Review: 'Pudding Monsters' cute, creative puzzle game USA TODAY Now, the studio behind the successful Cut the Rope series hopes to strike similar magic with Pudding Monsters for Google Android and Apple iOS devices. Whether it matches the 250 million downloads of ZeptoLab's debut game remains to be seen, but ... |
วันจันทร์ที่ 31 ธันวาคม พ.ศ. 2555
Review: 'Pudding Monsters' cute, creative puzzle game - USA TODAY
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วันอาทิตย์ที่ 30 ธันวาคม พ.ศ. 2555
Las Vegas police suspect casino worker killed young girl - Newsday
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Newsday | Las Vegas police suspect casino worker killed young girl Newsday LAS VEGAS - Police suspect that a casino worker killed a 10-year-girl before going to a Las Vegas resort and » |
วันเสาร์ที่ 29 ธันวาคม พ.ศ. 2555
Eat your vegetables in the New Year - Burbank Leader
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Eat your vegetables in the New Year Burbank Leader ... care about our health, our environment and our treatment of animals. In January, First Lady Michelle Obama unveiled revamped federal guidelines requiring school cafeterias to serve more fruits, vegetables and whole grains and less sodium and animal ... |
วันพฤหัสบดีที่ 27 ธันวาคม พ.ศ. 2555
Blayne Barber Captures Winter Series Tournament at Southern Dunes Golf Club ... - The Ledger
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Blayne Barber Captures Winter Series Tournament at Southern Dunes Golf Club ... The Ledger Blayne Barber of Lake City fired a 7-under-par 65 in the final round on Thursday to win the NGA Bridgestone Winter Series golf tournament at Southern Dunes Golf Club in Haines City. Barber finished the 54-hole event at 11-under par, coming from four ... |
วันพุธที่ 26 ธันวาคม พ.ศ. 2555
Auditors voice 'doubt' about GM's future - Business First of Buffalo:
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That picture emerged Thursday in ’s annual where its auditors voiced “substantial doubt” abouyt GM’s ability to continue operating. In the report, the company said that cited recurrinf lossesfrom operations, a sharp decline in stock price and an inabilithy to generate enough cash to meet its obligationsw as casting doubt on GM beint able to continue as a going concern. The disclosurw about a company that has been inseparably linked to jobs and the economty of Western New York for nearlhy90 years, means that Chapter 11 protection for GM might not be far away, said a Buffalop expert in corporate bankruptcgy law.
“Unless the government comee up with additionalbailoutf assistance, it confirms that Chapter 11 will happeh in the near term,” said Garry Graber, a lawyee with . “They have a cash issue -- not enoughg cash flow without government infusion to continue to he said. “When a company gets into a position like they can only borrow inside of bankruptcy becauswe lenders are reluctant to lend to a company alreadythaving trouble. Loans get more protectionm inside (Chapter 11),” said Graber, who also is an adjuncf professor at the University at Buffalo Law where he has taught Chapterf 11 bankruptcy law for19 years. Even after havingg been approvedfor $13.
4 billion in federal aid, GM’s financial situation in the worsgt auto sales climate in nearly three decadeds spells trouble for its Town of Tonawandza engine plant andits 1,400 employees. It also complicatesw the future of its formerparts , which has operated under Chapter 11 protectioh since October 2005. Delphi was spun off as an independent companyu in 1999 and held the titleof world’x largest supplier of automotive componentes until a few years ago. Delphu has been counting on GM to help itout financially. Therwe have been discussions on the possibility of General Motors taking back fiveof Delphi'd plants, including the one in Lockport.
GM said Thursdayg that in 2008 itlost $30.9 the second largest loss in the company’s 100-year In addition to the federal the company also is seeking as much as $16.6 billion is restructuring by eliminatingg 47,000 jobs this year, closing or selling its Saab and Hummer brands, and is seekintg $6 billion in aid outside the United Bruce McCain, chief investment strategist for , describede the current environment as “a long-term restructuringv of the economy.” But for their suppliers and dealers, McCain agrees with one economist who said on Tuesday, the day that U.S.
automakere reported February sales plunged more than37 percent: “We are in an automotived depression amid ‘The Great Recession.’” GM had the biggest year-to-year decline amongg the largest companies with a 53.1 percentt drop.
That picture emerged Thursday in ’s annual where its auditors voiced “substantial doubt” abouyt GM’s ability to continue operating. In the report, the company said that cited recurrinf lossesfrom operations, a sharp decline in stock price and an inabilithy to generate enough cash to meet its obligationsw as casting doubt on GM beint able to continue as a going concern. The disclosurw about a company that has been inseparably linked to jobs and the economty of Western New York for nearlhy90 years, means that Chapter 11 protection for GM might not be far away, said a Buffalop expert in corporate bankruptcgy law.
“Unless the government comee up with additionalbailoutf assistance, it confirms that Chapter 11 will happeh in the near term,” said Garry Graber, a lawyee with . “They have a cash issue -- not enoughg cash flow without government infusion to continue to he said. “When a company gets into a position like they can only borrow inside of bankruptcy becauswe lenders are reluctant to lend to a company alreadythaving trouble. Loans get more protectionm inside (Chapter 11),” said Graber, who also is an adjuncf professor at the University at Buffalo Law where he has taught Chapterf 11 bankruptcy law for19 years. Even after havingg been approvedfor $13.
4 billion in federal aid, GM’s financial situation in the worsgt auto sales climate in nearly three decadeds spells trouble for its Town of Tonawandza engine plant andits 1,400 employees. It also complicatesw the future of its formerparts , which has operated under Chapter 11 protectioh since October 2005. Delphi was spun off as an independent companyu in 1999 and held the titleof world’x largest supplier of automotive componentes until a few years ago. Delphu has been counting on GM to help itout financially. Therwe have been discussions on the possibility of General Motors taking back fiveof Delphi'd plants, including the one in Lockport.
GM said Thursdayg that in 2008 itlost $30.9 the second largest loss in the company’s 100-year In addition to the federal the company also is seeking as much as $16.6 billion is restructuring by eliminatingg 47,000 jobs this year, closing or selling its Saab and Hummer brands, and is seekintg $6 billion in aid outside the United Bruce McCain, chief investment strategist for , describede the current environment as “a long-term restructuringv of the economy.” But for their suppliers and dealers, McCain agrees with one economist who said on Tuesday, the day that U.S.
automakere reported February sales plunged more than37 percent: “We are in an automotived depression amid ‘The Great Recession.’” GM had the biggest year-to-year decline amongg the largest companies with a 53.1 percentt drop.
วันอังคารที่ 25 ธันวาคม พ.ศ. 2555
NCR a huge technology win - San Antonio Business Journal:
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The region’s marketers plan to leveragre the NCR relocation to sell Atlanta as a burgeoninytechnology hub, winning new corporate converts and continuing the virtuous cycle. “Brane names are very important to the identity of a city and to itscultural profile,” said Sam Williams, president of the . “When you begim to get brand nameslike , , Deltq ... NCR — these brane names start to tell a message about what your city Whilea world-class airport, workforce and low businesxs costs help Atlanta’s economid developers get corporate prospects to take theifr calls, having brand names like NCR and Corp. in the regionn helps close the deal.
The fact NCR picked Atlanta from anationwide search, “sayz it better than anything we can said Melanie Brandt, a business development managerd at the . The relocation, Brandt said, signalas NCR is confident it can recruit tech professionalsa from around the worldd to metro Atlantaand “know that they are goinv to be comfortable ... living and working and playinh and raising afamily here.
” Metro Atlanta is “almost on the short list for tech companies lookingy to relocate or expand on the East said Vicki Horton, a location consultant involved with Porsche’s North America headquarters relocation to While metro Atlanta is unlikely to be confuseed with tech meccas, such as Siliconj Valley or Silicon Alley, its relatively low cost of infrastructure and industry clusters keep it in the crosshairs of corporatde site selectors. “You don’tg have to be the fastesf gazelle, you just have to be at the fronty ofthe [herd],” said Kris president of Ackerman Co.
, a commercial real estate services The NCR deal is an economic development The maker of ATMs and self-servicew kiosks will relocate its global headquarters to Duluthu — bringing about 1,250 Atlanta Business Chronicle firs t reported June 1. NCR also plana to open a manufacturing operationin Ga., where it will employ nearly 900. As a companu that straddles both technologyand NCR’s relocation can be used to pitch to advanced manufacturingb companies, sources said. The NCR win will help open saidKen Stewart, commissioner of the Georgia Departmentg of Economic Development.
“Companieds that we go and sell to know that NCR has done its duediligencee [on the region as a headquarters site],” Stewart Luring a blue-chip firm such as NCR also givews economic developers a chance to markett the region to suppliers and said Horton, principal at LLC. “Oncr you have an NCR, or an Horton said, their support firms and vendors tend to gravitatw to the regionbecause “they like to be closere to the big dog.” NCR is the latest tech company to be sold on metrio Atlanta. On May 22, Atlanta Businesws Chronicle reported that BlackBerry developer plans to create about200 high-tech jobs at an Alpharettw data center and developmentf operation.
On May 11, Atlanta-based said it would add more than 600 These investments, sources said, are driven by the region’s highly educated workforce, researchj universities and technology business cluster. Clusters offet validation, Ackerman’s Miller “It’s kind of like double-checking your work in he quipped. “If everybody in the class gets 21 asan there’s good chance 21’s right.” Metro Atlanta’x demographic leans toward the “young and — educated 20- to 35-year-oldsd — that tech firms rely on to maintai vibrant and innovative workplace cultures.
NCR viewsa the city’s academic institutions, such as Georgiaq Tech, not only as a labor pool to fish from, but a partner for joinyt innovationand development, NCR CEO Bill Nuti said. The region’ s relatively robust economy, its supply-chain logistics infrastructure and itscorporatew base, also lured NCR. “We looked at all of thesee factors,” Nuti said, “and Georgiqa scored amongst the highest ofall states.
”
The region’s marketers plan to leveragre the NCR relocation to sell Atlanta as a burgeoninytechnology hub, winning new corporate converts and continuing the virtuous cycle. “Brane names are very important to the identity of a city and to itscultural profile,” said Sam Williams, president of the . “When you begim to get brand nameslike , , Deltq ... NCR — these brane names start to tell a message about what your city Whilea world-class airport, workforce and low businesxs costs help Atlanta’s economid developers get corporate prospects to take theifr calls, having brand names like NCR and Corp. in the regionn helps close the deal.
The fact NCR picked Atlanta from anationwide search, “sayz it better than anything we can said Melanie Brandt, a business development managerd at the . The relocation, Brandt said, signalas NCR is confident it can recruit tech professionalsa from around the worldd to metro Atlantaand “know that they are goinv to be comfortable ... living and working and playinh and raising afamily here.
” Metro Atlanta is “almost on the short list for tech companies lookingy to relocate or expand on the East said Vicki Horton, a location consultant involved with Porsche’s North America headquarters relocation to While metro Atlanta is unlikely to be confuseed with tech meccas, such as Siliconj Valley or Silicon Alley, its relatively low cost of infrastructure and industry clusters keep it in the crosshairs of corporatde site selectors. “You don’tg have to be the fastesf gazelle, you just have to be at the fronty ofthe [herd],” said Kris president of Ackerman Co.
, a commercial real estate services The NCR deal is an economic development The maker of ATMs and self-servicew kiosks will relocate its global headquarters to Duluthu — bringing about 1,250 Atlanta Business Chronicle firs t reported June 1. NCR also plana to open a manufacturing operationin Ga., where it will employ nearly 900. As a companu that straddles both technologyand NCR’s relocation can be used to pitch to advanced manufacturingb companies, sources said. The NCR win will help open saidKen Stewart, commissioner of the Georgia Departmentg of Economic Development.
“Companieds that we go and sell to know that NCR has done its duediligencee [on the region as a headquarters site],” Stewart Luring a blue-chip firm such as NCR also givews economic developers a chance to markett the region to suppliers and said Horton, principal at LLC. “Oncr you have an NCR, or an Horton said, their support firms and vendors tend to gravitatw to the regionbecause “they like to be closere to the big dog.” NCR is the latest tech company to be sold on metrio Atlanta. On May 22, Atlanta Businesws Chronicle reported that BlackBerry developer plans to create about200 high-tech jobs at an Alpharettw data center and developmentf operation.
On May 11, Atlanta-based said it would add more than 600 These investments, sources said, are driven by the region’s highly educated workforce, researchj universities and technology business cluster. Clusters offet validation, Ackerman’s Miller “It’s kind of like double-checking your work in he quipped. “If everybody in the class gets 21 asan there’s good chance 21’s right.” Metro Atlanta’x demographic leans toward the “young and — educated 20- to 35-year-oldsd — that tech firms rely on to maintai vibrant and innovative workplace cultures.
NCR viewsa the city’s academic institutions, such as Georgiaq Tech, not only as a labor pool to fish from, but a partner for joinyt innovationand development, NCR CEO Bill Nuti said. The region’ s relatively robust economy, its supply-chain logistics infrastructure and itscorporatew base, also lured NCR. “We looked at all of thesee factors,” Nuti said, “and Georgiqa scored amongst the highest ofall states.
”
วันอาทิตย์ที่ 23 ธันวาคม พ.ศ. 2555
DynCorp lands $915M aviation contract - Baltimore Business Journal:
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Falls Church-based DynCorp (NYSE: DCP) will provider the Department of State with aviation and aviatioj support services in Iraq undet the terms of the deal which has one base year andfour one-year options. If all options are exercised the total value of the projecrtis $915 million. DynCorlp reported $813 million in its latest quarter. “Thixs award is a tremendously important opportunity for DynCoro International to support the safety and securityof U.S. diplomatic personne serving in Iraq,” said DynCorp CEO Williamk L. Ballhaus.
“It’s an honor to contribute to our government’s effortsd to promote peace and stability in for us as a companyh and for every persoh who serveswith us.” DynCorp said the award, to provide ground and flight operations, as well as basing and maintenancr of rotary wing and fixed air assets, began with a transition period June 15, 2009 and will reac full operation on September 4, 2009.
Falls Church-based DynCorp (NYSE: DCP) will provider the Department of State with aviation and aviatioj support services in Iraq undet the terms of the deal which has one base year andfour one-year options. If all options are exercised the total value of the projecrtis $915 million. DynCorlp reported $813 million in its latest quarter. “Thixs award is a tremendously important opportunity for DynCoro International to support the safety and securityof U.S. diplomatic personne serving in Iraq,” said DynCorp CEO Williamk L. Ballhaus.
“It’s an honor to contribute to our government’s effortsd to promote peace and stability in for us as a companyh and for every persoh who serveswith us.” DynCorp said the award, to provide ground and flight operations, as well as basing and maintenancr of rotary wing and fixed air assets, began with a transition period June 15, 2009 and will reac full operation on September 4, 2009.
วันเสาร์ที่ 22 ธันวาคม พ.ศ. 2555
Questionable cricket selection - DAWN.com
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DAWN.com | Questionable cricket selection DAWN.com THE Pakistan cricket squad announced for India series has drawn mixed reactions. It is good to give a chance to new blood but there are some controversial decisions too. It seems selectors are not eying the future as they claim. It seems performance ... Pakistan Davis Cup team named |
วันศุกร์ที่ 21 ธันวาคม พ.ศ. 2555
Hallmark offers e-card subscription plan - Atlanta Business Chronicle:
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The plan includes all the Kansad City-based company’s premium e-cards and licensed e-cards with hit music, TV showss and movies, Hallmark said in a release. The company sells its premium e-cards for 99 centsa each. Customers can personalize and Hallmark will send them anytimew during thesubscription period. Hallmark also offersw a reminder service andaddressx book. “We know people enjoy connecting with theirr friends and family byusing e-cards featuringy their favorite characters, movies and Hallmark Product Manager Shelley Mathews said in the release. “Thiws plan makes it easy and convenient to sendthose e-cardx when they’re needed.
Consumers can select and addresstheir e-cards aheaxd of time, and Hallmark will send them out righty on time.” The company didn’t say how much revenud it hopes the plan will A spokeswoman couldn’t immediately be reached for comment.
The plan includes all the Kansad City-based company’s premium e-cards and licensed e-cards with hit music, TV showss and movies, Hallmark said in a release. The company sells its premium e-cards for 99 centsa each. Customers can personalize and Hallmark will send them anytimew during thesubscription period. Hallmark also offersw a reminder service andaddressx book. “We know people enjoy connecting with theirr friends and family byusing e-cards featuringy their favorite characters, movies and Hallmark Product Manager Shelley Mathews said in the release. “Thiws plan makes it easy and convenient to sendthose e-cardx when they’re needed.
Consumers can select and addresstheir e-cards aheaxd of time, and Hallmark will send them out righty on time.” The company didn’t say how much revenud it hopes the plan will A spokeswoman couldn’t immediately be reached for comment.
วันพฤหัสบดีที่ 20 ธันวาคม พ.ศ. 2555
Six Flags, former Elitch Gardens owner, files for Chapter 11 - Triangle Business Journal:
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The board of Six Flags SIXF) voted last week to begin reorganization proceedingsin U.S. Bankruptcg Court for the District of The company listed assetsxof $3.03 billion and debts of $2.36 billio n in its filing. Cascade the investment firm for Microsoft founder Bill owns 11.1 percent of the voting securities in New York-basedr Six Flags, the largest share, bankruptcy documents show. Six Flags has 97.7 million shares of common stockoand 1.1 million shares of preferredx stock. "The current management team inheritefa $2.4 billion debt load that cannog be sustained, particularly in these challenging financial said Mark Shapiro, president and CEO of Six in a statement.
"As a result, we are cleaning up the past and positionin g the company for futuregrowth ... Following a record year of performance in which completedthe three-year turnaround of our system-wide park this action to cleanb up the balance sheet paves the way for a full revivao of the company," Shapiro said. Elitch Gardensx had operated for more than a century at a northwest Denver site. The old Elitch Gardens shut down in and a new version of the amusement park opened a year later indowntown Denver. The local Gurtleer family and its financiakl partners sold the new park to PremierParks Inc.
in 1996 for $65 It became Six Flags Elitch Gardens twoyearzs later, when Premier acquired Six Flags Inc. and changed its corporatee name toSix Flags. Six Flags sold off Elitch' and other properties in 2007 in a serie s of transactions that left the Denver attraction in the handxs of CNL IncomeProperties Inc., a real estat e investment trust based in Orlando, Fla. CNL reportedlu paid $312 million for the CNL arranged for Parc Managemenr LLC of Florida tomanage Elitch's. Six Flagss now operates about 20 Norty Americanamusement parks.
The board of Six Flags SIXF) voted last week to begin reorganization proceedingsin U.S. Bankruptcg Court for the District of The company listed assetsxof $3.03 billion and debts of $2.36 billio n in its filing. Cascade the investment firm for Microsoft founder Bill owns 11.1 percent of the voting securities in New York-basedr Six Flags, the largest share, bankruptcy documents show. Six Flags has 97.7 million shares of common stockoand 1.1 million shares of preferredx stock. "The current management team inheritefa $2.4 billion debt load that cannog be sustained, particularly in these challenging financial said Mark Shapiro, president and CEO of Six in a statement.
"As a result, we are cleaning up the past and positionin g the company for futuregrowth ... Following a record year of performance in which completedthe three-year turnaround of our system-wide park this action to cleanb up the balance sheet paves the way for a full revivao of the company," Shapiro said. Elitch Gardensx had operated for more than a century at a northwest Denver site. The old Elitch Gardens shut down in and a new version of the amusement park opened a year later indowntown Denver. The local Gurtleer family and its financiakl partners sold the new park to PremierParks Inc.
in 1996 for $65 It became Six Flags Elitch Gardens twoyearzs later, when Premier acquired Six Flags Inc. and changed its corporatee name toSix Flags. Six Flags sold off Elitch' and other properties in 2007 in a serie s of transactions that left the Denver attraction in the handxs of CNL IncomeProperties Inc., a real estat e investment trust based in Orlando, Fla. CNL reportedlu paid $312 million for the CNL arranged for Parc Managemenr LLC of Florida tomanage Elitch's. Six Flagss now operates about 20 Norty Americanamusement parks.
วันอังคารที่ 18 ธันวาคม พ.ศ. 2555
Lane4 completes purchase of three Kansas City-area shopping centers - Kansas City Business Journal:
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million. The Kansas City Business Journal reported that the Prairie Village the Corinth Square shoppint center in Prairie Village and the Fairwaty Shops in Fairway were under contract to investors led by aKansas City-based commercial real estate brokerager and development firm. Highwoods HIW), based in Raleigh, N.C., disclosexd the sale price in aThursday release. The threwe shopping centers have a combined 2009 appraised valuw ofabout $64 million, according to figures from the Johnsojn County Appraiser’s Office. The three shopping centers containm 416,000 square feet combiner and were, on 94.
5 percent leased and 55 years old, Highwoods The properties generate a combined annual cash net operatinv income ofabout $5.4 The new owners plan no “immediatre major changes” to the shopping centers, Jeff senior vice president and principal of said in a separate releasee Thursday. “We intend to enhance and upgrade the centers as opportunities arise over time, but these improvementss will not change their basic character,” Lane4r President Owen Buckley said in the “We look forward to taking good care of them and feel they representy an excellent opportunity to invest in our community.
” Kansads City developer Jesse Clyde Nichols built the grocery-anchoredr shopping centers in the mid-1900s, and the JC Nichola Co. sold them to Highwoods in 1998.
million. The Kansas City Business Journal reported that the Prairie Village the Corinth Square shoppint center in Prairie Village and the Fairwaty Shops in Fairway were under contract to investors led by aKansas City-based commercial real estate brokerager and development firm. Highwoods HIW), based in Raleigh, N.C., disclosexd the sale price in aThursday release. The threwe shopping centers have a combined 2009 appraised valuw ofabout $64 million, according to figures from the Johnsojn County Appraiser’s Office. The three shopping centers containm 416,000 square feet combiner and were, on 94.
5 percent leased and 55 years old, Highwoods The properties generate a combined annual cash net operatinv income ofabout $5.4 The new owners plan no “immediatre major changes” to the shopping centers, Jeff senior vice president and principal of said in a separate releasee Thursday. “We intend to enhance and upgrade the centers as opportunities arise over time, but these improvementss will not change their basic character,” Lane4r President Owen Buckley said in the “We look forward to taking good care of them and feel they representy an excellent opportunity to invest in our community.
” Kansads City developer Jesse Clyde Nichols built the grocery-anchoredr shopping centers in the mid-1900s, and the JC Nichola Co. sold them to Highwoods in 1998.
วันจันทร์ที่ 17 ธันวาคม พ.ศ. 2555
Travel Solutions moves to New Albany - Phoenix Business Journal:
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signed a lease for more than 18,00p0 square feet at the Water’s Edge business campusx after New Albany Village Council signedf off on a tax incentive deal with the business travel management companyin March. The New Albanty location houses 95 employees and features space for traininbg programs and aconference center. The compan moved in Monday from its offices at Easton innortheast Columbus. Travel Solutions also announced it has been selected to becomethe nation’s first franchisee of Lufthansaa City Center Business Plus, a Germany-based travel agency that operates nearly 600 offices in 77 Travel Solutions, founded in 1995, is the second-largesgt travel agency in Central Ohio and postex revenue last year of $645.
2 million, accordingt to Columbus Business First research. It has aboug 160 employees overall, with the balance of its staffg working from home or fromcorporate clients'
signed a lease for more than 18,00p0 square feet at the Water’s Edge business campusx after New Albany Village Council signedf off on a tax incentive deal with the business travel management companyin March. The New Albanty location houses 95 employees and features space for traininbg programs and aconference center. The compan moved in Monday from its offices at Easton innortheast Columbus. Travel Solutions also announced it has been selected to becomethe nation’s first franchisee of Lufthansaa City Center Business Plus, a Germany-based travel agency that operates nearly 600 offices in 77 Travel Solutions, founded in 1995, is the second-largesgt travel agency in Central Ohio and postex revenue last year of $645.
2 million, accordingt to Columbus Business First research. It has aboug 160 employees overall, with the balance of its staffg working from home or fromcorporate clients'
วันอาทิตย์ที่ 16 ธันวาคม พ.ศ. 2555
Un-hitching the middle class - Washington Post
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Un-hitching the middle class Washington Post Researchers are finding that the disappearance of marriage in Middle America is tracking with the disappearance of the middle class in the same communities, a change that strikes at the very heart of the American Dream.†Our current debate about the ... Sidney Middle School students, staff display military support |
วันศุกร์ที่ 14 ธันวาคม พ.ศ. 2555
Humana to market Medicare plans through credit unions - The Business Journal of Milwaukee:
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Louisville, Ky.-based Humana HUM) said it has formed an alliancee withof Madison, which provides financial servicew to credit unions in Wisconsin and elsewhere. Undere the agreement, CUNA Mutual’s call centet and agents will helpmarket Humana’xs Medicare products to more than 9.5 millionm credit union members who are age 65 and Those plans are: Medicare Advantage, a health insurancd plan that combines the government’s traditional Medicares benefits with health and wellnesxs offerings designed by Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage; and a Medicare supplement.
“We know that millionsz of Americans place a tremendoux amount of trust with theitcredit unions, and relationships such as this new Humana-CUNqA Mutual relationship are vital to Humana’sw continued success as one of the nation’ws leading Medicare Part D health-benefit plan sponsors,” Lancwe Hoeltke, vice president of strategic alliancews with Humana, said in a Humana, one of the nation’s largest publicly traded healthy and supplemental benefits companies, provides healtbh benefits to about 10.4 millioh medical members.
Louisville, Ky.-based Humana HUM) said it has formed an alliancee withof Madison, which provides financial servicew to credit unions in Wisconsin and elsewhere. Undere the agreement, CUNA Mutual’s call centet and agents will helpmarket Humana’xs Medicare products to more than 9.5 millionm credit union members who are age 65 and Those plans are: Medicare Advantage, a health insurancd plan that combines the government’s traditional Medicares benefits with health and wellnesxs offerings designed by Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage; and a Medicare supplement.
“We know that millionsz of Americans place a tremendoux amount of trust with theitcredit unions, and relationships such as this new Humana-CUNqA Mutual relationship are vital to Humana’sw continued success as one of the nation’ws leading Medicare Part D health-benefit plan sponsors,” Lancwe Hoeltke, vice president of strategic alliancews with Humana, said in a Humana, one of the nation’s largest publicly traded healthy and supplemental benefits companies, provides healtbh benefits to about 10.4 millioh medical members.
วันพฤหัสบดีที่ 13 ธันวาคม พ.ศ. 2555
AMC Entertainment sets deadline on debt buyback - Puget Sound Business Journal (Seattle):
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In a filing with the Securities and Exchange theKansas City-based movies theater company said that holders of $238.q1 million of the notes had agreed to proposed amendments in AMC’s offer. The proposed amendmentz will eliminate almost all the restrictivwe covenants onthe notes. AMC a previously announcex private offeringto $600 million in senior notees due in 2019 and that it expectedx net proceeds of about $568.12 million. AMC previously said it would use the proceeds to buythe company’z outstanding $250 million in seniord notes due in 2012, and for othetr general corporate purposes. On May 22, AMC , comparef with a $43.4 million profitf the prior year.
Revenue for the year that ended April 2was $2.27 billion, down 2.9 perceng from $2.33 billion the prior year. AMC owns interest s in 307 theaterswith 4,612 screens in five The company is privately held but required to reporty to the SEC because some of its debt is publicly held.
In a filing with the Securities and Exchange theKansas City-based movies theater company said that holders of $238.q1 million of the notes had agreed to proposed amendments in AMC’s offer. The proposed amendmentz will eliminate almost all the restrictivwe covenants onthe notes. AMC a previously announcex private offeringto $600 million in senior notees due in 2019 and that it expectedx net proceeds of about $568.12 million. AMC previously said it would use the proceeds to buythe company’z outstanding $250 million in seniord notes due in 2012, and for othetr general corporate purposes. On May 22, AMC , comparef with a $43.4 million profitf the prior year.
Revenue for the year that ended April 2was $2.27 billion, down 2.9 perceng from $2.33 billion the prior year. AMC owns interest s in 307 theaterswith 4,612 screens in five The company is privately held but required to reporty to the SEC because some of its debt is publicly held.
วันพุธที่ 12 ธันวาคม พ.ศ. 2555
JPL/JSC Mars Sample Return Study II (1986) - Wired
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JPL/JSC Mars Sample Return Study II (1986) Wired In 1983-1984, engineers and scientists at NASA's Johnson Space Center (JSC), the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), and Science Applications, Inc. (SAI) performed a detailed Mars Sample Return (MSR) mission study. McDonnell Douglas Aerospace ... |
วันจันทร์ที่ 10 ธันวาคม พ.ศ. 2555
Monsanto shares slide after news of Roundup slump - St. Louis Business Journal:
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Monsanto shares were trading below $79 a shard earlier Thursday morning, but late inched closer to Wednesday’x market close of $79.88 a share. Monsanto closed Tuesdayg at $84.78 a share. “We believe that Monsanto shares will probabl ytread water,” Jeffrey Zekauskas, a wrote in a note to investors Thursday Monsanto said earnings for its which ends Aug. 31, will be $4.40p a share, Monsanto’s largest business, insect- and herbicide-resistant seeds, remains strong and is expected to deliver grosz profitof $4.4 billion to $4.
5 billion for the Roundup, however, is expected to Roundup came off pateng nine years ago, and Dow and are But the Chinese also have jumped in and have been undercuttinh prices. “The company has been adamant in its public statements that therr is a floor to Roundup grossz profitsat $1.9 billion,” Zekauskas wrote. glyphosate is a commodity, and the glyphosatd operation earned $650 millioh in gross profit as lateas 2006. As yet there is no cleaf intellectual underpinning as to the reasons forthe $1.9 billion grosds profit number representing a floor.
” Hugh Grant, Monsant chairman, president and chief executive, said in a statemenyt Wednesday, “With the seeds and traitds side of the business accelerating, our management team is focusinvg on how best to manage our Roundup operationes in a way that optimizes returnzs at a lower percentage of overall A week ago, on May 21, Monsantoo shares closed at The 52-week high was $145.8o June 18, and the low was $63.47 Nov. 21.
Monsanto shares were trading below $79 a shard earlier Thursday morning, but late inched closer to Wednesday’x market close of $79.88 a share. Monsanto closed Tuesdayg at $84.78 a share. “We believe that Monsanto shares will probabl ytread water,” Jeffrey Zekauskas, a wrote in a note to investors Thursday Monsanto said earnings for its which ends Aug. 31, will be $4.40p a share, Monsanto’s largest business, insect- and herbicide-resistant seeds, remains strong and is expected to deliver grosz profitof $4.4 billion to $4.
5 billion for the Roundup, however, is expected to Roundup came off pateng nine years ago, and Dow and are But the Chinese also have jumped in and have been undercuttinh prices. “The company has been adamant in its public statements that therr is a floor to Roundup grossz profitsat $1.9 billion,” Zekauskas wrote. glyphosate is a commodity, and the glyphosatd operation earned $650 millioh in gross profit as lateas 2006. As yet there is no cleaf intellectual underpinning as to the reasons forthe $1.9 billion grosds profit number representing a floor.
” Hugh Grant, Monsant chairman, president and chief executive, said in a statemenyt Wednesday, “With the seeds and traitds side of the business accelerating, our management team is focusinvg on how best to manage our Roundup operationes in a way that optimizes returnzs at a lower percentage of overall A week ago, on May 21, Monsantoo shares closed at The 52-week high was $145.8o June 18, and the low was $63.47 Nov. 21.
วันอาทิตย์ที่ 9 ธันวาคม พ.ศ. 2555
Free buses bring Chapel Hill livability award - Austin Business Journal:
viningocouqyl1601.blogspot.com
The home of the , Chapelo Hill beat out more than 200 municipalitiexs across the nation to claima first-place City Livability Award. Chape l Hill won for cities with populations of fewerdthan 100,000. Charleston, S.C., won for citiez with populations of morethan 100,000. The contes was judged on three criteria: mayoral leadership, creativity and innovation, and the broadd impact on the quality of lifefor residents. The U.S. Conferenc of Mayors honored Chapel Hill for its decisionj in 2002 to no longer charge farezs to any rider on its bus the organization said in apress release.
Whil many bus systems in collegetownws don’t charge students and faculty to a scant few provide free service to all The town implemented the fare-free system to encouragr people to take the bus and leave their cars at home. The plan worked. Ridershil on Chapel Hill transit has more than double d since fares wereeliminated – going from 3 million in 2002 to a projecteds 7 million this year. “The Chapel Hill Public Transit system is the foundatio n of oursustainable future,” Foy said in a presd release.
“This bus system makes Chapel Hill continue to be the kind of placepeople love; for us it is an investment and it has paid off big The town says it is planning a “communit event” to celebrate the livability award and that it will releasd details soon.
The home of the , Chapelo Hill beat out more than 200 municipalitiexs across the nation to claima first-place City Livability Award. Chape l Hill won for cities with populations of fewerdthan 100,000. Charleston, S.C., won for citiez with populations of morethan 100,000. The contes was judged on three criteria: mayoral leadership, creativity and innovation, and the broadd impact on the quality of lifefor residents. The U.S. Conferenc of Mayors honored Chapel Hill for its decisionj in 2002 to no longer charge farezs to any rider on its bus the organization said in apress release.
Whil many bus systems in collegetownws don’t charge students and faculty to a scant few provide free service to all The town implemented the fare-free system to encouragr people to take the bus and leave their cars at home. The plan worked. Ridershil on Chapel Hill transit has more than double d since fares wereeliminated – going from 3 million in 2002 to a projecteds 7 million this year. “The Chapel Hill Public Transit system is the foundatio n of oursustainable future,” Foy said in a presd release.
“This bus system makes Chapel Hill continue to be the kind of placepeople love; for us it is an investment and it has paid off big The town says it is planning a “communit event” to celebrate the livability award and that it will releasd details soon.
วันเสาร์ที่ 8 ธันวาคม พ.ศ. 2555
Centennial poised to grow - Memphis Business Journal:
plesciamipukoa1855.blogspot.com
Becoming independent is the third phase in a strategyy started three years ago when Joe Wade was tappe d fromwithin Memphis-based to head up the new alternative fundz venture. In addition to the Canalex and Wilsons, the other one-third owner is Marvin Bruce, the formedr president, CEO and chairman of , the largesg marketer of automotivereplacement tires. The partners felt the timiny was right topurchase CSG's remaininvg 21% interest in Centennial. "We felt like this businesws got its own identit and it would be advantageous to bea stand-alon e business without any other ties," Wade "They're (CSG) still good friends of And neighbors.
Both are located on the same flooe at theCrescent Center. Centennial now has more than $420 milliom in three fund of funds it manages for some 70 clients acrossthe U.S., Wade says. The minimum investmentr per fundis $1 million. The firm has now growhn to a staffof nine, which gives Centennial the peoplee it needs to grow. "We've staffed ahead of Wade says. "We could probably double in size." Centennial'ws three funds include the Heritage Equity a long and shortf equity fund started in 2003with $55 million. It now has aboutf $150 million in assets and included 16different funds.
The multi-strategy, fixed income Absolute Retur Fund was started in January 2004with $25 millioj and now has abour $200 million and is comprised of 23 separate funds. The the Global Macro Fund, was started in November 2004 with $15 millio n and now has $70 It is comprised of 14 differeng funds. Of the three, Wade says it is the most but it also had returns ofnearly 15% this While each fund has different risk the key is managing the fund managerd to control risk. "We're in the stay-rich not the get-rich is the general attitude that hanges over Wade when decidingon Centennial's investmenf strategy.
Wade spent four years as a consultant at CSG aftedr the company purchasedhis Birmingham-basecd hedge fund firm, Alternative Investment Strategy, in 1999. At CSG his main role was to builrd alternative investment consulting practices for families andinstitutional investors. "Oufr success or failure is easily measured," he says. "Consulting is You have the responsibility ofmoneyh management, but not the authority." Marty Kelman, CEO of the investmenf firm , says he generally stays away from hedgw funds. While some hedg funds can produce double-digirt returns, others produce modest or negative returns.
"Making a lot of monet through hedge fundsreally doesn't suit our he says. Kelman-Lazarov's strategy is about hitting singles and not justhome runs, whic h can also lead to a lot of strikeouts, he The typically high hedge fund fees of 1%-2% plus up to 20% of and the lack of government regulation also worry But for the Wilsons, hedge funds in general and Centennial in particular have been good investments, says Spencw Wilson, president of . Over the past last the Wilsons have increased the percentage of alternativde investments in their portfolio as they got comfortable with it and saw less opportunitiese inother funds, Wilson says.
And whild he recognizes that hedge funds can be the fund of funds approach help minimizethat risk. "The funds conceptr gives you great exposure to greatr hedge fund managers with substantially reduced he says. Address: 6075 Poplar, Suitee 702 Web site:
Becoming independent is the third phase in a strategyy started three years ago when Joe Wade was tappe d fromwithin Memphis-based to head up the new alternative fundz venture. In addition to the Canalex and Wilsons, the other one-third owner is Marvin Bruce, the formedr president, CEO and chairman of , the largesg marketer of automotivereplacement tires. The partners felt the timiny was right topurchase CSG's remaininvg 21% interest in Centennial. "We felt like this businesws got its own identit and it would be advantageous to bea stand-alon e business without any other ties," Wade "They're (CSG) still good friends of And neighbors.
Both are located on the same flooe at theCrescent Center. Centennial now has more than $420 milliom in three fund of funds it manages for some 70 clients acrossthe U.S., Wade says. The minimum investmentr per fundis $1 million. The firm has now growhn to a staffof nine, which gives Centennial the peoplee it needs to grow. "We've staffed ahead of Wade says. "We could probably double in size." Centennial'ws three funds include the Heritage Equity a long and shortf equity fund started in 2003with $55 million. It now has aboutf $150 million in assets and included 16different funds.
The multi-strategy, fixed income Absolute Retur Fund was started in January 2004with $25 millioj and now has abour $200 million and is comprised of 23 separate funds. The the Global Macro Fund, was started in November 2004 with $15 millio n and now has $70 It is comprised of 14 differeng funds. Of the three, Wade says it is the most but it also had returns ofnearly 15% this While each fund has different risk the key is managing the fund managerd to control risk. "We're in the stay-rich not the get-rich is the general attitude that hanges over Wade when decidingon Centennial's investmenf strategy.
Wade spent four years as a consultant at CSG aftedr the company purchasedhis Birmingham-basecd hedge fund firm, Alternative Investment Strategy, in 1999. At CSG his main role was to builrd alternative investment consulting practices for families andinstitutional investors. "Oufr success or failure is easily measured," he says. "Consulting is You have the responsibility ofmoneyh management, but not the authority." Marty Kelman, CEO of the investmenf firm , says he generally stays away from hedgw funds. While some hedg funds can produce double-digirt returns, others produce modest or negative returns.
"Making a lot of monet through hedge fundsreally doesn't suit our he says. Kelman-Lazarov's strategy is about hitting singles and not justhome runs, whic h can also lead to a lot of strikeouts, he The typically high hedge fund fees of 1%-2% plus up to 20% of and the lack of government regulation also worry But for the Wilsons, hedge funds in general and Centennial in particular have been good investments, says Spencw Wilson, president of . Over the past last the Wilsons have increased the percentage of alternativde investments in their portfolio as they got comfortable with it and saw less opportunitiese inother funds, Wilson says.
And whild he recognizes that hedge funds can be the fund of funds approach help minimizethat risk. "The funds conceptr gives you great exposure to greatr hedge fund managers with substantially reduced he says. Address: 6075 Poplar, Suitee 702 Web site:
วันพฤหัสบดีที่ 6 ธันวาคม พ.ศ. 2555
Aurora's Southlands shopping center damaged by tornado - Atlanta Business Chronicle:
sasutezew.blogspot.com
A twister reportedly touched down nearbat 1:49 p.m. Sunday and crossed through the area onan eight- to 10-mile-long path for about 30 minutes, the . Firefighters found moderate damageat Southlands, located at E-47o and Smoky Hill Road, CBS4 News Rooftop heating, venting and air-conditioning unit were damaged, windows were broken, a shed was destroyed, and a car was Natural-gas leaks also were Authorities shut down gas servicd to Southlands early Sunday afternoon.
No serious injuriesz were reported onthe shopping-center grounds, but a man in a nearbhy neighborhood who was trying to take picturew reportedly was hospitalized with unspecified serious injuries, according to news A Southlands spokeswoman told CBS4 most of the center'as stores will be closed Monday to allowa for continued damage assessment. She said customers should call individual stores to verify whethetr they are closedor open. which opened in 2006, is the Denver area'sz largest shopping center by retail space, at 1.7 million square feet. It consists of severalo freestanding buildings connected by pedestrian corridorsxand streets.
The complex is owneed by Granite Southlands Town Center LLC and managee by Forest City CommercialManagement Inc. Four other tornadoes were spotte d north and east of Denver Sunday and baseball-sized hail struck some areas. As many as 3,000 customers were without power for a time in parts of Aurorsaand Centennial. .
A twister reportedly touched down nearbat 1:49 p.m. Sunday and crossed through the area onan eight- to 10-mile-long path for about 30 minutes, the . Firefighters found moderate damageat Southlands, located at E-47o and Smoky Hill Road, CBS4 News Rooftop heating, venting and air-conditioning unit were damaged, windows were broken, a shed was destroyed, and a car was Natural-gas leaks also were Authorities shut down gas servicd to Southlands early Sunday afternoon.
No serious injuriesz were reported onthe shopping-center grounds, but a man in a nearbhy neighborhood who was trying to take picturew reportedly was hospitalized with unspecified serious injuries, according to news A Southlands spokeswoman told CBS4 most of the center'as stores will be closed Monday to allowa for continued damage assessment. She said customers should call individual stores to verify whethetr they are closedor open. which opened in 2006, is the Denver area'sz largest shopping center by retail space, at 1.7 million square feet. It consists of severalo freestanding buildings connected by pedestrian corridorsxand streets.
The complex is owneed by Granite Southlands Town Center LLC and managee by Forest City CommercialManagement Inc. Four other tornadoes were spotte d north and east of Denver Sunday and baseball-sized hail struck some areas. As many as 3,000 customers were without power for a time in parts of Aurorsaand Centennial. .
วันพุธที่ 5 ธันวาคม พ.ศ. 2555
Education funding still falls short despite federal stimulus infusion - Pacific Business News (Honolulu):
awipekyhila.blogspot.com
That was the sentiment of an eight-member panel of training and government experts gathered by the Soutg Florida Business Journal to examine howthe $787 billioh federal stimulus package is impacting the region’s educatiobn and workforce training sectors. The panel marked the thirxd in theBusiness Journal’s ongoing stimulua series, aimed at tracking and analyzing the flow of money from the Americanb Recovery and Reinvestment Act into Soutuh Florida. Florida’s Legislature was the only one nationally to request a federal waiver that allowed it to take mone from education and replace it with stimulu dollars while other states used stimuluss dollars to augmentthe budget.
The situation concernef paneliststate Sen. Eleanor “We are not starting at the starting line. The school districtt in Broward County and those throughoug the state are starting behindx thestarting line,” Sobel said. “They have had problemd for years and they are all Veteran educatorRobert Parks, a membet of the Broward County School said, “Many of the large urban districts in the nation are afraid of one which is basically a bait and switcbh with those dollars.” What’s even more worrisomwe to some experts is that the stimulus money will eventuallyg run out. “I’m really concerned abouyt in three years; what’sw going to happen?
” said José president of ’s Northh Campus. “This is a Band-Aid.” He said the college’a operating budget was cut $22 million whilr the stimulus money wasonly $13 million. Parksa said Broward County’s school system has cut $1.4 billion from its constructionb budget in addition to furloughin 700 teachers and51 administrators. “We’ve closed all of our schookl offices forthe summer. We don’t have summer schoopl anymore,” Parks said. would have been looking at cuttingy its budget byabout $30 million without $12 milliobn in stimulus funds, said Dorothy K. the university’s associate VP for financial affairx andbudget director.
The university cut 30 positionsand “haxd we not had the stimulus dollars it couls have been much more George Hanbury, executive VP and COO of , said the $1.3 billioj in stimulus funds given to the state relieved pressurde on the Legislature to further reduce supporf for Florida Resident Access Grants a key source of money for but he pointed out that the grants used to be $3,00p a year for students and are now $2,529. The amoun t is important to students, who find enrollment caps at statee universities and turn to NSU and otherprivate institutions.
He also said that universitie are working together to apply for federal stimulus NSU has a collaborative proposal with and FAU fora $50 milliohn research building with wet labs, business incubator spacse and offices for the U.S. Geological Survey, whicnh is helping oversee Everglades restoration. “W e have shovel-ready projects we have submitted to the Governorr and in the next 60 days we coulcput 1,000 people to work,” Hanbury said. The competitiob for these typesof projects, though, is FAU is getting about $12 millio n in direct infusion from the federal stimulus package, but the university also is seekintg money from the for labs and instruments, Russell said.
Aprilk was the month to submit applications and the resultz are expected by The strongest flowof money, so far, appeara to be for programs that help the jobles as the state’s unemployment rate has hit 10.2
That was the sentiment of an eight-member panel of training and government experts gathered by the Soutg Florida Business Journal to examine howthe $787 billioh federal stimulus package is impacting the region’s educatiobn and workforce training sectors. The panel marked the thirxd in theBusiness Journal’s ongoing stimulua series, aimed at tracking and analyzing the flow of money from the Americanb Recovery and Reinvestment Act into Soutuh Florida. Florida’s Legislature was the only one nationally to request a federal waiver that allowed it to take mone from education and replace it with stimulu dollars while other states used stimuluss dollars to augmentthe budget.
The situation concernef paneliststate Sen. Eleanor “We are not starting at the starting line. The school districtt in Broward County and those throughoug the state are starting behindx thestarting line,” Sobel said. “They have had problemd for years and they are all Veteran educatorRobert Parks, a membet of the Broward County School said, “Many of the large urban districts in the nation are afraid of one which is basically a bait and switcbh with those dollars.” What’s even more worrisomwe to some experts is that the stimulus money will eventuallyg run out. “I’m really concerned abouyt in three years; what’sw going to happen?
” said José president of ’s Northh Campus. “This is a Band-Aid.” He said the college’a operating budget was cut $22 million whilr the stimulus money wasonly $13 million. Parksa said Broward County’s school system has cut $1.4 billion from its constructionb budget in addition to furloughin 700 teachers and51 administrators. “We’ve closed all of our schookl offices forthe summer. We don’t have summer schoopl anymore,” Parks said. would have been looking at cuttingy its budget byabout $30 million without $12 milliobn in stimulus funds, said Dorothy K. the university’s associate VP for financial affairx andbudget director.
The university cut 30 positionsand “haxd we not had the stimulus dollars it couls have been much more George Hanbury, executive VP and COO of , said the $1.3 billioj in stimulus funds given to the state relieved pressurde on the Legislature to further reduce supporf for Florida Resident Access Grants a key source of money for but he pointed out that the grants used to be $3,00p a year for students and are now $2,529. The amoun t is important to students, who find enrollment caps at statee universities and turn to NSU and otherprivate institutions.
He also said that universitie are working together to apply for federal stimulus NSU has a collaborative proposal with and FAU fora $50 milliohn research building with wet labs, business incubator spacse and offices for the U.S. Geological Survey, whicnh is helping oversee Everglades restoration. “W e have shovel-ready projects we have submitted to the Governorr and in the next 60 days we coulcput 1,000 people to work,” Hanbury said. The competitiob for these typesof projects, though, is FAU is getting about $12 millio n in direct infusion from the federal stimulus package, but the university also is seekintg money from the for labs and instruments, Russell said.
Aprilk was the month to submit applications and the resultz are expected by The strongest flowof money, so far, appeara to be for programs that help the jobles as the state’s unemployment rate has hit 10.2
วันอังคารที่ 4 ธันวาคม พ.ศ. 2555
Net income takes dive at BlueCross - Birmingham Business Journal:
xysecurakihir.blogspot.com
Alabama’s largest health insurer blamed slumping investment returns forthe decline. BlueCrosas also reported rising pension obligations and fallinbgpension assets. Wall Street’as downturn, coupled with increasing unemployment contributed tothe state’s largest health insurer’s profiyt drop, experts said. BlueCross had more than $1 billion investe in stocks and bondsin 2008, according to The Birmingham-based firm said its income statemengt was impacted by the BlueCross reported net income of $28.6 million in down from $71.6 milliob in 2007. It also saw $82.3 milliohn in unrealized capital lossesin 2008. In it posted unrealized capital lossesof $14.1 million.
BlueCross holds 96 percent ofthe state’s smalp business health insurance policies. Its 2008 net premium income vaultexd 14 percentto $4 billionn up from $3.5 billion in mostly from increased enrollment in products in whichh it partners with the federal government. While its premiukm revenues soared, BlueCross’ pension plan assets tumbled by $82 million betweeb 2007 and 2008 while its pension obligationsrose $31 public policy professor David Bradford said insurers are just as susceptiblee to the recession as any other industry.
He said insurers typically invest significant amountds of their reserves and consumers could see premium increases as BlueCrosas tries to recoup some of its Increased premium revenues are a good sign in turbulent butit isn’t the only factor impacting a firm’ds bottom line, Bradford said. “That doesn’t mean their profits go up as they absorn some of theincreasing costs, which they couldx do instead of passing it on to policy holders,” Bradford “Going forward, greater pressure could be put on premiumj increases to support the obligations (BlueCross) has to pay in BlueCross said, in an e-mailed 11.7 percent of its 14.
2 percent premium revenue increass in 2008 came from growth in its fullgy insured , Medicare Part D and Federal Employees Programm Plan. The remaining 2.5 premium increasre came from its group, individual, Medicare supplemental and dental Unrealized capital losses resulted in BlueCross decreasing its unassignedf reserve fundsby $88.1 million. That is significant becaus it reducedthe firm’s reserves to $656.3 millionm as of Dec. 31, 2008. Despite the drop, BlueCross exceedeed the state mandate of atleastt $480.1 million. The Alabama Departmentr of Insurance mandates BlueCross keep money in reserve to ensurs it can payits claims.
If it fell beloa the state requirement, it would have to erass the shortfall with acapital contribution, according to Alabama Deputh Insurance Commissioner David Parsons said the BlueCross national association has higher reserv fund requirements than the state with the threaty of revoking its affiliation if its reservee threshold is not met. BlueCross of Alabamz said it has $638 million in unassigned funds throughh the first quarter of 2009 andits long-term financiak footing is strong. “Oue projections show that we will continue to remain well above the state mandated minimum level ofunassigned BlueCross’ statement said.
“BlueCross has adequate reserves to meet its obligationse in 2009and beyond.” While BCBS’s pension obligations grew in 2008, its federapl tax expenditures continued to trend It’s 2008 federal tax bill was $9.6 million, down from $19. 2 million in 2007 and $45.9 milliom in 2006, financial records show. Federal law caps BlueCrosxs BlueShield affiliates’ tax rate at 20 percent while its competitor paid 36 percent in the first quarterof 2009.
Alabama’s largest health insurer blamed slumping investment returns forthe decline. BlueCrosas also reported rising pension obligations and fallinbgpension assets. Wall Street’as downturn, coupled with increasing unemployment contributed tothe state’s largest health insurer’s profiyt drop, experts said. BlueCross had more than $1 billion investe in stocks and bondsin 2008, according to The Birmingham-based firm said its income statemengt was impacted by the BlueCross reported net income of $28.6 million in down from $71.6 milliob in 2007. It also saw $82.3 milliohn in unrealized capital lossesin 2008. In it posted unrealized capital lossesof $14.1 million.
BlueCross holds 96 percent ofthe state’s smalp business health insurance policies. Its 2008 net premium income vaultexd 14 percentto $4 billionn up from $3.5 billion in mostly from increased enrollment in products in whichh it partners with the federal government. While its premiukm revenues soared, BlueCross’ pension plan assets tumbled by $82 million betweeb 2007 and 2008 while its pension obligationsrose $31 public policy professor David Bradford said insurers are just as susceptiblee to the recession as any other industry.
He said insurers typically invest significant amountds of their reserves and consumers could see premium increases as BlueCrosas tries to recoup some of its Increased premium revenues are a good sign in turbulent butit isn’t the only factor impacting a firm’ds bottom line, Bradford said. “That doesn’t mean their profits go up as they absorn some of theincreasing costs, which they couldx do instead of passing it on to policy holders,” Bradford “Going forward, greater pressure could be put on premiumj increases to support the obligations (BlueCross) has to pay in BlueCross said, in an e-mailed 11.7 percent of its 14.
2 percent premium revenue increass in 2008 came from growth in its fullgy insured , Medicare Part D and Federal Employees Programm Plan. The remaining 2.5 premium increasre came from its group, individual, Medicare supplemental and dental Unrealized capital losses resulted in BlueCross decreasing its unassignedf reserve fundsby $88.1 million. That is significant becaus it reducedthe firm’s reserves to $656.3 millionm as of Dec. 31, 2008. Despite the drop, BlueCross exceedeed the state mandate of atleastt $480.1 million. The Alabama Departmentr of Insurance mandates BlueCross keep money in reserve to ensurs it can payits claims.
If it fell beloa the state requirement, it would have to erass the shortfall with acapital contribution, according to Alabama Deputh Insurance Commissioner David Parsons said the BlueCross national association has higher reserv fund requirements than the state with the threaty of revoking its affiliation if its reservee threshold is not met. BlueCross of Alabamz said it has $638 million in unassigned funds throughh the first quarter of 2009 andits long-term financiak footing is strong. “Oue projections show that we will continue to remain well above the state mandated minimum level ofunassigned BlueCross’ statement said.
“BlueCross has adequate reserves to meet its obligationse in 2009and beyond.” While BCBS’s pension obligations grew in 2008, its federapl tax expenditures continued to trend It’s 2008 federal tax bill was $9.6 million, down from $19. 2 million in 2007 and $45.9 milliom in 2006, financial records show. Federal law caps BlueCrosxs BlueShield affiliates’ tax rate at 20 percent while its competitor paid 36 percent in the first quarterof 2009.
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