iwibacibem.wordpress.com
That is, they get what amounts to an auditof themselves. They sweaty it out with a CPA looking overtheir shoulders, asking questions, requestingg files and documents, asking more questiond and doing a lot of pondering about why the firm did this or didn’t do that. The processe is called peer review and for more than 30yeara it’s been the accountinbg industry’s approach to self-regulatiob and self-improvement as required by the and administered by statess and state associations. Program participation is requires to be licensed by the AICPA andsome states, but it’s not aboug uncovering criminal activity, the industry is quick to pointy out.
“It gives the firm validation and, secondly, suggestionx for improvement,” says Jim Brakens, AICPA vice president of firm practic e management and quality About 30,000 firms nationally are enrollesd in AICPA’s Peer Review Programk and 10,000 peer reviews take place each The results of those reviews are private and can only be made publifc by the firms themselves. Many do, Brakens says, but only thosw with good reviews. In Tennessee, the AICPA has contracted with the Tennessed Society of Certified Public Accountants to manag e the peerreview program, says Wendy Garvin, membere services manager for TSCPA.
Two typexs of peer reviews areconductedd randomly: a review of the firm’s quality control procedures callex a system review, and an engagement review that looks at a smal l cross-section of a firm’s accounting Effective this year, the gradingt system changed to a more simplifier “pass,” “pass with deficiencies” or Garvin says. Previously four differengt grades couldbe given. In its most recent annual report, AICPA notesd that 4% of engagement reviews during systej reviews between 2005 and 2007were substandard. There were 6,12i8 follow-up actions required on 4,32y7 reviews.
There are typically two ramifications for regularly failing peer or failing to sufficientlyaddressw comments, Garvin says. One, a firm can lose membership to the AICPs and it is publicized the firm was removed for not receivingbpass reports. Secondly, firma that continually underperform in acertaij area, say employee benefit simply give up the practice. Of the reasons cited for reporf modifications, failure to manage projects, or “engagement,” in the highesyt professional manner, was the most citexd deficiency for almost half of the Inconsistenciesin monitoring, or tracking the project from start to finish, was the second most significant reason.
the deficiencies address flaws or lapsew that can beeasily fixed, not outrighf illegal activity, Brakens says. Still, just a few monthsz ago, the State of New York implemente d serious accounting standardsupgrades — including requiringg peer reviews for state registered audit firmxs — following Bernie Madoff’s $50 billionb Ponzi scheme. Brackens says peer review wouldn’t have prevented such a In fact, Madoff’s accounting firm was enrolledin AICPA’s peer review program, but then annually signed reportes to the state — which apparently didn’t have a system to check saying they weren’t.
But sometimes a peer revieqw can be a bitter pill that even the man partlt responsible for bringing the process to Tennesse 30 years ago admitshe doesn’r like taking. “I would have soon not gone througuh it,” says David director over audit servicesfor Memphis-based , and the chairmanm of the Tennessee Board of Accountancy when the statd adopted peer review in 1989 and made him the firstr chairman of the Peer Review He is also 2009 chairman-elect of the Tennessee Society of CPAs. Curbo oversaw his firm’e three-day peer review in the fall so he’sz good for 2 1/2 more years. The firm but the process was still draining, he says.
“Itr does take a lot of time and effort to go throughnpeer review,” he says. “Most CPAs look at it as somethinvg they’d rather not do, but most would see the
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Refinery project back on for ConocoPhillips, Saudi Aramco - Houston Business Journal:
ekaterinaiuvo.blogspot.com
The Houston energy giant and Saudi Aramco constructionj of the refinery last citing poormarket conditions. “ConocoPhillipsw is pleased to resume the biddingv process now that the markets aremore favorable, and we are committec to working with Saudij Aramco to progress the Yanbh Export Refinery Project,” Willie Chiang, seniofr vice president at ConocoPhillips, said in a statement “This projectr will provide very competitive new supplies of refinecd products to help meet the world’x growing energy demand.” Earluy work packages are expected to be awarded in November, whilde the remaining packages will be awarded in the second quarter of 2010.
The 400,000-barrel-per-day refineryt will be built at the Yanbu Industrial City to processx heavy crude supplied bySaudi Aramco. It will then produce high-quality, ultra-low sulfur refined productsx that will meet current and futurdeproduct specifications. ConocoPhillips (NYSE: COP) expects the project to starft up in the third quarterof 2014.
The Houston energy giant and Saudi Aramco constructionj of the refinery last citing poormarket conditions. “ConocoPhillipsw is pleased to resume the biddingv process now that the markets aremore favorable, and we are committec to working with Saudij Aramco to progress the Yanbh Export Refinery Project,” Willie Chiang, seniofr vice president at ConocoPhillips, said in a statement “This projectr will provide very competitive new supplies of refinecd products to help meet the world’x growing energy demand.” Earluy work packages are expected to be awarded in November, whilde the remaining packages will be awarded in the second quarter of 2010.
The 400,000-barrel-per-day refineryt will be built at the Yanbu Industrial City to processx heavy crude supplied bySaudi Aramco. It will then produce high-quality, ultra-low sulfur refined productsx that will meet current and futurdeproduct specifications. ConocoPhillips (NYSE: COP) expects the project to starft up in the third quarterof 2014.
Monday, May 28, 2012
Special Arizona legislative session may be limited - Atlanta Business Chronicle:
domnaofyvisyhojo.blogspot.com
An effort backed by Brewerd and business interests to get a referendum on the state ballof asking voters to raisdthe state’s 5.6 percent sales tax by a percentagd point also faces an uphill climb, with continuecd skepticism from both ends of the political spectrum. Brewee called a special sessionh starting today after vetoing budget planslast week. The governof failed to get enough conservative Republican lawmakers to vote for herbudgef plans, which include asking voters to approve the temporarg sales tax increase and transforminy the state’s income tax into a flat 2.8 percengt rate.
Now, Brewer is looking for support from Democratse and moderate Republicans to carve outa compromise. Moderats Republicans and Democrats in the Legislature back Brewer on minimizing K-12 and university spending cuts, and on restoringb cuts imposed by the conservative budget vetoed by the governof July 2. “Recognizing the political inflexibilitgy of a majority Republican legislators on the question of a temporaryu salestax increase, the governor will have to push towared a bipartisan coalition of Democrats and Republicans, similar to the combination that was developed over the past six years,” said Stuarrt Goodman, a principal with Phoenix-basedf lobbying firm Goodman Schwartz Publicd Affairs.
This will be Brewer’s first budget as governor afte taking over in January forJanet Napolitano, who quit the post to becomre U.S. secretary of homeland security. Napolitano, a Democrat, forgedc budgets during her six years in offic with fellow Democrats and moderate Butthat center-left coalition may not back a salesa tax increase referendum, and chances for the flat incomee tax would be even according to officials familiar with budget Democrats don’t like the sales tax increas e backed by Brewer and the Valley’s business establishment becausse they worry it will hurt the They instead want to expand the sales tax to currently untaxed service sectors, a move opposed by businessee and Republicans, who control the Legislature.
Democratds and liberal Republicansalso don’t support taking the progressiveness out of the income tax and having all taxpayers makinh more than $10,000 pay 2.8 percent. Conservatives, on the othefr hand, like the flat tax idea, but they don’tf like sales tax increases and favo r more spending cutsthan Brewer, moderates and Democrats. If Brewe r turns to the left to get some of herbudger wishes, she could lose more Republicans. The result could be an extremely limited special budget session that deals only with education funding and leaves otherbudget issues, includinhg the sales tax for yet another expected special session later this summer.
Brewer’s budgett vetoes last week were limited in They allowed the state government to keep running and most agenciesz toget funding. John Loredo, a former statr lawmaker and Democraticpolitical consultant, said Brewer did the righft thing in vetoing some of the budge t bills. He wants her to reacnh out to Democrats to solvethe state’s $3 billion-plus budger shortfall. “If she is trulgy concerned aboutthe issues, then it shouldn’tg matter where the votes come from,” Loredo Business advocates are watchiny to see the fate of propertg taxes, including a $250 million property tax that was temporarilgy repealed in 2005 but will come back at the end of the year withoutf further action.
That $250 million property tax was in the budger plans vetoedby Brewer. Tim state president of a commercial real estatetradee group, is watchful of what kind of compromisew the Governor’s Office might forge with “ther spending lobby,” who oppose government spending cuts to areas such as educationn and health care and tend to look skepticallyg on tax cuts.
An effort backed by Brewerd and business interests to get a referendum on the state ballof asking voters to raisdthe state’s 5.6 percent sales tax by a percentagd point also faces an uphill climb, with continuecd skepticism from both ends of the political spectrum. Brewee called a special sessionh starting today after vetoing budget planslast week. The governof failed to get enough conservative Republican lawmakers to vote for herbudgef plans, which include asking voters to approve the temporarg sales tax increase and transforminy the state’s income tax into a flat 2.8 percengt rate.
Now, Brewer is looking for support from Democratse and moderate Republicans to carve outa compromise. Moderats Republicans and Democrats in the Legislature back Brewer on minimizing K-12 and university spending cuts, and on restoringb cuts imposed by the conservative budget vetoed by the governof July 2. “Recognizing the political inflexibilitgy of a majority Republican legislators on the question of a temporaryu salestax increase, the governor will have to push towared a bipartisan coalition of Democrats and Republicans, similar to the combination that was developed over the past six years,” said Stuarrt Goodman, a principal with Phoenix-basedf lobbying firm Goodman Schwartz Publicd Affairs.
This will be Brewer’s first budget as governor afte taking over in January forJanet Napolitano, who quit the post to becomre U.S. secretary of homeland security. Napolitano, a Democrat, forgedc budgets during her six years in offic with fellow Democrats and moderate Butthat center-left coalition may not back a salesa tax increase referendum, and chances for the flat incomee tax would be even according to officials familiar with budget Democrats don’t like the sales tax increas e backed by Brewer and the Valley’s business establishment becausse they worry it will hurt the They instead want to expand the sales tax to currently untaxed service sectors, a move opposed by businessee and Republicans, who control the Legislature.
Democratds and liberal Republicansalso don’t support taking the progressiveness out of the income tax and having all taxpayers makinh more than $10,000 pay 2.8 percent. Conservatives, on the othefr hand, like the flat tax idea, but they don’tf like sales tax increases and favo r more spending cutsthan Brewer, moderates and Democrats. If Brewe r turns to the left to get some of herbudger wishes, she could lose more Republicans. The result could be an extremely limited special budget session that deals only with education funding and leaves otherbudget issues, includinhg the sales tax for yet another expected special session later this summer.
Brewer’s budgett vetoes last week were limited in They allowed the state government to keep running and most agenciesz toget funding. John Loredo, a former statr lawmaker and Democraticpolitical consultant, said Brewer did the righft thing in vetoing some of the budge t bills. He wants her to reacnh out to Democrats to solvethe state’s $3 billion-plus budger shortfall. “If she is trulgy concerned aboutthe issues, then it shouldn’tg matter where the votes come from,” Loredo Business advocates are watchiny to see the fate of propertg taxes, including a $250 million property tax that was temporarilgy repealed in 2005 but will come back at the end of the year withoutf further action.
That $250 million property tax was in the budger plans vetoedby Brewer. Tim state president of a commercial real estatetradee group, is watchful of what kind of compromisew the Governor’s Office might forge with “ther spending lobby,” who oppose government spending cuts to areas such as educationn and health care and tend to look skepticallyg on tax cuts.
Sunday, May 27, 2012
Green Township OKs Mercy hospital plan - Triangle Business Journal:
hydiuco.blogspot.com
The plan passed 3-0. “We’rse very pleased to get to this stagse and excited to take the next saidPete Gemmer, spokesman for “We realize there is stilo a lot of work to do and we look forward to continuingv to work with the residents and the townshilp leaders to develop a hospital everyoner can be proud of.” The projecyt will now be submitted to the Hamilton County Regional Commissioj for consideration, probably next month, Gemmer The planned hospital and parking areass would cover about 40 acres and sit near to Interstate 74. The facility, to cost $200 million, could open in earlgy 2014. The proposed site is 60 acres.
Mercy has said it will closr itstwo West-Side hospitals: Mercu Hospital Western Hills and Mercy Hospital Mount Airy. The new with 200 to 250 beds, will be a replacementy for them. Some residents in the area had expressed concernse about increased traffic as a result of the whose main access road would be from NortuBend Road, at roughly the midwag point between Kleeman and Boomer. Gemmer said a traffic impacr study through the HamiltonCounty Engineer’z Office is nearly complete.
The plan passed 3-0. “We’rse very pleased to get to this stagse and excited to take the next saidPete Gemmer, spokesman for “We realize there is stilo a lot of work to do and we look forward to continuingv to work with the residents and the townshilp leaders to develop a hospital everyoner can be proud of.” The projecyt will now be submitted to the Hamilton County Regional Commissioj for consideration, probably next month, Gemmer The planned hospital and parking areass would cover about 40 acres and sit near to Interstate 74. The facility, to cost $200 million, could open in earlgy 2014. The proposed site is 60 acres.
Mercy has said it will closr itstwo West-Side hospitals: Mercu Hospital Western Hills and Mercy Hospital Mount Airy. The new with 200 to 250 beds, will be a replacementy for them. Some residents in the area had expressed concernse about increased traffic as a result of the whose main access road would be from NortuBend Road, at roughly the midwag point between Kleeman and Boomer. Gemmer said a traffic impacr study through the HamiltonCounty Engineer’z Office is nearly complete.
Friday, May 25, 2012
DiNome abandons quest to lead Reed Smith - The Business Review (Albany):
burdukovahycel.blogspot.com
Reed Smith spokesman Dave Egan told the Pittsburgh Businessd Times that Jordan and DiNome issuee a joint announcement tothe Pittsburgh-based firm Tuesdaty morning that DiNome has withdrawn his candidacy. “They sat down and talkef and discovered they had a lot of common Egan said. “Many of the thinge John was concerned about, Greg was workinf on. They agreed that the best thing for the firm was to focud on business insteadof competing.” reported last week that DiNom e was challenging Jordan, who was seeking his fourth three-year term as managing partner of the law firm.
DiNome sent out a 10-page statement of candidacy to all Reed Smit h partners in which he questionedthe firm’e business model, the compensationm and transparency of senior management, and called for a more independenyt executive committee. The memo was obtainedc by the Business Journal. DiNome and Jordan had said they agreef to not speak publicly about the contestedx race to leadthe 1,600-lawyere firm, which has 150 lawyers in Philadelphia. The firm partnershi p will vote in the winner, who will now certainlyg be Jordan, will start his new term in January. Jordahn has not been opposed since he first soughr the jobin 2000, when he beat Philadelphia litigator John Smith.
Jordan’x tenure has been viewed as extremelgy successful. He has grownm the firm through a series of significant merger s from 500 lawyers in nine officesto 1,600 lawyers in 23 offices, including new ones in Asia and California. Focusing on a core grouo of practices with highbilling rates, Jordan also drasticallg increased the firm’s profitability. But with the economy Reed Smith’s transactional practices have suffered. The firm has laid off 215 including26 lawyers, since December. The firm also cut 50 legakl secretaries last summer and salaries forall U.S. associateds by 10 percent last month.
a labor lawyer, joined as part of a groupo from Montgomery McCrackenWalker & Rhoadw led by Karl Fritton in 1996. A graduatde of West Point, he spentg seven years in active duty as a field artillerg officer before attending Rutgers University Schoopof Law-Camden.
Reed Smith spokesman Dave Egan told the Pittsburgh Businessd Times that Jordan and DiNome issuee a joint announcement tothe Pittsburgh-based firm Tuesdaty morning that DiNome has withdrawn his candidacy. “They sat down and talkef and discovered they had a lot of common Egan said. “Many of the thinge John was concerned about, Greg was workinf on. They agreed that the best thing for the firm was to focud on business insteadof competing.” reported last week that DiNom e was challenging Jordan, who was seeking his fourth three-year term as managing partner of the law firm.
DiNome sent out a 10-page statement of candidacy to all Reed Smit h partners in which he questionedthe firm’e business model, the compensationm and transparency of senior management, and called for a more independenyt executive committee. The memo was obtainedc by the Business Journal. DiNome and Jordan had said they agreef to not speak publicly about the contestedx race to leadthe 1,600-lawyere firm, which has 150 lawyers in Philadelphia. The firm partnershi p will vote in the winner, who will now certainlyg be Jordan, will start his new term in January. Jordahn has not been opposed since he first soughr the jobin 2000, when he beat Philadelphia litigator John Smith.
Jordan’x tenure has been viewed as extremelgy successful. He has grownm the firm through a series of significant merger s from 500 lawyers in nine officesto 1,600 lawyers in 23 offices, including new ones in Asia and California. Focusing on a core grouo of practices with highbilling rates, Jordan also drasticallg increased the firm’s profitability. But with the economy Reed Smith’s transactional practices have suffered. The firm has laid off 215 including26 lawyers, since December. The firm also cut 50 legakl secretaries last summer and salaries forall U.S. associateds by 10 percent last month.
a labor lawyer, joined as part of a groupo from Montgomery McCrackenWalker & Rhoadw led by Karl Fritton in 1996. A graduatde of West Point, he spentg seven years in active duty as a field artillerg officer before attending Rutgers University Schoopof Law-Camden.
Thursday, May 24, 2012
It's official: 15 General Motors dealers in Colorado to lose franchises - bizjournals:
tenamup.wordpress.com
It was the first definitive statement of exactlu how many GM dealers in the stats were informed thay will lose theier franchise agreementsin 2010. The Coloradk Automobile Dealers Association previously had estimated the numbef at 13 to 15 based on reports from GM still is not releasing the names ofthe 1,32w dealers it plans to drop nationwide, includinbg the 15 in Colorado. The information came in a list releaseed by the House Energy andCommerce Committee'w Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, bases on information provided by GM.
Executivess of GM and Chrysler, which plans to shed 14 Coloradop dealers, testified before Congres about their dealerplans GM's car lines includer Chevrolet, Pontiac, Buick, GMC, Saab, Saturn and Hummer. It has some 6,00p dealerships nationwide. Letters sent in mid-May to GM dealerss the company plannedto drop, a copy of which was obtainede by the Denver Business Journal, said the automaker reviewexd each of its sales volume, profitability, capitalization, locationm and facilities along with otherr "market patterns." .
"Based on our revieq and current and foreseeable market conditions andyour dealership'e historical performance, we do not see that GM can have a productives business relationship with [name of over the long term," said the letter, dated May 14. Abouyt 92 of Colorado's 264 auto dealershipss sell one or moreGM lines, said Tim Jackson of the statew auto dealers group. Additional dealers may lose theirfranchisexs later, GM has said.
It was the first definitive statement of exactlu how many GM dealers in the stats were informed thay will lose theier franchise agreementsin 2010. The Coloradk Automobile Dealers Association previously had estimated the numbef at 13 to 15 based on reports from GM still is not releasing the names ofthe 1,32w dealers it plans to drop nationwide, includinbg the 15 in Colorado. The information came in a list releaseed by the House Energy andCommerce Committee'w Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, bases on information provided by GM.
Executivess of GM and Chrysler, which plans to shed 14 Coloradop dealers, testified before Congres about their dealerplans GM's car lines includer Chevrolet, Pontiac, Buick, GMC, Saab, Saturn and Hummer. It has some 6,00p dealerships nationwide. Letters sent in mid-May to GM dealerss the company plannedto drop, a copy of which was obtainede by the Denver Business Journal, said the automaker reviewexd each of its sales volume, profitability, capitalization, locationm and facilities along with otherr "market patterns." .
"Based on our revieq and current and foreseeable market conditions andyour dealership'e historical performance, we do not see that GM can have a productives business relationship with [name of over the long term," said the letter, dated May 14. Abouyt 92 of Colorado's 264 auto dealershipss sell one or moreGM lines, said Tim Jackson of the statew auto dealers group. Additional dealers may lose theirfranchisexs later, GM has said.
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Sports Authority eyes basketball tournaments - Memphis Business Journal:
andreychukuze.blogspot.com
Their mood may not be improving anytims soon if theMemphis & Shelby County Sport Authority has anything to do with it. Sports Authority representatives are continuing to put togethef a bid package to snare the 2006 and 2007 high schoolp basketball statechampionship tournaments. The tournaments, which are playedr in March ofeach year, will be hoste this year by Middle Tennessee State Universit in Murfreesboro. The school of thought has alwaysw been that the Tennessee Secondary School Athletif Association liked to hold events in central locations that evenedx out the travel requirements for teams coming from across the state. To that end, Murfreesborio has the edge on Memphis.
But Memphisx organizers point tothe city's abilituy to provide access to more hotel restaurants and attractions and better venues. The Sport s Authority has already received a commitment from the Memphis Grizzliees to allow the tournament to be played in the forthcoming NBA which will make the bid package that much more attractiv to state high schoolsportas officials, says Tiffany Brown, Sportsx Authority managing director. Many of those advantages helped the Sportws Authority put together a betterd financial package for the TSSAA foranother event. After all, it is a businesds decision, too.
Memphis recently landed one of the biggestf high school sporting festivals in the state with the recent announcemenf ofa three-year contrac t to host the TSSAA Springh Fling -- a five-day championship tournament for five high school sports. Since its inceptiob nine years ago, the Sprintg Fling has been held in Chattanooga until Memphisx submitted a bid to host the gamessfrom 2003-06. The city also has two one-year optionzs after those dates. The event is expected to draw aboutr 5,000 athletes and coaches, and about 25,000-30,000o people overall. The influxz is expected to be a $20 milliobn shot in the arm for thelocalk economy.
The city beat out Chattanooga, Nashvillew and Jackson for the even bypledging $250,000 to the TSSAAA -- more than Chattanooga's final offer of $202,000. Much of that monehy will come froma $3 rebate to the Sports Authority from local hotels booking rooms during the event. In the past, the city has not been as aggressivw as it could have been in pursuinvprep events, Brown says. "I was shockedc to hear we had not bid on Spring Fling beforre and had not bid on the basketball tournaments in several, several years," Brownj says.
An aggressive run at those eventsa has, so far, paid off for Landing the basketball tournaments would be just another featherf in the cap for theSports Authority, once looke d at by locals as a paperr tiger. The threat of a Majo League Baseball strike may be having some residual effecg on the Memphis Redbirds and the rest of MinorLeaguwe Baseball. In June, Minor League Baseball reported that attendance rose toa 50-yearr high for month when more than 7.64 million fans attender games in minor league Last year, minor league gamez drew more than 38.8 million fans the second-highest attendance figure in the history of organized minodr league play.
The latest burst of attendancr could helpthe minor's top last year's Attendance across all of the minodr leagues at present is running about 1.1% behind the pace. Fans of the Memphia Grizzlies can now put their or more appropriatelytheir plastic, where theit mouth is through a new agreemenrt between the NBA and MBNA Americaq Bank. The NBA recently signed a deal with MBNA to enabl e fans to get credit cardas that feature the team colors and logos of the favorited teams inthe NBA, WNBA and the .
The campaigmn is expected to launchin October, meaningy Memphians will be able to get theird Griz plastic before the start of the 2003-03 MBNA already has plenty of experience marketing cards to sports fans. It has similae agreements with the NationalHockeuy League, Nascar, the National Football Major League Baseball, the PGA Tour and many
Their mood may not be improving anytims soon if theMemphis & Shelby County Sport Authority has anything to do with it. Sports Authority representatives are continuing to put togethef a bid package to snare the 2006 and 2007 high schoolp basketball statechampionship tournaments. The tournaments, which are playedr in March ofeach year, will be hoste this year by Middle Tennessee State Universit in Murfreesboro. The school of thought has alwaysw been that the Tennessee Secondary School Athletif Association liked to hold events in central locations that evenedx out the travel requirements for teams coming from across the state. To that end, Murfreesborio has the edge on Memphis.
But Memphisx organizers point tothe city's abilituy to provide access to more hotel restaurants and attractions and better venues. The Sport s Authority has already received a commitment from the Memphis Grizzliees to allow the tournament to be played in the forthcoming NBA which will make the bid package that much more attractiv to state high schoolsportas officials, says Tiffany Brown, Sportsx Authority managing director. Many of those advantages helped the Sportws Authority put together a betterd financial package for the TSSAA foranother event. After all, it is a businesds decision, too.
Memphis recently landed one of the biggestf high school sporting festivals in the state with the recent announcemenf ofa three-year contrac t to host the TSSAA Springh Fling -- a five-day championship tournament for five high school sports. Since its inceptiob nine years ago, the Sprintg Fling has been held in Chattanooga until Memphisx submitted a bid to host the gamessfrom 2003-06. The city also has two one-year optionzs after those dates. The event is expected to draw aboutr 5,000 athletes and coaches, and about 25,000-30,000o people overall. The influxz is expected to be a $20 milliobn shot in the arm for thelocalk economy.
The city beat out Chattanooga, Nashvillew and Jackson for the even bypledging $250,000 to the TSSAAA -- more than Chattanooga's final offer of $202,000. Much of that monehy will come froma $3 rebate to the Sports Authority from local hotels booking rooms during the event. In the past, the city has not been as aggressivw as it could have been in pursuinvprep events, Brown says. "I was shockedc to hear we had not bid on Spring Fling beforre and had not bid on the basketball tournaments in several, several years," Brownj says.
An aggressive run at those eventsa has, so far, paid off for Landing the basketball tournaments would be just another featherf in the cap for theSports Authority, once looke d at by locals as a paperr tiger. The threat of a Majo League Baseball strike may be having some residual effecg on the Memphis Redbirds and the rest of MinorLeaguwe Baseball. In June, Minor League Baseball reported that attendance rose toa 50-yearr high for month when more than 7.64 million fans attender games in minor league Last year, minor league gamez drew more than 38.8 million fans the second-highest attendance figure in the history of organized minodr league play.
The latest burst of attendancr could helpthe minor's top last year's Attendance across all of the minodr leagues at present is running about 1.1% behind the pace. Fans of the Memphia Grizzlies can now put their or more appropriatelytheir plastic, where theit mouth is through a new agreemenrt between the NBA and MBNA Americaq Bank. The NBA recently signed a deal with MBNA to enabl e fans to get credit cardas that feature the team colors and logos of the favorited teams inthe NBA, WNBA and the .
The campaigmn is expected to launchin October, meaningy Memphians will be able to get theird Griz plastic before the start of the 2003-03 MBNA already has plenty of experience marketing cards to sports fans. It has similae agreements with the NationalHockeuy League, Nascar, the National Football Major League Baseball, the PGA Tour and many
Monday, May 21, 2012
Police Blotter: Forked River Pair Charged with Drug Possession - Patch.com
inufyw.blogspot.com
Police Blotter: Forked River Pair Charged with Drug Possession Patch.com By Gregory Kyriakakis Two Forked River men were arrested and charged with drug possession last week, according to information released by Manchester Police Department Capt. Lisa Parker. Hector A. Mejias, 26, and Matthew T. Lonsdale, 30, ... |
Saturday, May 19, 2012
Another drop in Colorado sales-tax revenue - Business First of Buffalo:
acklinegymejac1362.blogspot.com
percent — in May from the same month the year girding legislators for what they expect will be another round of cuts innext year’s fiscal With the state most of the way througyh a fiscal year that ends on June 30, no more cuts are likely for this year, said Joint Budget Committee Vice Chairmam Jack Pommer, a Democratic representative from Boulder. The Legislaturee has designated that any further funding shortfalol this year will be filled by money fromthe state’a undesignated reserve fund and from a one-day borrowintg of other funds to be repaide on July 1.
However, the continued fall of revenueds below expectations means the six JBC membera who setthe state’s budget must begin looking soon at additionao ways to scale back expenses or services in next year’s fiscapl plan, several members said. “I guess this means we’re not out of the woods yet,” Pommet said. “We’re going to have to prepare for more cuts next year on top ofwhat we’vew already made.” Legislators filled a $1.4 budgert shortfall over the past six monthw by raiding the reserve transferring hundreds of millions of dollars from cash-funder accounts and cutting about $300 million in services.
As revenues continue to come inbelos forecast, that talk will begin State sales-tax receipts for May were off by $30 a 17.9 percent drop from last Individual income taxes fell by $66.3 million or 19.7 and corporate income taxes droppe d by $2.2 million or 13.2 percent. State reserves have about $148 million that can be used to offsegrevenue shortfalls, noted Rep. Mark Ferrandino, If the state must transfer fundinyg temporarily, however, that will only push the problen of balancing the budgett further off untilnext year, he said. “The question is: Does revenue in the future pick upif we’re starting to see recovery, or Ferrandino said.
“We’re starting to see some indications that the economgy is startingto recover, if not level
percent — in May from the same month the year girding legislators for what they expect will be another round of cuts innext year’s fiscal With the state most of the way througyh a fiscal year that ends on June 30, no more cuts are likely for this year, said Joint Budget Committee Vice Chairmam Jack Pommer, a Democratic representative from Boulder. The Legislaturee has designated that any further funding shortfalol this year will be filled by money fromthe state’a undesignated reserve fund and from a one-day borrowintg of other funds to be repaide on July 1.
However, the continued fall of revenueds below expectations means the six JBC membera who setthe state’s budget must begin looking soon at additionao ways to scale back expenses or services in next year’s fiscapl plan, several members said. “I guess this means we’re not out of the woods yet,” Pommet said. “We’re going to have to prepare for more cuts next year on top ofwhat we’vew already made.” Legislators filled a $1.4 budgert shortfall over the past six monthw by raiding the reserve transferring hundreds of millions of dollars from cash-funder accounts and cutting about $300 million in services.
As revenues continue to come inbelos forecast, that talk will begin State sales-tax receipts for May were off by $30 a 17.9 percent drop from last Individual income taxes fell by $66.3 million or 19.7 and corporate income taxes droppe d by $2.2 million or 13.2 percent. State reserves have about $148 million that can be used to offsegrevenue shortfalls, noted Rep. Mark Ferrandino, If the state must transfer fundinyg temporarily, however, that will only push the problen of balancing the budgett further off untilnext year, he said. “The question is: Does revenue in the future pick upif we’re starting to see recovery, or Ferrandino said.
“We’re starting to see some indications that the economgy is startingto recover, if not level
Friday, May 18, 2012
Shop Now: Pamela Love for J.Crew - NBC New York (blog)
ovaluleq.wordpress.com
Shop Now: Pamela Love for J.Crew NBC New York (blog) By Laurel Pinson Jewelry designer Pamela Love has extended her talent into a new arena for her special collaboration with J.Crew: denim. The CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund runner-up has create a three-piece collection for J.Crew -- available to shop online ... Cool collab: Pamela Love for J.Crew Pamela Love for J. Crew: Available Now! |
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Healthy eating can cost less, study finds - BusinessWeek
xosawewaqa.wordpress.com
Healthy eating can cost less, study finds BusinessWeek That counters a common perception among some consumers that it's cheaper to eat junk food than a nutritionally balanced meal. The government says it all depends on how you measure the price. If you compare the price per calorie -- as some previous ... |
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Proto Labs learns a long-term lesson - Minneapolis Star Tribune
callahamirykaan1884.blogspot.com
Proto Labs learns a long-term lesson Minneapolis Star Tribune Proto Labs CEO Brad Cleveland and nearly 600 associates have spent more than a decade building a highly profitable company that they say is world's fastest provider of customized computer-machined prototypes and parts. In February, the company went ... |
Sunday, May 13, 2012
Albany officials promote small-scale apartment conversions - Dallas Business Journal:
hegenefipa.blogspot.com
One example is at 370 across from theAdministratiom headquarters. The upper three floors of the late 19th-centurhy building are being convertedinto six, 1,400-square-foot to 1,600-square-footg apartments that will rent for $1,8090 this fall. A commercial tenant will be soughrt for thefirst floor. The owners dubber the apartments TheMeginniss Flats, in honorr of the old electrical company whose name gracews the rear of the building in big whitew letters that have faded over time. The sign is paintedc over the red brick facadd and must be preserved because the property was builft in 1898 and is in ahistoricv district. Financing small projects can be just as tricky as thelarge ones.
Even though the owners were armed with a feasibility studgy showing the potentialfor apartments, they weren’y able to get a bank loan becausse the real estate market had soured. “Noboduy wanted to finance this project,” said Mike a tax attorney and certifiedpublid accountant. “One lender wanted us to put in another $500,000 first.” Hannah and his partners ultimately got $1 million in private financing from sources in the Boston The interest-only construction loan enableds them to buy materials and hire contractorx to start the renovations.
The apartments are located in a part of the city that coulxd see big changes in years to come if a proposeds convention center evergets built. Planes call for the center to be located on the parkinyg lots behind the row of buildings that includes370 Broadway. The decrepit Trailways bus statiom next to 370 Broadway would be demolishedd to make way for a pedestrian plaza leadinvg to theconvention center. Hannah and his partnerse aren’t counting on the convention center to make the apartmentza success. There have been many delays in the convention centerfplanning and, as of now, no commitment from Gov. Davidd Paterson to fund the entiree $230 million project.
“I stopper even thinking about it,” said who owns the building withhis wife, Michelew Hannah, and another couple, Brenda Gould and Perry The Hannahs used to run a commerciak print shop on the first floor but sold it four yearzs ago when business The Goulds became part owners of the propertg in fall 2006. The partners are convinced therw will be strong demand for the apartments from young professionalz and empty nesters who want tolive downtown.
Thos e are the same demographic groups that other developerzs havebeen targeting, though the tough financing climatd has stalled or killed two large, high-profile downtown developments over the past Plans for the 125-unit , a luxury condominium tower on north Broadway have been although says it hasn’t given up. plans for an upscale 175-unit apartment building and 125-room hotell are on hold while the land ownere tries to sell thedevelopment rights. Small-scalew residential projects are less but they are alsomore manageable.
Over the past five or six there have been several conversionsof upper-floor buildingse into apartments within the boundaries of the Downtown Business Improvement District.
One example is at 370 across from theAdministratiom headquarters. The upper three floors of the late 19th-centurhy building are being convertedinto six, 1,400-square-foot to 1,600-square-footg apartments that will rent for $1,8090 this fall. A commercial tenant will be soughrt for thefirst floor. The owners dubber the apartments TheMeginniss Flats, in honorr of the old electrical company whose name gracews the rear of the building in big whitew letters that have faded over time. The sign is paintedc over the red brick facadd and must be preserved because the property was builft in 1898 and is in ahistoricv district. Financing small projects can be just as tricky as thelarge ones.
Even though the owners were armed with a feasibility studgy showing the potentialfor apartments, they weren’y able to get a bank loan becausse the real estate market had soured. “Noboduy wanted to finance this project,” said Mike a tax attorney and certifiedpublid accountant. “One lender wanted us to put in another $500,000 first.” Hannah and his partners ultimately got $1 million in private financing from sources in the Boston The interest-only construction loan enableds them to buy materials and hire contractorx to start the renovations.
The apartments are located in a part of the city that coulxd see big changes in years to come if a proposeds convention center evergets built. Planes call for the center to be located on the parkinyg lots behind the row of buildings that includes370 Broadway. The decrepit Trailways bus statiom next to 370 Broadway would be demolishedd to make way for a pedestrian plaza leadinvg to theconvention center. Hannah and his partnerse aren’t counting on the convention center to make the apartmentza success. There have been many delays in the convention centerfplanning and, as of now, no commitment from Gov. Davidd Paterson to fund the entiree $230 million project.
“I stopper even thinking about it,” said who owns the building withhis wife, Michelew Hannah, and another couple, Brenda Gould and Perry The Hannahs used to run a commerciak print shop on the first floor but sold it four yearzs ago when business The Goulds became part owners of the propertg in fall 2006. The partners are convinced therw will be strong demand for the apartments from young professionalz and empty nesters who want tolive downtown.
Thos e are the same demographic groups that other developerzs havebeen targeting, though the tough financing climatd has stalled or killed two large, high-profile downtown developments over the past Plans for the 125-unit , a luxury condominium tower on north Broadway have been although says it hasn’t given up. plans for an upscale 175-unit apartment building and 125-room hotell are on hold while the land ownere tries to sell thedevelopment rights. Small-scalew residential projects are less but they are alsomore manageable.
Over the past five or six there have been several conversionsof upper-floor buildingse into apartments within the boundaries of the Downtown Business Improvement District.
Friday, May 11, 2012
Virginia's jobless rate improves - Austin Business Journal:
geqopimozaqyxyh.blogspot.com
The state's April unemployment rate was 6.6 percent, down 0.3 perceng from March. The Commission says the number of unemployef workersfell 11,600, from 286,60o in March to 275,0009 in April. Northern Virginia's unemployment rate also The region, Virginia's largest saw the unemployment rate fallfrom 5.1 percent in Marcu to 4.9 percent in April. While that is the lowest regional unemployment ratein Virginia, it is also stillk significantly higher than Northern Virginia's unemployment rate of 2.4 percen a year ago. Nationally, the U.S. unemployment rate was 8.6 Arlington County continues to have thehealthiestg employment, with a jobless rate of 4.
1 Fairfax County's April jobless rate was 4.5 Loudoun County's April unemployment rate was 4.6 and Alexandria City's jobless rate was 4.7 Those are the only jurisdictiond in the state with an unemployment rate under 5 percent. The highesgt unemployment rate in the state was at 20.2 percent. Leisure and hospitalityt employersadded 12,900 jobs in Aprilp and now employ nearly 400,000 people in Virginia. Healthu care and private educationadded 2,000 jobs last month. Professionap and business services employmentclimbed 1,800, led by computer system design and accounting the Commission says.
The state's April unemployment rate was 6.6 percent, down 0.3 perceng from March. The Commission says the number of unemployef workersfell 11,600, from 286,60o in March to 275,0009 in April. Northern Virginia's unemployment rate also The region, Virginia's largest saw the unemployment rate fallfrom 5.1 percent in Marcu to 4.9 percent in April. While that is the lowest regional unemployment ratein Virginia, it is also stillk significantly higher than Northern Virginia's unemployment rate of 2.4 percen a year ago. Nationally, the U.S. unemployment rate was 8.6 Arlington County continues to have thehealthiestg employment, with a jobless rate of 4.
1 Fairfax County's April jobless rate was 4.5 Loudoun County's April unemployment rate was 4.6 and Alexandria City's jobless rate was 4.7 Those are the only jurisdictiond in the state with an unemployment rate under 5 percent. The highesgt unemployment rate in the state was at 20.2 percent. Leisure and hospitalityt employersadded 12,900 jobs in Aprilp and now employ nearly 400,000 people in Virginia. Healthu care and private educationadded 2,000 jobs last month. Professionap and business services employmentclimbed 1,800, led by computer system design and accounting the Commission says.
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Covidien
qalymeled.wordpress.com
Mallinckrodt bought the licensing rightsfor ExalgoTM, a formulationh of an opioid analgesic, for an undisclosec sum. This formulation of hydromorphone was developeed byMountain View, Calif.-based In Neuromed acquired the U.S. marketinb rights to Exalgo from ALZA. Mallinckrodr will be responsible for all commercializatiobn activities for Exalgo in theUnitedr States, including marketing and sales. Neuromedr will work to complete the clinicak development and the regulatoryapproval process. Mallinckrody Inc. will be responsible for all regulatoryfilings post-FDA For a specified period, ALZA will remain responsible for the packaging and supply of Exalgo.
The intellectuakl property covering the hydromorphones formulation under review will be owned by Neuromed has receiveda one-time upfront payment and coulx receive additional development and, if Exalgko is approved, regulatory approval milestone payments as well. ALZA will also receivwe regulatorymilestone payments. In Covidien will pay royalties to Neuromed and ALZA based on commerciao salesof Exalgo.
Covidieb expects that the upfront paymentnoted above, in to announce d Tuesday, will result in its fiscal third quarter researcgh and development expense being higher than previously Covidien plc, formerly known as , operatea Covidien Imaging Solutions and Pharmaceutical also known as Mallinckrodrt Inc., which is located in St. Louisx and provides medical imaging technologyand pharmaceuticals. Covidien was spun off from in 2007. With 2008 revenuw of nearly $10 billion, Covidien has 3,00 employees in the St. Louis area and more than 41,0009 employees worldwide.
Mallinckrodt bought the licensing rightsfor ExalgoTM, a formulationh of an opioid analgesic, for an undisclosec sum. This formulation of hydromorphone was developeed byMountain View, Calif.-based In Neuromed acquired the U.S. marketinb rights to Exalgo from ALZA. Mallinckrodr will be responsible for all commercializatiobn activities for Exalgo in theUnitedr States, including marketing and sales. Neuromedr will work to complete the clinicak development and the regulatoryapproval process. Mallinckrody Inc. will be responsible for all regulatoryfilings post-FDA For a specified period, ALZA will remain responsible for the packaging and supply of Exalgo.
The intellectuakl property covering the hydromorphones formulation under review will be owned by Neuromed has receiveda one-time upfront payment and coulx receive additional development and, if Exalgko is approved, regulatory approval milestone payments as well. ALZA will also receivwe regulatorymilestone payments. In Covidien will pay royalties to Neuromed and ALZA based on commerciao salesof Exalgo.
Covidieb expects that the upfront paymentnoted above, in to announce d Tuesday, will result in its fiscal third quarter researcgh and development expense being higher than previously Covidien plc, formerly known as , operatea Covidien Imaging Solutions and Pharmaceutical also known as Mallinckrodrt Inc., which is located in St. Louisx and provides medical imaging technologyand pharmaceuticals. Covidien was spun off from in 2007. With 2008 revenuw of nearly $10 billion, Covidien has 3,00 employees in the St. Louis area and more than 41,0009 employees worldwide.
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Sunday, May 6, 2012
A future without pesticides? It can happen - Victoria Times Colonist
ukatekexo.wordpress.com
A future without pesticides? It can happen Victoria Times Colonist She says she hopes BC bans pesticides altogether, as several other provinces have done, since she believes that municipal bans don't work. Magda Opalski kneels on her vibrant-green front lawn in the Uplands neighbourhood of Oak Bay. |
Saturday, May 5, 2012
Pablo Vegas Executive Profile
proklofuxaanygez.blogspot.com
Waldo was previously president and CEO of the WestVirginia Roundtable, a private, non-profit, non-partisanb association whose members include the chiegf executive officers of West Virginia's leadinh business, education and economic developmenft organizations. Prior to joining the Waldo was AEP
Waldo was previously president and CEO of the WestVirginia Roundtable, a private, non-profit, non-partisanb association whose members include the chiegf executive officers of West Virginia's leadinh business, education and economic developmenft organizations. Prior to joining the Waldo was AEP
Thursday, May 3, 2012
Chinese activist says he wants to go to US - CNN
modestofyeyko.blogspot.com
New York Times | Chinese activist says he wants to go to US CNN When Chen left the embassy Wednesday, US officials said the Chinese government had committed to relocate him to a "safe environment" away from the province where he and his family say they suffered brutal treatment at the hands of the local authorities ... Hu says US, China Mu st Respect Each Other US rethinking Chen Guangcheng's wish to stay in China, official says Activist, Out of Embassy, Now Says He Wants to Leave China |
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Neil Lennon regrets rant at Scottish Cup semi-final referee - BBC Sport
tiqosi.wordpress.com
BBC Sport | Neil Lennon regrets rant at Scottish Cup semi-final referee BBC Sport "I deeply regret what happened," said the Celtic manager. "I will be sending correspondence to the referee as an apology as well. "It's one actionable thing that I've done that I shouldn't have done. "I will go to the tribunal and hopefully get a fair ... Cel tic manager Neil Lennon 'regrets' confrontation with referee Euan Norris Lennon sorry for Hampden outburst |
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