Thursday, March 31, 2011
WyCo endorses casino proposals - Kansas City Business Journal:
The United Government of Wyandotte County/Kansa s City, Kan., endorsed two proposals for a casinpo inthe county. On Thursday, the Unified Government’s Board of Commissionerd gave its approval of proposals by and afte the twocontractors “sweetenecd the pot” in their fina l proposals presented at the said Hal Walker, the Unified Government' chief counsel. Walker said Kansasd Entertainment promised to pay the UnifiedGovernment $2.5 millionj for every year the hotel accompanyin g the casino is not built. He said Penn committed to providinyg 2 percent of its net revenur to charitable organizations inWyandotte County.
The two proposals will go befor the Kansas Lottery Commission in hearings on June 17 andJune 25. Once the Lotteru Commission approvesthe proposals, the Kansas Lotteryh Gaming Facility Review Board will have 60 days to selectr a proposal. Walker said he is confidengt the review board will chooses one of the two proposals and expectws groundbreaking by the end ofthe summer. Kansax Entertainment, a venture of Kansas Speedway and , wantsa to build a roughtly $700 million project that includes a hotel and meeting space adjacent to the Penn National, owner of the Argosy Hotel & Spa in Riverside, has proposerd a $500 million project at Interstatse 435 and Parallel Parkway in Kansas City, Kan.
The states will approve one operatorr for a WyandotteCounty casino.
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Local former Chrysler, GM dealers look to sell used cars - Austin Business Journal:
Tony Wilkerson, executive director of the , said his organizationh has begun to lend assistance to dealers lost in thebankruptchy shuffle. “Our national organization has already sent lettere to them to let them know about our organization and I plan to do the same thinvg forour state,” Wilkerson said. “They were in the used car businesxsanyway – but if you’re stuck like many of them are, the overheads costs for a used car dealership is nothinh compared to a franchise.” However, the expansion of the locao used car market comex as prices are increasing and the availability of late-modeo used cars is pinched, he said.
But according to Morganb Murphy, president of motorpool.com, the initial increasee in prices should be looked at as merelyua short-term hurdle. “At first glance, that would strike the communith as bad but in thelong run, it’s good for resals values,” Murphy said. When locao consumers buy cars, they will be able to deman more when they choose tosell it, he In fact, the higher resalr values might actually revive American car dealers in the “American manufacturing has been similar and just as good as Japanesde and Korean manufacturing, but the problem has been re-sale valued and initial prices,” Murphy In the meantime, Birmingham dealers affected can capitalizde on the unique landscapwe of the local market on the used car he said.
Many are family-owned and have been staplex in the community formany decades. They are also encouraged by the fact that local used car sales have seen an upticik amid the recession as buyers are more inclined to look for a bargaibn as a means tospend “Birmingham has a long and distinguished history of reputable dealers,” Murphy said. “Don Drennen has been in businesssince 1908. That’a 101 years of servinyg our community, so there’s a culture aroun d businesseslike that.” Their long-standing history could make locapl buyers more inclined to buy used cars from he said.
Ward Drennen, president of Don Drennen Buick Chryslerand Jeep, said after learningg that his dealer agreement had been cancelerd with Chrysler, expanding his used car sales seemed like a real “We are going to expands our used car departments drastically,” said Drennen, who was left with more than $2 millionn in Chrysler parts and merchandise. “Wr want to offer a great values to peoplewho can’t afford a new car.
” Althoughn he hasn’t stopped looking into becoming a franchisee for other automotivre manufacturers, he is open to the idea of makinbg the switch to stay in “It is possible that we coul become a used car superstore,” said Drennen, who also learned that GM will seek to cancelo the dealership agreement he has for his Buickm dealership. “We’ve been in Birmingham long enoug h that our reputation can keepus afloat.
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Monday, March 28, 2011
Ge-Prog Fest: Soft Machine e reunion de Le Orme a Genova - Rockol.it
Ge-Prog Fest: Soft Machine e reunion de Le Orme a Genova Rockol.it Si terrà dal 30 marzo al 10 aprile a Genova la prima edizione del Ge-Prog Fest, una rassegna dedicata » |
Saturday, March 26, 2011
McCormick & Schmick's closes downtown restaurant - Orlando Business Journal:
The Portland-based company notified the restaurant’s 38 employeesa of its decision and immediately closed the restauranttthis afternoon. All employees were offered positionzs at otherMcCormick & Schmick’s locationz in the Portland metro area. Rumors the restaurant wouldx close have circulated since atleast April. Two years ago, McCormici & Schmick’s stopped serving lunch at the location, in part becauser ongoing construction in downtown curtailed CEO William Freeman said the company and its landlors worked hard to reac h an agreement that would have alloweds the restaurant tocontinue operating. In the end, it wasn’t possible.
He said none of the company’sa 96 remaining locations in the U.S. and Canadas is in similar jeopardy. McCormick & Schmick’s MSSR) has struggled with mounting losses sincew the recession started more than ayear ago, includin double-digit declines in same store sales at restaurantx open more than a year. It lost nearlg $70 million in 2008 and $1.1 million in the firsty quarterof 2009. It will open no more than three new restaurantathis year, far below its usual pace of 10 to 12 new location a year. Freeman, who joined the compan y earlierthis year, said the decision to close the firs McCormick & Schmick’s location was difficult.
“It’s obviously a speciao unit for us,” he said. The companhy acted quickly to close the restaurant so employeees can report to their new locationse in time for the start of the busy summer season. The company has several weeks left on the leasee and will spend that time taking inventorhy and determining where furnishingas and other equipment might best be McCormick & Schmick’s founders Bill McCormick and Doug Schmiclk opened the wood-paneled restaurant in 1979. The 9,400-square-foogt downtown location, in the Henry Failinfg Building, was placed on the market Tuesday by brokere Don Drake and Tim Parkef of Melvin MarkBrokeragwe Co.
The asking rent is $18 per square foot per The spaceincludes 5,07 square feet of ground floor, a mezzanines for private dining, kitchen, bar and lowerr level coolers, prep kitchen, storages and offices. It is on the Max line in the SkidmorwFountain district.
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Pine trees may be future for Georgia
With motorists wincing at the gas researchers and entrepreneurs are rushing to perfect and scalee up technology needed to build biorefineries to help provide gas suchas ethanol. They are looking to producw 500 million gallons ofbiofuels — 100 milliojn in biodiesel and 400 million in ethano — by 2012. A crucial part of meeting thosew aggressive projections lieswith Georgia’s 24 millionh acres of lush commercial forests, whichy include the most privately owned forest acreage of any Biofuel plants can harness the raw materials from these trees, or to produce cellulosic ethanol.
“We grow pine trees like Iowa growas corn,” said Jill Stuckey, director of the Energy Innovatiom Center, an arm of the . The statd is seeing a surge in the development and production ofbiofuels — helpesd in part by federal state efforts and a host of companiesw working on energy-related projects. The race to commercially producercellulosic ethanol, a biofuel produces from wood, grasses or the non-edible partx of plants, is playing out in the labs of and in Treutlenn County.
Last month, demonstrated pre-pilot planf equipment at Georgia Tech to show its biochemicalp efforts at producingcellulosic ethanol, a process that uses enzymess to break down pine “We are working on an overall process that reallyu hasn’t been done before,” said Roger Reisert, founder and CEO of Atlanta-based C2 Biofuels. “Whem crude oil was at $30 per barrel, it made no sensd at all. These days, there is a huge economid casefor it.” In Soperton, Colo.-based . broke grounde last November on a plant that usesa thermo-chemicaol process to produce ethanol the company says is cheaper than biochemical processes.
Both companies see the potentialin Georgia, whichj consumes 5 billion gallons of gasoline a Ethanol, a clean-burning, high-octane fuel produced from plant is used with gasoline to create a blend of 90 percen t gas and 10 percent ethanol, which in Georgiwa means a ready market of 500 million gallonsd of the biofuel. In Forbes Magazine ranked the Peach State as the thir d best state inthe U.S. for alternative energhy from biomass, just threew months after Gov. Sonny Perdue launched the EnergtyInnovation Center.
The effort, part of Perdue’s Centerx of Innovation program, aims to help develop a bioenergy industry that will producew 15 percent ofthe state’s transportation fuels by 2020 from locall y produced biofuels. “When crude oil hit about $60 or $70 per that’s when all of the energy, moneyy and research effort began to get investes in the most efficient conversion process for saidKen Stewart, Georgia’x commissioner.
The state already touts the Bioenergy Corridor, a collectio n of research centers, commercial forestry infrastructure and It includes initiatives at and Georgia as well as at least eightbiodiesell factories, a wood pellet factory and three ethanokl plants. “There are still scientific questions to be There are industry questions to be said JoyDoran Peterson, a microbiology professor at UGA. “Therse is a dance between yes, we are five yearzs out and companies that say we need to do itrighft now.
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Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Sex survey: Working parents are "just too tired" - CBS News
Sex survey: Working parents are "just too tired" CBS News Relationship expert Heide Banks gives tips for tired parents. We've heard a lot recently about how Americans are sleep-deprived -- and now a survey of working parents finds they're sex-deprived, as well. Seventy percent said they're too tired to get ... Poll: Working Parents Too Tired For Sex Survey: Working Parents Too Tired for Sex |
Sunday, March 20, 2011
NCAA Tourney: Friday Fever As Four-Net Format Scores Best Marks Since 1991 - Multichannel News
New York Daily News | NCAA Tourney: Friday Fever As Four-Net Format Scores Best Marks Since 1991 Multichannel News While the on-court action didn't produce the drama that Thursday's slate produced, March Madness continued unabated among viewers on Friday. CBS and Turner Sports' exclusive second-round coverage of the 2011 NCAA Division I Men's Basketb » |
Friday, March 18, 2011
Cincinnati, Hamilton Co. propose 10 for Port Authority board - Kansas City Business Journal:
The two presented a slate of boared membersto include: Otto Budigt Jr., president of Budcoo Group Inc.; Tom Williams, presidenr and CEO of Nortg American Properties; Lydia Jacobs-Horn, director, global facilities and real Procter & Gamble Co.; Martyg Dunn, a partner with the law firm Dinsmoree & Shohl; Joe Zimmer, executive secretary, Greatetr Cincinnati Building & Constructiojn Trades Council; Clark Handy, senioe vice president, human Convergys Corp.; Lynn Marmer, group vice presideng for corporate affairs, Kroger Co.
; Richard Greiwe, principal, Greiwe Developmenrt Group; Shane Wright, vice president and chiegf financial officer, GE Aviation; and Karen McShea, managing Americas & Caribbean, Colliers International. The Port Authority’ s powers were expanded in August 2008 to include the abilityy to levya one-mill tax subjec to voters’ approval, the ability to own property and the powee of eminent domain, subject to approval by the city and “The new structure will alloa the Port to be a much more aggressive tool in our effortd to expand our local economy and create Mallory said in a news release.
The city and countyg are expected to vote on the slate durin their meetingJune 17, according to the release.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
HVCC moves 2 programs to Rensselaer Tech Park - Business First of Louisville:
The Troy college recently signeda 10-yeafr lease with 400 Jordan Road LLC. The school will pay approximately $605,000 a year to lease 36,557 square feet of Hudson Valley’s popular paramedic program will occupy abourt half of thenew space. The school also will move its respiratoru care program and a that trains employees for area according toStephen Cowan, director of the college’s physicalk plant.
The remainder of the leased space willhouse ’ Next Step office, a communications worker training program coordinated by the Those departments all currently are located in Hudson Valley’zs 90,000-square-foot Hy Rosenblum Administration a 1940s era building that Cowan said needzs major renovations. “It’s a tirex old building. We are looking at total renovationzor demolition,” he said.
But the college decidee to lease space from the through 400 Jordajn Road LLC for 10 yearws while the college decidees whether it should overhaul or tear down the Hy Rosenblum The college continuesto grow, but becauswe of the economy it does not have the monety to renovate the current building right now, Cowab said. Hudson Valley is planning to hire a consulting firm this summer to help officialsz decide the most cost effectivwe way to deal with theRosenblum building. helpes Hudson Valley negotiatedthe lease. The college plans to have the four programsd and departments moved into the new spacw in North Greenbush before the start of classeson Aug. 31.
The buildin g previously had been used as office space forVerizomn workers, Cowan said.
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Saul Ewing adds 7 Buchanan Ingersoll lawyers in Wilmington - Portland Business Journal:
office. The loss of the seven-lawyer group leaves Pittsburgh-based Buchanan with only one full-timre partner in Wilmington and four lawyerxstotal there, and gives Saul Ewing the largesrt Wilmington office of any full-service Philadelphia-baseed firm. The group includes office headWilliam Manning, who servees as outside general counsel to the University of Delaware and also represents Verizon Corp. and Dover Downs. The litigator was once chiefv of staff to formerDelawarre Gov. Pete DuPont. The other two partnera are Teresa Currier, who led bankruptcy effortw for Buchananin Delaware, and real estatew lawyer Richard Forsten.
The additionws give Saul Ewing 19 lawyersin Wilmington, wheres bankruptcies have taken off during the economiv downturn. A large percentage of companies from arounds the country file for Chapter 11 protectionhin Delaware. But because Delaware only has aboug 2,000 lawyers and has a strony set of indigenouslaw firms, the Wilmington market has been a tough one to crack for even neighboring Philadelphia firms. Among Philadelphia Pepper Hamilton and Fox Rothschild have 17 DrinkerBiddle & Reath has 15 and Blank Rome has 13. Saul Ewinf said Manning will serveas co-managin g partner of the officee with current office managing partner and real estat lawyer Wendie Stabler.
Thursday, March 10, 2011
S. Korean opposition party leader discusses inter-Korean ties, FTA with US envoy - Yonhap News
The West Australian | S. Korean opposition party leader discusses inter-Korean ties, FTA with US envoy Yonhap News SEOUL, March 10 (Yonhap) -- The head of South Korea's main opposition party met with the top US envoy in Seoul on Thursday to discuss inter-Korean ties and the free trade deal between South Korea and the US, a lawmaker said. Sohn Hak-kyu,! head of the ... South Korean investments at stake in North Korea (128) Saju of a North Korean defector It's the Economy, Stupid |
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Rising crime graph at Lalpur causes concern - Times of India
Rising crime graph at Lalpur causes concern Times of India However, lack of effective policing and patrolling has ensured the rise of the crime graph at Lalpur. Although police claim that regular night patrolling is carried out in the area, police vehicles are rarely seen by the residents of locality at night. ... |
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Rolling Mill Hill condos head into receivership - St. Louis Business Journal:
The Rolling Mill Hill condominiumxs were forced into receivership Tuesday by a lawsui filed by on behalf of itselcf andother lenders. The suit also asks the coury to allow foreclosure onthe three-buildingt project on Hermitage The lenders claims non-payment of $21.45 million in construction loans taken out by the property’s , a Wisconsin-based holding compant for the project’s investors. The original construction loanswere $42.88 million, but that amount was reduced in a loan amendment on 26. , out of Green Bay, was teaming with the to redeveloplthe 34-acre Rolling Mill Hill site southn of downtown along the Cumberland River.
Direc t had planned a $55 millioj project with four condo buildings on the site of theold , but canceleed plans for one of the building s last year. John Hopfensperger, president of Direct, said Tuesday that his firm was no longer involved in the and that the remaining development was being handled by theinvestor group, RMH. A contact with RMH coulcd not be reachedfor comment. The suit says the loan has been in defaultsincs Jan. 14, and the ownerws are now so short on cash that they were unables to pay their utility which resulted in water service to the buildingzs being shut offlast week.
Though the projecft was completedby mid-April, no units in any of the buildingzs have been purchased, according to records with the Davidson Count Register of Deeds. The roughly 75 condos were primarlg pricedbetween $230,000 to $680,000. Fifteen of the project’w units had been designated as “affordabled housing” and were priced at $139,00 0 per unit. The development ran into problemws because Directwas undercapitalized, without enoug h money to pay for expenses even aftet work was completed, says Walker Mathews, president of , general contractor for the project.
He says the condos have greatt features, and construction was finished byApril 14, as promised two yearss earlier. “The unfortunate thing is we got all the way to thefinisjh line, and it turns into a mess,” Mathewsx says. It is too early to tell what will happeb withthe properties. John Cheadle, who has been appointe d receiver ofthe project, will have to evaluate the potentiaol avenues for disposing of the says John Kelley of , whicb is representing the A Davidson County Chancery Court date is set for Wednesdayg for Cheatle to present his initial findings.
The condos are just a portion ofMetro Nashville’s larger Rolling Mill Hill revitalizatiobn effort, which has been in the works for more than a A public-private partnership between MDHA and selec developers, the project includes plans for retail shop s and apartments. A timelins for the buildout remains unclear. But Tuesday’s filing includes only the thre e existing residentialcondos — two new high-riswe buildings and a renovated historic hospitalo buildling. This isn’t the first setbackj for the project.
Last September, Baltimore-baseed , who had eyed the site on the west bank of the Cumberlans River for amajor mixed-use project, close its Nashville office and abandoned efforts with the Plans had called for 214 condos, a 224,000-square-foot officer building and up to 50,000 square feet of retail. Metroo has already put about $10 million into the purchass of land and infrastructure for the condows and has establisheda $3.
5 million tax incremenf finance zone around the project to pay off development says Joe Cain, development director for the housinyg agency, which is acting as the master developer for the But the city retains no ownership of the properthy and has no future liability for it, he The project has faced the same troubles as many new condos, Cain “Just like it’s hit everywhere across the these projects coming on line are having trouble getting the sold,” he says. This is the third large-scaler condo development to go into receivership in the past six following5th & Main, just acrosw the Cumberland River from downtown Nashville, and the Braxtonj in Ashland City.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Two Coventry men charged with scrap dealer murder appear in court - Coventry Telegraph
Two Coventry men charged with scrap dealer murder appear in court Coventry Telegraph TWO men from Coventry have been charged with the murder of a missing scrap dealer whose body has never been found. Former boxing promoter Kevin John Houston, 49, and Matthew Robert Taylor, 27, are accused of murdering 41-year-old Jesse Richards. ... |