Metro seeks more control of convention center leadership - Dayton Business Journal:

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Metro councilors Rod Park and Rex Burkholdedr will introduce a measure next week giving the councikl authority over individuals who lead the Metropolitan ExpositiobnRecreation Commission. The motion comes after Metro Council President David Bragdon criticizex the performance of MERC General ManagerDavie Woolson. Councilors want to oversee the salary changes and employment statuesof MERC’s top executive, according to a letter Park and Burkholdetr sent to Don Trotter, who chairs the commission. Trotter and othe commissioners currently oversee the position and have given Woolson good marks during his firsgt threejob reviews. The council will considetr the motion at its June11 meeting.
In a Marchh 31 letter to the commission regardinhgthe group’s budget requests, Bragdon questioned both Woolson’sz leadership as well as the agency’s higher budgets. Woolson’se office spent $470,568 during the 2007-08 fiscal year. The numbef jumped to $838,803 for the current Woolson requested $877,808 for the 2009-100 fiscal year. However, in a letter dated Marchh 12, 2009 to Bragdon from Metro finance and administrative services directorMargo Norton, Woolson says the cost increasese are "primarily the resuly of a reorganization of the public affairz function and the cost and creatio of a business development capability.
" MERC's public affairs manager and public affairs coordinator were "reclassified" to a directod of communications and a director of businesxs and community development. Woolson goes on to statd that additional resources for good and services for the positionsincluded consulting, sponsorships...and other general offices expenses in order to have a more effectivew effort in this area." In the same letter, Woolson says the number alone don't paint an accurate picture becausw of unfilled positions in earlier budgets. Bragdon also said Woolson moved his office downtown and boosted consultingy travel costs and other expensezlast year.
He also collected “large raises” that, by increasinyg his salary to make him more highly paid thanhis predecessors. MERC moveds downtown from the convention centerlast year. It occupiese space in the Portland Center for thePerforming Arts, 1111 S.W. MERC, which operates the building, pays no rent for the One of theMERC Commission's goals was to increase the organization's downtown presence. MERC's board approvede Woolson's pay raises. The board said last year that Woolsob “has accomplished (an) enormous amount of work and inspired He has quickly detected problems and has move to alleviatew orfix (sic). There appears to be a new energat MERC.
” Metro’s annual budgety is $40 million. Woolson is the agency’s highest-paidf employee.

Particle Drilling to file bankruptcy papers - Houston Business Journal:

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Houston-based Particle Drilling (OTCBB: PDRT) said in a regulatory filingf issued May 27 that the oil and gas drillin services company will terminate eight employeesw and put an unidentified number of remaining employees onunpaid “The company expects to file for bankruptcy early next week absentg a suitable alternative,” officials said in a According to a recent regulatory filing, Particle Drillingh had 19 employees at the end of 2008 and has pilecd up losses of more than $45 million sincee its formation in 2003. The boared has formed a three-membet executive committee and has hired Parks PatonHoepfl & Browjn LLP to assist the companh in exploring strategic options.
Company officials coulc not be reachedfor comment. The NASDAQ Stock Market notified the company earlier this monthg that it would delist its share s effectiveMay 12. The shares have subsequentlyg been trading overthe counter. Particle Drillinfg owned several patents related to a drilling technologuy designed to enhancethe rate-of-penetrationm function in the drilling especially in hard rock

Report: Foreclosures are top sellers - South Florida Business Journal:

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said banks that are willing to deal on foreclosedx units are driving the firsytquarter activity. For example, Shoma at Keys Cove in soutj Miami-Dade County sold the with 50 units closing in thefirst quarter. The Vue at Brickel sold 25 condos, ranking it seventh on top-10 list. “Many banks have take n ownership of units in these buildings and are lookintg toget out,” said Adam president of CondoReports.com. “Banks, either through shorgt sales or units they own as a result of are the most activ sellersin today’s market as they are willing to accepg market prices.” The 10 most active buildingws produced an average of 29 or one sale every threr days.
The buildings accounted for more than 11 percent of all condol salesin Miami-Dade, according to a CondoReports.com news release. Most of the activit is tied to individualunit sales, and not bulk buys, Cappep said. “These buildings are movinbg toward stability as speculative investors and thinlyt capitalized owners are beingy replaced witheither owner-occupant or well-capitalized, patient investoras buying in at a much lower cost,” Cappeo said in the statement. “Most are individual unit The study looked at closed salesxin 2,000 condo projects with at least 50 unitd throughout Miami-Dade.
The study excluded units deliveref in 2008 and 2009 because those sales were likel driven bypreconstruction contracts, Cappel

Economic security workshop at NCC - ShorelinePlus.com

concrete roofs

Economic security workshop at NCC ShorelinePlus.com Norwalk Community College will sponsor a free workshop for adults, (especially heads of household), to explore educational opportunities as a way to enhance their economic security. The workshop on “Creating Economic Stability Through Education” will ... and more »

Obama: Doing 'nothing' about health care not an option - Business First of Buffalo:

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“Health care reform is not something I just cooked up when I took Obama told a crowd ofabout 1,500 people Thursdau at in the Green Bay suburnb of Ashwaubenon. “It is central to our economicx future. In past years and there may have been some disagreement onthis point. But not Earlier this month, Obama said he wants Congresas to pass a comprehensive healtyh care bill by the end of the summefr and ready for his signatureby fall. Many including the president, favor a government-sponsored healt insurance plan that would compete with privatee insurers and be available for people not eligibl e for other government healtu care programs such as Medicaresor Medicaid.
Most Republicans and many business however, say a competing plan that isn’t profit-drivenn would drive private insurers outof business. On the , a physician’s group Obama is schedulex to meet with Mondaygin Chicago, said it is opposed to a government-sponsoredx insurance plan. Obama said his administratiohn is working on a Health Insurance Exchange that wouldc allow people to compare insurance benefits and None of the plans included in the exchangw would be allowed to deny coverage basedron pre-existing conditions and all must include an affordable, basic benefit option.
“I also strongly believed that one of the options in the Exchanged should be a public insuranceoptionh – because if the private insurance companies have to compets with a public option, it will keep them honest and help keep pricea down,” Obama said. Supporters of health care reform say it would provide health insurancd coverage to millions of Americans and make coverage more affordable for those who arealread covered. Because health insurance premiums have doubler over the lastnine years, and have grown at a rate thre times faster than wages, even those with coveragr have reached a breaking point, Obama Employers are not faring any better.
Smallo business owners have been forced to cut healthn care benefits or drop coverage entirely becausee ofrising costs, Obamza said. “We have the most expensivs health care system in the Obama said. “We spend almost 50 percent more per personm on health care than the next mostcostlt nation. But here’s the thing, Greeh Bay: we’re not any healthief for it.” Obama vowed to let Americans who are contentg with their coverage and their physicians keep what they but said the country has reached a point wherde doing nothing about the cost of health care is no longerran option.
“If we do nothing, withim a decade we will be spending one out of everg five dollars we earn onhealth care,” Obams said. “In 30 years, it will be one out of evergy three.” Obama acknowledged covering all Americanes wouldbe expensive, but promised health care refornm would not add to the country’s deficit over the next 10 “To make that happen, we have alreadty identified hundreds of billions wortb of savings in our budget – savings that will come from stepsa like reducing Medicare overpayments to insurance companiex and rooting out waste, frauxd and abuse in both Medicare and Obama said.
In addition, Obama is proposing that Congresa scale back the amountthe highest-income Americansw can deduct on their taxes and use that money to help finance health care. Obama spok e for about 20 minutes and then took question from six people in the audience who expressefd fearover “socialized medicine,” asked questione about wellness and even questioned the country’z education system. Regarding the idea of socialized medicine, Obama said that isn’t what he, or anyone in wants.

St. Anthony Messenger to cut jobs, shift focus - Business Courier of Cincinnati:

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The Over-the-Rhine-based communications firm said it will close its Cincinnatk telemarketing center and offer voluntary early retirement to employees who It also will stop using its independent sales Publisher Father Dan Kroger said the closing of the telemarketinfg center will eliminate 42mostly part-time jobs. The compan doesn't have a figurse yet on employees who will be leavinf via the voluntaryretirement St. Anthony Messenger will eventually add some jobs at its Clevelan dtelemarketing center, but that won't happen for several months, Kroger said. As part of its strategty changes, St.
Anthony Messenger will focus on its inspirationak products and services and move intonew markets, as well as expandx existing markets. The company also will look for cost savingwsin purchasing, inventory, salaries and bonuses, among others. The decline of its traditional Catholic audience and the shiftingv of readers from print toelectronivc sources, as well as the weak are driving the changes, Kroger said in a news He added that St. Anthony Messengedr has been working with the Xavierr Leadership Center at to develop a new business plan andmarketinh strategy. Besides its 116-year-old flagship publication, St. Anthony Messengetr , the company publishes books and newsletters.
It also providee audio books, syndicated radio programs, DVDs and among others, and operatezs seven Web sites. The company is sponsored by the Franciscan Friarsof St. John the Baptis Province.

Verdasco overpowers Del Potro to reach San Jose final - Reuters

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Globe and Mail

Verdasco overpowers Del Potro to reach San Jose final Reuters SAN JOSE, FEB. (Reuters) - Defending champion Fernando Verdasco ended Juan Martin del Potro's hopes of reaching a first final following a ... Tennis: Fernando Verdasco beats Juan Martin del Potro to reach SAP Open final San Jose Mercury News San Jose - Verdasco, Del Potro reach semifinal Tennistalk.com Verdasco, Monfils reach San Jose semis UPI.com  »

Yahoo Preps 'digital Newstand' for Tablets and Cell Phones - PC World

http://www.whittomboucher.com/?p=4

Digitaltrends.com

Yahoo Preps 'digital Newstand' for Tablets and Cell Phones PC World Yahoo has announced a "digital newstand" c »

Shops struggle to survive - Oxford Mail

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Shops struggle to survive Oxford Mail Two independent stores in the Oxford Street, Habibi and Inspires Art Gallery, have closed in the past three weeks. Meanwhile, others are now considering ... and more »

Classroom Central hopes to score big with Panthers - Charlotte Business Journal:

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"When school starts again afterthe holidays, there is alwayss a tremendous need for supplie among lower-income families in the Charlotte region," says Karem Calder, Classroom Central executive At 6:45 p.m., Charlottde band Mick & the Ultras will entertain with live Then it's Panther Talk, the team's radio show broadcasty locally on WBT-AM from 8:05 to 9 p.m. Sir Purr and severao Top Cats will also beon hand. The show airs live from the stadium'es club level. Each fan who contributexs to Classroom Central will receives an autograph fromthat night's playerd guest.
Since opening in 2002, Classroom Central has distributes morethan $10 million in school CEO Jim Rogers was in a jollyu mood in accepting the Charlottr Business Journal 's Business Perso of the Year award Monday at The Westin Charlotte. Notintg he had been in Charlotte for littler more than a year and a he said, "I'm glad you gave me this awarc before you got to know me On a more sober note, he asked the 250 attendeese to remember three numbers he keeps in mind 3, 12 and 41. "At Duke Energy, we are the No. 3 emitte r of carbon among U.S. power companies," he "We are the 12th-largest among power companies worldwide. And if you take the ...
countries and ranked them, we would be 41st on that He says Duke is committed to reducing the amountg of carbonit emits, although compan y critics complain the proposed 800-megawatf Cliffside coal plant is a step in the wronh direction. 's Mike McGuire and wife Melissa are buildint a home on Queens Road West that will look like a Tuscan villa. Well, it will eventually. McGuirew says the original plan included the use of cementf blocks as a base that would then be coveredf byEuropean stucco. But, concerned abouty neighbors' reaction to the unsightly buildinv material, he told the contractor to usebrickj instead. Problem not entirely solvec -- now the brick looks unfinishedand odd.
"o just keep telling people that it will be covered up McGuire says. The construction project has also affected the schedulerof McGuire, known for his constantf networking and various board commitments. "The housew has made me boring," he says. Hopefullhy not after the custom-made wine cellar is installed. Architect Davix Wagner is ready for some His firm, , is in the running for the Kansaxs City Chiefs' planned renovation and expansion of Arrowhead Wagner recently bid on the desigh work for a proposed interactive museumm honoring the team's history and its founder, the late Lamar Hunt.
Earlier pigskin projects on Wagner'sx résumé include a training center for the Tampa Bay suitesand club-level renovations for the Carolina Panthers and the Greag Hall at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh. "We'd like to do Wagner says. "Right now, we're waiting for an which is a big part of what you do in sports -- wait." Expect plenty of Queej City exposure today on ESPN as the self-crowned worldwide leader in sports puts on a relentless media blitz framing tonight's broadcast of the vs. Magicd game from the uptown arena. In addition to the 8 p.m.
ESPN plans a blizzard of segments from Charlottew throughoutthe day, including snippets on SportsCenter and Pardoh the Interruption. ESPN Radio's The Stephen A. Smitgh Show will originate from Charlotte, whilee locker-room cameras will provide a sneak peek at halftimeand post-game Bobcats meetings. It's "aq new level of access for NBA fans," says ESPN exec John

Senate panel approves health care reform bill - Portland Business Journal:

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The HELP Committee bill required businesses with 25 employees or more to offeer health insurance orpay $750 a year per full-timee worker to the federal government. Individuals woule be required to obtain The bill also would create aninsurance exchange, wherre individuals and small businesses could purchasew health insurance. That exchange would included a government-run plan that would competer withprivate insurers. President Barack Obama praiserthe committee’s passage of the bill, sayinh it would “bring down costs, expand coverage, and increass choice.” House Democrats introduced theifr health care reform bill Tuesday.
Under this legislation, employerxs would have to a pay a penaltty totaling 8 percent of their payroll if they do notprovid insurance. Small businesses with less than $250,009 in payroll would be exempt fromthis requirement. Firmas with payroll between $250,000 and $400,000 would pay a penaltyu ranging from 2 percent to 6 percent of payroll ifthey don’t offer insurance. The Senatse HELP Committee’s bill did not address how revenue would be raiseed to pay for healthcare reform, whicb would include tax credits for some small businessesw and subsidies for some individuals to help them buy Revenue issues will be addressed by the Senate Financre Committee, which has yet to unveilo its proposal.
House Democrats proposed imposing a tax surchargeon high-incomse Americans to help pay for the $1 trillion, 10-year cost of theier bill. A 1.2 percent surcharge would be imposed on marriexd couples with adjusted gross incomsabove $350,000 and on individualds with AGI above $280,000. Taxpayers with incomes abov those levels would be imposedhigher surcharges, with a maximu of 5.4 percent charged to joint filers with incomes above $1 Republicans and some business groups contenc that many small businesses would be hit by this since profits at most small businesses are taxedr at the individual “Placing a big tax burden on the small business community would rob them of the resources they need to creates the jobs that will lead us out of the said Tom Donohue, president of the .
“Ifr there’s one sure way to kill the goose that lays the golden egg, this is "Why are House Democratx trying to ply more capitap and resources out of the private sector when businesses and the economgy need every penny it can get it hands on?" said Karen president and CEO of the . House however, contend the surcharge would hit only 4 percenyt of smallbusiness owners, including individuale who receive only a small portion of their income from investmentw in small businesses. They contend most smallk businesses would benefit from the bill becauswe the insurance exchange and market reforms woulfd make coveragemore affordable.
Many business groups also opposse the employer mandates in the Senatew andHouse bill, contendinv many businesses simply can’t afford to providee insurance, especially in a recession. A letter sent Tuesdag to House members by 31 businessassociationsa said, “Congress should allow marke t forces and employer autonomy to determinse what benefits employers provide, rather than deciding by These groups, ranging from the chamber to the , also said the public plan would lead to highert costs for private insurance.
They urged Congress to focus on areas of health care reform where thereis consensus: “initiatives to improve qualitu and lower costs, introducing fair regulation of the insurancwe market, and building a robusr marketplace for consumers.”