Buda City Council decision opens door for U.S. Foodservice - Austin Business Journal:

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A 5-to-2 vote to approve a new land use designation in partof Buda’ s extraterritorial jurisdiction - afted a unanimous rejection of the land use change proposap in April - paves the way for to buildc its 260,000-square-foot distribution cente there. The company plans to closes its East Austin center and bring its roughly 250 employeew from thereto Buda, with plane to hire 100 more within its first threer years. The Columbia, Md.
-based food distributor signed a letterd of intent last September to buy abouy 40 acresin Buda, 15 miles south of with plans to build the new center in the Sunfield Municipal Utility But before it could proceecd with the move, the company needed the land-use designation in part of the MUD changee from retail and commercial to light industrial. Responding to Buda concerns about increased truck traffif and worries that the land use changer in the MUD was initially proposedf for 160acres — the companuy will initially only reside on 40 acres the Buda council rejected the proposeds land-use change earlier this spring. That rejection had U.S.
Foodservicew looking at other locations to buildthe center. Warrejn Ketteman, president of Buda’s Economic Development Corporation, said the land use changw approved this week was for95 acres, a smalletr parcel than originally proposed. Ketteman said documents need to be and then the compan can move forward with its plans for the Buda A timeline is notyet

Highwoods lines up $162M in loans - Triangle Business Journal:

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Both loans should close within60 days. Highwoods HIW) says it will use the moneg to repay debt and for generalpcorporate purposes. “We are very pleased with theswloan commitments, which will further fortify our already healthy balance sheet, enhance our liquidity and positionb Highwoods to take advantage of future growtuh opportunities,” Ed Fritsch, president and chiec executive officer, said in a writtenn statement. According to the two loans are: * A $115.0 million, 6.5-year secured loan provided by at a fixed rateof 6.875 percent. It is securec by a pool of 10 assetsin Nashville, Raleighj and Tampa. * A $47.23 million, 7-year secured loan arranged by at a fixef rateof 7.
5 percent. It is secured by the officr portion of RBC Plaza in Highwoods also announced that it has paid off a secured loanof $107 which carried a rate of 7.8 perceny and was originally scheduled to mature in November 2009. Thered were no prepayment penalties.

Insider describes Gaddafi son's escape from town - Reuters

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Reuters

Insider describes Gaddafi son's escape from town Reuters By Maria Golovnina BANI WALID, Libya (Reuters) - The war is not yet over for Libya's new rulers in the desert town of Bani Walid where Gaddafi loyalists vow to fight on for their f »

Former Gillibrand district director joins GlobalFoundries - The Business Review (Albany):

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The Rensselaer County native was schedulecd to start today atthe company’s officed in Malta, N.Y., about 15 miles north of where a $4.2 million computer chip fab is the company said in a statement. Russoo worked as district director for Gillibranr when she wasa U.S. He left that position last fall to runagainstg Sen. Roy McDonald, R-Saratoga, and was defeated. He returned to Gillibrand’z staff shortly thereafter. Completion of the chip fab is scheduledc for late 2011 orearly 2012. Construction is expectef to employ atleast 1,500 workers. The plangt is expected to employ 1,600 when full y operational.
The company had been sayin g for weeks that representatives from GlobalFoundriesand , whers the chip fab will be built, were “workingt out details” and preparingb to close on the 223-acre site. GlobalFoundries confirmeed Fridaythat it’s talking with labor unionsz regarding construction hiring practicews at the site. Travis Bullard, a spokesmam for GlobalFoundries, has said that the arrangement withthe state—the projecrt involves $1.2 billion in cash and tax breaks—doesw not require a Project Labor Union leaders say a PLA is required because the projectg involves state money.
PLAs are agreements between project owners and unionnand non-union shops that dictatee wages and prohibit strikes during GlobalFoundries is owned by (NYSE: AMD) and an Abu Dhabj investment fund.

Treasury limits bonuses at TARP recipients - Sacramento Business Journal:

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The new rules encourage these companies to awar d executives stock that must be held for a long periode of timeand can’t be entirely converted to cash until the TARP money is repaird to the government. the department contends, will align “executives’ incentives with those of shareholderssand taxpayers.” Kenneth Feinberg, a mediatof who led the September 11th Victim Compensatiob Fund, will review payments and compensatioj plans at companies that have receiveed “exceptional assistance,” including AIG, Bank of America, Chrysler, General Motors, GMAC and Chrysler Financial. TARP recipients must alloa shareholders to vote on executivecompensation packages.
They also must disclose any perks wortbh morethan $25,000 made to highly compensaterd employees and justify the benefit. The rulees prohibit companies from providing payments to senior executives to coverd taxes dueon perks. Treasury Secretary Tim Geithnert said the Obama administrationn also supports legislation that would require all public companiesx to give shareholdersa non-binding vote on executive compensation packages. Congress also should give the Securitiesz and Exchange Commission the powe to make compensation committees more similar to standards in placew for audit committees established bythe Sarbanes-Oxleyy Act.
Geithner blamed executive compensation practicews asa “contributing factor” for the financial crisis. “Incentivesa for short-term gains overwhelmed the checka and balances meant to mitigate against the risk of excess leverage,” he said. But, he added, “Wde are not capping pay. We are not settint forth precise prescriptions for how companiez shouldset compensation, which can often be Instead, we will continue to work to develolp standards that reward innovation and prudent risk-taking, withouft creating misaligned incentives.
”

Human Capital: People on the move, June 2 - The Business Journal of the Greater Triad Area:

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Goodwin Procter's Budd electeds vice chairman of AAA nationa board WayneBudd , senior counsel with the Bostohn law firm of and a member of the board of directorss of , was elected vice chairman of AAA’a national board of Turbine taps Paradowski as CFO , a Westwood-based onlin gaming technology company, appointed M. Beau Paradowski chief financial officer. Clough to run Leerink Swann's MEDACorp division Health care investment bank Leerink Swann of Bostoj appointed Brent Clough senior managing director and head of itsMEDACorp division. Prior to joiningb Leerink Swann, Clough was president and CEO of Intrinsi QLLC , an oncology software and data analytics firm.
promotesx Stys as VP of marketing andbusiness dev. Shawmuft Design and Construction in Boston promote BrianStys , a 16-year veteran of the to the newly-created role of vice presidenft of marketing and business development. The Protecto r Group Insurance Agency adds Mullery as director of complianc e and wellness of Worcester added Laura Ann Mullery as director of compliancsand wellness. Mullery previouslyh served as assistant vice president at in Boston and vice presiden of major accounts at Thorbahn Associatesin Quincy.

Cleantech venture investing jumped in Q2 - Dallas Business Journal:

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Global cleantech investments totalled $1.2 billion acrose 94 companies, a 12 percent increase over thefirsy quarter. The increase was driveh by interest in alternative whichgrabbed $236 million, and advanced batteries, which received $165 Watertown, Mass., lithium ion battery maked landed a $100 million investment round led by Co. in April. The report’d authors say cleantech companiez will continue to be buttressed by investments by the federalo government and electric power companies to complementy venturecapital investment.
“New investment tax credite are playing a major role in making newsolae thermal, solar PV, and wind projects more economicallyg viable for utilities, which are bringing theire access to capital to the said Scott Smith, United State s leader of Deloitte’s cleantech practice, in a statement.

Number of S. Fla. pending home sales falls - South Florida Business Journal:

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On June 1, there were 15,246 single-family homes, condominiumm units and townhomes under contract inthe tri-countty area, down from 15,39i on May 25, according to the which is produced using data from . "We don't know if the drop in pendingb sales in South Florida is an anomaly or the beginning of a saidPeter Zalewski, a principal with the Bal Harbour-basee real estate service company. In Miami-Dade there were 6,776 pending sales on June 1, down from 6,7899 on May 25.
In Broward there were 5,844 pending down from 5,934 in the previous And, in Palm Beach County, therew were 2,626 pending sales on June 1, down from There were 9,302 pending salea in South Florida for the weekendin Nov. 24. Since that time, pending sales have increased by 63.9 or 5,944 properties, according to Condi Vultures. Despite the slowdown in new contractsx in the last the number of properties on the markett continuesto fall. South Florida's available inventoryh droppedby 1.7 percent, to 83,491 residences for sale on June 1 from 84,96q on May 25. Since Nov. 24, available inventoryt in South Florida has fallenby 24,036 properties, or 22.4 percent.

Blue Cross Ga. hit with class action suit - Atlanta Business Chronicle:

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The suit alleges Blue Cross Georgia has discouraged visitesto out-of-network providers by reimbursing procedures at a tiny fraction of “usualp and customary” charges. Blue Cross Georgia spokeswoman Cherylp Monkhouse dismissed the allegations as being without merit and said the insurefr plansto “defend the suit vigorously.” Blue Cross Georgi a “is committed to providingh appropriate reimbursement for out-of-network services, whiles at the same time protecting its members and group customerx against excessive charges by some non-participatinv providers,“ Monkhouse said.
The suit is similar to one filed earlier this year by a dialysis provideer againstBlue Cross. That suit was dismissed. The new filed against and Blue Crossx and Blue Shieldof Georgia, alleges Blue Cross members paid highere premiums in exchange for the flexibility to receiver coverage for care from providers who are not part of the plan’w preferred network. Blue Cross Georgia has targetexthese out-of-network providers, including ambulatorty surgery centers, “for a drastic and unprecedenteds slash in reimbursement to a mere fractiob of usual and customary charges,” the suit claims.
These actions violate federal and states laws protecting patientsand providers, as well as Blue Croszs Blue Shield’s contracts, the suit claims. Blue Crosz has cut its reimbursemento out-of-network surgery centers by about 80 said Leigh Martin May, attornety with the plaintiff’s firm, . Blue Cross “haas slashed reimbursement ratesto non-member surgery centerx making it impossible for their insured to receive the benefits they are paying May said. “[The insurer] is charging for a service it haseffectively eliminated.
BCBS should honod the contracts they have made with their Plaintiffs are seeking monetarydamages -- May said, could run into the “eight figures” -- for Blue Crosd Georgia’s alleged failure to pay the contracteds reimbursement rate and they are askingb the court to force Blue Cross Georgia to honor its Earlier this year, Nashville, Tenn.-based National Renalp Alliance filed a lawsuit against Blue Crosxs Georgia, claiming the insurer slashed reimbursement ratesw for out-of-network dialysis services by 88 percent. Nationa Renal Alliance was acquired by RenalAdvantagr Inc. last year.
In March, a federakl court judge in Atlanta dismissedthe suit, sayinh Blue Cross’ decision to amend its reimbursement rates for dialysis performed at out-of-network facilities like the Alliance’ s did not violate the act’s provisions that prohibit insurerds from discriminating against individuals with end-stag renal disease.

Franchises focusing on home upgrades finding lots of work - Business Courier of Cincinnati:

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Revenues for the 3-year-old business are up 30 percenftthis year, and the franchisor plans to grow its numbere of units from 60 to 100 by year’sx end. “We see people repaintiny to keep their homezs and people painting whonormally didn’t have to in ordee to sell their property,” said Ralph Martin, who left a 16-yeadr engineering career with to run the companyt alongside serial franchisor Gary Green. Green also operates , the and . Franchiswe businesses focused on the home improvementsector trad­itionally have farecd well in slow economies, said Alisa Harrison, vice presideny of communications at the .
Between 2001 and the number of residential service franchisesx grew 41 percentto 55,00 from 39,000. Output grew 85 percent to $33 billion from $18 billion, IFA data “We tend to see franchises that provide servicesw to improve things existingbdo well,” Harrison said. “Peoplwe may very well be usinhg the equity they have intheitr home, which is probably a lot easier than getting a loan for a new to do those improvements.
” Franchises like kitchen remodeler and , which installs digital security systems in homes, have targeterd the Cincinnati area in recent months, hoping to attract new Cincinnati-based franchisor , which has more than 100 units expects its handyman franchises to grow revenue as much as 10 percenft this year. One in its eighth year of already has grown sales 94 percentin 2008, said CEO Jim He’s noticed the biggest uptick in clientd remodeling their kitchens and bathrooms, finishing their basementse and building decks.
“They’re using this as an opportunity to work on their where before they mayhave moved,” said the Unitee Kingdom native who has served as CEO of the Milford-bases franchise for one year. Hunter has threre franchises in Cincinnati and expects to add threed or four in the nextcouple years. House Doctors adds units for every 60,000 qualified households, those with enough familyg income to afford a It pinpoints franchisees withmanagemengt – not handyman – experience, so it tendes to grow more slowly than otherr firms, Hunter said. Franchisewide, House Doctors will add five unitdby year’s end.
Expandinvg a franchise during tough economi c times can happen more rapidly because peoplew might be more apt to start a company with an establishedf brand thanfrom scratch, Harrison said. “It gives you the training and marketing resources that may give you more of a leg up than if you were just hangin g your shingle outby yourself,” she Fresh Coat hopes to see those results. Startup costse for its home-based franchisees are just under $26,000. It collects 6 percenyt royalties once the business is up and Andopportunities abound. Painting maked up about 35 percent ofthe $100 billion home improvementg sector, Martin said.
Fresh Coat pridesz itself on affordablepricwe – $199 for one coat in one room, $249 for two coatas – and quick Quotes are provided within three and a job is completed withijn three weeks of an inquiry. The firm’s long-terj goal is to open a franchises forevery 175,000 people Two operate in Cincinnati now, but that couldc expand to five by year’s end. “Demand is almosgt endless because every time something is built they slap a coat of paintton it,” he said. “And nobody likesx to paint because ittakes forever.
”

Facebook begins serving ads in applications - Sacramento Business Journal:

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Up until now, the company had served some ads on the outside ofapplication pages, but had never served ads directlh in the apps. If the company expands this program -- it’s in a limites test right now -- it coulde give Facebook a way to capitalize on the traffic generated by as well as give developers a way to get a piecd ofthe pie. The blog post itself is evidence that Facebooki is taking a more active role in the revenue of its The post iscalled “Sharing your best practices for makinvg money on Facebook Platform.” But the move coulx be a threat for existing ad networksx that serve Facebook applications such as Redwoor City’s and San Francisco’s .

Fly Clear fast lane at Albany Int

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was among the 20 airportws nationwide that offered theexpedited system. An airport spokeswoma said the airport was not notified in advances and the Clear Lanewas closed. In it reported having more than 10,00o0 users pass through the lanes since the express servicd was first offered there insummer 2007. “Clear Lanexs Are No Longer At 11:00 p.m. PST on June 22, Clear will cease operations. Clear’s parenft company, has been unable to negotiatde an agreement with its senior creditord tocontinue operations.” There was no information abouty whether enrollees would get refunds. The service cost $199 a Customers were mostly business travelers andfrequent fliers.
The programn started at in 2005. Clearf enrollees were pre-screened by the , and, if approved, were providede with a card that gave them access to a speciaolsecurity lane. Clear was operated by Verifiedf Identity Pass of New York As ofJune 4, Clear claimed to have enrolled more than 260,000

Chrysler-Fiat deal a go as Supreme Court steps aside - Philadelphia Business Journal:

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The Supreme Court, which had temporarily held up the deal on Mondauy while it considered appeals by three Indianaz state pension funds and severalconsumer groups, said in an ordeer that the groups had not proven that the court needed to intervene. Several news organizations reported late Tuesdat that Chrysler and Fiat representatives were preparing the paperworm to conclude the deal as soon asWednesdayy morning. That’s when the U.S.
government will wire the money to financewthe sale, The reported on its Web The plan to salvage Chrysledr will remake the company into one owned 55 percenr by a union pension trust, 20 percent ownedc by Fiat – a share that could grow to 35 percen t – and the rest owned by the governmenta of the United States and Canada. Also a federal bankruptcy judge in New York refusecd toblock Chrysler's effort to pull the franchisexs of 789 dealers, including . Judgre Arthur Gonzalez ordered the dealere to stop selling theidrremaining Chrysler-made vehicles immediately.

Haqqani Network: Threat to America or Convenient Scapegoat? - DBKP - Death By 1000 Papercuts

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DBKP - Death By 1000 Papercuts

Haqqani Network: Threat to America or Convenient Scapegoat? DBKP - Death By 1000 Papercuts Or, like al-Qaida, is it another convenient anti-American group which has materialized just in time to serve as a reason for an American invasion of another countryâ€"this time, Pakistan? The Political Commentator explores the options. ... and more »