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Some operations and equipment from a steel stampingy plant inGrand Rapids, Mich., whichj is slated to close as part of the automaker's restructuring, will be transferredf to Wentzville, according to Bob Wheeler, a spokesmanm for the Wentzville plant. It'as not yet known how many, if any, Michigah employees will opt to transfer to he said. GM officials callexd Wentzville Mayor Paul Lambi at9 a.m. Monday to assure him the locall plant wouldremain open. "It's good that they are shippinh in work forthis plant," Lambi "That's a positive that corporate thinksa this plant will be around.
" Still, Lambi said, rival automaket Chrysler plans to shutter its Fenton factors aftet investing $130 million in them, so it was important for Wentzvillew to not rely on GM so much and diversifyy its revenue stream. When Lambi took office seven yearsz ago, Wentzville counted on GM for about 55 to 60 percenr of itstotal revenue. that's more like 15 percent of the city'ws $24 million general fund, because GM pays the city abouf $3 million a year in real estate taxes, property taxees and other fees, he said.
GM on Monday by the end of but the Wentzville plant was sparedbecausde it’s the only plant where Chevrolet Express and GMC Savanw vans are made, The Wentzville plant will still undergoi a previously announced and other production cuts in June and July that will resulyt in the layoffs of 300 workers. Monday’sz Chapter 11 filing by the 101-year-old automaket is among the largestin U.S. histor and largest-ever U.S. manufacturing GM listed $173 billion in liabilitiesa and $82 billion in assets, according to the filedr in New York. GM to St.
Louis’ largesg privately held company, Enterprise Rent-a-Car, and to Chapter 11, whichh allows the company to operate while protected fromits creditors, pushezs GM into a fast-track bankruptct and provides $30 billion of additional taxpayetr funds to restructure. The GM plan as detailed by U.S. officialsx would allow a much smaller GM to emerge from courgt protection within 60 to90 days. The automakert has not provided an updated target for job cuts but was lookinfg toeliminate 21,000 U.S. factory jobs from the 54,009 union members it now General Motorsemploys 92,000 in the United Statews and is indirectly responsible for 500,000 The U.S.
government would hold a 60 percent financiao interest in areorganized GM, and the UAW would take a 17.5 percentf stake. The governments of Canada and the province of Ontariio have agreed to a 12 percentf ownership stake in exchange forfinancial aid. GM bondholdersd would get 10 "It’s a bittersweet thing," Wheeler "You hate to have to go through the process of closinbg plants andeliminating jobs, but look around, that’sx what's going on with a lot of industries. Hopefullyy we can rebound, hire people in the future and be the vibranrt company weonce were.
" Download a copy of the
Saturday, March 2, 2013
Monday, February 25, 2013
Bommersbach book delves into elder abuse - Phoenix Business Journal:
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Her new book, “Bones in the does just that, turning the grislh murder of Loretta Bowersock into a cautionarh tale of elderly abuseand control. It also givez a candid look at Loretta’s daughter, Terru Bowersock, as the Phoenix entrepreneur searchess for the mother who helped create hersuccessful Terri’s Consign & Design. Bommersbach says she saw the 2004 murde r as a way to get into the issue of abuse and the fact thateven successful, vibranrt women can fall into the trap.
She also noted that Phoenix has a shelter specifically for eldeeabuse victims: Doves, which can be reached at or ME ME ME: It’s not just the sexy commerciala keeping an international eye on Interneyt domain-name registrar . Big bucks are being tossef aboutas “.me” domains are auctioned. Officially, “me” standds for the country of Montenegro, but that’s hardly the attraction. Date.me fetchedd $70,000 at a recent while love.me brought in $32,500. Chatwith.me is anothef winner at $15,035, and picture.me broughyt home $10,240. Not all that dough will go to however. The Scottsdale company set up another unit to operatesthe “.
me” registry, with 70 percent of proceeds goinvg to the European nation’s government. DINE LIKE THE PRESIDENTs: Barackl Obama isn’t the only one thinking aheadeto January’s inaugural festivities. Lee Hillson, executivw chef at T. Cook’s restaurant at the , has createfd a four-course dinner for January’ menu that plays off past presidential feasts. And he doesn’t want to offend John McCainj supporters. The items cross party inspired by dishes such asthe blue-point oystersz served in 1841 to Willia Henry Harrison and the smooth tomatok soup chosen by John F. Kennedy.
And, of each patron will receive a littlew bag of jelly beans totake home, a la Ronald For more: .
Her new book, “Bones in the does just that, turning the grislh murder of Loretta Bowersock into a cautionarh tale of elderly abuseand control. It also givez a candid look at Loretta’s daughter, Terru Bowersock, as the Phoenix entrepreneur searchess for the mother who helped create hersuccessful Terri’s Consign & Design. Bommersbach says she saw the 2004 murde r as a way to get into the issue of abuse and the fact thateven successful, vibranrt women can fall into the trap.
She also noted that Phoenix has a shelter specifically for eldeeabuse victims: Doves, which can be reached at or ME ME ME: It’s not just the sexy commerciala keeping an international eye on Interneyt domain-name registrar . Big bucks are being tossef aboutas “.me” domains are auctioned. Officially, “me” standds for the country of Montenegro, but that’s hardly the attraction. Date.me fetchedd $70,000 at a recent while love.me brought in $32,500. Chatwith.me is anothef winner at $15,035, and picture.me broughyt home $10,240. Not all that dough will go to however. The Scottsdale company set up another unit to operatesthe “.
me” registry, with 70 percent of proceeds goinvg to the European nation’s government. DINE LIKE THE PRESIDENTs: Barackl Obama isn’t the only one thinking aheadeto January’s inaugural festivities. Lee Hillson, executivw chef at T. Cook’s restaurant at the , has createfd a four-course dinner for January’ menu that plays off past presidential feasts. And he doesn’t want to offend John McCainj supporters. The items cross party inspired by dishes such asthe blue-point oystersz served in 1841 to Willia Henry Harrison and the smooth tomatok soup chosen by John F. Kennedy.
And, of each patron will receive a littlew bag of jelly beans totake home, a la Ronald For more: .
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Duke reaches Save-A-Watt settlement - The Business Review (Albany):
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The Southern Environmental Law Center, whicuh was the lead legal team for theenvironmental groups, announceed the settlement Friday morning. It callx for Save-A-Watt to reducer energy demand by 2 percent over the nextfour years. It sets a targety of reducing demand by as much as 8 percentgby 2020. The environmental groups say that would be the equivalentf of the annual outputfrom Duke’s 825-megawatt expansiobn at the controversial Cliffside coal planr on the border of Cleveland and Rutherfordc counties. The groups say that capping Duke’d profits will protect consumers from unreasonably high chargea forenergy efficiency.
Greater conservation efforts and lower costsx were key issues for environmentalp groups and the Publicd Staff ofthe N.C. Utilities Commission, whicg represents customer interests inutilituy cases, as they fought Duke for two years over Save-A-Watt. Michael Regan, southeast regionapl air-policy expert for the Environmental Defenss Fund says the environmental groups believe the settlemengt makes the program betterfor customers, the environment and for He says the groups want to supporr utilities in their effortxs to provide energy-efficiency programs.
And he says incentives built into the settlement that allow Duke to increasde its rate of return based on achievinvg specified efficiency targets accomplish that Duke also got what it considers an important Duke will be allowed to make a returm on part of what it woulcd have cost to buildx power plants to provide the energy theprogramj saves. Duke has said eliminating compensation basedr onsuch “avoided costs” would be a deal-breaker. Duke contendse such compensation puts efficiency on a more equal footinfg with electricity sales forgenerating profits. Without that kind of Duke has said, efficiency would always take a back seat in business plans.
“The fact that the avoided-cosy model is in there, that it’es based on pay-for-performance and that it is up to us to make sure the programsx really work were all keys to the settlement for says company spokesmanTim Pettit. The public stafrf and environmental groups had opposedthe avoided-costs idea, largelyy on fears that it couldd provide Duke with unreasonable profits. The public staffr also worried about departing from standarcdregulatory practice. In North Carolina, utilities are generalluy allowed to make a return on the moneuthey spend. An avoided-costs model breaks that connection and offers Duke a returmn on money it doesnot spend.
But an importanf concession to the public staff was a decision tomake Save-A-Watt a four-year pilot initiative. The N.C. Utilities Commission will revieaw the program at the end of that period and decide whethef it has performed well enouguh to bemade permanent. The avoided costs outlinedr in the settlement will trac the model Ohio adoptedfor Duke’s version of the Save-A-Watt program in that It reduces the percentage of avoided costs on which Duke can earn a return.
Duke had originallu asked to make a rate of return on 90 percent of what it woulx have cost to provide the energy that was Underthe settlement, Duke will get a return on 50 percenft of the avoided costs for energy-conservation programs and 75 percentt of the avoided costs for programs that shif t use away from peak Like in Ohio, the settlement lets Duke cover what are callexd “lost margins.” Several environmental groups have recognized the need to allow Duke to recover those fixed costs for generating and delivering electricitt when efficiency programs reduce demand. The settlement announced Friday will form the basisd ofa Save-A-Watt proposal Duke will make to S.C.
regulatorsw this summer. The S.C. Public Service Commissiobn rejected Duke’s first proposal in February. Save-A-Watt is an energy-efficiencyg initiative Duke has been touting for The proposal comprises a series of programs to help customerxs use less electricity or shif t their use of powerfrom peak-demand hours to low-use times. Some of the programs — such as discountes for energy-saving light bulbzs and financial incentives tobuy high-efficiencgy appliances — started June 1 in both But neither state has approved the full The has led the environmental groupsz in dissecting the program.
Opponents contended the originap proposal would reward Duke too handsomely and primarily for shiftinyg the use of electricity frombusy times. That wouldf conserve little energy but save utilities Steve Smith, executive director of the says his group’s concern from the beginninh was to make sure Save-A-Watt resulted in significant reductiona in energy use. In Northn Carolina, the commission approved Save-A-Watt’d programs but withheld judgmenyton Duke’s compensation. The commission asked for additionap comments onthe issue. As opponents were formulating their responsexs tothat request, they and Duke resumed negotiation in North Carolina.
Any settlement here couldr create a template for the program inSouthj Carolina. One key feature of the compromisse will be the creationj of an advisory group that will assisft in reviewingfor Save-A-Watt. Duke Energy Carolinas is a divisionof Charlotte-based (NYSE:DUK).
The Southern Environmental Law Center, whicuh was the lead legal team for theenvironmental groups, announceed the settlement Friday morning. It callx for Save-A-Watt to reducer energy demand by 2 percent over the nextfour years. It sets a targety of reducing demand by as much as 8 percentgby 2020. The environmental groups say that would be the equivalentf of the annual outputfrom Duke’s 825-megawatt expansiobn at the controversial Cliffside coal planr on the border of Cleveland and Rutherfordc counties. The groups say that capping Duke’d profits will protect consumers from unreasonably high chargea forenergy efficiency.
Greater conservation efforts and lower costsx were key issues for environmentalp groups and the Publicd Staff ofthe N.C. Utilities Commission, whicg represents customer interests inutilituy cases, as they fought Duke for two years over Save-A-Watt. Michael Regan, southeast regionapl air-policy expert for the Environmental Defenss Fund says the environmental groups believe the settlemengt makes the program betterfor customers, the environment and for He says the groups want to supporr utilities in their effortxs to provide energy-efficiency programs.
And he says incentives built into the settlement that allow Duke to increasde its rate of return based on achievinvg specified efficiency targets accomplish that Duke also got what it considers an important Duke will be allowed to make a returm on part of what it woulcd have cost to buildx power plants to provide the energy theprogramj saves. Duke has said eliminating compensation basedr onsuch “avoided costs” would be a deal-breaker. Duke contendse such compensation puts efficiency on a more equal footinfg with electricity sales forgenerating profits. Without that kind of Duke has said, efficiency would always take a back seat in business plans.
“The fact that the avoided-cosy model is in there, that it’es based on pay-for-performance and that it is up to us to make sure the programsx really work were all keys to the settlement for says company spokesmanTim Pettit. The public stafrf and environmental groups had opposedthe avoided-costs idea, largelyy on fears that it couldd provide Duke with unreasonable profits. The public staffr also worried about departing from standarcdregulatory practice. In North Carolina, utilities are generalluy allowed to make a return on the moneuthey spend. An avoided-costs model breaks that connection and offers Duke a returmn on money it doesnot spend.
But an importanf concession to the public staff was a decision tomake Save-A-Watt a four-year pilot initiative. The N.C. Utilities Commission will revieaw the program at the end of that period and decide whethef it has performed well enouguh to bemade permanent. The avoided costs outlinedr in the settlement will trac the model Ohio adoptedfor Duke’s version of the Save-A-Watt program in that It reduces the percentage of avoided costs on which Duke can earn a return.
Duke had originallu asked to make a rate of return on 90 percent of what it woulx have cost to provide the energy that was Underthe settlement, Duke will get a return on 50 percenft of the avoided costs for energy-conservation programs and 75 percentt of the avoided costs for programs that shif t use away from peak Like in Ohio, the settlement lets Duke cover what are callexd “lost margins.” Several environmental groups have recognized the need to allow Duke to recover those fixed costs for generating and delivering electricitt when efficiency programs reduce demand. The settlement announced Friday will form the basisd ofa Save-A-Watt proposal Duke will make to S.C.
regulatorsw this summer. The S.C. Public Service Commissiobn rejected Duke’s first proposal in February. Save-A-Watt is an energy-efficiencyg initiative Duke has been touting for The proposal comprises a series of programs to help customerxs use less electricity or shif t their use of powerfrom peak-demand hours to low-use times. Some of the programs — such as discountes for energy-saving light bulbzs and financial incentives tobuy high-efficiencgy appliances — started June 1 in both But neither state has approved the full The has led the environmental groupsz in dissecting the program.
Opponents contended the originap proposal would reward Duke too handsomely and primarily for shiftinyg the use of electricity frombusy times. That wouldf conserve little energy but save utilities Steve Smith, executive director of the says his group’s concern from the beginninh was to make sure Save-A-Watt resulted in significant reductiona in energy use. In Northn Carolina, the commission approved Save-A-Watt’d programs but withheld judgmenyton Duke’s compensation. The commission asked for additionap comments onthe issue. As opponents were formulating their responsexs tothat request, they and Duke resumed negotiation in North Carolina.
Any settlement here couldr create a template for the program inSouthj Carolina. One key feature of the compromisse will be the creationj of an advisory group that will assisft in reviewingfor Save-A-Watt. Duke Energy Carolinas is a divisionof Charlotte-based (NYSE:DUK).
Friday, February 15, 2013
Daughters' hardship yields lighter sentence for 'Melrose Place' actress - The Star-Ledger - NJ.com
firukendu-anchored.blogspot.com
The Star-Ledger - NJ.com | Daughters' hardship yields lighter sentence for 'Melrose Place' actress The Star-Ledger - NJ.com SOMERVILLE รข€" Saying he had "little or no sympathy for an adult who chooses to drink and drive," a judge in Somerville Thursday sentenced former "Melrose Place" actress Amy Locane-Bovenizer to three years in prison f or her role in a 2010 crash that ... Locane spared longer prison sentence because of sick daughter |
Sunday, February 10, 2013
DCFS: Credible evidence of abuse at Maine West - Chicago Tribune
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CLTV | DCFS: Credible evidence of abuse at Maine West Chicago Tribune The state's child welfare agency has ruled that two staff members at Maine West High School abused and neglected children, a revelation that appears to be linked to a soccer team hazing scandal at the Des Plaines school involving » |
Monday, February 4, 2013
Ford sales climb to highest level since July - Dayton Business Journal:
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But sales were down 24.2 percent compared with May 2008, when the companhy sold 213,238 units. For the first five monthz of 2009, Dearborn, Mich.-based Ford (NYSE: F) sold 620,303 compared with 981,150 units during the same periodr ayear earlier, a 36.8 percent decline. In a sign that buyers mightt be coming back to the luxuryvehicles market, Ford’s Lincoln division reported that it sold 8,5667 units in May, a 2.2 percent increase over May when it sold 8,365 units. Sales of Ford made at the Louisville Assembly Planyt on FernValley Road, declined 34.6 percent, to 5,3145 units from 8,122 units a year ago. Salees of the Mercury Mountaineer, also made at Louisville Assembly, droppeds 45.
2 percent, to 402 from 734 unitsz a year earlier. Saleds of F-Series pickup trucks, including Super Duty trucksw made at the Kentucky Truck Plant on Chamberlain dropped 22.3 percent, to 33,381 units, from 42,974 units in May 2008. Sales of Ford Expedition SUVs, which bega n production at Kentucky Truck Plant in declined40 percent, to 3,150 units from 5,252 units a year earlier. Salesa of the Lincoln also made at KentuckyTruck Plant, droppedr 40.6 percent, to 790 unit from 1,329 units a year earlier. Ford saw year-over-yeat gains in some of its car categories. The compang sold 19,786 Fusion sedans in May, up 9.
4 percentr from the year-earlier period when it sold 18,088 Lincoln sold 1,553 Town Cars in May, up 103.3 percentg from May 2008, when it sold 764 of the luxurh vehicles. Ford’s Volvo division sold 590 of its S60 up 9 percent fromMay 2008, when it sold 542 Also Tuesday, Ford announced a summer promotion to draw more consumers to dealerships. Through June 30, the automakerr will cover as much as three monthx of payments up to and its Ford Crediyt subsidiary will offer zero percent financing on select Lincoln andMercury
But sales were down 24.2 percent compared with May 2008, when the companhy sold 213,238 units. For the first five monthz of 2009, Dearborn, Mich.-based Ford (NYSE: F) sold 620,303 compared with 981,150 units during the same periodr ayear earlier, a 36.8 percent decline. In a sign that buyers mightt be coming back to the luxuryvehicles market, Ford’s Lincoln division reported that it sold 8,5667 units in May, a 2.2 percent increase over May when it sold 8,365 units. Sales of Ford made at the Louisville Assembly Planyt on FernValley Road, declined 34.6 percent, to 5,3145 units from 8,122 units a year ago. Salees of the Mercury Mountaineer, also made at Louisville Assembly, droppeds 45.
2 percent, to 402 from 734 unitsz a year earlier. Saleds of F-Series pickup trucks, including Super Duty trucksw made at the Kentucky Truck Plant on Chamberlain dropped 22.3 percent, to 33,381 units, from 42,974 units in May 2008. Sales of Ford Expedition SUVs, which bega n production at Kentucky Truck Plant in declined40 percent, to 3,150 units from 5,252 units a year earlier. Salesa of the Lincoln also made at KentuckyTruck Plant, droppedr 40.6 percent, to 790 unit from 1,329 units a year earlier. Ford saw year-over-yeat gains in some of its car categories. The compang sold 19,786 Fusion sedans in May, up 9.
4 percentr from the year-earlier period when it sold 18,088 Lincoln sold 1,553 Town Cars in May, up 103.3 percentg from May 2008, when it sold 764 of the luxurh vehicles. Ford’s Volvo division sold 590 of its S60 up 9 percent fromMay 2008, when it sold 542 Also Tuesday, Ford announced a summer promotion to draw more consumers to dealerships. Through June 30, the automakerr will cover as much as three monthx of payments up to and its Ford Crediyt subsidiary will offer zero percent financing on select Lincoln andMercury
Friday, January 25, 2013
Corcoran closing loop on Bayside redevelopment - Boston Business Journal:
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On June 30, , owner the 28-acre waterfrongt site, filed a development plan with the and has commencex public meetings to vetthe plan’ds first phase, a $300 millio project on Columbia Point in Dorchester. Corcoran’s initial plans call for the demolition ofthe 280,000-square-foot Bayside Expo Center and the preservatioh of an existing 125,000-square-foot office building on the site. The firm also expectxs to add 75 roomsand 10,0000 squares feet of meeting space to the site’s 198-roomn . Neighbors and community activists have alreadhy raised concerns about traffi and congestion at a publicf meeting hearing heldJuly 21. The next meetingv is scheduledfor Aug. 4.
The project’se total cost will be approximately $700 million, said Jim Gribaudo, projecr director for Corcoran Jennison. Thoses estimates include the cost to constructy an additional 650 residential units in as many assix Bayside’s redevelopment was first announced last year after the centerr saw a significant drop in revenure — some of it stemming from business gravitating to the Bostobn Convention and Exhibition Center. Bayside’s bookingsd have dropped from 43 in 2006 to 19 this The Expo Center has seven show s bookednext year, said Catherine director of community relations at Corcoranm Jennison. O’Neill said the Bayside will likelty close inMarch 2009.
Gribaudo said he wanta to secure the necessaryt permits beforeseeking financing. In order to fund constructioj projects today, lenders want evidence of signedleases — somethinbg Gribaudo called a bit of a Catch-2q because tenants are unlikely to jump on boardc until projects are formally filed and approved. Gribaudo hopes to lease 50,000 square feet of the retaipl space to a grocery store and is seeking two othet anchor tenants to leaseabout 20,000 square feet apiece. The remainder of the retail about 180,000 square feet, will be leased to smaller retailers, such as a dry cleanere or coffee shop.
As Corcoranm is moving ahead with its plans for BaysidwExpo Center, the BRA is devising a maste r plan for Columbia Point, an area that comprisesd 412 acres along Dorchester Bay. “It’s an extraordinary site, but you have to be consideratdof that,” said BRA director John Palmieri, alludint to the area’s density, open space and water-accesxs challenges. Both Palmieri and Vivien Li, executive director of the , describede the Bayside Expo Center redevelopment as the creatio ofa “new neighborhood.
” Li said she believed the projec would complement many of the already-plannex changes to the area, such as a proposal to add dormes to the campus and a plan to expand the John F. Kennedyy Presidential Library & Museum. “We thinki it’s absolutely crucial to tie together all the planningg for theDorchester waterfront,” she
On June 30, , owner the 28-acre waterfrongt site, filed a development plan with the and has commencex public meetings to vetthe plan’ds first phase, a $300 millio project on Columbia Point in Dorchester. Corcoran’s initial plans call for the demolition ofthe 280,000-square-foot Bayside Expo Center and the preservatioh of an existing 125,000-square-foot office building on the site. The firm also expectxs to add 75 roomsand 10,0000 squares feet of meeting space to the site’s 198-roomn . Neighbors and community activists have alreadhy raised concerns about traffi and congestion at a publicf meeting hearing heldJuly 21. The next meetingv is scheduledfor Aug. 4.
The project’se total cost will be approximately $700 million, said Jim Gribaudo, projecr director for Corcoran Jennison. Thoses estimates include the cost to constructy an additional 650 residential units in as many assix Bayside’s redevelopment was first announced last year after the centerr saw a significant drop in revenure — some of it stemming from business gravitating to the Bostobn Convention and Exhibition Center. Bayside’s bookingsd have dropped from 43 in 2006 to 19 this The Expo Center has seven show s bookednext year, said Catherine director of community relations at Corcoranm Jennison. O’Neill said the Bayside will likelty close inMarch 2009.
Gribaudo said he wanta to secure the necessaryt permits beforeseeking financing. In order to fund constructioj projects today, lenders want evidence of signedleases — somethinbg Gribaudo called a bit of a Catch-2q because tenants are unlikely to jump on boardc until projects are formally filed and approved. Gribaudo hopes to lease 50,000 square feet of the retaipl space to a grocery store and is seeking two othet anchor tenants to leaseabout 20,000 square feet apiece. The remainder of the retail about 180,000 square feet, will be leased to smaller retailers, such as a dry cleanere or coffee shop.
As Corcoranm is moving ahead with its plans for BaysidwExpo Center, the BRA is devising a maste r plan for Columbia Point, an area that comprisesd 412 acres along Dorchester Bay. “It’s an extraordinary site, but you have to be consideratdof that,” said BRA director John Palmieri, alludint to the area’s density, open space and water-accesxs challenges. Both Palmieri and Vivien Li, executive director of the , describede the Bayside Expo Center redevelopment as the creatio ofa “new neighborhood.
” Li said she believed the projec would complement many of the already-plannex changes to the area, such as a proposal to add dormes to the campus and a plan to expand the John F. Kennedyy Presidential Library & Museum. “We thinki it’s absolutely crucial to tie together all the planningg for theDorchester waterfront,” she
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