| Debate lingers after table games vote
CHARLESTON -- Saturday's special election in West Virginia's largest county was supposed to bring some finality -- for now -- to the tumult over whether to expand gambling in the Mountain State through its four racetracks. After all, the state's three other counties with tracks each saw its voters settle the question back in June. Hancock and Ohio counties will soon host full-blown casinos. Jefferson County must wait another two years after rejecting table games. .
Attorney seeks probe, claims council violated Open Meetings Law
An Alexandria attorney has asked the state Attorney General's Office to investigate whether the Alexandria City Council violated the state's Open Meetings Law. Attorney Gregory Aymond sent a certified-mail letter, dated June 29, to Attorney General Charles Foti to request the investigation. .
Meeting advances public sewer plan
ANNVILLE - In what they described as "a giant step forward" in South Annville Twp.'s decades-long efforts to provide public sewerage, the supervisors last night approved a proposed agreement that could allow a group of seven developers to build the sewer system on the township's behalf. The agreement, which requires approval by South Annville Sewer Partners LLC and township solicitors, would give the developers' group one year to construct the sewer lines for 547 homes, and the township would add collection lines for 289 homes in the northern part of the township. The developers would build the sewer system at their expense, but the system would eventually be dedicated to the township. It would connect to the Lebanon Wastewater Treatment Plant. "That's the goal of the whole settlement," said Dale Hoover, chairman of the supervisors.
A package of business news briefs from the Caribbean
America's trade with communist-run Cuba could double if the U.S. lifted limits on financing agricultural sales to the island, the U.S. International Trade Commission has said in a report. "All agricultural commodity sectors would likely benefit from the lifting of the financing restriction," said the 180-page report. Under an exception to the 45-year-old U.S. embargo on Cuba, American producers can sell food and agricultural products to the Caribbean nation on a cash basis. A separate exception allows sales of U.S. medicines and medical supplies to the island. American farm producers complain the transactions were slowed beginning in 2005 by new U.S. rules requiring them to receive payment from Havana before shipping their goods. The commission's report was welcomed by the USA Rice Federation, which opposes the financing rules and supports legislation to lift U.S.
Road Funding Scheme Under Attack
Transportation-funding legislation passed by the Republican-controlled General Assembly and signed into law by Democratic Gov. Tim Kaine is under fire on several fronts as opponents to various provisions have begun filing lawsuits.After several years of squabbling about whether additional money is needed for the state road and transit system and how to provide that money, a group of Republicans laid the groundwork for the transportation funding package and Kaine made adjustments that appeared to satisfy state lawmakers as well as local elected officials before it was enacted. However, as the law has been analyzed, opponents identified new concerns and some judges have refused to implement some provisions.Two specific areas of the legislation have been targeted: one that allows the assessment of abusive driver fees as high as $3,000 in addition to criminal fines, with the fees going to statewide transportation projects; and the other that allows regional authorities in Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads to impose taxes to be used on regional transportation projects.Battles are being waged from multiple avenues.Last month, as promised, the Loudoun Board of Supervisors filed a brief in Arlington County Circuit Court challenging the constitutionality of the tax-raising authority of the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority.Last week, a Henrico General District Court judge rejected the constitutionality of the abusive driving fees.
SIRVA Reports Results for the Second Quarter and Six Months Ended June 30, 2007
CHICAGO, Aug. 9 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- SIRVA, (Nachrichten) Inc. , a global relocation services provider, today reported second-quarter and six- month results for the period ended June 30, 2007.
Highlights -- Improvement in quarterly operating income from continuing operations -- Robert W. Tieken appointed Chief Executive Officer -- Resolved legacy financial and legal issues, achieving current filer status -- Amended credit agreement to provide greater covenant flexibility Second Quarter Results
Operating income from continuing operations was $7.7 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2007, up $1.5 million, or 24.4%, compared to $6.2 million for the corresponding period in 2006. Excluding the effect of the disposition of continental Europe, which was sold in the first quarter of 2007 operating income increased $0.4 million, or 6.4%.
Investor slams China over lost fortune
Japanese educator Yomei Matsuoka admits it's difficult to miss the irony. How the socialist became a millionaire. How he lost his shirt in ''socialist'' China. And how his dream of educating young Chinese foundered after teaming with officials from China's Education Ministry. But that hasn't made his decade-long fight to recover more than $600,000 in charity funds any easier, he adds. ''What they did is an insult to their position and their country,'' said Matsuoka, 64. ``Now they're stalling for time and waiting for me to die.'' Matsuoka says his nightmare is a cautionary tale of corruption, lost illusions and, he acknowledges, naivete. His Chinese partners counter that he made a bad investment, knew what he was doing and is now attacking China in a desperate bid to gain sympathy.
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