Monday, January 30, 2012

AISD puts federal poverty money into public relations, multicultural outreach - Austin American-Statesman

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Austin American-Statesman


AISD puts federal poverty money into public relations, multicultural outreach

Austin American-Statesman


The department â€" which has a staff of 23 and a 2011-12 budget of about $2 million, including $1.4 million for salaries â€" is now being funded with about $192000 of Title I money, federal funds given to support programs and services at high-poverty ...



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Saturday, January 28, 2012

American National Announces AM Best Rating Change

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These rating actions were primarily a result of the decrease in the companies capital and surplus and reduceoperating performance. American National Life Insurancse Companyof Texas, Garde n State Life Insurance Company, Standarde Life & Accident Insurance Company, Farm Family Life Insurance Pacific Property & Casualty Company and American National Lloyds Insuranc e Company were affirmed at theire current A (Excellent) rating with a stable ANPAC Louisiana Insurance Company was affirmed at its current A- rating with a stable outlook.
The Unitedr States and the world at largre have experienced a severe economic While American National largely investd in high quality assets to support its insurance and annuity some of these were among the hardesty hit over thepast year. During 2008 and the firstr quarterof 2009, on a consolidated American National took $435 millionm in other-than-temporary impairments on invested assets. This impactesd our reported capital and subsequently our recent review by AM We believe that there are serioua limitations in the current market value accounting practicea forinvested assets.
To support our liabilities, American National typically holds assets totheird maturity, but is required to mark many of them to theier current market value. current accounting practices do not allow us to reverse the full amoung of any recovery on assetas on which impairments havebeen recorded. From December 31, 2008 to May 31, 2009 the unrealizedr gains and losses recorded forour available-for-salee securities improved by $345 million. The unrealizex gains and losses onour held-to-maturity securities improvee by $230 million.
Over the past few our management team has made sound decisiond that have resulted ina short-terj reduction to our earnings in order to improvew our competitive position, liquidity and strength over the long term. As an we have increased the company's cash positionb to ensure ample liquidity during the recent volatile economic Also impacting earnings were significant expenditures in preparing for our registratio n withthe SEC.
While we are disappointed with the recentt rating actions taken by AM we are proud that our ratinv ofA (Excellent) with a stable outlook recognizes Americabn National and its subsidiary companies as financiall y strong with an "excellent ability to meet their ongoing insurance This opinion is supported by American National's strongv corporate profile. -- Forbes recently namer American National among its2009 "100 Most Trustworthy Companies". -- American National has thrivede more than 104 the result of a conservative corporate culture with a strong commitment toits shareholders, agents and employees.
-- American National remainws well capitalized with GAAP assets equakto 119% of thosw needed to support the company's GAAP liabilities. -- As of Marc 31, 2009, GAAP Assets totaled $18.82 -- As of March 31, GAAP Stockholders' surplus was $3.06 billion, or $115.46 per basic share. -- American National is a diversifiedf family of companies offering a broad array ofinsurances products, annuities, pension plan servicews and mutual funds. -- With no corporate debt, Americabn National has no outside demands on its liquidity and continues to be able to invest in growingyits business. A.M.
Best's active company rating scale is: A++ A+ (Superior), A (Excellent), A- (Excellent), B++ B+ (Good), B (Fair), B- C++ (Marginal), C+ (Marginal), C (Weak), C- and D (Poor). American National Insurancew Company is headquarteredin Galveston, The American National family of companies offers a broad line of producte and services, which include life annuities, health insurance, credig insurance, pension plan services and property and casualty insurancw for personal lines, agribusiness, and targetef commercial exposures.
American National's major insurance subsidiaries include Americann National Life Insurance Company of Standard Life and AccidentInsurance Company, Garden State Life Insurance Company, American National Property and Casualty Farm Family Life Insurance Company, Farm Family Casualt y Insurance Company and United Farm Famil Insurance Company. For more information, including company news and investotrrelations information, visit the company's web site at . The statement s contained in this release that are not historical statements, including statements regarding future performance, plane and projections, are forward-looking statements based on management'a current expectations.
These statements involvs certain risks and uncertainties detailed inthe Company's financiak statements. Actual results may differ materially from thes statements due to changesin business, competitive, market, economic, and politicakl factors that are beyond our We disclaim any intention or obligation to updater or revise any forward-lookiny statements, whether as a result of new information, futurre events or otherwise, excep as may be required by law.

Thursday, January 26, 2012

Moveable feast of Martha's Vineyard community dinners warms winter - Martha's Vineyard Times

http://www.lamontanita.org/goldenrice.htm


Martha's Vineyard Times


Moveable feast of Martha's Vineyard community dinners warms winter

Martha's Vineyard Times


By Don Hinkle Peter Yoars (right), Marjorie Pierce, and Marsha Winsryg serve potluck concoctions at the Congregational Church in West Tisbury. Many Island restaurants offer lower prices, two-for-one meals, and a variety of special deals during the ...



Monday, January 23, 2012

BofA prices share offering - Charlotte Business Journal:

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per share. Investors in the bank’s perpetuall preferred stock can tender their shares before midnighton Wednesday. The offe is part of the bank’s effor t to raise $33.9 billion in capitalo that federal regulators say BofA needs afterthe government’s “stress test” of its ability to withstan d a deeper recession. The exchange doesn’y involve any preferred sharezs held by thefederalo government. Charlotte-based BofA (NYSE:BAC) has raised the majority of new capital it needsw tosatisfy regulators. In May, BofA sold $13.5 billionn in common stock. BofA also sold a 5.7 percenft stake in China Construction Bank to Asian investorz for a gainof $4.5 billion.
Thosew steps boosted BofA’s Tier 1 common capital by $1.8 billiohn by reducing a deferred tax asset In addition, BofA agreed to exchange $5.9 billionb in preferred shares for 436 milliobn shares of common The company has said it could raisd more money by selling assetds such as First Republic Bank, a San Francisco-based bank, and entering into joint ventures.

Saturday, January 21, 2012

Browse We Recommend - Memphis Flyer

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Memphis Flyer


Browse We Recommend

Memphis Flyer


“That's a tough style to play. It's like going to the dentist without novocaine.” Tiger coach Josh Pastner was grinning as he described his team's 13th win of the season Saturday afternoon, but the expression seemed more one of relief than joy. ...



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Thursday, January 19, 2012

Local former Chrysler, GM dealers look to sell used cars - Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal:

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Tony Wilkerson, executive directotr of the , said his organization has begunm to lend assistance to dealers lost in thebankruptcy “Our national organization has already sent letters to them to let them know abouty our organization and I plan to do the same thingv for our state,” Wilkerson said. “Thehy were in the used car businessanyway – but if you’re stuckj like many of them are, the overhead cost for a used car dealershipo is nothing compared to a franchise.” However, the expansiom of the local used car markey comes as prices are increasingt and the availability of late-model used cars is he said. But according to Morgah Murphy, president of motorpool.
com, the initial increase in pricex should be looked at as merelyha short-term hurdle. “At firstg glance, that would strike the communityt as bad but in thelong run, it’s good for resalr values,” Murphy said. When local consumers buy they will be able to demand more when they choose tosell it, he In fact, the higher resale values might actuallyu revive American car dealers in the “American manufacturing has been similar and just as good as Japanesde and Korean manufacturing, but the problem has been re-sale value and initiao prices,” Murphy said.
In the meantime, Birmingham dealerse affected can capitalize on the unique landscapd of the local market on the used car he said. Many are family-ownedr and have been staples in the communith formany decades. They are also encouraged by the fact that locall used car sales have seen an uptick amid the recessiom as buyers are more inclined to look for a bargain as a means tospend less. “Birminghamn has a long and distinguished history ofreputablr dealers,” Murphy said. “Don Drennen has been in busineswsince 1908. That’s 101 years of serving our so there’s a culture around businesses like that.
” Their long-standing historgy could make local buyers more inclinec to buy used cars from he said. Ward Drennen, president of Don Drennen Buick Chryslerand Jeep, said after learnint that his dealer agreement had been canceled with expanding his used car salez seemed like a real possibility. “Ww are going to expand our used cardepartmentds drastically,” said Drennen, who was left with more than $2 millio n in Chrysler parts and merchandise. “We want to offer a greayt value to peoplewho can’t afforx a new car.
” Although he hasn’tf stopped looking into becoming a franchiseer for other automotive manufacturers, he is open to the idea of makinv the switch to stay in “It is possible that we could become a used car superstore,” said Drennen, who also learnedc that GM will seek to cancel the dealershil agreement he has for his Buickl dealership. “We’ve been in Birmingham long enoug that our reputation can keepus

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Nuti: NCR to save millions with Georgia move - Atlanta Business Chronicle:

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was as much about consolidation and cost saving as it wasaboug Georgia’s $60 million incentive package, its demographics, infrastructur and skilled workforce. The relocation will save the Fortuns 500company “tens of millions of dollars” over the next NCR chief Bill Nuti told Atlanta Business Chronicle on NCR’s decision to locate in Georgia, will brinf more than 2,100 jobs including nearly 900 to a manufacturinbg operation in Columbus. That facility, will be NCR’sd first manufacturing plant in the United Statez sincethe 1970s. NCR is consolidatin g corporate jobs from not just but from severalothet U.S.
locations, Nuti said, declining to disclose the NCR will continue to employy less than 50in Dayton, wher it will maintain a data center and saleds and service operations. Atlanta’s academic institutions also helpesd win theNCR deal. The companuy views schools like as a potential labor pool and a partneer for joint innovation and The region’s relatively robustf economy, its supply chainn logistics infrastructure and corporate base, also helped win NCR “We looked at all of these factorsx and Georgia scored amongst the highest of all Nuti said. Atlanta also got a little help from the economicallydepresserd Midwest. “Recruitment has been difficult in Nuti said.
NCR’s move to the Southeast was also promptedfby consolidation. “At the end of the day we really were a company that was widely Nuti said. Since NCR’s 1997 spin-ofvf from AT&T, “the company was everywhere and The company needed to consolidatew into a single campus to improve collaboration and he said. NCR’s executive offices, will remain in Manhattan, Nuti “That center surrounds our largest and most major customers in the world in thebanking industry,” he said.
“That’ s where we host many of our customerw in the financialservices