http://chatboutbelize.com/slpngnt.htm
The arrests were announced today by Assistangt Attorney GeneralLanny A. Breuerf of the Criminal Division; Acting U.S. Attornety Channing D. Phillips Eric J. Boswell , Assistant Secretary for Diplomatic Security and Directort of the Office ofForeignb Missions, U.S. State Department; and Assistant Secretarty John T. Morton of U.S. Immigrationb and Customs Enforcement (ICE), U.S. Departmen t of Homeland Security. Heliber Toro Mejia, 50, , 58, and , 51, all of are charged in a three-count indictment returned by a federakl grand jury in the District of Columbiaon Feb. 4, and unsealed today.
All three defendants were arresteed onJune 2, 2009, by Colombiaj authorities in Bogota on provisional arrest warrantsa in response to a U.S. governmentf request for their arrest. Accordinf to the indictment, the defendantzs were the leaders of an extensive and sophisticated visa frau ring that profited by assistinh otherwise inadmissible Colombian nationals in fraudulentlyprocuring U.S. visae from the U.S. Embassy in Bogota.
To supporg the visa applications ofalien applicants, the defendants and other conspirators allegedl y created fictitious backgrounds for the aliens and created fraudulenyt supporting documentation, including paperwork that appearedc to be official Colombiabn government-issued documents such as tax filings and birtjh and marriage certificates. The indictment alleges that the conspiratorsz coached the aliens on how to passthe U.S. visa intervieaw at the U.S. Embassy in Bogotz by answeringquestions untruthfully.
During the course of this which according to the indictment lasted betweebJuly 15, 2005, and March 20, more than 100 aliens are alleged to have fraudulentlg obtained or attempted to fraudulently obtain a U.S. According to the indictment, many of those aliensz who did obtaina fraudulently-procured visa used that visa to entet the United States. If each defendant faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison for conspiracy to commit alien smugglinygfor profit, 10 years in prison for alien smuggling for and five years in prison for conspiracy to commit visa fraud. Each defendant is also subject to a maximunm fineof $250,000 for each charge.
The arrestes and charges are the resultof "Operation Coffee Country, a coordinated international investigation by the Diplomatic Security Service - Regiona l Security Office in Bogota and the ICE Attache' s Office in Bogota. The Diplomaticf Security Service - Criminal Investigations Divisionb and the ICE Special Agentin Charge, Washington, D.C. providede substantial assistance. The Colombian Departmen t of AdministrativeSecurity (DAS) and Colombian prosecutores also provided substantial support. James S. Yoon of the Criminal Division'se Domestic Security Section andAssistant U.S. Attorney Fredericj W. Yette of the U.S. Attorney's Officse for the District of FormerAssistant U.S.
Attorney Jeann M. Hauch of the Domestic Securit Section providedsubstantial assistance. of the Officse of Judicial Attache atthe U.S. Embassyt in Colombia provided invaluable support. An indictmeng is merely a formal accusation. It is not prooft of guilt, and a defendant is presumeed innocent unless and until proven SOURCE U.S. Department of Justice
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Commerce report: Spending inches up - Dayton Business Journal:
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percent in February, after a revised 1 percenrt increasein January. February’s resultxs were in line with a forecast from Economists surveye dby . After adjusting for however, the February figure turns negative with real personal spendingdown 0.2 percent. In January, it rose 0.7 The spending uptick came as the departmeng reported personal incomedown 0.2 percent in Income rose 0.4 percent in January, but last month’s declinwe marks a return to the recent downwardx trend as unemployment has risen. The Commerce reporty also showed personal savingsdeclined $27.
4 billion in February to $451 The personal savings rate, expressed as a percentagd of disposable personal income, fell to 4.2 percent from 4.4 percenft in January. Consumer spending makes up nearly 66 percent ofthe nation’ss gross domestic product, the broadest measure of economicc activity. BizPulse Survey: What would you do if you got laid off? Vote .
percent in February, after a revised 1 percenrt increasein January. February’s resultxs were in line with a forecast from Economists surveye dby . After adjusting for however, the February figure turns negative with real personal spendingdown 0.2 percent. In January, it rose 0.7 The spending uptick came as the departmeng reported personal incomedown 0.2 percent in Income rose 0.4 percent in January, but last month’s declinwe marks a return to the recent downwardx trend as unemployment has risen. The Commerce reporty also showed personal savingsdeclined $27.
4 billion in February to $451 The personal savings rate, expressed as a percentagd of disposable personal income, fell to 4.2 percent from 4.4 percenft in January. Consumer spending makes up nearly 66 percent ofthe nation’ss gross domestic product, the broadest measure of economicc activity. BizPulse Survey: What would you do if you got laid off? Vote .
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Beasley Deactivates Twitter Page, Claims He Doesn't Have Anything Against Rambis - RealGM.com
bentlyoupapa1810.blogspot.com
RealGM.com | Beasley Deactivates Twitter Page, Claims He Doesn't Have Anything Against Rambis RealGM.com Michael Beasley has deactivated his Twitter page one night after retweeting a post that wished Kurt Rambis would let Beasley "play his game". Rambis said before Friday's game that he hadn't heard about Beasley's posting. Beasley t! old Minnesota's media ... |
Friday, March 25, 2011
New project activity stalls, Hawaii permits tumble - Pacific Business News (Honolulu):
moffaiqohegesa1490.blogspot.com
The financial meltdown last fall, on top of the underlyingy recession, forced the principals of dozenxs of private projectsto shelve, delay or cancel new And those projects that are moving forwarr draw far more competition durinv bidding than before, resulting in thinner marginw for those contractors lucky enough to win the jobs. The starkest evidenc of the slowdown came from the stat elast week. Its economic indicators showed that the value of building permits for commercial and industrial constructiojn projects in Hawaii plummeted during the firstf quarterof 2009, falling almost 60 percent from the first three montha of last year.
While the numbers fluctuate from month to March was the worst mont in recent years for commercial Building permits fell 88 perceng from theyear before, and the dolladr figure was the lowest for one month in nearly 20 according to data from the state Department of Business, Economicx Development and Tourism. The first quarter also was the worstg inrecent years. The $38.8 million in commercialk and industrial permits was 59 percenty belowthe $93.95 million in the firsrt quarter of 2008. In contrast, the firs quarter of 2002, the seconrd worst quarter in recent years, had $49.96y million in permits. That was followed a year latefr by the highest first quarterdthis decade, $217.
9 million in permitx in 2003. Hawaii general contractors who have been dealinh with the news of canceled or delayedr projects since last fall say the figures are in line with what theif businessesare experiencing. In fact, the valure of commercial and industrial permitws pulled during the fourth quarter of 2008was $46.2 million, down 83 percent from the same quartet in 2007, which at $277.2 million was the second highest fourth quarter this after the record $303.8 million in the fourtg quarter of 2006.
“There’s much less new work said Bill Wilson, president of , the generalk contractor on one of the largest privat e projects going onthis year, the $800 milliojn Disney hotel and time share at . “Therre was a significant slowing in building businessz work that began in fall 2007 that was by the financial crisis and the Asa result, Hawaii lost 5,1090 construction jobs between March 2008 and March a 13 percent drop — and 2,300 of those jobs were shed betweenn January and March of this year, according to the . The nationall organization pegged the seasonally adjusted job coun for the state in Marchat 34,100, down 6 percent from 36,400 in January alone.
While governmentf and military projects aremovingy forward, aided in part by the federal government’s economic stimulus package, private-sector projects for commercial and industria l buildings that were on the boards a year ago are not Several large projects, including office buildings in Kapoleui and resorts on Maui and Kauai, have been put on hold “The private sector is going to take a while for said Stephen Leis, president of Dorvin D. Leis Co., which does subcontractingy workon plumbing, air conditioning and fire prevention for commerciaol projects. “I think we’re goin g to see a slow recovery; 2009, 2010 are goingv to be difficult years.
” The valuw of commercial and industrial buildinyg permits statewide for March alone excluding KauaiCounty — was $4.5 million, down sharplu from $36.99 million in March 2008. The statewide total which includes Honolulu, Maui and Hawaiji counties — hasn’t been that low since Februaryt 2002, when commercial and industrial permitstotaled $4.95 million, according to historical statisticse from DBEDT. The state has not receivefd statistics for commercial and industrial building permitx from Kauai County sincse the startof 2002. Among the Honolulu saw the greatest single-month drop in March with building permitsfalling 96.5 percent to $950,000 from $27.
3 milliohn in March 2008. During the first quarter, Honolul u building permits dropped 52 percentto $18. 4 million from $38.2 million in the beginning of 2008. “Onh top of that, virtually 100 percent of residential projects have been delayedor canceled,” said Mark president of the , which shelved planse for its own office-retail project in Kapolei untik the market improves. “Add to that 50 percent of commercial, and 75 percenrt of the market has gone away in the lastsix months.” This year’w first quarter wasn’t the worst for Honolulu in the past 10 year s — the first quarters of 2005 and 2006 were $8 milliohn and $13.
8 million, respectively, while the highestr first quarter of the decade was 2003 when permig values totaled $114 million. The Big Island saw the greatesr plunge in the valuse of commercial and industrial permits duringgthe quarter, dropping 76 percenr to $10.7 million from $45.3 million in and the lowest figure since the firstr quarter of 2001, when there were $7.1 millionj in permits pulled. “I thinl we’re feeling the pinch in the Neighboer Islands morethan Oahu,” said who is based on Maui but has officesz on all the islands. “There’s a bigger economy on Oahu, and you have militaryh there. You have more commercial opportunities.
” Maui’sa commercial and industrial permitstotaled $9.7 millionh for the first just 7 percent off the same quarterf in 2008. But Leis said work on Maui and the other outed islands has been very quiet the construction of time shares andcondominiums “prett much have pulled back completely.”
The financial meltdown last fall, on top of the underlyingy recession, forced the principals of dozenxs of private projectsto shelve, delay or cancel new And those projects that are moving forwarr draw far more competition durinv bidding than before, resulting in thinner marginw for those contractors lucky enough to win the jobs. The starkest evidenc of the slowdown came from the stat elast week. Its economic indicators showed that the value of building permits for commercial and industrial constructiojn projects in Hawaii plummeted during the firstf quarterof 2009, falling almost 60 percent from the first three montha of last year.
While the numbers fluctuate from month to March was the worst mont in recent years for commercial Building permits fell 88 perceng from theyear before, and the dolladr figure was the lowest for one month in nearly 20 according to data from the state Department of Business, Economicx Development and Tourism. The first quarter also was the worstg inrecent years. The $38.8 million in commercialk and industrial permits was 59 percenty belowthe $93.95 million in the firsrt quarter of 2008. In contrast, the firs quarter of 2002, the seconrd worst quarter in recent years, had $49.96y million in permits. That was followed a year latefr by the highest first quarterdthis decade, $217.
9 million in permitx in 2003. Hawaii general contractors who have been dealinh with the news of canceled or delayedr projects since last fall say the figures are in line with what theif businessesare experiencing. In fact, the valure of commercial and industrial permitws pulled during the fourth quarter of 2008was $46.2 million, down 83 percent from the same quartet in 2007, which at $277.2 million was the second highest fourth quarter this after the record $303.8 million in the fourtg quarter of 2006.
“There’s much less new work said Bill Wilson, president of , the generalk contractor on one of the largest privat e projects going onthis year, the $800 milliojn Disney hotel and time share at . “Therre was a significant slowing in building businessz work that began in fall 2007 that was by the financial crisis and the Asa result, Hawaii lost 5,1090 construction jobs between March 2008 and March a 13 percent drop — and 2,300 of those jobs were shed betweenn January and March of this year, according to the . The nationall organization pegged the seasonally adjusted job coun for the state in Marchat 34,100, down 6 percent from 36,400 in January alone.
While governmentf and military projects aremovingy forward, aided in part by the federal government’s economic stimulus package, private-sector projects for commercial and industria l buildings that were on the boards a year ago are not Several large projects, including office buildings in Kapoleui and resorts on Maui and Kauai, have been put on hold “The private sector is going to take a while for said Stephen Leis, president of Dorvin D. Leis Co., which does subcontractingy workon plumbing, air conditioning and fire prevention for commerciaol projects. “I think we’re goin g to see a slow recovery; 2009, 2010 are goingv to be difficult years.
” The valuw of commercial and industrial buildinyg permits statewide for March alone excluding KauaiCounty — was $4.5 million, down sharplu from $36.99 million in March 2008. The statewide total which includes Honolulu, Maui and Hawaiji counties — hasn’t been that low since Februaryt 2002, when commercial and industrial permitstotaled $4.95 million, according to historical statisticse from DBEDT. The state has not receivefd statistics for commercial and industrial building permitx from Kauai County sincse the startof 2002. Among the Honolulu saw the greatest single-month drop in March with building permitsfalling 96.5 percent to $950,000 from $27.
3 milliohn in March 2008. During the first quarter, Honolul u building permits dropped 52 percentto $18. 4 million from $38.2 million in the beginning of 2008. “Onh top of that, virtually 100 percent of residential projects have been delayedor canceled,” said Mark president of the , which shelved planse for its own office-retail project in Kapolei untik the market improves. “Add to that 50 percent of commercial, and 75 percenrt of the market has gone away in the lastsix months.” This year’w first quarter wasn’t the worst for Honolulu in the past 10 year s — the first quarters of 2005 and 2006 were $8 milliohn and $13.
8 million, respectively, while the highestr first quarter of the decade was 2003 when permig values totaled $114 million. The Big Island saw the greatesr plunge in the valuse of commercial and industrial permits duringgthe quarter, dropping 76 percenr to $10.7 million from $45.3 million in and the lowest figure since the firstr quarter of 2001, when there were $7.1 millionj in permits pulled. “I thinl we’re feeling the pinch in the Neighboer Islands morethan Oahu,” said who is based on Maui but has officesz on all the islands. “There’s a bigger economy on Oahu, and you have militaryh there. You have more commercial opportunities.
” Maui’sa commercial and industrial permitstotaled $9.7 millionh for the first just 7 percent off the same quarterf in 2008. But Leis said work on Maui and the other outed islands has been very quiet the construction of time shares andcondominiums “prett much have pulled back completely.”
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Valley surgeon heads up test of aneurysm treatment - Phoenix Business Journal:
http://lakeeng.com/Sappington_resume.htm
Rodriguez, the director of peripheral vascular services at the ArizonaHeart Institute, has been named the nationaol principal investigator for the Phasde II study, which is required by the to enrol 160 patients. The Arizona Heart Institute is one of 14 centerz involved in thestudyg nationwide. “We are looking to include at leasft six more centers to completd 20 centers in the Rodriguez said. The endoluminal graft is manufactured bynear Scotland. Called the Anaconda Stent Graftr System, it allows the surgeon to reposition the device once it has been placed acrossthe aneurysm.
So far, nearlg 4,000 patients in Europe have received the Anaconda but it must get approvak from the FDA before it can be used inthe U.S. Rodrigue z said the minimally invasive procedure onthe study’w first patient went well, saying the device is very easy to use. “Hew was up on his feet the next morning having Rodriguez said ofthe patient. “You can’t do that when you open the This eliminates the need for openheart surgery.” Abdominal aortic aneurysm, or “ballooning” of the body’sx main artery, is a serious condition prone to rupture and lead to sudde n death. Actor John Ritte died of an aortic rupturein 2003.
Symptomsd can occur suddenly with severe, sharp pain in the Patients who experience these symptoms should seek immediatdmedical attention, Rodriguez said. Early detectionn can prevent sudden death. Patients with a familty history of aortic aneurysm or other connectived tissue disorders should notify their physician about their risk of aortic he said.
Rodriguez, the director of peripheral vascular services at the ArizonaHeart Institute, has been named the nationaol principal investigator for the Phasde II study, which is required by the to enrol 160 patients. The Arizona Heart Institute is one of 14 centerz involved in thestudyg nationwide. “We are looking to include at leasft six more centers to completd 20 centers in the Rodriguez said. The endoluminal graft is manufactured bynear Scotland. Called the Anaconda Stent Graftr System, it allows the surgeon to reposition the device once it has been placed acrossthe aneurysm.
So far, nearlg 4,000 patients in Europe have received the Anaconda but it must get approvak from the FDA before it can be used inthe U.S. Rodrigue z said the minimally invasive procedure onthe study’w first patient went well, saying the device is very easy to use. “Hew was up on his feet the next morning having Rodriguez said ofthe patient. “You can’t do that when you open the This eliminates the need for openheart surgery.” Abdominal aortic aneurysm, or “ballooning” of the body’sx main artery, is a serious condition prone to rupture and lead to sudde n death. Actor John Ritte died of an aortic rupturein 2003.
Symptomsd can occur suddenly with severe, sharp pain in the Patients who experience these symptoms should seek immediatdmedical attention, Rodriguez said. Early detectionn can prevent sudden death. Patients with a familty history of aortic aneurysm or other connectived tissue disorders should notify their physician about their risk of aortic he said.
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Lingle orders unpaid days off for workers - Puget Sound Business Journal (Seattle):
EdgeStar AP10000HW
In an address broadcast from the State Lingle also said she would scalw back free Medicaid benefitsto low-income adulta and said the state would delayy paying some of its larger bills until The governor is also asking the Judiciary, the and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs to implement equivalent furlough days or restrict their budgets. Hawaii law does not allow ordering furloughs for the Departmenyof Education, the University of Hawai i or the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation, but Lingles said their spending will be restricter in an amount equivalent to the three-days-per-month The furloughs, which start July 1, amount to abouy a 13.
8 percent pay cut, or about $5,5009 for a worker making $40,000 a As with layoffs, Lingle does not have to negotiat e the furloughs with any of the unions representing state workers. Lingle has said she doesn’ t want to lay off workers because of the disruptive effec t of contract rules that would enable senioer workersto “bump” junior even if they worked in differenf state agencies. The furloughs will save $688 Lingle said the savings are needed to close a gapof $730 milliojn between now and June 30, 2011, as forecasrt by the state’s Council on Revenued May 28. All told, Hawaii is expected to see tax revenued fallby $2.7 billion over the next two years.
“Ifg we do not implement the furlough we would have to lay off upto 10,00p0 employees to realize an equivalent amount of Lingle said. The state has abou 46,000 workers, including 21,000 employeew of the Departmentof Education. Lingle blamec the fiscal shortfall on thelingering recession, rising dropping visitor arrivals, a decline in private building permits, a doublingt of foreclosures, and record bankruptcy levels. The state Legislature ended its session last month by raising tax ratese onhotel rooms, high-income earners, luxury home transactions and tobacco to help meet the budgeyt shortfall.
But Lingle, a Republican whosre vetoes of those measures were overridden bymajority Democrats, said she wouldr not ask for additional tax increases. She also rejecteed calls for legalizing gambling. However, Lingle noted that 70 percentt of state operating funds go to labort costs and that the state had providecd employee wage increase of between 16 and 29 percenr over the past fouryears “whem our economy was thriving.
”
In an address broadcast from the State Lingle also said she would scalw back free Medicaid benefitsto low-income adulta and said the state would delayy paying some of its larger bills until The governor is also asking the Judiciary, the and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs to implement equivalent furlough days or restrict their budgets. Hawaii law does not allow ordering furloughs for the Departmenyof Education, the University of Hawai i or the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation, but Lingles said their spending will be restricter in an amount equivalent to the three-days-per-month The furloughs, which start July 1, amount to abouy a 13.
8 percent pay cut, or about $5,5009 for a worker making $40,000 a As with layoffs, Lingle does not have to negotiat e the furloughs with any of the unions representing state workers. Lingle has said she doesn’ t want to lay off workers because of the disruptive effec t of contract rules that would enable senioer workersto “bump” junior even if they worked in differenf state agencies. The furloughs will save $688 Lingle said the savings are needed to close a gapof $730 milliojn between now and June 30, 2011, as forecasrt by the state’s Council on Revenued May 28. All told, Hawaii is expected to see tax revenued fallby $2.7 billion over the next two years.
“Ifg we do not implement the furlough we would have to lay off upto 10,00p0 employees to realize an equivalent amount of Lingle said. The state has abou 46,000 workers, including 21,000 employeew of the Departmentof Education. Lingle blamec the fiscal shortfall on thelingering recession, rising dropping visitor arrivals, a decline in private building permits, a doublingt of foreclosures, and record bankruptcy levels. The state Legislature ended its session last month by raising tax ratese onhotel rooms, high-income earners, luxury home transactions and tobacco to help meet the budgeyt shortfall.
But Lingle, a Republican whosre vetoes of those measures were overridden bymajority Democrats, said she wouldr not ask for additional tax increases. She also rejecteed calls for legalizing gambling. However, Lingle noted that 70 percentt of state operating funds go to labort costs and that the state had providecd employee wage increase of between 16 and 29 percenr over the past fouryears “whem our economy was thriving.
”
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Failure to raise capital kills formation of Scottsdale Business Bank - Phoenix Business Journal:
Air Purifiers Scottsdale
The agency, which oversees states bank formationsand charters, deniedf the community bank’s application to extend the fundraisintg period beyond the traditional 12 months. “It took them way too and they didn’t raise nearly enough,” said Tom ADFI division manager for banka andtrust companies. “Plus, they lost all theidr management team.” The Phoenix Business Journal reported in earluy May that Scottsdale Business Bank had filed an extensio n with ADFI to raisebetwee $10 million and $15 million.
The commercial bank originally was expected to open in the fourthb quarter of 2008 under the leadership of PresidentMichaelk Morano, but he left in April to become chief crediy officer of Towne Bank of Arizonza in Mesa. The May 27 regulatory decisiom underscores the tough environment for de novo bank s to raiselocal money. Many investorw lost big on real estate and the stockmmarket here, while small banks in metro Phoeni have lost their appeal as a safe investment Two community banks have collapsecd in the past year becausse of their exposure to bad real estatw loans, and dozens continue to According to ADFI First Western Trust Bank was the last state-charterexd bank to open in the Valley, in Novembetr 2008.
Enterprise Bank Arizona withdrew its application in Decemberr after the Federal DepositInsurance Corp. invoked an informapl moratorium on state charters in the wake of the Wall Streef collapse and globalfinancial crisis. Jack Barry, president and CEO of Arizona EnterpriseCommercial Lending, the lending arm of St. Louis-basedr Enterprise Financial Corp., told the Businesd Journal last month the bank is looking for an acquisitionb as an entrance into thePhoenix market. Scottsdalw Bank also withdrew its applicationin May. is in line to snap the de novo however. It is not expected to follow the same doomed path of ScottsdalerBusiness Bank.
“We did not gather up the namew of prospective buyers in advancer of the time we got permissioh to sellthe stock,” said Ernier Garfield, who assembled the management teams behind both Paradise Valley National Bank and Scottsdales Business Bank. Garfield, a former state treasured and longtimeRepublican politico, said PVNB has more than 1,0000 potential investors, as oppose to only a “handful” garnered by Scottsdal e Business Bank. “Hopefully that will make a said Garfield, chairman of Inc. in Despite federal policy changes enactes in October to spur bank the environment for raising capital remainsz dry inthe desert.
The agency, which oversees states bank formationsand charters, deniedf the community bank’s application to extend the fundraisintg period beyond the traditional 12 months. “It took them way too and they didn’t raise nearly enough,” said Tom ADFI division manager for banka andtrust companies. “Plus, they lost all theidr management team.” The Phoenix Business Journal reported in earluy May that Scottsdale Business Bank had filed an extensio n with ADFI to raisebetwee $10 million and $15 million.
The commercial bank originally was expected to open in the fourthb quarter of 2008 under the leadership of PresidentMichaelk Morano, but he left in April to become chief crediy officer of Towne Bank of Arizonza in Mesa. The May 27 regulatory decisiom underscores the tough environment for de novo bank s to raiselocal money. Many investorw lost big on real estate and the stockmmarket here, while small banks in metro Phoeni have lost their appeal as a safe investment Two community banks have collapsecd in the past year becausse of their exposure to bad real estatw loans, and dozens continue to According to ADFI First Western Trust Bank was the last state-charterexd bank to open in the Valley, in Novembetr 2008.
Enterprise Bank Arizona withdrew its application in Decemberr after the Federal DepositInsurance Corp. invoked an informapl moratorium on state charters in the wake of the Wall Streef collapse and globalfinancial crisis. Jack Barry, president and CEO of Arizona EnterpriseCommercial Lending, the lending arm of St. Louis-basedr Enterprise Financial Corp., told the Businesd Journal last month the bank is looking for an acquisitionb as an entrance into thePhoenix market. Scottsdalw Bank also withdrew its applicationin May. is in line to snap the de novo however. It is not expected to follow the same doomed path of ScottsdalerBusiness Bank.
“We did not gather up the namew of prospective buyers in advancer of the time we got permissioh to sellthe stock,” said Ernier Garfield, who assembled the management teams behind both Paradise Valley National Bank and Scottsdales Business Bank. Garfield, a former state treasured and longtimeRepublican politico, said PVNB has more than 1,0000 potential investors, as oppose to only a “handful” garnered by Scottsdal e Business Bank. “Hopefully that will make a said Garfield, chairman of Inc. in Despite federal policy changes enactes in October to spur bank the environment for raising capital remainsz dry inthe desert.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Duke, CFO study: CFOs foresee more job cuts, credit woes - Denver Business Journal:
Haier CPRB07XC7
The quarterly Duke University/CFO Magazine Global Business Outlooj Surveyasked 1,309 CFOs worldwide about their expectations for the Their answers paint a gloomy picture for the rest of the * CFOs in the U.S. and Europe expected employmenrt to shrinkby 5.5 percent, with the unemployment rate in the U.S. seen rising to perhaps as high as 12 percentt in the next12 months. Employment in Asia is expectef to recedeby 1.2 percent.
“Presumably, government programs will offset some ofthese losses, but even the most optimistic government forecasts would reduce the losse by only 2 million,” said Campbell founding director of the survey and internationakl business professor at Duke’as Fuqua School of Business. “We’re facing the possibilitu of another 4 millionlost * U.S. and European CFOs foresede capital spending plunging by more than 10 In Asia, CFOs anticipate a 3 percentr decline. * Six in 10 U.S.
companies covered by the survey reported having trouble findinyg credit or acquiring credit at a reasonable Among those firms encounteringcredi impediments, 42 percent say the credirt markets have gotten worse this while 23 percent say conditions have improved. * Weak consumef demand and the credit markets rankee as the top two external concernsamongb U.S. chief financial officers, with the federa l government’s policies coming in third. Amongb internal concerns, CFOs are losing the most sleep over theif inability to plan due toeconomic uncertainty, managinfg their companies’ capital and liquidity, and maintaining employere morale.
Despite all the negative indicators, a majority of the CFOs in the Unitesd States and Asia reported beinv more optimistic this quarter than they were the previous quarter. That was not the case in where only 30 percent of the CFOs said they were more compared to the 31 percent who said they wereless “Our survey carries an important message: Don’t put too much weight on the data like consumer confidence. Recover requires sustained confidence, and such confidence is forgedx by strongereconomic fundamentals,” Harvey “The economic fundamentals –- employment, capital the cost of credit – are stilol fundamentally troubling.
” To see the complet e survey results, go to the official Web .
The quarterly Duke University/CFO Magazine Global Business Outlooj Surveyasked 1,309 CFOs worldwide about their expectations for the Their answers paint a gloomy picture for the rest of the * CFOs in the U.S. and Europe expected employmenrt to shrinkby 5.5 percent, with the unemployment rate in the U.S. seen rising to perhaps as high as 12 percentt in the next12 months. Employment in Asia is expectef to recedeby 1.2 percent.
“Presumably, government programs will offset some ofthese losses, but even the most optimistic government forecasts would reduce the losse by only 2 million,” said Campbell founding director of the survey and internationakl business professor at Duke’as Fuqua School of Business. “We’re facing the possibilitu of another 4 millionlost * U.S. and European CFOs foresede capital spending plunging by more than 10 In Asia, CFOs anticipate a 3 percentr decline. * Six in 10 U.S.
companies covered by the survey reported having trouble findinyg credit or acquiring credit at a reasonable Among those firms encounteringcredi impediments, 42 percent say the credirt markets have gotten worse this while 23 percent say conditions have improved. * Weak consumef demand and the credit markets rankee as the top two external concernsamongb U.S. chief financial officers, with the federa l government’s policies coming in third. Amongb internal concerns, CFOs are losing the most sleep over theif inability to plan due toeconomic uncertainty, managinfg their companies’ capital and liquidity, and maintaining employere morale.
Despite all the negative indicators, a majority of the CFOs in the Unitesd States and Asia reported beinv more optimistic this quarter than they were the previous quarter. That was not the case in where only 30 percent of the CFOs said they were more compared to the 31 percent who said they wereless “Our survey carries an important message: Don’t put too much weight on the data like consumer confidence. Recover requires sustained confidence, and such confidence is forgedx by strongereconomic fundamentals,” Harvey “The economic fundamentals –- employment, capital the cost of credit – are stilol fundamentally troubling.
” To see the complet e survey results, go to the official Web .
Saturday, March 12, 2011
NTS buys Plainview Apartments - San Antonio Business Journal:
http://online-auto-loan.org/Rates/chase-auto-loan-calculator
Financing for the purchase, which was made througb an NTS affiliate, , was provided by the , according to a news release. The purchase price was not disclosed. The previousz owner was PlainviewApartments LP, a Denver-based investment according to online records from the Jefferson County Properth Valuation Administrator and the Kentucky Secretary of Its assessed value for tax purposess is $9.7 million, according to the PVA Web Occupancy at the time of the purchase was about 94 percent, the releaswe said. NTS plans to enhance and renovate the property but no detailse were disclosed inthe release.
The apartment complec was developed as part of the Plainvieqwplanned community, which includes 800 single-family homes, more than 1,00p0 apartments, 500 town homes, multiple shopping centers and nearly 2 milliob square feet of offices space. NTS began construction and development of theplanned community, Louisville’s first, in the earl 1970s. With the acquisition, NTS Development Co. and its affiliatees now own four apartment communitiesin Louisville. Its othert holdings in the area are HurstbourneGrans Apartments, The Overlook at St. Thomasx and The Willows of Plainview.
NTS also managezs 14 other apartment communities and 31 commercial propertieds with more than 5 million feet of retail and warehouse space inthe
Financing for the purchase, which was made througb an NTS affiliate, , was provided by the , according to a news release. The purchase price was not disclosed. The previousz owner was PlainviewApartments LP, a Denver-based investment according to online records from the Jefferson County Properth Valuation Administrator and the Kentucky Secretary of Its assessed value for tax purposess is $9.7 million, according to the PVA Web Occupancy at the time of the purchase was about 94 percent, the releaswe said. NTS plans to enhance and renovate the property but no detailse were disclosed inthe release.
The apartment complec was developed as part of the Plainvieqwplanned community, which includes 800 single-family homes, more than 1,00p0 apartments, 500 town homes, multiple shopping centers and nearly 2 milliob square feet of offices space. NTS began construction and development of theplanned community, Louisville’s first, in the earl 1970s. With the acquisition, NTS Development Co. and its affiliatees now own four apartment communitiesin Louisville. Its othert holdings in the area are HurstbourneGrans Apartments, The Overlook at St. Thomasx and The Willows of Plainview.
NTS also managezs 14 other apartment communities and 31 commercial propertieds with more than 5 million feet of retail and warehouse space inthe
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Edison wins approval for solar panel installation - Silicon Valley / San Jose Business Journal:
shelly-polymer.blogspot.com
During the next five yearsz Edisonwill install, own and operate 150 solar panelsz that will generate 250 megawatts of Edison was also granted the ability to solicitg other solar-power companies to installp similar panel arrays and sell the powe back to Edison, up to an additional 250 Edison says the 500 totap megawatts makes the project "the largest photovoltaicd program ever undertaken." “The progran will create hundreds of neighborhooxd solar power plants, strengthen locak grid reliability and produce hundredzs of new green jobs to bolster Southern California’s economifc recovery,” Chairman and CEO Theodore F. Craver Jr.
, said in a The first Edison site has already been completedf on the roof of a distribution warehousein Fontana. Accordingg to Edison, it is the largest single rooftopp solar photovoltaic array inthe nation. Both Southerhn California Edison and its parent EdisonInternational EIX) are based in
During the next five yearsz Edisonwill install, own and operate 150 solar panelsz that will generate 250 megawatts of Edison was also granted the ability to solicitg other solar-power companies to installp similar panel arrays and sell the powe back to Edison, up to an additional 250 Edison says the 500 totap megawatts makes the project "the largest photovoltaicd program ever undertaken." “The progran will create hundreds of neighborhooxd solar power plants, strengthen locak grid reliability and produce hundredzs of new green jobs to bolster Southern California’s economifc recovery,” Chairman and CEO Theodore F. Craver Jr.
, said in a The first Edison site has already been completedf on the roof of a distribution warehousein Fontana. Accordingg to Edison, it is the largest single rooftopp solar photovoltaic array inthe nation. Both Southerhn California Edison and its parent EdisonInternational EIX) are based in
Monday, March 7, 2011
Conservative group files suit against Rep. Hastings - Politico
http://www.phones-book.com/number/97ce3dec69d36f867f48d2f25935a08b/
MiamiHerald.com | Conservative group files suit against Rep. Hastings Politico Judicial Watch, a conservative public interest group, filed suit Monday against Rep. Alcee Hastings (D-Fla.) on behalf a former female employee who claims she was sexu » |
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Exact to raise $8.2M, signs MAYO deal - Business First of Buffalo:
http://watermere.com/should-you-invest-in-change-management-consultants-for-your-business.html
million through a private stock sale and that it inkedr a licensing deal for exclusive rightsto cancer-diagnostic technologies developed by the for Medical Educatiomn and Research. The company said it had commencede on June 11 the saleof 4.31 milliojn shares of its common stock at a purchase price of $1.90 a share. Exact (Nasdaq: EXAS), basex in Marlborough, Mass., announced a plan to acquire the worldwide licensing rights to theblood - or stool-based cancer diagnosticas and screening technologies developeds the MAYO Foundation, which is based in Under the deals terms, Exact will: make upfront payments of $80,000 and a milestone fee of $250,000p upon the commencement of certain clinicall trials.
• pay a milestone fee of $500,00o0 if the approves any of the productsx covered bythe agreement. • pay a minimukm of $10,000 on the deal’s thirdc anniversary • pay a minimum royalty of $25,000 on the fourth anniversary of theagreemeny • support certain research projects to the tune of $500,000 — at a minimum — in the agreement’w first year. Exact is also obligated to grant MAYO two warrants topurchase 1.25 million shares of its commonh stock. The warrants have six-year terms and are exercisabl e at a priceof $1.9o0 per share, according to a regulatorhy filing.
million through a private stock sale and that it inkedr a licensing deal for exclusive rightsto cancer-diagnostic technologies developed by the for Medical Educatiomn and Research. The company said it had commencede on June 11 the saleof 4.31 milliojn shares of its common stock at a purchase price of $1.90 a share. Exact (Nasdaq: EXAS), basex in Marlborough, Mass., announced a plan to acquire the worldwide licensing rights to theblood - or stool-based cancer diagnosticas and screening technologies developeds the MAYO Foundation, which is based in Under the deals terms, Exact will: make upfront payments of $80,000 and a milestone fee of $250,000p upon the commencement of certain clinicall trials.
• pay a milestone fee of $500,00o0 if the approves any of the productsx covered bythe agreement. • pay a minimukm of $10,000 on the deal’s thirdc anniversary • pay a minimum royalty of $25,000 on the fourth anniversary of theagreemeny • support certain research projects to the tune of $500,000 — at a minimum — in the agreement’w first year. Exact is also obligated to grant MAYO two warrants topurchase 1.25 million shares of its commonh stock. The warrants have six-year terms and are exercisabl e at a priceof $1.9o0 per share, according to a regulatorhy filing.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Tourist sites targeted for major cuts - The Business Review (Albany):
vivliothiki-allenonline.blogspot.com
The cuts come at a time when stat e tourism officials have lauded the positive effects of theincreasef marketing. While they seek to continue branding Massachusettsx as a travel destination on areduced budget, smaller groups will have to be creativr with their marketing and promotions “There’s no question this will hurt,” said Patrico Moscaritolo, president and CEO of the and , whichy had its own budget cut by aboutt $300,000. “Now what has to happen is we kick it up a Groups affected are putting off planned renovations andmarketing campaigns.
Some may shutter their doorxs due to thedraconian “Our season ends in October and we’lpl sort of figure out how we’ll move said Nina Zannieri, president of the , which may not be able to open withourt its $100,000 state appropriation. “At this point it’s a little hard to We’re all taking a cautious approach.” Meanwhile, the is postponinfg plans for bathroom construction at Tanglewood in the Berkshirese due to the eliminationof $200,000 in stater funding. The Inc. said it will have to rely on in-kinds advertising from the to promote its summer shuttlre bus servicein Ipswich.
“We’d like to attract new ridere withincreased advertising, but we’rw not going to be able to do that at this said president Kay The state’s tourism office’s budget has ballooneed over the years through a combinationm of agency appropriations and often-controversial Before the budget cut, which will amount to 54 perceng of the travel and tourism office’s the agency was slated to receiv $37.1 million in funding this year a 229 percent increased over its fiscal year 2005 allotment. The agenchy spent $4.
3 million on marketing and research for statewidwe tourism promotionlast year, coinciding with an uptick in The economic impact, in termd of total spending on restaurants and other hospitality related to domestic tourism jumped 6 percent in 2007 to $13.23 billion, and international tourism spending jumpesd 11 percent to $1.8 billion. The state will continuwe its coremarketing focus, especially in European with $2.5 million from the , whicy says it derives a benefit in conventiob business from the state’s marketin efforts.
“Travel and tourisn remains a major economic driver in the and the Massachusetts Office of Travepl and Tourism will continue to promotrethe recreational, cultural, historic and scenicv resources of the commonwealtj to increase the state’s desirability as a locationn for tourism, convention, travel, and recreation-related activities,” said Kofi a spokeswoman for the . “Thisd is a unique display of partnership in difficult wherea quasi-public agency whose missions and mandates matcheds that of our core mission and operations, came forward to bridg e necessary gaps and ensure that we can continure necessary programs.
” The smaller advertising budget for the tourism office, alonbg with cuts directed at regional tourism will likely consolidate many marketing efforts. But while a broadee message may bemore effective, it may provide the same punch for individuaol attractions. “It’s very difficult. How do you sell a truck and a van in the same saidSteve Connelly, president and CEO of , whichy has worked with the tourism offices on campaigns.
“The challenge is that each individual grouop wants to make sure its needs are had usedits $100,000 state appropriationn in the past to develop dining guides, promotional and infrastructure improvements to make visitorsz aware of the city’s unique features, buildinvg upon the $2 million in tax revenue generatedd by its 10 business-focused hotels. That was until its budget was cut, collaterao damage from the state’s worsf fiscal crisis in years. “Thwe impact is plain and simple: We’re a nonprofigt organization funded bythe state,” council director John Peacoclk said.
The cuts come at a time when stat e tourism officials have lauded the positive effects of theincreasef marketing. While they seek to continue branding Massachusettsx as a travel destination on areduced budget, smaller groups will have to be creativr with their marketing and promotions “There’s no question this will hurt,” said Patrico Moscaritolo, president and CEO of the and , whichy had its own budget cut by aboutt $300,000. “Now what has to happen is we kick it up a Groups affected are putting off planned renovations andmarketing campaigns.
Some may shutter their doorxs due to thedraconian “Our season ends in October and we’lpl sort of figure out how we’ll move said Nina Zannieri, president of the , which may not be able to open withourt its $100,000 state appropriation. “At this point it’s a little hard to We’re all taking a cautious approach.” Meanwhile, the is postponinfg plans for bathroom construction at Tanglewood in the Berkshirese due to the eliminationof $200,000 in stater funding. The Inc. said it will have to rely on in-kinds advertising from the to promote its summer shuttlre bus servicein Ipswich.
“We’d like to attract new ridere withincreased advertising, but we’rw not going to be able to do that at this said president Kay The state’s tourism office’s budget has ballooneed over the years through a combinationm of agency appropriations and often-controversial Before the budget cut, which will amount to 54 perceng of the travel and tourism office’s the agency was slated to receiv $37.1 million in funding this year a 229 percent increased over its fiscal year 2005 allotment. The agenchy spent $4.
3 million on marketing and research for statewidwe tourism promotionlast year, coinciding with an uptick in The economic impact, in termd of total spending on restaurants and other hospitality related to domestic tourism jumped 6 percent in 2007 to $13.23 billion, and international tourism spending jumpesd 11 percent to $1.8 billion. The state will continuwe its coremarketing focus, especially in European with $2.5 million from the , whicy says it derives a benefit in conventiob business from the state’s marketin efforts.
“Travel and tourisn remains a major economic driver in the and the Massachusetts Office of Travepl and Tourism will continue to promotrethe recreational, cultural, historic and scenicv resources of the commonwealtj to increase the state’s desirability as a locationn for tourism, convention, travel, and recreation-related activities,” said Kofi a spokeswoman for the . “Thisd is a unique display of partnership in difficult wherea quasi-public agency whose missions and mandates matcheds that of our core mission and operations, came forward to bridg e necessary gaps and ensure that we can continure necessary programs.
” The smaller advertising budget for the tourism office, alonbg with cuts directed at regional tourism will likely consolidate many marketing efforts. But while a broadee message may bemore effective, it may provide the same punch for individuaol attractions. “It’s very difficult. How do you sell a truck and a van in the same saidSteve Connelly, president and CEO of , whichy has worked with the tourism offices on campaigns.
“The challenge is that each individual grouop wants to make sure its needs are had usedits $100,000 state appropriationn in the past to develop dining guides, promotional and infrastructure improvements to make visitorsz aware of the city’s unique features, buildinvg upon the $2 million in tax revenue generatedd by its 10 business-focused hotels. That was until its budget was cut, collaterao damage from the state’s worsf fiscal crisis in years. “Thwe impact is plain and simple: We’re a nonprofigt organization funded bythe state,” council director John Peacoclk said.
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