Saturday, March 31, 2012

Report forced health-care changes - Tampa Bay Business Journal:

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A state commission createed havoc for Western New York health care executives in late 2006 with a list of recommendationws that included closing hospitals and merging competinhealth systems. Two and a half yearsa have passed since the Statd Commission on Health Care Facilities in the 21st Centur y made publicits report, which would come to be known simplh as the Berger Commission after its chairman. Some say the commissio forced the beginning ofreform efforts, while otherz still have doubts on its efficacy.
One thing is Health care in the eight-county region has undergone sweeping Arguably the most visible of those changesw has been the creationof , a unifying parent company formed after a year of intense fighting betweenb and Jody Lomeo, ECMC president, says the two organizationss would never be where they are toda y had it not been for the Bergeer Commission. “They’ve inspired us to go from a competitiv e situation to more of a collaborative situation and realluy to finally takea good, hard look at what’s right for the community on a much larger scale than just our individuakl institutions,” he says.
James Kaskie, Kaleida presiden t and CEO and president of Great LakesHealth System, says the commissio n forced reform that was Still, he says Western New York faced changes that othere regions of the state avoided through politics. “A lot of marketas should have stepped up to the reform effortand That’s not true for Western New York,” he says. Kaskiwe called the creation of Great Lakes Healtgh one of the greatest outcomes of theBergee Commission, helping to eliminatwe duplication and improve access. Next will come the joint creation of the GlobakVascular Institute, followed by the closure of Millard Fillmore Hospitalp – Gates Circle.
“It’d just starting a chain reaction of positive he says. The Catholi Health System has implementedr all of theBerger Commission’s recommendations, includinyg shuttering its Nazareth Nursing Home and avoiding a closurr at St. Joseph Hospitalo by transitioning it to a satellite campus of Sisters ofCharityu Hospital. But CHS officialsw caution against seeing Berger as a catalystfor “It wasn’t really says Dennis McCarthy, vice president for publid relations and government affairs.
“This was about capacity and abouyt closing buildings and while some of that might have been worthb considering and part of an overall reform plan, it’s only a piecr of how you reform health care. Many of the reformxs happening in health care now are more likel y a result of the economy andbudgetary issues, he “In the end, it’s hard to say which. It’ like a marble cake – it’s hard to pull it out once it’ mixed in,” McCarthy says. “Did Bergerf have an impact? Absolutely. Was it a good one? We don’rt know.
” Others agree the jury’s stil l out on how the Bergerf recommendations will affect health Bruce Popper is vice presidentat , whichy represents 7,000 hospital workers at 14 facilitiex between Rochester, Buffalo and the Southern Tier. Popper says the underlyinv premise of the commission was that cutting excesz capacity wouldcontain costs, but the reverse seems to be the SEIU’s Rochester facilities are under capacity and premiums are actually Sheila Kee, associate commissionetr for the state Health Department’s Western says the outcome of the Berger Commissionm goes way beyond simply cost savings.
Organizations are cooperating and workin g together in ways no one would have imagined threeyeare ago, including ECMC and Kaleida; and TLC Healthg Network to the south; and and to the “It’s beautiful to see that,” she “Not only are they doing that, but they’re thinking and they know there’ s strength in numbers. That’s the kind of things that lead to betteehealth care.” “So is it perfect No,” Kee says. “Is it a majodr step forward? Absolutely.

Thursday, March 29, 2012

Bank guard killed, 6 people hurt in shooting, grenade blast in downtown Manila ... - Washington Post

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Bank guard killed, 6 people hurt in shooting, grenade blast in downtown Manila ...

Washington Post


MANILA, Philippines รข€" Police in the Philippines say two robbers opened fire and threw a grenade inside a mall in downtown Manila, killing a security guard and injuring at least six people. Chief Superintendent Mario dela Vega says two bank tellers ...



and more »

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Fed Ex eyes E. Greenbush site for plant - Triangle Business Journal:

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FedEx plans to tear down the building at 253 Troy Road in East a former manufacturing site for AlbanyInternational AIN). That company closed the plant in 2007, cutting 137 The 73-acre site is listed on the marketfor $14.9 million. It’s locatecd near exit 9 on and being listed byNAI Platform, of Moore said FedEx is startingy to work on facility designs and requireds studies, such as environmental impact assessments. He said ther is no time framw for making a decision on whethed to allow FedEx tomove in. “The town is lookin at it as a potentialp asset, but we’re withholding any initiak judgments until additional studiesare performed,” Moorer said.
“As is always the traffic along Route 4 issomething we’ll look at Moore said he did not know how many jobs the facility wouldr create.

Sunday, March 25, 2012

Hot Leads: a column on startups, expansions, moves and new products - Tampa Bay Business Journal:

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• opened at 8316 N. Dale Mabry Tampa and 6013 WesleyGrovee Blvd., Wesley Chapel, to offer T-mobile products and For more information call (813) 901-9800 or 929-7788. • opened at 1211 N. West Shore Tampa, to offer settlement and closing services for residential andcommercial properties. For more information call (813) • Brokerage franchise opened at 3239Henderson Tampa. For more information call 769-0850. • opened at 128 S. Kentucky Ave., Lakeland. The storwe provides scrapbooking materials and offers classeseon Saturdays. For more information call 688-9933. • The city of Oldsmar will open a Downtown Freshy Marketon Nov. 5 at 100 Stat Street W.
It will sell produce, cheeses, plants, herbs, organic productsa and other items. For more informatiomn call (727) 733-4215. • openedd new headquarters at 7702 WoodlandCenter Blvd., Suitd 50, Tampa. The company provides electronic invoice exchange and financialsettlement services. For more informatiomn call (813) 288-1980. • opened its firs LEED certified location at 7595Fourth St. N., St. Petersburg. For more informatiob call (727) 526-3258. • Closeout retaik chain opened at3048 E. College Ave., Ruskin. For more information call (813) 641-7349. • relocated to 1503 S. U.S. 301, Suite 17, Tampa.
For more information call (813) • in Tampa will add a lunchg menuon Nov. 3. The restaurantg specializes in Hawaiianfusion cuisine. Kiel Lombardo is the There is anadditional Roy’s location in For more information call (813) 873-7697. • The Pete Beach Looper Trolley launched service in It travels between Gulfportand St. Pete Beacjh and connects with the Suncoast Beach Trolley that travelxs along Gulf Boulevardin St. Pete Beach. For more informatio log on to ci.gulfport.fl.us. • in Tampa launchedf the Go Local! Banner Advertisintg Program. It allows advertisers to place rotating banner ads on TampaBay Company’s Web site.
For more information log on to

Friday, March 23, 2012

Chick-fil-A debuts peach milkshake - Atlanta Business Chronicle:

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The fast-food chain will offer a peacg flavor hand-spun milkshake from June 1 through Aug. 22 at the chain'sx mall and stand-alone restaurants. The Peach Milkshaker is made with realpeaches "home-style" ice cream and is toppexd with light whipped cream and a maraschino cherry. Atlanta-basex Chick-fil-A also will introduce a smaller milkshak e option that will remain on themenu permanently. Chick-fil-z Milkshakes will be sold in 14 oz. or 20 oz. cups and priceds at $2.49 and $2.89, respectively, at most locations.
"Wer continue to build upon the overall success ofour hand-spun milkshakes by creating limited-time flavorss as a way to celebrate special times of the said Woody Faulk, Chick-fil-A vice president of brand development, in a "Our previous limited-time flavors have helpe d maintain interest in our milkshak line among existing customers and also have helped us win new customers who were not aware of Chick-fil-A's Some might say it's about time that the chain basedr in Georgia, the 'Peach State,' comes up with a great-tasting peacyh shake with real peaches in Chick-fil-A, with more than 1,440 locations in 38 statews and Washington, D.C., generated more than $2.
966 billion in sales in 2008.

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Maryland unveils 10-year plan to bolster biotech - Washington Business Journal:

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Citing recommendations by his 18-month-old Life Sciences Advisor Board, Gov. Martin O’Malley announce a strategic plan he said will help turn his ambitiou hopes fora nation-leading biotechg enterprise into reality. The governor outlined those based onhis $1.3 10-year plan, May 20 at the BIO 2009 Convention in Most of the steps entaik increased funding for an uphill request in a tough economy as the statd continues to reconcile massive budget cuts. The advisory boarrd said it has extended timelines for meetinb thosefunding challenges, but some proposals were alreadh left on the cutting-room floor after this year’ s legislative session.
The firsft of the board’s steps is one O’Malley announced earlier in Rockville: Montgomery County and Baltimore will each houses a branch of a newly establishefd MarylandBioscience Center, a $6 million clearinghouse for all of the state’sw programs related to the life scienced industry.

Sunday, March 18, 2012

Atalaya Capital wins deal for Bennigan

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Atalaya Capital said it expects to closes on the deal on orbefore Oct. 31. Financialo terms were not Bennigan's is looking to re-open up to 60 previouslyg closed restaurants and add new locations domesticallyand internationally. Bennigan'ws also plans a new culinary program and will hire a marketingb consultant to help repositionthe brand, includin g the introduction of a new fast-pub prototypre and concept.
"We're thrilled to have reacher an agreement with the bankruptcy court for the acquisitiohn of and our goal is to continue to partneer withexisting franchisees, as well as new to grow the Bennigan'e Grill & Tavern brand," said Joel Holsinger, a partneer at Atalaya Capital, in a statement. "We are excitee about working with everyone involved in the company to reinvigoratethe Bennigan's

Friday, March 16, 2012

NCR moving HQ to Duluth, to bring 2,100-plus jobs to Georgia - Washington Business Journal:

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adding clout to metr o Atlanta’s technology reputation. NCR will relocate 1,2500 corporate jobs to its Gwinnett County a source familiar with theplan said. The company is also expected to launcha 550,000-square-foot manufacturin g operation in Columbus, Ga., wher e it will employ nearly 880, the sourcs said. Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue is expectexd to make the official announcement NCR CEO Bill Nuti andOhio Gov. Ted Stricklandf spoke by phoneMonday evening, and Nuti told Stricklanrd the company has been looking at Georgia for some an official in the Ohio governor’sx office told Atlanta Business Chronicle sister publication Daytom Business Journal (DBJ).
In a lettet to Nuti obtained by theChronicle , Stricklane to convince Nuti to keep the companyg in Ohio. On May 31 , the Chroniclw , and the DBJ , firsyt reported . NCR (NYSE: NCR), which makes automater teller machines (ATMs) and retail self-checkouts, will be Georgia’ s 14th Fortune 500 companuy and the secondin Duluth. Last July, ABG) announced the relocation of its headquarters to Dulut fromNew York. NCR, which employz 20,000 employees globally, ranked 446 on the 2009 Fortuned500 list. The company, which did not return calls reporteda $228 million profit on $5.3 billion in revenue last year.
Last NCR said it wouldc move its Worldwide Customer Services headquarter tometro Atlanta, investing $15 million and creating more than 900 jobs in Peachtrese City and Duluth. In October, NCR said it woulrd co-locate an NCR Learning Center and its Custome r Care Center hub for the Americas regionj withthe company’s existing Global Service Materials operation in Peachtre e City. NCR, which occupies aboutr 150,000 square feet at its Satellite Boulevarc operationin Duluth, will lease an additional 100,000 to 200,000o square feet at that The corporate jobs will pay on averages about $70,000 annually.
The manufacturing distribution operation will be in two buildingse and willmake ATMs, accordintg to the source. Employees at that facilitty will make on averageabourt $43,000 annually, the source said. NCR receivedc tax incentives from both Gwinnett andColumbuas governments, the source said, declining to disclose details about the state’s incentive While Dayton -- where NCR was founded in 1884 -- is the company’as official headquarters, the city is not the centeer of the company’s influence. Nuti, along with the company’w chief financial officer and othersenior executives, maintain officee on an entire floor of 7 World Trade Centetr in Manhattan.
In March, NCR removed the languag e “world headquarters” from the sign at its Daytojn campus. Nuti will not be movinyg to Atlanta. Relocating to Atlanta — the commercial capital of the Southeast makes sense forthe company. Four of the citiesx in Ohio — Canton, Dayton and Cleveland— are among the top 10 dying citieain America, according to an August 2008 report in “They [NCR] can’t recruit talenrt to move to Dayton, the source said. (NYSE: DAL), HD) and (NYSE: STI) -- big NCR customerds -- are also based in metrlo Atlanta.
NCR supplies Delta with self-servicw kiosks, and NCR and Home Depot announced a deal in 2002 to install self-checkout lanes in about 800 of its 1,48 stores. In 2007, the two companies announcede a deal to expand the project into Home Depo storesin Canada. In SunTrust said NCR would upgrade existingb ATMs and provide new ATMs for all newSunTrusg branches.

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Dolby projecting a bright future in 3-D movies - San Francisco Business Times:

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With at least 40 major Hollywood movies scheduled for releasein 3-D in the next severalo years, theater owners worldwide are investing heavilyh in 3-D projection technology. And while the fielxd is now dominated by a Southernj California firm that got out front ofthe 3-D in just a year Dolbh has grabbed a significant share of the world’ws 3-D market. Since debuting its 3-D systemj in October of Dolby has sold 631projection kits, which retai for $26,000, in more than two dozemn countries. The company also supplies 3-D components to othetr projector manufacturers and licenses its technology to other makerz of digital cinemaplayback devices. Revenue from 3-D — at $16.
r million — is still a small part of Dolby’ss overall sales, which totalled $640.w2 million in fiscal year 2008. Real D of Beverly Hills, which began selling its systekin 2002, claims its system is on 1,6009 screens worldwide, about 1,350 of them in the United There are roughly 35,000 screens in the Uniteds States, and 120,000 worldwide, althoughn nobody expects all of them to go 3-D anytime soon. Jeff McNall, who supervises Dolby’s 3-D was watching intently this week to see how movie “Bolt,” which came out Nov.
21, performede in 3-D theaters, including in at least 10 locations in and near theBay “Bolt” was the third-highest grossing movie of the weekend, with a modesgt nationwide take of $27 million. It was releasede on a record 982 3-D screens out of 6,200 screens and they took in 38 percent of the or $10.3 million. Movie goerws typically pay a couple of dollars extrq to see a moviein 3-D. But the importanft thing to McNall is that so manymore 3-D movies will soon be comingv out. “This thing is reallyt happening. When Dreamworks and Disney say that all theie future releases willoffer 3-D, you know this is a big McNall said.
Industry insiders expect a dozen majorr films to be releasedin 3-D in and 40 in the next several years. “Wew have a movie right now every couplewof months. Next year there will be a 3-D movie coming out everyg month,” McNall said. The year’s 3-D offerings will culminate with director James Cameron’s hugely anticipated “Avatar,” his first majort release since “Titanic.
” The technology is clearlyy popular with theater owners because audiences have demonstrated a willingness to pay 20 to 30 percenft more to see 3-D versions of Jeremy Devine, vice presidengt of marketing for , a Dallas-based digital-onlyh theater company that recently opened a 14-screem theater in Brentwood, said that revenues for 3-D features can be up to thre times those generated by a regular film. “There is no way this is a fad. There is too much infrastructure, too much being he said.
Michael Lewis, CEO and co-founder of Real D, said the current situation with 3-D screens proliferating and movies waiting in line for a chanc e to show is a far cry from when there were just100 3-D screen s for Walt Disney’s animatedd “Chicken Little.” Lewis predicts his company will continuwe to dominate the market, asserting that its technology handlex large screens better, and the company makesa life easier for theater owners by licensing its technologyg as part of a packagse that includes maintenance and Real D has licensinh agreements with 100 exhibitors in 30 countries, includiny 17 of the top 20 distributors and a standard deal that allows it share in ticket receipts, he He declined to discuss the cost of a Real D saying there were numerouss variables that could affect price.
Michaeol Karagosian, a 3-D consultan to the National Associatiojn ofTheatre Owners, said that he has been told that many theaterf owners pay a roughly $25,000 annual fee to Real D. Karagosiaj said Dolby, which unlike Real D does not take a sharr ofticket money, has made impressivw inroads into the digital market quickly. Dolby’s main disadvantagse is the cost of the glasse s used withits kit, Karagosian Currently, the price for a single pair is and the glasses are reuse and must be cleaned. Karagosian said he expects to see the cost of the glasse s drop as Dolby figures out how to manufacture them cheaply inlarge volume.
Real D’s glasses are disposable and comparatively cheap, he Dolby has shipped nearly 300 kits across Europ and more than 100to Asia, while 141 have been sold in the Unite States. Karagosian expects both Dolby, Real D and smaller competitords to pick up customers as demandfor 3-D continuesx to grow. “It’s amazing. Who would have expectef that there would be so much Karagosian said. “It’s somethinh that people can’t get at home.

Monday, March 12, 2012

Report: D.C. area posts a strong economic performance - Charlotte Business Journal:

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The report ranked the 100 largestr U.S. metro areas based on unemployment rates, wages, gross metropolitan housing prices and foreclosure rates in thefirsft quarter. D.C. ranked No. 13, whilre San Antonio, Texas, placed No. 1 and Detroigt came in last at No. 100. “All metropolitamn areas are feeling the effectsa ofthis recession, but the distressw is not shared equally,” said Alan research director of the metropolitan policgy program at the D.C. institute and co-authodr of the report.
“While some areas of the countr have experienced only ashallow downturn, and may be emerginh from the recession people living in metrio areas that are now performing weakestg economically should prepare themselves for a long recovery At the first quarter’s end, only 10 of the 100 metro arease were starting to show signs of said the report, and said McAllen, Texas was the only places that saw growth in employment and Output increased in just a handful of metrk areas, including D.C.; Seattle; Austin, Texas; and Virginiaw Beach, Va.. The report also pointed out that metro areasw with concentrations of jobs in certain sectore have resulted in fewer dramaticdjob losses.
The Rankings: San Antonio, Texase Austin, Texas McAllen, Texas Baton Rouge, La. Tulsa, Omaha, Neb. El Paso, Texas Wichita, Kan. D.C. Albuquerque, N.M. Virginia Beach, Va. Harrisburg, Pa. Pa. New Haven, Conn. Rochester, N.Y.

Saturday, March 10, 2012

Survey: Firms struggle to fill jobs - Portland Business Journal:

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The company says 30 percent of employers worldwide are strugglingy to findqualified personnel. Positions in the skilled sales, technical work and engineering remain the most difficultg for employers tofill globally. Manpower surveyer nearly 39,000 employers in 33 countriexs and territories to gauge their abilithy to find the talentthey need. The 10 hardes jobs to fill, as reported by 2,0000 U.S. employers in 2009, are: 1. 2. Nurses. 3. Skilled/manual trades. 4. Teachers. 5. Sales 6. Technicians. 7. Drivers. 8. Information-technologg staff. 9. Laborers. 10. Machinist/machine operators. Even with U.S.
unemployment at or near recordc levels inmany areas, Manpower’s research highlights the probleme many employers have in finding individuals with the right combinatiobn of job-specific skills, experience and “In the four years we have performed this the same positions appear on the list again and says Jonas Prising, Manpower’s president for the Americas. “Despites the current economic instability and high there are still skills thatthe U.S. work force seems to The U.S.
findings are part of a Manpowerd global study that surveyed morethan 39,000 employersz across 33 countries and territories in Wisconsin-based Manpower (NYSE:MAN) specializes in permanent, temporary and contractr recruitment, employee assessment, training, consultinbg and professional-financial services.

Thursday, March 8, 2012

Eddie Bauer strikes deal to be bought - South Florida Business Journal:

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The company announced that it strucl an agreement withNew York–based private equityt firm LLC to buy Eddiw Bauer’s assets, subject to an auctiohn and bankruptcy court approval. CCMP Capita intends to operate the business as a going concernn with little orno long-term debt. Accordinv to Eddie Bauer, CCMP Capital has agreede to keep a majority of the 371 stores open and retain a majority ofthe employees. CCMP Capital specializesz in buyouts and looks for investmenyt opportunities in retail and other and have made investments in the outdoors specialtyretailer Cabela’s, which sells fishing and camping gear.
Eddie Bauer said it hopex to operate business as usual during bankruptct court proceedings and has asked for court approval to continued paying vendors and The company also said it intends to honor custome rgift cards, returns and loyalty program points. The company also announcex that it has secured a commitmenrt from its existing revolvingcredit , and CIT Group/Business Credit, Inc. for so-called debtor-in-possession (DIP) financing of $90 million on an interim basiaand $100 million basedr on the final court order. The the company said, should provide it with ample cash flow to continuee payingits bills. “Eddie Bauer is a good company with a great brand and a badbalance sheet.
This procesx will allow the business to emerge with farless debt, positioned for growtnh as the economy recovers and as our new products gain said Neil Fiske, Eddie Bauer president and chiefg executive officer, in a statement. “Wwe expect this process to be completeddvery quickly, protecting our employees and critical vendorf partners every step of the way. “We have made good progress on our turnaround strategy of returning Eddie Bauer to its heritage as an active outdoor brands and have exciting new producy launches on the wayto market, including First our return to expedition-grade outerwear and Unfortunately, a crushing debt burdebn placed on the company from the Spiegel reorganizatiohn in 2005, combined with the severe, prolonged have left us with no choicr but to use this process to reduce the debt load on the business.
” Eddie Bauert had struggled with its debt — a crisids that worsened as revenue dropped, part of an overalk trend affecting most retailers during the The company has lost nearly a half billion dollara in the past threse years. Those losses, coupled with the impacft of the recession and debt payments apparently pushed the compant into bankruptcycourt — a move that was rumores for months. Eddie Bauer became the lates major retailer to succumb to filing in bankruptct courtthis recession.
The list also includes Linens ‘nb Things, Circuit City and Sounsd Advice Inmany ways, Eddie Bauer’s crisies is not different from what most retailers are facing durinb this prolonged and deep said Greg Charleston, an Atlanta-based consultant for Conway MacKenzie who workxs with financially stressed retailers lookingy to restructure. Most retailersx — except discount stores such as have seen afast drop-offv in retail revenue across the board, Charleston Many of the specialty retaiol department stores have seen double-digit same-store sales he said.
“When revenue drops and same-storde sales drop, companies with less debt can weathe a downturnmuch longer,” Charlestojn said. “It becomes an issue much sooner if you are intoliquidityh issues.” As of May 11, Eddise Bauer reported having $289.5 million in outstandinhg debt, including $187.8 million in term loans and $75 milliobn in convertible notes, which company executives have been tryingh to persuade debt-holders to convert into shares of the According to an SEC filing, Eddie Bauer had total assets of $525.22 million in April. The company listed total liabilitiesof $448.9 Eddie Bauer reported net losses of $165.
t5 million in fiscal year part of a total of $478.7 million in losses during the past three fiscap years. In the first quarter that endedin April, the company reportedc net losses of 44.5 million. For the firsgt quarter of fiscalyear 2009, which endec April 4, Eddie Bauerf reported a loss of $44.5 That was a greater loss than the first quarter of 2008, when the company reported a $19.w million loss. Net sales for the first quartefr of 2009were $179.8 million, compared with net sales of $213. 2 million in the first quarterof 2008.

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Bass Berry Sims lays off 32 employees - Business First of Columbus:

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The venerable law firm made the cuts yesterdaty across its three Tennessee officexsin Nashville, Knoxville and Memphis, says managing partned Keith Simmons. “They were proportionately divided among the he say. “Every practice area was affected.” The layoffzs were made to reduce internal costs to benefit he says. Some raises are being frozen as Law firms nationwide are taking steps to cut including paying some new hiresa a portion of their salaries to deferd starting fora year. Bass Berry will limit the size of its claszs ofsummer associates, traditionally law school students who have finisher their second year, and defer the starting date for new attorneyx from Sept.
1 to January 1, 2009. The deferred hirez will receive a stipend for the four month deferralp period and will have the opportunity to borros money from the firm if they need more to tide them with loans to be repaid upon joining thefirm full-time, Simmonsz says. Since the startg of the year major law firmss have laid off morethan 12,410 including nearly 5,000 lawyers, according the “Layofcf Tracker” feature on the law blog lawshucks.com.
Last month, Bass Berrty & Sims was namerd best corporate law firm in Nashville for the eightnh consecutive yearby “Corporate Board Member” magazine in the magazine’s annua l ranking of firms in major metropolitan Bass Berry & Sims’ most recenft attorney count was 225 across its three offices.

Sunday, March 4, 2012

Judge to decide fate of Arizona renewable energy standards - The Business Journal of Milwaukee:

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sued the on behalf of a handfuo of Arizona PublicService Co. and Judge Joseph Heilman acceptedf jurisdiction to decide whether the commission had the righyt to establish the energy standards in thefirst place. Goldwater officials said they are please d with the decision and expect a rulinf in the next coupleof months. ACC officials contend commissionerz were within their rights to establish the standardxin 2006. Those standardx call for utilities regulated by the commission to have 15 percenf of their power developed from renewablee sourcesby 2025. The standard allows utilities to charges customers a tariff to help pay for expandingy the use ofrenewable energies.
APS has used that in part, to offer incentives to customers to installsolar systems. Those solar installations also are part of the renewableenergty mandates. APS has begun investing a substantial amount of moneuyinto renewables, including biomassd and particularly solar power plants. It has contracte to buy more than 570 megawatta from two planned solar generating stations in western Maricopa SaltRiver Project, although not regulate d by the ACC, has said it will meet the standards as well.
While the decision couls affectthe state’s renewable direction, federa officials are mulling a nationak standard for renewable energy production that could replaced the patchwork of state rules with a larger requiremenrt than Arizona has.

Friday, March 2, 2012

TPC Releases Powerful Figures on Health Grantmaking

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The health sector is the greatest recipient offoundatioj monies, receiving roughly 18 percent of totao grants. Last December, a TPC study found that for every dollafr a foundation gives to health andwellness programs, more than seve dollars of economic benefits and savings go back into the Building on this finding, TPC's newest study answers the question, "Which populationsw benefit from this grantmaking?" these studies provide a comprehensive picture of how foundationj grants flow through our economy. Preparex by economist Dr.
, "Broad Health-Related Giving by Private and Community Foundations" finds more than two out of every thred dollars of all health grantz made by foundationsbenefit low-income and minorityg communities. -- Social return on foundatiojn grants to health and medical careaverages 7.6 to 1 -- Sixty-eight percent of health-related grant dollars benefit underservedr groups -- From '05 to '07, $5.5 billion in health grants went to underserved communities "I am gratifiede our assumptions about the commitment of health foundations to improving conditionds for underserved and minority populations stand up to the scrutiny of empirica l research," said of Grantmakers In Health.
"Withu growing foundation efforts to address the root causes of poor health as well as accesesto care, the proportion of grant dollars focuserd on these groups is likely to rise." "These are hard times for our country, and this downturj is being felt most sharply by thoswe living at the margins of society," said Providence Mayod , President of the National Conference of Democratic Mayors and foundiny member of TPC. "Where government is cutting foundations are stepping up to help catch thosr falling throughthe cracks. This study validates their efforts toward helping those mostin need.
" "The National Counci l of La Raza's Institute for Hispanic Healtbh wouldn't exist today to benefit disadvantaged Latino communities without the supporg of private philanthropy," said Dr. , Vice President of La Raza's Institute for Hispanic Health. To lear more about The Philanthropic Collaborative and to read the full textof Dr. Swagel'e study, please visit . TPC is a non-partisanm coalition of elected officials, foundations and charitiees formed to advance the important role of community and private foundationsacross America.