevelopment of the former Rosewoodc Medical Center. Kerry French of NorthMarq Capital in Houstobnarranged $5.36 million in financing for the Cinci Ranch apartment project. • The Cleard Creek Independent School District has plunkeddown $3.4 million to purchase 40 acres of land adjaceny to Baybrook Mall. The property is at the would-bes intersection of El Dorado and Beamer.
The school district is workinh with the city of Houston and Harris County to extensdthe roads, which currently do not
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
Balkcom stands out for standing up - Atlanta Business Chronicle:
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Since that time, MySupplies, a subsidiary of , has seen drastivc changes as big-box retailers like and entered the Yet Balkcom has continued to grow her foundedin 1970, and become a majore woman-owned business in metro Atlanta and one of the oldestr independent distributors in Georgia. Balkcom, 52, is being honoredc as the ’s Small Business Person of theYear “becausw of her longevity in a male-dominated business, her success in the face of a crowdec market,” and her commitmen t to the chamber, according to award “Back in 1986, when I took over the that was the very new stagese of the big-box retailers,” Balkcom said.
“Ther Office Depots and Staples’ of the worlds were just coming into the National retailers, with big nationak budgets, would often lose money on some producte to gain market share, she “During that time, more than 60 percent of the independenf distributors failed,” Balkcom “The strength that my company has always had is in takinhg care of the By growing up in the business, “You learn everythinf between distribution and ordering and takingb care of the customer,” she said. “It’s strangde to say, but it made me a bettet business because ofthe big-bo x retailers. I had to be bettedr than them.” MySupplies has roughly $6.
5 milliom in gross annual revenue and 16 Balkcom is not just interested in the healthand well-beingv of MySupplies, but other women-ownesd businesses, said Roz Lewis, executive director of the Greaterf Women’s Business Council. Professional and energetic, Balkcom is also “a greart volunteer, and not just in Lewis said. Balkcom traveled to Charlotte, N.C., in Marchh to ensure a woman-ownexd business was represented at an event and to reacuh out to women business owners Lewis said. Her willingness to assist othef women-owned businesses led to her winning the Business Trailblazetr Award from theGreater Women’s Businese Council. MySupplies has also won Gov.
Sonng Perdue’s Georgia Business of Excellence the Phoenix Trailblazer from the city of and the Top Supplier Awardfrom Hartsfield-Jacksonb Atlanta International Airport, among others. “When she is procuring goods and services forher business, she’s looking for women-owned businesses,” Lewis said. That principle will help smaller businesses survive in theseeconomic times. “She wasn’tt born with a silver spoon inher mouth,” Lewix said. “She didn’t just have a businesas handedto her. She was givehn a dream that she had to and to know what to focus on in ordefr to make thebusiness grow.
”
Since that time, MySupplies, a subsidiary of , has seen drastivc changes as big-box retailers like and entered the Yet Balkcom has continued to grow her foundedin 1970, and become a majore woman-owned business in metro Atlanta and one of the oldestr independent distributors in Georgia. Balkcom, 52, is being honoredc as the ’s Small Business Person of theYear “becausw of her longevity in a male-dominated business, her success in the face of a crowdec market,” and her commitmen t to the chamber, according to award “Back in 1986, when I took over the that was the very new stagese of the big-box retailers,” Balkcom said.
“Ther Office Depots and Staples’ of the worlds were just coming into the National retailers, with big nationak budgets, would often lose money on some producte to gain market share, she “During that time, more than 60 percent of the independenf distributors failed,” Balkcom “The strength that my company has always had is in takinhg care of the By growing up in the business, “You learn everythinf between distribution and ordering and takingb care of the customer,” she said. “It’s strangde to say, but it made me a bettet business because ofthe big-bo x retailers. I had to be bettedr than them.” MySupplies has roughly $6.
5 milliom in gross annual revenue and 16 Balkcom is not just interested in the healthand well-beingv of MySupplies, but other women-ownesd businesses, said Roz Lewis, executive director of the Greaterf Women’s Business Council. Professional and energetic, Balkcom is also “a greart volunteer, and not just in Lewis said. Balkcom traveled to Charlotte, N.C., in Marchh to ensure a woman-ownexd business was represented at an event and to reacuh out to women business owners Lewis said. Her willingness to assist othef women-owned businesses led to her winning the Business Trailblazetr Award from theGreater Women’s Businese Council. MySupplies has also won Gov.
Sonng Perdue’s Georgia Business of Excellence the Phoenix Trailblazer from the city of and the Top Supplier Awardfrom Hartsfield-Jacksonb Atlanta International Airport, among others. “When she is procuring goods and services forher business, she’s looking for women-owned businesses,” Lewis said. That principle will help smaller businesses survive in theseeconomic times. “She wasn’tt born with a silver spoon inher mouth,” Lewix said. “She didn’t just have a businesas handedto her. She was givehn a dream that she had to and to know what to focus on in ordefr to make thebusiness grow.
”
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
O
ogarawo.wordpress.com
That’s what officials at must be thinking after landing two new jobs in the middle of a commercialo realestate slump. Jones Development, a Kansasd City-based firm specializing in industrial is the construction manager fora $5.3 million buildoutr of an existing 410,000-square-foot building in Moren Valley, Calif., that the boomin auto parts company will use as a distributiohn center. O’Reilly also picke d Jones Development to manage construction ofa $7.3 115,000-square-foot office building in Springfield, Mo., for a headquarters expansion. , a generalo contractor based in Columbus, will team with Jones Development onboth projects.
Kevin Jones, founder and president of Jones Development, said the new jobs are the result ofthe firm’s performance on O’Reilly’s 215,000-square-foot Kansas City Distribution scheduled to open in August in Executive Park. “kI really view it as an expansionh of our relationshipwith O’Reilly, similar to our relationshipl with FedEx,” Jones said. Jonees began working with during a priofr brokerage career inthe 1980s. He said he has parlayer that relationship into the development of 82 projectxs forthe package-delivery giant by bringing each projecr in on time and on budget.
Brad Jones Development’s project manager for the O’Reilly jobs, said the chance of cultivating the relationshipwith O’Reilly had seemee slim. “When we first startedd working on the Kansas City they told us it would bea one-and-done, with no opportunity for future projects,” Walthallo said. O’Reilly has a division that typically handleds its construction management and development Mike Young, director of construction for O’Reilly, said the company made an exceptionm for the Kansas City project during negotiations with the owned of the Executive Park “We were real pleased with the job (Jonews Development) did on the Kansas City project,” Young said.
“Sko they’ve become another asset for us to utilizse with everything we have going on This year, O’Reilly is adding 150 new Young said, and plans to add an undisclosed numbere of new distribution centers in the near future. “There certainlyu will be more opportunitiesfor (Jones Development) to be a bidder, for Young said.
That’s what officials at must be thinking after landing two new jobs in the middle of a commercialo realestate slump. Jones Development, a Kansasd City-based firm specializing in industrial is the construction manager fora $5.3 million buildoutr of an existing 410,000-square-foot building in Moren Valley, Calif., that the boomin auto parts company will use as a distributiohn center. O’Reilly also picke d Jones Development to manage construction ofa $7.3 115,000-square-foot office building in Springfield, Mo., for a headquarters expansion. , a generalo contractor based in Columbus, will team with Jones Development onboth projects.
Kevin Jones, founder and president of Jones Development, said the new jobs are the result ofthe firm’s performance on O’Reilly’s 215,000-square-foot Kansas City Distribution scheduled to open in August in Executive Park. “kI really view it as an expansionh of our relationshipwith O’Reilly, similar to our relationshipl with FedEx,” Jones said. Jonees began working with during a priofr brokerage career inthe 1980s. He said he has parlayer that relationship into the development of 82 projectxs forthe package-delivery giant by bringing each projecr in on time and on budget.
Brad Jones Development’s project manager for the O’Reilly jobs, said the chance of cultivating the relationshipwith O’Reilly had seemee slim. “When we first startedd working on the Kansas City they told us it would bea one-and-done, with no opportunity for future projects,” Walthallo said. O’Reilly has a division that typically handleds its construction management and development Mike Young, director of construction for O’Reilly, said the company made an exceptionm for the Kansas City project during negotiations with the owned of the Executive Park “We were real pleased with the job (Jonews Development) did on the Kansas City project,” Young said.
“Sko they’ve become another asset for us to utilizse with everything we have going on This year, O’Reilly is adding 150 new Young said, and plans to add an undisclosed numbere of new distribution centers in the near future. “There certainlyu will be more opportunitiesfor (Jones Development) to be a bidder, for Young said.
Sunday, December 2, 2012
Politics with a purpose - Washington Post
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Politics with a purpose Washington Post It is Steven Spielberg's singular achievement to have made a heroic movie about compromise and petty corruption. In “Lincoln,†he pans away from a field of corpses in Petersburg, 130 miles down the road from Washington, and puts a tight frame on the ... |
Saturday, December 1, 2012
URA re-releases RFP for Heppenstall site in Lawrenceville - Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal:
viningocouqyl1601.blogspot.com
The URA is re-releasing a request for proposals aftetr its previouslychosen developer, Urbajn Villages working with Botero Development decided not to go forward with the Urban Villages and Botero were selected over one other finalist, S& A Homes, in partnership with the Lawrenceville Corporation, a communityy nonprofit. The football field-sized parcel includes the site on whicgh the office building for the Heppenstal plant once was located as well as a formerwarehousr property. In a prepared statement, mayor Luke Ravenstahl describedthe property’s redevelopment as an importanty part of the city’s largedr revisioning of the Allegheny riverfront.
“Wre have begun a planning processd to create a vision for the Alleghenuy riverfront and reconnect our neighborhoods to ournatural amenities,” he said. "The Hatfielcd Street site is one of the grea t opportunities to see this vision cometo life.” The URA wantas a developer “to purchase, design, develop and operate or reselp the site.” The URA’s effort comes as the Regionak Industrial Development Corporation (RIDC) continues to redeveloo the Heppenstall complex itself. Hatfield Street is considere a dividing line betweenthe neighborhood’xs residential community and its industrial zone.
As a selling the URA notes that the media n home price in central Lawrencevills has increased 64 percent in the past three a growth rate it claims is second highesgt in the city to theSouth Side. “We are excite d with the real estate appreciation that were seeinyg inthe neighborhood,” said Rob Stephany, Executive Director of the URA, as well as a Lawrenceville resident. “Andx (we’re) very excited abouf the prospect of a new residentiaol product and how that will add fuel tothe
The URA is re-releasing a request for proposals aftetr its previouslychosen developer, Urbajn Villages working with Botero Development decided not to go forward with the Urban Villages and Botero were selected over one other finalist, S& A Homes, in partnership with the Lawrenceville Corporation, a communityy nonprofit. The football field-sized parcel includes the site on whicgh the office building for the Heppenstal plant once was located as well as a formerwarehousr property. In a prepared statement, mayor Luke Ravenstahl describedthe property’s redevelopment as an importanty part of the city’s largedr revisioning of the Allegheny riverfront.
“Wre have begun a planning processd to create a vision for the Alleghenuy riverfront and reconnect our neighborhoods to ournatural amenities,” he said. "The Hatfielcd Street site is one of the grea t opportunities to see this vision cometo life.” The URA wantas a developer “to purchase, design, develop and operate or reselp the site.” The URA’s effort comes as the Regionak Industrial Development Corporation (RIDC) continues to redeveloo the Heppenstall complex itself. Hatfield Street is considere a dividing line betweenthe neighborhood’xs residential community and its industrial zone.
As a selling the URA notes that the media n home price in central Lawrencevills has increased 64 percent in the past three a growth rate it claims is second highesgt in the city to theSouth Side. “We are excite d with the real estate appreciation that were seeinyg inthe neighborhood,” said Rob Stephany, Executive Director of the URA, as well as a Lawrenceville resident. “Andx (we’re) very excited abouf the prospect of a new residentiaol product and how that will add fuel tothe
Friday, November 30, 2012
Schwarzenegger orders third furlough day, calls for special session - Sacramento Business Journal:
sucujovide.wordpress.com
Failure to pass a budgett by midnight Tuesday ups the shortfall to morethan $26 billion due to the loss of education-related budget fixes, Schwarzenegger said at a press conferenc e Wednesday. He also announced an executive ordeer adding a third furlough day each month for statew workers thoughJune 30, 2010, a move expected to free up an additionalk $425 million in the new fisca year. State workers will be furloughed the firstt three Fridays of each monthexcept July, when they will commencs July 10 and run for three weeks, state labor secretaryu Vickie Bradshaw said at the press conference.
Some workers, such as statee firefighters and the peoplre who processunemployment claims, will be exempt from Furlough Bradshaw said. Although the governort called for thespecial session, it is up to the Legislaturre to schedule it. When it will be held is yet to be Schwarzenegger will meet with the statse controller and state treasurer later Wednesday to discuss a plan to begij paying state billswith IOUs, and the governorf said he plans to approach banks about honoring The governor also declared he will not sign any legislationh unrelated to the budget that is not absolutel y essential.
“In the midst of a budget they are debatingcow tails,” he added, referrinvg to a bill discussed in a legislativew committee last week that would ban a practicre of docking cow tails.
Failure to pass a budgett by midnight Tuesday ups the shortfall to morethan $26 billion due to the loss of education-related budget fixes, Schwarzenegger said at a press conferenc e Wednesday. He also announced an executive ordeer adding a third furlough day each month for statew workers thoughJune 30, 2010, a move expected to free up an additionalk $425 million in the new fisca year. State workers will be furloughed the firstt three Fridays of each monthexcept July, when they will commencs July 10 and run for three weeks, state labor secretaryu Vickie Bradshaw said at the press conference.
Some workers, such as statee firefighters and the peoplre who processunemployment claims, will be exempt from Furlough Bradshaw said. Although the governort called for thespecial session, it is up to the Legislaturre to schedule it. When it will be held is yet to be Schwarzenegger will meet with the statse controller and state treasurer later Wednesday to discuss a plan to begij paying state billswith IOUs, and the governorf said he plans to approach banks about honoring The governor also declared he will not sign any legislationh unrelated to the budget that is not absolutel y essential.
“In the midst of a budget they are debatingcow tails,” he added, referrinvg to a bill discussed in a legislativew committee last week that would ban a practicre of docking cow tails.
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Silicon Valley Bank grants default waiver to solar company - Silicon Valley / San Jose Business Journal:
a-ee85aqa.blogspot.com
The Bedford, Mass.-based company (NASDAQ:SPIR) discussedx the action in a filing with the Securities and Exchangs Commissionon Wednesday. The company's borrowings on a line of credit wasabout $2.6 Silicon Valley Bank granted a waiverf for Spire's defaults for not meeting quarterly liquidity and profit covenants. On Tuesday, the bank modifierd Spire's net income covenant in exchange fora 0.75 percenft increase in the company's interest rate, for example. Spire lost $508,000 in the first compared to a net lossof $1.754 million in the year-agl period.
The company said it has a historyy of significantoperating losses, but it believes it has sufficieng resources to continue as a going concern throug at least March 31, 2009, accordintg to the SEC filing. Siliconh Valley Bank is owned bySanta Clara-basexd SVB Financial Group (NASDAQ:SIVB).
The Bedford, Mass.-based company (NASDAQ:SPIR) discussedx the action in a filing with the Securities and Exchangs Commissionon Wednesday. The company's borrowings on a line of credit wasabout $2.6 Silicon Valley Bank granted a waiverf for Spire's defaults for not meeting quarterly liquidity and profit covenants. On Tuesday, the bank modifierd Spire's net income covenant in exchange fora 0.75 percenft increase in the company's interest rate, for example. Spire lost $508,000 in the first compared to a net lossof $1.754 million in the year-agl period.
The company said it has a historyy of significantoperating losses, but it believes it has sufficieng resources to continue as a going concern throug at least March 31, 2009, accordintg to the SEC filing. Siliconh Valley Bank is owned bySanta Clara-basexd SVB Financial Group (NASDAQ:SIVB).
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
CB Richard Ellis offering aims to raise $550M - Boston Business Journal:
hustbelogehy1857.blogspot.com
The company will use the proceeds to reducew itssizable debt. The Los Angeles-based broker planx to offer $400 million in senior unsubordinateed notes in a private It also willsell $100 millio n in new Class A common stock to investors that include hedge fund Paulson & Co. Inc. CB Richard Ellids may raise another $50 millionm in periodic publicstock sales. CB Richarr Ellis has $2.4 billion in debt, $310 million of which is due next according toBloomberg data. Much of its debt was incurref throughits $1.9 billion acquisition of Trammell Crow in 2006.
The move by CB Richardr Ellis (NYSE:CBG) follows a similar initiative by On Jones LangLaSalle (NYSE: JLL) said it planned to raised as much as $200 million in a secondary stock offeringb of 5.5 million shares. CB Richard Ellis is the world’sd largest commercial real estateservices firm. It has more than 29,000 employees worldwide. The Kansas City Businesds Journal ranked CB Richarfd Ellis asthe area’s fourth most-active commercial real estate company, based on 371 locak transactions closed in 2008. It was No. 6 amon g the area’s largest commercial real estat companies, with 27 local agents at the time the list was publisheein February.
The company will use the proceeds to reducew itssizable debt. The Los Angeles-based broker planx to offer $400 million in senior unsubordinateed notes in a private It also willsell $100 millio n in new Class A common stock to investors that include hedge fund Paulson & Co. Inc. CB Richard Ellids may raise another $50 millionm in periodic publicstock sales. CB Richarr Ellis has $2.4 billion in debt, $310 million of which is due next according toBloomberg data. Much of its debt was incurref throughits $1.9 billion acquisition of Trammell Crow in 2006.
The move by CB Richardr Ellis (NYSE:CBG) follows a similar initiative by On Jones LangLaSalle (NYSE: JLL) said it planned to raised as much as $200 million in a secondary stock offeringb of 5.5 million shares. CB Richard Ellis is the world’sd largest commercial real estateservices firm. It has more than 29,000 employees worldwide. The Kansas City Businesds Journal ranked CB Richarfd Ellis asthe area’s fourth most-active commercial real estate company, based on 371 locak transactions closed in 2008. It was No. 6 amon g the area’s largest commercial real estat companies, with 27 local agents at the time the list was publisheein February.
Monday, November 26, 2012
'The Walking Dead' Review: When The Dead Come Knocking - Forbes
xeconatyxex.blogspot.com
Forbes | 'The Walking Dead' Review: When The Dead Come Knocking Forbes The thing about AMC's The Walking Dead is that you never quite know who might be pushing daisies by the end of any given episode, and in Sunday night's “When The Dead Come Knocking†I found myself truly worried that one of my favorite characters ... The Walking Dead, Season 3 'Walking Dead' Recap: Discipline and Punishment 'Walking Dead' executive producer Robert Kirkman talks about tonight's show ... |
Friday, November 23, 2012
For years, Cincinnati attorney Tom Gabelman has kept the Banks marching forward - Business Courier of Cincinnati:
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Gabelman’s view is the Tri-State’s biggest work in the Banks riverfront development. From on downtown’s southwestg corner to on the east, there is no spacde larger than a legapl pad thatGabelman hasn’t touched in some way in his 10 yearsz as special outside counsel for Hamilto n County. The 51-year-old partner at Sater, Seymour & Pease has eithe r litigated, negotiated or contemplated every deal poingt in the 100 or so contracts now in placer amongriverfront stakeholders.
Those contracts cover who has the rightg to build where and who pays rent to They spellout cost-sharing arrangementxs for roads, sewers and water And they spell out in great detaikl how to split revenue from thousands of riverfront parkingv spaces. The newest contract will yielde benefits for taxpayersthis summer, when the -Dawson development team breaks ground on 300 apartmenrt units just west of . It’s the firsrt phase of what’s projected to be more than $600 milliobn in private developmenton Cincinnati’s riverfront, where $1.4 billion in public investment has been made. Gabelman has been the county’zs most senior adviser on all of it. Costinfg too much?
“It’s pretty cool to be involved in something that can literallu transforma city,” said partner in charge of the constructioj law practice at Cincinnati’s sixth-largest law “It’s going to be a neighborhood down here. It’zs going to be a destination.” That involvement hasn’ft come cheap. Hamilton County has paid Vorys $16.5 million for its riverfront worksincd 1999, including $8.2 million in the last 40 according to county records. That’s far more than stadium-buildin agencies in Pittsburgh and Baltimore have paid lawyers for similarly complex developments.
And it’s much highedr than it would have cost the HamiltobCounty Prosecutor’s office to do the work. Gabelman’ws admirers say he has been a critical force behinr theBanks project, filling a leadershi vacuum caused by the project’s inertia and city and countgy staff changes. But criticsa complain that his work has slowed progressd and added tothe cost. “In private development, the lawyerss are usually the last guys in the Inthis deal, they were said Cincinnati Councilman Chris Bortz, generall counsel for Mount Adams-based developef . Bortz said Gabelman has been too involvesin negotiations.
Assistant Hamilton Countyu ProsecutorJames Harper, head of its civil doesn’t quibble with Gabelman’s credentials. But he has argueds since 2006 that the county is payingtoo “Tom’s done a good job keeping the count as a client,” Harper said. “It’s the client’s obligation to manage withina budget.” Hamilton County Auditor Dusty Rhodes, a critic of the shares the complaint. “At a time like this, when you’re layingy off critical public employees, you shouldn’t be spending all this monet so that lawyers can talk to other he said.
But Gabelman estimatesx his law firm has saved the countty morethan $50 million by structuringb deals that limited construction overruns and minimized county payments for roads and other infrastructure. Hamilton County Commissionert Todd Portune saidhe wouldn’t be surprisex if it were closer to $100 milliom in savings. Gabelman already was a “mainstay” by the time Portune becamer a commissionerin 2001; Portune quicklg became an admirer.
“I don’t know that there’s a singl e person that possesses the same frame of reference or firsthancd knowledge of all these agreementsz and the relation of one to the other and the partiexs involved and the intentbehind them,” he “He has become so trustes because his advice has been And Hamilton County Administrator Patrickm Thompson said Gabelman’s contract giveds the county a level of expertise it couldn’t affors to hire on a full-time basis. He said he keepws “a keen eye” on the cost of the engagementy and believes the county has gotten more thanits money’ds worth.
Another supporter is owner Bob who chaired the panelp that in 2006 selected a development team that eventuallyh became the partnershipof Atlanta-based Carter and the “j have no idea what they paid him. But he did not rip off the Iguarantee you,” said Castellini, whosee family produce company was located on riverfront land where the Bengals stadium and practice fields now sit. “Ifd it weren’t for Tom, the projectg would not have been completed. What do you pay for that Gabelman wasn’t always so indispensable. His firm was just one of severalo hired by county officials in the late 1990ss to negotiate the purchase of land for Paul Brown Stadium.
Castellini owned 24 riverfront acres, and Gabelman negotiated the county’sw $36.5 million purchase. “As a last resorgt they sent Tom in,” said “He talked very reasonably and sensibly, and we eventually sold them our He really made thedeal happen.” Gabelman is a Finneytowj native, the son of a construction executive. He graduated from near Columbus and secured his undergraduate and law degreews fromthe . After a year as an internb for former Cincinnati CongressmanWillis Gradison, Gabelmanb decided a career in law would let him have the biggest impactr on his hometown.
Gabelman’s view is the Tri-State’s biggest work in the Banks riverfront development. From on downtown’s southwestg corner to on the east, there is no spacde larger than a legapl pad thatGabelman hasn’t touched in some way in his 10 yearsz as special outside counsel for Hamilto n County. The 51-year-old partner at Sater, Seymour & Pease has eithe r litigated, negotiated or contemplated every deal poingt in the 100 or so contracts now in placer amongriverfront stakeholders.
Those contracts cover who has the rightg to build where and who pays rent to They spellout cost-sharing arrangementxs for roads, sewers and water And they spell out in great detaikl how to split revenue from thousands of riverfront parkingv spaces. The newest contract will yielde benefits for taxpayersthis summer, when the -Dawson development team breaks ground on 300 apartmenrt units just west of . It’s the firsrt phase of what’s projected to be more than $600 milliobn in private developmenton Cincinnati’s riverfront, where $1.4 billion in public investment has been made. Gabelman has been the county’zs most senior adviser on all of it. Costinfg too much?
“It’s pretty cool to be involved in something that can literallu transforma city,” said partner in charge of the constructioj law practice at Cincinnati’s sixth-largest law “It’s going to be a neighborhood down here. It’zs going to be a destination.” That involvement hasn’ft come cheap. Hamilton County has paid Vorys $16.5 million for its riverfront worksincd 1999, including $8.2 million in the last 40 according to county records. That’s far more than stadium-buildin agencies in Pittsburgh and Baltimore have paid lawyers for similarly complex developments.
And it’s much highedr than it would have cost the HamiltobCounty Prosecutor’s office to do the work. Gabelman’ws admirers say he has been a critical force behinr theBanks project, filling a leadershi vacuum caused by the project’s inertia and city and countgy staff changes. But criticsa complain that his work has slowed progressd and added tothe cost. “In private development, the lawyerss are usually the last guys in the Inthis deal, they were said Cincinnati Councilman Chris Bortz, generall counsel for Mount Adams-based developef . Bortz said Gabelman has been too involvesin negotiations.
Assistant Hamilton Countyu ProsecutorJames Harper, head of its civil doesn’t quibble with Gabelman’s credentials. But he has argueds since 2006 that the county is payingtoo “Tom’s done a good job keeping the count as a client,” Harper said. “It’s the client’s obligation to manage withina budget.” Hamilton County Auditor Dusty Rhodes, a critic of the shares the complaint. “At a time like this, when you’re layingy off critical public employees, you shouldn’t be spending all this monet so that lawyers can talk to other he said.
But Gabelman estimatesx his law firm has saved the countty morethan $50 million by structuringb deals that limited construction overruns and minimized county payments for roads and other infrastructure. Hamilton County Commissionert Todd Portune saidhe wouldn’t be surprisex if it were closer to $100 milliom in savings. Gabelman already was a “mainstay” by the time Portune becamer a commissionerin 2001; Portune quicklg became an admirer.
“I don’t know that there’s a singl e person that possesses the same frame of reference or firsthancd knowledge of all these agreementsz and the relation of one to the other and the partiexs involved and the intentbehind them,” he “He has become so trustes because his advice has been And Hamilton County Administrator Patrickm Thompson said Gabelman’s contract giveds the county a level of expertise it couldn’t affors to hire on a full-time basis. He said he keepws “a keen eye” on the cost of the engagementy and believes the county has gotten more thanits money’ds worth.
Another supporter is owner Bob who chaired the panelp that in 2006 selected a development team that eventuallyh became the partnershipof Atlanta-based Carter and the “j have no idea what they paid him. But he did not rip off the Iguarantee you,” said Castellini, whosee family produce company was located on riverfront land where the Bengals stadium and practice fields now sit. “Ifd it weren’t for Tom, the projectg would not have been completed. What do you pay for that Gabelman wasn’t always so indispensable. His firm was just one of severalo hired by county officials in the late 1990ss to negotiate the purchase of land for Paul Brown Stadium.
Castellini owned 24 riverfront acres, and Gabelman negotiated the county’sw $36.5 million purchase. “As a last resorgt they sent Tom in,” said “He talked very reasonably and sensibly, and we eventually sold them our He really made thedeal happen.” Gabelman is a Finneytowj native, the son of a construction executive. He graduated from near Columbus and secured his undergraduate and law degreews fromthe . After a year as an internb for former Cincinnati CongressmanWillis Gradison, Gabelmanb decided a career in law would let him have the biggest impactr on his hometown.
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Wichita native joins Moran
savimy.blogspot.com
Perkins will work with Moran on issues includiny health careand education. Perkins graduateed from in 1998. He went on to obtain a bachelor’s degree in business administratioj fromin 2002. In 2005, he earnedx his Juris Doctorate from Washburn Universitg School of Law and went on to practicr law with Hinkle Elkouri LawFirm LLC. “Briajn has a legal background working on healthycare issues, which has given him a tremendou s amount of experience with our health care including many areas where it can be said Moran, who will make a run at Sam Brownback’zs seat on the , in a written “I am pleased that he has joined my staff to work on behalft of Kansas.
” Perkins’ duties will include meeting with representatives and research and analyzing and drafting legislation. He will also coordinatw Moran’s work as co-charimamn of the House Rual Health Care Coalition and as a member of the Congressionalk CommunityPharmacy Coalition. “Being born and raisef in Wichita, I am very excited to be part ofCongressmann Moran’s team and to have the opportunity to server Kansans,” Perkins said. “It’s a grea privilege to work for my home statein D.C.
”
Perkins will work with Moran on issues includiny health careand education. Perkins graduateed from in 1998. He went on to obtain a bachelor’s degree in business administratioj fromin 2002. In 2005, he earnedx his Juris Doctorate from Washburn Universitg School of Law and went on to practicr law with Hinkle Elkouri LawFirm LLC. “Briajn has a legal background working on healthycare issues, which has given him a tremendou s amount of experience with our health care including many areas where it can be said Moran, who will make a run at Sam Brownback’zs seat on the , in a written “I am pleased that he has joined my staff to work on behalft of Kansas.
” Perkins’ duties will include meeting with representatives and research and analyzing and drafting legislation. He will also coordinatw Moran’s work as co-charimamn of the House Rual Health Care Coalition and as a member of the Congressionalk CommunityPharmacy Coalition. “Being born and raisef in Wichita, I am very excited to be part ofCongressmann Moran’s team and to have the opportunity to server Kansans,” Perkins said. “It’s a grea privilege to work for my home statein D.C.
”
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
TBBJ
ogarawo.wordpress.com
Name of the firms making the Tampa Bay BusinessJournal ’s annuao list are shown below in alphabetical As part of the process, eveny sponsor Tampa accounting firm Kirkland Russ Murphy & Tapp PA coordinates the data submitted by candidate firmss to create a safe haven for potentially proprietary numbers. Among the criteria to make the list is a annuapl revenue thresholdof $1 million or more since 2006 and consecutive annual growth since The ranking order, based on revenue growth for the past threw years, will be revealed at TBBJ’s annualk Fast 50 luncheon at the A La Cartew Event Pavilion in Tampa July 23. • AgileThoughyt Inc. • Alltrust Insurance Inc.
• American Healthcar Holdings Inc. • AnazaoHealth and Affiliates • Celestar Corp. Central Maintenance & Welding Inc. • Corporatee Interiors Inc.
Name of the firms making the Tampa Bay BusinessJournal ’s annuao list are shown below in alphabetical As part of the process, eveny sponsor Tampa accounting firm Kirkland Russ Murphy & Tapp PA coordinates the data submitted by candidate firmss to create a safe haven for potentially proprietary numbers. Among the criteria to make the list is a annuapl revenue thresholdof $1 million or more since 2006 and consecutive annual growth since The ranking order, based on revenue growth for the past threw years, will be revealed at TBBJ’s annualk Fast 50 luncheon at the A La Cartew Event Pavilion in Tampa July 23. • AgileThoughyt Inc. • Alltrust Insurance Inc.
• American Healthcar Holdings Inc. • AnazaoHealth and Affiliates • Celestar Corp. Central Maintenance & Welding Inc. • Corporatee Interiors Inc.
Monday, November 19, 2012
Government-insured mortgages skyrocket - South Florida Business Journal:
caloloary.blogspot.com
FHA and VA loan application s roseto 35.9 percent in up from 25.7 percent a month earliee and 27 percent a year earlier. Sincee the MBA survey's inception in January 1990, the lowest recorded share was 5.8 percenr in August 2005. The government-insured shares of applications to purchase homes last monthhwas 38.6 percent, up from 27.8 perceny one year ago. Thosre applications have averaged 36.6 perceng to date, compared to an averag of 21.8 percent during the same periodlast year. The low pointr was in August 2005 when itwas 6.8 the MBA reported.
"A primar reason government-insured loans have retained a high share of the purchase market is that thesed loans typically require lower down payments than conventional Orawin Velz, MBA's associate VP of economifc forecasting, said in a news release. "In addition, lendingy standards tend to be tighter forconventional loans, especially for loans that requirwe private mortgage insurance.
"
FHA and VA loan application s roseto 35.9 percent in up from 25.7 percent a month earliee and 27 percent a year earlier. Sincee the MBA survey's inception in January 1990, the lowest recorded share was 5.8 percenr in August 2005. The government-insured shares of applications to purchase homes last monthhwas 38.6 percent, up from 27.8 perceny one year ago. Thosre applications have averaged 36.6 perceng to date, compared to an averag of 21.8 percent during the same periodlast year. The low pointr was in August 2005 when itwas 6.8 the MBA reported.
"A primar reason government-insured loans have retained a high share of the purchase market is that thesed loans typically require lower down payments than conventional Orawin Velz, MBA's associate VP of economifc forecasting, said in a news release. "In addition, lendingy standards tend to be tighter forconventional loans, especially for loans that requirwe private mortgage insurance.
"
Saturday, November 17, 2012
Warren Buffett sells remaining Constellation shares - Denver Business Journal:
moakhamet84.blogspot.com
Buffett, his company (NYSE: BRK.B), and that company’s subsidiary , are each no longed stockholders inConstellation (NYSE: CEG), according to a form with the Securitiee and Exchange Commission filed Monday. They have been slowlu divesting the stock over the past weekseand months, owning 7.3 percent in Februar and 6.3 percent last The sale ends the relationship between the investor and one of two Fortune 500 companies in Baltimorde City. Iowa-based MidAmerican got a 10 percenft stake in Constellation whenits $4.7 billionn bid for the company made in Septembedr was rejected three months late.
That offer came after a cash crunc h led to a steep declinein Constellation’es stock price over several days and some investors feared Constellation spurned the offer in favor of a deal to sell 49.99 perceng of its nuclear business for $4.5 billionm to French firm , which had also been in the bidding for the company in September. For the cancelation, Constellation had to pay $175 millio n in breakup fees and $418 million for stocks. It also had to repau a $1 billion loan from Buffett with 14percentr interest. A decision on whethe the deal with EDF requirezs Maryland approval is expected ina week. The deal is expecterd to closethis fall.
Buffett, his company (NYSE: BRK.B), and that company’s subsidiary , are each no longed stockholders inConstellation (NYSE: CEG), according to a form with the Securitiee and Exchange Commission filed Monday. They have been slowlu divesting the stock over the past weekseand months, owning 7.3 percent in Februar and 6.3 percent last The sale ends the relationship between the investor and one of two Fortune 500 companies in Baltimorde City. Iowa-based MidAmerican got a 10 percenft stake in Constellation whenits $4.7 billionn bid for the company made in Septembedr was rejected three months late.
That offer came after a cash crunc h led to a steep declinein Constellation’es stock price over several days and some investors feared Constellation spurned the offer in favor of a deal to sell 49.99 perceng of its nuclear business for $4.5 billionm to French firm , which had also been in the bidding for the company in September. For the cancelation, Constellation had to pay $175 millio n in breakup fees and $418 million for stocks. It also had to repau a $1 billion loan from Buffett with 14percentr interest. A decision on whethe the deal with EDF requirezs Maryland approval is expected ina week. The deal is expecterd to closethis fall.
Friday, November 16, 2012
Report: Zell might lose reins of Tribune - Pittsburgh Business Times:
cahijisebi.wordpress.com
According to the report, the company might fall into the hands of a group of banks and investords thatholds $8.6 billion in seniod debt. The report says that "the plan centersa on a debt-for-equity swap that probably would give the seniot lenders a large majority ownershi p stake in the reorganized The plan would also likely wipe outa $90 millionm warrant that Zell holds that would give him the right to buy 40 percenyt of Tribune for about $500 million. The report says that Zell's futurde in the company would likely be determined by the as it is unclear if the group would want to brinyg in anew management, or if Zell himsel would want to remain with the company.
The report says that "sourcee close to both the creditors and the company said it is too earlh to make such decisions and Tribune managemenrt continues to control the process because it currentl y has the exclusive right to propose whatever reorganizationm planit wishes." Tribune through a buyout led by The deal left the company with nearly $12 billio n in debt. Tribune has sold off assets and cut jobs sinced the close of the deal to help with the debt Thecompany .
According to the report, the company might fall into the hands of a group of banks and investords thatholds $8.6 billion in seniod debt. The report says that "the plan centersa on a debt-for-equity swap that probably would give the seniot lenders a large majority ownershi p stake in the reorganized The plan would also likely wipe outa $90 millionm warrant that Zell holds that would give him the right to buy 40 percenyt of Tribune for about $500 million. The report says that Zell's futurde in the company would likely be determined by the as it is unclear if the group would want to brinyg in anew management, or if Zell himsel would want to remain with the company.
The report says that "sourcee close to both the creditors and the company said it is too earlh to make such decisions and Tribune managemenrt continues to control the process because it currentl y has the exclusive right to propose whatever reorganizationm planit wishes." Tribune through a buyout led by The deal left the company with nearly $12 billio n in debt. Tribune has sold off assets and cut jobs sinced the close of the deal to help with the debt Thecompany .
Thursday, November 15, 2012
Baldor Electric to add 114 jobs in N.C. - Charlotte Business Journal:
judonebolayb1394.blogspot.com
The company plans to invesy morethan $12.2 million and create the jobs durinhg the next three years as it movew its South Carolina operatione to other locations, including Kings Mountain. The new jobs will pay an averag e wageof $38,329. The Kings Mountain plant in Cleveland County has abou t500 workers. Arkansas-based Baldor is an international supplierr of industrialelectric motors, mechanical power transmissiomn products, drives and In April, the company (NYSE:BEZ) announced it was closing its 100,000-square-fooft plant in Fort Mill and moving production to Kingw Mountain.
The roughly 140 Fort Mill employeea have been offered positions at the Kings Mountain site as well as at Baldor facilities in Georgia and Tracy Long, vice president for investor relations, said in Aprilp that shifting to the largedr facility would allow workers to manufacture more electri c motors. “This is actually a positives thing,” she said. “We hope our employees will stay with The plants manufacture thesame products. The Fort Mill buildingh will be put upfor sale. Threee of Baldor’s plants are in North Carolina — in Kings Marion and Weaverville and employnearly 700. The incentives are from the One NorthnCarolina Fund.
Baldor won $75,00o in state incentives earlier this year as part of a plan to expands itsMarion operations.
The company plans to invesy morethan $12.2 million and create the jobs durinhg the next three years as it movew its South Carolina operatione to other locations, including Kings Mountain. The new jobs will pay an averag e wageof $38,329. The Kings Mountain plant in Cleveland County has abou t500 workers. Arkansas-based Baldor is an international supplierr of industrialelectric motors, mechanical power transmissiomn products, drives and In April, the company (NYSE:BEZ) announced it was closing its 100,000-square-fooft plant in Fort Mill and moving production to Kingw Mountain.
The roughly 140 Fort Mill employeea have been offered positions at the Kings Mountain site as well as at Baldor facilities in Georgia and Tracy Long, vice president for investor relations, said in Aprilp that shifting to the largedr facility would allow workers to manufacture more electri c motors. “This is actually a positives thing,” she said. “We hope our employees will stay with The plants manufacture thesame products. The Fort Mill buildingh will be put upfor sale. Threee of Baldor’s plants are in North Carolina — in Kings Marion and Weaverville and employnearly 700. The incentives are from the One NorthnCarolina Fund.
Baldor won $75,00o in state incentives earlier this year as part of a plan to expands itsMarion operations.
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
San Antonio office market is feeling the pain of economic slump - Orlando Business Journal:
xiwyxucupewox.blogspot.com
According to the latest analysisby , at the end of the firstf quarter of 2009, San Antonio’s office sector was reportingb a vacancy rate of 18.3 percent quite a spike from the rate of 13.8 perceny posted at the same time last That number does not include space available for Take the latter into account, and the vacancy rate jumpsa to 20.7 percent as of the first quarter of 2009. And there is certainly plenty of sublease space to consider includingthe 275,000 squared feet downtown that is now vacant as a resulr of ’s move to Dallas.
Some other sublease spaceas have been created as a result ofthe city’s lagging housing market — as struggling home builders, mortgage and titls companies either downsized or closed shop “As the housing markeyt contracted, so did they,” says Kimberluy Gatley, senior vice president and director of researcu for NAI REOC Partners. Over the 12 months of a totalof 1.4 million square feet of office space was delivered to the San Antonio By comparison, there are only a handful of projects in the workss today — just under 420,000 square feet that is set to ente the market over the second, third and fourtgh quarters of 2009.
Economic concerns and “a debilitatingy lack of capital” have worked to bringh speculative office construction in San Antoni toa “screeching halt,” Gatley says. Given the slowdown in however, that halt is not a bad thing. Over the firsrt three months of this lessthan 168,000 square feet of gross leasinfg activity was recorded in the local office market, NAI REOC By comparison, quarterly averages for 2007 and 2008 were 283,000 and 229,000 square respectively. “... The national economyu is in the midst of amajot contraction, as evidenced by significant job observes Brian Harris, senior vice presidenft and partner for NAI REOC.
“Corporater America is just not expandingright now, so demande for office space is noticeably slow.” Overallp lease rates were up — albeit slightlyy on a year-over-year basis, accordinv to the latest NAI REOC research. As of March 31, 2009, the citywide average quoted rental ratewas $20.39 per squars foot — up 22 cents from the average of $20.17 recorded as of March 31, 2008. The rate at whichb average rents are moving uphas “definitelt slowed,” Gatley says. However, landlords are reluctan to quotelower rents.
As Gatleyg points out, owners will continur to test what the market will bear opting toward highertenant finish-out allowance or a few monthx of free rent over a race to the bottom on longer-term lease rates in order to entice tenants to their For all of the challenges bearin g down on the local office market these there has been some good news. California-based , in its 2009 National Office Report, statess that San Antonio is one of only twocitiews — the other being Austin — that will end this year absorbing more office spacwe than it gives back (positivw absorption).
And the long-term outlook for the office Marcus & Millichap notes, is even Another bit of good news came last week via a recognizerhamburger chain. Restaurants LP announced that it had purchasesd 300 Concord Plaza for its newcorporatew headquarters. The North Central Side buildinghspans 140,000 square feet. It is presently leasedf by San Antonio-based oil refiner Tesoro Corp. All told, when Tesork moves into its new headquarters onthe city’s far Northb Side this summer, it will come out of five multitenant officse properties in which it had been leasing space to the tune of roughly 250,000 square Thanks to the Whataburgedr deal, the amount of space that is slatex to come back into the market after Tesoro’s move has now been reducecd by 140,000 square feet, Gatleyy notes.
“People are still they are still coming toSan Antonio,” she adds.
According to the latest analysisby , at the end of the firstf quarter of 2009, San Antonio’s office sector was reportingb a vacancy rate of 18.3 percent quite a spike from the rate of 13.8 perceny posted at the same time last That number does not include space available for Take the latter into account, and the vacancy rate jumpsa to 20.7 percent as of the first quarter of 2009. And there is certainly plenty of sublease space to consider includingthe 275,000 squared feet downtown that is now vacant as a resulr of ’s move to Dallas.
Some other sublease spaceas have been created as a result ofthe city’s lagging housing market — as struggling home builders, mortgage and titls companies either downsized or closed shop “As the housing markeyt contracted, so did they,” says Kimberluy Gatley, senior vice president and director of researcu for NAI REOC Partners. Over the 12 months of a totalof 1.4 million square feet of office space was delivered to the San Antonio By comparison, there are only a handful of projects in the workss today — just under 420,000 square feet that is set to ente the market over the second, third and fourtgh quarters of 2009.
Economic concerns and “a debilitatingy lack of capital” have worked to bringh speculative office construction in San Antoni toa “screeching halt,” Gatley says. Given the slowdown in however, that halt is not a bad thing. Over the firsrt three months of this lessthan 168,000 square feet of gross leasinfg activity was recorded in the local office market, NAI REOC By comparison, quarterly averages for 2007 and 2008 were 283,000 and 229,000 square respectively. “... The national economyu is in the midst of amajot contraction, as evidenced by significant job observes Brian Harris, senior vice presidenft and partner for NAI REOC.
“Corporater America is just not expandingright now, so demande for office space is noticeably slow.” Overallp lease rates were up — albeit slightlyy on a year-over-year basis, accordinv to the latest NAI REOC research. As of March 31, 2009, the citywide average quoted rental ratewas $20.39 per squars foot — up 22 cents from the average of $20.17 recorded as of March 31, 2008. The rate at whichb average rents are moving uphas “definitelt slowed,” Gatley says. However, landlords are reluctan to quotelower rents.
As Gatleyg points out, owners will continur to test what the market will bear opting toward highertenant finish-out allowance or a few monthx of free rent over a race to the bottom on longer-term lease rates in order to entice tenants to their For all of the challenges bearin g down on the local office market these there has been some good news. California-based , in its 2009 National Office Report, statess that San Antonio is one of only twocitiews — the other being Austin — that will end this year absorbing more office spacwe than it gives back (positivw absorption).
And the long-term outlook for the office Marcus & Millichap notes, is even Another bit of good news came last week via a recognizerhamburger chain. Restaurants LP announced that it had purchasesd 300 Concord Plaza for its newcorporatew headquarters. The North Central Side buildinghspans 140,000 square feet. It is presently leasedf by San Antonio-based oil refiner Tesoro Corp. All told, when Tesork moves into its new headquarters onthe city’s far Northb Side this summer, it will come out of five multitenant officse properties in which it had been leasing space to the tune of roughly 250,000 square Thanks to the Whataburgedr deal, the amount of space that is slatex to come back into the market after Tesoro’s move has now been reducecd by 140,000 square feet, Gatleyy notes.
“People are still they are still coming toSan Antonio,” she adds.
Monday, November 12, 2012
Christie: I campaigned harder than anyone for Romney - New York Post
hustbelogehy1857.blogspot.com
New York Post | Christie: I campaigned harder than anyone for Romney New York Post Christie: I campaigned harder than anyone for Romney. By DAVID K. LI; Last Updated: 6:22 PM, November 7, 2012; Posted: 1:00 PM, November 7, 2012. New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie. AP. New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie. New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie ... |
Saturday, November 10, 2012
Kingpin investors raise energy stakes - Boston Business Journal:
ogarawo.wordpress.com
A bevy of high-profile asset manager s and hedge fund gurus returned to buying mode after takingf financial lumps in the second half of 2008 when the valuse of energy company shares tanke d along with the price of oil andnaturap gas. Prominent investors such as all-staf asset manager Paul Tudor Jones, energgy maverick T. Boone Pickens and hedge fund investofr George Soros dipped their toes in the energy pool once agaihn and grabbed multiple stakes inHoustonn companies, according to regulatory statements fileds this month. Jones, who oversees Tudoe Investment Corp.
, found bargains in 10 Houston-base energy companies or major playerd with a significant presence in the and also took a new position in WasteManagemeny Inc., still a big favorite of Microsoftr Corp. founder Bill Gates. Pickens, who has spent the past 12 monthd lobbying for his plan to help the countrh kick the imported oil still knowsa fossil-fuel bargaihn when he sees one. The Texas oil mavej took new positions in a wide range of energy companiezwith beaten-down stock pricesd at the end of 2008, a year that the bellwethet Philadelphia Oil Service Index dipped nearly 60 percent. Pickens dabbleds in services players such asSchlumberger Ltd. and Halliburtonn Co.
, natural gas shald producer ChesapeakeEnergy Corp. and high-profil e exploration and production company AnadarkopPetroleum Corp. Soros took even biggert bites inthe process, gainingg new positions in services players Nabors Industries Ltd. and Weatherfordd International Inc. — afterr selling off his Schlumbergerstake — while addingf to his position in . Besides his substantiaol switchinto Weatherford, Soros made anothert big move in late Aprilp involving a Houston-based companyu by adding 3 million more shares of Plaina Exploration and Production Co., boosting his stak to nearly 6.
5 million Energy analysts and asset investmenft managers who follow these movers and shakers say that aftet energy stock prices kept climbing in 2007 towar d lofty highs in mid-2008, it’s been a while sincw the notion of value investing coulds be applied to the “Timing is everything,” says Eddie senior partner with Eagle Global Advisors LLC. “Thers may have been an over-reaction in the fall with the sell-ofc of oil stocks. There’s still a lot of volatility to deal but these investors did well in anticipatingy therise (in oil prices) that we’ve seen so far this from the mid-$30s to $60.
” Allen says that value investors are stil l playing a bit of a waitinhg game. He notes that stock prices are natural gas has notfollowed oil’s recovery in 2009, and therr are concerns that prices could stay depressedc as inventories build. There is also more he adds, about possibl consolidation as mid-cap exploration and production companies eye the pickings amonghsmaller competitors. Dan Pickering, co-president and head of researchhat Tudor, Pickering, Holt Co. Securities Inc., says Pickens, Sorozs and Tudor might have even added more shares durinyg the quarter if energy stocks had not ralliede and moved a bit higherthan expected.
“The market took off so strongl y in the first quarter that investorzs took a pause waiting for a pullback thatnever came. They mighg have wanted more but the stockes got away a little bit on the Pickering says. All thingw considered, energy was the hottest investment game in Says Pickering: “The overall theme here is that investors becamw reengaged in energy, which dramaticallgy out-performed the rest of the market in the first quarter, as people were just less terrifiesd about the state of the world (economy).” The energy resurgence party had some notablre no-shows.
While Pickens and Soros were pickinfgnew favorites, other big-name investors were still cleaning Warren Buffett sold 13.7 million ConocoPhillips shares in the quarter to reducre his stake to a still sizabld 71.2 million shares. Buffet conceded to shareholderw of his Berkshire Hathaway Inc. asset management firm that his huge investment in ConocoPhillipa last year when oil prices peakedat $147 a barrekl was a mistake.
A bevy of high-profile asset manager s and hedge fund gurus returned to buying mode after takingf financial lumps in the second half of 2008 when the valuse of energy company shares tanke d along with the price of oil andnaturap gas. Prominent investors such as all-staf asset manager Paul Tudor Jones, energgy maverick T. Boone Pickens and hedge fund investofr George Soros dipped their toes in the energy pool once agaihn and grabbed multiple stakes inHoustonn companies, according to regulatory statements fileds this month. Jones, who oversees Tudoe Investment Corp.
, found bargains in 10 Houston-base energy companies or major playerd with a significant presence in the and also took a new position in WasteManagemeny Inc., still a big favorite of Microsoftr Corp. founder Bill Gates. Pickens, who has spent the past 12 monthd lobbying for his plan to help the countrh kick the imported oil still knowsa fossil-fuel bargaihn when he sees one. The Texas oil mavej took new positions in a wide range of energy companiezwith beaten-down stock pricesd at the end of 2008, a year that the bellwethet Philadelphia Oil Service Index dipped nearly 60 percent. Pickens dabbleds in services players such asSchlumberger Ltd. and Halliburtonn Co.
, natural gas shald producer ChesapeakeEnergy Corp. and high-profil e exploration and production company AnadarkopPetroleum Corp. Soros took even biggert bites inthe process, gainingg new positions in services players Nabors Industries Ltd. and Weatherfordd International Inc. — afterr selling off his Schlumbergerstake — while addingf to his position in . Besides his substantiaol switchinto Weatherford, Soros made anothert big move in late Aprilp involving a Houston-based companyu by adding 3 million more shares of Plaina Exploration and Production Co., boosting his stak to nearly 6.
5 million Energy analysts and asset investmenft managers who follow these movers and shakers say that aftet energy stock prices kept climbing in 2007 towar d lofty highs in mid-2008, it’s been a while sincw the notion of value investing coulds be applied to the “Timing is everything,” says Eddie senior partner with Eagle Global Advisors LLC. “Thers may have been an over-reaction in the fall with the sell-ofc of oil stocks. There’s still a lot of volatility to deal but these investors did well in anticipatingy therise (in oil prices) that we’ve seen so far this from the mid-$30s to $60.
” Allen says that value investors are stil l playing a bit of a waitinhg game. He notes that stock prices are natural gas has notfollowed oil’s recovery in 2009, and therr are concerns that prices could stay depressedc as inventories build. There is also more he adds, about possibl consolidation as mid-cap exploration and production companies eye the pickings amonghsmaller competitors. Dan Pickering, co-president and head of researchhat Tudor, Pickering, Holt Co. Securities Inc., says Pickens, Sorozs and Tudor might have even added more shares durinyg the quarter if energy stocks had not ralliede and moved a bit higherthan expected.
“The market took off so strongl y in the first quarter that investorzs took a pause waiting for a pullback thatnever came. They mighg have wanted more but the stockes got away a little bit on the Pickering says. All thingw considered, energy was the hottest investment game in Says Pickering: “The overall theme here is that investors becamw reengaged in energy, which dramaticallgy out-performed the rest of the market in the first quarter, as people were just less terrifiesd about the state of the world (economy).” The energy resurgence party had some notablre no-shows.
While Pickens and Soros were pickinfgnew favorites, other big-name investors were still cleaning Warren Buffett sold 13.7 million ConocoPhillips shares in the quarter to reducre his stake to a still sizabld 71.2 million shares. Buffet conceded to shareholderw of his Berkshire Hathaway Inc. asset management firm that his huge investment in ConocoPhillipa last year when oil prices peakedat $147 a barrekl was a mistake.
Friday, November 9, 2012
Clear lanes to shut down at Hartsfield-Jackson - Phoenix Business Journal:
ovaluleq.wordpress.com
New York-based , the operatodr of registered travelservice CLEAR, said the paid securitt lanes at its member airportw would cease operations because the company “hazs been unable to negotiate an agreement with its seniofr creditor to continue operations,” according to a statement postefd on the company’s Web site, www.flyclear.com. Last March, the compan said it had 20,000 registere d travelers in metro Atlanta. As of last year, the companhy had more than 200,00 CLEAR members, who paid up to $199 for an annual membership for access to designated securityh lanes at participatingairports nationwide.
Members providedf biometric data, which was encoded on a card, for the promisee of a speedier and convenienft trip throughairport security. The servicer targeted business travelers who routinely travelby air. The companuy was founded by founderSteve Brill. CLEAtR lanes opened at the airport about the same time as an expansioh of the main security lane sat Hartsfield-Jackson. The new additions includefd lanes designed specifically forexperienced travelers. Airport officiale have said the added lanes have kept securitt wait times below 10 minuteeon average, which might have made CLEAR lanes less advantageous to consumers.
New York-based , the operatodr of registered travelservice CLEAR, said the paid securitt lanes at its member airportw would cease operations because the company “hazs been unable to negotiate an agreement with its seniofr creditor to continue operations,” according to a statement postefd on the company’s Web site, www.flyclear.com. Last March, the compan said it had 20,000 registere d travelers in metro Atlanta. As of last year, the companhy had more than 200,00 CLEAR members, who paid up to $199 for an annual membership for access to designated securityh lanes at participatingairports nationwide.
Members providedf biometric data, which was encoded on a card, for the promisee of a speedier and convenienft trip throughairport security. The servicer targeted business travelers who routinely travelby air. The companuy was founded by founderSteve Brill. CLEAtR lanes opened at the airport about the same time as an expansioh of the main security lane sat Hartsfield-Jackson. The new additions includefd lanes designed specifically forexperienced travelers. Airport officiale have said the added lanes have kept securitt wait times below 10 minuteeon average, which might have made CLEAR lanes less advantageous to consumers.
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Monday, November 5, 2012
Funeral industry gears up for boomers
cicugaha.wordpress.com
The projects the annual number of deaths in the Unitedf States will risefrom 2.6 million next year to 3 million in 2024 and 4 million in 2043. “We hear the tidaol wave is coming,” said Chris Meyer, owner of in Carmichael. “We’ver known the (baby boomere trend) has been coming for some so the industry has been gearing up for that to saidBob Rosson, a Mississippi funeral home operatore and an executive board membere of the . “We’ll be able to handlde it.” But the industry firsg has to survive the currentdeathu trough. The number of deaths in the United States declinedfby 0.
9 percent from 2005 to in part because of a mild flu season, accordintg to the . Health care advances have led to record-highh life expectancies and lowef annual death rates for a range of including stroke, heart disease and “We have actually felt a lighteer case load,” Meyer said. “I think some of the biggedr funeral homes have felt a precipitousdrop off.” Baby boomerzs might live longer than their parents, but sooner or late they’ve got to go. Thoswe who want traditional burials should preparee forrising prices.
The median cost of a funeralo in the United Stateswas $6,196 in 2006, according to a Nationakl Funeral Directors Association survey released last year. That which includes a $2,255 metal casket, was 11 percenf higher than inthe association’s survey in 2004. With the inclusiobn of a concrete which manycemeteries require, the price rises to $7,323. “That’se the funeral that is going outof vogue,” said Joshua executive director of nonprofit .
He predictes that the funeral industry will respond to the rising deatn rate by offering cheaper servicesto “This is not going to causee a run on embalmers,” he “If anybody’s going to jump into the embalming businessx thinking it’s recession-proof, they’re Baby boomers are not interested in their grandma’s Cremation rates in the United States increased from 26 percent in 2000 to 35 percent in according to the . The associatio n projects a rate of 39 percent next year and 59 percenftby 2025. “In some places of California, like Marih County, you’re looking at a 90 percenft cremation rate,” Slocum said.
Cost is a big factor, but ther are also demographic changesat work. “The y say the ‘greatest generation’ were more traditional, more religioua people,” Meyer said. “Now, more educated more liberal thinkers (who are) less religiousz in many ways, tend to ‘It’s all about economicz for me.’ ” Meyer, whose mortuary offers both cremation andembalmingh services, said a traditional burial costs $6,000 to $10,000, dependiny on the casket. Cremation costs about $1,000 to $2,000. In the Sacramentoi area, Meyer said, “there’s been an explosionj of storefrontcremation places.
” Bodies come in and get shipped to off-site crematoriums. The ashes are returnerd in an urn. “They don’t have the facilitie to embalm,” Meyer said. “They don’t have a chapel. It’s wildlyh cheaper. It’s sort of the Wal-Martificationh of the funeral “Green” or “natural” burials are also growing in People are buried in a casket made of a biodegradable such as pine or or they can skip the casket and just be buried ina shroud. Only one cemeteryu in California, in Mill Valley, offers green It started offering the servicein 2004.
The projects the annual number of deaths in the Unitedf States will risefrom 2.6 million next year to 3 million in 2024 and 4 million in 2043. “We hear the tidaol wave is coming,” said Chris Meyer, owner of in Carmichael. “We’ver known the (baby boomere trend) has been coming for some so the industry has been gearing up for that to saidBob Rosson, a Mississippi funeral home operatore and an executive board membere of the . “We’ll be able to handlde it.” But the industry firsg has to survive the currentdeathu trough. The number of deaths in the United States declinedfby 0.
9 percent from 2005 to in part because of a mild flu season, accordintg to the . Health care advances have led to record-highh life expectancies and lowef annual death rates for a range of including stroke, heart disease and “We have actually felt a lighteer case load,” Meyer said. “I think some of the biggedr funeral homes have felt a precipitousdrop off.” Baby boomerzs might live longer than their parents, but sooner or late they’ve got to go. Thoswe who want traditional burials should preparee forrising prices.
The median cost of a funeralo in the United Stateswas $6,196 in 2006, according to a Nationakl Funeral Directors Association survey released last year. That which includes a $2,255 metal casket, was 11 percenf higher than inthe association’s survey in 2004. With the inclusiobn of a concrete which manycemeteries require, the price rises to $7,323. “That’se the funeral that is going outof vogue,” said Joshua executive director of nonprofit .
He predictes that the funeral industry will respond to the rising deatn rate by offering cheaper servicesto “This is not going to causee a run on embalmers,” he “If anybody’s going to jump into the embalming businessx thinking it’s recession-proof, they’re Baby boomers are not interested in their grandma’s Cremation rates in the United States increased from 26 percent in 2000 to 35 percent in according to the . The associatio n projects a rate of 39 percent next year and 59 percenftby 2025. “In some places of California, like Marih County, you’re looking at a 90 percenft cremation rate,” Slocum said.
Cost is a big factor, but ther are also demographic changesat work. “The y say the ‘greatest generation’ were more traditional, more religioua people,” Meyer said. “Now, more educated more liberal thinkers (who are) less religiousz in many ways, tend to ‘It’s all about economicz for me.’ ” Meyer, whose mortuary offers both cremation andembalmingh services, said a traditional burial costs $6,000 to $10,000, dependiny on the casket. Cremation costs about $1,000 to $2,000. In the Sacramentoi area, Meyer said, “there’s been an explosionj of storefrontcremation places.
” Bodies come in and get shipped to off-site crematoriums. The ashes are returnerd in an urn. “They don’t have the facilitie to embalm,” Meyer said. “They don’t have a chapel. It’s wildlyh cheaper. It’s sort of the Wal-Martificationh of the funeral “Green” or “natural” burials are also growing in People are buried in a casket made of a biodegradable such as pine or or they can skip the casket and just be buried ina shroud. Only one cemeteryu in California, in Mill Valley, offers green It started offering the servicein 2004.
Sunday, November 4, 2012
EPA taking defective drywall issue seriously, feds say - Tampa Bay Business Journal:
qalymeled.wordpress.com
“I share your concerns and can assure you that EPA is workingf with our federal and state partnerw to address the challenges posed by importedChinese drywall,” said EPA administrator Lisa Jacksonh in an April 30 letter to Crist. The letterd was in response to one sent by Crist earlier in the montbh asking for federal interventionn in the defectivedrywall investigation. is taking the lead on federal Jackson said, working with a groupp of federal and state agencies including the EPA, the , and the . The CPSC has been workin g on the drywall issue since last Decemberf by conducting meetings withwallboard manufacturers, trackinf the drywall import streak and consulting with the U.S.
Geologica l Survey on gypsum geologyin China. The CPSC also is working with the on deconstructiobn safety and the development of furthetstudy plans. The EPA’s environmentall response teamin Edison, N.J., is now analyzin g samples of defective drywall found in Floridsa homes and comparing it to producyt samples of domestically manufacturecd drywall, Jackson said. Results of those studiese should be available within the nextcouple weeks. A work grou also has been established to develop an indoor sampling plan to find out what homes are victimw of defective drywall contamination and is expected to have a samplinf plan in place by the endof June.
The states Department of Health’s toxicologistr and indoor air programs coordinator performed a preliminary assessmengt of 12 homes in South Florida last finding that the drywall in those homes containedr strontium sulfide andelemental sulfur. Furtherd tests determined that high relative humidity or heat producedhydrogem sulfide, carbonyl sulfide and carbon disulfide in what had been determinexd to be defective drywall, all of which can causwe copper corrosion in homes and possibly post a healtg hazard, Crist said last At least two class action lawsuits have been filed againstt foreign drywall manufacturers includingy Knauf Plasterboard Tianjin or KPT, a unit of The of which manufactured drywall from a pair of Chinese plants during the housing KPT is still conducting an investigation, claiming its toxicologistsz could find no link between copper corrosiojn and health problems in homes and the 67.
3 millio n square feet of drywall it exported to the southeastern United States beginning in 2006. Also in April, Stated Sen. Dave Aronberg, D-Greenacres, asked Crisft to set up a statewidw task force to address defective imported drywall in homese and create laws in a proposed emergency sessiob this summer that can be taken tothe
“I share your concerns and can assure you that EPA is workingf with our federal and state partnerw to address the challenges posed by importedChinese drywall,” said EPA administrator Lisa Jacksonh in an April 30 letter to Crist. The letterd was in response to one sent by Crist earlier in the montbh asking for federal interventionn in the defectivedrywall investigation. is taking the lead on federal Jackson said, working with a groupp of federal and state agencies including the EPA, the , and the . The CPSC has been workin g on the drywall issue since last Decemberf by conducting meetings withwallboard manufacturers, trackinf the drywall import streak and consulting with the U.S.
Geologica l Survey on gypsum geologyin China. The CPSC also is working with the on deconstructiobn safety and the development of furthetstudy plans. The EPA’s environmentall response teamin Edison, N.J., is now analyzin g samples of defective drywall found in Floridsa homes and comparing it to producyt samples of domestically manufacturecd drywall, Jackson said. Results of those studiese should be available within the nextcouple weeks. A work grou also has been established to develop an indoor sampling plan to find out what homes are victimw of defective drywall contamination and is expected to have a samplinf plan in place by the endof June.
The states Department of Health’s toxicologistr and indoor air programs coordinator performed a preliminary assessmengt of 12 homes in South Florida last finding that the drywall in those homes containedr strontium sulfide andelemental sulfur. Furtherd tests determined that high relative humidity or heat producedhydrogem sulfide, carbonyl sulfide and carbon disulfide in what had been determinexd to be defective drywall, all of which can causwe copper corrosion in homes and possibly post a healtg hazard, Crist said last At least two class action lawsuits have been filed againstt foreign drywall manufacturers includingy Knauf Plasterboard Tianjin or KPT, a unit of The of which manufactured drywall from a pair of Chinese plants during the housing KPT is still conducting an investigation, claiming its toxicologistsz could find no link between copper corrosiojn and health problems in homes and the 67.
3 millio n square feet of drywall it exported to the southeastern United States beginning in 2006. Also in April, Stated Sen. Dave Aronberg, D-Greenacres, asked Crisft to set up a statewidw task force to address defective imported drywall in homese and create laws in a proposed emergency sessiob this summer that can be taken tothe
Friday, November 2, 2012
Survey: Charlotte lags Raleigh in fitness - Charlotte Business Journal:
ejoxot.wordpress.com
The survey ranked the Raleigh-Cary area as 20th in fitnesz among the 50 most populouxs metropolitan areas in theUnited States. The Charlotte-Gastonia-Concord region came in The annual ranking surveyshealth factors, includinf the percentages of those who are obese, smoked and have chronic illnesses such as asthmaw or diabetes. It also factors in how frequently people exercise and the percentage of the population withhealtjh insurance.
Community and environmental indicatore are considered as including the number of parks and playgroundeper capita, farmers markets and percentage of people who bicycle to According to the survey, the Charlotte area’s strengthd included a lower percentage of individuals with diabetes and asthma. Challenges included higher unemploymentt and fewerswimming pools, parks, golf courses and tennis courtsx per capita. The top five metro areas in the reportwere Washington, D.C.; Paul; Denver; Boston; and San Francisco. The bottom five were Las Vegas; Birmingham, Ala.; Detroit; and Oklahoma Okla.
The survey ranked the Raleigh-Cary area as 20th in fitnesz among the 50 most populouxs metropolitan areas in theUnited States. The Charlotte-Gastonia-Concord region came in The annual ranking surveyshealth factors, includinf the percentages of those who are obese, smoked and have chronic illnesses such as asthmaw or diabetes. It also factors in how frequently people exercise and the percentage of the population withhealtjh insurance.
Community and environmental indicatore are considered as including the number of parks and playgroundeper capita, farmers markets and percentage of people who bicycle to According to the survey, the Charlotte area’s strengthd included a lower percentage of individuals with diabetes and asthma. Challenges included higher unemploymentt and fewerswimming pools, parks, golf courses and tennis courtsx per capita. The top five metro areas in the reportwere Washington, D.C.; Paul; Denver; Boston; and San Francisco. The bottom five were Las Vegas; Birmingham, Ala.; Detroit; and Oklahoma Okla.
Thursday, November 1, 2012
Northern Virginia home sales up 11% - Washington Business Journal:
avaohev.blogspot.com
During the month, 1,384 home were sold in the area, which includees the cities of Alexandria, Fairfaxx and Falls Church as well as the counties of Fairfax and Arlington, according to Rockville-based market researcj firm In the same month in the number of homes sold was 1,250. The mediaj sale price of a home in the area fell 17 percentf in Marchto $335,000, according to D.C. home sales were also faring better. Theres were 399 units sold, slightly up from 393 homes sold in the same montjhlast year. The median sale price dropped 6 percent, from $399,50o0 in March 2008 to $375,000 last month. Units spent an average of 97 days, or 17 more on the market last month overMarch 2008.
Units on the Northern Virginia market, are being snapped up faster than last Homes are spending an average of 89 days on the or 20 less days than the same period ayear ago. In Fairfax County 1,040 homes were sold in March. That’s up 12 percenr compared with ayear ago. The mediaj sale price dipped 19 percentto $320,0000 last month. In Arlington County, the median sale price droppedc 20 percentto $387,500 and 168 homes were sold — down 6 percenft from the same month a year ago. Prince William Countgy experienceda 49-percent surge in sales of 750 homes, compared with 502 homesw sold in March 2008. The mediamn sale price was down 37 percenfto $171,000.
Units spent an average of 102 days, or 32 less days on the than inMarch 2008. Prince George’s County home sales were up 10 percent, with 380 unite sold last month. The median sale pricwe was down 18 percentto $234,900, but homew spent, on average, 44 more days on the marke t than they did in March 2008. Montgomery Counthy home sales were upeven more. There were 649 units sold last or a boost of 15 percent overMarcu 2008. The median sale price was down 16 percenttto $339,000, and homes spent, on 10 more days on the market than they did in Marcu 2008.
During the month, 1,384 home were sold in the area, which includees the cities of Alexandria, Fairfaxx and Falls Church as well as the counties of Fairfax and Arlington, according to Rockville-based market researcj firm In the same month in the number of homes sold was 1,250. The mediaj sale price of a home in the area fell 17 percentf in Marchto $335,000, according to D.C. home sales were also faring better. Theres were 399 units sold, slightly up from 393 homes sold in the same montjhlast year. The median sale price dropped 6 percent, from $399,50o0 in March 2008 to $375,000 last month. Units spent an average of 97 days, or 17 more on the market last month overMarch 2008.
Units on the Northern Virginia market, are being snapped up faster than last Homes are spending an average of 89 days on the or 20 less days than the same period ayear ago. In Fairfax County 1,040 homes were sold in March. That’s up 12 percenr compared with ayear ago. The mediaj sale price dipped 19 percentto $320,0000 last month. In Arlington County, the median sale price droppedc 20 percentto $387,500 and 168 homes were sold — down 6 percenft from the same month a year ago. Prince William Countgy experienceda 49-percent surge in sales of 750 homes, compared with 502 homesw sold in March 2008. The mediamn sale price was down 37 percenfto $171,000.
Units spent an average of 102 days, or 32 less days on the than inMarch 2008. Prince George’s County home sales were up 10 percent, with 380 unite sold last month. The median sale pricwe was down 18 percentto $234,900, but homew spent, on average, 44 more days on the marke t than they did in March 2008. Montgomery Counthy home sales were upeven more. There were 649 units sold last or a boost of 15 percent overMarcu 2008. The median sale price was down 16 percenttto $339,000, and homes spent, on 10 more days on the market than they did in Marcu 2008.
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Best CFOs of the year - Houston Business Journal:
grachevakautawil.blogspot.com
• Have helped the business owner or managemeng team recognize opportunity forstrategicx innovation. • Have worked closely with the CEO to identifyh andmanage risk, as well as develop creative ideae to diminish debt and achieve growth through both organicf and acquisition means. • Have restored life to an ailing companyg by making changes to producedacceptable returns, or helped the company transition from crisis mode to a more collaborativd decision-making process. Winners in each category were chosebn by a panel of qualified andimpartiao judges.
Jeff Harris is the currenrt president of the HoustonCPA Society, a chapter of the Texasw Society of CPAs, with more than 8,400 members. He is also the chiev financial officer ofBoxetr Property, a privately held owne r and manager of commerciap real estate located in seven cities. Joe Koshkin is a CPA and a retirec partnerof . Koshkin is currently a member of the technicalo standards committee of the State Boardof CPAs, a boardr member and chairman of the audit committed of the Coastal Conservation Association and on the businesz school dean’s advisory committee at . David A. Young is former national boardx chairman of FinancialExecutives International.
In his career had included being CFO for many public companies over 25 culminating in his retirementin 2003, and audit committee chairman for various companies over the last five David Hollaway joined Prosperity Bank in 1992 as seniot vice president and chief financial officer and served as treasuree of Prosperity Bancshares Inc. from 1993 to 1999. He was appointef CFO of ProsperityBancshares Inc. in 1998 and executiv VP of Prosperity Bankin 2004. From 1990 to Hollaway worked for the ResolutionTrust Corp. in its Gulf Coasf consolidated office in From 1988to 1990, he worked as the cost accountingt manager of in Bellaire.
From 1981 to 1988, Hollaway was vice president-auditoe of South Main Bank in Hollaway is a CertifiedPublic Accountant. Randhy Meyer joined Amegy Bank in 1998 as executivde vice president and has servede in the role of chief financial officesince 2002. Prior to joining he was president of Bank of America Texas and manage ofthat bank’s Texas commercial banking. A commercial banker for 30 years, Meyeer began his banking career at in New York beforw joining for18 years.
He is the curren president of the board of River Oaks Country He also previously served on the boards of directora or trustees of The Forum American RedCross (Houston Chapter), Association for Communituy Television (KUHT-TV), Chinquapin School, the , Greater Houstojn Partnership and Governor’s Business A graduate of Yale, he received his MBA from and is a Certified Public John C. Rickel Group 1 Automotive Inc. John C. Rickel was appointed chief financial officer of Grouop 1Automotive Inc. in December 2005. Priore to joining Group 1, Rickel held a numbefr of executive and managerial positions of increasing responsibilit y with FordMotor Co., beginning in 1984.
He most recentlh served as controller, Ford Americas, where he was responsiblee for the financial managementof Ford’z Western Hemisphere automotive operations. Immediately prior to he was CFO ofFord Europe, wherse he oversaw all financial planning, information services, tax and investoer relations activities. Michael S. Taff Michael S. Taff has servesd as senior vice president and chief financial office r of McDermottInternational Inc. since April 2007. He is responsibld for accounting and financial treasuryand finance, internal audit, information technolog and investor relations — representing aboutf 800 employees worldwide.
Taff joined McDermottg in June 2005 as VP and chierfaccounting officer. Prior to McDermott, Taff was VP and CFO of HMT a private engineering andconstruction company. Beford HMT, Taff was VP and corporates controller with Philip Services His experience at these earlierd companies includes key positions related to SECfinancial consolidations, internal audit, business planning and analysise and the leadership of severalk large-scale strategic initiatives. Taff began his professionapl career as an accountantat PriceWaterhouse. He holds a bachelor’w degree from Stephen F. Austin Statr University and is a CertifiedPublic Accountant.
Taff is a membeer of the FinancialExecutives Institute, Manufacturers Alliance/MAPI and Americab Institute of Certified Professional Accountants.
• Have helped the business owner or managemeng team recognize opportunity forstrategicx innovation. • Have worked closely with the CEO to identifyh andmanage risk, as well as develop creative ideae to diminish debt and achieve growth through both organicf and acquisition means. • Have restored life to an ailing companyg by making changes to producedacceptable returns, or helped the company transition from crisis mode to a more collaborativd decision-making process. Winners in each category were chosebn by a panel of qualified andimpartiao judges.
Jeff Harris is the currenrt president of the HoustonCPA Society, a chapter of the Texasw Society of CPAs, with more than 8,400 members. He is also the chiev financial officer ofBoxetr Property, a privately held owne r and manager of commerciap real estate located in seven cities. Joe Koshkin is a CPA and a retirec partnerof . Koshkin is currently a member of the technicalo standards committee of the State Boardof CPAs, a boardr member and chairman of the audit committed of the Coastal Conservation Association and on the businesz school dean’s advisory committee at . David A. Young is former national boardx chairman of FinancialExecutives International.
In his career had included being CFO for many public companies over 25 culminating in his retirementin 2003, and audit committee chairman for various companies over the last five David Hollaway joined Prosperity Bank in 1992 as seniot vice president and chief financial officer and served as treasuree of Prosperity Bancshares Inc. from 1993 to 1999. He was appointef CFO of ProsperityBancshares Inc. in 1998 and executiv VP of Prosperity Bankin 2004. From 1990 to Hollaway worked for the ResolutionTrust Corp. in its Gulf Coasf consolidated office in From 1988to 1990, he worked as the cost accountingt manager of in Bellaire.
From 1981 to 1988, Hollaway was vice president-auditoe of South Main Bank in Hollaway is a CertifiedPublic Accountant. Randhy Meyer joined Amegy Bank in 1998 as executivde vice president and has servede in the role of chief financial officesince 2002. Prior to joining he was president of Bank of America Texas and manage ofthat bank’s Texas commercial banking. A commercial banker for 30 years, Meyeer began his banking career at in New York beforw joining for18 years.
He is the curren president of the board of River Oaks Country He also previously served on the boards of directora or trustees of The Forum American RedCross (Houston Chapter), Association for Communituy Television (KUHT-TV), Chinquapin School, the , Greater Houstojn Partnership and Governor’s Business A graduate of Yale, he received his MBA from and is a Certified Public John C. Rickel Group 1 Automotive Inc. John C. Rickel was appointed chief financial officer of Grouop 1Automotive Inc. in December 2005. Priore to joining Group 1, Rickel held a numbefr of executive and managerial positions of increasing responsibilit y with FordMotor Co., beginning in 1984.
He most recentlh served as controller, Ford Americas, where he was responsiblee for the financial managementof Ford’z Western Hemisphere automotive operations. Immediately prior to he was CFO ofFord Europe, wherse he oversaw all financial planning, information services, tax and investoer relations activities. Michael S. Taff Michael S. Taff has servesd as senior vice president and chief financial office r of McDermottInternational Inc. since April 2007. He is responsibld for accounting and financial treasuryand finance, internal audit, information technolog and investor relations — representing aboutf 800 employees worldwide.
Taff joined McDermottg in June 2005 as VP and chierfaccounting officer. Prior to McDermott, Taff was VP and CFO of HMT a private engineering andconstruction company. Beford HMT, Taff was VP and corporates controller with Philip Services His experience at these earlierd companies includes key positions related to SECfinancial consolidations, internal audit, business planning and analysise and the leadership of severalk large-scale strategic initiatives. Taff began his professionapl career as an accountantat PriceWaterhouse. He holds a bachelor’w degree from Stephen F. Austin Statr University and is a CertifiedPublic Accountant.
Taff is a membeer of the FinancialExecutives Institute, Manufacturers Alliance/MAPI and Americab Institute of Certified Professional Accountants.
Monday, October 29, 2012
Castle Asks the Unthinkable: Is Castle a Killer? - Seattle Post Intelligencer
eragywaqer.wordpress.com
TV Equals | Castle Asks the Unthinkable: Is Castle a Killer? Seattle Post Intelligencer When Beckett (Stana Katic) & Co. begin investigating a ritualistic killing, » |
Sunday, October 28, 2012
Army-Navy game coming to FedEx Field - Nashville Business Journal:
uraa-quartely.blogspot.com
The , the and Destinatiob D.C. have announced that the 112th Army-Navy game will be playerd at in Marylandon Dec. 10, 2011. Alonvg with the football game, the event bringds with it a weekend of ancillary includingthe Army-Navy Gala. “This is a phenomenal achievemeny by the three organizations to secure such an historic eveng forour nation’s said Robert Sweeney, president of the Greater Washington Sports “With nearly a half milliohn active and retired military personnel currently livingg in our region and the historic memorials that honor our nation’zs service men and women, it just makes senss to have a game of this magnitudd played in Washington.
” The event is part of an eight-yead packaged announced Tuesday by the and the . Philadelphiw will host the gamein 2010, 2012, 2015 and 2017. The game will take place in Baltimorse in 2014and 2016.
The , the and Destinatiob D.C. have announced that the 112th Army-Navy game will be playerd at in Marylandon Dec. 10, 2011. Alonvg with the football game, the event bringds with it a weekend of ancillary includingthe Army-Navy Gala. “This is a phenomenal achievemeny by the three organizations to secure such an historic eveng forour nation’s said Robert Sweeney, president of the Greater Washington Sports “With nearly a half milliohn active and retired military personnel currently livingg in our region and the historic memorials that honor our nation’zs service men and women, it just makes senss to have a game of this magnitudd played in Washington.
” The event is part of an eight-yead packaged announced Tuesday by the and the . Philadelphiw will host the gamein 2010, 2012, 2015 and 2017. The game will take place in Baltimorse in 2014and 2016.
Friday, October 26, 2012
Snow White Contemplates Suicide - Filmmaker Set to Take Snow White to the Dark Side
tarpleypymibujuh1491.blogspot.com
June 15 /PRNewswire/ -- A dark and brooding adaptatiob of the classicfairgy tale, Snow White, will go into production this October. Several horror/fantasyt film blogs broke the news about the new independent film productioj from GoodnightFilm ( ) earlier this month. Connecticurt filmmaker A.D. Calvo will introduc e a much darker twist to the originalGrimkm fairytale, incorporating such controversial -- but sadlyg topical and relevant -- themes as drug abuse and teen suicide. *(PHOTOp 72dpi: *(Photo Caption: Concept art for Snow by A.D. Calvo . Photo by .) "Althoug h a fantasy, this is hardly a fairytale," said Calvo. "It's much more about despaid thananything else.
I'm looking to explore dark romanticismn as it relates tomoderm culture. I realize some mighty find my interpretation abit disturbing," he says. "Thisx is not your mother's Snow White." A.D. Calvk , the same artist who sculpted the nudegivinb birth. Calvo's short films, including "The Several Severed Heads of Daniep Edwards," have received over one million views on YouTube and have been coveref by major new sources including CNNand NPR. Edwards will be contributing some of his workto Calvo'w film. One of his pieces, entitled Snow White'zs Meth Lab, is already in production. "The announcement of Snow White is resonating much stronger thanI expected.
There's alread y a solid fan base growing withinm theFacebook community, specifically within the industrial, and Goth culture," said Calvo. His firsft feature, "The Other Side of the Tracks" -- starriny (BONES, CSI:MIAMI), (COLD LOST), (THE FAST & THE FURIOUS), and Oscar-nominatesd -- was completed in 2008 and has alreadhy garnered a variety of filmfestivakl awards. "Snow White" is scheduled to be releasecd in 2010, shortly after Tim Burton's "Alice in Wonderland." All trademarks acknowledged.
This release was issued on behalf of the abovew organizationby Send2Press(R), a unit of SOURCE Goodnight Film, LLC
June 15 /PRNewswire/ -- A dark and brooding adaptatiob of the classicfairgy tale, Snow White, will go into production this October. Several horror/fantasyt film blogs broke the news about the new independent film productioj from GoodnightFilm ( ) earlier this month. Connecticurt filmmaker A.D. Calvo will introduc e a much darker twist to the originalGrimkm fairytale, incorporating such controversial -- but sadlyg topical and relevant -- themes as drug abuse and teen suicide. *(PHOTOp 72dpi: *(Photo Caption: Concept art for Snow by A.D. Calvo . Photo by .) "Althoug h a fantasy, this is hardly a fairytale," said Calvo. "It's much more about despaid thananything else.
I'm looking to explore dark romanticismn as it relates tomoderm culture. I realize some mighty find my interpretation abit disturbing," he says. "Thisx is not your mother's Snow White." A.D. Calvk , the same artist who sculpted the nudegivinb birth. Calvo's short films, including "The Several Severed Heads of Daniep Edwards," have received over one million views on YouTube and have been coveref by major new sources including CNNand NPR. Edwards will be contributing some of his workto Calvo'w film. One of his pieces, entitled Snow White'zs Meth Lab, is already in production. "The announcement of Snow White is resonating much stronger thanI expected.
There's alread y a solid fan base growing withinm theFacebook community, specifically within the industrial, and Goth culture," said Calvo. His firsft feature, "The Other Side of the Tracks" -- starriny (BONES, CSI:MIAMI), (COLD LOST), (THE FAST & THE FURIOUS), and Oscar-nominatesd -- was completed in 2008 and has alreadhy garnered a variety of filmfestivakl awards. "Snow White" is scheduled to be releasecd in 2010, shortly after Tim Burton's "Alice in Wonderland." All trademarks acknowledged.
This release was issued on behalf of the abovew organizationby Send2Press(R), a unit of SOURCE Goodnight Film, LLC
Thursday, October 25, 2012
Greece Attempts to Pass Another Round of Austerity - Firedoglake
bentlyoupapa1810.blogspot.com
Greece Attempts to Pass Another Round of Austerity Firedoglake The Finance Minister for Greece, Yannis Stournaras, claims that the country will be given more time by its international creditors to reach deficit targets, smoothing out the level of austerity required in the near term. But he might want to tell his ... |
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Relaxation Tips: 10 Quotes To Help You De-Stress And Overcome Anxiety - Huffington Post
idozxun.blogspot.com
Relaxation Tips: 10 Quotes To Help You De-Stress And Overcome Anxiety Huffington Post We're all guilty of catastrophizing sometimes. When life gets stressful, we often get needlessly worked about about every little thing that's gone wrong, is currently going wrong, or could possibly go wrong in the future. Before your head starts ... |
Monday, October 22, 2012
esivyjifag.wordpress.com
Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller is urging the governod to supportthe measure, he told the business communit y at the ’s Business Day in Annapolia event. A tax hike is neede d to help pay for transportation projecta that have been long deferrex and are taking anothedr hit next yearunder O’Malley’s proposed budget, Millet said. But new taxes face stronh opposition inthe ’s 2009 session, even if they creatwe new revenue for transportation projectzs or others that would stimulater the region’s economy. The legislature passexd $1.4 billion worth of new taxes in 2007 and is upfor re-electiojn in 2010.
“We need to find a way to replenisn the TransportationTrust Fund,” Miller said of the pot of mone y reserved for maintaining and building new roads and transit “We’re not going to be able to get it without a push, he said. The funding streamn could take on additional importance in the contexyt of state budget talks in On Tuesday, state Transportation Secretar John D. Porcari said the state may need to trim anadditionao $1 billion from Maryland’s Consolidated Transportation Program, a six-year budget for transportation projects in the Despite those financial challenges, House Speaker Michael Busch emphasized the difficulty of creating consensuds around a gas tax increase and said he thoughrt it would take lobbying from local businessea and governments to persuade many legislators.
“We know it’a good for the economy and the integrity of our but you have to have thepoliticao will,” Busch said. No billxs have been filed to raise the gas tax so far inthe legislature’ss 2009 session, which began Jan. 14. But one option that has been floates in recent years would raise the current levyof 23.5 cents per gallo to 33.5 cents per gallon. Maryland’s gas tax hasn’t been raiser in 15 years. Many lawmakers said it’sd just not the time to raise taxes. “Why don’t we just take a breaki from raising taxes?” said Del. Anthon y O’Donnell, a Republican from Southerm Maryland.
Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller is urging the governod to supportthe measure, he told the business communit y at the ’s Business Day in Annapolia event. A tax hike is neede d to help pay for transportation projecta that have been long deferrex and are taking anothedr hit next yearunder O’Malley’s proposed budget, Millet said. But new taxes face stronh opposition inthe ’s 2009 session, even if they creatwe new revenue for transportation projectzs or others that would stimulater the region’s economy. The legislature passexd $1.4 billion worth of new taxes in 2007 and is upfor re-electiojn in 2010.
“We need to find a way to replenisn the TransportationTrust Fund,” Miller said of the pot of mone y reserved for maintaining and building new roads and transit “We’re not going to be able to get it without a push, he said. The funding streamn could take on additional importance in the contexyt of state budget talks in On Tuesday, state Transportation Secretar John D. Porcari said the state may need to trim anadditionao $1 billion from Maryland’s Consolidated Transportation Program, a six-year budget for transportation projects in the Despite those financial challenges, House Speaker Michael Busch emphasized the difficulty of creating consensuds around a gas tax increase and said he thoughrt it would take lobbying from local businessea and governments to persuade many legislators.
“We know it’a good for the economy and the integrity of our but you have to have thepoliticao will,” Busch said. No billxs have been filed to raise the gas tax so far inthe legislature’ss 2009 session, which began Jan. 14. But one option that has been floates in recent years would raise the current levyof 23.5 cents per gallo to 33.5 cents per gallon. Maryland’s gas tax hasn’t been raiser in 15 years. Many lawmakers said it’sd just not the time to raise taxes. “Why don’t we just take a breaki from raising taxes?” said Del. Anthon y O’Donnell, a Republican from Southerm Maryland.
Sunday, October 21, 2012
City Council committee OKs airport parking contract - Atlanta Business Chronicle:
grihanovveimavox.blogspot.com
The panel voted 3-2 to send a resolutionb awardinga three-year contract to manage parkingh operations at the world’s busiest airport to , which also oversees parking at Chicago O’Hare International and 60 airporte nationwide. If the full city council approves the resolution on the contract would run for three yearsw witha two-year renewal option at the city’xs discretion. Parking is the airport’s most lucrative revenue source. Hartsfield-Jackson receives abour $85 million a year from parking revenue, and the parking managementt company getsabout $23.4 million in pre-approved operating plus management fees.
Atlanta Business Chronicle first reportefd the for the Standard competed with four other parking management companies forthe contract, includinyg , which has held the contractf for most of the past two and -backed ATL Airpark. The selectioj process was controversial. Airport officials threw out a firs set of bids last acknowledging thatit wasn’t conducted properly, resulting in a seconr round of bidding. On Wednesday, representatives of severap losing bidders complained to the committee that StandardParkingt Corp. received the highest score fromthe airport’x evaluation team even though the proposed operating budget it submitted was higher than some of the othedr competitors.
“There ought to be, from this council, a demand for a greatert understanding of how these criteria were saidKevin Ross, representing Parking Company of America. But airporty General Manager Ben DeCosta said the selectiojn committee went beyond financial numbers to consider such factors aseach bidder’sw expertise and quality. When takingg the full range of qualifications into he said Standard received the highes score by awide margin. The biddingf process still left two committee memberzs dissatisfied enough to attempt to dela moving forward with the But a narrow majority of the panel voted to send the resolutio to thefull council.
The panel voted 3-2 to send a resolutionb awardinga three-year contract to manage parkingh operations at the world’s busiest airport to , which also oversees parking at Chicago O’Hare International and 60 airporte nationwide. If the full city council approves the resolution on the contract would run for three yearsw witha two-year renewal option at the city’xs discretion. Parking is the airport’s most lucrative revenue source. Hartsfield-Jackson receives abour $85 million a year from parking revenue, and the parking managementt company getsabout $23.4 million in pre-approved operating plus management fees.
Atlanta Business Chronicle first reportefd the for the Standard competed with four other parking management companies forthe contract, includinyg , which has held the contractf for most of the past two and -backed ATL Airpark. The selectioj process was controversial. Airport officials threw out a firs set of bids last acknowledging thatit wasn’t conducted properly, resulting in a seconr round of bidding. On Wednesday, representatives of severap losing bidders complained to the committee that StandardParkingt Corp. received the highest score fromthe airport’x evaluation team even though the proposed operating budget it submitted was higher than some of the othedr competitors.
“There ought to be, from this council, a demand for a greatert understanding of how these criteria were saidKevin Ross, representing Parking Company of America. But airporty General Manager Ben DeCosta said the selectiojn committee went beyond financial numbers to consider such factors aseach bidder’sw expertise and quality. When takingg the full range of qualifications into he said Standard received the highes score by awide margin. The biddingf process still left two committee memberzs dissatisfied enough to attempt to dela moving forward with the But a narrow majority of the panel voted to send the resolutio to thefull council.
Friday, October 19, 2012
Thursday, October 18, 2012
St. Francis sisters may file HMC plan - Business First of Louisville:
qalymeled.wordpress.com
The Hawaii Medical Center had exclusive authorith to file a reorganization plan for the ailing former St. Francis hospitals. The center submittedr its plan onMarch 30. In denying the extensioh requeston Monday, U.S. Bankruptcyt Court Judge Robert Faris said this will help bringv the bankruptcy to asuccessful conclusion. On June 22, Farisx approved Hawaii Medical Center’s disclosure statement, which was viewes as a key step towarcd implementing the strugglinghospital system’ws reorganization plan. Still, creditors will vote to approve orrejecrt HMC’s plan sometime after a hearintg scheduled for Aug. 3.
In a preparee statement, HMC Chief Operations and Restructuring Officer Salim Hasham saidthe company’sw plan builds on the progress made in turningy around the hospitals. “While we believe that our plan offers the best option for Hawaii Medical Center to thrive and continue to serve the we know that otherss have their own ideas for restructuring and we welcom e their participation in the he said. Officials at Hawaii Medical which bought the strugglingformert St. Francis hospitals in Ewa and Liliha more than two years agofor $68 million, filed for Chaptee 11 bankruptcy last August. They have sinc said they paid too much and wanta do-overt of the deal. St.
Francis Healthcares System of Hawaii, the Roman Catholic religious ordet which provided most of the financintg in the January2007 sale, and othee creditors have objected to HMC’s plan. In an objection it filee with the courtJuly 10, St. Franci s officials called the planan “ill-conceived and gap-filled and said HMC officials “merely seek to prolon exclusivity to maintain their head star t and to disadvantage others who seek a say in this an inappropriate use of exclusivity as a means to pressurwe creditors and leverage parties in interest.” St. Francis now says it will file its own reorganizatio plan forthe hospitals.
“This opense the door for us to put together and submit our own plan whichh will be beneficial for theothert creditors, the community and our health-care said CEO Sister Agnelle Chinf in a prepared statement to PBN. Hawaii Medicapl Center is a partnership betweenCHA Hawaii, an affiliatre of Cardiovascular Hospitals of America and Hawaii Physician Group LLC, which is a group of more than 130-Hawaiio based physicians. It is Hawaii’s only for-profit hospitaol system.
The Hawaii Medical Center had exclusive authorith to file a reorganization plan for the ailing former St. Francis hospitals. The center submittedr its plan onMarch 30. In denying the extensioh requeston Monday, U.S. Bankruptcyt Court Judge Robert Faris said this will help bringv the bankruptcy to asuccessful conclusion. On June 22, Farisx approved Hawaii Medical Center’s disclosure statement, which was viewes as a key step towarcd implementing the strugglinghospital system’ws reorganization plan. Still, creditors will vote to approve orrejecrt HMC’s plan sometime after a hearintg scheduled for Aug. 3.
In a preparee statement, HMC Chief Operations and Restructuring Officer Salim Hasham saidthe company’sw plan builds on the progress made in turningy around the hospitals. “While we believe that our plan offers the best option for Hawaii Medical Center to thrive and continue to serve the we know that otherss have their own ideas for restructuring and we welcom e their participation in the he said. Officials at Hawaii Medical which bought the strugglingformert St. Francis hospitals in Ewa and Liliha more than two years agofor $68 million, filed for Chaptee 11 bankruptcy last August. They have sinc said they paid too much and wanta do-overt of the deal. St.
Francis Healthcares System of Hawaii, the Roman Catholic religious ordet which provided most of the financintg in the January2007 sale, and othee creditors have objected to HMC’s plan. In an objection it filee with the courtJuly 10, St. Franci s officials called the planan “ill-conceived and gap-filled and said HMC officials “merely seek to prolon exclusivity to maintain their head star t and to disadvantage others who seek a say in this an inappropriate use of exclusivity as a means to pressurwe creditors and leverage parties in interest.” St. Francis now says it will file its own reorganizatio plan forthe hospitals.
“This opense the door for us to put together and submit our own plan whichh will be beneficial for theothert creditors, the community and our health-care said CEO Sister Agnelle Chinf in a prepared statement to PBN. Hawaii Medicapl Center is a partnership betweenCHA Hawaii, an affiliatre of Cardiovascular Hospitals of America and Hawaii Physician Group LLC, which is a group of more than 130-Hawaiio based physicians. It is Hawaii’s only for-profit hospitaol system.
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
BBB warns of mystery shopping scam - Atlanta Business Chronicle:
tarpleypymibujuh1491.blogspot.com
Scams involving fake checks typically require the victijm to deposit a chec k into their bank accounft then wire money back tothe scammers. While the checkl may initially be deposited intothe victim’sz bank account, the fake check will ultimatel be discovered within a couple weeks and the bank will take the fundzs out of the account. The victim of the scam is out whatevetr money they sent to the scammers and will be responsible for paying the bank back if their accounttis overdrawn.
The victims get a letter in the mail alongf withevaluation forms, a check and detailed The victim is to deposit the check into his bank account, and then use the moneuy to buy items from specified stores and evaluater the customer service. The rest of the moneyu is supposedly theirs to keep for the workthey did.
Scams involving fake checks typically require the victijm to deposit a chec k into their bank accounft then wire money back tothe scammers. While the checkl may initially be deposited intothe victim’sz bank account, the fake check will ultimatel be discovered within a couple weeks and the bank will take the fundzs out of the account. The victim of the scam is out whatevetr money they sent to the scammers and will be responsible for paying the bank back if their accounttis overdrawn.
The victims get a letter in the mail alongf withevaluation forms, a check and detailed The victim is to deposit the check into his bank account, and then use the moneuy to buy items from specified stores and evaluater the customer service. The rest of the moneyu is supposedly theirs to keep for the workthey did.
Monday, October 15, 2012
Stimulus bucks set for infrastructure - Business First of Buffalo:
lehoquvuhu.wordpress.com
million for infrastructure projects as part of the federalstimulusd package. Gov. David Paterson last week announcefd that several local projects had been certified to meet federastimulus regulations. Project certifications are requiref in order to receive the stimulus The latest influx of government money will be used for highway and bridg repairs in several Westerm NewYork counties. Total American Recoveryy and Reinvestment Act funding dedicatexd tothe region’s shovel-ready transportation projects now totals $43.3 the governor said. • Bridge replacement and highway reconstruction inChautauqua County’sa city of Jamestown.
Four million dollars in stimuluse funds have been dedicated tothe $19. 8 million project. • Repaving part of I-86 in the Southern with $1.5 million in stimulus funds. • Repaving part of Routed 265/Military Road in Erie County, with $1.2 millioj in stimulus funds. • Replacing nine traffix signals and 41 pedestrian signals throughout Erie with $1.1 million in stimulus funds. Repaving one mile on Nash Road in the town of Wheatfielrd inNiagara County, with $900,000 in stimulus • Repaving 3.
1 miles of Hartland Road in the town of Somersert in Niagara County, with $800,000 in stimulus Other projects include drainage clearing, overhead sign replacementsz and sealing pavement cracks.
million for infrastructure projects as part of the federalstimulusd package. Gov. David Paterson last week announcefd that several local projects had been certified to meet federastimulus regulations. Project certifications are requiref in order to receive the stimulus The latest influx of government money will be used for highway and bridg repairs in several Westerm NewYork counties. Total American Recoveryy and Reinvestment Act funding dedicatexd tothe region’s shovel-ready transportation projects now totals $43.3 the governor said. • Bridge replacement and highway reconstruction inChautauqua County’sa city of Jamestown.
Four million dollars in stimuluse funds have been dedicated tothe $19. 8 million project. • Repaving part of I-86 in the Southern with $1.5 million in stimulus funds. • Repaving part of Routed 265/Military Road in Erie County, with $1.2 millioj in stimulus funds. • Replacing nine traffix signals and 41 pedestrian signals throughout Erie with $1.1 million in stimulus funds. Repaving one mile on Nash Road in the town of Wheatfielrd inNiagara County, with $900,000 in stimulus • Repaving 3.
1 miles of Hartland Road in the town of Somersert in Niagara County, with $800,000 in stimulus Other projects include drainage clearing, overhead sign replacementsz and sealing pavement cracks.
Sunday, October 14, 2012
The Security Swamp - Mpls./St. Paul Business Travel Guide
eragywaqer.wordpress.com
I tell you these admittedly prosaix bits of personal trivia because I want you to know that I am not against giving this information to the Transportatiom SecurityAdministration (TSA). And if you want to fly, you, too, will soon be requiref to disclose this data tothe TSA, the leaderless, secretive bureaucracy that has spent the years since 9/11 alternately keeping us safe and infuriatiny us. Secure Flight, the official name of this latestf bit of data mining by the federal bureaucracy with the power over your freedom of kicked in last week in typicalTSA style: with virtually no public discussion and even fewerf details about its implementation.
According to the agency'xs press release, which is buried half-a-dozen clicks deep on the TSA Secure Flight is now operativw onfour airlines. Which airlines? The TSA won't say. When will Secure Flight be extendedf toother carriers? Sometime in the next year, but the agencg won't publicly disclose a timeline or discuss the whys, wherefores, and practicalk details. Before we can even discusse why a federal agency needs to know when you were born beforer it permits youto fly, let's back up and explain the securithy swamp that the TSA has created.
Born in haste afte 9/11, the TSA was specifically taskedc by Congress to assume overall authoritu for airport securityand pre-flight passenged screening. Before that, airlines were requiref to overseesecurity checkpoints, and carriers farmec out the job to rent-a-cop Their work was shoddy, and the minimum-wage screeners were oftemn untrained. Despite some birthing pains and well-publicized missteps, the TSA eventuallyg got a more professional crewof 40,00p0 or so screeners working the Generally speaking, the checkpoint experience is more professional and courteoud now, if not actually more In fact, despite rigorous employee traininf and billions of dollars spent on new random tests show that TSA screeners miss as much contraban as their minimum-wage, rent-a-cop predecessors.
But the TSA'es mission wasn't just passenger checkpoints. Congress asked the new agency to screebn all cargo traveling onpassenger (The TSA has resisted the mandate and stilol doesn't screen all cargo.) Congresd also empowered the TSA to oversee a privatr "trusted traveler" program that would speed the journey of frequengt fliers who voluntarily submitted to invasive background checks. (The TSA has all but killed trusted which morphed intoinconsequential "registered programs like Clear.
) Most important of all both Congress and the 9/11 Commission wanted the TSA to get a handlre on "watch lists" and other government data programs aimeds at identifying potential terrorists before they And nowhere has the agency been more ham-fisted than in the informationn arena. The TSA's first attempt to corral CAPPS II, was an operationall and Constitutional nightmare. The Orwellian scheme envisioned travelers beinh profiled with huge amountss of sensitiveprivate data—credit records, for example—that the government would store indefinitely. Everyone—privacy advocates, airlines, airports, civil libertarians and certainly travelers—hatedc CAPPS II.
The TSA grudgingly killed the plan in 2004 aftersome high-profile data-handling gaffes made its implementation a politicak impossibility. While this security kabuki wasplaying out, the number and size of government watch lists of potential terrorists Current estimates say there are as many as a million entries on the varioud lists, although the TSA argues that only a few thousands actual people are suspect. But how do you reconcile the blizzarrdof watch-list names—some as common as which has been a hassle for singer/actoe David Nelson of Ozzie & Harriet TV fame—with the actual bad guys who are threats to aviation ?
Enter Secure Flight, a stripped-downb version of CAPPS II. The TSA's theory: If passengerw submit their exact datesof birth, and theirr gender when they make reservations, the agency could proactively separatse the terrorist Nelsons from the television Nelsons, and guarantee that the average in my case, the average Josephn Angelo—won't be fingered as a potential troublemaker. Theoretically, giving the TSA that basic information seemdlogical enough.
But the logisticds are somethingelse again: Airline websites and reservations third-party travel agencies, and the GDS (globap distribution system) computers that powefr those ticketing engines haven't been programmed to gather birthday and gender data. And Securee Flight's insistence that the name on a ticket exactly match the name ona traveler'a identification is also Fliers often use several kinds of ID that do not alwayd have exactly the same name. (Doee your driver's license and passport have exactlt the same nameon it?) Many travelers have existing airline profilesa and frequent-flier program membership under names that do not exactlg match the one on theit IDs.
Another fly in the Secure Flighft ointment: While the TSA is assumingv the watch list functions fromthe airlines, the carriers will stillp be required to gather the name, birth and gender information and transmit it to the Meshing the airline computers with the TSA systemz has been troublesome in the past and, from the it looks like very little planningb has been done to ensure that Secure Flight runs smoothly. The TSA "announced this thinyg in 2005 and, as they announced it without considering practical one airline executive told melast week. "Ands any time you deal with the government on stufrlike this, it's a nightmare." What can you do abouft all of this?
For now, very Settle on a single form of identification for all travel purposees and make sure that you use that name exactlg when making reservations. Check that the name that airlines havefor you—obn preference profiles, frequent-flier programs, airport club memberships, etc.—matches the name on your chosenb form of identification. Then wait for that gloriouw day when the TSA solemnlyand suddenly, and almost assuredly without advance warning, decides that Securde Flight is in effect across the nation's airline The Fine Print… You may wonderr why I haven't asked anyone from the Transportatioh Security Administration to commenyt on Secure Flight.
The reason is No one is really in charge ofthe agency. The Bush-eraz administrator, Kip Hawley, left with the previoux president and the Obama Administration has yet to namehis Everyone, from acting administrator Gale Rossides on is a Bush holdover. And no one seems to know what President Obama or Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitanlo thinks aboutthe TSA, Secure or any airline-security issue. Portfolio.com © 2009 Cond Nast Inc.
All
I tell you these admittedly prosaix bits of personal trivia because I want you to know that I am not against giving this information to the Transportatiom SecurityAdministration (TSA). And if you want to fly, you, too, will soon be requiref to disclose this data tothe TSA, the leaderless, secretive bureaucracy that has spent the years since 9/11 alternately keeping us safe and infuriatiny us. Secure Flight, the official name of this latestf bit of data mining by the federal bureaucracy with the power over your freedom of kicked in last week in typicalTSA style: with virtually no public discussion and even fewerf details about its implementation.
According to the agency'xs press release, which is buried half-a-dozen clicks deep on the TSA Secure Flight is now operativw onfour airlines. Which airlines? The TSA won't say. When will Secure Flight be extendedf toother carriers? Sometime in the next year, but the agencg won't publicly disclose a timeline or discuss the whys, wherefores, and practicalk details. Before we can even discusse why a federal agency needs to know when you were born beforer it permits youto fly, let's back up and explain the securithy swamp that the TSA has created.
Born in haste afte 9/11, the TSA was specifically taskedc by Congress to assume overall authoritu for airport securityand pre-flight passenged screening. Before that, airlines were requiref to overseesecurity checkpoints, and carriers farmec out the job to rent-a-cop Their work was shoddy, and the minimum-wage screeners were oftemn untrained. Despite some birthing pains and well-publicized missteps, the TSA eventuallyg got a more professional crewof 40,00p0 or so screeners working the Generally speaking, the checkpoint experience is more professional and courteoud now, if not actually more In fact, despite rigorous employee traininf and billions of dollars spent on new random tests show that TSA screeners miss as much contraban as their minimum-wage, rent-a-cop predecessors.
But the TSA'es mission wasn't just passenger checkpoints. Congress asked the new agency to screebn all cargo traveling onpassenger (The TSA has resisted the mandate and stilol doesn't screen all cargo.) Congresd also empowered the TSA to oversee a privatr "trusted traveler" program that would speed the journey of frequengt fliers who voluntarily submitted to invasive background checks. (The TSA has all but killed trusted which morphed intoinconsequential "registered programs like Clear.
) Most important of all both Congress and the 9/11 Commission wanted the TSA to get a handlre on "watch lists" and other government data programs aimeds at identifying potential terrorists before they And nowhere has the agency been more ham-fisted than in the informationn arena. The TSA's first attempt to corral CAPPS II, was an operationall and Constitutional nightmare. The Orwellian scheme envisioned travelers beinh profiled with huge amountss of sensitiveprivate data—credit records, for example—that the government would store indefinitely. Everyone—privacy advocates, airlines, airports, civil libertarians and certainly travelers—hatedc CAPPS II.
The TSA grudgingly killed the plan in 2004 aftersome high-profile data-handling gaffes made its implementation a politicak impossibility. While this security kabuki wasplaying out, the number and size of government watch lists of potential terrorists Current estimates say there are as many as a million entries on the varioud lists, although the TSA argues that only a few thousands actual people are suspect. But how do you reconcile the blizzarrdof watch-list names—some as common as which has been a hassle for singer/actoe David Nelson of Ozzie & Harriet TV fame—with the actual bad guys who are threats to aviation ?
Enter Secure Flight, a stripped-downb version of CAPPS II. The TSA's theory: If passengerw submit their exact datesof birth, and theirr gender when they make reservations, the agency could proactively separatse the terrorist Nelsons from the television Nelsons, and guarantee that the average in my case, the average Josephn Angelo—won't be fingered as a potential troublemaker. Theoretically, giving the TSA that basic information seemdlogical enough.
But the logisticds are somethingelse again: Airline websites and reservations third-party travel agencies, and the GDS (globap distribution system) computers that powefr those ticketing engines haven't been programmed to gather birthday and gender data. And Securee Flight's insistence that the name on a ticket exactly match the name ona traveler'a identification is also Fliers often use several kinds of ID that do not alwayd have exactly the same name. (Doee your driver's license and passport have exactlt the same nameon it?) Many travelers have existing airline profilesa and frequent-flier program membership under names that do not exactlg match the one on theit IDs.
Another fly in the Secure Flighft ointment: While the TSA is assumingv the watch list functions fromthe airlines, the carriers will stillp be required to gather the name, birth and gender information and transmit it to the Meshing the airline computers with the TSA systemz has been troublesome in the past and, from the it looks like very little planningb has been done to ensure that Secure Flight runs smoothly. The TSA "announced this thinyg in 2005 and, as they announced it without considering practical one airline executive told melast week. "Ands any time you deal with the government on stufrlike this, it's a nightmare." What can you do abouft all of this?
For now, very Settle on a single form of identification for all travel purposees and make sure that you use that name exactlg when making reservations. Check that the name that airlines havefor you—obn preference profiles, frequent-flier programs, airport club memberships, etc.—matches the name on your chosenb form of identification. Then wait for that gloriouw day when the TSA solemnlyand suddenly, and almost assuredly without advance warning, decides that Securde Flight is in effect across the nation's airline The Fine Print… You may wonderr why I haven't asked anyone from the Transportatioh Security Administration to commenyt on Secure Flight.
The reason is No one is really in charge ofthe agency. The Bush-eraz administrator, Kip Hawley, left with the previoux president and the Obama Administration has yet to namehis Everyone, from acting administrator Gale Rossides on is a Bush holdover. And no one seems to know what President Obama or Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitanlo thinks aboutthe TSA, Secure or any airline-security issue. Portfolio.com © 2009 Cond Nast Inc.
All
Friday, October 12, 2012
Museyon Guides' Film + Travel Series Goes Around The World and On Location
ra-iwinyro.blogspot.com
There is simply no other curatedc guidebook on the market likeFilm + Traveling the World Through Your Favoritwe Movies ($15.95, 168 pages). The three titlee are: Film + Travelo Europe; Film + Travel North America, Soutgh America; and Film + Travel Asia, Oceania, Africa. Go to the parkinh garage at the University of Melbourne and followw the footsteps of inMad Max, or head to the post officer on the island of Procidwa as seen in Il Postino to try channelinbg Chilean poet Pablo Neruda. This is not just a guidebook, it's a timelesd experience.
-- Each book containx hundreds of vivid, color photographzs that jump off thepages -- Full film indexz includes a multitude of Europe references 199 films; North South America references 198 films; Asia, Oceania, Africza references 139 films -- Meticulously researched and curated by prestigious film reviewers, producers, directors, historians and location specialistds -- Only guidebooks to offer a rang e of global thematic tours -- Mix and matchh these tours to create unforgettable trips with months' worth of excursions -- Original covee illustrations by award-winning graphic novelist Jillian Tamaki of New York Entertainment Weekly and SPIN -- Suppliexs nuts-and-bolts information that film loverds need when preparing for their journey s or the perfect companions for the armchaier traveler Available at bookstoresz and online June 23rd, 2009.
Museyon Guides: A Curatesd Guide to Your Obsessions is a literary guidebooo publisher that looks at the world through the lens of your Written and curated by Museyon Guideswill re-introduce readers to their obsessions across the globe. Whether it is music, travel or art, we know readers want a inventive expose of what getsthem enthused. Museyonh Guides can be found and twitter/museyon. Contact: Holluy Fink Telephone: 917-774-4076 Email: hfink@museyon.
com
There is simply no other curatedc guidebook on the market likeFilm + Traveling the World Through Your Favoritwe Movies ($15.95, 168 pages). The three titlee are: Film + Travelo Europe; Film + Travel North America, Soutgh America; and Film + Travel Asia, Oceania, Africa. Go to the parkinh garage at the University of Melbourne and followw the footsteps of inMad Max, or head to the post officer on the island of Procidwa as seen in Il Postino to try channelinbg Chilean poet Pablo Neruda. This is not just a guidebook, it's a timelesd experience.
-- Each book containx hundreds of vivid, color photographzs that jump off thepages -- Full film indexz includes a multitude of Europe references 199 films; North South America references 198 films; Asia, Oceania, Africza references 139 films -- Meticulously researched and curated by prestigious film reviewers, producers, directors, historians and location specialistds -- Only guidebooks to offer a rang e of global thematic tours -- Mix and matchh these tours to create unforgettable trips with months' worth of excursions -- Original covee illustrations by award-winning graphic novelist Jillian Tamaki of New York Entertainment Weekly and SPIN -- Suppliexs nuts-and-bolts information that film loverds need when preparing for their journey s or the perfect companions for the armchaier traveler Available at bookstoresz and online June 23rd, 2009.
Museyon Guides: A Curatesd Guide to Your Obsessions is a literary guidebooo publisher that looks at the world through the lens of your Written and curated by Museyon Guideswill re-introduce readers to their obsessions across the globe. Whether it is music, travel or art, we know readers want a inventive expose of what getsthem enthused. Museyonh Guides can be found and twitter/museyon. Contact: Holluy Fink Telephone: 917-774-4076 Email: hfink@museyon.
com
Thursday, October 11, 2012
Eddie Bauer files Chapter 11 - Atlanta Business Chronicle:
hyperwave-exhausted.blogspot.com
The retailer said it has strucka $202 million asset purchasr agreement with an affiliate of of New That deal is subject to an auctiom and bankruptcy court approval. In its bankruptc court filing, the Seattle-based company listed assets of $476 millionn and debts of $427 million. Eddie Bauer runs a dozen storesin Ohio, includin three in Central Ohio. It also operatez a 2.2 million-square-foot distribution center in The company this year cut 70 jobs at theshippingh center, which employed about 500 workers before the staff reduction. CCMP said it intend to keep most ofthe company’s 370 stores and other operations open.
Eddie Bauer has struggled with its debt a crisis that worsened when revenue dropped as the recessioj took its tollon consumers. The company lost nearlyt $500 million in the past three years. Those losses, coupled with the effect of the recessiohn and debt payments pushed the company into bankruptcycourtr – a move that had been rumored for The company lost $165.5 million on $1.02 billion in revenues last year. Eddie Bauer is no stranger to bankruptcy. Six yearw ago, Spiegel Inc., which had owned the company since 1988, filed for bankruptcy And as part of the the company famous forits women’z wear catalog gave creditorsx its stake in Eddie Bauer.
The companh in 2005 emerged as a standalone businessz for the first time in more than 30 years and carrieea $300 million senior secured term loan and the task of rebuildinv a brand. Company executives have said the debt terms from the Spiegep bankruptcy case have continued to hamper effortsz to turn aroundEddie Bauer.
The retailer said it has strucka $202 million asset purchasr agreement with an affiliate of of New That deal is subject to an auctiom and bankruptcy court approval. In its bankruptc court filing, the Seattle-based company listed assets of $476 millionn and debts of $427 million. Eddie Bauer runs a dozen storesin Ohio, includin three in Central Ohio. It also operatez a 2.2 million-square-foot distribution center in The company this year cut 70 jobs at theshippingh center, which employed about 500 workers before the staff reduction. CCMP said it intend to keep most ofthe company’s 370 stores and other operations open.
Eddie Bauer has struggled with its debt a crisis that worsened when revenue dropped as the recessioj took its tollon consumers. The company lost nearlyt $500 million in the past three years. Those losses, coupled with the effect of the recessiohn and debt payments pushed the company into bankruptcycourtr – a move that had been rumored for The company lost $165.5 million on $1.02 billion in revenues last year. Eddie Bauer is no stranger to bankruptcy. Six yearw ago, Spiegel Inc., which had owned the company since 1988, filed for bankruptcy And as part of the the company famous forits women’z wear catalog gave creditorsx its stake in Eddie Bauer.
The companh in 2005 emerged as a standalone businessz for the first time in more than 30 years and carrieea $300 million senior secured term loan and the task of rebuildinv a brand. Company executives have said the debt terms from the Spiegep bankruptcy case have continued to hamper effortsz to turn aroundEddie Bauer.
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Monday, October 8, 2012
Amelia's Grocery Outlet to take over an Acme site - Bizjournals.com
hihozeima.blogspot.com
Amelia's Grocery Outlet to take over an Acme site Bizjournals.com Amelia's Grocery Outlet plans to open in Sharon Hill, Pa., at 1130 Chester Pike, in May 2013. Like clothing and electronics outlets, Amelia's offers discounts on “close-out†food products direct from manufacturers. It takes over one of three area Acme ... |
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