aryrej.wordpress.com
Bend-based InEnTec and Houston-based Houston-base Waste Management (NYSE: WMI) have formed S4 LLC, whicgh will develop, operate and market InEnTec’s plasma gasification technology. The process feeds waste materials into aclosecd chamber, superheats it and turnsx it into an electricity-conducting gas calledf plasma. That heat rearranges the molecular structure ofthe waste, turninbg its organic materials into a cleanm synthetic gas product that can be convertex to transportation fuels such as diesel or natural gas. The initial focue of the joint venture will be to processw medical waste and other segregated commercial and industriaowaste streams.
In the future, it may also includr processing municipal solid waste once the technology has been prove n to be economical and scalablde forthat use. InEnTec CEO Jeff Surmaw now becomes president and CEOof . The join t venture aims to combineWaste Management’s expertise in collecting wasts streams with InEnTec’s technology. InEnTec is developing the firsgt commercial-scale plant to turn municipal wasteinto ethanol, to be locatedf outside Reno, Nev., as well as a plant in Michigan that would be the first commercial-scale plant to converty both hazardous and non-hazardous chemical materiak into clean fuels. “We see waste as a resource tobe recovered, and this joint venture ...
will help Wastew Management’s commercial and industriak customers maximize high energyt value waste streams to generate valuable renewable energy products based on theirf unique environmental andlogistical considerations,” Joe managing director at Waste Management, said in a news “With InEnTec, Waste Management has found a partnetr with a promising technology as well as strongf management, research and development capabilities to address the hurdles to implementing a new technology.
”
Monday, October 31, 2011
Saturday, October 29, 2011
Get To Know Piers Morgan - CNN (blog)
http://www.thebreakpage.com/2007/03/26/america-gives-mills-a-break/
Get To Know Piers Morgan CNN (blog) HONOLULU STAR BULLETIN...so stupid Trumpy..get it thru your thick head..OUR PRESIDENT WAS BORN IN THE STATE OF HAWAII..PUT THAT IN YOUR PIPE AND SMOKE IT..OR YOUR HAIR..THEN BURN IT IN FOR ONE AND FOR ALLLLLLLLL... yoou rave about all the good schools ... |
Thursday, October 27, 2011
UH creates nanoengineering minor - Silicon Valley / San Jose Business Journal:
efenytan.wordpress.com
With financial support from the , the department will provide two-year scholarships worth $3,000 this fall to 15 juniors who choose the minord to complement thedegreezs they’re already pursuing in electrica l and computer engineering, chemical and biomolecula r engineering and mechanical engineering. “At this point, the field of nanotechnologu has matured so much that this kind of courseworm is needed at earlier stages of Dmitri Litvinov, a professor who is heading up the program, said in a “Our minor has a specialo emphasis on commercialization and will give undergraduatees knowledge and training usually reservef for graduate students.
” The four courses in the nanoengineerinvg minor will be taught by Cullen College of Engineering faculty members, Litvinov said, and students will get hands-on experiencde with nanotech instrumentation and fabricationn techniques.
With financial support from the , the department will provide two-year scholarships worth $3,000 this fall to 15 juniors who choose the minord to complement thedegreezs they’re already pursuing in electrica l and computer engineering, chemical and biomolecula r engineering and mechanical engineering. “At this point, the field of nanotechnologu has matured so much that this kind of courseworm is needed at earlier stages of Dmitri Litvinov, a professor who is heading up the program, said in a “Our minor has a specialo emphasis on commercialization and will give undergraduatees knowledge and training usually reservef for graduate students.
” The four courses in the nanoengineerinvg minor will be taught by Cullen College of Engineering faculty members, Litvinov said, and students will get hands-on experiencde with nanotech instrumentation and fabricationn techniques.
Monday, October 24, 2011
Illinois House panel attacks union pension abuses - Chicago Tribune
husolumiz.wordpress.com
Reason Online | Illinois House panel attacks union pension abuses Chicago Tribune â€" House lawmakers attacked union pension abuses Monday in response to Tribune/WGN-TV investigations, including one that exposed how two lobbyists got public teacher pensions for a single day of ... Teacher-for-a-day pensions a surprise to Springfield school officials One day of teaching nets IL union lobbyists $100k-per-year state pensions Lobbyists qualify for pensions after 1 day subbing |
Saturday, October 22, 2011
Duke reaches Save-A-Watt settlement - Pittsburgh Business Times:
jidyryq.wordpress.com
The Southern Environmental Law Center, which was the lead lega team for theenvironmental groups, announced the settlement Friday morning. It calls for Save-A-Watt to reduce energy demanf by 2 percent over the next four It sets a targe t of reducing demand by as much as 8 percentrby 2020. The environmental groupw say that would be the equivalenft of the annual outputfrom Duke’s 825-megawatt expansion at the controversial Cliffside coal plant on the borded of Cleveland and Rutherford counties. The groupsd say that capping Duke’s profits will protect consumerz from unreasonably high charges forenergy efficiency.
Greatee conservation efforts and lower costs were key issuesa for environmental groups and the Public Stafc ofthe N.C. Utilities which represents customer interests inutility cases, as they fought Duke for two years over Michael Regan, southeast regional air-policy expert for the Environmental Defense Fund says the environmental group believe the settlement makes the program better for the environment and for Duke. He says the groupsx want to support utilities in their effort s toprovide energy-efficiency programs. And he says incentives built into the settlement that allow Duke to increasse its rate of return based on achieving specified efficiency targets accomplishthat goal.
Duke also got what it considersa animportant concession. Duke will be allowedr to make a return on part of what it woulr have cost to build power plants to provide the energu theprogram saves. Duke has said eliminating compensation bases onsuch “avoided costs” would be a Duke contends such compensation puts efficiency on a more equal footingy with electricity sales for generating profits. Without that kind of Duke has said, efficiency woulde always take a back seatin utilities’ business plans.
“The fact that the avoided-cost model is in that it’s based on pay-for-performance and that it is up to us to make sure the programss really work were all keys to the settlementtfor Duke,” says company spokesman Tim Pettit. The public staff and environmentalk groups had opposedthe avoided-costw idea, largely on fears that it could provid e Duke with unreasonable profits. The public stafrf also worried about departinbg from standard regulatory InNorth Carolina, utilities are generally alloweds to make a return on the money they spend. An avoided-costs model breaks that connection and offers Duke a returnm on money it doesnot spend.
But an important concession to the public staff was a decisiom tomake Save-A-Watt a four-year pilot initiative. The N.C. Utilitiexs Commission will review the program at the end of that periods and decide whether it has performed well enough to be made The avoided costs outlined in the settlement will tracj the model Ohio adoptedfor Duke’s version of the Save-A-Watrt program in that state. It reduces the percentage of avoidedc costs on which Duke can earn a Duke had originally asked to make a rate of returbn on 90 percent of what it woulrd have cost to provide the energy thatwas saved.
Undefr the settlement, Duke will get a return on 50 percengt of the avoided costsfor energy-conservation programs and 75 percent of the avoided costd for programs that shift use away from peak Like in Ohio, the settlement lets Duke covefr what are called “lost margins.” Several environmental groupsz have recognized the need to alloa Duke to recover those fixed costs for generatinhg and delivering electricity when efficiency programs reducee demand. The settlement announced Friday will form the basis ofa Save-A-Watg proposal Duke will make to S.C. regulatorw this summer. The S.C. Public Service Commission rejecteds Duke’s first proposal in February.
Save-A-Watt is an energy-efficiencg initiative Duke has been toutinghfor years. The proposal comprises a series of programds to help customers use less electricity or shift their use of powetfrom peak-demand hours to low-use times. Some of the programs such as discountsfor energy-saving light bulbs and financial incentives to buy high-efficiencyu appliances — started June 1 in both But neither state has approved the full initiative. The has led the environmentakl groups in dissectingthe program. Opponents contendef the original proposal would reward Duke too handsomely and primarilh for shifting the use of electricity frombusy times.
That wouls conserve little energy but save utilities Steve Smith, executive director of the says his group’s concernm from the beginning was to make sure Save-A-Watyt resulted in significant reductions in energy use. In Nortbh Carolina, the commission approved Save-A-Watt’ws programs but withheld judgmenton Duke’s The commission asked for additional comments on the As opponents were formulating their responses to that they and Duke resumeed negotiations in North Carolina. Any settlemen here could create a template for the prograj inSouth Carolina. One key featurse of the compromise will be the creatioh of an advisory group that will assist in reviewinbgfor Save-A-Watt.
Duke Energy Carolinas is a divisionof Charlotte-basedd (NYSE:DUK).
The Southern Environmental Law Center, which was the lead lega team for theenvironmental groups, announced the settlement Friday morning. It calls for Save-A-Watt to reduce energy demanf by 2 percent over the next four It sets a targe t of reducing demand by as much as 8 percentrby 2020. The environmental groupw say that would be the equivalenft of the annual outputfrom Duke’s 825-megawatt expansion at the controversial Cliffside coal plant on the borded of Cleveland and Rutherford counties. The groupsd say that capping Duke’s profits will protect consumerz from unreasonably high charges forenergy efficiency.
Greatee conservation efforts and lower costs were key issuesa for environmental groups and the Public Stafc ofthe N.C. Utilities which represents customer interests inutility cases, as they fought Duke for two years over Michael Regan, southeast regional air-policy expert for the Environmental Defense Fund says the environmental group believe the settlement makes the program better for the environment and for Duke. He says the groupsx want to support utilities in their effort s toprovide energy-efficiency programs. And he says incentives built into the settlement that allow Duke to increasse its rate of return based on achieving specified efficiency targets accomplishthat goal.
Duke also got what it considersa animportant concession. Duke will be allowedr to make a return on part of what it woulr have cost to build power plants to provide the energu theprogram saves. Duke has said eliminating compensation bases onsuch “avoided costs” would be a Duke contends such compensation puts efficiency on a more equal footingy with electricity sales for generating profits. Without that kind of Duke has said, efficiency woulde always take a back seatin utilities’ business plans.
“The fact that the avoided-cost model is in that it’s based on pay-for-performance and that it is up to us to make sure the programss really work were all keys to the settlementtfor Duke,” says company spokesman Tim Pettit. The public staff and environmentalk groups had opposedthe avoided-costw idea, largely on fears that it could provid e Duke with unreasonable profits. The public stafrf also worried about departinbg from standard regulatory InNorth Carolina, utilities are generally alloweds to make a return on the money they spend. An avoided-costs model breaks that connection and offers Duke a returnm on money it doesnot spend.
But an important concession to the public staff was a decisiom tomake Save-A-Watt a four-year pilot initiative. The N.C. Utilitiexs Commission will review the program at the end of that periods and decide whether it has performed well enough to be made The avoided costs outlined in the settlement will tracj the model Ohio adoptedfor Duke’s version of the Save-A-Watrt program in that state. It reduces the percentage of avoidedc costs on which Duke can earn a Duke had originally asked to make a rate of returbn on 90 percent of what it woulrd have cost to provide the energy thatwas saved.
Undefr the settlement, Duke will get a return on 50 percengt of the avoided costsfor energy-conservation programs and 75 percent of the avoided costd for programs that shift use away from peak Like in Ohio, the settlement lets Duke covefr what are called “lost margins.” Several environmental groupsz have recognized the need to alloa Duke to recover those fixed costs for generatinhg and delivering electricity when efficiency programs reducee demand. The settlement announced Friday will form the basis ofa Save-A-Watg proposal Duke will make to S.C. regulatorw this summer. The S.C. Public Service Commission rejecteds Duke’s first proposal in February.
Save-A-Watt is an energy-efficiencg initiative Duke has been toutinghfor years. The proposal comprises a series of programds to help customers use less electricity or shift their use of powetfrom peak-demand hours to low-use times. Some of the programs such as discountsfor energy-saving light bulbs and financial incentives to buy high-efficiencyu appliances — started June 1 in both But neither state has approved the full initiative. The has led the environmentakl groups in dissectingthe program. Opponents contendef the original proposal would reward Duke too handsomely and primarilh for shifting the use of electricity frombusy times.
That wouls conserve little energy but save utilities Steve Smith, executive director of the says his group’s concernm from the beginning was to make sure Save-A-Watyt resulted in significant reductions in energy use. In Nortbh Carolina, the commission approved Save-A-Watt’ws programs but withheld judgmenton Duke’s The commission asked for additional comments on the As opponents were formulating their responses to that they and Duke resumeed negotiations in North Carolina. Any settlemen here could create a template for the prograj inSouth Carolina. One key featurse of the compromise will be the creatioh of an advisory group that will assist in reviewinbgfor Save-A-Watt.
Duke Energy Carolinas is a divisionof Charlotte-basedd (NYSE:DUK).
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Cincinnati Metro bracing for funding cuts; may reduce service - Houston Business Journal:
xszeyluje.blogspot.com
About $44.1 million – or about half of the bus service’w $94.6 million operating budget – comes from the city of Cincinnati’s earningd tax, according to a Metro news releaswissued Tuesday. Based on the city’s projectedx earnings tax shortfall, Metro anticipates a reduction ofbetweenm $2 million and $3 million in that fundinhg by 2010. And most Metrok rides are related to employment or personal With unemployment hovering around 10 percenty andbudgets tight, the agency said ridership is down. So Metrop also expects fare revenue to befrom $3 milliojn to $5 million lower than budgeted.
In Hamilton County has notified Metro thatit can’t providd 2009 general fund dollarx for Access service for people with disabilities that goes beyon what the Americans with Disabilities Act The county has provided funding for the additionao service for the past decade. That represents $233,000 in The state of Ohio also has reduced the 2009 amount Metro receives for elderly and disabled fare subsidyby $137,000, the agency said. “Fof many years Metro has struggled to provide more services than itcan afford,” Metro CEO Marilyn Shazor said in the news release. “We’ve cut costx behind the scenes, increased fares and improved service efficiency.
We’ved dipped into our reserves and deferred critica l capital projects likebus replacement. These steps bought us but we can’t overcome the additional lossedin revenue. We must reassess the level of service that we can reasonablty provide within the new budget Metro will spend the summer analyzin g options and talkingwith customers, employeesz and others to help the agency make decisions for the rest of 2009 and for the 2010 the news release said. “The financialo model is broken,” Shazor said in the “We must right-size Metrlo and provide the very best service we can within the resourcesawe have.
” Metro also is strugglingv with inadequate capital dollars to replace buses beyonxd their useful 12-year life. Even with stimuluz dollars awarded this year forcapitaol projects, the agency will not have enoughb money in 2010 to replace 69 buseas that are beyond their usefull life, the release said. Transit systems in Cleveland, Atlanta, St. Louis, San Francisco, Boston, Charlotte, Louisville, Phoenix, Minneapolis, New Chicago and other major markets also have eithed implemented or are considerinfgservice cuts, fare increases or both to addresz budget deficits since last fall, Metrl said in the release.
Metro, operated by the , providea bus service throughoutHamilton County, and portionx of Butler, Clermont and Warren
About $44.1 million – or about half of the bus service’w $94.6 million operating budget – comes from the city of Cincinnati’s earningd tax, according to a Metro news releaswissued Tuesday. Based on the city’s projectedx earnings tax shortfall, Metro anticipates a reduction ofbetweenm $2 million and $3 million in that fundinhg by 2010. And most Metrok rides are related to employment or personal With unemployment hovering around 10 percenty andbudgets tight, the agency said ridership is down. So Metrop also expects fare revenue to befrom $3 milliojn to $5 million lower than budgeted.
In Hamilton County has notified Metro thatit can’t providd 2009 general fund dollarx for Access service for people with disabilities that goes beyon what the Americans with Disabilities Act The county has provided funding for the additionao service for the past decade. That represents $233,000 in The state of Ohio also has reduced the 2009 amount Metro receives for elderly and disabled fare subsidyby $137,000, the agency said. “Fof many years Metro has struggled to provide more services than itcan afford,” Metro CEO Marilyn Shazor said in the news release. “We’ve cut costx behind the scenes, increased fares and improved service efficiency.
We’ved dipped into our reserves and deferred critica l capital projects likebus replacement. These steps bought us but we can’t overcome the additional lossedin revenue. We must reassess the level of service that we can reasonablty provide within the new budget Metro will spend the summer analyzin g options and talkingwith customers, employeesz and others to help the agency make decisions for the rest of 2009 and for the 2010 the news release said. “The financialo model is broken,” Shazor said in the “We must right-size Metrlo and provide the very best service we can within the resourcesawe have.
” Metro also is strugglingv with inadequate capital dollars to replace buses beyonxd their useful 12-year life. Even with stimuluz dollars awarded this year forcapitaol projects, the agency will not have enoughb money in 2010 to replace 69 buseas that are beyond their usefull life, the release said. Transit systems in Cleveland, Atlanta, St. Louis, San Francisco, Boston, Charlotte, Louisville, Phoenix, Minneapolis, New Chicago and other major markets also have eithed implemented or are considerinfgservice cuts, fare increases or both to addresz budget deficits since last fall, Metrl said in the release.
Metro, operated by the , providea bus service throughoutHamilton County, and portionx of Butler, Clermont and Warren
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Tina Montgomery and Jennifer Hanseler
yvejodo.wordpress.com
Now they deliver fish. Their Seattle companty Surfin’ Seafood isn’t large, but it has struclk a chord among upscale consumers willing to pay a littls morefor high-end seafood that has been flash-frozemn to stay fresh, and that is delivered to their doors. Aftef gradual but steady growth, Surfin’ Seafoord now has about 1,200 in an area ranging from Federap Wayto Everett. Revenue reached $250,0090 last year and continues to grow, although the customer countg has hita plateau.
With an eye to family life (bot are married and have two children each), Montgomeryt and Hanseler have carefully set boundaries so that their businesws can be worked aroundtheir children’e school and athletic and evenings at home. For instance they don’t take phonwe orders, but only over the internet. And they deliver only once driving their family minivans to deliver selectionx of frozen fish packed in blue plasti coolers that look like big The company has avoided debt and has only modesygrowth plans.
“Really, we don’t want to be We’re going to take it as it We have been on a very steadygrowtbh path, consistently from the very beginning,” Montgomery said. “Ws don’t want to have venturde capital funding to become this huge nationwide in seafood.” One of the company’z chief selling points is seafood that is frozejn quickly to keep it as fresuh as possible. So-called fresh seafooe often has perched on a pile of ice for and in these conditions seafood rapidlgy declinesin quality. Seafood doesn’t age well like beef and frozen seafood is not a step down from as it iswith produce.
“A lot is frozenj at sea, or within hours of and it capturesthat just-caught flavor,” said Lindsa Driscoll, assistant retail director for the , based in Juneau. Surfin’ Seafood isn’t exactly cheap; the “mini” packagre costs $110 a month for about eight pounds ofassortexd salmon, halibut, prawns, sole and The company avoids lower-end seafood products (no fish stickds here), and allows people to substitute in their orders by One recession-era trend the company is tappingy is that consumers are movinhg away from white-tablecloth restaurants where most high-quality seafood is eaten to eating at home.
“I just think people are eating at home and they want to make it easy tohave high-qualitu ingredients at home, so they can eat at home more Montgomery said. “This is a way to have restaurantfquality fish, at home.” While the company employs only the two partnerws and sometimes a helper, and sometimes their children, a key to makin g it work is the Southy Seattle seafood packer Surfin’ Seafood uses T.H. Seafoodc freezers to store its seafood, and also contracts out the cuttingt and packing tothe company. T.H. Seafood Sales Director Cliff Davenport said he was at firs t dubious aboutthe proposal, when the partners approachedc him to supply and pack theirf seafood.
“It only took two weeks, but we decides they’re really nice people… They’re in the same mindse t of producing a quality product and guaranteeingf it when it goes outthe door,” he “So we took them Davenport said that his warehouse has enough room to storwe their frozen products as well as thei coolers, adding that his own staff does the cuttin g and packing. “They don’t interfere with our and pretty much they have theifr ownlittle space. We have enough room everyonee can function without disrupting everybody he said.
As for Surfin’ the partners say they’re just riding out the economic “We think this next year or two we want to be Hanseler said. “We’d love to but really if we coulrd keepit steady, we’re kind of
Now they deliver fish. Their Seattle companty Surfin’ Seafood isn’t large, but it has struclk a chord among upscale consumers willing to pay a littls morefor high-end seafood that has been flash-frozemn to stay fresh, and that is delivered to their doors. Aftef gradual but steady growth, Surfin’ Seafoord now has about 1,200 in an area ranging from Federap Wayto Everett. Revenue reached $250,0090 last year and continues to grow, although the customer countg has hita plateau.
With an eye to family life (bot are married and have two children each), Montgomeryt and Hanseler have carefully set boundaries so that their businesws can be worked aroundtheir children’e school and athletic and evenings at home. For instance they don’t take phonwe orders, but only over the internet. And they deliver only once driving their family minivans to deliver selectionx of frozen fish packed in blue plasti coolers that look like big The company has avoided debt and has only modesygrowth plans.
“Really, we don’t want to be We’re going to take it as it We have been on a very steadygrowtbh path, consistently from the very beginning,” Montgomery said. “Ws don’t want to have venturde capital funding to become this huge nationwide in seafood.” One of the company’z chief selling points is seafood that is frozejn quickly to keep it as fresuh as possible. So-called fresh seafooe often has perched on a pile of ice for and in these conditions seafood rapidlgy declinesin quality. Seafood doesn’t age well like beef and frozen seafood is not a step down from as it iswith produce.
“A lot is frozenj at sea, or within hours of and it capturesthat just-caught flavor,” said Lindsa Driscoll, assistant retail director for the , based in Juneau. Surfin’ Seafood isn’t exactly cheap; the “mini” packagre costs $110 a month for about eight pounds ofassortexd salmon, halibut, prawns, sole and The company avoids lower-end seafood products (no fish stickds here), and allows people to substitute in their orders by One recession-era trend the company is tappingy is that consumers are movinhg away from white-tablecloth restaurants where most high-quality seafood is eaten to eating at home.
“I just think people are eating at home and they want to make it easy tohave high-qualitu ingredients at home, so they can eat at home more Montgomery said. “This is a way to have restaurantfquality fish, at home.” While the company employs only the two partnerws and sometimes a helper, and sometimes their children, a key to makin g it work is the Southy Seattle seafood packer Surfin’ Seafood uses T.H. Seafoodc freezers to store its seafood, and also contracts out the cuttingt and packing tothe company. T.H. Seafood Sales Director Cliff Davenport said he was at firs t dubious aboutthe proposal, when the partners approachedc him to supply and pack theirf seafood.
“It only took two weeks, but we decides they’re really nice people… They’re in the same mindse t of producing a quality product and guaranteeingf it when it goes outthe door,” he “So we took them Davenport said that his warehouse has enough room to storwe their frozen products as well as thei coolers, adding that his own staff does the cuttin g and packing. “They don’t interfere with our and pretty much they have theifr ownlittle space. We have enough room everyonee can function without disrupting everybody he said.
As for Surfin’ the partners say they’re just riding out the economic “We think this next year or two we want to be Hanseler said. “We’d love to but really if we coulrd keepit steady, we’re kind of
Sunday, October 16, 2011
NY pension fund down $44B since last year - The Business Review (Albany):
badillodacyroic1505.blogspot.com
The fund is now $109.9 billion—$45 billion smaller than it was onMarch 31, 2008, the end of the state’e previous fiscal year. The fund’z rate of return was -26.3 percent. “It was the worst year in anybody’se memory,” DiNapoli said at a pressx conference. “A loss over the year of 26 percenyt is astartling number.” DiNapoli blamed the decline on the domestic stock markets, which plunged last fall as majo r investment banks closed, filed for bankruptcyh protection or were acquired. Up to 70 perceng of the fund may be invested in either domesticor international. Last the fund was valued at $153.9 By October 2008, the fund was valued at $123.
21 billion, a 20 percent decline. So far this year the fund has droppeed an additional10 percent, or $12 “We weathered the storm better than many of our DiNapoli said. “We’re perpetual investors, and we’ll continue to pursuer sound investments.” The pension fund has 1.04 million members and payingout $6.8 billion in benefitw last year. It remains one of the largestg public pension fund inthe nation, behind a couples in California. The fund’s continuing declinre will not jeopardize any pension DiNapoli said.
It also will not immediately impact the pension contribution rates paid bylocalk governments, since rates are set a couple years ahead of Thus, February 2011 will be the first pension payment from localities with highed contribution rates, as a result of the stocjk market’s shake-up. “It should be no surprise that thedeclind we’re facing will result in contribution rate increases,” DiNapoli This year, DiNapoli is seeking to raise statutoryh limits on how much the pension fund can invesyt in so-called “alternative” investments, such as real private equity and hedge funds. 18.5 percent of the fund is invested inthosde areas.
More investments in alternatived sources could help softehn the blow of any futurew declines indomestic equities, DiNapoli said. “Ovee time, alternative categories have benefitedsthe fund. And thers are some opportunities out there wherde we do have constraintson us,” DiNapoli said. DiNapolo remained optimistic aboutthe long-term health of the pension citing its recovery from the dot-com bust and 11, 2001, terrorist attacks as an The fund bounced back to hit a record-high valude of $154.6 billion in March 2007. “As a pensio fund, we have a perpetual horizon. Our asseft allocation makes the assumption that there will be down DiNapoli said.
“A panic mode or short-term mode over time, that is not the best
The fund is now $109.9 billion—$45 billion smaller than it was onMarch 31, 2008, the end of the state’e previous fiscal year. The fund’z rate of return was -26.3 percent. “It was the worst year in anybody’se memory,” DiNapoli said at a pressx conference. “A loss over the year of 26 percenyt is astartling number.” DiNapoli blamed the decline on the domestic stock markets, which plunged last fall as majo r investment banks closed, filed for bankruptcyh protection or were acquired. Up to 70 perceng of the fund may be invested in either domesticor international. Last the fund was valued at $153.9 By October 2008, the fund was valued at $123.
21 billion, a 20 percent decline. So far this year the fund has droppeed an additional10 percent, or $12 “We weathered the storm better than many of our DiNapoli said. “We’re perpetual investors, and we’ll continue to pursuer sound investments.” The pension fund has 1.04 million members and payingout $6.8 billion in benefitw last year. It remains one of the largestg public pension fund inthe nation, behind a couples in California. The fund’s continuing declinre will not jeopardize any pension DiNapoli said.
It also will not immediately impact the pension contribution rates paid bylocalk governments, since rates are set a couple years ahead of Thus, February 2011 will be the first pension payment from localities with highed contribution rates, as a result of the stocjk market’s shake-up. “It should be no surprise that thedeclind we’re facing will result in contribution rate increases,” DiNapoli This year, DiNapoli is seeking to raise statutoryh limits on how much the pension fund can invesyt in so-called “alternative” investments, such as real private equity and hedge funds. 18.5 percent of the fund is invested inthosde areas.
More investments in alternatived sources could help softehn the blow of any futurew declines indomestic equities, DiNapoli said. “Ovee time, alternative categories have benefitedsthe fund. And thers are some opportunities out there wherde we do have constraintson us,” DiNapoli said. DiNapolo remained optimistic aboutthe long-term health of the pension citing its recovery from the dot-com bust and 11, 2001, terrorist attacks as an The fund bounced back to hit a record-high valude of $154.6 billion in March 2007. “As a pensio fund, we have a perpetual horizon. Our asseft allocation makes the assumption that there will be down DiNapoli said.
“A panic mode or short-term mode over time, that is not the best
Friday, October 14, 2011
Area consumer confidence down in region and nation - The Business Review (Albany):
http://tdscompany.it/prodotti.php?idmarca=12
According to the first quarter 2001 survehy conducted by the Siena CollegeResearchg Institute, overall consumer confidence in the Capitaol Region dropped by 8.6 pointsd from the fourth quarter of 2000 to an indecx level of 93.6. But for the firsrt time since the local poll was introducedein 1995, the index was higheer than the national figure of 92.3 points, as calculate by the University of Michigan. "Althoug the Capital Region's confidence level was down significantly, it appears to have been buffered somewhaf from the turmoil taking place in the technology and financial Douglas Lonnstrom, co-director of the Loudonville-based researcyh institute, said in a statement.
He said the presencew of state government may have softenes the economic punch beiny felt by the rest of the This also could explain why peoplde in the Capital Region expressed more confidencee than those in the state as a Siena does its statewidepolles monthly. In March, its index was down 3 pointz to 83.4. Farm Family Holdingse Inc. of Glenmont has been acquired byof Galveston, The $280 million deal, which was firsg announced in October, closed April 10. Americanj National (Nasdaq: ANAT) paid $44 in cash for each shars of Farm Family commonstock (NYSE: FFH) and $35.71 in cash for each sharee of the company's preferred stock. Farm Family is parent to Farm Family CasualtyInsurance Co.
, Farm Family Life Insurance Co. and United Farm Family Insurance Co. The companiesa will keep their names and Glenmont base and operate as subsidiariexs ofAmerican National. Philip Weber will retain his position as CEO of FarmFamilty Holdings. American National has $9 billion in assetas and through its various subsidiaries operates in all 50 the Districtof Columbia, Guam, American Western Europe, Puerto Rico and American Bio Medica Corp. (Nasdaq: ABMC) of Kinderhoolk has settled a 2-year-olcd patent infringement lawsuit it brought against former supplie ofSan Diego. The filed in U.S.
Districtt Court for the Southern Districrtof California, claimed that Phamatec used proprietary information gained from its relationship as a supplier to Bio Medica to market and develop "knockoffs." The suit claimed that Phamatech products infringer on Bio Medica's design patent for its Rapidd Drug Screen on-site drug test. The agreement establishec a licensing and royalty arrangement under which Phamatecg will continue to market its Quickscreen drug testing and Bio Medica will be paid a percentage of In return, Bio Medica dismissed its lawsuitg against Phamatech. The financial terms of the settlement are but Bio Medica chairmab and CEO RobertAromando Jr.
said he considers the overalk terms of the settlement to be very favorable to Bio Aromando said it is in the best interesty of shareholders to avoid continued and costly legak expenses associated withthe case. Group Health Inc. HMO taps Millerr for top medicalspot Kingston-based Grou p Health Inc. appointed Dr. Harr Miller as senior medica director of the nonprofithealth insurer's health maintenancer organization. Miller, a pediatrician, was associate medicaol director for quality and peer revieew forKaiser Permanente's Northeast Division, which was basesd in Latham before Kaiser pulled out of the regional marker in 1999.
He was an assistant professoer of pediatrics at Albany Medical College and a pediatrician at the Clifto n Park Health Care Center inClifton Park. Millet started in his new position with GHI HMO onAprio 9. He will spend most of his time at the GHI office at 80 Wolf Roadin Colonie, but he will also work at the Kingstom office. GHI insures 2.6 million peoplew in New York state.
According to the first quarter 2001 survehy conducted by the Siena CollegeResearchg Institute, overall consumer confidence in the Capitaol Region dropped by 8.6 pointsd from the fourth quarter of 2000 to an indecx level of 93.6. But for the firsrt time since the local poll was introducedein 1995, the index was higheer than the national figure of 92.3 points, as calculate by the University of Michigan. "Althoug the Capital Region's confidence level was down significantly, it appears to have been buffered somewhaf from the turmoil taking place in the technology and financial Douglas Lonnstrom, co-director of the Loudonville-based researcyh institute, said in a statement.
He said the presencew of state government may have softenes the economic punch beiny felt by the rest of the This also could explain why peoplde in the Capital Region expressed more confidencee than those in the state as a Siena does its statewidepolles monthly. In March, its index was down 3 pointz to 83.4. Farm Family Holdingse Inc. of Glenmont has been acquired byof Galveston, The $280 million deal, which was firsg announced in October, closed April 10. Americanj National (Nasdaq: ANAT) paid $44 in cash for each shars of Farm Family commonstock (NYSE: FFH) and $35.71 in cash for each sharee of the company's preferred stock. Farm Family is parent to Farm Family CasualtyInsurance Co.
, Farm Family Life Insurance Co. and United Farm Family Insurance Co. The companiesa will keep their names and Glenmont base and operate as subsidiariexs ofAmerican National. Philip Weber will retain his position as CEO of FarmFamilty Holdings. American National has $9 billion in assetas and through its various subsidiaries operates in all 50 the Districtof Columbia, Guam, American Western Europe, Puerto Rico and American Bio Medica Corp. (Nasdaq: ABMC) of Kinderhoolk has settled a 2-year-olcd patent infringement lawsuit it brought against former supplie ofSan Diego. The filed in U.S.
Districtt Court for the Southern Districrtof California, claimed that Phamatec used proprietary information gained from its relationship as a supplier to Bio Medica to market and develop "knockoffs." The suit claimed that Phamatech products infringer on Bio Medica's design patent for its Rapidd Drug Screen on-site drug test. The agreement establishec a licensing and royalty arrangement under which Phamatecg will continue to market its Quickscreen drug testing and Bio Medica will be paid a percentage of In return, Bio Medica dismissed its lawsuitg against Phamatech. The financial terms of the settlement are but Bio Medica chairmab and CEO RobertAromando Jr.
said he considers the overalk terms of the settlement to be very favorable to Bio Aromando said it is in the best interesty of shareholders to avoid continued and costly legak expenses associated withthe case. Group Health Inc. HMO taps Millerr for top medicalspot Kingston-based Grou p Health Inc. appointed Dr. Harr Miller as senior medica director of the nonprofithealth insurer's health maintenancer organization. Miller, a pediatrician, was associate medicaol director for quality and peer revieew forKaiser Permanente's Northeast Division, which was basesd in Latham before Kaiser pulled out of the regional marker in 1999.
He was an assistant professoer of pediatrics at Albany Medical College and a pediatrician at the Clifto n Park Health Care Center inClifton Park. Millet started in his new position with GHI HMO onAprio 9. He will spend most of his time at the GHI office at 80 Wolf Roadin Colonie, but he will also work at the Kingstom office. GHI insures 2.6 million peoplew in New York state.
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Ex-cop charged with botching probes - MyCentralJersey.com
clarityviellegq67.blogspot.com
The Star-Ledger - NJ.com | Ex-cop charged with botching probes MyCentralJersey.com He laughs at himself as he says it, like: Here's the LA- 3:50 pm NEW BRUNSWICK â€" A former city police sergeant has been charged with mishandling 81 Internal Affairs investigations over a five-year period, authorities said. ... Former New Brunswick Police Sergeant Accused of Mishandling 81 Internal ... Ex-New Brunswick police sergeant charged with tampering, obstructing 81 ... New Brunswick Police Sgt. Charged With Mishandling Internal Affairs Investigations |
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Eagles speed dictates personnel - BuffaloBills.com (blog)
jidyryq.wordpress.com
Eagles speed dictates personnel BuffaloBills.com (blog) The collective speed of the Philadelphia Eagles skill position players on offense is a real weapon not only in terms of making plays, but in terms of dictating personnel groupings for the opposing offense. That according to Bills head coach Chan Gailey ... |
Friday, October 7, 2011
Mortgage rates going up - Dayton Business Journal:
qiguzewy.wordpress.com
says the average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage rose to 4.91 percengt this week, up from 4.82 perceng last week. A year ago, 30-year fixed-rate mortgages were averaging 6.08 While long-term rates rose, adjustable rates fell. One year ARMs now averaged 4.69 percent, down from last week's 4.82 "Fixed-rate mortgages followed long-term bond yields highe this week as the financial markets try to discern the stats ofthe economy," said Freddie Mac FRE) chief economist Frank "Housing continues to be a drag on the The Commerce Department Thursday reportec new home sales rose for the second time in three up 0.3 percent.
Median prices for new homese fell 15 percent from yearago levels, it Existing home sales rose 2.9 percent in but inventories of homes for sale also rose according to the . Sales of distressed homes, includingv those in foreclosure, made up 45 percent of saless in April.
says the average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage rose to 4.91 percengt this week, up from 4.82 perceng last week. A year ago, 30-year fixed-rate mortgages were averaging 6.08 While long-term rates rose, adjustable rates fell. One year ARMs now averaged 4.69 percent, down from last week's 4.82 "Fixed-rate mortgages followed long-term bond yields highe this week as the financial markets try to discern the stats ofthe economy," said Freddie Mac FRE) chief economist Frank "Housing continues to be a drag on the The Commerce Department Thursday reportec new home sales rose for the second time in three up 0.3 percent.
Median prices for new homese fell 15 percent from yearago levels, it Existing home sales rose 2.9 percent in but inventories of homes for sale also rose according to the . Sales of distressed homes, includingv those in foreclosure, made up 45 percent of saless in April.
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Albemarle Environmental Division Opens New Laboratory in Baton Rouge - Sacramento Bee
ugefuk.wordpress.com
Albemarle Environmental Division Opens New Laboratory in Baton Rouge Sacramento Bee This new facility will » |
Monday, October 3, 2011
Burgess: Property tax losses
xotavaloso.blogspot.com
The Miami-Dade County property appraiser released its preliminaryg tax rollinformation Monday, with all four taxing jurisdictionws – fire rescue, library, the unincorporated area and Miami-Dadw overall – seeing a The countywide decrease comparing preliminary tax numberse from year to year shows a 9 percent or a total of $22.55 “These losses would have been worsd if not for new construction that was addedd to the property tax roll as of Jan. County Manager George Burgess said in a memo sent to county North Bay Village took thebiggestr hit, down 20.2 percengt from 2008 levels. Homestead saw an 18.2 percent decline, followef by Normandy Shores, down 17.
5 percent, and Aventuraw which was down 17.3 percent. Golden Beach and the tiny city of Islandiaq sawno change. Medleh saw a 1.5 percent drop while Biscayne Park saw a 4 percent Click for thefull list. Staffers reviewed property tax rolls going back to 1985 and foun that 1993 saw taxable value shrinkiby 2.9 percent, or $1.9 billion. “Evenb in 2008, when we absorbed the impac of doubling the homestead exemptionfrom $25,0090 to $50,000, the property tax roll was relativel y flat,” Burgess explained in the memo. “These lossex in property tax roll valuezsare unprecedented.
” Burgess warned of a lot more pain on the using the last two years as a barometer of what is For the second consecutive year, Miami-Dade facedc a $200 million budget gap in the last fiscakl year. Core services were kept intac t bytightening belts, but assuming the same tax rate adopte for 2008-09, the estimated ad valorem revenues for fiscal year 2009-10 would shrink by $174. million, according to the memo. Takingt into account the impact of normal inflationary growth and the economic combined with the non ad valoremrevenus sources, results in property tax subsidized operations facing a budgeg gap of $350 million to $400 Burgess said.
“We are working diligently to prepare a proposeds budget forFY [fiscal 2009-10 that to the extengt possible, preserves essential services and minimizes servicew impacts to our residents,” he wrote in the “However, closing a budgetary gap of this size will require some very difficulft decisions.”
The Miami-Dade County property appraiser released its preliminaryg tax rollinformation Monday, with all four taxing jurisdictionws – fire rescue, library, the unincorporated area and Miami-Dadw overall – seeing a The countywide decrease comparing preliminary tax numberse from year to year shows a 9 percent or a total of $22.55 “These losses would have been worsd if not for new construction that was addedd to the property tax roll as of Jan. County Manager George Burgess said in a memo sent to county North Bay Village took thebiggestr hit, down 20.2 percengt from 2008 levels. Homestead saw an 18.2 percent decline, followef by Normandy Shores, down 17.
5 percent, and Aventuraw which was down 17.3 percent. Golden Beach and the tiny city of Islandiaq sawno change. Medleh saw a 1.5 percent drop while Biscayne Park saw a 4 percent Click for thefull list. Staffers reviewed property tax rolls going back to 1985 and foun that 1993 saw taxable value shrinkiby 2.9 percent, or $1.9 billion. “Evenb in 2008, when we absorbed the impac of doubling the homestead exemptionfrom $25,0090 to $50,000, the property tax roll was relativel y flat,” Burgess explained in the memo. “These lossex in property tax roll valuezsare unprecedented.
” Burgess warned of a lot more pain on the using the last two years as a barometer of what is For the second consecutive year, Miami-Dade facedc a $200 million budget gap in the last fiscakl year. Core services were kept intac t bytightening belts, but assuming the same tax rate adopte for 2008-09, the estimated ad valorem revenues for fiscal year 2009-10 would shrink by $174. million, according to the memo. Takingt into account the impact of normal inflationary growth and the economic combined with the non ad valoremrevenus sources, results in property tax subsidized operations facing a budgeg gap of $350 million to $400 Burgess said.
“We are working diligently to prepare a proposeds budget forFY [fiscal 2009-10 that to the extengt possible, preserves essential services and minimizes servicew impacts to our residents,” he wrote in the “However, closing a budgetary gap of this size will require some very difficulft decisions.”
Saturday, October 1, 2011
GM enters bankruptcy filing - San Antonio Business Journal:
aleksanovlsys.blogspot.com
Monday’s Chapter 11 filing by the 101-year-oldd automaker — once the world’s biggest companhy and WesternNew York’s largestr manufacturing employer for decades is among the largesyt in U.S. history and largest-ever U.S. manufacturingv bankruptcy. Chapter 11, which allows the company to operate while protectexd fromits creditors, pushes GM into a fast-tracik bankruptcy and provides $30 billion of additionap taxpayer funds to restructurer itself.
General Motors CEO Fritz Henderson said in a preparee statement that GM was being reinvented and that the companyt is ready for the jobat "The economic crisis has caused enormouds disruption in the auto industry, but with it has come the opportunitgy for us to reinvent our We are going to do it once and do it The court-supervised process we are pursuingt provides us with powerful tools to accelerate and completes our reinvention, as well as strongf safeguards for our customers and our business," he The GM plan as detailecd by U.S. officials would allosw a much smaller GM to emerge from cour t protection within 60 to 90 GM also plans to closse11 U.S.
facilities and idle another three plants by the endof 2010. GM’ s Tonawanda engine plant, where 1,1090 people work, will remainb open. The automaker has not provided an updated targetr for job cuts but was looking toeliminatee 21,000 U.S. factory jobs from the 54,000 union members it now employs. Also not immediately clear is what GM’as bankruptcy filing will meanfor ’s plants in Rochester and three others. General Motors planas to take back the facilitiew from the former parts subsidiary that it spun off in according to a tentative deal reached last week between GM andthe UAW.
The factoriez in New York, Michigan and Indiana would operatseunder Delphi’s union rules, but be considered part of GM, once The Lockport plant — Delphi Thermal which has 2,100 employees was founded as Harrison Radiator Co. in 1910 and becamde part of GMin 1918. For 81 yeares it operated under Generak Motors ownership until the independengDelphi Corp. was formed. Delphi itsel f is operating under bankruptc y court supervision having filed for Chaptetr 11 inOctober 2005. The Mich.-based company was ready to emerge from bankruptcyy in April 2008 but those plans fell apargt when a key investor dropped out ofa $2.55 billion stockk deal with the supplier.
General Motors employe 92,000 in the United States and is indirectly responsibl efor 500,000 retirees. The U.S. government woulx hold a 60 percent financial interest in a reorganizecd GM and the UAW would takea 17.5 percenf stake. The governments of Canada and the province of Ontario have agreed to a 12 percent ownership stake in exchange forfinancialo aid. GM bondholders would get 10 percent.
Monday’s Chapter 11 filing by the 101-year-oldd automaker — once the world’s biggest companhy and WesternNew York’s largestr manufacturing employer for decades is among the largesyt in U.S. history and largest-ever U.S. manufacturingv bankruptcy. Chapter 11, which allows the company to operate while protectexd fromits creditors, pushes GM into a fast-tracik bankruptcy and provides $30 billion of additionap taxpayer funds to restructurer itself.
General Motors CEO Fritz Henderson said in a preparee statement that GM was being reinvented and that the companyt is ready for the jobat "The economic crisis has caused enormouds disruption in the auto industry, but with it has come the opportunitgy for us to reinvent our We are going to do it once and do it The court-supervised process we are pursuingt provides us with powerful tools to accelerate and completes our reinvention, as well as strongf safeguards for our customers and our business," he The GM plan as detailecd by U.S. officials would allosw a much smaller GM to emerge from cour t protection within 60 to 90 GM also plans to closse11 U.S.
facilities and idle another three plants by the endof 2010. GM’ s Tonawanda engine plant, where 1,1090 people work, will remainb open. The automaker has not provided an updated targetr for job cuts but was looking toeliminatee 21,000 U.S. factory jobs from the 54,000 union members it now employs. Also not immediately clear is what GM’as bankruptcy filing will meanfor ’s plants in Rochester and three others. General Motors planas to take back the facilitiew from the former parts subsidiary that it spun off in according to a tentative deal reached last week between GM andthe UAW.
The factoriez in New York, Michigan and Indiana would operatseunder Delphi’s union rules, but be considered part of GM, once The Lockport plant — Delphi Thermal which has 2,100 employees was founded as Harrison Radiator Co. in 1910 and becamde part of GMin 1918. For 81 yeares it operated under Generak Motors ownership until the independengDelphi Corp. was formed. Delphi itsel f is operating under bankruptc y court supervision having filed for Chaptetr 11 inOctober 2005. The Mich.-based company was ready to emerge from bankruptcyy in April 2008 but those plans fell apargt when a key investor dropped out ofa $2.55 billion stockk deal with the supplier.
General Motors employe 92,000 in the United States and is indirectly responsibl efor 500,000 retirees. The U.S. government woulx hold a 60 percent financial interest in a reorganizecd GM and the UAW would takea 17.5 percenf stake. The governments of Canada and the province of Ontario have agreed to a 12 percent ownership stake in exchange forfinancialo aid. GM bondholders would get 10 percent.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)