dawojetos.blogspot.com
The home of the , Chape l Hill beat out more than 200 municipalities across the natiohn to claima first-place City Livability Chapel Hill won for cities with populations of fewed than 100,000. Charleston, S.C., won for citie with populations of morethan 100,000. The contesgt was judged on three criteria: mayoral leadership, creativituy and innovation, and the broad impacf on the quality of life for The U.S.
Conference of Mayors honored Chapelp Hill for its decision in 2002 to no longer charge farese to any rider on its bus the organization said in a press While many bus systems in collegetowns don’yt charge students and faculty to a scant few provide free service to all The town implemented the fare-free system to encouragew people to take the bus and leave their cars at The plan worked. Ridership on Chapel Hill transit has more than doublec since fares were eliminated going from 3 million in 2002 to a projected 7 millio nthis year. “The Chapel Hill Publivc Transit system is the foundation of oursustainabled future,” Foy said in a press release.
“This bus syste m makes Chapel Hill continue to be the kind of placspeople love; for us it is an investment and it has paid off big The town says it is planning a “community to celebrate the livability awar and that it will releases details soon.
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
SEC: N.Y. investment firm misled S. Fla. seniors - Los Angeles Business from bizjournals:
soileauifyyfa1786.blogspot.com
"They used free lunches as the low-tecgh bait for their high-scale scheme," said Robertr Khuzami, director of the SEC's Divisiojn of Enforcement. The SEC alleges elderly and retiredf investors were lured into purchasing highly unsuitable variable annuities with lucrative sales commissions while ignoring the financial goalwof victims. The SEC alleges that Eric J. Brown of Highlanx Beach, Matthew J. Collins of Boynton Beach, Kevin J. Walsj of Viera, and Mark W. Wells of Boca Raton, were amonfg those offering and sellingthe annuities. It’s alleges that the firm and its representatives earnedc millions of dollars insaleas commissions.
PCS is a registered broker-dealer and wholly-ownesd subsidiary of Gilman Ciocia, an income tax preparatio business headquartered in Poughkeepsie that offers financial servicesz inNew York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Florida. Robertt Heim, a NewYork attorney who represents Prime Gilman Ciocia, and several of the including Collins and Wells, said the conducty at issue in the complaint is "ver old" and occurred in the late 1990s and early 2000. He said the companyt reached a settlement withthe (FINRA), when it was calles the (NASD). As part of that agreement, the compan y implemented some wide-ranging updates to its supervisory and compliance systemssin 2005, Heim said.
He added that he didn' t know why the SEC was going over thesame ground. "Al l of these issues were addressed years ago and we feelthe company'es response has been appropriate," he While Brown and Walsh have since Collins and Wells are still with the he said. An administratives law judge will determine whether the allegations agains the respondents aretrue and, if so, whethert they should be ordered to ceases and desist from future violations.
"They used free lunches as the low-tecgh bait for their high-scale scheme," said Robertr Khuzami, director of the SEC's Divisiojn of Enforcement. The SEC alleges elderly and retiredf investors were lured into purchasing highly unsuitable variable annuities with lucrative sales commissions while ignoring the financial goalwof victims. The SEC alleges that Eric J. Brown of Highlanx Beach, Matthew J. Collins of Boynton Beach, Kevin J. Walsj of Viera, and Mark W. Wells of Boca Raton, were amonfg those offering and sellingthe annuities. It’s alleges that the firm and its representatives earnedc millions of dollars insaleas commissions.
PCS is a registered broker-dealer and wholly-ownesd subsidiary of Gilman Ciocia, an income tax preparatio business headquartered in Poughkeepsie that offers financial servicesz inNew York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Florida. Robertt Heim, a NewYork attorney who represents Prime Gilman Ciocia, and several of the including Collins and Wells, said the conducty at issue in the complaint is "ver old" and occurred in the late 1990s and early 2000. He said the companyt reached a settlement withthe (FINRA), when it was calles the (NASD). As part of that agreement, the compan y implemented some wide-ranging updates to its supervisory and compliance systemssin 2005, Heim said.
He added that he didn' t know why the SEC was going over thesame ground. "Al l of these issues were addressed years ago and we feelthe company'es response has been appropriate," he While Brown and Walsh have since Collins and Wells are still with the he said. An administratives law judge will determine whether the allegations agains the respondents aretrue and, if so, whethert they should be ordered to ceases and desist from future violations.
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Health reform details emerge - Houston Business Journal:
efenytan.wordpress.com
percent of the cost of health insurance premiumsfor full-time employees under the health care reform bill beinb considered by the House. They also would be requiredr to pick up at leasrt some of the tab forinsuriny part-time employees. Businesses that don’t providw this minimum level of coverag e would be required to pay the federal government a fee basee on 8 percent of their Small businesses undera yet-to-be-determined threshold would be exemptee from this “play or pay” The chairmen of three House committeesa with jurisdiction over health care introduced draft legislation June 19, offerint the most details yet on how healtnh care reform could affect small businesses.
Under the small businesses and individuals could shop for insurance through anational exchange, which woulde include a government-run plan and privatee insurers. Tax credits would be availabld to help small businesses affordthe coverage. Healthg insurance premiums for U.S. businesses increased by 9.2 percent this and are expected to increase another 9 percent next accordingto PricewaterhouseCoopers. Smallo businesses often face much higher rate While most small businesses agrede the current health insurance marketis there’s a lot of disagreemeng over whether the House bill would cure the problek or just make it worse.
Mike who owns a retail clothing store and designh business called Smash inDes Iowa, likes what he sees in the Draper thinks adding a public plan woulds hold down premiums by creating more competition in the Draper doesn’t offer health insurance to its seven full-time but reimburses them for the cost of policiee they buy on their own. That’sz fine with his employees, who are singl e and in their 20s. The reimbursementes now account for 6 percenof Smash’s payroll, but that couldx jump to 22 percent in four years, when Drape expects everyone on his management team to have creating the need for family plans.
His businesas couldn’t handle that expense, he If the House bill were he would consider buying insurancde through the exchange if it were easyto use. But he might decide to pay the 8 percenft payrollfee instead, then reimburse his employees for some of the cost of the policiews they purchase through the exchange. Draper thinks employers shouled be required to help pay fortheir employees’ health insurance. Like Social Securityt contributions, this sort of responsibility is “kinf of what you signed up for” when you become a businessz owner, he said. Other small business owners, however, thinkj the House bill imposes too tough of a standare onsmall businesses.
The requirement to pay 72.5 percentf of an employee’s premium for individual coverage “ias much too high for many small businesses,” said Karehn Kerrigan, president and CEO of the SmallBusines & Entrepreneurship Council. The only way many smalp businesses can afford coverage is by making employees pick up more of the she said. Arlington, Va.-based Company Flowers Gifts Too!, for pays 50 percent of the cost of health insurance forseven full-time employees. Even that may not be affordablwenext year, because “our ratee are going to skyrocket,” co-owner John Nicholson told the House Smalpl Business Committee earlier this month.
percent of the cost of health insurance premiumsfor full-time employees under the health care reform bill beinb considered by the House. They also would be requiredr to pick up at leasrt some of the tab forinsuriny part-time employees. Businesses that don’t providw this minimum level of coverag e would be required to pay the federal government a fee basee on 8 percent of their Small businesses undera yet-to-be-determined threshold would be exemptee from this “play or pay” The chairmen of three House committeesa with jurisdiction over health care introduced draft legislation June 19, offerint the most details yet on how healtnh care reform could affect small businesses.
Under the small businesses and individuals could shop for insurance through anational exchange, which woulde include a government-run plan and privatee insurers. Tax credits would be availabld to help small businesses affordthe coverage. Healthg insurance premiums for U.S. businesses increased by 9.2 percent this and are expected to increase another 9 percent next accordingto PricewaterhouseCoopers. Smallo businesses often face much higher rate While most small businesses agrede the current health insurance marketis there’s a lot of disagreemeng over whether the House bill would cure the problek or just make it worse.
Mike who owns a retail clothing store and designh business called Smash inDes Iowa, likes what he sees in the Draper thinks adding a public plan woulds hold down premiums by creating more competition in the Draper doesn’t offer health insurance to its seven full-time but reimburses them for the cost of policiee they buy on their own. That’sz fine with his employees, who are singl e and in their 20s. The reimbursementes now account for 6 percenof Smash’s payroll, but that couldx jump to 22 percent in four years, when Drape expects everyone on his management team to have creating the need for family plans.
His businesas couldn’t handle that expense, he If the House bill were he would consider buying insurancde through the exchange if it were easyto use. But he might decide to pay the 8 percenft payrollfee instead, then reimburse his employees for some of the cost of the policiews they purchase through the exchange. Draper thinks employers shouled be required to help pay fortheir employees’ health insurance. Like Social Securityt contributions, this sort of responsibility is “kinf of what you signed up for” when you become a businessz owner, he said. Other small business owners, however, thinkj the House bill imposes too tough of a standare onsmall businesses.
The requirement to pay 72.5 percentf of an employee’s premium for individual coverage “ias much too high for many small businesses,” said Karehn Kerrigan, president and CEO of the SmallBusines & Entrepreneurship Council. The only way many smalp businesses can afford coverage is by making employees pick up more of the she said. Arlington, Va.-based Company Flowers Gifts Too!, for pays 50 percent of the cost of health insurance forseven full-time employees. Even that may not be affordablwenext year, because “our ratee are going to skyrocket,” co-owner John Nicholson told the House Smalpl Business Committee earlier this month.
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Sports group hits Facebook and Twitter - Washington Business Journal:
ejyceh.wordpress.com
The group promises to provide information aboutf upcomingsports events, franchise campaigns and many other doings related to sports in The Sports Authority is an influentiaol player in attracting major such as last spring’s NCAA men’s basketball The efforts will also promote the authority’se bid for events, volunteer opportunities and special tickeft offers. “We are very excited to officially entert the realm ofsocial networking,” said Oregon Sports Authoritu CEO Drew Mahalic, in a release. “It’s a fantastid way for us to keep everyone posted on the futuree ofOregon sports.
” Interns Kailee Crawford, Meagann Kalez and Taylor Hinshaw created the pages. The groulp can be found on Facebooiat http://www.facebook.com/pages/Oregon-Sports-Authority/137195479568. Its Twitter address is http://twitter.com/OregonSportxs
The group promises to provide information aboutf upcomingsports events, franchise campaigns and many other doings related to sports in The Sports Authority is an influentiaol player in attracting major such as last spring’s NCAA men’s basketball The efforts will also promote the authority’se bid for events, volunteer opportunities and special tickeft offers. “We are very excited to officially entert the realm ofsocial networking,” said Oregon Sports Authoritu CEO Drew Mahalic, in a release. “It’s a fantastid way for us to keep everyone posted on the futuree ofOregon sports.
” Interns Kailee Crawford, Meagann Kalez and Taylor Hinshaw created the pages. The groulp can be found on Facebooiat http://www.facebook.com/pages/Oregon-Sports-Authority/137195479568. Its Twitter address is http://twitter.com/OregonSportxs
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Fontainebleau Las Vegas company files Chapter 11 - Dallas Business Journal:
acklinegymejac1362.blogspot.com
Fontainebleau Las Vegas LLC and two of itsaffiliatesz – Fontainebleau Las Vegas Holdings LLC and Fontainebleau Las Vegad Capital Corp. – filed bankruptcy petitions in Miami late The Miami Beach hote is not included in the The company said in a news release that the decision to file Chapted 11 was the direct result of litigation with lenders on the Las Vegae hotel construction project that had to do with contractuao disputes related tonearl $800 million in construction fundinyg for the $2.9 billion resort-casino project, whichu is 70 percent Lenders include , and Deutsche Bank Trus t Co. Americas.
The legal dispute has effectively shut down the projectand “put thousands of peoples out of work,” said Howard chief restructuring officer of Fontainebleau Las in the release. “Our goal now is to secure fundingv to completethis world-classa project and restructure our existing debt.” Fontainebleau Las Vegas reachexd a provisional agreement with a group of its non-defaultingv lenders for the use of cash for the administration of its bankruptcty case, and is in negotiations to obtain financing to restaryt construction on that project. Fontainebleau Miami which is a separatelegal entity, continues to operatse as normal.
Turnberry West Construction, the project’ds general contractor, is also not included in the according to thenews release. In Nakheel Hotels of Dubaoi bought a 50 percent interesy in the Fontainebleau Miami Beachfor $375 The Las Vegas hotel companies that filed bankruptcy are based in South Florida because the Soffer famil y of Aventura, which also owns the Turnberry development and constructionj companies, owns all the Fontainebleau companies. Jeffrey Soffefr is a principal of umbrella company FontainebleauResorts LLC, according to stat e records.
Fontainebleau Las Vegas also withdree without prejudiceits $3 billion lawsuiy in Las Vegas against some of its lenders, and refilex the case in Miami bankruptcy court, wherre the Chapter 11 petitions were filed. The lawsuit with lendersx was amended on May 12 to include allegations that Deutsche BankTrustg Co. Americas was “seeking to destroy the Fontainebleau in order tominimize competition” with the nearby and which is wholly owned by a Deutsche Bank "This claim is an attempt by the Fontainebleau's developersx to distract from the fact that they have breachec their loan covenants.
We will defend ourselvea vigorously against this meritless Deutsche Bank spokesman John Gallaghe said inan e-mailed response. Fontainebleau Las Vegax LLC lists morethan $1 billion in debt and a simila amount in assets on its petition, with more than 1,000p creditors. The only South Florida credito listed was International Bedding inFort Lauderdale, with a claikm of $498,737.
Fontainebleau Las Vegas LLC and two of itsaffiliatesz – Fontainebleau Las Vegas Holdings LLC and Fontainebleau Las Vegad Capital Corp. – filed bankruptcy petitions in Miami late The Miami Beach hote is not included in the The company said in a news release that the decision to file Chapted 11 was the direct result of litigation with lenders on the Las Vegae hotel construction project that had to do with contractuao disputes related tonearl $800 million in construction fundinyg for the $2.9 billion resort-casino project, whichu is 70 percent Lenders include , and Deutsche Bank Trus t Co. Americas.
The legal dispute has effectively shut down the projectand “put thousands of peoples out of work,” said Howard chief restructuring officer of Fontainebleau Las in the release. “Our goal now is to secure fundingv to completethis world-classa project and restructure our existing debt.” Fontainebleau Las Vegas reachexd a provisional agreement with a group of its non-defaultingv lenders for the use of cash for the administration of its bankruptcty case, and is in negotiations to obtain financing to restaryt construction on that project. Fontainebleau Miami which is a separatelegal entity, continues to operatse as normal.
Turnberry West Construction, the project’ds general contractor, is also not included in the according to thenews release. In Nakheel Hotels of Dubaoi bought a 50 percent interesy in the Fontainebleau Miami Beachfor $375 The Las Vegas hotel companies that filed bankruptcy are based in South Florida because the Soffer famil y of Aventura, which also owns the Turnberry development and constructionj companies, owns all the Fontainebleau companies. Jeffrey Soffefr is a principal of umbrella company FontainebleauResorts LLC, according to stat e records.
Fontainebleau Las Vegas also withdree without prejudiceits $3 billion lawsuiy in Las Vegas against some of its lenders, and refilex the case in Miami bankruptcy court, wherre the Chapter 11 petitions were filed. The lawsuit with lendersx was amended on May 12 to include allegations that Deutsche BankTrustg Co. Americas was “seeking to destroy the Fontainebleau in order tominimize competition” with the nearby and which is wholly owned by a Deutsche Bank "This claim is an attempt by the Fontainebleau's developersx to distract from the fact that they have breachec their loan covenants.
We will defend ourselvea vigorously against this meritless Deutsche Bank spokesman John Gallaghe said inan e-mailed response. Fontainebleau Las Vegax LLC lists morethan $1 billion in debt and a simila amount in assets on its petition, with more than 1,000p creditors. The only South Florida credito listed was International Bedding inFort Lauderdale, with a claikm of $498,737.
Sunday, September 4, 2011
Back to basics: Amish Country appeals to travelers in numerous ways - Lancaster Eagle Gazette
http://www.vincent-guillemot.com/?p=88
Back to basics: Amish Country appeals to travelers in numerous ways Lancaster Eagle Gazette Amir Eylon gets nostalgic when thinking back to spur-of-the-moment car trips he and his family embarked on during summer months. "You don't hear of families doing long trips anymore, instead going on extended weekend trips," the state tourism director ... |
Friday, September 2, 2011
California fiscal emergency declared, IOUs expected soon - New Mexico Business Weekly:
tower-tennesseea.blogspot.com
billion budget deficit Tuesday night. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Wednesday declarex a fiscal emergency to force lawmakers into aspecial "Though the legislature failed to solve our budget problen yesterday, rest assured that solving the entire deficiyt remains my first and only priority, and I will not rest untikl we get it done. I will not be a part of pushing this crisis down the road the roadstops here," Schwarzenegger said in a The governor's declaration under Proposition 58 requires lawmakers to adopt a plan to close the deficift within 45 days.
Schwarzenegger also signedf an executive orderforcing 220,000 state worker s to take a third furloughh day without pay beginning this month. As a resuly of Tuesday's blown budget deadline, the state whosse economy is bigger than all but sevehn countries in the world is gettingb ready to issue IOUs beginninbg Thursday for only the second time since theGreatt Depression. State Controller John Chiang said the Stater Pooled Money Investment Board will meet Thursday to set the interest rate forabourt $3 billion in short-term promissory notes that will matur in October. Most of the money will go to the disabled andwelfare recipients, abouty $1 billion.
About $565 milliob will go businesses andanother $159 million will go to By missing the midnight deadline, state leadere lost an important opportunity to shave $3 billion in education spendinf in the fiscal year that just Both the Democratic plan for the budger gap and Schwarzenegger's had counted on that. The governodr proposed $16 billion in cuts, borrowing $2 billion from local government s andtaking $6 billion from other government accounts. He also backz accelerated personal and corporate incometax collections, as well as a 5 percent cut in state employee pay.
The Democratic which holds a majority in both the Assemblu andthe Senate, has proposed $11 billioh in spending cuts, raising fees on vehicle licensesa and hiking taxes on tobacco products and companies that drill for oil. Statwe Treasurer Bill Lockyer promised on Mondayh thatCalifornia won't default on its refuting a possibility raised by analysg Martin Weiss of Weiss Research in a June 22 The state's bond rating is already the lowestg in the nation, but rating agencies have threatened to drop it nearere to junk bond statux because of the budget impasse whicj has dragged on since April.
State leaders thought they had resolve the current year budget earlier than ever when they adopteed onein February, but the recessionm cut tax revenue by about 20 percent sincd then. California bonds maturing in 2037 trade d as lowas 83.35 cents on the dollaf Tuesday, a yield of about 6.27 down from a recent high of 97.25 cents on May 12.
billion budget deficit Tuesday night. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Wednesday declarex a fiscal emergency to force lawmakers into aspecial "Though the legislature failed to solve our budget problen yesterday, rest assured that solving the entire deficiyt remains my first and only priority, and I will not rest untikl we get it done. I will not be a part of pushing this crisis down the road the roadstops here," Schwarzenegger said in a The governor's declaration under Proposition 58 requires lawmakers to adopt a plan to close the deficift within 45 days.
Schwarzenegger also signedf an executive orderforcing 220,000 state worker s to take a third furloughh day without pay beginning this month. As a resuly of Tuesday's blown budget deadline, the state whosse economy is bigger than all but sevehn countries in the world is gettingb ready to issue IOUs beginninbg Thursday for only the second time since theGreatt Depression. State Controller John Chiang said the Stater Pooled Money Investment Board will meet Thursday to set the interest rate forabourt $3 billion in short-term promissory notes that will matur in October. Most of the money will go to the disabled andwelfare recipients, abouty $1 billion.
About $565 milliob will go businesses andanother $159 million will go to By missing the midnight deadline, state leadere lost an important opportunity to shave $3 billion in education spendinf in the fiscal year that just Both the Democratic plan for the budger gap and Schwarzenegger's had counted on that. The governodr proposed $16 billion in cuts, borrowing $2 billion from local government s andtaking $6 billion from other government accounts. He also backz accelerated personal and corporate incometax collections, as well as a 5 percent cut in state employee pay.
The Democratic which holds a majority in both the Assemblu andthe Senate, has proposed $11 billioh in spending cuts, raising fees on vehicle licensesa and hiking taxes on tobacco products and companies that drill for oil. Statwe Treasurer Bill Lockyer promised on Mondayh thatCalifornia won't default on its refuting a possibility raised by analysg Martin Weiss of Weiss Research in a June 22 The state's bond rating is already the lowestg in the nation, but rating agencies have threatened to drop it nearere to junk bond statux because of the budget impasse whicj has dragged on since April.
State leaders thought they had resolve the current year budget earlier than ever when they adopteed onein February, but the recessionm cut tax revenue by about 20 percent sincd then. California bonds maturing in 2037 trade d as lowas 83.35 cents on the dollaf Tuesday, a yield of about 6.27 down from a recent high of 97.25 cents on May 12.
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