Central Valley Business Times

Wednesday | July 23, 2008

AUDIO: Today's top business news

STOCKTON, 7/23/08 1:50pm

• Interest in the bullet train

• Cycling classic to spin through Valley

• and more....

AUDIO: Today's stock market report

STOCKTON, 7/23/08 1:50pm

• Dow industrials are up

• Oil prices drop to lowest level in weeks

• How stocks of local interest did

Fed says West Coast economy is stalled

SAN FRANCISCO, 7/23/08 11:37am

• Little or no growth this summer

• Housing shows no sign of recovery

Tax relief for California wildfire victims

SACRAMENTO, 7/23/08 10:59am

• Could lead to quick refunds in some cases

• Can claim a disaster loss

Valley Business Bank sees earnings drop

VISALIA, 7/23/08 10:33am

• Sets aside money for possible sour loans

• ‘We have yet to book a loan loss in 2008’

Report: Farmers, ranchers hit hard by health care costs

SACRAMENTO, 7/23/08 10:14am

• Families have inadequate or costly coverage, it says

• ‘It is no longer just the uninsured who are suffering’

Court upholds flexible meal breaks

SAN DIEGO, 7/23/08 8:29am

• Says employers don’t have to verify workers take the breaks

• ‘Meal breaks need only be made available, not ensured’

Analysis finds lots of interest in bullet train – interest payments, that is

SACRAMENTO, 7/23/08 7:41am

• Californians would pay $647 Million a year to pay off bonds

• Bonds would finance just half of part of the system

Central Valley to get new Hyatt hotel

ROSEVILLE, 7/23/08 6:43am

• Ground broken on Roseville hotel

• To open in fall 2009

Central Valley looms large in 2009 Amgen Tour

SACRAMENTO, 7/23/08 6:33am

• Sacramento, Davis, Modesto, Merced, Clovis and Visalia to be race points

• Tour will start in Sacramento

Jeanne Reaves

AUDIO: Retiring bank president reflects on region's growth

SACRAMENTO, 7/23/08 12:01am

• Jeanne Reaves led River City Bank for a decade

• ‘We need to bring quality businesses here’

Jenny Craig founder, Central Valley patron Sid Craig dies

FRESNO, 7/22/08 4:57pm

• Was 76 when he died Monday

• ‘He was a pioneer in many ways’

WEBCAST: The Day's Top Business News

SUNNY AND WARM IN SPRINGVILLE, 7/22/08 1:42pm
New home starts in Valley off 44% compared to June 2007; Bureau of Automotive Repair accuses owner of 22 Midas Auto Service Centers of cheating customers; Cutbacks in water delivery for Westlands may cost $100 Million and 700 jobs; 50% of CFO's say interpersonal skills most important skill for financial professionals.

• News you can use

• Interviews that inform

• Fact ... not OUR opinion

WEBCAST: The Stock Market Review

NICE BUT WARM IN SPRINGVILLE, 7/22/08 1:39pm
Markets up nicely, at least in part because Crude was down over $3.

• Brief market observation and commentary

• Dow Jones and Nasdaq indexes

• Stocks of local interest

• U.S. Crude for August delivery

Another increase in California foreclosure activity

LA JOLLA, 7/22/08 1:26pm

• Central Valley sees 122 percent increase in Q2

• State may be nearing a plateau

Marquiss Wind Power acquires Cirrus Technologies

FOLSOM, 7/22/08 12:32pm

• Cirrus founder John Roskey joins Marquiss as CTO

• Acquires key patents

Fresno State alumni endow scholarships for low-income students

FRESNO, 7/22/08 12:01pm

• Create $300,000 fund

• ‘We want to be able to make a difference’

New home construction plunged nearly 44 percent in June

SACRAMENTO, 7/22/08 11:53am

• Single-family home starts down 54.9 percent

• Multifamily permits off 16.8 percent

CFOs value interpersonal skills highest

MENLO PARK, 7/22/08 7:23am

• Nothing else comes close

• ‘Careers in finance go beyond the numbers’

Sharp rise in cheese sales

SACRAMENTO, 7/22/08 7:18am

• Cheddar leads the way

• U.S. spends nearly $10 Billion on cheese

Central Valley water shortage may cost $175 Million in crop losses

LOS BANOS, 7/22/08 5:06am

• Could mean loss of 700 jobs says study

• ‘A triple whammy of water reductions this year’

Midas service centers had the wrong touch, says state

SACRAMENTO, 7/22/08 12:02am

• Bureau of Automotive Repair says 22 franchises violated the law

• Three-year investigation results in charges of repeated fraud

John Fiscalini

AUDIO: Greenhouse gas reductions by dairies may be thwarted

MODESTO, 7/22/08 12:01am

• Air pollution district says reducing smog more important

• ‘If it costs me an extra million dollars to comply, they really don’t care’

• Updated July 23 with additional air district comments

WEBCAST: The Day's Top Business News

NICE DAY IN SPRINGVILLE, 7/21/08 1:51pm
Governor announces $200 Million Community Home Loan Stabilization program; Bank of The Sierra announces 25% drop in earnings in Q2; Bombino Express Worldwide being sued by State of California for unsprayed Mangos and Yams; Ground-breaking at UC Merced will double the size of the School of Social Sciences, Humanities, and Arts.

• News you can use

• Interviews that inform

• Fact ... not OUR opinion

WEBCAST: The Stock Market Review

COOLER AND BREEZY IN SPRINGVILLE, 7/21/08 1:48pm
Markets off a little today; Crude rebounds a bit.

• Brief market observation and commentary

• Dow Jones and Nasdaq indexes

• Stocks of local interest

• U.S. Crude for August delivery

Amgen Tour of California may return to Central Valley

MODESTO, 7/21/08 1:47pm

• Modesto is apparently part of 2009 route

• This year’s race haf 1.6 million roadside spectators

Central Valley gets six new judges

SACRAMENTO, 7/21/08 1:20pm

• Appointments announced by governor

• Some are new positions, others fill retirements

State goes after untreated mangos

LOS ANGELES, 7/21/08 12:20pm

• Sues importer for smuggling

• Fruit not treated for oriental fruit fly, state says

Architect's sketch of new academic building

UC Merced starts fourth academic building

MERCED, 7/21/08 12:09pm

• Will nearly double size of School of Social Sciences, Humanities and Arts

• To be completed in spring 2010

David Zoldoske

Cal State taps Central Valley water expert

FRESNO, 7/21/08 9:47am

• David Zoldoske to advise on water policies

• ‘We have to develop sustainable water-use practices in California’

Earnings drop nearly 25 percent at Bank of the Sierra

PORTERVILLE, 7/21/08 5:06am

• Says capital position remains strong

• Moderate branch expansion continues

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in Stockton Monday.

California launches program to help foreclosure-stricken cities

STOCKTON, 7/21/08 12:02am

• Updated throughout at 12:33 p.m.

• New loan program to aid homebuyers

• Designed to move inventory of bank-owned homes

Elin Bullmann

AUDIO: Surviving foreclosure

BEND, ORE., 7/21/08 12:01am

• Personal experience prompts how-to-survive book

• ‘Sometimes you don’t know what loan you’re getting into’

Saturday News Briefs

STOCKTON, 7/19/08 12:01am

• Farmer accused of filing false claims

• Unemployment worst in 10 years

• What’s happening to the oak trees?

• And more….

Former post office clerk sentenced

MODESTO, 7/18/08 9:37pm

• She gets probation and loses her job

• Boyfriend gets 18 months in prison

WEBCAST: The Stock Market Review

SACRAMENTO, 7/18/08 3:29pm
Mixed markets today, Dow up, Nasdaq down; Crude down a bit more today, over $16 for the week.

• Brief market observation and commentary

• Dow Jones and Nasdaq indexes

• Stocks of local interest

• U.S. Crude for August delivery

AUDIO: Today's top business news

STOCKTON, 7/18/08 2:17pm

• Gasoline prices continue four week decline

• How Californians are coping with higher gas costs

• And more...

Employee confidence drops

LOS ANGELES, 7/18/08 11:45am

• Fewer confident about their jobs

• ‘Economic uncertainty remains a widespread issue in California ‘

California’s unemployment rate increases

SACRAMENTO, 7/18/08 11:27am

• June’s rate was 6.9 percent

• Central Valley sees mixed results

CalPERS sees investment loss

SACRAMENTO, 7/18/08 8:17am

• Says it’s not as bad as it might have been

• ‘It was difficult for any investor to make positive returns in stocks this past year’

California cotton plantings cut

SACRAMENTO, 7/18/08 8:05am

• Upland variety at lowest level

• Pima acreage exceeds Upland for first time

Ethanol-from-garbage plant planned

PLEASANTON, 7/18/08 7:35am

• Will use household garbage as feedstock

• Said to be one of first commercial-scale plants of its kind

Poll: Californians cutting spending to afford gasoline

SAN FRANCISCO, 7/18/08 7:24am

• See high prices as a major problem

• Trying ways to save on gasoline

Gasoline prices continue to drop

LOS ANGELES, 7/18/08 5:28am

• At this rate, under $4 by Thanksgiving

• Demand slackens

Starbucks to close ten Central Valley stores

SEATTLE, WASH., 7/18/08 12:03am

• Company releases full list

• Will close 600 company-wide

Rural community seeks Fish and Game water hook up

LOS BANOS, 7/18/08 12:02am

• Say it’s the nearest point for potable water

• Community water well said to be contaminated

Lynnette Zelezny

People in the News

STOCKTON, 7/18/08 12:01am

• Business school names new associate dean

• Winery entrepreneur takes on a new task

• Updated at 10:22 a.m.

WEBCAST: The Day's Top Business News

SUNNY AND WARM IN SPRINGVILLE, 7/17/08 1:46pm
Senator Flores says the state needs 60 more labor inspectors; Dept of Ed, Workforce Development, and CalOSHA teaming up to educate migrant students and their families; A periphery canal carrying water around the Delta has surfaced again; At least 25% of all Americans are going to try a "Stay-cation" and stay at home for their vacation this year.

• News you can use

• Interviews that inform

• Fact ... not OUR opinion