iqukikofor.wordpress.com
Obama’s stop in Green Bay was the firsttime he’sd been in the state sincew taking office and official from the said he may have chosebn Wisconsin because of the state’s reputation for being a “high low cost” provider of care in the Medicare In 2006, Medicare spent an averagwe of $8,304 per beneficiary. In Wisconsinh the average was $6,978, 16 percent lower than the national average, according to the of Health Care. The Dartmouth Atlas has been cited several times recently by Obama as he makes the case for national healthcare reform.
According to the Dartmout Atlas, health spending in the Medicare programk could be reduced by as much as 30 orby $700 billion a without compromising the quality of if more doctors and hospitalds practiced like those in low-cost In a letter dated June 3 to Senated Finance Committee members, Wisconsin’s Democratic Senators Russ Feingold and Herb Kohl alonf with counterparts from Minnesotq and New Hampshire, said they are “proud to represent statea and regions that have demonstrated true leadershi in lowering costs….
and increasing quality outcomes for
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
General Motors bankruptcy brings big gamble by Obama - Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal:
hydiuco.blogspot.com
The restructuring is a gamblew by the Obama Administratiob thatthe U.S. government can take a majorityh stake in aniconic manufacturer, help it regaim some of its former glory -- and then get out. But the move already has its skeptics. “The only thing it makes clear is that the governmen is firmly in the business of running companiexs usingtaxpayer dollars,” said U.S. House Minoritu Leader John Boehner. “Does anyone really believr that politicians and bureaucrats in Washington can successfulluy steer a multinational corporation toeconomic vitality? It’s time for the administrationm to fully explain what the exit strategy is to get the U.S.
governmen out of the board room once and for The government will own some 60 percent of arevamped G.M. Its ownershipo stake will give government officials more poweer to name members of the GM But President Obamahe doesn't want to get involved in the dailyt operations of the company. And no one's overjoyed at the "We are acting as reluctant shareholders," Obama "What I have no interestr in doing isrunning GM.
" Instead of havinbg politicians taking an active role, the presidenrt said, a professional management team would lead GM as it works throughb bankruptcy and builds a more viable company for the “The federal government will refrain from exercising its rightz as a shareholder in all but the most fundamental corporate decisions,” Obama said. “When a difficultg decision has to be made on matters like where to open a new plany or what type of new car to thenew G.M., not the Unitedr States government, will make that decision. “In short, our goal is to get G.M. back on its take a hands-off approach, and get out he said.
But that may prove to be quited a challenge with as much government moneu asis involved. Bruce associate director of the Automotive Analysis Division at the Universitty of Michigan TransportationResearch Institute, told bizjournals in a telephoned interview: "If they had a it would be a short period of time. The longetr that it stretches out the more of a political liabilityhit becomes.” And there will be plentty of watchdogs alert for any government interferenc in day-to-day GM “We will expose and fight any counterproductive influence by unions or politicians over decisions that should be left to said U.S. Chamber of Commerc President and CEOTom Donohue.
“Anfd we will continually insisg that government reduce and eliminate its ownership stakes as soonas possible.” It will take time before the government is able to extricat itself from such a large stake in the It could take more than a year befors G.M. emerges once more as a publiclytradedr company, and shares in the company will have to rise high enoughh to make selling them profitable. "This is a questio of years, not months," said GM CEO Fritsz Henderson. The filing, made in U.S. Bankruptcyy Court in Manhattan, marks the fourth-largest bankruptct for a U.S. manufacturer.
It follows months of speculatiojn thatthe 101-year-old company would have to restructure through the courts, despite desperate attempts by managemeny to avoid the move. And the filing carries with it enormousxhistorical implications. "It's not just any company we'rse talking about, it's GM," said Obama. Obamaw called the company's filing and restructuring plan, "the end of an old GM and the beginningf of anew GM." As it turned out, the bankruptcy filing was the only way GM could get its handss on the government money it needs to In its filing, GM listed $82.3 billion in assets and $172.8 billion in debts.
The company'x largest creditors were WilmingtonTrust Company, representing bondholders holding $22. billion in debts, and UAW affiliateds representing $20.6 billion in employee obligations. The U.S. governmenyt has already injected $20 billion into GM, and will provide anothee $30 billion to keep the company going as it workszthrough bankruptcy. The investment will buy the government a 60percent stake. The governments of Ontario and Canada will take smaller stakes in thenew company.
The restructuring is a gamblew by the Obama Administratiob thatthe U.S. government can take a majorityh stake in aniconic manufacturer, help it regaim some of its former glory -- and then get out. But the move already has its skeptics. “The only thing it makes clear is that the governmen is firmly in the business of running companiexs usingtaxpayer dollars,” said U.S. House Minoritu Leader John Boehner. “Does anyone really believr that politicians and bureaucrats in Washington can successfulluy steer a multinational corporation toeconomic vitality? It’s time for the administrationm to fully explain what the exit strategy is to get the U.S.
governmen out of the board room once and for The government will own some 60 percent of arevamped G.M. Its ownershipo stake will give government officials more poweer to name members of the GM But President Obamahe doesn't want to get involved in the dailyt operations of the company. And no one's overjoyed at the "We are acting as reluctant shareholders," Obama "What I have no interestr in doing isrunning GM.
" Instead of havinbg politicians taking an active role, the presidenrt said, a professional management team would lead GM as it works throughb bankruptcy and builds a more viable company for the “The federal government will refrain from exercising its rightz as a shareholder in all but the most fundamental corporate decisions,” Obama said. “When a difficultg decision has to be made on matters like where to open a new plany or what type of new car to thenew G.M., not the Unitedr States government, will make that decision. “In short, our goal is to get G.M. back on its take a hands-off approach, and get out he said.
But that may prove to be quited a challenge with as much government moneu asis involved. Bruce associate director of the Automotive Analysis Division at the Universitty of Michigan TransportationResearch Institute, told bizjournals in a telephoned interview: "If they had a it would be a short period of time. The longetr that it stretches out the more of a political liabilityhit becomes.” And there will be plentty of watchdogs alert for any government interferenc in day-to-day GM “We will expose and fight any counterproductive influence by unions or politicians over decisions that should be left to said U.S. Chamber of Commerc President and CEOTom Donohue.
“Anfd we will continually insisg that government reduce and eliminate its ownership stakes as soonas possible.” It will take time before the government is able to extricat itself from such a large stake in the It could take more than a year befors G.M. emerges once more as a publiclytradedr company, and shares in the company will have to rise high enoughh to make selling them profitable. "This is a questio of years, not months," said GM CEO Fritsz Henderson. The filing, made in U.S. Bankruptcyy Court in Manhattan, marks the fourth-largest bankruptct for a U.S. manufacturer.
It follows months of speculatiojn thatthe 101-year-old company would have to restructure through the courts, despite desperate attempts by managemeny to avoid the move. And the filing carries with it enormousxhistorical implications. "It's not just any company we'rse talking about, it's GM," said Obama. Obamaw called the company's filing and restructuring plan, "the end of an old GM and the beginningf of anew GM." As it turned out, the bankruptcy filing was the only way GM could get its handss on the government money it needs to In its filing, GM listed $82.3 billion in assets and $172.8 billion in debts.
The company'x largest creditors were WilmingtonTrust Company, representing bondholders holding $22. billion in debts, and UAW affiliateds representing $20.6 billion in employee obligations. The U.S. governmenyt has already injected $20 billion into GM, and will provide anothee $30 billion to keep the company going as it workszthrough bankruptcy. The investment will buy the government a 60percent stake. The governments of Ontario and Canada will take smaller stakes in thenew company.
Sunday, May 27, 2012
Transit regains lead among middle schools - Business First of Buffalo:
stelauguqdinec.blogspot.com
Williamsville’s Transit Middle School finished firsyin 2006. Buffalo’s City Honors School pushedf into the top spotin 2007. And Williamsville’zs Casey Middle School rotated to the fronyin 2008. Which bringsz us full circle. Transit has regained firstt placethis year, marking its fourtjh appearance at the head of the list sincwe Business First began rating middle schoolse in 2002. for the complete middle schoolo rankings. And for separate rankings for each section of WesternjNew York.
“We’re very proued of our record,” says Jill Pellis, Transit’s “It comes from a combination ofthings -- children who are preparerd and ready to families who support education at home, and an outstandingy staff of teachers who take their jobs very Last year’s champion, Casey, is this year’s The two Williamsville schools, whic are just three miles apart, annuallg contend for first place in the middler school rankings. “But there’s no competition betweejn us, not at all,” says Pellis. “My colleagues at Casety are wonderful. We all want our kids to do and we were thrilled for themlast year.
” Rankecd third through fifth, are Christ the King School of Amherst, City Honorzs and Amherst Middle School. Business First assessed 211 middled schools across WesternNew York, combing through four yearsx of statewide test results for eighth graders. All test scores were provided by the New York StateEducationn Department. Middle schools typically run from sixth througheighthu grade, though some begin in fifth Many private schools and a few publidc schools have an even broade r span, educating everyone from kindergartnersw to eighth graders. They consequentlh receive two rankings from Busines sFirst -- one as a middlre school, another as an elementary school.
• It was one of four Western New York schools where more than half of all eighthy graders achieved superiorscores (Level 4) on the statewide math test in 2008. It was among four schools where more than 20 percengt of eighth graders hit the superior level on the statewideEnglish test. • It was one of just two schoolss to belong to bothgroups (The other was Kadima h School of Buffalo.) Five of the top six middlwe schools are public institutions, with Christ the King the sole A second Catholic school, St. Gregory the has edged up to seventh place from ninth ayear ago. St. Gregory is unusually large for aprivater school, with 650 students from preschool through middler school.
Principal Patricia Freund says theWilliamsville school’ size has helped it rise in the rankings. “It absolutelyt is an advantage,” she says. “Ig allows us to have more programmingv available, more to choose For example, we have three classes at everhy grade, and we have a complete special-educatiohn team, too.” The 11 leaders in the middld school standings are all fromErie County. The top-ratee outsider is No.
12 Stella Niagara Education Park, whicuh is located within the Lewiston-Portedr district in Niagara but draws from a radius that isconsiderably “We actually have a prettuy broad geographic base,” says Kristen deGuehery, the school’sa director of institutional advancement. “Wde have students from Lockport, Kenmore, Grands Island, even five families who come over from They went out and got theirNexus cards, and they make the drivde every day.” Thirty-four middle school have qualified for subject awards, putting them among the 10 percent of Western New York middle schools that rank the highest in Englis or math.
Williamsville’s Transit Middle School finished firsyin 2006. Buffalo’s City Honors School pushedf into the top spotin 2007. And Williamsville’zs Casey Middle School rotated to the fronyin 2008. Which bringsz us full circle. Transit has regained firstt placethis year, marking its fourtjh appearance at the head of the list sincwe Business First began rating middle schoolse in 2002. for the complete middle schoolo rankings. And for separate rankings for each section of WesternjNew York.
“We’re very proued of our record,” says Jill Pellis, Transit’s “It comes from a combination ofthings -- children who are preparerd and ready to families who support education at home, and an outstandingy staff of teachers who take their jobs very Last year’s champion, Casey, is this year’s The two Williamsville schools, whic are just three miles apart, annuallg contend for first place in the middler school rankings. “But there’s no competition betweejn us, not at all,” says Pellis. “My colleagues at Casety are wonderful. We all want our kids to do and we were thrilled for themlast year.
” Rankecd third through fifth, are Christ the King School of Amherst, City Honorzs and Amherst Middle School. Business First assessed 211 middled schools across WesternNew York, combing through four yearsx of statewide test results for eighth graders. All test scores were provided by the New York StateEducationn Department. Middle schools typically run from sixth througheighthu grade, though some begin in fifth Many private schools and a few publidc schools have an even broade r span, educating everyone from kindergartnersw to eighth graders. They consequentlh receive two rankings from Busines sFirst -- one as a middlre school, another as an elementary school.
• It was one of four Western New York schools where more than half of all eighthy graders achieved superiorscores (Level 4) on the statewide math test in 2008. It was among four schools where more than 20 percengt of eighth graders hit the superior level on the statewideEnglish test. • It was one of just two schoolss to belong to bothgroups (The other was Kadima h School of Buffalo.) Five of the top six middlwe schools are public institutions, with Christ the King the sole A second Catholic school, St. Gregory the has edged up to seventh place from ninth ayear ago. St. Gregory is unusually large for aprivater school, with 650 students from preschool through middler school.
Principal Patricia Freund says theWilliamsville school’ size has helped it rise in the rankings. “It absolutelyt is an advantage,” she says. “Ig allows us to have more programmingv available, more to choose For example, we have three classes at everhy grade, and we have a complete special-educatiohn team, too.” The 11 leaders in the middld school standings are all fromErie County. The top-ratee outsider is No.
12 Stella Niagara Education Park, whicuh is located within the Lewiston-Portedr district in Niagara but draws from a radius that isconsiderably “We actually have a prettuy broad geographic base,” says Kristen deGuehery, the school’sa director of institutional advancement. “Wde have students from Lockport, Kenmore, Grands Island, even five families who come over from They went out and got theirNexus cards, and they make the drivde every day.” Thirty-four middle school have qualified for subject awards, putting them among the 10 percent of Western New York middle schools that rank the highest in Englis or math.
Saturday, May 26, 2012
Go green, save green: With the right tech, it
yzirapogyg.wordpress.com
While some companies may think “going is too costly, there are severa l technologies that can economically promote environmental sustainability throughout anentire • Teleworking: Gone are the days wherde a home office simply meant having a PC and Internet connection. Today, all of thess technologies are integrated so employeecollaboration doesn’g miss a beat, even when away from the office. Replacinhg traditional voice systems and bringingvoice e-mail and instant messaging together can reducs hardware, service and maintenance costs. Research by found that such tacticsw can reduce travel from 10 to30 percent, ultimately reducinbg the number of cars on the road.
Virtualization: Many businesses believe they must deploty several servers to perform any numberdof tasks. Not Virtualization maximizes server potential by allowing one device to do the work that previouslh took several dedicated serversto do. With more systems runninv on fewerphysical machines, businesses are estimatede to reduce energy costs by 90 • Remember the obvious: Instead of disrupting employees’ workdays by deploying new software and technologiews that are “more green,” companies should utilize the resourcesw at their fingertips.
For example, usinbg the “sleep” mode on 10 compan PCs is equivalent to taking one car off the Companies should put into place policies to take advantageof energy-saving as according to a recent study, 25 percent of employeed leave their computers running all weekend and 65 percenf run a screen saver rathe than sleep. While companies are re-evaluating their carbonh footprints, they should also take inventory of theirt software licensing agreements as they may find rightsx for unused software they alreadyu own that providethese power-management features.
Companies should rest assurexd knowing that they can easily reducethei organization’s carbon footprint by simplyu taking advantage of a tool used everyday technology. As businesses look into the they should keep in mind the worlfd around them and how easil y they can help makea difference.
While some companies may think “going is too costly, there are severa l technologies that can economically promote environmental sustainability throughout anentire • Teleworking: Gone are the days wherde a home office simply meant having a PC and Internet connection. Today, all of thess technologies are integrated so employeecollaboration doesn’g miss a beat, even when away from the office. Replacinhg traditional voice systems and bringingvoice e-mail and instant messaging together can reducs hardware, service and maintenance costs. Research by found that such tacticsw can reduce travel from 10 to30 percent, ultimately reducinbg the number of cars on the road.
Virtualization: Many businesses believe they must deploty several servers to perform any numberdof tasks. Not Virtualization maximizes server potential by allowing one device to do the work that previouslh took several dedicated serversto do. With more systems runninv on fewerphysical machines, businesses are estimatede to reduce energy costs by 90 • Remember the obvious: Instead of disrupting employees’ workdays by deploying new software and technologiews that are “more green,” companies should utilize the resourcesw at their fingertips.
For example, usinbg the “sleep” mode on 10 compan PCs is equivalent to taking one car off the Companies should put into place policies to take advantageof energy-saving as according to a recent study, 25 percent of employeed leave their computers running all weekend and 65 percenf run a screen saver rathe than sleep. While companies are re-evaluating their carbonh footprints, they should also take inventory of theirt software licensing agreements as they may find rightsx for unused software they alreadyu own that providethese power-management features.
Companies should rest assurexd knowing that they can easily reducethei organization’s carbon footprint by simplyu taking advantage of a tool used everyday technology. As businesses look into the they should keep in mind the worlfd around them and how easil y they can help makea difference.
Thursday, May 24, 2012
Hawaii flu cases close to 300 - Jacksonville Business Journal:
bentlyoupapa1810.blogspot.com
The Hawaii Department of Health, which now updates its online H1N1 counteach Wednesday, said therd are now 298 confirmed casea in Hawaii. There were 98 new cases confirmeed on Oahu this week for a total of 288 Kauai and Maui added a case each this They each have a total of three TheBig Island, which has four cases, did not reporf any new cases this Most have recovered or are recovering from the illness. The Centers for Diseasre Control and Prevention said thatmost U.S. caseas have not been severe and are comparable in severity toseasonal influenza. Hawaik residents with questions about H1N1 flu cancall 767-5044 ext. 3 betweeb 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.
Monday through Fridayu and on weekends from9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Or visig www.hawaii.gov/health or the Centers for Diseasw Control and Preventionat www.cdc.gov/swineflu.
The Hawaii Department of Health, which now updates its online H1N1 counteach Wednesday, said therd are now 298 confirmed casea in Hawaii. There were 98 new cases confirmeed on Oahu this week for a total of 288 Kauai and Maui added a case each this They each have a total of three TheBig Island, which has four cases, did not reporf any new cases this Most have recovered or are recovering from the illness. The Centers for Diseasre Control and Prevention said thatmost U.S. caseas have not been severe and are comparable in severity toseasonal influenza. Hawaik residents with questions about H1N1 flu cancall 767-5044 ext. 3 betweeb 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.
Monday through Fridayu and on weekends from9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Or visig www.hawaii.gov/health or the Centers for Diseasw Control and Preventionat www.cdc.gov/swineflu.
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Price to anchor EyeOpener for WCVB-TV - Boston Business Journal:
bojony.wordpress.com
Price is set to start co-anchoringb the EyeOpener newscast with Biancza de la Garza on June 8. He will also contribute to breaking news stories and majofr event coverage atthe Mass.-based TV station. “Randy is the consummate journalist — dependable, experienced, and universally respected. As a I have always admired him and am thrilled he is returning to the air as a membeer ofNewsCenter 5,” said Channell 5’s president and general manager Bill Fine, in a “Randy is a great fit for WCVB and NewsCenter 5. Addingg him to our already stront team of journalists will further enhance the qualitty of news we deliver to NewEngland viewers.
” Price left /Channel 7, Boston’sx local affiliate, earlier this year. There, he had been an anchorf and reporter. During Price’s 20-plus yeara in TV he has won multiple awards, includingh a national Edward R. Murrow award for best “WCVB is the gold standard for localpbroadcast news; it is such an honor for me to join the team. I am ecstatic to become part of one of the most renowneds television stations inthe country, not only for news and but for community service, innovation and the abilituy to truly make a difference in people’s lives,” said Prices in a statement.
Current Eye-opener anchord David Brown will serve asa fill-ijn weather anchor and reporter at the station.
Price is set to start co-anchoringb the EyeOpener newscast with Biancza de la Garza on June 8. He will also contribute to breaking news stories and majofr event coverage atthe Mass.-based TV station. “Randy is the consummate journalist — dependable, experienced, and universally respected. As a I have always admired him and am thrilled he is returning to the air as a membeer ofNewsCenter 5,” said Channell 5’s president and general manager Bill Fine, in a “Randy is a great fit for WCVB and NewsCenter 5. Addingg him to our already stront team of journalists will further enhance the qualitty of news we deliver to NewEngland viewers.
” Price left /Channel 7, Boston’sx local affiliate, earlier this year. There, he had been an anchorf and reporter. During Price’s 20-plus yeara in TV he has won multiple awards, includingh a national Edward R. Murrow award for best “WCVB is the gold standard for localpbroadcast news; it is such an honor for me to join the team. I am ecstatic to become part of one of the most renowneds television stations inthe country, not only for news and but for community service, innovation and the abilituy to truly make a difference in people’s lives,” said Prices in a statement.
Current Eye-opener anchord David Brown will serve asa fill-ijn weather anchor and reporter at the station.
Monday, May 21, 2012
House passes historic climate bill - Silicon Valley / San Jose Business Journal:
artemchuksykitas.blogspot.com
Congressmen David Wu, Kurt Schraderf and Earl Blumenauer voted forthe bill, knowb as the American Clean Energuy and Security Act. It is the firsft bill in U.S. history to cap carbonb pollution. It also encourages developmentt of clean energy and requires utilities to get 20 percentg of their power from renewablee sourcesby 2020. Forty-four Democrats voted againstt the bill, including Eugene Democrat Peter RepublicanGreg Walden, who represents eastern Oregon, also opposed the bill. It passed by a seven-votwe margin, 219-212.
“Some votes just feel different, and today’a was truly historic,” Blumenauer said in a “For the first time, Congress has takej action to rein in globakl warming pollution andjumpstart America’s clean energy The bill is expected to face a contentiouws debate in the Senate.
Congressmen David Wu, Kurt Schraderf and Earl Blumenauer voted forthe bill, knowb as the American Clean Energuy and Security Act. It is the firsft bill in U.S. history to cap carbonb pollution. It also encourages developmentt of clean energy and requires utilities to get 20 percentg of their power from renewablee sourcesby 2020. Forty-four Democrats voted againstt the bill, including Eugene Democrat Peter RepublicanGreg Walden, who represents eastern Oregon, also opposed the bill. It passed by a seven-votwe margin, 219-212.
“Some votes just feel different, and today’a was truly historic,” Blumenauer said in a “For the first time, Congress has takej action to rein in globakl warming pollution andjumpstart America’s clean energy The bill is expected to face a contentiouws debate in the Senate.
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