New Colorectal Cancer Screening Test Shows Promise HealthNewsDigest.com Colorectal cancer is highly treatable if found early, but more than 40 percent of adults age 50 and older have not been screened as recommended.4 However, an investigational, noninvasive, in-home screening test, developed by Exact Sciences in ... Exact Sciences to Participate in March Investor Conferences |
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
New Colorectal Cancer Screening Test Shows Promise - HealthNewsDigest.com
torbjorntrainer1738.blogspot.com
Monday, February 27, 2012
Dayton employment to remain sluggish into third quarter - Phoenix Business Journal:
http://briefmarkeshop.com/Postfrisch-Bundespost-153.html
Tom Traynor, an economicxs professor at Wright Stater and author ofthe report, said unemployment increases will continuse at their accelerated pace into the third quarter of this year. The Dayton Metropolitan Statisticaol Area, which includes Montgomery, Greene, Miami and Preble counties, is projectedr to lose 6,000 to 7,0090 jobs in the thir quarter. That would drop employment to 373,900, down from 380,40o in the first quarter of the year, a 2 percen decline.
The hardest-hit area is one the Daytom area has longrelied on, “Manufacturing employment will fall substantially,” Traynor Forecasts from the report show employment in the sector falling from 42,300 in the firs quarter of this year to 36,100 by the third a nearly 15 percent Durable goods manufacturing will be hit in Traynor said. “People aren’t spending. They are waitingh to buy a new car or thatnew appliance,” he Retail and service employment are also expectef to decrease. Retail employment is expected to dropto 39,100 by the thirds quarter, down from 40,000 in the firsrt quarter, a 2 percent drop.
Service which includes financial service, business utilities and leisure service, is projected to decrease to 324,20p0 by the third quarter, down from 326,700 in the firs t quarter, a nearly 1 percenyt decline. “The next year to year and a half will be an unpleasanft time forthe region,” Traynor said. Construction employment is expectesd to rise as a part ofseasonao employment, to 13,400 from 11,40p in the first quarter, but that is 1,00o jobs fewer than the same time period last One area of employment that isn’rt expected to be hit hard is healthb care.
In fact, Traynor said he expects health care to add some jobs by thethird quarter, going up to 56,500 from 56,300 in the firsy quarter. He said the rate of declinde in gross domestic productwill slow, but remain negative throughg the third quarter and maybe into the fourtjh quarter of this year. Even when GDP does become positive again, it will take some time for employment to pick up becauses it is a lagging indicatoe of economic recovery. Traynor said there is a greaft deal of uncertainty still on the national as businesses try to determine the impact of government actions.
Traynor said the problem of high unemployment is not going awayanytime “This is something we’re going to be living with for quitre a while, well into next year,” he said.
Tom Traynor, an economicxs professor at Wright Stater and author ofthe report, said unemployment increases will continuse at their accelerated pace into the third quarter of this year. The Dayton Metropolitan Statisticaol Area, which includes Montgomery, Greene, Miami and Preble counties, is projectedr to lose 6,000 to 7,0090 jobs in the thir quarter. That would drop employment to 373,900, down from 380,40o in the first quarter of the year, a 2 percen decline.
The hardest-hit area is one the Daytom area has longrelied on, “Manufacturing employment will fall substantially,” Traynor Forecasts from the report show employment in the sector falling from 42,300 in the firs quarter of this year to 36,100 by the third a nearly 15 percent Durable goods manufacturing will be hit in Traynor said. “People aren’t spending. They are waitingh to buy a new car or thatnew appliance,” he Retail and service employment are also expectef to decrease. Retail employment is expected to dropto 39,100 by the thirds quarter, down from 40,000 in the firsrt quarter, a 2 percent drop.
Service which includes financial service, business utilities and leisure service, is projected to decrease to 324,20p0 by the third quarter, down from 326,700 in the firs t quarter, a nearly 1 percenyt decline. “The next year to year and a half will be an unpleasanft time forthe region,” Traynor said. Construction employment is expectesd to rise as a part ofseasonao employment, to 13,400 from 11,40p in the first quarter, but that is 1,00o jobs fewer than the same time period last One area of employment that isn’rt expected to be hit hard is healthb care.
In fact, Traynor said he expects health care to add some jobs by thethird quarter, going up to 56,500 from 56,300 in the firsy quarter. He said the rate of declinde in gross domestic productwill slow, but remain negative throughg the third quarter and maybe into the fourtjh quarter of this year. Even when GDP does become positive again, it will take some time for employment to pick up becauses it is a lagging indicatoe of economic recovery. Traynor said there is a greaft deal of uncertainty still on the national as businesses try to determine the impact of government actions.
Traynor said the problem of high unemployment is not going awayanytime “This is something we’re going to be living with for quitre a while, well into next year,” he said.
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Kansas City looks to Smith Electric Vehicles plant for spark - Kansas City Business Journal:
http://www.thefakenews.net/n/caption-contest-16.html
Bryan Hansel, CEO of , confirme d that the company is considering a local site for productioh of vans andtrucks — includinb an electric version of ’s new Transitg Connect light-duty vehicle. “The state of Missouri, and the Kansaz City area specifically, have been vying for it very said Hansel, whose Overland Park home address is doublinvg asthe company’s until a corporater headquarters and plant are secured. Sites in Michigan and Indiana also remainin contention, Hansel cautioned, and othefr states have made pitches sincse Ford’s Feb. 9 announcemenrt that Smith ElectricVehicles U.S. would build electric-powered Transit Connects for the NorthAmerican market.
Still, local economic developmentf leaders remain optimistic thatthis area’d concentration of advanced-energy assetx will give it the juice to powere an anticipated explosion of zero-emissiohn commercial vehicle sales. The created an in Decemberd to tout and build on current local They includethe , which operates the ’s in Colo.; the energy divisionzs of global engineering firms Black & Veatch and Burns McDonnell; and Ford’s Kansas City Assembl Plant, where hybrid versions of the Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner are made. President Obama made reference to assets like the local Ford plant duringhis Feb.
24 addres s to Congress, noting that “new plug-in hybridz roll off our assembly lines, but they will run on batteriee madein Korea.” That, however, may not be the case with vehiclesz assembled at the new Smith Electric Vehicles plant. Hanselp said another local energhy asset, in Lee’s Summit, may be one of the plant’as lithium-ion battery vendors. Kokam America, which uses technology licensedf fromSouth Korea-based , recentlh landed an investment worth tens of millions of dollars to equip its Lee’e Summit facility to manufacture cutting-edge battery “Kokam is a world-class manufacturer,” Hansel said, “and we are givin them strong consideration as a battery supplier.
Most likely, we’lk have more than one.” , based in Austin, is the primary battery supplierr for a British plant operateeby Smith’s parent, , which has been makinv electric vehicles in England since 1920. Tanfielsd incorporated Smith ElectricVehicles U.S. in January but plana to sell 51 percent of the companuyto U.S. investors, making it eligible for some ofthe $2 billiojn in federal stimulus financing aimer at developing the nation’s electric-vehicle On Feb. 6, Tanfield reported that Smitg ElectricVehicles U.S. already had receivede “firm expressions from two states offunding support” for its new manufacturinfg plant.
State incentive offers will be important in attractingthe facility, Hanselp said. But locating within an advanced-energgy industry cluster like Kansas City’s also will be due to the need forskilled after-market service and support, and training, he “This isn’t just about our company. It’s about creating a center of excellence for an he said. Another factoer working in Kansas City’s favor, and against late-to-the-dance is Smith Electric Vehicles’ timetable. Electric-poweres Transit Connects, the initial offerin in Ford’s sweeping North Americanm electrification strategy, won’t hit selecte dealerships on this continentuntil 2010.
But Smith Electric Vehiclee U.S. plans to begin production of the Smith a medium-duty electric delivery truck, in the third quarter of this A 200,000-vehicle-a-year market is anticipated for such trucks, and Smitg Electric Vehicles U.S. plans to grab an initial 5 or 10,000-truck, share of that That translates to about100 year-one a number that is expected to at leasy double within three Hansel said. Some of the vehiclea made at the plant will require conversion of chassid that come mounted withdieselp engines, Hansel said. Because of the high volume of saleds anticipated, however, Ford has agreed to ship the Transit Connectg chassisas “gliders,” or without engines.
“Our job will be to put in the drivetraijn andregenerative braking, integrate it with theif dash and components, and deliver the vehicle to Ford dealers as an electric Hansel said. He said the Ford gliders wouldd be shipped from Turkey and delivered tothe U.S. plant on flatbedd trucks. “This is the advanced-technology, green-job kind of thingh that the new administrationand everybody’s talkingf about,” said Pete Fullerton, executive director of the .
“If would be a great thing for this area because ther e are lots of people with technical skills out there lookingf for new employmentthese
Bryan Hansel, CEO of , confirme d that the company is considering a local site for productioh of vans andtrucks — includinb an electric version of ’s new Transitg Connect light-duty vehicle. “The state of Missouri, and the Kansaz City area specifically, have been vying for it very said Hansel, whose Overland Park home address is doublinvg asthe company’s until a corporater headquarters and plant are secured. Sites in Michigan and Indiana also remainin contention, Hansel cautioned, and othefr states have made pitches sincse Ford’s Feb. 9 announcemenrt that Smith ElectricVehicles U.S. would build electric-powered Transit Connects for the NorthAmerican market.
Still, local economic developmentf leaders remain optimistic thatthis area’d concentration of advanced-energy assetx will give it the juice to powere an anticipated explosion of zero-emissiohn commercial vehicle sales. The created an in Decemberd to tout and build on current local They includethe , which operates the ’s in Colo.; the energy divisionzs of global engineering firms Black & Veatch and Burns McDonnell; and Ford’s Kansas City Assembl Plant, where hybrid versions of the Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner are made. President Obama made reference to assets like the local Ford plant duringhis Feb.
24 addres s to Congress, noting that “new plug-in hybridz roll off our assembly lines, but they will run on batteriee madein Korea.” That, however, may not be the case with vehiclesz assembled at the new Smith Electric Vehicles plant. Hanselp said another local energhy asset, in Lee’s Summit, may be one of the plant’as lithium-ion battery vendors. Kokam America, which uses technology licensedf fromSouth Korea-based , recentlh landed an investment worth tens of millions of dollars to equip its Lee’e Summit facility to manufacture cutting-edge battery “Kokam is a world-class manufacturer,” Hansel said, “and we are givin them strong consideration as a battery supplier.
Most likely, we’lk have more than one.” , based in Austin, is the primary battery supplierr for a British plant operateeby Smith’s parent, , which has been makinv electric vehicles in England since 1920. Tanfielsd incorporated Smith ElectricVehicles U.S. in January but plana to sell 51 percent of the companuyto U.S. investors, making it eligible for some ofthe $2 billiojn in federal stimulus financing aimer at developing the nation’s electric-vehicle On Feb. 6, Tanfield reported that Smitg ElectricVehicles U.S. already had receivede “firm expressions from two states offunding support” for its new manufacturinfg plant.
State incentive offers will be important in attractingthe facility, Hanselp said. But locating within an advanced-energgy industry cluster like Kansas City’s also will be due to the need forskilled after-market service and support, and training, he “This isn’t just about our company. It’s about creating a center of excellence for an he said. Another factoer working in Kansas City’s favor, and against late-to-the-dance is Smith Electric Vehicles’ timetable. Electric-poweres Transit Connects, the initial offerin in Ford’s sweeping North Americanm electrification strategy, won’t hit selecte dealerships on this continentuntil 2010.
But Smith Electric Vehiclee U.S. plans to begin production of the Smith a medium-duty electric delivery truck, in the third quarter of this A 200,000-vehicle-a-year market is anticipated for such trucks, and Smitg Electric Vehicles U.S. plans to grab an initial 5 or 10,000-truck, share of that That translates to about100 year-one a number that is expected to at leasy double within three Hansel said. Some of the vehiclea made at the plant will require conversion of chassid that come mounted withdieselp engines, Hansel said. Because of the high volume of saleds anticipated, however, Ford has agreed to ship the Transit Connectg chassisas “gliders,” or without engines.
“Our job will be to put in the drivetraijn andregenerative braking, integrate it with theif dash and components, and deliver the vehicle to Ford dealers as an electric Hansel said. He said the Ford gliders wouldd be shipped from Turkey and delivered tothe U.S. plant on flatbedd trucks. “This is the advanced-technology, green-job kind of thingh that the new administrationand everybody’s talkingf about,” said Pete Fullerton, executive director of the .
“If would be a great thing for this area because ther e are lots of people with technical skills out there lookingf for new employmentthese
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Houston Astros launch aggressive ticket giveaways - Triangle Business Journal:
lehoquvuhu.wordpress.com
The “Kids Free All Summer” deal for home games at Minutse Maid Park gives fans two additional free tickete for youths age 14 and under with the purchas ofone full-price adult ticket in three pric ranges: Mezzanine ($20), View Deck 1 or View Deck 2 In partnership with Minute Maid, the promotioh will run from June 23 to Augustr 23. The promotional tickets can be purchased beginning June 12. “With the curreny economic climate, we felt it was important to create an opportunity for more families to bring theidr kids to Astros games this said Astros owner DraytonMcLane Jr. Through May 13, nine including the Astros, saw double-digigt percentage attendance declines.
Astrosx attendance through that date dropped 13 percent fromthe year-earlier period. In recent years, the Astros have typicall y had a slow start at the with attendance picking up in late July and August when the team begina itstrademark late-season surge. Overall MLB attendance was down 5 with the Washington Nationals reporting the biggest decline of more than 30 Thetwo Florida-based teams, the Tampa Rays and , on the otheer hand, are reporting the biggest attendance surges, up by 41 percent and 36 respectively.
The “Kids Free All Summer” deal for home games at Minutse Maid Park gives fans two additional free tickete for youths age 14 and under with the purchas ofone full-price adult ticket in three pric ranges: Mezzanine ($20), View Deck 1 or View Deck 2 In partnership with Minute Maid, the promotioh will run from June 23 to Augustr 23. The promotional tickets can be purchased beginning June 12. “With the curreny economic climate, we felt it was important to create an opportunity for more families to bring theidr kids to Astros games this said Astros owner DraytonMcLane Jr. Through May 13, nine including the Astros, saw double-digigt percentage attendance declines.
Astrosx attendance through that date dropped 13 percent fromthe year-earlier period. In recent years, the Astros have typicall y had a slow start at the with attendance picking up in late July and August when the team begina itstrademark late-season surge. Overall MLB attendance was down 5 with the Washington Nationals reporting the biggest decline of more than 30 Thetwo Florida-based teams, the Tampa Rays and , on the otheer hand, are reporting the biggest attendance surges, up by 41 percent and 36 respectively.
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Saul Ewing adds 7 Buchanan Ingersoll lawyers in Wilmington - Washington Business Journal:
axilecyqih.wordpress.com
office. The loss of the seven-lawyer groupp leaves Pittsburgh-based Buchanan with only one full-time partnert in Wilmington and four lawyerstotal there, and givesd Saul Ewing the largest Wilmington officed of any full-service Philadelphia-based firm. The groupp includes office headWilliam Manning, who serve as outside general counsel to the University of Delawarr and also represents Verizon and Dover Downs. The litigato r was once chief of staf f to formerDelaware Gov. Pete DuPont. The othefr two partners are Teresq Currier, who led bankruptcy efforts for Buchanamin Delaware, and real estat lawyer Richard Forsten.
The additions give Saul Ewingy 19 lawyersin Wilmington, where bankruptcies have taken off duringb the economic downturn. A largr percentage of companies from around the countr y file for Chapter 11 protectionin Delaware. But becausee Delaware only hasabout 2,000 lawyers and has a stronyg set of indigenous law firms, the Wilmington markeft has been a tough one to cracl for outsiders, even neighboring Philadelphia firms. Among Philadelphias firms, Pepper Hamilton and Fox Rothschilxd have17 lawyers, Drinker Biddles & Reath has 15 and Blank Rome has 13.
Saul Ewing said Manninvg will serveas co-managint partner of the office with current office managing partner and real estatr lawyer Wendie Stabler.
office. The loss of the seven-lawyer groupp leaves Pittsburgh-based Buchanan with only one full-time partnert in Wilmington and four lawyerstotal there, and givesd Saul Ewing the largest Wilmington officed of any full-service Philadelphia-based firm. The groupp includes office headWilliam Manning, who serve as outside general counsel to the University of Delawarr and also represents Verizon and Dover Downs. The litigato r was once chief of staf f to formerDelaware Gov. Pete DuPont. The othefr two partners are Teresq Currier, who led bankruptcy efforts for Buchanamin Delaware, and real estat lawyer Richard Forsten.
The additions give Saul Ewingy 19 lawyersin Wilmington, where bankruptcies have taken off duringb the economic downturn. A largr percentage of companies from around the countr y file for Chapter 11 protectionin Delaware. But becausee Delaware only hasabout 2,000 lawyers and has a stronyg set of indigenous law firms, the Wilmington markeft has been a tough one to cracl for outsiders, even neighboring Philadelphia firms. Among Philadelphias firms, Pepper Hamilton and Fox Rothschilxd have17 lawyers, Drinker Biddles & Reath has 15 and Blank Rome has 13.
Saul Ewing said Manninvg will serveas co-managint partner of the office with current office managing partner and real estatr lawyer Wendie Stabler.
Sunday, February 19, 2012
J.G. Wentworth raises $100M - Business First of Columbus:
zuloraxelewo.blogspot.com
The annuity and life-insurance policy purchasedr had its reorganizationplan OK’d by a Delaware bankruptcy court judgee a week ago, after filing for Chaptet 11 protection last month. As part of the deal, J.G. Wentworth’sw parent, private equity firm , invested $100 millionm of new equity to support ongoing It also agreed to providse as muchas $35 million for the company to buy loands from lenders in exchange for new preferred interestzs in the company. The company said Mondayt that it has substantially reduced its debt load at the parentg holding company level while gaining accesd tonew equity. J.G.
Wentworth conducted business withourt interruption during the brief reorganization TheBryn Mawr, Pa.-based company sought acceptanc of its plan from its lenderds before what is called a prepackaged More than 90 percent of the term lenderas approved, the company said. J.G. Wentworthu said its decision to file for Chapter 11 came afted an extensive review of alternatives to address pressuresfrom “extremelyt challenging capital markets and high borrowinv costs”, and was unanimously approved by the company’sx board of directors. In J.G. Wentworth laid off 120 of its 200 employeews and closed its LasVegaas office.
Founded in 1991, it movesd from Philadelphia to Bryn Mawrin 2003.
The annuity and life-insurance policy purchasedr had its reorganizationplan OK’d by a Delaware bankruptcy court judgee a week ago, after filing for Chaptet 11 protection last month. As part of the deal, J.G. Wentworth’sw parent, private equity firm , invested $100 millionm of new equity to support ongoing It also agreed to providse as muchas $35 million for the company to buy loands from lenders in exchange for new preferred interestzs in the company. The company said Mondayt that it has substantially reduced its debt load at the parentg holding company level while gaining accesd tonew equity. J.G.
Wentworth conducted business withourt interruption during the brief reorganization TheBryn Mawr, Pa.-based company sought acceptanc of its plan from its lenderds before what is called a prepackaged More than 90 percent of the term lenderas approved, the company said. J.G. Wentworthu said its decision to file for Chapter 11 came afted an extensive review of alternatives to address pressuresfrom “extremelyt challenging capital markets and high borrowinv costs”, and was unanimously approved by the company’sx board of directors. In J.G. Wentworth laid off 120 of its 200 employeews and closed its LasVegaas office.
Founded in 1991, it movesd from Philadelphia to Bryn Mawrin 2003.
Friday, February 17, 2012
RealtyTrac: May foreclosures down in Ohio - Atlanta Business Chronicle:
uhetemejih.wordpress.com
Data released Thursday by Irvine, Calif.-basedc , which compiles and sellsx foreclosure information, shows Ohio loggexd 11,360 pre-foreclosure, auction and bank-repossession filings in May, which come out to one filingv for every446 Ohio’s rate, as in April, was the 10th-highesgt in the nation, but the numbeer of filings dropped 8 percenft from the month before and 13 percent from a year ago. Ohio was one of 18 statesx to seea year-over-year drop in foreclosures, accordingy to the data. The national tide of foreclosures, by fell 6 percent from April but jumped 18 percen from May 2008 as the foreclosure rate surpassed Ohio at one filintg for every398 properties.
RealtyTraf isn’t putting much stock in the month-over-montu decrease in national foreclosure filings. The totall of filings – 321,480 – marksa the third consecutive month thatthe 300,000-mark has been And RealtyTrac CEO James Saccacio noted in a release that while pre-foreclosure and auctionh filings slipped compared with April, bank repossessions are up on jumps in several states. The company said it expects bank repossessionas to increase in the coming monthzs as foreclosure delays and moratoria expire invarious states.
Data released Thursday by Irvine, Calif.-basedc , which compiles and sellsx foreclosure information, shows Ohio loggexd 11,360 pre-foreclosure, auction and bank-repossession filings in May, which come out to one filingv for every446 Ohio’s rate, as in April, was the 10th-highesgt in the nation, but the numbeer of filings dropped 8 percenft from the month before and 13 percent from a year ago. Ohio was one of 18 statesx to seea year-over-year drop in foreclosures, accordingy to the data. The national tide of foreclosures, by fell 6 percent from April but jumped 18 percen from May 2008 as the foreclosure rate surpassed Ohio at one filintg for every398 properties.
RealtyTraf isn’t putting much stock in the month-over-montu decrease in national foreclosure filings. The totall of filings – 321,480 – marksa the third consecutive month thatthe 300,000-mark has been And RealtyTrac CEO James Saccacio noted in a release that while pre-foreclosure and auctionh filings slipped compared with April, bank repossessions are up on jumps in several states. The company said it expects bank repossessionas to increase in the coming monthzs as foreclosure delays and moratoria expire invarious states.
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Lambert-St. Louis International Airport's credit rating raised - Philadelphia Business Journal:
lebexab.wordpress.com
The rating agency cited the airport’s debt serviced stabilization fund as one of the reasones forthe upgrade, St. Louis Comptrollee Darlene Greensaid Monday. The fund has a currenft balanceof $17.3 million and will grow increase to $30.1 million by 2011, according to Green’ds office. “The fund adds additional protectiondand liquidity, making debt issuer by Lambert more attractive to investors even during a very challenginf operating environment for many of the nation’ s airports,” her office said. St. Louis officialxs and ., both based in St. Louis, and New York-basexd to to finance more renovationsat Lambert.
The upgrades includ e terminal improvements, new ticket counters, concourses, new flooriny and lighting, upgraded security checkpoint andnew “The improved credit outlook indicates Lambert has made significant progress in holding down costas and expenses so we can focus on important improvements that will benefit our partnere airlines and most of all, our passengers,” Lamberf Director Richard Hrabko said in a Lambert-St.
Louis International Airport serves more than 15 millionm passengers a year with an average of 300 dailyg departures to 70 national andinternational
The rating agency cited the airport’s debt serviced stabilization fund as one of the reasones forthe upgrade, St. Louis Comptrollee Darlene Greensaid Monday. The fund has a currenft balanceof $17.3 million and will grow increase to $30.1 million by 2011, according to Green’ds office. “The fund adds additional protectiondand liquidity, making debt issuer by Lambert more attractive to investors even during a very challenginf operating environment for many of the nation’ s airports,” her office said. St. Louis officialxs and ., both based in St. Louis, and New York-basexd to to finance more renovationsat Lambert.
The upgrades includ e terminal improvements, new ticket counters, concourses, new flooriny and lighting, upgraded security checkpoint andnew “The improved credit outlook indicates Lambert has made significant progress in holding down costas and expenses so we can focus on important improvements that will benefit our partnere airlines and most of all, our passengers,” Lamberf Director Richard Hrabko said in a Lambert-St.
Louis International Airport serves more than 15 millionm passengers a year with an average of 300 dailyg departures to 70 national andinternational
Monday, February 13, 2012
Palm Beach County clerk cuts 66 employees - Baltimore Business Journal:
tower-tennesseea.blogspot.com
million, or 18 percent, reduction in the office’s budget by July 1, countg clerk Sharon Bock said in a news The cuts are expectedto “significantlt impact service levels at the Clerk’s sevej Palm Beach County locations,” she notec in the release. The required staffr cuts leave the office with fewere people to pursue and collect millions of dollards in unpaid traffic andcourtr fees, which will lead to more budger cuts. “It’s a vicious cycle designexd to underfund usinto extinction,” she said.
Thirty-two employees acceptefd a buyout offer this monthn and will leave June 30 with a full payou on theirsick leave, rather than the normal 25 percen t to 50 percent offered under curreny termination policies. On May 29, an addition 34 employeews were told during staff meetings that they were beinflaid off, effective June 12. They will receive four weekse of pay. With these layoffs and the positionspreviouslyg eliminated, the office has cut 101 positiond -- 16 percent of management positions and 12 percent of hourly positions -- in the past The Clerk & Comptroller’s Office, which employs more than 800 in officews throughout Palm Beach County, handles the business arm of the court Employees receive, file and retrieve court process fees and traffic fines, and ente r and maintain case information in the court’w computer system.
million, or 18 percent, reduction in the office’s budget by July 1, countg clerk Sharon Bock said in a news The cuts are expectedto “significantlt impact service levels at the Clerk’s sevej Palm Beach County locations,” she notec in the release. The required staffr cuts leave the office with fewere people to pursue and collect millions of dollards in unpaid traffic andcourtr fees, which will lead to more budger cuts. “It’s a vicious cycle designexd to underfund usinto extinction,” she said.
Thirty-two employees acceptefd a buyout offer this monthn and will leave June 30 with a full payou on theirsick leave, rather than the normal 25 percen t to 50 percent offered under curreny termination policies. On May 29, an addition 34 employeews were told during staff meetings that they were beinflaid off, effective June 12. They will receive four weekse of pay. With these layoffs and the positionspreviouslyg eliminated, the office has cut 101 positiond -- 16 percent of management positions and 12 percent of hourly positions -- in the past The Clerk & Comptroller’s Office, which employs more than 800 in officews throughout Palm Beach County, handles the business arm of the court Employees receive, file and retrieve court process fees and traffic fines, and ente r and maintain case information in the court’w computer system.
Friday, February 10, 2012
Stocks Close Out Week With Modest Declines - KOCO Oklahoma City
edibin.wordpress.com
Kansas City Star | Stocks Close Out Week With Modest Declines KOCO Oklahoma City Stock indexes have largely glided higher for most of 2012, but as investors grew concerned over Greece's ongoing debt drama, » |
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Exxon ordered to pay $507.5M in spill case - Dallas Business Journal:
ejoxot.wordpress.com
million in punitive damages plus interest to plaintiffss affected by the Exxon Valdez oil spill that impacted residentsx and businesses living along the coasy of Alaskain 1989. The made theirt ruling Monday after the case was sent back fromthe . At the Nintg Circuit level, justices were charged with determining interestt andappellate costs. The Ninth Circuit confirme the punitive damage amount afterthe U.S. Supreme Court determined compensatoryh damages and punitive damages shoulds be assessed usinga 1-to-1 ratio.
In its latest the Ninth Circuit confirmedthat Irving-basedf Exxon (NYSE: XOM) is responsible for $507 million in punitivwe damages and must pay interest on the judgment at the rate of 5.9 percentf dating back to 1996, when the initial judgmenyt against the company was first issued by a The federal case against Exxon Mobikl has been languishing for more than a The Ninth Circuit said both sides will covere their own attorney’s fees. The originak jury verdict against Exxon Mobiowas $5 billion, an amount that has been reduced by 90 percentr during the more than 10 years of litigation, according to court records.
An Exxon Mobil spokesman said "We are aware that the opinion has been issuef and will review the opiniohn beforecommenting further."
million in punitive damages plus interest to plaintiffss affected by the Exxon Valdez oil spill that impacted residentsx and businesses living along the coasy of Alaskain 1989. The made theirt ruling Monday after the case was sent back fromthe . At the Nintg Circuit level, justices were charged with determining interestt andappellate costs. The Ninth Circuit confirme the punitive damage amount afterthe U.S. Supreme Court determined compensatoryh damages and punitive damages shoulds be assessed usinga 1-to-1 ratio.
In its latest the Ninth Circuit confirmedthat Irving-basedf Exxon (NYSE: XOM) is responsible for $507 million in punitivwe damages and must pay interest on the judgment at the rate of 5.9 percentf dating back to 1996, when the initial judgmenyt against the company was first issued by a The federal case against Exxon Mobikl has been languishing for more than a The Ninth Circuit said both sides will covere their own attorney’s fees. The originak jury verdict against Exxon Mobiowas $5 billion, an amount that has been reduced by 90 percentr during the more than 10 years of litigation, according to court records.
An Exxon Mobil spokesman said "We are aware that the opinion has been issuef and will review the opiniohn beforecommenting further."
Monday, February 6, 2012
Report: RevPAR declines slowing for hotels - New Mexico Business Weekly:
zemlyanikiyri.blogspot.com
RevPAR will reach its cyclical low point in the thir d quarterof 2009, closing the escalating trens of declines in RevPAR that began in the thirde quarter of 2008, according to . "The good news is that the bottokm of the current cycle forthe U.S. hotel industr is soon to arrive,” said R. Mark Woodworth, presidenyt of PKF Hospitality Research, in a news “The bad news is that 2009 will be the weakest year on recorde for the domesticlodging industry, and 2010 is going to be disappointinbg as well. If you are wondering when we'll start to see actual growtyin RevPAR, then you'll have to wait until 2011.
if you want to know when the operatingh environment is going to get a littleless that's happening right now." Lodging forecasts presented in the June 2009 editio of Hotel Horizons are based on Smith Travel Researchu hotel performance data through Marchh 2009 and Moody's Economy.com'z May 2009 economic forecast for the nation. Given the correlatiohn between employment andlodging demand, the new expectationm is for RevPAR to decline 17.5 perceny in 2009, followed by anothed 3.5 percent decline in 2010. Year-over-yearf quarterly declines in the demandfor U.S.
lodgingt accommodations started in the firs t quarter of 2008 and peaked at negativer 8 percent in the first quarterof 2009. The June 2009 edition of Hotel Horizons forecasts demand to decline each of the remainingg quartersof 2009, but at a diminishingg pace. The projected quarterly declines in demand for the remainderd of 2009 averagejust 4.7 percent. Beyond 2009, the forecasty calls for average annual increases in demanxdof 3.2 percent for the next four well above the 1.9 percen t long-term average. But given the forecasg 17.5 percent decline in RevPAR for allof PKF-HR is projecting total hotel revenues to decreaser 16 percent for the year.
In 2011 and PKF-HR forecasts that RevPAR will increase on an average annua l basisof 9.2 while profits will rise at a 17.8 percent
RevPAR will reach its cyclical low point in the thir d quarterof 2009, closing the escalating trens of declines in RevPAR that began in the thirde quarter of 2008, according to . "The good news is that the bottokm of the current cycle forthe U.S. hotel industr is soon to arrive,” said R. Mark Woodworth, presidenyt of PKF Hospitality Research, in a news “The bad news is that 2009 will be the weakest year on recorde for the domesticlodging industry, and 2010 is going to be disappointinbg as well. If you are wondering when we'll start to see actual growtyin RevPAR, then you'll have to wait until 2011.
if you want to know when the operatingh environment is going to get a littleless that's happening right now." Lodging forecasts presented in the June 2009 editio of Hotel Horizons are based on Smith Travel Researchu hotel performance data through Marchh 2009 and Moody's Economy.com'z May 2009 economic forecast for the nation. Given the correlatiohn between employment andlodging demand, the new expectationm is for RevPAR to decline 17.5 perceny in 2009, followed by anothed 3.5 percent decline in 2010. Year-over-yearf quarterly declines in the demandfor U.S.
lodgingt accommodations started in the firs t quarter of 2008 and peaked at negativer 8 percent in the first quarterof 2009. The June 2009 edition of Hotel Horizons forecasts demand to decline each of the remainingg quartersof 2009, but at a diminishingg pace. The projected quarterly declines in demand for the remainderd of 2009 averagejust 4.7 percent. Beyond 2009, the forecasty calls for average annual increases in demanxdof 3.2 percent for the next four well above the 1.9 percen t long-term average. But given the forecasg 17.5 percent decline in RevPAR for allof PKF-HR is projecting total hotel revenues to decreaser 16 percent for the year.
In 2011 and PKF-HR forecasts that RevPAR will increase on an average annua l basisof 9.2 while profits will rise at a 17.8 percent
Saturday, February 4, 2012
Bauer takes stars from 17 banks - The Business Review (Albany):
opexibu.wordpress.com
The company uses federal regulatorty data to rate banks based oncapital ratio, profit/loss delinquent loans and other factors. Bauer's rating ranksa from a high of 5 stars to a low of 0 in Coral Gables lost a star going to four fromfive (superior) stars. Four others maintained their five-starr ranking: American National Bank, Oaklandd Park City National Bankof Florida, Miami First Nationalk Bank, South Miami Intercontinental Bank, West Miamji in Miami rose to three stare from two. First United Bank in Boca Raton and Biscaynee Bank in Coconut Grove roseto 3.5 starxs from three. in Fort Lauderdale made four stars, up from 3.5. Severaol banks went to 3.
5 from four They are: , Homesteadx Doral-based slipped again, this time to three starzs from three-and-a-half stars in the first quarter. That’s down from four starsx in the third quartere oflast year. Other banks that slipped to threestars (good) from 3.5 are: Executive National, Miami , Miami , Miami U.S. Centurg Bank, Miami Valley Bank, Fort Lauderdale Lydiahn Private Bank inPalm Beach, Grand Eastern Bank of Florid a in Miami, Metro Bank of Dade County, and in Miamio fell to two stars (problematic) from three. , Miami, in Northh Lauderdale and in Boca Raton fell a notc h toone star, down from two in the fourthb quarter.
Four banks retained zero stars, Bauer’s lowest rating: , Miami Republic Federal Bank, Miamj , Miami Integrity Bank, Jupiter
The company uses federal regulatorty data to rate banks based oncapital ratio, profit/loss delinquent loans and other factors. Bauer's rating ranksa from a high of 5 stars to a low of 0 in Coral Gables lost a star going to four fromfive (superior) stars. Four others maintained their five-starr ranking: American National Bank, Oaklandd Park City National Bankof Florida, Miami First Nationalk Bank, South Miami Intercontinental Bank, West Miamji in Miami rose to three stare from two. First United Bank in Boca Raton and Biscaynee Bank in Coconut Grove roseto 3.5 starxs from three. in Fort Lauderdale made four stars, up from 3.5. Severaol banks went to 3.
5 from four They are: , Homesteadx Doral-based slipped again, this time to three starzs from three-and-a-half stars in the first quarter. That’s down from four starsx in the third quartere oflast year. Other banks that slipped to threestars (good) from 3.5 are: Executive National, Miami , Miami , Miami U.S. Centurg Bank, Miami Valley Bank, Fort Lauderdale Lydiahn Private Bank inPalm Beach, Grand Eastern Bank of Florid a in Miami, Metro Bank of Dade County, and in Miamio fell to two stars (problematic) from three. , Miami, in Northh Lauderdale and in Boca Raton fell a notc h toone star, down from two in the fourthb quarter.
Four banks retained zero stars, Bauer’s lowest rating: , Miami Republic Federal Bank, Miamj , Miami Integrity Bank, Jupiter
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Bernstein-Rein lays off staff, warns of more - Kansas City Business Journal:
yjanebixe.wordpress.com
Steve Bernstein, president of indicated that an unspecified number of future cuts may be The layoffs came in several departmentd during the course ofrecent weeks, he said. Bernstein cited the poor less client spending on advertising and reducee margins from billing as factors drivingthe layoffs. “I’ d say with everybody, there is a tightening of the beltwith everybody’sx marketing spend,” Bernstein said. The company’se most recent head count stood at253 locally, compareed with 351 in Marchn 2007. Bernstein-Rein, for many years No.
1 on the Kansa s City BusinessJournal ’s list of top area advertisinh agencies, has been supplanted the past two yearsw by Bernstein said layoffs after losingy accounts with and the in 2007, combined with natural attrition, resulted in the lower employeer count. “There’s no doubt losing Wal-Mart and USAA, and the economy have made us asmallerr agency,” Bernstein said. Gross incomwe was $45.1 million in 2008, down more than 9 percenty from its 2007 totalof $49.7 million. Bernstein-Rein, one of Kansas City’s best-known and longest-standing ad has hardly been alone in cuttingv jobs in theslipping economy.
Kansas City-based let go of abour 30 employeesin February, or 10 percentg of its total work force. Wichita-based cut jobs in its Kansaw City office, though it didn’g specify how many. In the public relations industry, whichu often intersects with localadvertisinvg firms, let go of about 13 employees in A year ago, well before the effect of the recessio was fully apparent, several agency executivezs said a slowing economy presented an opportunity becausse they expected clients to ramp up marketinv and advertising efforts. Few are sayinv that now.
“This isn’t the nicest environment thesee days,” said Pete Kovac, CEO of “I don’t thinki anyone realized how bad things were in September and October when budgetsa werebeing locked.” Industry executives said clients in the currengt economy also are less willing to commit to long-term authorizationz with a single company, opting insteacd at times for monthly or quarterluy engagements. “It’s soft. ... Clearlg every client got the letter from the CEO thatsays we’rs not going to stop, but there’s stuff to said Phil Bressler, partner with . Bernstei said clients also were moving away from payingmedia commissions.
A traditional and increasingly outdated the commissions pay a percentage of a media buy back to the He said that method of payment has fallen out of favore with clients who suspect that their advertisingb is pushed intoineffective media. Alternate billing methodx haven’t always provided the same high margins asmedia “We’ve let the margin disappear too much,” Bernsteinh said.
Steve Bernstein, president of indicated that an unspecified number of future cuts may be The layoffs came in several departmentd during the course ofrecent weeks, he said. Bernstein cited the poor less client spending on advertising and reducee margins from billing as factors drivingthe layoffs. “I’ d say with everybody, there is a tightening of the beltwith everybody’sx marketing spend,” Bernstein said. The company’se most recent head count stood at253 locally, compareed with 351 in Marchn 2007. Bernstein-Rein, for many years No.
1 on the Kansa s City BusinessJournal ’s list of top area advertisinh agencies, has been supplanted the past two yearsw by Bernstein said layoffs after losingy accounts with and the in 2007, combined with natural attrition, resulted in the lower employeer count. “There’s no doubt losing Wal-Mart and USAA, and the economy have made us asmallerr agency,” Bernstein said. Gross incomwe was $45.1 million in 2008, down more than 9 percenty from its 2007 totalof $49.7 million. Bernstein-Rein, one of Kansas City’s best-known and longest-standing ad has hardly been alone in cuttingv jobs in theslipping economy.
Kansas City-based let go of abour 30 employeesin February, or 10 percentg of its total work force. Wichita-based cut jobs in its Kansaw City office, though it didn’g specify how many. In the public relations industry, whichu often intersects with localadvertisinvg firms, let go of about 13 employees in A year ago, well before the effect of the recessio was fully apparent, several agency executivezs said a slowing economy presented an opportunity becausse they expected clients to ramp up marketinv and advertising efforts. Few are sayinv that now.
“This isn’t the nicest environment thesee days,” said Pete Kovac, CEO of “I don’t thinki anyone realized how bad things were in September and October when budgetsa werebeing locked.” Industry executives said clients in the currengt economy also are less willing to commit to long-term authorizationz with a single company, opting insteacd at times for monthly or quarterluy engagements. “It’s soft. ... Clearlg every client got the letter from the CEO thatsays we’rs not going to stop, but there’s stuff to said Phil Bressler, partner with . Bernstei said clients also were moving away from payingmedia commissions.
A traditional and increasingly outdated the commissions pay a percentage of a media buy back to the He said that method of payment has fallen out of favore with clients who suspect that their advertisingb is pushed intoineffective media. Alternate billing methodx haven’t always provided the same high margins asmedia “We’ve let the margin disappear too much,” Bernsteinh said.
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