The Nation, Pakistan | Swedish defense minister resigns amid Saudi row BusinessWeek Tolgfors was criticized after Swedish public radio, citing leaked documents, reported that Swedish military agencies were in talks to help Saudi Arabia build a facility for repairs and modifications of anti-tank weapons. Sweden has no ban on weapons ... S wedish Defence Minister Tolgfors quits over Saudi deal Swedish defence minister resigns Swedish minister quits over Saudi arms plant row |
Friday, March 30, 2012
Swedish defense minister resigns amid Saudi row - BusinessWeek
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Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Canal Side hotel site may be on move - Business First of Buffalo:
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The hotel concept, while still preliminary, may be a highlighft of a slightly tweaked development plan forthe $315 million Canall Side project, pegged for the lower Main Streety area, just south of the New York State Thruway. Canal Side was unveiled in Decemberby , the local arm of , which is charged with overseeing projects alongv Buffalo’s waterfront. Canal Side’s final developmenrt plans will be shown to the public in July as part of a series of mandated public hearings connected to environmental reviews ofthe project. The environmenta reviews are due to be completeethis fall.
Moving the hotel, rumorede to be one from the Marriotrcorporate family, is perhaps the biggest adjustment in the Canal Side developmentg plan. Originally, proposed renovating the eight-story Donovan Building into a multi-uss complex anchored by a hotel. Sources now indicate the Donovan Building may be primarily used for Clasw A office space and apartments or A hotel is considered a crucial element inCanall Side’s overall development plan.
The Webster block is currently used as a surface parking lot for downtown workers durinb the day and for patronw attending events at HSBC Arena on nights and The block is located between HSBC Atrium and thearenqa and, at one time, was consideredx the site of a proposed 14-storyu Adelphia Tower. Matt Davison, spokesmann for Erie Canal HarborDevelopment Corp., said while the Canal Side plan is beint revised, the agency’s primary focus remains on finishing the demolitionb of Memorial Auditorium and preparing for construction of a 150,000-square-foott Bass Pro store to anchor the downtownb development project.
The hotel concept, while still preliminary, may be a highlighft of a slightly tweaked development plan forthe $315 million Canall Side project, pegged for the lower Main Streety area, just south of the New York State Thruway. Canal Side was unveiled in Decemberby , the local arm of , which is charged with overseeing projects alongv Buffalo’s waterfront. Canal Side’s final developmenrt plans will be shown to the public in July as part of a series of mandated public hearings connected to environmental reviews ofthe project. The environmenta reviews are due to be completeethis fall.
Moving the hotel, rumorede to be one from the Marriotrcorporate family, is perhaps the biggest adjustment in the Canal Side developmentg plan. Originally, proposed renovating the eight-story Donovan Building into a multi-uss complex anchored by a hotel. Sources now indicate the Donovan Building may be primarily used for Clasw A office space and apartments or A hotel is considered a crucial element inCanall Side’s overall development plan.
The Webster block is currently used as a surface parking lot for downtown workers durinb the day and for patronw attending events at HSBC Arena on nights and The block is located between HSBC Atrium and thearenqa and, at one time, was consideredx the site of a proposed 14-storyu Adelphia Tower. Matt Davison, spokesmann for Erie Canal HarborDevelopment Corp., said while the Canal Side plan is beint revised, the agency’s primary focus remains on finishing the demolitionb of Memorial Auditorium and preparing for construction of a 150,000-square-foott Bass Pro store to anchor the downtownb development project.
Monday, March 26, 2012
Burnsville puts brakes on CarMax auction plan - Birmingham Business Journal:
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Richmond, Va.-based CarMax, the nation's largest used-car dealer, wants to hold on-site auto auctions in addition totraditionakl retailing, but the city won't allowa it. "The district they are in is zoned for retailp andservice uses," said Chris Slania, a Burnsvills city planner. "Wholesaling is restricted to industriall districts." The two sides came to a head duringha three-hour planning commission meetin Feb.
25, where the panel votedd to approvethe project, but not the CarMax officials were not pleased with that and it's not clear whether they will move forwardd with the project under those "All we can say right now is that we are continuingv to work through the and we are hopeful that our entire proposal will be CarMax spokeswoman Trina Lee said. "It is too earluy to say exactly how it willall conclude." Not all CarMa x stores hold auctions, but typically at least one store per markeft does, Lee said.
CarMax bought the 14-acrer Burnsville site at the southeast cornerd of Southcross and Burnhaven drives from Life Time Fitness which acquired the property in its purchasr of Northwest Athletic Club inJuly 2006. Chanhassen-based Life Time closed the fitness club and razefthe building. CarMax also plans to open a dealershio at Beam Avenue and Highway 61in Maplewood. The companhy received city approval in December 2006 to builda 40,796-square-foot building for sales and servicew and 11,533-square-foot building for cosmetic Maplewood does not have laws that woulds prohibit auctioning on the site, said Tom Ekstrand, the city'es senior planner.
"I guess to me it's just anothef form of retailing, so we do not have that problemjwith CarMax." CarMax, whichn has been looking at sites in the Twin Citiew for more than two years, probablt will not open its first storew here until 2009 or 2010.
Richmond, Va.-based CarMax, the nation's largest used-car dealer, wants to hold on-site auto auctions in addition totraditionakl retailing, but the city won't allowa it. "The district they are in is zoned for retailp andservice uses," said Chris Slania, a Burnsvills city planner. "Wholesaling is restricted to industriall districts." The two sides came to a head duringha three-hour planning commission meetin Feb.
25, where the panel votedd to approvethe project, but not the CarMax officials were not pleased with that and it's not clear whether they will move forwardd with the project under those "All we can say right now is that we are continuingv to work through the and we are hopeful that our entire proposal will be CarMax spokeswoman Trina Lee said. "It is too earluy to say exactly how it willall conclude." Not all CarMa x stores hold auctions, but typically at least one store per markeft does, Lee said.
CarMax bought the 14-acrer Burnsville site at the southeast cornerd of Southcross and Burnhaven drives from Life Time Fitness which acquired the property in its purchasr of Northwest Athletic Club inJuly 2006. Chanhassen-based Life Time closed the fitness club and razefthe building. CarMax also plans to open a dealershio at Beam Avenue and Highway 61in Maplewood. The companhy received city approval in December 2006 to builda 40,796-square-foot building for sales and servicew and 11,533-square-foot building for cosmetic Maplewood does not have laws that woulds prohibit auctioning on the site, said Tom Ekstrand, the city'es senior planner.
"I guess to me it's just anothef form of retailing, so we do not have that problemjwith CarMax." CarMax, whichn has been looking at sites in the Twin Citiew for more than two years, probablt will not open its first storew here until 2009 or 2010.
Saturday, March 24, 2012
Two more leave BofA board - South Florida Business Journal:
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According to a filing with the Securitiex andExchange Commission, Prueher and Franik didn’t resign because of any disagreement with the Jackie Ward and Patricia Mitchell resigned early this month. Mitchell is a former New York television executive and currently serves as chied executive of the Paley Centerfor Media, a New York Ward is the retiredf chief executive of Atlanta-based Computer Generation a software company. Robert Tillman, a formee Lowe’s Cos. Inc. (NYSE:LOW) chief resigned from the BofA board effectiveMay 29. And on May 29, the bank announcex former lead independentdirector O.
Temple Sloan had left the BofA didn’t disclose Sloan’s reason for resignation. Sloabn had been a BofA director for 13 Inearly June, four outside directorzs were elected to BofA’s board. They are formerr Federal Reserve Governor Susan former CompassBancshares Inc. chief executive and chairmahn D. Paul Jones, former Federal Deposit Insurance chairman Donald Powell and retired Bank One and VisaInternational Inc. executive William BofA’s board has been under intensee scrutiny in recent months as the bank suffered through asharlp stock-price decline after acquiring Merrill Lynch Co. The Charlotte-based bank (NYSE:BAC) also has received $45 billionm in taxpayer aid.
At the bank’s annual meetingv in late April, shareholders voted to strilp Chief Executive Kenneth Lewis of his position asboarde chairman. Walter Massey was installed as the new chairman and has indicatex the board needs tobe re-evaluated. Lewis remains the bank’s CEO and president.
According to a filing with the Securitiex andExchange Commission, Prueher and Franik didn’t resign because of any disagreement with the Jackie Ward and Patricia Mitchell resigned early this month. Mitchell is a former New York television executive and currently serves as chied executive of the Paley Centerfor Media, a New York Ward is the retiredf chief executive of Atlanta-based Computer Generation a software company. Robert Tillman, a formee Lowe’s Cos. Inc. (NYSE:LOW) chief resigned from the BofA board effectiveMay 29. And on May 29, the bank announcex former lead independentdirector O.
Temple Sloan had left the BofA didn’t disclose Sloan’s reason for resignation. Sloabn had been a BofA director for 13 Inearly June, four outside directorzs were elected to BofA’s board. They are formerr Federal Reserve Governor Susan former CompassBancshares Inc. chief executive and chairmahn D. Paul Jones, former Federal Deposit Insurance chairman Donald Powell and retired Bank One and VisaInternational Inc. executive William BofA’s board has been under intensee scrutiny in recent months as the bank suffered through asharlp stock-price decline after acquiring Merrill Lynch Co. The Charlotte-based bank (NYSE:BAC) also has received $45 billionm in taxpayer aid.
At the bank’s annual meetingv in late April, shareholders voted to strilp Chief Executive Kenneth Lewis of his position asboarde chairman. Walter Massey was installed as the new chairman and has indicatex the board needs tobe re-evaluated. Lewis remains the bank’s CEO and president.
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Post, Barry gear up for "gateway to downtown" - Atlanta Business Chronicle:
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The two companies have purchased two city blocksa to expandAllen Plaza, a retail, office and hotep space situated at Ivan Allen Jr. Boulevared near Centennial Olympic Park and the newGeorgisa Aquarium. The contract on one bloc was finalizedin January, and the othert will close later this said Lance Patterson, president of Barry Real Estate. Neither he nor Senkbeiol would disclose the amount ofthe deal; and the -- now owned by -- declined to be interviewed withou getting permission from the One of the two blocks -- the one pendinvg closure -- fronts Centennial Olympic Park Boulevar and will be across the street from the new Worldr of .
"We're in the process of planningtwhat we'll develop on that block," Patterson adding it will be a mixture of high-rise residentia apartments and condos, as well as Senkbeil said development will cost about $100 million for each which will include about 30,000 to 50,000 square feet of about 300 apartments and 150 condos on top of the and parking. He envisions the buildings on each of the blockzs will be separatebut connected. "We haven't settle d on the architecture yet, but it will be he said.
"We'll design it so it'sw like an urban environmeng that has been there not like somethingthat doesn't belong where it Development on the two blocks will be phased in with a two-yeare construction cycle, with construction on the first blocj beginning around the end of 2006 or earlyy 2007, Patterson said. "We want to go aheadx and get the first block not only starteed but begin to sell and rent unitse and knowthat that'es working," he said. "Once that has proven itself, we'lll roll into starting the next block." Currently, Barry owns three blockzs of Allen Plaza. The company purchased those blocks in Patterson said.
On one block sits the 275,000-square-foot 30 Allej Plaza, the new headquarters of the and, opening this summer, a new restauran t by Fabrice Vergezof Buckhead's Brasseried Le Coze. The law firm Troutman Sanders LLP will have a smalll office at 30Allen Plaza, and lease are in the works for othe r companies, Patterson said. Constructionb on a second city bloci is underway and expected to be completed inspringg 2007, he added. It includes the 350,000-square-foot 55 Alle Plaza -- the new headquarters of and officesd of othercompanies -- and 45 Allen a 28-story hotel with 235 rooms and about 75 condos.
A thirf block owned by Barry Real Estate, yet to be will include a 600- to 800-square-foot office building, Patterso said. How did a commercial and a residential real estatr company join forces to expandAllen Plaza? Both see the potential for the area to become a chieft destination for retail, office and residential amongt the continuing downtown development. For Allen Plaza represents the first foray into the downtown Atlanta marketin mixed-use, though the company has developments in other major cities such as Dalla and Washington, D.C. Senkbeill said Allen Plaza's residential component greatly increases the amounf of residentialdevelopment downtown.
"In this area of it's unusual to find this much contiguous land that is realluyunimproved property. Most of these site s were used as surfaceparking lots," he Allen Plaza "gives us the ability to start from groun d zero and help create it." The fact that so many developersd are working on projects downtown is a testament to effortse of the city of Atlanta and other organizations, said He compares the revitalization of the area to Midtown. "Iy changed from what was 10 to15 years ago a lot of surfac parking lots to an exciting urban environment andnow we're seeing the same transformation happening downtown," he said.
Pattersobn agrees Allen Plaza will make an impacton downtown. "Itt will help show othefr people that downtown isa cool, vibran place where you can develop and make money," he "What Allen Plaza is doinbg is re-putting a stamp on downtown that it is not only an acceptabl place but a great places to do things."
The two companies have purchased two city blocksa to expandAllen Plaza, a retail, office and hotep space situated at Ivan Allen Jr. Boulevared near Centennial Olympic Park and the newGeorgisa Aquarium. The contract on one bloc was finalizedin January, and the othert will close later this said Lance Patterson, president of Barry Real Estate. Neither he nor Senkbeiol would disclose the amount ofthe deal; and the -- now owned by -- declined to be interviewed withou getting permission from the One of the two blocks -- the one pendinvg closure -- fronts Centennial Olympic Park Boulevar and will be across the street from the new Worldr of .
"We're in the process of planningtwhat we'll develop on that block," Patterson adding it will be a mixture of high-rise residentia apartments and condos, as well as Senkbeil said development will cost about $100 million for each which will include about 30,000 to 50,000 square feet of about 300 apartments and 150 condos on top of the and parking. He envisions the buildings on each of the blockzs will be separatebut connected. "We haven't settle d on the architecture yet, but it will be he said.
"We'll design it so it'sw like an urban environmeng that has been there not like somethingthat doesn't belong where it Development on the two blocks will be phased in with a two-yeare construction cycle, with construction on the first blocj beginning around the end of 2006 or earlyy 2007, Patterson said. "We want to go aheadx and get the first block not only starteed but begin to sell and rent unitse and knowthat that'es working," he said. "Once that has proven itself, we'lll roll into starting the next block." Currently, Barry owns three blockzs of Allen Plaza. The company purchased those blocks in Patterson said.
On one block sits the 275,000-square-foot 30 Allej Plaza, the new headquarters of the and, opening this summer, a new restauran t by Fabrice Vergezof Buckhead's Brasseried Le Coze. The law firm Troutman Sanders LLP will have a smalll office at 30Allen Plaza, and lease are in the works for othe r companies, Patterson said. Constructionb on a second city bloci is underway and expected to be completed inspringg 2007, he added. It includes the 350,000-square-foot 55 Alle Plaza -- the new headquarters of and officesd of othercompanies -- and 45 Allen a 28-story hotel with 235 rooms and about 75 condos.
A thirf block owned by Barry Real Estate, yet to be will include a 600- to 800-square-foot office building, Patterso said. How did a commercial and a residential real estatr company join forces to expandAllen Plaza? Both see the potential for the area to become a chieft destination for retail, office and residential amongt the continuing downtown development. For Allen Plaza represents the first foray into the downtown Atlanta marketin mixed-use, though the company has developments in other major cities such as Dalla and Washington, D.C. Senkbeill said Allen Plaza's residential component greatly increases the amounf of residentialdevelopment downtown.
"In this area of it's unusual to find this much contiguous land that is realluyunimproved property. Most of these site s were used as surfaceparking lots," he Allen Plaza "gives us the ability to start from groun d zero and help create it." The fact that so many developersd are working on projects downtown is a testament to effortse of the city of Atlanta and other organizations, said He compares the revitalization of the area to Midtown. "Iy changed from what was 10 to15 years ago a lot of surfac parking lots to an exciting urban environment andnow we're seeing the same transformation happening downtown," he said.
Pattersobn agrees Allen Plaza will make an impacton downtown. "Itt will help show othefr people that downtown isa cool, vibran place where you can develop and make money," he "What Allen Plaza is doinbg is re-putting a stamp on downtown that it is not only an acceptabl place but a great places to do things."
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Blue Shield of California awards $29.5M in bonuses to medical groups - Sacramento Business Journal:
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million in performance bonuses to California medical groups and independent practicewassociations (IPAs) this year, compared with $31 million last That makes this the third year in a row that Blue Shield’w physician group bonuses have been more or less in the range of $29.5 millio to $31 million. Last year, David Joyner, San Francisco-based Blue Shield’x senior vice president of network told the San Francisco Business Timees thatits pay-for-performance payouts were stable in part because of concerns that “the underlying improvements in actuap (physician group) performance have been quite small, incremental,” and fears that healthu plans such as Blue Shielr that distribute more generous bonuses might have troublde keeping their premium costs for employers in line with healtbh plans that skimp on such On Tuesday, Blue Shield officials could not immediately be reached for comment o n the health plan’ws apparently static budget for performance Supporters say the bonuses give physician groups an incentive to improve quality; critics say the payments aren’t largde enough really to influence quality to a significant because the bonuses are spread out among a host of medicao groups and IPAs statewide.
This time around, nearlty half of the bonus payments are part ofthe Oakland-based ’sw voluntary pay-for-performance program, which rewardzs medical groups on various quality measures, including clinicall care, patient satisfaction and use of informatiob technology. This year, based on IHA Blue Shield will pay medica groups and independent practice associations based on both meeting IHA qualityy goals and showing improvement on its clinicaland patient-satisfaction with 80 percent reflectinhg overall performance and 20 percent improvement.
In its 23 statement, Blue Shield said it uses the IHA standardx to track and reward physician organizations on a rangee ofclinical factors, includiny childhood immunizations, diabetes management, cholesterol management, and use of appropriatre medications by those with asthma. This it’s also helping medical groupa that ranked in the bottomj 25th percentile of theIHA pay-for-performance program to find ways to improve.
million in performance bonuses to California medical groups and independent practicewassociations (IPAs) this year, compared with $31 million last That makes this the third year in a row that Blue Shield’w physician group bonuses have been more or less in the range of $29.5 millio to $31 million. Last year, David Joyner, San Francisco-based Blue Shield’x senior vice president of network told the San Francisco Business Timees thatits pay-for-performance payouts were stable in part because of concerns that “the underlying improvements in actuap (physician group) performance have been quite small, incremental,” and fears that healthu plans such as Blue Shielr that distribute more generous bonuses might have troublde keeping their premium costs for employers in line with healtbh plans that skimp on such On Tuesday, Blue Shield officials could not immediately be reached for comment o n the health plan’ws apparently static budget for performance Supporters say the bonuses give physician groups an incentive to improve quality; critics say the payments aren’t largde enough really to influence quality to a significant because the bonuses are spread out among a host of medicao groups and IPAs statewide.
This time around, nearlty half of the bonus payments are part ofthe Oakland-based ’sw voluntary pay-for-performance program, which rewardzs medical groups on various quality measures, including clinicall care, patient satisfaction and use of informatiob technology. This year, based on IHA Blue Shield will pay medica groups and independent practice associations based on both meeting IHA qualityy goals and showing improvement on its clinicaland patient-satisfaction with 80 percent reflectinhg overall performance and 20 percent improvement.
In its 23 statement, Blue Shield said it uses the IHA standardx to track and reward physician organizations on a rangee ofclinical factors, includiny childhood immunizations, diabetes management, cholesterol management, and use of appropriatre medications by those with asthma. This it’s also helping medical groupa that ranked in the bottomj 25th percentile of theIHA pay-for-performance program to find ways to improve.
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Obama (falsely) attacks predecessor -- Rutherford B. Hayes - USA TODAY
clarityviellegq67.blogspot.com
USA TODAY | Obama (falsely) attacks predecessor -- Rutherford B. Hayes USA TODAY "One of my predecessors, Rutherford B. Hayes, reportedly said about the telephone, 'It's a great invention, but who would ever want to use one?' "That's why he's not on Mt. Rushmore," Obama said, rubbing it in. "Because he's looking backwards. Obama mocks a GOP predecessor as technophobe -- and unfairly, President Hayes ... Once Again, Obama Flubs US History While Bashing a Predecessor Obama Has Harsh Words For Predecessor |
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