First-time homebuyers still a minority locally, Realtor says - Orlando Business Journal:

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“Given that the averagwe household income in Tampaz is rightaround $45,000, it seem highly unlikely that first-time homebuyers dominated either the cash-purchase or conventionalluy financed categories,” said Petedr Murphy, president of Home Encounter LLC, in a release. Groups like the said the low home prices, the stronger availability of loand through the andthe first-time buyer tax credif helped fuel sales in the region. However, first-timew buyers likely represented far less than the 43 percentf of sales they didin 2008. Realtors reported that cash buyers purchased more than 41 percen t of all sales this year at an average purchase priceof $121,400.
At the same 33 percent of all sales were financedf throughconventional means, which typically requires a 30 percentt down payment. With those salesw averaging $232,000, more than 74 percent of overalk sales in the region needed atleast $70,000 cash in orded to buy. The three categories that usuallh contain a lotof first-time homebuyers — new FHA loans, new loanw and assumed FHA and VA loans only accounted for 23 percenty of all the sales so far this year.
“Evem if we assume that half of all conventionallyy financed sales were purchasedby first-timre homebuyers, which is highlty improbable given the average price of thesse homes, first-time buyers will would still represent no more than 40 percentg of all buyers year to date,” Murphyy said. That would also be a 3 percenty dropin first-time homebuyers from 2008 while national salesx had 53 percent first-timer homebuyers. It’s not typical for first-tim e buyers to pay cash for theirrreal estate, Murphy said.
Instead, investors and repeat buyers are snappinbg up deals right now that might be attractive to them but not exactly the best pricwfor first-time homebuyers who don’t have a high enoughy income to really wheel and deal in the current

NASA engineers x-ray tank of space shuttle Discovery - Malaysia Sun

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Dalje.com

NASA engineers x-ray tank of space shuttle Discovery Malaysia Sun While additional scans are under way, engineers at various other NASA locations continue data analysis to help determine what caused sm »

San Jose streets to become Redback Raceway in sponsorship deal - Silicon Valley / San Jose Business Journal:

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mile stretch of downtown San Jose will become the Redback Raceway duringthis summer'sa grand prix races, as a resulg of a new sponsorship deal. President Dale Jantzen said , an Ericssojn company, will be the title sponsodr ofthe seven-turn downtown temporary street circuit. Financiak terms were not As part ofthe deal, officials said Redback routinh products and broadband services will be used to the race fan On-demand video and live TV to cell-phones, PCs and will allow fans to access several on-site cameraz locations. This technology effort will be supportex byAlan Lippman, Redback'ds chief video architect, and one of the original creators of RealAudiop and RealVideo.
Redback also will continues to sponsor the CXO Celebrity GoKart Challenge. San Jose-basedd Redback manages broadband connections for 15 of the top 20 telephonecarriersz worldwide. The company agreed in Decembetr to be bought by Swedisb telecommunications equipmentmaker (NASDAQ:ERIC) for $2.1 retaining its management team and operating as a subsidiaryu of Ericsson.

Structural biology: Proteins in dynamic equilibrium - Nature.com

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Structural biology: Proteins in dynamic equilibrium Nature.com Protein molecules in solution exist as an equilibrium of different conformations, but the sizes and shifts of these populations cannot be determined from ...

Genesee Beer to make comeback - Dallas Business Journal:

http://www.articlefeeder.com/Business__Finance_and_Management/Choosing_The_Right_Wood_Flooring_For_Your_Home.html
The renewed effort will include merging the sale s and marketing teams from Labatt USAand Genesee, once a recognizedx beer in Western New The company said it has begun $6 million in upgrades and will investt another $4 million in 2010. “Positive change are brewing,” said Rich Lozyniak, the new CEO of Nortuh American Breweries. “We’re reviewing every aspect of our busines s to strengthenthe brewery’s position.” NAB said it will upgrad brewery equipment, make necessarg repairs and add boiler controls and steam economizers that reduce energy consumption. The changesa are expected to bring annual operating savingx of morethan $1 million.
In addition to Genesee, the brewer produces Seagram’s Escapes, as well as Dundee Ales and Lagers familt ofcraft brands, which includes the Original Honey Brown The Rochester company distributes several including Imperial from Costa Rica, Steinlager from New Zealand, Toohey’xs New from Australia and Thwaites from the U.K.

Discussion on Bullying Turns to Real Solutions, Legal Protections - Campus Progress

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Discussion on Bullying Turns to Real Solutions, Legal Protections Campus Progress But much as these awareness-raising campaigns are opening up a discussion about the problem of bullying targeting LGBTQ young people, the national ... and more »

Video and Photos From "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides" Fan Event - MovieViral (blog)

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Daily Mail

Video and Photos From "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides" Fan Event MovieViral (blog) Disney decided to honor fans of Jack Sparrow by debuting the first teaser trailer for Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides at a “Pirates Fans First! ... Trailer: Pirates Encounter Stranger Tides Wired News Rob Marsh »

Metal Technologies enters German joint venture - The Business Journal of Milwaukee:

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Through the joint venture, Metal Technologie s has acquired an interest in SachsGiessereio GmbH, an iron and aluminum foundry in Germany. The deal also includesz a long-term supply agreement between the two companiesz and the eventual acquisition of Sachxs Giesserei byMetal Technologies. The deal will add aluminumk castings toMetal Technologies' product lines and fits with the company'z strategy to expand its global suppl business, said Rick chairman and chief executive officerd of Metal Technologies. Jamez said aluminum castings represent the fastest growinyg part ofthe industry. Metal Technologiez operates five iron foundriees inWest Allis; Ravenna, Mich.; Thred Rivers, Mich.
; and Woodstock, Ontario, Canada. It has two foundriesx in West Allis -- West Allis Gray Iron and West AlliaDuctile Iron. The foundries were acquirex from Wauwatosa-based small engine manufacturer Briggs Stratton Corp. in 1997 and 1999. The company also operatees some business operations at the West Alli s Corporate Center at851 S. 70th St.

Morgan Stanley Maintained Its EW Rating On Alpha Natural Resources (ANR) - Investor's Business Daily

http://aculcoradio.com/espanol/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=581&Itemid=30

Morgan Stanley Maintained Its EW Rating On Alpha Natural Resources (ANR) Investor's Business Daily Dec 09, 2010 (SmarTrend News Watch via COMTEX) -- Morgan Stanley maintained its equal-weight rating on Alpha Natural Resources (ANR) and sees 2010 EPS of ... and more »

Port to sell land to Keystone Coal - Jacksonville Business Journal:

http://www.karusell.ro/lista_oferte.php?ID=73
owner Tom Scholl will pay $6.6 milliohn for the property and pay hisown attorney’s lega l fees of $6.6 million, which the authority was ordered to pay. Under the arrangement, Scholl won’t pursue legalk action against the authority for alleged business lost when the 70 acrews at the northern terminapl of Talleyrand Avenue were under threat of eminent Jacksonville Port Authority Executive Director Rick Ferrin said a bulk materialse terminal could have been built on the38 acres, but the authorit decided to sell due to its need for capital and desire to focus on building Ltd’s terminal at Dames Point.
He addedf that the economic impact of the 38 acress would be greater if it was combinedx with the other68 acres. Keystone Coal plana to build a $20 million coal terminal on part ofits 78-acrw parcel. The authority bought the 38 acres foraboutg $5.7 million from Jax LLC. Following the $61 millionj verdict for the 70 acres of land andthe authority’x balking on the price, Judge Richard Watsob ordered the authority to pay $10.t million to lawyers who defended Keystone’s lead counsel Andrew Brigham said he reduceed the attorney fees by 40 percent from $10. 5 million to better help Keystone and the authorityg reacha deal.

UNT Law School scores significant victory - Dallas Business Journal:

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The office of Rep. Dan Branch, R-Dallas, said an officialk vote will take place in the houseon Thursday. Brancbh had authored a similar bill in the House and much of that bill was incorporater into SenateBill 956, the bill that the Housse gave its support to on Wednesday. That bill, sponsoref by Sen. Royce West, D-Dallas, authorizes $40 millionb in bonding authority. It will need to go back to the Senate for a final vote because of an amendment adderd bythe House.
The Senatew had previously approved the The amendment will allow a studyy to take place of the Dallaas law school model so it can be replicated in the South Texasborder region, Branch’s office “My principle reason for doing this now is it takexs 20 to 30 years for a law school to come into its Branch said. “When we have 12 to 15 millio n people in the Metroplex that is when this will be agreaty moment.
"

Houston Restaurants & Houston Dining Guide

http://www.ciydc.org/article/Called-the-City-Navigator---.html
Damian

Genmar warranties still good - Wichita Business Journal:

http://chrisharcum.com/bio.htm
Tracy Carrell says the letter came afterr boat manufacturer on Monday filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy Genmar owns 15 different brandsof boats, which meanxs dealers everywhere are She says cash customers for boats at her dealershipp have remained strong. But trouble financing in the current economgy means others have been forced tohold off. “The boatingf business has been affected a lot likecars have,” she The petition to reorganize its debts was filed in U.S. Bankruptcty Court in Minneapolis — where the compant is headquartered — alongb with more than 20 related subsidiaries. Genmar has betweeb 100 and 199 creditors.
It lists its assets in the rageof $10 millio to $50 million and its liabilities between $100 million and $500 million, according to court documents. The largestr unsecured creditorsare Edelman, Borman, Brand, a Minneapolis-basedr law firm which is owed Merchant & Gould, a law firm in is owed $155,800. The only secured creditore are and FifthThird Bank, according to a story in the Minneapolisz Star Tribune. Genmar said it has received commitment fora debtor-in-possession (DIP) financing proposal from both banks.
In a Genmar Chairman, CEO and largest shareholdetr Irwin Jacobs said sales ofthe company’a fishing boats, luxury yachts and othefr products started to decline in but worsened in recent months. The company’z sales in fiscal 2009, which ends in are likely to beabout $460 million, off by more than 50 percenrt from fiscal 2008. “Igf someone would have said to me as recently as even one month ago that Genmaf would someday be filing forChapter 11, I would have said it was not even a remotde possibility,” Jacobs said. Genmar had been making some strategt changes inrecent months, announcing plans to launchg a line of less-expensive aluminum boats.
A spinof company, Greenville, Pa.-based VEC Technology, and otherd Jacobs-related companies aren’t included in the filing. VEC is now in the businessw of making giant bladesfor energy-generating windmills. Law firm Fredrikson Byron in Minneapolis, is representing Genmar in thebankruptcy case.

Justin Bieber's Official Music Video for 'Pray' Debuted - AceShowbiz

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AceShowbiz

Justin Bieber's Official Music Video for 'Pray' Debuted AceShowbiz Before debuting the video, Bieber tweeted, "So if i show u guys the official video for #PRAY u will promise to go out and support the album at Walmart and ... and more »

Consumer loan delinquencies rise to record high - Birmingham Business Journal:

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The industry group blames the recordc wave of job losses as amajor factor. More than 2 millio Americans lost their jobs in the first three monthsd ofthe year. Six million have lost thei r jobs since therecession “Delinquencies won’t improve until companies start hiring again and we see a significanf economic turnaround,” ABA chief economist Jamesw Chessen said in a news The ABA defines delinquency as a payment that is 30 days or more The composite delinquency rate amonfg eight types of closed-end installmenr loan categories rose to 3.23 percent of all from 3.22 percent in the previousz quarter. Bank card delinquenciezs rose to 4.75 percentf of all accounts, from 4.
52 percent in the previousx quarter. However, the balances on thosde delinquent accountsrose dramatically, to 6.6 percent of the value of all outstanding bank card debt marking a new record from 5.52 percent. Chessen said the unemployef may be using bank cards to bridgw a temporaryincome gap, especially with less home equity to fall back on as housin g prices continue to fall. Home equity loan delinquencies increasedto 3.52 percen from 3.03 percent. Property improvement loan delinquencies decreasedto 1.46 percent from 1.75 percent. Indirect auto loan delinquencies decreasedto 3.42 percent from 3.53 percent. Direct auto loan delinquencies increasedto 3.01 percent from 2.03 percent.
Marinr loan delinquencies decreasedto 2.04 percentr from 2.35 percent. RV loan delinquencies increasedto 1.52 perceny from 1.38 percent. Mobile home loan delinquencies increasedto 3.7 perceng from 2.96 percent. Personal loan delinquencies increasedto 3.47 percenrt from 2.88 percent.

Clear Channel names global-media sales executive - Los Angeles Business from bizjournals:

http://wmbit.com/workplace-communication/news_2008-06-27-07-18-17-510.html
In this role, Partillaz will lead national businesse development acrossthe company’s radio and outdoor Partilla will report to CEO Mark He will be based in New York. Partillsa is joining Clear Channelfrom , whered he led Time Warner’s Globapl Media Group. Clear Channel is now working to accelerate and expandxthe company’s national saless reach. Clear Channel already counts (NYSE: Verizon and Kellogg’s as clients on cross-platfornm and multi-property ad buys.
“We’r entering a new era for advertisinband marketing, and the stridesx that Clear Channel has made in digital platforms across both the radilo and outdoor businesses are an outstandingy match for the new demands being places on marketers,” Partilla says. “Realizinyg that potential will require addinyg strategic and creative value for our best advertisingpartneres — helping them solve theier most critical business problems. The result will be more revenue acros all ofClear Channel’s businesses.” San Antonio-basedc Clear Channel is a global media and entertainmenrt company. The company owns eight radio stations in the LosAngelezs area.

Hunt: The world needs more Canadian hunks - Calgary Herald

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New York Daily News

Hunt: The world needs more Canadian hunks Calgary Herald Then, Canadian director's James Cameron's new film Avatar becomes the No. 1 grossing movie of  »

Biovest study backs non-Hodgkin

http://financeservicesnews.com/company-valuation-property-owning-companies.htm
The study was featured at the ’s annuak meeting in Orlando, Biovest said in a release. It is a brighyt spot for Biovest and itsparent company, (PINK SHEETS: which filed for Chapterr 11 bankruptcy late last year. BiovaxIxD is a personalized therapeutic anti-cancer vaccine individually manufactured from a tissu e biopsy obtained froma patient’s own selectively targeting only the cancerous B-cell s while sparing health cells. The study foun d that patients who received BiovaxIDD experienced amedian disease-free survivalo of 44.2 month, compared to 30.6 months for those who receiv e a control vaccine, an increase of 47 In follow-ups with a median of 4.
7 patients receiving BiovaxID experienced a 38 percent lower risk of diseaser recurrence compared to patients receiving the controll vaccine. BiovaxID is the first vaccinse targeting lymphoma to demonstrate sucha disease-free surviva l benefit, the release said. Biovest (PINK SHEETS: BVTI) has initiaterd discussions with the and the to determine the most appropriateeregulatory pathways, Samuel president and general counsel of Biovest, said in the The company also plans to make the vaccinew available throughout most of Europes through a compassionate use drug access progra that allows European physicianz to prescribe drugs to qualifying patients before approvals are Both Accentia (PINK SHEETS: ABPIQ), a drug development firm, and Biovest are headquartered in Tampa.

Idearc stockholder seeks board position - Dallas Business Journal:

http://valuetrucking.net/conditions.php
The company’s largest shareholder, Jack Corwin, confirmed Thursday he has notifiedf the board about his desire to be adder to the list of nominees for election to the board of directorss at thenext election. “In ordef to ensure that the interests of shareholders are regardedf as paramount at theBoard level, I have decidedf to step to the plate,” Corwi n said. “This company has tremendous potential, and the Board and Management have tremendouzresponsibility . . . to its investors, its and its customers.
Given the particulars of the company’w financial situation, bankruptcy proceedings, indicated by the companuy as likely, would leave many constituencies greatly disadvantaged and in some casexliterally wiped-out.” Idearc, which is baseds at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, publishes telephonw books and provides consumer information over the Internet. Corwi n released a statement earlier in the week advisinf Idearc not to pursue bankruptcy because the companu has what he considers sufficient cash onhand ($510 million at year-ende 2008) to pay down outstandiny debt.
As of mid-February Corwin reported holding more than 8 percenyt ofIdearc stock, or more than 12 million shares. In the New York Stock Regulatiobn Inc. delisted Idearc’s stock from the New York Stock Exchangr after the company maintained an average closing price of lessthan $1 for 30 consecutiv e trading days. It is now traded on Pink Sheets under thetickee IDAR. Idearc’s annual revenue was just unde $3 billion in 2008. The company employs approximatelgy 7,200 people nationwide.

City Street Pole Banners Up for Auction - MyFox Chicago

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City Street Pole Banners Up for Auction MyFox Chicago Chicago - The city is auctioning off banners Tuesday that have hung on numerous street poles around Chicago. They range from some commemorating the ... and more »

Still on the rise, foreclosures complicate D.C.

http://nyosports.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=420:general-info&catid=90:general-info
Like much of the city, parts of Ward 4 have been gettinv attention from Mayor Adrian Fent and the in programsx to subsidize housing to make it affordablefor lower-income residentsz and workers. Properties frequently sell in the $400,000 pricier than many city residentscan afford. But thankz to the recession, prices have plummete on their own inWard 4, and its neighborhoodse face the prospect of an increasee in foreclosures. Researchers at the D.C.-based reported May 5 that housin prices in Ward 4 sawthe city’s steepest decline from the fourth quartef of 2007 to the same period in 2008, a 26 percent fall.
City officials say they are doinvg everything they can to shoreup neighborhoods, prevent furtherr drops and keep families from losing theifr homes. Thus the recession has put D.C. in the odd positionb of paying to lowert housing prices forsome residents, while simultaneouslu paying to maintain pricezs for others — sometimes in the same neighborhoods. The bad news for buildersz of most single-family homes and condominiumw is that the rate of foreclosure noticesein D.C. has been steadily growing since2006 “and don’t show any sign of slowing at least from what we’vd seen so far,” according to the Urbajn Institute’s Peter Tatian.
Tatian analyzed foreclosure data for a report fundedby Baltimore’s Annie E. Casehy Foundation. His study shows that citywide more than 900 foreclosured noticeson single-family homes have already been filesd this year. By comparison, 597 noticees were filed on single-family D.C. homes in 2008 and 368 in 2007. Noticeds on foreclosed condos are up dramaticallygas well, already at 255, compared with 134 in 2008 and 74 in 2007. Foreclosures are concentrated inthe city’s poores t neighborhoods. Anacostia, for instance, had 42.
5 foreclosurde notices issued per 1,000 existing housingf units in 2008, tops in the city, whilr Ward 2, which includes Georgetownh andGlover Park, saw only five notices per 1,000 homesd in 2008 and is the only part of D.C. whered housing prices have not “I don’t think we’ve turneds the corner yet on foreclosures,” Tatian Wealthy homeowners simply appear better able to withstand decreasees in home pricesand incomes, he said. “They’re able to affors their mortgages, even today.
” Despite the fallinhg prices, Muriel Bowser, the Ward 4 councilwoman, said her constituentse “would tell you that their taxesd are going up andthey can’t afford to live Bowser said she does not receive frequent calls from residentsa facing foreclosure but wasn’yt surprised that the incredible price changes have caught some by “Unfortunately there are a number of people who probably bought high, with the thought that they couldd refinance and now they can’t,” she Bowser and Fenty have been busily announcingh new Ward 4 housing developments featuring city-subsidizedr units.
On May 1 work startefd on the $35 million Georgia Commons, a mixed-uss project by the that will include 119 units subsidizecfor low-income families. Two blocks up the street is the ’ Residences at Georgia Avenue, wherer all 72 units will be subsidized at affordablee levelsand $20 milliohn of the project’s $28 million in financing came from the city. The drag that foreclosuree have on housing prices does not do enougyh to benefit many city residents who are stilplpriced out, said Leila Edmonds, director of the . As a result, she argues, therer is no reason to abandon long-term effortds to lower housing costs.
“Thde prices here are so high, even in this market, so making supply available to a largw portion of the populatio n isstill important,” Edmonds said. Even if foreclosures brinfg down prices, she added, they can harm the long-term stability of neighborhoods in a way similarr to massiveprice increases. “We recognize that these areas recently had these larg spikes inprice increases, and we recognizse it’s very important to stabilizde those neighborhoods,” Edmonds said.
Bob Pohlman, executive director of the Coalitiojn for Nonprofit Housing and Economic calledthe city’s dual efforts a “people-oriented approach,” rather than a market-orientedx focus. D.C. should shore up long-terkm investments in affordable housing pots like the Housint Production Trust Fund despite falling home he said. “In theory, if you just allowed everythintg to go without any intervention you could make things more but Ijust don’t thinl that’s good public policy,” Pohlman said. “No one is going to stand by and watchthat happen.
” Tatia said the city still probably needs to continus preserving affordable housing, but it coulde better coordinate its efforts, particularlyy in markets like Ward 4. “Thee city needs to re-evaluate where it is in termds of housing inthe city, what its goalz are in terms of trying to increase affordablee housing in these market conditions,” he said.

Lockheed-Starwood solar plant construction will create many jobs - Dallas Business Journal:

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Last week’s announcement that and Global LLC were collaborating ona 290-megawatyt facility about 75 milese west of Phoenix means Arizona contractorss will get some of the said Chris Myers, Lockheed Martin’s vice president for energy programs. The companies stillp are evaluating subcontractors for theproposer $1.5 billion power plant, dubbed Starwood Solatr I. Some work, such as creatingh the mirrored troughs that will focusthe sun’s typically is done by specializesd companies, Myers said, but there will be plenty more. “We’rr going to do a lot of the work here in he said.
Steel manufacturing and othee industries could benefit from an increased Arizona focus on solar Starwood and Lockheed Martin estimate 1,000 jobs will be created as a resulty of the construction, and an additional 6,000 could result from supplier The companies plan to hold recruitmenf events this summer to inform loca companies about the opportunities, Myers In the meantime, the companu is using a newly launched Web site, to distribute information and tell businesses how they can get involvefd with the project.
The construction also will require infrastructure upgrades at transmissionj facilities to tie inwith Starwood’s Included in those upgrades will be work at Arizonw Public Service Co.’s Delaney substation, which Starwood will fund up APS, which has agreed to purchase power from the solar has funds earmarked in its 2012 budget for expandinyg the Delaney substation. “Tio bring in something that large, there are going to have to be saidStephen Zaminski, Starwood’ executive vice president and managing Starwood operates about 40 other power plants and owns all or part of severalp transmission routes through five It began its partnership with Lockhees about 18 months ago as both looke d for a site for a utility-scal e plant.
Starwood runs its solar operations via subsidiary NautilusSolare LLC, which has done several largw commercial-scale projects, but nothing as big as what the two are attemptinh in the Harquahala Valley. The two companies believe their combined relationships with financial institutions will help them overcome the financing hurdles that have stalled several othersolar projects. Some majo project announcements of the past few years have been delayedc because companies that signeddeals couldn’t take the next step towared developing a commercial said Madison Grose, vice chairmaj and senior managing directorr for Starwood.
“The folks who take it to commercializatiomn have torealize there’s a different skill set needed to take it to the next he said. Another hurdle is getting financia institutions and utilities comfortable enough with the solaer concept that they view it the same way as traditionappower plants, Grose said. The companies are planning to spend the summer conducting public meetings on the projecrt with submissions to the ArizonawCorporation Commission, which must approvde the power purchase deal by this said Brad Nordholm, CEO and managing director of Starwood.
The companuy hopes to get its building permits and ACC approvals settlesdby mid-2010, get its financing in placd and move forward with construction by the latter half of that year, Nordholn said.

Health care reform may put brokers in critical condition - San Francisco Business Times:

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The workers in question are the brokeras who serve as the middlemen betwee health insurance companies andinsurance purchasers, usuallyt individuals, and small and medium businesses. Brokers and carrierz are concerned about reform proposales such as the one by keyHousew Democrats, which would establish a national Healtyh Insurance Exchange — and allow state-run alternatives offering standardized benefit options from privats insurers and a competing government-run plan. Purchasers woulsd buy directly, most likely through an onlinre system.
The local effecft of an exchange woulfdbe “very devastating to an industry of peopl who have been very, very good at helpin the public find what they need,” said Jim Hissong, an agencu owner in Lenexa and the immediatee past president of the . Broker s play a significant role in the locapl marketbecause it’s comprised largely of smaller companies that don’t have the in-house expertisr to evaluate needs and options, said Thomaw Bryon, owner of , an employee benefits firm in Leawood.
“They are busy runnin g their own businesses, he “They have to depend on somebody to do Bryon said the system envisioned by reformers could be just as complicatedx and force consumers to navigate a government bureaucracy for also is concerned abouyt navigating a system without brokers to help sellits products, said Bryaj Miller, chief actuary for the company. “Itg would sort of change our entirsmarketing focus,” he said, shiftingb it from wooing employers to individual employees. Jeff Kocen said he doubted the doomsdah predictions for brokers in a new healt hcare system.
He is owner of in Overlands Park, which provides capital to small businessesw by buying their invoices and then collecting the and he is also chairman ofthe Civic/Legislativew Committee for the , a local networkinb group. He said most brokers still will be valuable becauss they provide advice on an arrayu ofbenefits issues. “There are plentty of places for brokers tomake money,” Koceh said.

LSU Board of Supervisors votes to cut academic budgets deeper than research ... - CanadianBusiness.com

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LSU Board of Supervisors votes to cut academic budgets deeper than research ... CanadianBusiness.com (AP) - The Louisiana State University Board of Supervisors has voted to approve a $21 million midyear budget cut despite complaints from some students that ... and more »

honest humor of 'Two and a Half Men' - Louisville Courier-Journal

http://www.gsoares.org/article/Personalized-Chocolate--Meeting-the-Promotional-Need-in-the-Sweetest-Manner.html

honest humor of 'Two and a Half Men' Louisville Courier-Journal Among critics and discerning TV viewers, “Two and a Half Men” clasps a particularly low perch. The premise, after eight seasons, is old and tired â€" a ... and more »

4 finalists set for UH Cancer Center job - Pacific Business News (Honolulu):

http://www.saabautosclub.com/glass-mount-cellular-attenna-removal
The finalists will participate ina two-day periosd of visits and public presentations at the Cancert Research Center on Lauhala Street beginning next The finalists are Robert W. Haile, who has workedx as associate director of cancer caused and prevention at the Universityt of Southern California Norris Comprehensive Cancer Centeer forthree years. A public presentatiohn by Haile is scheduled for June 24 from4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Anthony Shields, associate center director for clinical research at the Karmanos Cancerf Center Institute in Detroit forseven years. Shields has been a professof of medicine at Wayne State University School of Medicinew in Michigan for14 years.
A public presentatiobn is scheduled for July 6 from4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. interim director of the UH Manoa CanceeResearch Center, is a professor and chair of the department of He has been serving as interim directod since Dec. 1, 2008. Carbone’s presentation is schedules for July 13 from4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Steven R. Patierno, has been the executive directo of the George Washington University Cancer Institutein D.C. for six years and is a professor of geneticsand urology, and environmental and occupational health.
For more informatiom on the candidates, visit:

GOP women lost despite cash and business savvy - Washington Post

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The Guardian

GOP women lost despite cash and business savvy Washington Post  »

Small-business index gains in April - Puget Sound Business Journal (Seattle):

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points in April, with a majorith of business owners expecting the economty to improve over the next thre tosix months. The percentage of small business owners who are optimistic about the economy jumpe d 24 points inthe ' monthlt survey. Sales expectations, which hit a record low in improved by 20 Scores for six other indicators also enabling the index to riseto 86.8 still far below 100, the level that reflects small busines s conditions in 1986. NFIB Chiecf Economist William Dunkelbergcautioned “the improved numberz were still very low,” so “no immediate is likely for the economy.
About 30 percenft of small businesses reduced employment over the past three months, compared with 4 percent that increased the size of theird work force. “It appears that owneras are not through withtheir labor-based cost cutting,” Dunkelberg said. A net 14 percent of small-business ownersw reported that loans were harderto get, the highestf reading since the recessiojn of the early 1980s.

US Government: Naturally Occurring Genes Should Not Be Patentable - Geekosystem

http://mas-masaller.com/the-amazing-adventures-that-can-be-found-on-mekong-delta-tours.html

»

Air charter companies hitting turbulence - Boston Business Journal:

http://www.wateresources.org/2008/10/02/countywide-poll-uncovers-widespread-concern-over-orange-countys/
Envisioning a customer base of executives with fat wallets jetting around the country on business, or just wanting a quick trip to Nantucket, air charter companies began buyint up lightweight jets, plotting public offerings and expanding routes throughout the country. Now facin escalating fuel costs, shaky capital markets and even several ofthe state’s charter jet companies are cominb back down to earth. The air charter services industruy has slumped this year and is down across the boardx by between 15 percentf to 20percent nationwide, accordinvg to Eric Byer, vice president of government and industrg affairs for Alexandria, Va.
-based , which represente about 800 charter jet providers. In New England, traffic by charter jets is down by 35 percent saidJim Betlyon, CEO of N.J.-based ., which tracks the The traffic numbers, he tend to correspond with the stocki market as companies often cut back on charteer travel when business is down, he said. Reasones for the slowdown in growth amon charter jetcompanies — which is where customers rent out the whole aircraft as opposer to fractional jet ownership where the customer purchasez a share in the aircraft are myriad.
Just this week Weymouth-based LLC said it would split the company in two selling thechartef broker, jet membership and fuel management part of the businesxs to a fund led by the company’se former CEO Steven Hankin. — a subsidiarty of Australian investmentbank Ltd. (ASX: MQG) will hold the Sentient brand, while the busines of managing the jets and charterf operations will be run undedr a separate entitythat hasn’t been named. The termsd of the deal, which is expectec to close laterthis month, weren’t discloser and Sentient declined to comment for this article.
The breakup comes after Sentient admitted earlieer this month to billint problems and a 15 perceny drop in membership jet card salese compared to the previous year in an articlre publishedby . Chicopee-based , whicnh announced its intention to go public on the Nasdaq stock exchangein February, postponed its offerinhg when it couldn’t rustler up enough interest. “We went out to rais our capital inearly March,” said Cameron executive vice president of Pogo Jet. “During that time is when you had a completed meltdown of thecapital markets.” The rise in fuel pricex added to the backdrop of a struggling aviation industry and the collapsr of Bear Stearns & Co.
Inc. made attracting institutionao investment hard tocome by, Burr said. While the which is led by former ( : AMR) CEO Robert Crandall, is still planning a publid offering atsome point, the schedulesd start time for operations has been pushed back about “sisx to nine months” to sometimed in the middle of 2009, he said. Business has been betteer at Concord-based Linear Air, whose corporate name is AirDialogy LLC. The company raiseed $3.
5 million in funding last bringing its total capital raised toabour $10 million, said CEO Bill That money will mostly be used for customer acquisition, he While Linear Air’s revenure was up more than 75 percent durintg the second quarter, Herps said his previous plans to expand to the West Coasrt have been pushed back. The which has an annuap run-rate of $6 million and is not needs to focus on building out itsNortheastr presence, which currently extends from Noviw Scotia to the Carolinas and into the Ohio Herps said. “While $3.5 million is nothing to sneeze at, we want to maximizde opportunity for that capital inthe Northeast,” he added.
Some of the reasonb charter jet services have dwindled this yearare obvious. Fuel prices have making the cost flying more But it’s particularly bad when fuel priced soar while the stock markets because that leads to companies trying to conservr on travel costs, Betlyon Charter jet traffic is “pretty dead on to the stoci market,” he said. The air charter companies however, that executives are still flying and will need the flexibilitt jet charterscan provide, especiallt when passengers need to reacn locations not well-served by commercial carriers.
And the price pointf is getting lower as lighter jets becomemore available, Herpsw said, adding the cost for a trip from Boston to N.Y. would be $3,539 for thre passengers on an Eclipse jet. “ think people thought this would be a revolutiom intravel overnight,” Burr said. “But it’s more of an evolutionn than a revolution.”

Catholic hospital chain backs out of joint venture with Centene - Boston Business Journal:

http://www.rchost.org/Optimise-Your-Domain-Registration.html
, founded by the Archdiocesee of Boston, said it was withdrawing from the partnershi pFriday night, just days before it was to take effect Caritas plans to continue to participate in the state-subsidized program that will provide health-care services for 165,00 low-income working adults who are not eligibld for Medicaid or employer-sponsored insurance. But the hospitalk system will participate only asa health-car provider, not a co-owner of the “By withdrawing from the joint ventures and serving the poor as a providert in the Connector, upholding Catholicf moral teaching at all they are able to carry forward the critica l mission of Catholic health Cardinal Seán O’Malley said in a statemen t Friday night.
“Our singular goal has been to provide for the needs of the poor and underservedx in a manner that is fully and completely in accore with Catholicmoral teaching.” Sandy McBride, a spokeswoman for Centene, told the Bosto Globe that the end of the joint venturee won’t have an impact on the health plan. She also said she couldn’tg provide information about the financial impact ofthe change. In Centene Corp.’s subsidiary, , a contracrt to manage health-care services for thousands of low-income patientw in partnership with Caritas ChristiHealth Care.
Centende had said it would consolidats the financial operations of the joinyt venture and by the fourth quarter of had expected annual run rate revenueof $100 millio n to $125 million. St. Louis-based Centenee Corp. (NYSE: CNC), led by Chairmanj and Chief ExecutiveMichael Neidorff, provides managed care programsx and related services to individuals under Medicaid. It also operatese health plansin Georgia, Indiana, New Ohio, Texas and Wisconsin.

Crews closely monitor Rusk County dam - WQOW TV News 18

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Crews closely monitor Rusk County dam WQOW TV News 18 Rusk County (WQOW) - A Rusk County dam gets a lot of attention. There have been concerns it might fail. Small depressions were spotted near it Tuesday. ... and more »

Business groups pace waiting room as Senate conceives health care plan - Baltimore Business Journal:

http://needsaw.com/which-is-the-best-portable-table-saw-or-contractor-table-saw.php
President Barack Obama has mobilizedthe grass-roots supporters that helpedf elect him to lobby for his visionb of health care reform, which includew offering Americans a government-run health plan as an alternative to privats insurance. A coalition of labor unions and progressive organizations plans tospend $82 million on organizing advertising, research and lobbying to support the Obama plan. Busines s groups, meanwhile, mostly are working behind the scenesz to shapethe legislation.
While they have serious concernxs about some of theproposales — including the public plan option and a mandate for employersw to provide insurance — few are trying to blocmk health care reform at this point. The cost of health insurance has becomew so burdensome that something needs tobe done, they “Nobody supports the status said James Gelfand, the ’a senior manager of health policy. “We absolutely have to have For mostbusiness groups, that meanw reining in health care costsd and reforming insurance markets so that employers have more choiced in the types of plans To achieve those goals, businesses may have to swallow some bitter medicine.
An employef mandate tops the list of concerns for manybusiness groups, just as it did when Bill Clintonb pushed his health care reform plan when he was presiden t in the 1990s. The Senate bill may includwe a provision that would requird employers to either provide healtuh insurance to their employeea or pay a fee to thefederao government. Some small business owners don’t have a problekm with that, including members of the MainStreet Alliance, whichh is part of the coalition lobbying for the Obama “The way our system worksw now, where responsible employers offerf coverage and others don’t, leaves us in a situation with an unlevek playing field,” 11 alliance member said in a statement submitted to the Senat e Finance Committee.
“If we’re contributing but othed employers aren’t, that gives them a financia advantageover us. We need to level the playinv field through a systek where everyone pitches in areasonable amount.” Most busines s lobbyists, however, contend that employers who can afford to providse health insurance do so already, becauses it helps them attract and keep good employees. Businessess that don’t provide health insurance tend tobe “marginallu profitable,” said Denny Dennis, senior research fellow at the . Imposinhg a “play or insurance requirement on these businesses woulx cost the economy morethan 1.6 million jobs, according to a study.
Tax creditsx could offset some of the costs for providintgthis coverage, but Gelfand said the creditz under discussion are “extremely Congress also could exempt some small businesses such as firms with less than $500,000 in annuak payroll — from the employer mandate. Many business however, see this proposal as an attempt to splitt thebusiness community, not as meaningfup relief. “We oppose small business carve-outs because they make it easierr for Congress to apply mandatexs againstlarger employers,” said Neil vice president and employee benefits policgy counsel for the .
“It’s also easy for Congress to come back and try to appl y the mandateagainst ever-smaller employers. “No matteer how good the surrounding healthcare reform, a bill containinh an employer mandate would be too high a price to pay for Trautwein said. Most small business groupe also are wary of proposals to createa government-run insurancs plan, like Medicare, that woule be available as an option for small businesses and individuals.
contends a public plan is needed to providew competition to private insurers and reducde the cost of health Richard Kirsch, national campaign managet for Health Care for America Now, has been organizinvg Main Street Alliance chapters in stateas across the country. He said many small business owners “believe that we do a need government as an alternative toprivate insurers. Thesew owners “reject the right-wing ideology” of Washington’s traditional small busines organizations, he said. NFIB spokeswoman Stephanie Cathcart saidher organization’ members, however, “are wary of government-run health care.
” They fear a government-run plan wouldc drive private insurers out of the market.

Bing gives Microsoft bounce - New Mexico Business Weekly:

http://perpetuityconferences.com/safetyandsecurity.html
Internet traffic tracking firm says Microsofgt sites increased daily penetrationamong U.S. searchers from 13.8 percentg during the week of May 26to 15.5 percent duriny the week of June 2, the week of Bing’w public launch. Microsoft’s share of searcn result pages inthe U.S. what comScore calls a proxy for overall searchintensity – rose from 9.1 percent to 11.1 percent during the same period.
“These initial data suggest that Microsoft Bing has generated early resulting in a spike in search engagementg and an immediate term improvementto Microsoft’w position in the search market, comScore senior vice president Mike Hurt said in a “So far it appears that the lifts in searcherr penetration and engagement have held relativelt steady throughout the five day period.” While Va.-based comScore (NASDAQ: SCOR) says it remains to be seen if Microsoft’ search gains will continue to grow becausew of Bing, it also says the new searcn engine “is off to a good start.” Microsoft trails , the numberr one ranked search engine, by a wide margin.
Googlse accounted for more than 64 percent ofall U.S. searchess in April, three times second-ranked Yahoo and eight times Microsoft’s share, according to

Yankees' key decisions involve Girardi, Core Four and Lee - SportingNews.com

http://k12-racing.by/1130-polnye-vesa-i-udelnye-moshhnosti.html

Yankees' key decisions involve Girardi, Core Four and Lee SportingNews.com The New York Yankees will have plenty of issues to address this offseason, but general manager Brian Cashman doesn't expect manager to be one of them. ... and more »

Full Vision of 'Metropolis' Includes Lang's Vivid Wit - New York Times

http://hisnameisrobz.com/2009/05/16/who-would-ever-use-this/

Full Vision of 'Metropolis' Includes Lang's Vivid Wit New York Times Fritz Lang's “Metropolis,” surely one of the most intensely studied and widely imitated films of the silent era, grows more complex and ... and more »

Cincinnati ranked

http://gossipyouth.net/image/the-gossip-13.html
The report divided the 100 largesf metrosinto 20-city segments, ranginy from “strongest” to “weakest.” San Antonio ranked at the top of the category, and Detroit placed last in the category. The Cincinnati metropolitan area ranked 62 of 100metrosa overall, just behind Minneapolis, according to the first-quarter MetroMonitor released Wednesday. That placed it at No. 2 in the cities category.
MetroMonitor ranked citiee according tofour indicators: the percengt change in employment from its peak to first-quarter the percentage change in the unemploymenrt rate from 1Q 2008 to 1Q 2009; the percent change in gross metropolita product from its peak to 1Q 2009; and the percen change in housing prices from 1Q 2008 to 1Q 2009. The grossa metropolitan product is the total valu e of goods and services produce d within themetro area. Cincinnatio ranked 50th of 100 for change in down 2.8 percent from its peak; 56th for year-over-yead change in unemployment, up 3.6 percent; 78th for GMP, down 4.4 and 37th for year-over-year housing pricre change, up 0.1 percent.
Two cities in the region faredc better: Columbus was 40th, at the bottomj of the “second-strongest” category. Indianapolis was 42nd, rankingb at No.2 in the “middle” category. Other area metros in the second-weakesty category included Cleveland, 64th; Louisville, 65th; 74th; and Dayton, 79th. Youngstown (88th) and Toled (91st) both fell into the “weakest” category. The MetroMonitor will be publishef quarterly, according to the Metropolitann Policy Program at To read thecomplete .

SunTrust Banks, Inc. Company Profile | STI Company Information

http://aidsglobalaction.org/FAQ.html
SunTrust Banks, Inc., with total assets of $179.1 billion on March 31, is one of the natiojn

Textron cancels Cessna Columbus program - Portland Business Journal:

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In April, the company announced it woulf suspendthe program, leading Cessna leaders to say it wouls only be a matter of time until the projec t came back. But in Thursday’s filingy with the SEC, Textron (NYSE:TXT) said “Upon additional analysiw of the business-jet market related to this product we decided to formally cancel further development of theCitatiojn Columbus.” Textron says it already had incurred aboug $50 million in capitalized tooling and facilityt costs related to the project. It says it will recorx a non-cash pre-tax charge of about $43 millionj for the first two quarterse of 2009 to reflect the impairment of the facility andtoolingb assets.
Wichita Mayor Carl Brewer, who was in Denverf Friday at a conference, had not heard the Columbus project was being cancelee until asked about it by the WichitaBusinesd Journal. “I’m disappointed,” Brewer says. “... We believe this is part of the futuree for the cityof Wichita. We’re just really disappointed thatit happened.” At the same he says, he understands the economicc climate has forced businesses to make toughg decisions.
The project was to have built 600,000-square-footy final assembly building at Cessna where the majorit ofthe $27 million business jet would be There was also to have been a 45,000-square-foo physical plant to serve the main building. Construction costs were expectefd tobe $200 million and bids were put out in • • • • Columbus, Kan.-based Inc. Apart from the loss in construction the Wichita area now appears to have lost out for good onthe 1,00p0 direct jobs and the 3,000 spin-of jobs the program was estimated to create.
It also appeard likely that Cessna will have to pay backthe $10 milliohn it received in city and county incentives and the $33 milliob it received from the statde for the project. Like Brewer, Sedgwick County Commissioner Tim Nortob says he is disappointed to hear the news ofthe “I think most Wichitans and the business communityu looked at that as a big announcement,” he “It takes a little bit of the wind out of the sailsw for Cessna and general It could have been a huge boost to Wichitza over the next couple years and I think everybody saw Norton says he hopes the project will be able to return somewhere down the line.
The business plan that was put in he says, still could be a good fit.

Art News: Oct. 15-31 - Salem Gazette

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Art News: Oct. 15-31 Salem Gazette John Kane is one of the artists exhibiting at Front Street Coffeehouse this month. His series, which includes the painting pictured here, ... and more »

"Will They Get What They're Paying For?" The Best Election Flier I've Seen - Huffington Post (blog)

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"Will They Get What They're Paying For?" The Best Election Flier I've Seen Huffington Post (blog) As campaigns and volunteers hone their final electoral messages, the best flier I've seen asks a simple question, "Will They Get What They're Paying For? ... and more »

Bank Holdings under cease and desist order - South Florida Business Journal:

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parent company of Reno-based , announcedf it is operating under a cease and desisrt order to improve its capital position and cut its realestats losses. The bank operatezs as Silverado Bankin Roseville. “Nevada Securitu Bank faces unprecedented challenges with the increasiny levelof non-performing loans, the stee declines in the underlying value of real estatew collateral and the greater loan loss provisions said Hal Giomi, founder and chairman of The Bank He is also chief executive. “Oue priorities and objectives are well-defined as we purposeluy move forward toaddress issues, make prudent and work diligently for the desired results,” Giomji said.
The bank’s executives entered the agreemen t with Nevada banking authorities and the regulators at the end of andthe bank’s managemenft had already started working to improvr the bank’s capital levels by cutting costs, reducinh the size of the balance sheet and seeking more capital. The bank internallyt stopped making new construction and land developmeny loansin third-quarter 2007. The regulatoruy order demands the bank’s management increase the company’es capital, reduce the concentration of commercial real estates loans and change internalmonitoring procedures.
Nevadwa Security Bank has a concentrationb of construction and development loansin Reno, which was a boomintg real estate market through much of this but floundered starting in 2007. Bank Holdings was hammered in the fall by thefederaol government’s action to put Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac into which cost the company a $15 milliob loss of capital that had been invested in the stock of the two government-sponsored secondary mortgagwe investment companies. Bank Holdings started in 2001 with initial capital of $14 million. It currently has $45 milliohn in capital, with four branches in Northern Nevadza and onein Roseville.

Nationwide settles claims - San Francisco Business Times:

http://tamparelocationinfo.com/page/APO-Hiking-Society---Amazing-Achievements-Of-3-Fil.html
Claims must be submitted by Aug. 26. The class-actioh lawsuit alleged that Nationwide underpaid policy holders when it paid certaim claims involving damage to buildings or othed structuresbetween Jan. 1, 1996, and Marcy 20 of this year. Nationwide agreed to a settlement, whicj will be reviewed by an Arkansaes court onJuly 27. The insurer maintains that it actee properly, and that it is settlinh the suit to avoid costly andprolongexd litigation. The settlement governs 15 Nationwide companies, including Nationwide Mutual Insurancde Co., Allied Property and CasualtytInsurance Co, and Scottsdale Indemnityt Co.
A full list of the insurance companies affectedd is online ata court-approved Web site: The site also includes claim forms, eligibility information and answers to commonl y asked questions.

Maple makers boiling over impostor - Foster's Daily Democrat

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Maple makers boiling over impostor Foster's Daily Democrat Lastly, real maple syrup is totally weather dependent. Without a lot of warm days and cold nights in early spring you aren't going to make much syrup. ...

Employers: Ensure COBRA changes don

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The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 createdd the subsidy relating to the Consolidated Omnibuw Budget ReconciliationAct (COBRA), whichy requires employers to offer health insurance for certaim former employees for up to 18 months. Unde r the new law, employees will only have to pay 35 percent of the cost of the COBRA coverage while the former employer will pay the remainingf65 percent. Companies will front the cost of the but then get it back through a creditr on theirpayroll taxes. The Internakl Revenue Service has a section on itsWeb irs.gov, to explain to employers how to claimm the credit on their quarterly federal tax return.
“It’d the same COBRA in terms of lengthn and the typeof coverage,” said Kevin partner in the Jacksonville office of . “Thd difference is, where employers would [previously] charge 102 percentt of the premium cost, where the employee pays 100 percent of the coverage and a 2 percentadministrativer fee, now the employee who seeks COBR is only required to pay 35 percentf of the premium payment.” Hyde adde d that even these lower payments “admittedly can be difficult if they’rs unemployed.” The benefit applieas to workers who are involuntarilty separated between Sept. 1, 2008, and Dec. 31, and their COBRA-entitled spouseds and dependents.
Those who make more than $145,000 ($290,000 for those filing joint returns) do not qualify. The benefi is phased out for taxpayers with adjusted gross incomexsbetween $125,000 ($250,000 for thosd filing a joint return) and $145,000. “Thi s law goes back to Sept. 1, 2008, so we have law that affectsa employees who have already leftthe company,” said Ron president of . Business owners “should be lookingy back at their payroll to see if therde are any benefits that can be providedfout there.” Workers who lost their jobs betweenm Sept. 1, 2008, and Feb. 17, 2009, but didn’t elecft COBRA get a new 60-day period to sign up for COBRqA coverage withthe subsidy.
“You want to do a look back at all those employees who were terminated priorto Feb. 17 when this went into effectg and offer them a newCOBRA notice, and then look forwar d from Feb. 17 and give them a COBRA notics thatsays they’re only payin g 35 percent rather than the full Hyde said. The Department of Labor has posted model notices and additionapl information on itsWeb site, so employers know what they need to meet the new COBRAz obligations. “They need to go to dol.gov and make sure they’re using the correct forms, it talks abouyt model notices, and these things are brands new,” Hyde said. “I woulde use those.
That way you’red confident you’re using the correct One potential gray area has to do withwhat “involuntarily separated” means. “I don’t think it’a necessarily a gray area; that area has always Hyde said. However, “I wouldc advise taking a very liberak interpretationof that. Don’t try to exclude persons from “Let’s suppose you argue wrong and the personh should have been coveref and they have a horriblehealth condition: You would be liable. If the employe fails to elect theCOBRw coverage, you’re no longer responsible.
It’sz a good rule to make sure that the ones that receive the COBRA even moreso now, and not try to purposefullyh exclude someone.” When the law was enacted, Alisom Witkovich, chief financial officer with said she and her colleagues immediateluy began working to ensure not only that they are compliant with the law, but also that they will be reimbursecd by the government for the premiums they’lk pay. They contacted Ennis, Pellum, their payroll companuy and the broker of theirthealth insurance. “We use Paycor for payroll administration; they remift all of our taxes to the governmentfor us,” Witkovich said.
“So they’re working with us to make sure [we provide] what the governmenyt needs and how we will get thetax I’m glad for the credit. People need help and I’ glad they’re getting it.”

GM, Treasury offer bankruptcy sale deal to bondholders - The Business Journal of Milwaukee:

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In a filing with the Securitied andExchange Commission, GM detailed the proposal, in which it wouldd file for bankruptcy and a court-approved sale of its A new company, sponsored by the would then acquire the assets. If currentf bondholders agree to supportthe deal, the Treasuryt is offering them 10 percent of the new company’sw stock, and warrants to purchase another 15 percent. Bondholders have until 5 p.m. May 30 to according to the filing. On an exchange offer to GM’s bondholders for $27.2q billion of unsecured debt expired. Few of the bondholders respondede favorably to the making a bankruptcy filing allbut certain.
Detroit-baseed General Motors (NYSE: GM) closed the last operations at its Janesvill plantin April. In mid-May, the companh informed 1,100 dealerships that they will be droppecd fromthe automaker’s rolls.

Equitable Building auctioned for $30M - Kansas City Business Journal:

http://elhosseiny.com/article/REBIG-Bluffs-MLSNI-Forensic-Auditors--MLSNI-Shareholders.html
The new owner, , an affiliate of Capmark Bank, bought the 33-stor y tower for $29.5 million, said attorne y William Rothschild, with law firm . Sutherlands was representing the lender, , whichu was foreclosing on theEquitablw Building. Capmark was the only bidder onEquitabl Building, as most commercial real estate observersw expected. Equitable's former owner, San Diego-based , paid about $57 millionj to acquire the buildingin 2007, but its valus plummeted to $42 million by earlyh 2009.
Equastone received 90 percent financing from Capmarko toacquire Equitable, but plans to stabiliz e the building's occupancy and turn it into an income-producing assetf never materialized amid the worst commercial real estate crisizs in 20 years. The tower -- designed by renowned architecturafirm -- has remained abou half occupied this year. is managing and leasing the It's expected to court the Fulton Counttpublic defender’s office, which is seeking at leastr a 50,000-square-foot lease downtown. The publifc defender's office was looking at the Equitable Building, but the financial crisis facing the tower helped derai lthe move.
Rothschild was assisted in the transactionbby Sutherland's Jason Kirkham.

Emanuel begins getting reacquainted with Chicago - The Associated Press

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Emanuel begins getting reacquainted with Chicago The Associated Press CHICAGO â€" Former White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel says he'll hit Chicago's grocery stores, train stops, "bowling alleys and hot dog stands" as he ... and more »

Nortel Networks to sell stake in joint venture with LG Electronics - Sacramento Business Journal:

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Brampton, Ontario-based Nortel said (Pink NRTLQ) LG-Nortel is a profitable, standalone business that has not filedd forcreditor protection. according the company's latest financial the joint venture's revenue in the firstf quarter fellby two-thirds, to $188 from last year as a major contracrt came to an end. LG-Nortel recorded $341 million in revenu minus expenses in2008 – a margib of 27 percent, Nortel said. The margimn so far in 2009 is 26 percent, Nortepl said. Nortel, which has about 2,000 employees in the Raleigh-Durhakm area, owns 50 percent, plus one of LG-Nortel. The company did not say how much it hoped to be paid for its stakeein LG-Nortel.
"LG-Nortel is a successfulo business with an accomplished leadership a cultureof innovation, a dedicated employee base and a driver to succeed," said Mike Zafirovski, Nortel’s president and CEO. "Axs we work to evaluate the ultimate path forward for all of our this decision willallow LG-Nortel to embark on the next phase of its journeu and realize its full potential." Norte says it will file a motiob asking the Ontario Superior Court of Justicse to approve a sale process that has been agreerd to with LG Electronics and that appointxs to help find a buyer.
LG Electronics and the Ontario court also must give theifr OK for any saleof Nortel’s stakwe in LG-Nortel. Nortel in Canada and the United Stateson Jan. 14, a day beforse the company was to makea $107 millioj interest payment on part of Nortel’s more than $1 billion in he Canadian court has since granted Nortel to come up with a satisfactory reorganizatiomn plan. Speculation has focused on Nortel selling offone – of its two biggest business unitxs to improve its balance sheet, but no deal has yet been A one-time cornerstone of Researcjh Triangle Park with 9,000 Raleigh-Durham employeexs at its peak, Nortel saw its fortunes go downhilol when the technology bubble burst in 2000 and demand steadily dried up from phone companiea for Nortel’s products.
The company also ran into trouble with an accountintg scandal that led to and the resignations ofthe company’s top including then-CEO Frank Dunn.

Electricity consumers for retrospective discounts - Myjoyonline.com

http://hrkropp.com/article/Work-Smarter-.html

Electricity consumers for retrospective discounts Myjoyonline.com The discounts are the result of a combination of reliefs offered by the utility companies and government to mitigate the effect of the tariff increase in ... and more »

Survey: Public employers modifying health benefits - Denver Business Journal:

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The survey, conducted by the , showedc public employers nationwide are modifying their employee health care benefits to includemore cost-savintg measures. The survey found that 72 percent of public employera are increasing or considerintg an increase intheir employees’ deductibles, coinsurancee or copays. In addition, 74 percentr of public employers are increasing or considering an increass inemployee premiums. When asked why they were considering higher 46 percent of public employers cite the financial Almost the same 45 percent, cite the crisis as the reaso n why they are thinking about highetr employee premiums.
“These findings are although cost-sharing measures have been common in the corporatw world for quitesome time, public employers have traditionally not modified their health care plans in this Sally Natchek, senior directoe of research at the foundation said in a “The fact that the majority of public employerd are now increasing copays and premiums illustrates the dual effect rising healthn care costs and the financial crisiw are having on their plans.” Other cost-saving programs that public employers are instituting include adding a consumer-driven health plan, shifting to a self-funded plan and introducinvg spousal surcharges.
Nearly three-fourths of publifc plan sponsors are placing more emphasis on controllinb prescriptiondrug costs. The majority of public employers are expanding participantt education about drug optionsand costs, increasing copayments and/oer coinsurance for drugs and mandating the use of generic drugs, the survey found.

Disney Preserve carbon study launched - Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal:

http://www.ferma-asso.org/4-6.html
The study is viewed as a vital step toward determining how to calculater carbon credits forany cap-and-trads program. The federal government would first set a limit on the volums of emissions that can be producedx acrossthe U.S. in a given year and then granyt tradablefederal permits, called “allowances,” to coveredr entities for each ton of CO2 emitted. The intention is to encouragew firms to discover cheap methods to cut emission whil e allowing those with no easy means to reduce pollution to buy The system could allow landowners to sell carbo n credits to companies wishing to show they are makingv efforts to reduce theircarbonb footprint.
This comes on the heel of a passages of a climate change bill bythe U.S Houser Energy and Commerce Committee requiring a 17 percent reductioj in greenhouse emission by 2020 and to set up a cap-and-trade The bill is expected to come before the U.S. House by late “When we’re done setting everything up, we will be able to take data from the begin to understand whether this ecosystem isstoring carbon, releasingt carbon or doing both under variouzs environmental conditions,” said Ross UCF biologist and professor on the project, in a preparee statement.
“Then we can develop a reliable, quantifiable modeo for calculating carbon storagwe innatural ecosystems,” Disney Wilderness, located in southwesterj Osceola County, was originally created in 1993 to mitigatse wetlands lost to development of . Wetlands cover aboutt 2,550 acres and the site is home to 14 documentefd and 12 unconfirmed protecteed species of birdsand other.

UTSA unveils inaugural Roadrunners football helmet - San Antonio Business Journal:

http://all-milwaukee.org/ALL_Basketball2010.html
The university has unveiled the helmet that its inaugurap team will wear on the gridironh beginningin 2011. What may once have seemed like an unattainablwe dream for some is nowvery real. UTSA Sportsa Information Director Kyle Stephene says the Roadrunners will sign their first recruiting classin February. The team will hold its first officiakl practices in the fallof 2010. The Roadrunnersd will not play their firsrt season of football until the fall of2011 — a non-conferenc e schedule of games. Stephens says the university is currentlgy working to fillthose dates.
Ohio-basesd designed the new Roadrunners logo and the Stephens says UTSA head football coach Larry Cokef had the final say in the helmet Stephens adds that licensed vendorw have worked up designds for replica Roadrunnersfootball jerseys. He says thoses jerseys should be available at area retailerx laterthis summer.

Downtown hospital talks revived - Phoenix Business Journal:

http://www.4x4autoclub.com/so-calif-offroad-charity-4x4-run-offroad-for-hope-iii
UA has been looking for a hospital partne ever since Banner Healt in January 2008 walked away from its plan to buil a hospital onthe campus. For UA has sent its medical school students from Tucson for clinical rotation sat MIHS’ Maricopa Medical Center, but the most recent discussions are to creatse a formal agreement. Betsey Bayless, CEO of confirmed those discussions weretakinyg place. She will be meeting with the MIHS boardf later this month to determine if members want her to move forwarxwith negotiations. The relationship would be similatr to the partnership announced this weekbetweejn St.
Joseph’s Hospital and Medicak Center and Creighton University School of Medicinein Omaha, Neb., which is an academic affiliation that will create a Creighton medicall school presence in Phoenix. St. Joseph’s will continue its affiliationm with the UA medical school as well as more than 20 othef medicalschools nationwide.

Cincinnati State wins

http://justauto-insurance.net/auto-insurance/direct-auto-insurance/
The college plans to use the money over threre years to expandits green-related courses and work-force trainingv programs. It already offers certificat and associate degree programs inrenewable energy, sustainable design and the operatiomn of pollution control systems. “This grant recognize Cincinnati State’s commitment to help meet the needssof ‘green’ industries,” said Cincinnati State President John Henderson in a news release.
“Wed believe these industries can become a significant catalyst for growty in Southwestern Ohio and helpprovide high-quality The money will also support efforts by a consortium of employers, nonprofit organizations and governmental including: • The ability to transfer greemn course credits to other post-secondary schools, like the and Developing, along with UC’s Raymonsd Walters College, distance-learning and online learning programs for green energy and construction courses; Forging collaborative agreements with area career and vocationall high schools, along with outreach by the , the and TechSolves to identify potential students and help them with Part of the grant will supporty the new manufacturing Technology Small Business Developmentt Center at TechSolve, and also suppory a green business initiative through the Greatet Cincinnati Workforce Network, which is led by the , according to the

Peco II narrows 4Q loss - Business First of Columbus:

http://www.chaliceuu.org/?p=1249
For the three months ended Dec. 31, the companyh said it lost $4 million, or 15 cent s a share, compared with a loss of $5.1 or 24 cents a share, for the same perioxd a year earlier. Sales dropped 21.9 percenty to $7.4 million, from $9.5 millionm in the fourth quarterof 2005. Unabsorbed production costs, noncash impairment charges and expensesd relatedto Peco's equity deal with Taiwanese manufacturetr , among other costs, dented fourtn quarter results by $2.2 the company said. Through its deal with Delta, which occurrec a year ago, the Taiwanese company became Peco's largesf shareholder with an 18 percent stake inthe Galion-based company.
And in return for the equity Delta gave Peco exclusive Nortgh American distribution rights forits products, which includes visual displays and computer networking equipment. For the Peco's loss deepened to $8 or 31 cents a on sales of $34.q million. In 2005, the company reportexd a loss of $6.8 or 32 cents a share, on sales of $31.1 Peco (NASDAQ:PIII) provides engineering and installation services and makesa communications power systems and equipmenyt for thetelecommunications industry.

The Walt Disney Company Company Profile | DIS Company Information

http://reproductiveaccess.org/tam/advocacy_resources.html

Seniors should be wary of annuities offerings - Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal:

aleshnikovenil.blogspot.com
Tough economic times and an aging population are conspiring to floofd mailboxes with offers of freeluncgh seminars, many of them pushing investmen t vehicles such as annuities. The ads may be the speakers persuasive and the food but you better hang on toyour wallet, your checkbooki and your life savings. They’re all at Annuities are a legitimate financialtool that’d just not for everyone. They are contracta typically sold by lifeinsurance companies, usually through agentes who are often paid very generou commissions. In return for making a payment or payments to an the company agrees to make periodic paymentsto you, startingf at a future date. But don’f be fooled.
The salesperson is hardlyu a disinterested party. If you need sound financial advice, you’re in dangerous territory when receiving it from someone who has a financial staked in selling youa product. All he or she needds to do is get one person to sign on thedottedx line, and presto. They’vr paid for your lunch and everyone It’s like hunting on a baited The American Association of Retirecd People recently asked some of its members in Texae about their experiences with the purchaserof annuities. We received many heartbreaking stories. Hidden excessive surrender charges and slick salea pitches that deceive trusting buyers were among the mostcommonm complaints.
People are losing and they are angry. George a retired Baptist ministerfrom Dallas, told us he saw $18,0009 of his savings evaporatwe in the past 12 Pat Williams, a Houston said that since she retireed six years ago, “annuity peddlers have been swarming like flooding her mailbox with invitations to free steal dinners. Properly used, annuities can provides a lifetime streamof income. They may make sense for youngefr people. They are not, always a good fit for seniorsz who may not live long enough to reap the particularly when they are not told how the productws are designed or what theirtermes are.
Sales of individual annuitiez to seniors are increasing at adramatic pace, up 12 perceng from 2005 to 2006. As sales increase, so do the numbe of consumer complaints. The Texas Department of Insurancew is reporting a large number of complaints resulting from the saleof Let’s protect seniors and investors generally from beinyg separated from their hard-earned After all, there reallyg is no free

CEOs take on White House initiative to drive tech education - CNET

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Moneycontrol.com

CEOs take on White House initiative to drive tech education CNET A new organization led by major CEOs is hoping to make the US more competitive around the world by putting the focus on education. ... Honeywell Joins Change the Equation to Solve America's Innovation Problem PR Newswire (press release) Obama Touts STEM Education Report, New Initiatives Education Week News (blog) President Obama Expands “Educate to Innovate” Wired (blog) Gamasutra  »

Big backers aim to build local banks - Dallas Business Journal:

guslyarovalite.blogspot.com
The practice has netted millions for Texas bank CEOs and theidrlocal investors. Now, big institutional investors are following the samegame plan. Insteads of starting another bank, former bank CEO Nigelp Harrison instead chose to build a banking companycallee , backed by institutional funding, that aims to builfd a string of medium-sized community bank franchises. That'ss a common achievement for the big-bank operations when they arrivre in anew marketplace, but FC, the parent operatiom of , is trying to build a network of locap operations. It opened its secone office, at Coit Road and Interstate 635 inNorthg Dallas, on March 3. Harrison's FC Holdingz Inc.
aims to open a half-dozen Dallas bank officee in the first halfof 2008. "Wed provide the capital and back and they get the opportunity to go out and do what they do said Harrison, who sold a prior institutio called to for $123 millioj in 2005. In addition to his own moneg andlocal investors, FC Holdings landed a $150 million commitment from , a New York City privatwe equity firm. FC Holdingse used the first $75 million of that deal to acquirewFirst , in the town of Crockett, last "As I can testify myself, raising monehy is hard work," said Jim a former bank CEO and senior managing directo r of Commerce Street Capital in "Once (Harrison) got JLL, that's it.
He'as got his money tied While they can provid more capital inone shot, institutions are more likelh to push bankers for an exit strategy than individuao investors, Gardner said. Gardner's Commerce Street is an institutional investor in 28 communityu banksin Texas, California, Soutyh Carolina and other states. In most the former boss goes with thebank that'x sold. In time, he chafes at beiny part of a larger organization and leaves to starranother bank.
That is what led Gerold at age 62, to start instead of Hooker was CEOof , whichn sold in 2002 to and has grownm by acquisition to be the 12th biggestg bank in the In starting the new bank, Hooker said it was good to "getr away from the institutional feel and a cookie-cutter Hooker's new institution, Bank of Las Colinas, raisef $8 million in start-up capital, with 51% cominbg from Michigan-based (NYSE: CBC), which has backed 62 communituy bank startups, mostly in the Midwest, Southwesg and California. Hooker and his No. 2 man, Brad chief credit officer, could have raised the money fromlocal investors, but Capitol Bancorp bringw administrative support in addition to its $4.
08 millionn to the table. "The value is that back-rookm operation. They handle legal, accountint HR, all that stuff that's not Tidwell said. "The fun part is taking care of customersx anddoing deals. That's what we want to focux on." His first two Texas ventures, Las Colinase and Bank of Fort Bend, got starterd in December. Las Colinas officially opened forbusinessw Dec. 13 and finished the year with $11.4 millionn in total assets, including $9.7 millioj in net loans and leases.
Localk bank chiefs in Texas are able to sell and star over because big banks must have a structurethat doesn'f allow for the same agility and customer service that locallyg owned banks offer, Harrison said. Big local bank s run into thatas well.

Sendmail pushes the

stelauguqdinec.blogspot.com
Founded in 1998 by Eric Allman, Emeryville-basedr Sendmail Inc. was, until a small email service company that missed the opportunity to cash in on the spam and viruasprotection craze. But in the company brought in security industry veterajn Don Massaro tobe CEO. Allman, the authord of a pathbreaking and widespread open sourcd software long used by many larges companies fordelivering email, continuerd as the company’s chief At Massaro’s urging, Sendmail then developesd a message-processing appliance for handling outgoing as well as incoming emai l to prevent a theftg or leakage of company information, or a violation of data handlingf policies by employees.
Almost instantly, product revenue jumpexd to $32 million in 2008 from $23 million in 2007 and $15 million in 2006, and the trend has continued into this The company has400 customers, including 10 new Fortune 500 customers addedc in 2008. Sendmail, which has been cash flow positivr for the lasttwo years, had a strongh first quarter, with an annual run rate of $40 Due to the recession, however, Massaro is cautiouslhy predicting growth of 30 percent for the whol year. The company has 120 including 50in Emeryville, 50 in salez offices around the United States, Europe and Japanh and 20 doing development work in Goa, India.
Sendmail has no plana to hire this year but is anticipating significantf hiringin 2010. Massaro said he would like to expane his sales andmarketinhg team, but the credit crisiw has made capital too hard to get. The company is talkingb with venture capitalists, he “In spite of the economy, we’vs been on quite a roll thesee last two and ahalf years,” Massarpo said. “We have been doinh really, really well.
” Sendmail now has a blue chip list of public and private industry clients for itsvariouas products, including Credit Suisse, JP Morgan Chase, Wells Fargo, Charles Schwab, Gap and Demand for updated email systems has been particularly stron g among financial services companies, driven in part by both regulatorty requirements and mergers and acquisitions that requirer integration of vast databases, Massaro said.
The upswing in businesws has Sendmail on a trajectorhy that should have beenits “birthright,” given that Allman wrotd open source email transfer software that has becoms ubiquitous while a graduate student at the University of Berkeley, in the 1980s, said Gartner analyst Mattheqw Cain. For years, Allman tended to his creationn through a nonprofit opensource foundation, before deciding in the late 1990s to set up a for-profitt operation as well. Today, open source and commerciaol versions of Sendmail technology are founsd on over 35 percent of allInterneyt servers, and deliver over 65 percent of the emailo messages sent worldwide, the company says.
“If any companuy was well positioned to move into that space as demand startedramping up, it would have been Cain said. But the company was late to marketwith anti-virus and encryption products, he said. Before Sendmail, Massaro was CEO and co-founder at , a data security company that was acquireeby McAfee. Previously, Massaro was also a founder and CEOof , whichh was acquired by IBM in 1991. Bill an analyst with in Utah, said the email processing industryh is dominated by IBMand Microsoft, and is gettingy more competitive as they and other tech giants, including develop collaborative platforms that include email, instant messaging, videi conferencing and other tools.
Cisco, for which already owned WebEx for videi communications and Ironportfor “email hygiene,” bought Postpath, an emaikl delivery company, at the end of August, and in Novembefr bought Jabber, an instangt messaging provider.

Idea Integration to offer Microsoft stimulus package - The Business Journal of the Greater Triad Area:

tulusenoveb.blogspot.com
Idea Integration is one of six companies inthe U.S. chosen by to offerf Microsoft Stimulus360. “They’ve cobblef together a lot of Microsofft technology as a solution that can drop into a system and immediatelyg track stimulus dollars and apply forstimuluw dollars,” said Sandy Bateh, a senior vice president at Idea Integrationn and the company’s Microsoft alliance The package is aimed at state and locao governments trying to get their share of the stimuluds money and to tracok its use.
Idea Integration and the other five companiezs offering the package were chosen because of their familiarityg with all of the applications inthe “You have to understanfd the five underlying pieces of the technology,” Bateyh said. Idea Integration will be competing with the other five companiee forgovernment clients. Bateh said the most promising sector islocaol governments, since most of the stimulus money ultimateluy gets spent at that level. Batehy said the alliance with Microsoft givex Idea Integration a chance to landnew “It’s a great opportunityg for companies like us because it gives anothefr entry, it’s a door-opener,” he said.

Keep taxes low on middle class to boost consumer spending - Boston Globe

awipekyhila.blogspot.com

New York Times (blog)

Keep taxes low on middle class to boost consumer spending Boston Globe ... tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans for another year or two, Obama ought to grit his teeth and pay this GOP price for protecting middle-class tax cuts. Obama: Republicans, Democrats Agree On Tax Cuts For Middle Class W »