Economy & Business news Subcribe to Economy & Business news |
 |
|
|
|
|
By Stephen C. Fehr, Stateline.org Staff Writer
More than $300 million is generated from delinquent Louisiana taxpayers; California finance chief hangs it up; Iowa Gov. Culver campaigns as problem solver; and stimulus Web site turns up boo-boos.
Read More
|
By David Harrison, Special to Stateline.org
It’s going to be a long, hard climb out of the current economic downturn for many recession-ridden states hit hard by the housing crash, unemployment and shrinking revenues. But as the national economy starts its slow recovery, 11 states and the District of Columbia are showing signs of emerging from the recession, according to a new report.
Read More
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
AL: Alert system may fill rural gap
By Jason Morton, Tuscaloosa News
EUTAW, Ala. -- On Thursday, the Alabama Emergency Management Agency announced at the Greene County Courthouse the potential hiring of Global Security Systems, a Jackson, Miss.-based company that plans to bring its Alert FM system to nine West Alabama counties.
Read More
|
|
AL: IRS seeks check recipients in area
By Cosby Woodruff, Montgomery Advertiser
The IRS is looking for 257 taxpayers in the River Region in order to give rather than to receive. The IRS is looking to give those people, and more than 1,000 others around Alabama, refund checks that were misdirected or otherwise undeliverable.
Read More
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
AZ: Strike looming for employees at Fry's, Safeway
By Max Jarman, The Arizona Republic (Phoenix)
About 20,000 Fry's and Safeway grocery workers in Arizona could walk off the job at 6 p.m. next Friday if the companies and the workers' union fail to reach a contract deal by the deadline.
Read More
|
|
AZ: Feds' latest move may lift Valley home sales
By J. Craig Anderson, The Arizona Republic (Phoenix)
An expanded version of the home-buyer tax-rebate program could jump-start the market for higher-priced homes and help sustain the booming low-end housing market, Phoenix-area real-estate analysts say.
Read More
|
|
CA: Eyeing a run
By Torey Van Oot, The Sacramento Bee
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger plans to sign into law two of the water bills passed early Wednesday morning. Assembly Speaker Karen Bass is also scheduled to attend the 10 a.m. signing ceremony at the Tujunga Wellfield Groundwater Recovery Project in Los Angeles.
Read More
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CO: Upper Colorado River, Front Range water resources threatened
By David O. Williams, Colorado Independent
Some water experts warn the upper Colorado River is an endangered species if current residential growth patterns and water consumption patterns continue along the state's Front Range, and they're increasingly concerned proposed energy production on the Western Slope will accelerate its demise.
Read More
|
|
CT: Rell makes $34 million in cuts from state budget
By Christopher Keating, The Hartford Courant
The reductions were ordered in hundreds of categories, including $8.5 million from the Department of Children and Families, $7.25 million from the multibillion-dollar Department of Social Services, $3.7 million from the Department of Developmental Services, $1.26 million from the Department of Environmental Protection, $500,000 from the state Department of Agriculture, and $200,000 from the chief state medical examiner's office.
Read More
|
|
DE: Report on casinos pushed to late Dec.
By Jeff Montgomery, The News Journal (New Castle-Wilmington)
A panel examining prospects for more casinos in Delaware now hopes for an independent report on the issue by the end of December, further pushing back its deadline for a recommendation to lawmakers.
Read More
|
|
DE: Lower digits fetch lower prices
By J.L. Miller, The News Journal (New Castle-Wilmington)
When the nation's financial bubble burst, a uniquely Delaware asset quietly deflated. Prices paid for low-digit Delaware license plates have fallen, in some cases by half, since the glory days of 2006 and 2007.
Read More
|
|
DE: New push for LNG plant near Claymont
By Jeff Montgomery, The News Journal (New Castle-Wilmington)
An Amerada Hess Corp. joint venture plans a new attempt to develop a liquefied natural gas terminal along the Delaware River opposite Claymont, after acquiring a BP property long bogged down by a state boundary dispute.
Read More
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FL: Air Jordans cost UCF future deal with adidas
By Iliana Limón, The Orlando Sentinel
ORLANDO, Fla. -- Marcus Jordan stuck to his guns and wore his father's iconic Nike Air Jordans, a decision that has cost the University of Central Florida its six-year, $3 million exclusive contract with adidas.
Read More
|
|
|
|
|
FL: House inquiry into Sansom to continue
By Bill Cotterell, Tallahassee Democrat
A special House committee voted unanimously this morning to continue with its investigation of former House Speaker Ray Sansom, while proceeding carefully to protect his constitutional rights to a fair trial.
Read More
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FL: Fla. justices consider mediation for foreclosures
By The Associated Press, The Miami Herald
Mediation would be a good way to expedite a flood of mortgage foreclosures, members of a foreclosure task force said Wednesday, but some disagreed on the details in oral arguments before the state Supreme Court.
Read More
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
HI: Lawmakers still cool to session on schools
By B.J. Reyes, Honolulu Star-Bulletin
House leaders again resisted calls for a special legislative session to deal with public schools, asking instead for a reopening of the state teachers' contract to restore classroom time being lost to furloughs.
Read More
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
IL: 2 more lifelines
By Francine Knowles, Chicago Sun-Times
As many as 40,000 jobless Illinois residents, who would have exhausted their unemployment benefits by the end of the year, will benefit from a bill President Obama is expected to sign today extending those benefits up to 20 weeks.
Read More
|
|
IN: IU economists predict weak recovery in 2010
By The Associated Press, Evansville Courier and Press
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Indiana University economists predict a weak recovery in 2010 as the state and nation begin to recuperate from one of the worst recessions since World War II.
Read More
|
|
|
|
|
KS: Budget estimate declines by 4.2%
By Scott Rothschild, The Lawrence Journal-World
State fiscal experts Thursday said the Kansas economy remains stuck in recession, and that means a further drop in tax revenues and more budget cuts.
Read More
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
KY: State gets stimulus money for child care
By Stephenie Steitzer, The Courier-Journal (Louisville)
Gov. Steve Beshear announced Thursday that Kentucky will receive $4 million in federal stimulus funds to pay for training and other resources for child-care providers.
Read More
|
|
LA: Recovery School District would not be focus of Race to the Top federal grant, Pastorek says
By Robert Travis Scott, The Times-Picayune (New Orleans)
NEW ORLEANS, La. -- The state Department of Education would use a large portion of a potential Race to the Top grant to help pay for a $40 million data management system, a principals training institute and other expanded agency roles in addition to the direct cash that the federal program is targeting at failing schools, Superintendent of Education Paul Pastorek said Thursday.
Read More
|
|
|
|
|
MA: Report -- Student health plans inefficient
By The Associated Press, Boston Herald
A new report shows that the health insurance plans sold to almost 100,000 college students in Massachusetts result in higher profits for insurance companies than those available to the general public.
Read More
|
|
MA: Good news, bad news for fishery
By Don Cuddy, Cape Cod Times
NEW BEDFORD, Mass. — The deep and murky waters of fishery management in New England just became a little murkier for Jon Williams, CEO of the Atlantic Red Crab Co. in New Bedford.
Read More
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
MI: GM -- No more big buyouts coming
By, Detroit Free Press
Despite being short of its U.S. hourly job-cutting goal for 2009, General Motors Co. is not planning another big round of buyout packages, the automaker's top executive indicated Thursday.
Read More
|
|
MI: GM to ask Europe for help with Opel
By Tim Higgins, Detroit Free Press
General Motors hopes to get European government help to restructure its German-based Opel division but could turn to some of the near-$50 billion in U.S. government money received earlier this year if need be, CEO Fritz Henderson said Thursday.
Read More
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
MO: Stimulus to fund some road work
By Staff Reports, Columbia Daily Tribune
Federal stimulus cash will pay for 13 additional road-resurfacing projects in Central Missouri for the five-year Statewide Transportation Improvement Program.
Read More
|
|
MO: Yogis exercised about a new tax
By Janese Heavin, Columbia Daily Tribune
Melissa Tipton practices yoga at least four times a week. She wouldn't mind being taxed for it, but she's not keen on her yoga studio being lumped in with fitness clubs.
Read More
|
|
MS: Slow recovery darkens budget outlook
By Bobby Harrison, The Daily Journal (Tupelo)
State economist Phil Pepper told legislative leaders and Gov. Haley Barbour on Thursday not to expect much improvement in Mississippi's economy until the second half of next year.
Read More
|
|
|
|
|
NC: Rep. Pricey Harrison wants Blue Cross probe
By Mark Binker, The News & Record (Greensboro)
Rep. Pricey Harrison has asked the state's attorney general and Department of Insurance to investigate Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina's use of campaign-style tactics aimed at defeating controversial federal health insurance legislation.
Read More
|
|
NC: State sends 16 to Calif. training
By Lynn Bonner, The News & Observer (Raleigh)
The state is using $140,000 in federal stimulus money to send 16 employees to child development workshops in San Diego while North Carolina has thousands of struggling families seeking subsidized care for their children.
Read More
|
|
NC: Ethics panel clears NC Rep. Shuler in TVA probe
By Mike Baker, The Associated Press
Congressional ethics investigators have concluded that North Carolina Rep. Heath Shuler did not act inappropriately while a residential development that he was involved in sought lake-access rights from the Tennessee Valley Authority.
Read More
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NE: Lincoln senator recommends furloughs, not layoffs for workers
By JoAnne Young, Lincoln Journal Star
Senators introduced five bills in special session Thursday, aimed at saving money for the state or saving money for a particular program. Lincoln Sen. Bill Avery introduced a resolution (LR4) that would have agencies use furloughs rather than layoffs of state workers if needed to meet across-the-board budget cuts.
Read More
|
|
NE: Nebraska nuclear power plant goes offline
By The Associated Press, Lincoln Journal Star
FORT CALHOUN, Neb. -- The Omaha Public Power District's nuclear power plant, Fort Calhoun Station, has been taken offline for a scheduled refueling and maintenance outage.
Read More
|
|
|
|
|
NH: State worker pleads not guilty
By Annmarie Timmins, Concord Monitor
Holly Wheatley, 36, pleaded not guilty yesterday to charges that she stole nearly $25,000 from the state while working for the Department of Resources and Economic Development.
Read More
|
|
NJ: Corzine orders $400M in cuts to balance budget
By John Reitmeyer, The Record of Bergen County
Governor Corzine is preparing $400 million in budget cuts and wants legislators to shelve any new spending measures during their upcoming lame duck session, all to offset revenue losses blamed on the poor economy.
Read More
|
|
|
|
|
NV: Levin calls for record of business owners' IDs
By John G. Edwards, Las Vegas Review-Journal
Sen. Carl Levin on Thursday cited the book "Merchant of Death" about Russian arms trafficker Viktor Bout as Exhibit One for his case against allowing private corporations and limited liability companies to keep the names of their owners secret.
Read More
|
|
NV: Managing fraud a lesson of recession
By Abigail Goldman, Las Vegas Review-Journal
Robert Frimet is a self-proclaimed fraud expert, a businessman who audits other companies' books, gives lectures on recognizing employee theft, and sits as a civilian member on the Nevada Fight Fraud Task Force.
Read More
|
|
|
|
|
NY: Senate Democrats rebuff governor on special session
By Tom Precious, The Buffalo News
Reducing the state's soaring deficit, legalizing gay marriage, slowing property tax growth and toughening drunk driving laws are among the items on the agenda for a special session of the Legislature that Gov. David A. Paterson has scheduled for Tuesday.
Read More
|
|
NY: Wind law could benefit company
By Christine McConville, Boston Herald
Despite significant opposition in Western Massachusetts, state environmental affairs secretary Ian Bowles is pushing hard to get a controversial wind-turbine law passed before the legislative session ends on Nov. 18.
Read More
|
|
NY: Did grants open doors?
By James M. Odato, Times Union (Albany)
Although lawyers representing former state Sen. Joseph L. Bruno insist he did not hand out improper favors to clients who invested pension funds with his employer, state records show Bruno arranged state grants for them.
Read More
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
OK: OU awarded $23M in stimulus money
By James S. Tyree, The Oklahoman (Oklahoma City)
NORMAN, Okla. — The University of Oklahoma's Norman campus was awarded about $10 million in research grants from federal stimulus funds in the first quarter of this fiscal year.
Read More
|
|
|
|
|
OK: Obama promises U.S. tribal leaders he'll tackle issues
By Chris Casteel, The Oklahoman (Oklahoma City)
WASHINGTON — Greeting the first American Indian conference to be sponsored by the White House in 15 years, President Barack Obama told tribal leaders Thursday he will work with them on problems that have plagued Indians for decades.
Read More
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
PA: Progress seen in SEPTA strike talks
By Paul Nussbaum, The Philadelphia Inquirer
SEPTA and its striking workers seemed to edge closer to a settlement yesterday, as Gov. Rendell and U.S. Rep. Bob Brady worked to broker a deal that would get buses, subways, and trolleys running again.
Read More
|
|
PA: Grand jury may seek charges against Perzel
By Dennis B. Roddy and Tracie Mauriello, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
A statewide grand jury is considering recommending charges against former House Speaker John Perzel, R-Philadelphia, and a number of others in connection with millions of dollars in taxpayer-funded computer data that investigators believe was used for political campaigns.
Read More
|
|
PA: Gubernatorial candidate Knox wants campaign limits
By Brad Bumsted, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Tom Knox, who is expected to spend millions of his own money on the campaign, said Thursday he wants to limit what other people can spend on state campaigns as part of a wide-ranging reform agenda.
Read More
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
SD: Coming soon -- Vending sales of lottery tickets
By Bob Mercer, Capital Journal (Pierre)
The state Game, Fish and Parks Commission needs to take emergency steps to slightly increase the number of deer licenses for some East River units because too many licenses have been issued to hunters for the upcoming season.
Read More
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
TN: Bredesen calls biofuel criticism 'outrageous'
By Tom Humphrey, Knoxville News Sentinel
Gov. Phil Bredesen branded a legislative attack on the BioFuels Initiative he launched two years ago as "ridiculous" and "outrageous" Thursday and said it endangers an unannounced "very large investment in East Tennessee."
Read More
|
|
TN: Groups want to preserve more plateau land
By Pam Sohn, Chattanooga Times Free Press
Cumberland Plateau groups are looking to expand efforts to preserve and connect large tracts of plateau land -- a minimum of 1.7 million acres and perhaps about 2 million acres.
Read More
|
|
TN: Tennessee offers entrepreneurs a boost
By Bonna Johnson, The Tennessean (Nashville)
Five Nashville venture capital firms were selected to take part in a $120 million state program to invest in start-up, early and mid-stage companies, and, in the process, perhaps discover a business that will become the next FedEx or HCA.
Read More
|
|
TX: Refund policy restored for prepaid tuition plan
By Gary Scharrer, The Houston Chronicle
Responding to tens of thousands of Texans, a state board acted unanimously Thursday to reinstate a former refund policy for prepaid college tuition that reflects the value of tuition — not simply the amount paid into the fund.
Read More
|
|
US: U.S. readies jobless aid and help on homes
By Jackie Calmes and David Stout, The New York Times
WASHINGTON — In separate actions to address Americans' continuing economic hardship, the government moved Thursday to assist long-unemployed workers and struggling businesses, as well as home buyers and homeowners facing foreclosure.
Read More
|
|
UT: Commission wants ethics teeth and campaign caps
By Cathy Mckitrick, The Salt Lake Tribune
In its final work session, the Governor's Commission on Strengthening Democracy wrapped up almost a year's worth of deliberations with a few bold recommendations to advance to Gov. Gary Herbert, including one to put some teeth in existing campaign and lobbying laws.
Read More
|
|
UT: GOP leaders OK contribution limits
By Bob Bernick Jr., The Deseret Morning News (Salt Lake City)
Moved in part by a tough citizen initiative petition on legislative ethics and campaign finance reform, some GOP legislative leaders have agreed to the adoption of campaign contribution limits for state candidates and officeholders.
Read More
|
|
UT: State's top ed official addresses budget
By Lisa Schencker, The Salt Lake Tribune
State Superintendent Larry Shumway urged lawmakers not to cut education dollars further and said he plans to take action to address inappropriate relationships between teachers and students as part of his first State of Education speech Thursday evening.
Read More
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
WV: DEP finds problems at W.Va.'s coal-ash dams
By Ken Ward, Jr., Charleston Gazette
Nearly two-thirds of the coal-ash dams across West Virginia might need repairs, and a quarter of them are ranked as being in poor or unsatisfactory condition, according to a report released Thursday by the state Department of Environmental Protection.
Read More
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Powered by