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Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Fans' hatred has added plenty of incendiary fuel to Heat - Florida Times-Union (blog)
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Black & Veatch completes purchase of world HQ building - Dayton Business Journal:
After considering about 40 alternated area sites duringa two-year real estate analysis, Black & Veatch said March 23 that it would keep its growingy headquarters operation at 11401 Lamar Ave., whichu it has occupied since its original construction in 1976. Blackk & Veatch bought the building, whicy was expanded to 600,000 squarr feet in 1996 and is the larges t office buildingin Kansas, from Chicago-based . A consortium of local banks led by financedthe transaction, which eventually is expectecd to result in more than 1,000 new jobs for Overland Park.
The area’sa 12th-largest private-sector employer, Black & Veatch employs 3,800o at five area offices, including more than 2,300 at the Lamar Avenue After the buildingis expanded, by roughlhy 2015, it will accommodate a work force of more than “Black & Veatch’s decision to expand in Kansaws is a testament to our state’s strong business climate,” Gov. Mark Parkinso said in a Thursday “Kansas is known for its safe great schools and highly educatedwork We’re so glad to have a global leadere like Black & Veatch make Kansas the home of its worlxd headquarters.
” To retain Black & Veatch, Kansas offered an impact granyt worth $25 million for traininy and capital investment. The money will come from withholding taxes paid by employeews atthe headquarters. Overland Park committed to a 75 percent property taxabatemeny — the largest percentage abated in city “The combined support of the state of Kansas and the city of Overlandx Park were instrumental in reachingh this milestone,” Len Rodman, Black Veatch CEO, said in the “With the completion of this we can now begin to implement at our worldd headquarters the same types of innovativd and sustainable solutions we provide every day for our The new world headquarters will included a solar courtyard, sola r canopy, bio garden and innovation It also will have extensivse work space, common area, facilit and energy-management upgrades; landscaping enhancements; and rainwater-reuse systems and stormwatere run-off management.
When completed, the building will be certified via the Leadershil in Energy andEnvironmental Design, or program of the . “Bringing thesre innovative and futuristic enhancements to an oldefr facility tomeet tomorrow’s design standards presents a largwe technical challenge, but is the most sustainablse solution for the area,” Rodman said in the “It’s a challenge our professionals relisbh and take tremendous pride in.” The company has pilotee many of the potential design concepts at its more than 100 globao offices and will draw on its LEED-certified experts and engineering and construction talent for the headquarters expansion project.
Blaclk & Veatch ranks No. 1 on the Kansas City BusinesdsJournal ’s list of area engineering The $3.2 billion company is one of the world’s largesrt engineering, consulting and construction firms.
Thursday, May 26, 2011
D.C. Sports & Entertainment Commission may lose chief and funding - Washington Business Journal:
Gregory O'Dell, the commission's chief executive is a top candidate to replac Reba Pittman Walker as CEO and general manageer ofthe . On top of that, the chairmann of the D.C. Council Economic Development Committee wants to axa $2.5 milliobn subsidy from the budget that the sporta commission's leaders say is needed to continue O'Dell said May 6 he is weighing the idea of replacin Walker. "The convention center board hasapproached me, and I told them I woulr consider it," he said. "Right now I am completelh focused on the Sports Entertainment Commission, but I am honored that they would ask me, so I told them I woulrd give it consideration.
" His departure could be hastenerd by the funding shortage and the impression that the commissionj is no longer needed with the Washingtoj Nationals' move from RFK Stadium to the new The independent agency is fundes primarily by rents and fees from eventws at RFK, but it has only one regularr tenant -- , which is lookingh for a new home. The D.C. which the commission also operates, badly neede improvements to itselectrical infrastructure, bathrooms and more to hold more The rent the Nationalws pay at the new stadium goes to repayy construction bonds. Given the lack of O'Dell and Matthew Cutts, the chairmab of the commission's 13-member board, say they have cut back on $1.
2 millionm in expenses but still facea $500,0090 shortfall for fiscal 2008, and withoutr an additional subsidy the agency may be forcede to cease operations by this fall. Commissiojn leaders asked for $2.5 million for 2009 to covefr the shortfall, and Mayor Adrian Fenty suggested that amounyt in his budget proposalMarch 20. Economid Development Committee ChairmanKwame Brown, D-at said a one-time subsidy isn'gt the answer for the organization, particularlyu now that the Nationals' rent is payin g off debt. "Every year they are subsidized becauss they start off the year with a he said. "So the real [question] is how do they sustainh themselves?
" The funding was omitteds from the budget when the committee voted on itMay 1. The full councilk is scheduled to vote on the budgetMay 13. Browbn suggested moving control of RFK to the Officwe of Property Management and puttingthe $2.5 millionh subsidy and other mone y into earmarks for projects he and his council colleagues including $500,000 to create a "rainj garden" on O Street SE; $200,000 for the Thelonioux Monk Institute of Jazz; and $200,00p0 for the Historic Kappa Alpha Psi Restoratiom Foundation, a charity associated with his college Other one-time grants would go to organizations that specializse in job and skills training, such as Training Groundsa Inc.
, a work force preparation and ByteBack, a computer training center for youth in Northeas t D.C. Brown also proposed using $300,0000 to create a Procurement TechnicapAssistance Program, which aims to get local businessed grants from the federak government. Only D.C. and three states do not operatessuch programs, he said. O'Dell sees the Armoryu as a way to fortifythe agency's It hosted only about three eventds per month from October to March and will stop hostingt events altogether in the summer, he said, because it has no air O'Dell estimates that after needex upgrades he could double or triplee that output, charge higher ratesw and form a partnership with a private entituy interested in using the space in exchange for operatintg it and passing on a share of Multiple sports attractions are interested in the Armorg -- including arena football, the National Basketball Association Development League, professional lacrossew and boxing -- and securing a private partnetr to manage it woul d create a long-term sourcse of cash, he said.
"We've already talked to several peoplew who would be interested indoing that, as an entertainmeng venue kind of theme." Brown said he is still considering tryingv to move RFK out of the commission'es control, despite opposition from Councilwoman Carol R-at large, and that he isn'rt sure money to fix the Armory will shorw up the rest of the commission'e budget. Other council members may propose changes, but findingh money for the sports commission will be particularly difficult because ofthe District'se $131 million shortfall. "Every business group says that if you give us more believe me, we will collecyt more revenue," Brown said.
"I'm not saying they I'm just saying that we need to have a policy discussionm about how RFK is fundedbecause it's [the property." O'Dell said his 56-memberf staff is uniquely qualified to manage RFK, but he has heard the suggestion that the organization merge with other groups with similar goals, such as the and Destination D.C. (formerly the Washington Convention & Tourism "That discussion has been out there for awhile," he said. "It hasn't necessarily been on our radar yet, since we're obviously trying to make ourselves whole and deal with this Butyou know, it's something that I'j sure will come up againh in conversations.
"
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Coca-Cola Enterprises Starts Trading In Paris - NYSE Euronext - Wall Street Journal
Materials Handling World Magazine | Coca-Cola Enterprises Starts Trading In Paris - NYSE Euronext W » |
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Georgia watering restrictions lifted - Triangle Business Journal:
“Our water supplies are flush,” Carol director of the , told members of the state’as Drought Management Advisory Committee. “Our riverxs and streams have rebounded.” The state imposed Level 4 drought restrictions in September 2007 as one of the worstf droughts in Georgiahistory deepened, sending water levels at the state’zs federally managed reservoirs plummeting. The restrictions banned most types of outdoofr water use in 55 northGeorgia counties. Whil e some communities were later granted exemptions to the mostsevers restrictions, water systems that reliede on severely depleted Lake Lanier were not give that flexibility.
Under Wednesday’s order, whic takes effect immediately, north Georgia will return toa non-drought outdoor watering schedule. Residential and commerciak property owners will be allowed to water their lawnas three daysa week. Odd-numbered addresses may watert on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday. Even-numbered addresses may water on Monday, Wednesdayt and Saturday. State Climatologist David Stooksbur y reported to the advisory committee that Georgia is experiencinggthe second-wettest spring in 115 years. “Obviously, that made a majo r impact on moisture conditions in the he said.
Still, Stooksbury said, rainfall just durin the last 30 days has been slightlty below normal across the norther n third ofthe state, a sign that summer is settint in. Couch praised property owners for conserving water durinf the drought to a greater extent than would have been possiblre throughregulation alone. But she warned that Georgiansx should continue cultivatingtheir water-efficient habits, even thougyh abundant rains have returned. “Drought can be a ficklde thing,” she said.
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Flooding helps SD fishing flourish - Sioux Falls Argus Leader
Flooding helps SD fishing flourish Sioux Falls Argus Leader Putting aside all the property destruction, swamped farmland and personal hardship caused by the flooding in South Dakota's glacial lakes region, all that extra water is good news for anglers. "For as many things that suffer, homes and roads and that ... |
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Quake could cause Himalayan glacial lakes to inundate populated areas - DailyIndia.com
BBC News | Quake could cause Himalayan glacial lakes to inundate populated areas DailyIndia.com New Delhi, May 17: Earthquakes could lead glacial lakes in the Himalayas to cause serious hazards to population centres, scientists have said. The BBC quoted them as saying that past records indicate the region could experience a large quake in the ... Himalayan lakes c » |
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Jordan-Opposition parties mark Nakbeh - Middle East North Africa Financial Network
Reuters Africa | Jordan-Opposition parties mark Nakbeh Middle East North Africa Financial Network A march organised by some of the country's opposition parties marked the 63rd anniversary of the Nakbeh, which f » |
Thursday, May 12, 2011
Flooded farmer: 'It's in the Lord's hands. I've tried all I could do' - CNN International
Flooded farmer: 'It's in the Lord's hands. I've tried all I could do' CNN International I've tried all I could do," the 42-year-old farmer recalled thinking. In the game of give and take, Mother Nature won this round, filling Oxner's property with water ranging in depth from 6 to 12 feet. "Once it flooded, it's the end of a hard-fought ... |
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Media execs rein in spending as nervous clients scale back ads - The Business Review (Albany):
Rueckert, president of LLC in Colonie, has seen busineszs slow as clients concerned about the economy put marketiny planson hold. A projected $6 billion stats budget deficit now has him wondering if the statr agencies he works with will have to cutthei budgets, too. This type of concern, he said, “makeds you very, very careful.” “In times like this you don’tf spend money as frivolously,” he said. “Wheh times are good, if an employee needs new software, you get it for If a printer breaks, you buy a new one. Now we are sayint ‘Let’s get that repaired.’ ” It has been a difficulg year for manymedia businesses.
Totall advertising expenditures nationwidefell 3.7 percent in the second according to of New York That is the steepest quarterly drop since 2001. Mediaa executives say the softness continued over the Hotly contested political races have livened up the but that money soonwill disappear, leavinf a business community reeling from the recen turmoil in the financial markets. “We can tell by our trendin that it will be a tough remainderd of the year for allof us,” said Steve Baboulis, general manager of , the affiliate in Albany.
It ofteh is said that marketing is the first thing businesses cut in a poor It is adiscretionary item, with no immediate impact on day-to-dayh operations. “If they have to choose betweeb payroll and themarketing they’re going to choose payroll,” Rueckert said. This time around, medi a executives say, clients who do not have to make that drastix a choice are heeding their advice to keep theit names in front ofthe public. some are delaying partzs of projects for a month or two and many are thinking ofspending less.
“What I’m seeing is peopl pulling back, but not backing off entirely,” said Mike president of in Saratoga He said this is exactly what he advises clientsto do. “It you are doing television, radio and print, maybe cut out he said. “Or if you like to do a direct mailing everyfour weeks, maybe go to ever eight weeks instead. It’s just being John McIntyre, general manager of , a Delmar-bases chain of 11 community weeklies, said he has not seen a drop in the numbe ofbusinesses advertising—if anything, more peopl are coming through the door. But each individua sale is smaller.
Robert Ausfeld, regional general managert for radiobroadcaster , has seen sales drop by about 5 percenyt this year. The radio stations, he can no longer rely on long-termj contractual business. New advertisers, mainly small businessees with productsto move, are coming in, but theid buys can not make up for the value of the lost “For a canceled $20,000 we might get $10,000 he said. This has many media-related businesses lookingy closely at howthey operate. The area’d largest dailies, the Times Unioh and The Daily have both cut staff in thepast year. Others are focusintg on the little things.
Rueckerr said he is rethinking having people mow the lawn and wash the windoww of hisColonie office. Ausfeldd said he has people using the back of printed paper and recordinbg voice tracks forweekend shows. Four hourx of on-air time can be completed in one “Everything is under a microscope,” Ausfeld said. Regenf also is pushing “nontraditional” revenuw sources, such as festivals. It is more willing to negotiatedwith clients, offer flexible packaged of flagship WGNA, 107.7-FMn and other stations and even give free spots on the weekends. And it is hiring more salespeople to go afte rsmall businesses. McIntyre also has choseh this time to invest inhis business.
On 1, Spotlight introduced a new, quarterly publication, a parenting resourcw guide called Mother Knows It also has upped the distribution of its four communitu weeklies inSaratoga County, and has upgradefd both its printed and online products. “Wwe haven’t cut back at all,” he said. “Of that causes pain. When your spending is up, and your revenus is not, it hurts your bottom But it is what you haveto
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Residential mortgage team adjusts to high volume of loan activity - bizjournals:
Beginning about three months ago, Mike, the managerd of Little Canada-based Mortgage and Investmenrt Consultants’ Integrity Team, said interest in purchasinv and refinancing home mortgages pickedup “Personally, I’m working probably 10, 12 hoursw a day, and that’s prettg standard for most of my staff,” she said. The four offices she managees — three in the Twin Cities metro and one in WesterjWisconsin — had together been averaging aboutr 35 mortgage closings a month. “We’re about doublin g that right now,” Mike said. In the mortgagde business, Mike isn’t alone.
The residential mortgager industry has experienced increased activity the past few saidTom Musil, director of the Shenehon Centeer for Real Estate at the University of St. Boosted by bargain home low interest rates, higher consumert confidence and stimulus incentives likethe $8,000 tax credity for first-time buyers, Musil said the same mortgages companies that were recently forced to lay off employee are now scrambling to hire them back. In termss of mortgage activity, Musill believes it will be a good year. “My guess is the numbers for ’09 will be substantially higher than the lastfew years.
” Mike said the majoritu of her business is in the purchase although refinances also are up. The new business is due, in to the attention that’s been given to a number of governmen programs for new home buyers andcustomersz who’ve been struggling with adjustable-rate mortgages. “W e are seeing quite a bit of interesyt because of what people are callinfgthe ‘Obama Mortgage.’ ” While she said the qualifications for some of the programds are more stringent than have been portrayed and not everyone will qualify, her staff is able to talk to clientds about their options.
A similar period happened duringthe 2002-2003 refinancingg boom, but things were different Mike said. Underwriting guidelines are muchmore complex. In this economy there are capitalization issues, liquidity issues, she “Even though we’ve had this volume before, it’s a whole different ballgame.” No matter how busy thing get, Mike said good communication is key toher branch’s success, both in term s of working with clients and in-house. When her processorws recently became inundated, she called in contract processors tohelp out. “We’llo bring in more staff.
We’ll do whatever we need to do,” said who, at the end of May was in the midst of training several new staff After all, in this economic climate, being extremely busy is often the least of a manager’s worries. “That’s a good problem to have,” Mike said, with a laugh.
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Cremation specialist opens Alameda, San Mateo offices - East Bay Business Times:
The privately held Ft. Lauderdale, alternative funeral services company is a subsidiarhy ofthe Nassau, Bahamas-based merchant which offers similar services in otherf states as the Neptune Society. It previousl had local Trident Society offices inWalnu Creek, San Jose and Ranch Mirage, along with other California branches in Citru Heights, San Diego and Mission Jerry Norman, the 11-year-old company's president and CEO, said the Trident Societ y is "honored to be a part of the Bay Area communitgy and to offer residents our dignifief and affordable alternative to the traditionalk funeral experience.
" Traditional funerals can cost as much as $10,000, while cremation "costs thousands less," according to the company, which says cremations account for more than 30 percenrt of funeral services in the United States, citing Crematiohn Association of America data. In some including California, more than half of all funeralk servicesinvolve cremation, and the national average is projectexd to top 40 percentt by 2025, according to a 2002 report by the nationap group.
BG Capital Group also owns the , Tridentg Society's parent, which offers cremation services in 11 statesw and 36metropolitan areas, including Sherman Oaks, San Pedro and Santa Barbara in Southern according to the Neptune Society's site. A Trident Society spokesman said May 7 that those numberws are being checkedfor (There are several significant differences betweebn the Neptune Society's metrics on its site and the statisticds on the BG Capital Group BG Capital's Neptune Society does business in some California counties as the Tridentf Society because a competing Neptuned Society franchise entity did business in the Golden State before the BG Capital unit started offering services here, according to the On the Neptune Society Inc.
web site, the companyt explains that its whollyowned , does business in California as "Neptunre Society" only in Los Angeles, Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispio Counties, and is not affiliated with any other Neptune Society in the state. Trident Societyy is a subsidiary ofNeptune Management, according to its
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Uganda: Prisons Commissioner Says Prudent to Transfer Mao - AllAfrica.com
Uganda: Prisons Commissioner Says Prudent to Transfer Mao AllAfrica.com I'm empowered by the law as Commissioner General to effect movements of prisoners whenever I find it prudent. And of course, it was quite prudent that I transfer Mr Mao to another prison. It's one of our newly constructed prisons. ... |
Sunday, May 1, 2011
REVIEW: Doctor Who 6.2 - Big Shiny Robot!
ABC Online | REVIEW: Doctor Who 6.2 Big Shiny Robot! It was one of those perfect moments for me, which means we're going to get them flirting a lot more from now on and she's going to be a lot happier, but now I want to go back and watch the rest of her episodes, she knows she has lost him as far as a ... 'Doctor Who! 9; Recap: Day Of The Moon Doctor Who series 6 episode 2 review: Day Of The Moon 'Doctor Who' - 'Day of the Moon': One sm » |