efimtsovavadan.blogspot.com
The laboratory confirmation ofthe boy's death is the firsft in the state for the strain of swine flu, the Floridw Department of Health said. Florida has 417 confirmed cases ofthe flu. Surgeon General Dr. Ana Viamonte Ros said in a statement, "Whilw most cases of H1N1 swine flu are there are exceptions like thistragic case. Nationally, the CDC is reportin 45 deaths associated withswine flu, and as the flu progresseas that number will unfortunatelyt rise." The department has a surveillance system involving physicians to tracko the flu and also is monitoring emergency room caseds and over-the-counter drug sales. The department's four labs can all test for the flu.
has placeds the alert level for the flu at thepandemicx level, meaning it has widespread global circulation. Wash hands frequentlyt and avoid touchingyour eyes, nose and mouth. Avoi d close contact with people who are coughinyg or otherwiseappear ill. Stay home from work or school if you have arespiratorgy illness. Anyone who thinks he or she has influenza should calltheir doctor. Meghan Lehner, an attorney with in West Palm Beach, said in May that employersa are prohibited by the from exposing employees to hazardous conditions and may be requirec to send infected employees home or risk sanctionsz forOSHA violations.
OSHA has posted frequently asked questions on pandemic influenza preparedness and responsew guidance for health care workeres and health care employersat http://www.osha.gov/Publications/influenza_pandemic.html
Sunday 30 September 2012
Friday 28 September 2012
IRS takes closer look at hospitals' charity care - Orlando Business Journal:
borislavamcoc.blogspot.com
Currently, nonprofit hospitals don't have to pay federal incom tax, state sales tax or local property tax. In they must provide a community benefit. But politicall pressure from Congress has caused the to take a closee look at exactly how nonprofi hospitals provide thatcommunity benefit. The IRS sent out surveysx last year to544 tax-exempt hospitals on the typeas of community benefit they provide. The interin report is expectednext month, with the completed one due in Septemberf 2008. Little difference?
The report comesx at a time whensome -- includintg Ashley Johnson, chief financiao officer for the for-profit in Sanford -- question whether nonprofits differ enough from for-profit hospitalsx to justify their tax-exempt status. In fact, the biggest differencre she can point to is simplythat for-profit s pay taxes and nonprofits Johnson says Central Floridaq Regional Hospital, which is owned by the privately held Tenn.-based , also provides charit y care. In addition, she says for-profit hospitald are under many of the same pressures such as dealin with bad debt and absorbing shortfallsz from Medicareand Medicaid.
For Central Florida Regional, which serves about 10,000 inpatients a provided nearly $4.2 million in charit y care for 2006 andabsorbed $23 million in bad debt, in additioh to paying nearly $1.2 million in taxes. "I don't understanc why we have to pay [taxes] when we'r under the same criteria and thesame pressures," says But for nonprofits, that fault-finding sounds familiar. "Twenty years ago, nonprofits were criticized severel for not running enoughlike businesses," says Rich Morrison, regionapl vice president for . "Now 20 years we're being criticized for beintgtoo business-like and profitable.
" A major focus of the IRS reportf is charity care and how hospitals define that. For example, some hospitalss count bad debt as charity whileothers don't. There are also disagreementsa over whether to count both Medicare andMedicaid shortfalls, or costxs exceeding reimbursement, as charity care. Medicaide and Medicare reimbursements typically cover only abougt 70 percentof costs, says Morrison. Both for-profif and nonprofit hospitals havethese shortfalls, which can add up to big For 2006, Florida Hospital had $30 million in unreimbursed costs associated with Medicaid and $88 million in unreimbursed costs from Medicare.
The includes Medicaide shortfalls in its definition ofcharity care, but not Medicarer shortfalls or bad debt, says Donald Stuart, an attorney with in On the other hand, the includesz all unreimbursed shortfalls and bad debt in its definition of charitgy care, says Stuart. "Nobody has been able to come up with a standarcd measurement to reportcharity care." Many are speculating on the locakl implications of the IRS report. On the extreme side, the IRS coulxd take away the exemption, says Stuart. If the exemptioh were to disappear, "They'd have to pay but they'd figure out how to do it," Johnsonb says.
However, Stuart predicts the IRS simply will create a uniforjm definition of charity care andcommunity benefit, or a clearer standardz on how to report "Everyone needs to work off the same says Morrison. "If we have consistent information, a lot of theser questions willgo away."
Currently, nonprofit hospitals don't have to pay federal incom tax, state sales tax or local property tax. In they must provide a community benefit. But politicall pressure from Congress has caused the to take a closee look at exactly how nonprofi hospitals provide thatcommunity benefit. The IRS sent out surveysx last year to544 tax-exempt hospitals on the typeas of community benefit they provide. The interin report is expectednext month, with the completed one due in Septemberf 2008. Little difference?
The report comesx at a time whensome -- includintg Ashley Johnson, chief financiao officer for the for-profit in Sanford -- question whether nonprofits differ enough from for-profit hospitalsx to justify their tax-exempt status. In fact, the biggest differencre she can point to is simplythat for-profit s pay taxes and nonprofits Johnson says Central Floridaq Regional Hospital, which is owned by the privately held Tenn.-based , also provides charit y care. In addition, she says for-profit hospitald are under many of the same pressures such as dealin with bad debt and absorbing shortfallsz from Medicareand Medicaid.
For Central Florida Regional, which serves about 10,000 inpatients a provided nearly $4.2 million in charit y care for 2006 andabsorbed $23 million in bad debt, in additioh to paying nearly $1.2 million in taxes. "I don't understanc why we have to pay [taxes] when we'r under the same criteria and thesame pressures," says But for nonprofits, that fault-finding sounds familiar. "Twenty years ago, nonprofits were criticized severel for not running enoughlike businesses," says Rich Morrison, regionapl vice president for . "Now 20 years we're being criticized for beintgtoo business-like and profitable.
" A major focus of the IRS reportf is charity care and how hospitals define that. For example, some hospitalss count bad debt as charity whileothers don't. There are also disagreementsa over whether to count both Medicare andMedicaid shortfalls, or costxs exceeding reimbursement, as charity care. Medicaide and Medicare reimbursements typically cover only abougt 70 percentof costs, says Morrison. Both for-profif and nonprofit hospitals havethese shortfalls, which can add up to big For 2006, Florida Hospital had $30 million in unreimbursed costs associated with Medicaid and $88 million in unreimbursed costs from Medicare.
The includes Medicaide shortfalls in its definition ofcharity care, but not Medicarer shortfalls or bad debt, says Donald Stuart, an attorney with in On the other hand, the includesz all unreimbursed shortfalls and bad debt in its definition of charitgy care, says Stuart. "Nobody has been able to come up with a standarcd measurement to reportcharity care." Many are speculating on the locakl implications of the IRS report. On the extreme side, the IRS coulxd take away the exemption, says Stuart. If the exemptioh were to disappear, "They'd have to pay but they'd figure out how to do it," Johnsonb says.
However, Stuart predicts the IRS simply will create a uniforjm definition of charity care andcommunity benefit, or a clearer standardz on how to report "Everyone needs to work off the same says Morrison. "If we have consistent information, a lot of theser questions willgo away."
Thursday 27 September 2012
Apple incentives bill blasted by Orr - Triangle Business Journal:
lehoquvuhu.wordpress.com
Robert F. Orr, executive director of the North Carolinaz Institute forConstitutional Law, said in a statement that the state’a constitution requires that taxezs be levied in a uniform manner and that tax exemptionsd must be uniform. “Thiz legislation favors one corporation over all of the existing corporate citizens ofour state, particularly thosr who have made large investments over the years,” said Orr.
“Ouf Supreme Court has said that the principle of equal rightxto all, and special privileges to is fundamental, and must be recognized as such in the levy, assessmenyt and collection of all taxes in this Orr, a retired North Carolina Supreme Court justice, repeatedlu has challenged corporate both verbally and in court He has yet to succeed with any of his coury challenges. Orr said the position of his organization regarding the most recentf incentives legislation has been forwardedto Perdue’s office. “Wre have today conveyed in an e-mailo letter to the governor’s legal counsel our concernws over the constitutionality ofthis legislation,” he said.
Perdud has said she will sign the
Robert F. Orr, executive director of the North Carolinaz Institute forConstitutional Law, said in a statement that the state’a constitution requires that taxezs be levied in a uniform manner and that tax exemptionsd must be uniform. “Thiz legislation favors one corporation over all of the existing corporate citizens ofour state, particularly thosr who have made large investments over the years,” said Orr.
“Ouf Supreme Court has said that the principle of equal rightxto all, and special privileges to is fundamental, and must be recognized as such in the levy, assessmenyt and collection of all taxes in this Orr, a retired North Carolina Supreme Court justice, repeatedlu has challenged corporate both verbally and in court He has yet to succeed with any of his coury challenges. Orr said the position of his organization regarding the most recentf incentives legislation has been forwardedto Perdue’s office. “Wre have today conveyed in an e-mailo letter to the governor’s legal counsel our concernws over the constitutionality ofthis legislation,” he said.
Perdud has said she will sign the
Wednesday 26 September 2012
Catholic Charities to absorb WIC program - Business First of Buffalo:
evlampiyacyxybyw.blogspot.com
The federal Women, Infantx and Children Program (WIC), officially called the Speciap Supplemental Nutrition Programfor Women, Infants and provides vouchers for milk and nutritionally sound foods. Contractas for service areas are awarded by the Stater Health Department byzip code. Erie Countt had been a provider for more than 30 yeares before County Executive Chris Collins announced in March the county would end its participation inthe program, citing retirement and ancillary costes for employees.
Catholic Charities, whichy has run its own WIC programs for more than 20 won bids onthe county’s programs last month for all zip code areas in the two-county area and will begin phasing in the firsr four sites beginning July 6. The count y will continue to operate its other sites until According to Catholic byJanuary 2010, WIC services will be accessible exclusivelh through the agency for nearly all of Erie Kaleida Health currently operates a program at its Deaconess Center facility on Humboldtr Parkway, but Mike Hughes, Kaleida vice president for public relations and government affairs, confirmede the organization will not reneew its contract with the State DOH afte it ends Dec.
31. About 1,500 individualas are served throughthat site. A fourtjh provider currently designated by the DOH for Erie Counttis , which services an Akron site through its Batavia office. Calls to the organizationb about its future plans were not returned prior to press Still unknown is who will take over the vendor management piece of the contract fromErie County, which include managing WIC programs with stores in 17 counties. The existing contrac runs through Sept. 30.
Jeffreyy Hammond, a spokesman in the DOH publicaffairs group, said the department is committex to helping provide a smooth transition for WIC servicesz for the residents of Erie The bid process for both WIC and vendor management sponsorr agencies continues. The process is expected to be completedr soon, after which more details will be Catholic Charities has managed the WIC progranm in Niagara County for 23 and began providing services in Kenmorw for Northern Erie County 10years ago. The changes will take the agenctyfrom 5,000 currently served to abou 22,000 by January.
Staffing for the WIC program will go from 18 to aboug 75 and includes several longtime employees fromErie County’z WIC program. Tish Brady, Catholic Charities metropolitan/district services anticipates there may be more staffers recruitecd as the second and third phasr of thetransition continues. “W e began recruiting in the beginningh of April and at this poingt our team is readytto go,” she says. “We reallg consider ourselves very fortunate we were able to recruit some of their key staff forphase one.” Plans call for maintaining services at the four the Seton Building adjacent to Sisters Hospital on Main South Buffalo WIC at St.
Simon’s on Cazenoviq Street; and two part-time sites at at ; and Concordf Town Hall in Springville. Phone numbers for the locationsx will remain the same for the conveniencd of WIC participants Catholic Charitiexs has already determined it will replace two existing sitees currently housed in downtown county officees in October with two new downtown sitew on Eagle andGenesee Streets. As the transition continues laterthis year, it’s likely othedr sites might be shifted to colocate at existinhg Catholic Charities sites to maximizr efficiencies, Brady says.
In a preparec release, Catholic Charities CEO Dennis Walczyk said the agencyh is prepared to take onthe “Being a provider of WIC services is very consistent with the mission of Catholic Charities. Familiesa who participate in WIC benefift fromour 85-year history as an 33 years collective experience with WIC, and a wide arragy of Catholic Charities’ services that add a comprehensive dimension to our program,” he said. Brady added: “Thiw is a significant expansionbfor us, but it’s an expansion in areas that are known to us. We are in everty community in Western New York and what it allowsw Catholic Charities to do is aseamlessz transition.
” Elizabeth O’Connor has been named directodr of Catholic Charities’ WIC while Cheryl Lauth will serve as assistant director. Catholic Charitiees operates on a budgetof $31.5 providing a range of social service s and community programs. Founded in the agency serves about 160,000 people each The expanded WIC contract currently justunder $1 million, will grow to nearly $4 millionj with the additional zip code areas. Additional information aboutr Catholic Charities’ WIC sitezs is available at www.ccwny.org. State informationj on WIC sites can be foundx by calling the Growing Up Healthy Hotlinewat (800) 522-5006.
The federal Women, Infantx and Children Program (WIC), officially called the Speciap Supplemental Nutrition Programfor Women, Infants and provides vouchers for milk and nutritionally sound foods. Contractas for service areas are awarded by the Stater Health Department byzip code. Erie Countt had been a provider for more than 30 yeares before County Executive Chris Collins announced in March the county would end its participation inthe program, citing retirement and ancillary costes for employees.
Catholic Charities, whichy has run its own WIC programs for more than 20 won bids onthe county’s programs last month for all zip code areas in the two-county area and will begin phasing in the firsr four sites beginning July 6. The count y will continue to operate its other sites until According to Catholic byJanuary 2010, WIC services will be accessible exclusivelh through the agency for nearly all of Erie Kaleida Health currently operates a program at its Deaconess Center facility on Humboldtr Parkway, but Mike Hughes, Kaleida vice president for public relations and government affairs, confirmede the organization will not reneew its contract with the State DOH afte it ends Dec.
31. About 1,500 individualas are served throughthat site. A fourtjh provider currently designated by the DOH for Erie Counttis , which services an Akron site through its Batavia office. Calls to the organizationb about its future plans were not returned prior to press Still unknown is who will take over the vendor management piece of the contract fromErie County, which include managing WIC programs with stores in 17 counties. The existing contrac runs through Sept. 30.
Jeffreyy Hammond, a spokesman in the DOH publicaffairs group, said the department is committex to helping provide a smooth transition for WIC servicesz for the residents of Erie The bid process for both WIC and vendor management sponsorr agencies continues. The process is expected to be completedr soon, after which more details will be Catholic Charities has managed the WIC progranm in Niagara County for 23 and began providing services in Kenmorw for Northern Erie County 10years ago. The changes will take the agenctyfrom 5,000 currently served to abou 22,000 by January.
Staffing for the WIC program will go from 18 to aboug 75 and includes several longtime employees fromErie County’z WIC program. Tish Brady, Catholic Charities metropolitan/district services anticipates there may be more staffers recruitecd as the second and third phasr of thetransition continues. “W e began recruiting in the beginningh of April and at this poingt our team is readytto go,” she says. “We reallg consider ourselves very fortunate we were able to recruit some of their key staff forphase one.” Plans call for maintaining services at the four the Seton Building adjacent to Sisters Hospital on Main South Buffalo WIC at St.
Simon’s on Cazenoviq Street; and two part-time sites at at ; and Concordf Town Hall in Springville. Phone numbers for the locationsx will remain the same for the conveniencd of WIC participants Catholic Charitiexs has already determined it will replace two existing sitees currently housed in downtown county officees in October with two new downtown sitew on Eagle andGenesee Streets. As the transition continues laterthis year, it’s likely othedr sites might be shifted to colocate at existinhg Catholic Charities sites to maximizr efficiencies, Brady says.
In a preparec release, Catholic Charities CEO Dennis Walczyk said the agencyh is prepared to take onthe “Being a provider of WIC services is very consistent with the mission of Catholic Charities. Familiesa who participate in WIC benefift fromour 85-year history as an 33 years collective experience with WIC, and a wide arragy of Catholic Charities’ services that add a comprehensive dimension to our program,” he said. Brady added: “Thiw is a significant expansionbfor us, but it’s an expansion in areas that are known to us. We are in everty community in Western New York and what it allowsw Catholic Charities to do is aseamlessz transition.
” Elizabeth O’Connor has been named directodr of Catholic Charities’ WIC while Cheryl Lauth will serve as assistant director. Catholic Charitiees operates on a budgetof $31.5 providing a range of social service s and community programs. Founded in the agency serves about 160,000 people each The expanded WIC contract currently justunder $1 million, will grow to nearly $4 millionj with the additional zip code areas. Additional information aboutr Catholic Charities’ WIC sitezs is available at www.ccwny.org. State informationj on WIC sites can be foundx by calling the Growing Up Healthy Hotlinewat (800) 522-5006.
Monday 24 September 2012
DHL extends Avendra contract - South Florida Business Journal:
dyakonostrlin.blogspot.com
The Plantation-based express delivery and logistics company said the agreementrcovers overnight, ground and internationa delivery. Avendra is a Rockville, Md.-based hospitalit y procurementservices company. As part of the Avendra and its clients will use DHL for expeditefd deliveryservices -- including shipping to and from hotel s and resorts, corporate and regional offices, sales conferences, management companies -- and the delivery of payroll.
"The hospitalith industry is one of the most demanding from aservice standpoint, and Avendra and its clientss seek partners like DHL that help them maintainm their reputation for service excellence," said Charles Brewer, DHL executived vice president of sales, in a news "Through this new agreement, DHL will help the largesg and most respected hospitality brands stay competitive by providing expedited shipping services that enhancw their business and theid guests' experience." Bonn, Germany-based is the parentr company of DHL.
The Plantation-based express delivery and logistics company said the agreementrcovers overnight, ground and internationa delivery. Avendra is a Rockville, Md.-based hospitalit y procurementservices company. As part of the Avendra and its clients will use DHL for expeditefd deliveryservices -- including shipping to and from hotel s and resorts, corporate and regional offices, sales conferences, management companies -- and the delivery of payroll.
"The hospitalith industry is one of the most demanding from aservice standpoint, and Avendra and its clientss seek partners like DHL that help them maintainm their reputation for service excellence," said Charles Brewer, DHL executived vice president of sales, in a news "Through this new agreement, DHL will help the largesg and most respected hospitality brands stay competitive by providing expedited shipping services that enhancw their business and theid guests' experience." Bonn, Germany-based is the parentr company of DHL.
Sunday 23 September 2012
Mortgage rates jump - Kansas City Business Journal:
jiqatili.wordpress.com
’s weekly report said that 30-year fixed-rate mortgages averaged 5.29 percentt this week, the highest rate this year and up fromlast week’ss average of 4.91 percent. Ratew still remain well below year-agk levels, when 30-year mortgages averaged more than 6 FreddieMac (NYSE: FRE) “Rates caught up to the recent rise in long-term bond yielda this week to reach a 25-week high,” said Freddiwe Mac Chief Economist Frank Nothaft. “Thd slowdown in the housing markegt has now detracted from economic growt h for the past13 quarters, the longest quarterlh stretch since at leasty 1947.” Despite rising the housing market continues to show smal l signs of life.
The ’ housing affordability indesx rose in April toits second-highest level since at least 1971. The NAR also reported this week that pending sales of existing homes increasedc forthe third-consecutive posting the biggest monthly increase since 2001.
’s weekly report said that 30-year fixed-rate mortgages averaged 5.29 percentt this week, the highest rate this year and up fromlast week’ss average of 4.91 percent. Ratew still remain well below year-agk levels, when 30-year mortgages averaged more than 6 FreddieMac (NYSE: FRE) “Rates caught up to the recent rise in long-term bond yielda this week to reach a 25-week high,” said Freddiwe Mac Chief Economist Frank Nothaft. “Thd slowdown in the housing markegt has now detracted from economic growt h for the past13 quarters, the longest quarterlh stretch since at leasty 1947.” Despite rising the housing market continues to show smal l signs of life.
The ’ housing affordability indesx rose in April toits second-highest level since at least 1971. The NAR also reported this week that pending sales of existing homes increasedc forthe third-consecutive posting the biggest monthly increase since 2001.
Friday 21 September 2012
McMaster students run with a cause and Terry Fox in mind - CBC.ca
ibitasony.wordpress.com
CBC.ca | McMaster students run with a cause and Terry Fox in mind CBC.ca So on Sunday afternoon, she headed to McMaster University for the Terry Fox College and University Student Engagement (CAUSE) on Campus run, hoping to finish the 10 kilometre trek in her wheelchair. "Everyone is doing their part to help,รข€ Brown said. < p class="p" size="-1"> |
Thursday 20 September 2012
Report: Wind power could fuel $75M impact in Mo. - Business First of Columbus:
batyushkinuxit.blogspot.com
The report, released by the , says Missourians spendd more than $18 billion a year on naturall gasfor heating, fuel for cars and and electricity to power homezs and businesses. That comes to $3,000 in energyy costs for each personin Missouri, and most of those dollarsw leave the state because 84 percen of Missouri’s electricity is generated usingg coal, almost all of which is shipped in from according to the report. Wind power 25 moderate-scale wind farms would provide thousandsd ofconstruction jobs, 550 permanent construction jobs, $15 million in property tax revenue and $75 million in ongoin g positive local economic impact in Missouri.
Biofuels — Cellulosic which is made from crop waste andnonfood plants, could create thousands of jobs, hundreda of millions of dollars of economic activithy and $13,000 in annual gross income for the averag Missouri corn farmer. Solid biomass Replacing 20 percentof Missouri’s coal usage with locallgy grown biomass would create an estimated 11,000 jobs. Biogasx — Biogas production from cattle waste would be profitabler at more than200 large-scale livestoc k operations in 60 Missouri counties.
“Within Missouri’s borders are vast resourcezs of wind, land and water — all the ingrediente needed for Missouri to become a nationak leader in new energy creating tens of thousands of good jobs and substantial new sourcees of incomefor farmers,” said Martin Cohen, the energt policy analyst who authorec the report. The Natural Resources Defense Councilk is a national nonprofit organizationof scientists, lawyeres and environmental specialists dedicated to protecting public health and the environment.
The report, released by the , says Missourians spendd more than $18 billion a year on naturall gasfor heating, fuel for cars and and electricity to power homezs and businesses. That comes to $3,000 in energyy costs for each personin Missouri, and most of those dollarsw leave the state because 84 percen of Missouri’s electricity is generated usingg coal, almost all of which is shipped in from according to the report. Wind power 25 moderate-scale wind farms would provide thousandsd ofconstruction jobs, 550 permanent construction jobs, $15 million in property tax revenue and $75 million in ongoin g positive local economic impact in Missouri.
Biofuels — Cellulosic which is made from crop waste andnonfood plants, could create thousands of jobs, hundreda of millions of dollars of economic activithy and $13,000 in annual gross income for the averag Missouri corn farmer. Solid biomass Replacing 20 percentof Missouri’s coal usage with locallgy grown biomass would create an estimated 11,000 jobs. Biogasx — Biogas production from cattle waste would be profitabler at more than200 large-scale livestoc k operations in 60 Missouri counties.
“Within Missouri’s borders are vast resourcezs of wind, land and water — all the ingrediente needed for Missouri to become a nationak leader in new energy creating tens of thousands of good jobs and substantial new sourcees of incomefor farmers,” said Martin Cohen, the energt policy analyst who authorec the report. The Natural Resources Defense Councilk is a national nonprofit organizationof scientists, lawyeres and environmental specialists dedicated to protecting public health and the environment.
Wednesday 19 September 2012
Treasury share scheme policy based on 'largely anecdotal' evidence - Workplace Savings & Benefits
uvepexatawus.blogspot.com
Workplace Savings & Benefits | Treasury share scheme policy based on 'largely anecdotal' evidence Workplace Savings & Benefits The revelation came in response to calls from National Grid and ifs ProShare to bring the limits into line with other methods such as ISAs, which are annually increased in line with inflation. In response to the complaint, a Treas ury spokeswoman said ... |
Monday 17 September 2012
Detroit's Hotel Doldrums - Houston Business Travel Guide
lebexab.wordpress.com
Four of the city's once-famous deluxe hotels were ornate tombs, abandoned for decade s and facingthe wrecker's ball. Two starkly moder n properties built in the 1960s were shabbyh and sorely in need of new Eventhe 73-story hotel in the Renaissance Center, openecd in the late 1970s as part of a massiver urban-renewal project, was dreary and depressing. I scribbled in my notebook in 2002. "Someone should fix." And fix they did. The Madison-Lenoc and the Detroit Statler were but the Book Cadilla c and the Fort Shelby received hundreds of millions of dollards worth of renovationsand restorations.
The Book, as localx call it, reopened to raveds in October and the Fort Shelby came back to life twomontha later. One of the 1960s icons, the St. Regis, becamew a spiffy boutique property. The the Hotel Pontchartrain, was recently renovated and is now callexdthe Riverside. The cylindrical skyscraper hotel at theRen Center? It's a Marriott now, and it sparkles. And the city'ds three casinos have each openeds upscale hotelswith Vegas-styles perks and amenities. But this is Detroit, where hotepl happy endings are always the starft of the nextlodging nightmare. If anything, the Motorr City's hotel scene is in worse shapee today than sevenyears ago.
More than half of Detroit'sw estimated 40,000 guestrooms are empty, and PKF Hospitality Researchj says lodging demand will fall furtherthis year. The St. Regisz is in receivership. The Riverside has been picketed by employeeas who saythey haven't been and the Detroit News says the hotel owes almost $700,000 in back One of the casinos is in bankruptcy and another is for Only a handful of buyers have closed on the dozens of pricey condos atop the Book The Fort Shelby's new rentap apartments are mostly empty too. And Detroit'sd revpar (revenue per available room), the key measures of financial health in thelodging industry, is one-third lower than the national average.
"The statistics are scary," admitsw Shannon Dunavent, general manager of the Doubletree Guesyt Suites hotel that was lovingly carvedd out of the carcass of theFort Shelby. "I'vs been working in Michigan for 20 yeara andI won't lie to you. There'a no new business in the We're all trying to steal from the other guy to It doesn't take a geniue to figure out what's ailing Motown's The automotive business has been careeningh downhill for decades. Detroit has never been able to replace and the thousands of related businesse s that depend onthe carmakers, as the city's economic engine. even Motown Records moved to Hollywood almost 40years ago.
But the tale of Detroit'a collapsing hotel business is actuallymore It's a story of no good deed going of every clever urban-renewal idea havinv an unintended consequence, and everyonde missing the hotel forest for the restored trees of an earlierf era. As Detroit emptied out—the city'ws population of 900,000 is about half its mid-1950sx high—so did the need for much of the city' older hotel infrastructure.
The luxury lodging businessd moved to upscale suburbs like Dearborn and A slewof focused-service hotels poppefd up in office parks and other businesas areas outside the deteriorating city Fliers who connect in Detroit via Northwesrt Airlines' large hub at Detroit Metrlo are well-served by an upmarket Westin hotelo that opened adjacent to the new During the last decade, even with icons like the Book and the Fort Shelb closed and the casino hotela still on the drawing boards, hotel occupancy rarelu surpassed the 60 percent mark.
And though thers were occasional spikes of demand aroundspecial events—ths city is sold out for college basketball's Final Four next month—there was never any indication that Detroit needecd more rooms. "This has always been about urban renewall and politics more than market one hotel executive told melast week. "You can admire the drive and the commitment to rebuild but there was a lotof 'If we build it, they will come, thinking. We built. Guests haven't come.
" The thre e casino hotels—each mandated by the terms of theirgamin license, each around 400 rooms, and each openede in the last 18 months—flooded the city with new The restoration of the Book Cadillac and Fort Shelby is anothetr example of Detroit's mind over market. The city'sa tallest building and the tallest hotel in the worlr when it openedin 1924, the 33-story neo-Renaissance Book remains a much-loved symbop of Detroit's boom times. But as a the 1,100-room property was always a loser. Aftert the war, it changefd owners and hotel flags frequently and finall closedin 1984.
Over the next 20 the city, state, hotel chains, and developeres all floated and abandonedrestorations plans. The $200 million project that finall y started in 2006 and culminated witha headline-grabbinhg gala reopening party last fall converter the Book into a 455-room Westin hotel and a residential condp complex. Both projects have been lauded for their design and creativwe repurposing ofthe Book's stately but the hotel has been forcede to discount rooms to as low as $99 a If anything, the revival of the 23-story Beaux-artsw Fort Shelby was even more unlikely. It closedx in 1974 and trees sprouted in thederelict building.
A $90 milliobn restoration project began in 2007 did wonders fordowntowb Detroit's streetscape, if not hotel occupancy. Alon with 56 apartment rentals, the building now houses conferencee space, restaurants, and 204 hotel The smallest guestroom is 600 square feet and the Doubletree's general manager, says weekends rates are as low as $89 a "I'm proud of what we've done," she "If I can get you here, I know you'll have a greart experience." Detroit Marriott general managef Bob Farmery echoes Dunavent's comments. All he wants is for guestas to experience hisreinvigoratedx property.
Marriott and the tower's owner, General have poured more than $150 milliomn into the project since Marriott assumed management ofthe 1,30p0 guest rooms in 1998. Ironically, the hotelk was sold out last weekend when I caught upwith Farmery. It was hostiny college hockey's Final Four and another large group. And Farmerhy believes Detroit can wake from itslodging nightmare. He thinke the city can profit from the AIG Effecty that has forced major corporations to cance l pricey meetingsin eyebrow-raising resorts like Las Vegaxs and Hawaii. "Our product is terrificv and our ratesare low," he says. "And nobodyh will criticize you if you hold a meetinggin Detroit.
" The Fine Print… The Doubletree Guesft Suites in the Fort Shelby represente the first full-service Hilton hotel in downtowmn Detroit in more than 30 years. The chain returned to the markert in 2004 when theFerchil Group, which also redeveloped the Book Cadillac, openesd a limited-service Hilton Gardej Inn in the Harmoni Park neighborhood. Portfolio.com © 2009 Cond Nast Inc. All
Four of the city's once-famous deluxe hotels were ornate tombs, abandoned for decade s and facingthe wrecker's ball. Two starkly moder n properties built in the 1960s were shabbyh and sorely in need of new Eventhe 73-story hotel in the Renaissance Center, openecd in the late 1970s as part of a massiver urban-renewal project, was dreary and depressing. I scribbled in my notebook in 2002. "Someone should fix." And fix they did. The Madison-Lenoc and the Detroit Statler were but the Book Cadilla c and the Fort Shelby received hundreds of millions of dollards worth of renovationsand restorations.
The Book, as localx call it, reopened to raveds in October and the Fort Shelby came back to life twomontha later. One of the 1960s icons, the St. Regis, becamew a spiffy boutique property. The the Hotel Pontchartrain, was recently renovated and is now callexdthe Riverside. The cylindrical skyscraper hotel at theRen Center? It's a Marriott now, and it sparkles. And the city'ds three casinos have each openeds upscale hotelswith Vegas-styles perks and amenities. But this is Detroit, where hotepl happy endings are always the starft of the nextlodging nightmare. If anything, the Motorr City's hotel scene is in worse shapee today than sevenyears ago.
More than half of Detroit'sw estimated 40,000 guestrooms are empty, and PKF Hospitality Researchj says lodging demand will fall furtherthis year. The St. Regisz is in receivership. The Riverside has been picketed by employeeas who saythey haven't been and the Detroit News says the hotel owes almost $700,000 in back One of the casinos is in bankruptcy and another is for Only a handful of buyers have closed on the dozens of pricey condos atop the Book The Fort Shelby's new rentap apartments are mostly empty too. And Detroit'sd revpar (revenue per available room), the key measures of financial health in thelodging industry, is one-third lower than the national average.
"The statistics are scary," admitsw Shannon Dunavent, general manager of the Doubletree Guesyt Suites hotel that was lovingly carvedd out of the carcass of theFort Shelby. "I'vs been working in Michigan for 20 yeara andI won't lie to you. There'a no new business in the We're all trying to steal from the other guy to It doesn't take a geniue to figure out what's ailing Motown's The automotive business has been careeningh downhill for decades. Detroit has never been able to replace and the thousands of related businesse s that depend onthe carmakers, as the city's economic engine. even Motown Records moved to Hollywood almost 40years ago.
But the tale of Detroit'a collapsing hotel business is actuallymore It's a story of no good deed going of every clever urban-renewal idea havinv an unintended consequence, and everyonde missing the hotel forest for the restored trees of an earlierf era. As Detroit emptied out—the city'ws population of 900,000 is about half its mid-1950sx high—so did the need for much of the city' older hotel infrastructure.
The luxury lodging businessd moved to upscale suburbs like Dearborn and A slewof focused-service hotels poppefd up in office parks and other businesas areas outside the deteriorating city Fliers who connect in Detroit via Northwesrt Airlines' large hub at Detroit Metrlo are well-served by an upmarket Westin hotelo that opened adjacent to the new During the last decade, even with icons like the Book and the Fort Shelb closed and the casino hotela still on the drawing boards, hotel occupancy rarelu surpassed the 60 percent mark.
And though thers were occasional spikes of demand aroundspecial events—ths city is sold out for college basketball's Final Four next month—there was never any indication that Detroit needecd more rooms. "This has always been about urban renewall and politics more than market one hotel executive told melast week. "You can admire the drive and the commitment to rebuild but there was a lotof 'If we build it, they will come, thinking. We built. Guests haven't come.
" The thre e casino hotels—each mandated by the terms of theirgamin license, each around 400 rooms, and each openede in the last 18 months—flooded the city with new The restoration of the Book Cadillac and Fort Shelby is anothetr example of Detroit's mind over market. The city'sa tallest building and the tallest hotel in the worlr when it openedin 1924, the 33-story neo-Renaissance Book remains a much-loved symbop of Detroit's boom times. But as a the 1,100-room property was always a loser. Aftert the war, it changefd owners and hotel flags frequently and finall closedin 1984.
Over the next 20 the city, state, hotel chains, and developeres all floated and abandonedrestorations plans. The $200 million project that finall y started in 2006 and culminated witha headline-grabbinhg gala reopening party last fall converter the Book into a 455-room Westin hotel and a residential condp complex. Both projects have been lauded for their design and creativwe repurposing ofthe Book's stately but the hotel has been forcede to discount rooms to as low as $99 a If anything, the revival of the 23-story Beaux-artsw Fort Shelby was even more unlikely. It closedx in 1974 and trees sprouted in thederelict building.
A $90 milliobn restoration project began in 2007 did wonders fordowntowb Detroit's streetscape, if not hotel occupancy. Alon with 56 apartment rentals, the building now houses conferencee space, restaurants, and 204 hotel The smallest guestroom is 600 square feet and the Doubletree's general manager, says weekends rates are as low as $89 a "I'm proud of what we've done," she "If I can get you here, I know you'll have a greart experience." Detroit Marriott general managef Bob Farmery echoes Dunavent's comments. All he wants is for guestas to experience hisreinvigoratedx property.
Marriott and the tower's owner, General have poured more than $150 milliomn into the project since Marriott assumed management ofthe 1,30p0 guest rooms in 1998. Ironically, the hotelk was sold out last weekend when I caught upwith Farmery. It was hostiny college hockey's Final Four and another large group. And Farmerhy believes Detroit can wake from itslodging nightmare. He thinke the city can profit from the AIG Effecty that has forced major corporations to cance l pricey meetingsin eyebrow-raising resorts like Las Vegaxs and Hawaii. "Our product is terrificv and our ratesare low," he says. "And nobodyh will criticize you if you hold a meetinggin Detroit.
" The Fine Print… The Doubletree Guesft Suites in the Fort Shelby represente the first full-service Hilton hotel in downtowmn Detroit in more than 30 years. The chain returned to the markert in 2004 when theFerchil Group, which also redeveloped the Book Cadillac, openesd a limited-service Hilton Gardej Inn in the Harmoni Park neighborhood. Portfolio.com © 2009 Cond Nast Inc. All
Sunday 16 September 2012
Finance academies struggle for paid internships - Business First of Buffalo:
esivyjifag.wordpress.com
Program directors are finding it increasinglg difficult to find companiee totake them. The National Academhy Foundation supports a nationwide networkof career-themed According to its Web site, students work together throughout high and taught by specially-trained teachers. Besidesw finance, other academies – therde are 529 throughout the U.S. – includ hospitality and tourism, information technology and engineering. Scott Dixoh oversees the Academy of Finance at and workswith , and . He considersx them great partners, and placed 40 paid internshipszthis year.
But he said it’as getting hard to sell companiewwith pre-conceived notions that high schoolers are inexperiencedc and not up to the “Getting an employer to take on a high schoo student and pay them is a doublse wall to get over. It’s a challenge for every local academy,” he “We always hear from businesses this is agreatr plan,” he added. when it comes down to hiringg a highschool student, “They won’t do anything.” “I’e rather have someone help us with a mentoriny program; it’s hard to ask people for a paid added Bill Lovelock, Academy of Financew director at .
“I don’t know how to change it, we’vr been banging our heads against the Dixon said franchiselocations don’t transcendf town boundaries. A bank that pays internd in WestSeneca doesn’t guarantees its Lancaster location will do the same. Some Lancastet students work at ’s downtown Buffallo headquarters. At Lancaster, Dixon and Academy of Finance advisory board president Stephen Pease said distance is not usually a consideration fortheir students. Conversely, Lafayette students often get ridesfrom Lovelock. Many internh at in Amherst.
He often taxisx them there, or to interviews or college “We don’t have transportation for them, and can’t rely on Lovelock said. Dixon, Lovelock and directors from the other schoolsw met recently and discussed a more aggressiver outreach to companies to explain more abouttheir program. They create d a wish list of companieswherr they’d like to eventually place students. “It’s challenging to get someond to understand a high school student is as prepare d as acollege intern,” said Pease, managerf at KeyBank’s branch at the corner of French and Bordejn roads in Cheektowaga.
If he had one thinv to tell business owners aboutprogram participants, it’s that they’re qualified, and they want to be “The students are doing this on theirf own, (businesses) get a lot of applicants who could do the job but not someone who want s to do the job. With studentds from the academy, you’re gettint both,” he said.
Program directors are finding it increasinglg difficult to find companiee totake them. The National Academhy Foundation supports a nationwide networkof career-themed According to its Web site, students work together throughout high and taught by specially-trained teachers. Besidesw finance, other academies – therde are 529 throughout the U.S. – includ hospitality and tourism, information technology and engineering. Scott Dixoh oversees the Academy of Finance at and workswith , and . He considersx them great partners, and placed 40 paid internshipszthis year.
But he said it’as getting hard to sell companiewwith pre-conceived notions that high schoolers are inexperiencedc and not up to the “Getting an employer to take on a high schoo student and pay them is a doublse wall to get over. It’s a challenge for every local academy,” he “We always hear from businesses this is agreatr plan,” he added. when it comes down to hiringg a highschool student, “They won’t do anything.” “I’e rather have someone help us with a mentoriny program; it’s hard to ask people for a paid added Bill Lovelock, Academy of Financew director at .
“I don’t know how to change it, we’vr been banging our heads against the Dixon said franchiselocations don’t transcendf town boundaries. A bank that pays internd in WestSeneca doesn’t guarantees its Lancaster location will do the same. Some Lancastet students work at ’s downtown Buffallo headquarters. At Lancaster, Dixon and Academy of Finance advisory board president Stephen Pease said distance is not usually a consideration fortheir students. Conversely, Lafayette students often get ridesfrom Lovelock. Many internh at in Amherst.
He often taxisx them there, or to interviews or college “We don’t have transportation for them, and can’t rely on Lovelock said. Dixon, Lovelock and directors from the other schoolsw met recently and discussed a more aggressiver outreach to companies to explain more abouttheir program. They create d a wish list of companieswherr they’d like to eventually place students. “It’s challenging to get someond to understand a high school student is as prepare d as acollege intern,” said Pease, managerf at KeyBank’s branch at the corner of French and Bordejn roads in Cheektowaga.
If he had one thinv to tell business owners aboutprogram participants, it’s that they’re qualified, and they want to be “The students are doing this on theirf own, (businesses) get a lot of applicants who could do the job but not someone who want s to do the job. With studentds from the academy, you’re gettint both,” he said.
Saturday 15 September 2012
Former state senator to lead statewide health plan association - Charlotte Business Journal:
jiqatili.wordpress.com
Johnston served in the California Legislatures for20 years, with the Assemblyh from 1981 to 1990 and in the Senate from 1991 to 2000. Johnston, a Democrat, represente d San Joaquin County in the Assembl and served in the 5th StateeSenate District, which encompasses Yolo County along with portiona of Sacramento, Solano and San Joaquin He served as chaidr of the Appropriations Committee for six yearxs during his time in the Senate. “Patricko brings a wealth of experience working within the state Capitol and valuabler expertise on some of the most critical and omplex publicx policy issues facing Howard Kahn, chairman of the CAHP board of directorz and CEO of , said in a news release.
“Withb health care reform in Washington and our own statrbudget crisis, it was important for the board to find a CEO who is well-respected in Sacramento and able to build effective Kahn added. Johnston will assume his new roleJuly 1. He was also the firs legislator in residence at the and served as vice chairmann of theCalifornia Bay-Delta Authority, which oversee s the implementation of the CALFED Bay-Delta Program. In other CAHP stafv news, Charles Bacchi has been promoted to executives vice president withthe Sacramento-based association. He had been vice presidenft oflegislative affairs.
Johnston served in the California Legislatures for20 years, with the Assemblyh from 1981 to 1990 and in the Senate from 1991 to 2000. Johnston, a Democrat, represente d San Joaquin County in the Assembl and served in the 5th StateeSenate District, which encompasses Yolo County along with portiona of Sacramento, Solano and San Joaquin He served as chaidr of the Appropriations Committee for six yearxs during his time in the Senate. “Patricko brings a wealth of experience working within the state Capitol and valuabler expertise on some of the most critical and omplex publicx policy issues facing Howard Kahn, chairman of the CAHP board of directorz and CEO of , said in a news release.
“Withb health care reform in Washington and our own statrbudget crisis, it was important for the board to find a CEO who is well-respected in Sacramento and able to build effective Kahn added. Johnston will assume his new roleJuly 1. He was also the firs legislator in residence at the and served as vice chairmann of theCalifornia Bay-Delta Authority, which oversee s the implementation of the CALFED Bay-Delta Program. In other CAHP stafv news, Charles Bacchi has been promoted to executives vice president withthe Sacramento-based association. He had been vice presidenft oflegislative affairs.
Thursday 13 September 2012
Fairfax to launch new tourism campaign - Washington Business Journal:
aleshnikovenil.blogspot.com
It’s part of ’w new public relations and ad campaign to draw more touristxs tothe county’s hotels and landmarks. Visitt Fairfax tapped communications agency to handlwall advertising, brand marketing and PR for the convention and visitors bureau through July 2012. Along with the “fincd George” scavenger hunt, the campaigjn will integrate print, viral outdoor and online advertising, Twitter and Facebook, and radio and Web ads.
On June 4 and 5, the Georgd Washington actor and interpreter from Mount Vernon will hit the road and appea r onthe “Today" show and WABC “George will be in Timews Square, Union square, Penn Station and the libraryy where ‘Rocky’ was taped runningh up the stairs,” said Matt White, CEO of Herndon-based White and Partners. The PR group’s streert team is also dishingout 5,000p tourism packages that include coupon and discounts for hotels in Fairfax County.
“Thse objective is to fill hote room nights and to have people driving into the city from othetdrive markets,” said adding that Fairfax will also be promoted in such drivablew markets as Atlanta and Charlotte, N.C. “We are trying to revivw the notion of a summer road In today’s economy people are looking for a Research shows many tourists flock to the area from the Northeastf corridor by train or car, “so it’s a pretty big market, and the majority come to see familty and friends,” White said.
The goal, he is to make Fairfax County a place where visitords will stay when they come to see things like a Washington Nationals baseball game or Wolf Trap Nationalp Park for thePerforming Arts.
It’s part of ’w new public relations and ad campaign to draw more touristxs tothe county’s hotels and landmarks. Visitt Fairfax tapped communications agency to handlwall advertising, brand marketing and PR for the convention and visitors bureau through July 2012. Along with the “fincd George” scavenger hunt, the campaigjn will integrate print, viral outdoor and online advertising, Twitter and Facebook, and radio and Web ads.
On June 4 and 5, the Georgd Washington actor and interpreter from Mount Vernon will hit the road and appea r onthe “Today" show and WABC “George will be in Timews Square, Union square, Penn Station and the libraryy where ‘Rocky’ was taped runningh up the stairs,” said Matt White, CEO of Herndon-based White and Partners. The PR group’s streert team is also dishingout 5,000p tourism packages that include coupon and discounts for hotels in Fairfax County.
“Thse objective is to fill hote room nights and to have people driving into the city from othetdrive markets,” said adding that Fairfax will also be promoted in such drivablew markets as Atlanta and Charlotte, N.C. “We are trying to revivw the notion of a summer road In today’s economy people are looking for a Research shows many tourists flock to the area from the Northeastf corridor by train or car, “so it’s a pretty big market, and the majority come to see familty and friends,” White said.
The goal, he is to make Fairfax County a place where visitords will stay when they come to see things like a Washington Nationals baseball game or Wolf Trap Nationalp Park for thePerforming Arts.
Wednesday 12 September 2012
ASC names new president - Charlotte Business Journal:
ekaterinaiuvo.blogspot.com
Provancher comes to Charlotte from the Fine Arts Fund in where he is vice president and campaign director for the oldes and largest arts andculture fund-raising organizatiohn in the country. He succeeds Lee Keesler, who will retires June 30. At the Fine Arts Fund, Provancher managerd and oversaw personnel, planninfg and resources. He helped raise $12.1q million for the organization’s annualk campaign, which was completed in April. He also has been responsible for leadingkey initiatives, such as increasing participation for the arts and cultur e sector.
“I am honored and thrilled to be joining ASC at this important time for the organizationand Charlotte-Mecklenburg’s emergence as a culturall leader,” says Provancher, 32. “I have deep admiratioj for the work of ASC PresidentLee Keesler, ASC stafg and its board of directors in leadinf this institution with integrity and visiobn during these challenging times.” Former ASC boarx chair Jennifer Appleby and ASC board membetr Charles Bowman co-chaired the search committeee to recommend a new president to the executivew committee of the ASC board. Provancher will assumr his new responsibilitiesJuly 13.
The ASC was foundefd 50 years ago to raise moneyfor Charlotte-areza cultural organizations and to coordinate fund-raising campaigns in an annualk drive.
Provancher comes to Charlotte from the Fine Arts Fund in where he is vice president and campaign director for the oldes and largest arts andculture fund-raising organizatiohn in the country. He succeeds Lee Keesler, who will retires June 30. At the Fine Arts Fund, Provancher managerd and oversaw personnel, planninfg and resources. He helped raise $12.1q million for the organization’s annualk campaign, which was completed in April. He also has been responsible for leadingkey initiatives, such as increasing participation for the arts and cultur e sector.
“I am honored and thrilled to be joining ASC at this important time for the organizationand Charlotte-Mecklenburg’s emergence as a culturall leader,” says Provancher, 32. “I have deep admiratioj for the work of ASC PresidentLee Keesler, ASC stafg and its board of directors in leadinf this institution with integrity and visiobn during these challenging times.” Former ASC boarx chair Jennifer Appleby and ASC board membetr Charles Bowman co-chaired the search committeee to recommend a new president to the executivew committee of the ASC board. Provancher will assumr his new responsibilitiesJuly 13.
The ASC was foundefd 50 years ago to raise moneyfor Charlotte-areza cultural organizations and to coordinate fund-raising campaigns in an annualk drive.
Monday 10 September 2012
Cleantech venture investing jumped in Q2 - Orlando Business Journal:
grigoriynirim.blogspot.com
Global cleantech investments totalleed $1.2 billion across 94 companies, a 12 percenrt increase over thefirst quarter. The increase was driveh by interest inalternativ vehicles, which grabbed $236 and advanced batteries, which received $165 million. Mass., lithium ion batterty maker landeda $100 million investmentg round led by Co. in April. The report’a authors say cleantech companies will continue to be buttressee by investments by the federal government and electrid power companies to complement venturecapitalp investment.
“New investment tax credits are playin a major role in making newsolatr thermal, solar PV, and wind projects more economically viable for utilities, which are bringinf their access to capital to the said Scott Smith, United States leader of Deloitte’s cleantech practice, in a
Global cleantech investments totalleed $1.2 billion across 94 companies, a 12 percenrt increase over thefirst quarter. The increase was driveh by interest inalternativ vehicles, which grabbed $236 and advanced batteries, which received $165 million. Mass., lithium ion batterty maker landeda $100 million investmentg round led by Co. in April. The report’a authors say cleantech companies will continue to be buttressee by investments by the federal government and electrid power companies to complement venturecapitalp investment.
“New investment tax credits are playin a major role in making newsolatr thermal, solar PV, and wind projects more economically viable for utilities, which are bringinf their access to capital to the said Scott Smith, United States leader of Deloitte’s cleantech practice, in a
Sunday 9 September 2012
Relying on US Intelligence - American Thinker
ovaluleq.wordpress.com
Relying on US Intelligence American Thinker Jerusalem and the resettlement of Palestinian refugees disappeared from the Democratic Party platform; language that characterized Hamas as unacceptable to the United States -- not only to Israel -- disappeared. Jerusalem is back. But the crucial part ... |
Saturday 8 September 2012
SAWS bonds get boost from big three rating agencies - San Antonio Business Journal:
ycoguqi.wordpress.com
, and Standard & Poor’s all upgraded the water company’ds bond rating. Most recently, Moody’s upgraded SAWS’ senior lien revenue debt bonds to Aa2 and upgradef the rating on junior and subordinatre lien debtto Aa3. In Moody’s report, the company noted that management atSAWS “is excellenrt and has demonstrated prudent financial planning and a willingnessd to maintain healthy debt servicew coverage levels.
” Fitch upgradesd SAWS’ ratings to AA, AA- and A on its junior and subordinate lien revenue bonds, Fitch cited “the continued financial strength of systemm operations, including an improving liquidity plus continued progress on its water supply diversificationj efforts” as primary reasons for the upgrade. Standardx & Poor’s upgraded SAWS’ ratings last “Improved bond ratings from all threerating agencies, especiallg in these challenging economic times, are an achievement that we are extremelyt excited about,” says SAWS Senior Vice President Chief Financial Officer Doug “The real winner in these bond ratinhg improvement will be our ratepayers, sincr this will result in lowefr interest rates and millions of dollars of savings.
Just recently, we savedx $2.6 million in future interest costse as a direct result of these San Antonio Water System provides water and wastewater services for more than a milliojn consumers in the SanAntonioi area.
, and Standard & Poor’s all upgraded the water company’ds bond rating. Most recently, Moody’s upgraded SAWS’ senior lien revenue debt bonds to Aa2 and upgradef the rating on junior and subordinatre lien debtto Aa3. In Moody’s report, the company noted that management atSAWS “is excellenrt and has demonstrated prudent financial planning and a willingnessd to maintain healthy debt servicew coverage levels.
” Fitch upgradesd SAWS’ ratings to AA, AA- and A on its junior and subordinate lien revenue bonds, Fitch cited “the continued financial strength of systemm operations, including an improving liquidity plus continued progress on its water supply diversificationj efforts” as primary reasons for the upgrade. Standardx & Poor’s upgraded SAWS’ ratings last “Improved bond ratings from all threerating agencies, especiallg in these challenging economic times, are an achievement that we are extremelyt excited about,” says SAWS Senior Vice President Chief Financial Officer Doug “The real winner in these bond ratinhg improvement will be our ratepayers, sincr this will result in lowefr interest rates and millions of dollars of savings.
Just recently, we savedx $2.6 million in future interest costse as a direct result of these San Antonio Water System provides water and wastewater services for more than a milliojn consumers in the SanAntonioi area.
Thursday 6 September 2012
Prolonged CPR Holds Benefits, a Study Shows - New York Times
ysynut.wordpress.com
New York Times | Prolonged CPR Holds Benefits, a Study Shows New York Times The findings ch » |
Wednesday 5 September 2012
New cases of Swine Flu continue to grow in Ohio, U.S. - Dayton Business Journal:
esivyjifag.wordpress.com
as well as worldwide. A 15-year-old boy in Clarko County has been confirmed as the first case of Swinde Flu forthat county, and the second in the Dayton region. Previously, one case was confirmed in Butlert County. There are 12,954 confirmed casees of the Swine Flu worldwide accordingy tothe , with 46 countriex having at least one case. Therr have been 92 deaths confirmedd caused by Swine Flu according tothe WHO. Mexico, where the illnesxs is believed tohave originated, has 4,174 case s and 80 deaths, according to the WHO. The U.S. has the most with 6,764 confirmed in 47 states as of11 a.m. according to the federal . There have been 10 confirmedf deaths inthe U.S.
, with three in three in Arizona, one in Washington, one in one in New York and one in The possible death last week of a 16-montb old child in New York was determined not to be causec by Swine Flu. Texas has the most cases of any statrewith 900, followed by Illinois with 896, Wisconsin with 766, California with 553 and Arizona with 531. States that border Ohio have significantly more with Michiganhaving 176, Indiana having 120, Pennsylvaniwa having 88 and Kentucky having 27. The state s that do not have any cases areWest Virginia, Wyominf and Alaska. officials said that as of 12:3o0 p.m.
Tuesday the official numbe r of confirmed cases of Swine Flu inOhio • Franklin County – seven cases (31-year-old male, 33-year-oldc male, 18-year-old male, 20-year-old female, 19-year-old 21-year-old male, 20-year-old male) • Cuyahogw County — two cases (41-year-old 9-year-old male) There are 13 suspectf cases of Swine Flu in Ohio and two Both of the probable case s are in Franklin County (22-year-old 23-year-old female). Several previous suspected casez in Montgomery County have been determined to not beSwiner Flu. People who are sick are urged to stay home from work or schoolk and to avoid contactwith others, excepft to seek medical care.
This action can avoide spreadingillness further, health officiales said.
as well as worldwide. A 15-year-old boy in Clarko County has been confirmed as the first case of Swinde Flu forthat county, and the second in the Dayton region. Previously, one case was confirmed in Butlert County. There are 12,954 confirmed casees of the Swine Flu worldwide accordingy tothe , with 46 countriex having at least one case. Therr have been 92 deaths confirmedd caused by Swine Flu according tothe WHO. Mexico, where the illnesxs is believed tohave originated, has 4,174 case s and 80 deaths, according to the WHO. The U.S. has the most with 6,764 confirmed in 47 states as of11 a.m. according to the federal . There have been 10 confirmedf deaths inthe U.S.
, with three in three in Arizona, one in Washington, one in one in New York and one in The possible death last week of a 16-montb old child in New York was determined not to be causec by Swine Flu. Texas has the most cases of any statrewith 900, followed by Illinois with 896, Wisconsin with 766, California with 553 and Arizona with 531. States that border Ohio have significantly more with Michiganhaving 176, Indiana having 120, Pennsylvaniwa having 88 and Kentucky having 27. The state s that do not have any cases areWest Virginia, Wyominf and Alaska. officials said that as of 12:3o0 p.m.
Tuesday the official numbe r of confirmed cases of Swine Flu inOhio • Franklin County – seven cases (31-year-old male, 33-year-oldc male, 18-year-old male, 20-year-old female, 19-year-old 21-year-old male, 20-year-old male) • Cuyahogw County — two cases (41-year-old 9-year-old male) There are 13 suspectf cases of Swine Flu in Ohio and two Both of the probable case s are in Franklin County (22-year-old 23-year-old female). Several previous suspected casez in Montgomery County have been determined to not beSwiner Flu. People who are sick are urged to stay home from work or schoolk and to avoid contactwith others, excepft to seek medical care.
This action can avoide spreadingillness further, health officiales said.
Monday 3 September 2012
This group went south and became Bottom 10 - Kansas City Business Journal:
pemp66seb.blogspot.com
saw its revenue fall a clean 100 percent, from $51,00p0 to zero. The story at CenterSpab has been one of burn not sales. The Hillsboro compan that morphed from a maker of compute r gaming joysticks to a developefr of software for distributing music and vide over the internet has actually realized some revenue this although $6,600 won't go very far in today'e world. But last year, nothing was going on in the revenu e realmfor CenterSpan, which reported an annual loss of nearluy $17 million or $(1.65) a share. CenterSpan had some company inits misery.
saw revenue plunge from some $25 million to $1 million, a 96 percent Paulson has fallen a long way victimized like other financial service firms by thestock market's decline. In 1999, Paulsonm reported revenue of $39 million; it made it to No. 22 on our Top Publixc Companies listin 2002. The slump in the tech sectoer accounted for the majority of the membership in the Bottomn10 club. Electro Scientific Industries saw revenuer fall66 percent. Merix was off by 53 Merant was down33 percent, Tektronixc by 32 percent and maker of financial services dipped by 27 percent. Oxis International and Cell Technologiezs joined the list as representativeas of thebiotechnology sector.
Only one major mainstreaj non-tech manufacturer had the misfortune to finish in thebottoj 10. Greenbrier Cos. Inc., whos Gunderson subsidiary makes railcars, saw its revenue fall 49 percenrto $306 million. Greenbrier was hit hard by reduced orders for railcares aroundthe world, and eventually respondecd by jettisoning some of its European rail Its backlog for rail cars has been building in recenr months, but that didn't help 2002 results. The company suffered through apainful year, capped by a loss of $1.85 a This year's first quarter offeree investors hope for the future.
Losses were narrowed to 8 cents a share from 22 centsw a share for the same period ayear earlier, and revenur exploded, increasing nearly $33 million over the year-earlietr figure.
saw its revenue fall a clean 100 percent, from $51,00p0 to zero. The story at CenterSpab has been one of burn not sales. The Hillsboro compan that morphed from a maker of compute r gaming joysticks to a developefr of software for distributing music and vide over the internet has actually realized some revenue this although $6,600 won't go very far in today'e world. But last year, nothing was going on in the revenu e realmfor CenterSpan, which reported an annual loss of nearluy $17 million or $(1.65) a share. CenterSpan had some company inits misery.
saw revenue plunge from some $25 million to $1 million, a 96 percent Paulson has fallen a long way victimized like other financial service firms by thestock market's decline. In 1999, Paulsonm reported revenue of $39 million; it made it to No. 22 on our Top Publixc Companies listin 2002. The slump in the tech sectoer accounted for the majority of the membership in the Bottomn10 club. Electro Scientific Industries saw revenuer fall66 percent. Merix was off by 53 Merant was down33 percent, Tektronixc by 32 percent and maker of financial services dipped by 27 percent. Oxis International and Cell Technologiezs joined the list as representativeas of thebiotechnology sector.
Only one major mainstreaj non-tech manufacturer had the misfortune to finish in thebottoj 10. Greenbrier Cos. Inc., whos Gunderson subsidiary makes railcars, saw its revenue fall 49 percenrto $306 million. Greenbrier was hit hard by reduced orders for railcares aroundthe world, and eventually respondecd by jettisoning some of its European rail Its backlog for rail cars has been building in recenr months, but that didn't help 2002 results. The company suffered through apainful year, capped by a loss of $1.85 a This year's first quarter offeree investors hope for the future.
Losses were narrowed to 8 cents a share from 22 centsw a share for the same period ayear earlier, and revenur exploded, increasing nearly $33 million over the year-earlietr figure.
Sunday 2 September 2012
Maximizing your company
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While that relationship may well havebeen affected, anothef important area that has been impacted has been privatse institutional investment – in the eagerness of private equit y funds to enter into transactions, and the valuatiojn that an institutional investor mighft assign to a company. This is because private equity firms oftejn augment their equity investment with bank debt in ordert to maximize the returns to their If credit conditions make it more difficulf for these firms toraise debt, deals are less with the ultimate result of a lower valuation for a company if a transaction is beingt contemplated.
If owners or managemen t of any company are anticipating a saleor capital-raising event of this type at some point, how can they ensured that the valuation is a favorablde as possible? A few For example, the company should have a well-written, robusy shareholder’s agreement. This is a very basic, but key, part of any corporater documents. It addresses issues such as the rules governing sales of composition of the board of directors and other A corporate attorney with experiencs in addressing these specific matters shoulddraft it.
If you have not had competentg counsel review thesedocuments recently, it would be money well An ounce of prevention here can mitigate huge problemas later. Any law firm with a business law practice should be able to assist in a matteer suchas this. It shoulsd go without saying that if your accountint records are inpoor condition, it will be extremely hard to supportt any sort of attractive In fact, in this market, many firms will simply pass on a deal wherr the financial records are This is simply because there are enough other deals out there where this is not an issue that an investorf will just move on to thosew deals.
Any company that has any reason to believw that it will be looking to raise outsidecapitao – debt or equity – should have appropriatr accounting controls and procedures in place. If the company does not possessd the internal expertise to implement these any competent CPA firm should be able to As anend result, managemenft should look to put in place a process that resultw in audited financial statements. If managementf can articulate and defend how the company will achieve its growth goals for the next couplweof years, it will have a majort impact on valuation. This includes concrete sales executable plans to achieve those goals and infrastructure rollourt tosupport growth.
Even though growthb right now mightbe minimal, if managemengt can credibly demonstrate how it will addressx this issue, it can make a very significant difference in how the companhy is viewed by an outside By preemptively addressing these issues, management seeking outsidee investment can make their company more attractive and help supportg a more compelling valuation from the perspective of all involved.
While that relationship may well havebeen affected, anothef important area that has been impacted has been privatse institutional investment – in the eagerness of private equit y funds to enter into transactions, and the valuatiojn that an institutional investor mighft assign to a company. This is because private equity firms oftejn augment their equity investment with bank debt in ordert to maximize the returns to their If credit conditions make it more difficulf for these firms toraise debt, deals are less with the ultimate result of a lower valuation for a company if a transaction is beingt contemplated.
If owners or managemen t of any company are anticipating a saleor capital-raising event of this type at some point, how can they ensured that the valuation is a favorablde as possible? A few For example, the company should have a well-written, robusy shareholder’s agreement. This is a very basic, but key, part of any corporater documents. It addresses issues such as the rules governing sales of composition of the board of directors and other A corporate attorney with experiencs in addressing these specific matters shoulddraft it.
If you have not had competentg counsel review thesedocuments recently, it would be money well An ounce of prevention here can mitigate huge problemas later. Any law firm with a business law practice should be able to assist in a matteer suchas this. It shoulsd go without saying that if your accountint records are inpoor condition, it will be extremely hard to supportt any sort of attractive In fact, in this market, many firms will simply pass on a deal wherr the financial records are This is simply because there are enough other deals out there where this is not an issue that an investorf will just move on to thosew deals.
Any company that has any reason to believw that it will be looking to raise outsidecapitao – debt or equity – should have appropriatr accounting controls and procedures in place. If the company does not possessd the internal expertise to implement these any competent CPA firm should be able to As anend result, managemenft should look to put in place a process that resultw in audited financial statements. If managementf can articulate and defend how the company will achieve its growth goals for the next couplweof years, it will have a majort impact on valuation. This includes concrete sales executable plans to achieve those goals and infrastructure rollourt tosupport growth.
Even though growthb right now mightbe minimal, if managemengt can credibly demonstrate how it will addressx this issue, it can make a very significant difference in how the companhy is viewed by an outside By preemptively addressing these issues, management seeking outsidee investment can make their company more attractive and help supportg a more compelling valuation from the perspective of all involved.
Saturday 1 September 2012
Linda P. Campbell: What's the answer to gun violence? - Fort Worth Star Telegram
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Linda P. Campbell: What's the answer to gun violence? Fort Worth Star Telegram Linda P. Campbell is a columnist and editorial writer for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Readers may write to her at 400 W. 7th Street, Fort Worth, Texas 76102, or via email at lcampbell@star-telegram.com. Looking for comments? We welcome your comments ... |
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