Briefly
Target suspends effort to sell card portfolio
Posted on 25. Jan, 2012 by admin in Briefly
Photo: Bobak Ha'Eri
MINNEAPOLIS – Target Corp. says it is temporarily suspending its efforts to sell the portfolio that handles the balances credit cardholders owe the company, but plans to resume the talks later this year.
The Minneapolis company also said that it will pay about $2.8 billion to Chase Card Services to retire receivables financing from 2008. That payment, along with a premium, is expected to reduce its fourth-quarter earnings by about 8 cents per share.
Target still wants to sell its credit card receivables portfolio, but says it wasn’t in its best interests to complete a deal now. AP
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Black ex-worker files 2nd Panera racial bias suit
Posted on 25. Jan, 2012 by admin in Briefly
PITTSBURGH – A black man who quit working at a suburban Pittsburgh Panera Bread restaurant last year has sued the franchisee, saying the company doesn’t want blacks in positions where they interact with the public.
Warren, Ohio-based Covelli Enterprises says in a statement that the 21-year-old man who filed the federal lawsuit is a disgruntled employee who walked off the job last year for violating company policies.
The lawsuit filed by Guy Vines echoes claims in a November lawsuit by a white manager who claims he was fired from the restaurant for objecting to Vines’ treatment.
Covelli says it investigated the former manager’s claims and called them “completely unfounded.”
The attorney for both plaintiffs says Covelli has a policy of discriminating against people who are “black, fat or ugly.” AP
Associated Press text, photo and/or graphic material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium. Neither these AP Materials nor any portion thereof may be stored in a computer except for personal and non-commercial use. The AP will not be held liable for any delays, inaccuracies, errors or omissions therefrom or in the transmission or delivery of all or any part thereof or for any damages arising from any of the foregoing.
Mother of fire victim sues high-rise managers
Posted on 25. Jan, 2012 by admin in Briefly
3130 N. Lake Shore
CHICAGO – The mother of a woman killed in a Chicago high-rise apartment fire has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the companies that manages the building.
The Chicago Sun-Times reports Ann McCoy claims her 32-year-old daughter, Shantel, would be alive had a sprinkler system been in place to put out the fire.
The mother also contends 3130 N. Lake Shore LLC and Planned Property Management Inc. failed to warn the victim of the fire and allowed her to use the elevators when the companies “should have known if was not safe to do so.”
The Cook County medical examiner ruled that Shantel McCoy’s death was accidental and caused by carbon monoxide intoxication and inhalation of smoke and soot. AP
Associated Press text, photo and/or graphic material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium. Neither these AP Materials nor any portion thereof may be stored in a computer except for personal and non-commercial use. The AP will not be held liable for any delays, inaccuracies, errors or omissions therefrom or in the transmission or delivery of all or any part thereof or for any damages arising from any of the foregoing.
Delta Named Top Tech-Friendly U.S. Airline
Posted on 25. Jan, 2012 by admin in Briefly
ATLANTA — Delta Air Lines has been named “Top Tech-Friendly U.S. Airline” by PCWorld magazine for its airport recharging stations, in-flight Wi-Fi on more domestic flights than any other carrier and smartphone apps with innovative features including baggage tracking and airport check-in. The publication also highlighted Delta’s 24-hour customer service via Twitter from @DeltaAssist, as well as the ability to book tickets directly from Facebook.
“We’re providing customers with technology tools to keep them connected during their travel experience on the ground and in the air,” said Bob Kupbens, Delta’s vice president – eCommerce. “When you literally have the tools in the palm of your hand to track your bag at 30,000 feet or check the status of your connecting flight, it helps eliminate the stress of travel and puts customers in control.” PRNewswire
General Dynamics Buying Vangent For $960M
Posted on 23. Aug, 2011 by citizen in Briefly
FALLS CHURCH, Virginia (AP) _ Defense contractor General Dynamics said Tuesday it will expand its health care information technology business by buying Vangent Holding Corp. for about $960 million in cash.
Vangent primarily works with U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services, Education, Labor, State, and Defense. It provides a health information exchange, electronic health records and data analytics. The business has more than 7,500 employees.
Associated Press text, photo and/or graphic material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium. Neither these AP Materials nor any portion thereof may be stored in a computer except for personal and non-commercial use. The AP will not be held liable for any delays, inaccuracies, errors or omissions therefrom or in the transmission or delivery of all or any part thereof or for any damages arising from any of the foregoing.
JetBlue Offering More Unlimited Flight Passes
Posted on 23. Aug, 2011 by citizen in Briefly
By SAMANTHA BOMKAMP
AP Airlines Writer
NEW YORK (AP) _ JetBlue is offering more of its new unlimited flight pass from Boston after the original batch sold out in just one week.
The pass costs $1,999 and is one of three options the New York airline offered last month for three months of unlimited travel starting Monday. It’s the most expensive option of the three, but it includes flights from Boston to any city JetBlue serves. The other pass available from Boston costs $1,499 and offers fliers unlimited travel to 13 cities in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic. The third option, costing $1,299, allows for travel between Long Beach and nine Western cities.
The offer, which JetBlue Airways Corp. calls “BluePass,” is a more focused version of its All-You-Can-Jet plan, announced in 2009.
Associated Press text, photo and/or graphic material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium. Neither these AP Materials nor any portion thereof may be stored in a computer except for personal and non-commercial use. The AP will not be held liable for any delays, inaccuracies, errors or omissions therefrom or in the transmission or delivery of all or any part thereof or for any damages arising from any of the foregoing.
Service Union Unveils New Ad Campaign Focused on Minority Media Outlets
Posted on 23. Aug, 2011 by citizen in Briefly
Special to the NNPA from the AFRO-American newspapers
In an effort to refocus Republican lawmakers on the need for job creation, the 2.1 million nurses, janitors, security officers, child care providers and other members of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) has unveiled a 7-figure ad campaign, including broadcast and cable television, radio, direct mail and phones and online advertising. The ads will run in Colorado, Florida, Missouri, Montana, Nevada and Virginia, with a special emphasis on African American and Latino media outlets.
At Work Or Play? Small Business Owners Are Always On
Posted on 23. Aug, 2011 by citizen in Briefly
NEW YORK/PRNewswire/ — New research from specialist insurer Hiscox shows that small business owners are flexible when it comes to managing their work/life balance – in order to spend time with the family and to maximize opportunities for their businesses.
Over half of small business owners (51%) cite flexible working hours as their main way of achieving a healthy work/life balance, followed by scheduling time with family and friends (21%) and leaving their work at the office (11%).
However, the office is never far away for small business owners. Only 5% cited not working on weekends and only 3% cited keeping their BlackBerry, or other mobile device, away from the bedroom and the dinner table as the main way they keep their life balanced.
Obama To Announce Fuel Standards For Big Vehicles
Posted on 09. Aug, 2011 by citizen in Briefly
Big rigs or semis will have to slash fuel consumption and production of heat-trapping gases by up to 23 percent. Photo Ildar Sagdejev
By DARLENE SUPERVILLE
Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) _ Fire trucks and concrete mixers, semis, heavy-duty pickups and all trucks in between will, for the first time, have to trim fuel consumption and emissions of heat-trapping gases under new efficiency standards being announced Tuesday by President Barack Obama.
The White House says the standards the president was announcing will save businesses billions of dollars in fuel costs, help reduce oil consumption and cut air pollution. The standards apply to vehicle model years 2014 to 2018.
Senior administration officials said the new targets affect three categories of vehicles.
Big rigs or semis will have to slash fuel consumption and production of heat-trapping gases by up to 23 percent. Gasoline-powered heavy-duty pickups and vans will have to cut consumption by 10 percent, or by 15 percent if the vehicles run on diesel fuel.
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Nielsen Buys Marketing Analytics
Posted on 09. Aug, 2011 by citizen in Briefly
SCHAUMBURG, Ill. (AP) _ Nielsen Holdings N.V. said Tuesday it acquired Marketing Analytics Inc. for an undisclosed sum.
Evanston, Ill.-based Marketing Analytics helps other companies measure the effectiveness of their marketing plans on sales through modeling and software. Nielsen will acquire all its assets including software and ongoing client projects.
Although Nielsen is best known for its rankings of the most watched television shows, its core business is advising corporate clients about what consumers are watching on TV and buying in stores.
Marketing Analytics was founded in 1991 and has 52 employees. Ross Link, the company’s founder and chief executive, will continue to lead the group and help integrate it into Nielsen’s offerings.
In afternoon trading, Nielsen shares rose 50 cents, or 1.9 percent, to $26.62.
Associated Press text, photo and/or graphic material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium. Neither these AP Materials nor any portion thereof may be stored in a computer except for personal and non-commercial use. The AP will not be held liable for any delays, inaccuracies, errors or omissions therefrom or in the transmission or delivery of all or any part thereof or for any damages arising from any of the foregoing.
