Central Valley Business Times

Central Valley man accused of swindling homeowners

SACRAMENTO, 5/13/08 12:01am

• Accused of filing false liens

• May have involved scores of properties

Marcus Meadows-Smith

AgraQuest names new CEO

DAVIS, 5/12/08 5:17pm

• Marcus Meadows-Smith to lead Central Valley firm

• Company says it’s ready for high-growth phase

WEBCAST: The Day's Top Business News

COOL BUT NICE IN SPRINGVILLE, 5/12/08 1:47pm
Foreclosures nationwide off 5% in April; Pappas Telecasting files Chapter 11 on KMPH-TV and KFRE-TV; Since the cold snap, farmers seeing signs of recovery, but losses nearly $60 Million; Children's Hospital of Madera and UC Davis Childrens will share in nearly $1 Billion if a November bond measure passes.

• News you can use

• Interviews that inform

• Fact ... not OUR opinion

WEBCAST: The Stock Market Review

BRIGHT AND BREEZY IN SPRINGVILLE, 5/12/08 1:39pm
Markets up nicely today; Crude drops $1.73

• Brief market observation and commentary

• Dow Jones and Nasdaq indexes

• Stocks of local interest

• U.S. Crude for June delivery

CalPERS names interim CEO

SACRAMENTO, 5/12/08 1:00pm

• Kenneth Marzion is picked from executive ranks

• Recruiting continues for permanent CEO

New auto parts plant brings 250 jobs to the Central Valley.

Japanese auto parts maker officially opens Central Valley plant

STOCKTON, 5/12/08 12:51pm

• Kyoho Manufacturing builds in Stockton

• Plant will employ about 250

Shell sells Sacramento-area retail assets

SACRAMENTO, 5/12/08 9:50am

• Nakash Enterprises to acquire 20 Shell-branded gasoline stations

• Deal terms not announced

Children’s hospitals bond issue makes November ballot

SACRAMENTO, 5/12/08 7:53am

• Would raise $980 Million from bond sales

• Second such measure in four years

Central Valley postal worker admits to counterfeiting scheme

SACRAMENTO, 5/12/08 7:15am

• Had worked for postal service for 12 years

• Teams with boyfriend to take fake notes

Central Valley broadcaster files for bankruptcy

VISALIA, 5/12/08 6:12am

• Pappas Telecasting filing covers many of its stations

• Problems with lenders are blamed

April foreclosures and pre-foreclosures drop

FAIR OAKS, 5/12/08 3:00am

• Repossessions drop by 5 percent compared to March

• ‘The bottom of the housing market is in sight’

Crop losses mount from April freeze

YUBA CITY, 5/12/08 12:01am

• Some areas see up to 70 percent of some crops damaged

• ‘Everything got hit’

Postage rates go up today

WASHINGTON, D.C., 5/12/08 12:01am

• First class postage now 42 cents an ounce

• ‘Forever’ stamps bought at old rate are OK

Mercury may be on its last lap as an auto brand

LOS ANGELES, 5/10/08 8:27pm, by United Press International

• Ford denies have any plans to kill venterable brand

• Was developed by Ford in 1939 to compete against Oldsmobile

WEBCAST: The Stock Market Review

SPRINGVILLE WEEKEND, 5/10/08 1:00am, by Brent Gill
Here's a few stories I didn't cover during the week. Grab a cup of mud, sit back, and enjoy.

• China's not hot on knives

• Shopping inexpensively

• Paperless receipts

• Stock market review of the week's action

More than 1,000 people enjoyed the 2007 festival at Fresno State. (CSUF photo)

Saturday News Briefs

STOCKTON, 5/10/08 12:01am

• Hundreds of new jobs for Kern County

• Fall Chinook salmon fishing banned virtually everywhere in Valley

• NBA, Cal Expo closer to deal for new arena for Kings

• And more….

WEBCAST: The Day's Top Business News

NICE IN SPRINGVILLE, 5/9/08 2:20pm
CA average gas price below Alaska; Governor mobilizes more firefighters, equipment, and aircraft for upcoming fire season; Boeing to train 737 pilots at old Castle AFB, in Atwater; Cal-Fed Delta plan disbanded by state Senate.

• News you can use

• Interviews that inform

• Fact ... not OUR opinion

WEBCAST: The Stock Market Review

WARM AND BREEZY IN SPRINGVILLE, 5/9/08 2:18pm
Markets off today; Crude sets 5th consecutive closing record at almost $126.

• Brief market observation and commentary

• Dow Jones and Nasdaq indexes

• Stocks of local interest

• U.S. Crude for June delivery

Oil giants to spend $100 Million on public relations spin

WASHINGTON, D.C., 5/9/08 1:59pm, by United Press International

• Seeks a more positive image with consumers

• 'It's basically deceptive advertising' says critic

Mortgage meltdown burns Citigroup

NEW YORK CITY, N.Y., 5/9/08 1:55pm, by Agence France Presse

• To slash $400 Billion in assets

• Hope to increase its return on equity

Workers' Comp rates expected to remain stable

SACRAMENTO, 5/9/08 1:50pm

• State sees no interim pure premium rate advisory needed

• ‘There is room for lower workers' comp rates’

Central Valley to get additional airline service

MERCED, 5/9/08 12:36pm

• Vision Airlines to serve Castle Airport

• Would provide flights to Las Vegas

• Updated at 5:08 p.m. with additional information in last paragraph

State promises crackdown on fire prevention scofflaws

SACRAMENTO, 5/9/08 10:57am

• Will prosecute homeowners who fail to maintain ‘defensible space’

• ‘Imminent threat of catastrophic fires’

County Bank goes with new auditors

MERCED, 5/9/08 9:51am

• KMPG is out; Perry-Smith is in

• ‘The bank had been considering a change in auditors’

State senator to head community colleges

SACRAMENTO, 5/9/08 9:42am

• Jack Scott to take over Jan. 1, 2009

• Had authored community college funding bill

Boeing company to train pilots in Central Valley

ATWATER, 5/9/08 7:58am

• Picks Castle Commerce Center in Merced County

• Would train about 200 pilots a year

Bay-Delta Authority may be sunk

SACRAMENTO, 5/9/08 7:28am

• State Senate moves to scuttle it

• ‘No longer an effective agency’

Gasoline price rockets throttles back

LOS ANGELES, 5/9/08 5:34am

• Setting or hovering near all-time highs

• Other states catching up to California

Jacob McDougal

People in the News

STOCKTON, 5/9/08 12:01am

• Bank names commercial real estate manager

• University taps an alumnus for outreach

• And many more!

AUDIO: Today's stock market report

STOCKTON, 5/8/08 3:38pm

• Oil prices set another record

• NYSE and NASDAQ post small gains

AUDIO: Today's top business news

STOCKTON, 5/8/08 2:00pm

• A unique deal to preserve Tejon Ranch

• We're getting healthier, but not the economy

ATF offers reward Central Valley gunshop robbery

LODI, 5/8/08 12:52pm

• Offers $10,000 reward

• Shop owner was wounded by robbers

VIDEO: Help wanted -- astronauts

PARIS, FRANCE, 5/8/08 12:31pm, by Stephanie McIntyre (Reuters)

• Passed over by NASA? The Euopeans are still looking for astronauts

• Looking to hire four -- but you must speak Russian

Central Valley health gets new assessment

MODESTO, 5/8/08 11:12am

• Some improvement, but still a lot of negatives

• ‘Poverty is a factor for many without sufficient access to health care’

Pete Peters

Businessman to get honorary doctorate from Fresno State

FRESNO, 5/8/08 10:53am

• Pete Peters cited for community, university involvement

• ‘One of the great visionaries of Central California’

Tejon Ranch reaches deal with environmental groups

BAKERSFIELD, 5/8/08 10:11am

• Permanent conservation of most of giant ranch

• Clears the way for commercial development on part of tract

California’s recession to be worse than nation’s

SANTA MONICA, 5/8/08 7:44am

• Housing collapse is the major reason

• ‘The worst decline since the Great Depression’

Gottschalks sales drop in April

FRESNO, 5/8/08 5:36am

• Same store sales off 3.9 percent

• ‘Our performance during April improved compared to recent months’

Revenue up 20 percent for SureWest, but it barely breaks even

ROSEVILLE, 5/8/08 5:28am

• Q1 total revenue hits $51.6 Million

• Broadband revenues pass telecom for first time

Almond forecast indicates record crop

SALIDA, 5/8/08 12:02am

• Forecast at 1.46 Billion pounds

• ‘There’s a lot of good crops out there’

AUDIO: House OKs housing rescue package

WASHINGTON, D.C., 5/8/08 12:01am

• Updated at 2:55 p.m. with House vote, more details

• Bush vows a veto

• Central Valley congressman sees strong support for bill

Huge solar power project in Kern County moves forward

SACRAMENTO, 5/8/08 12:01am

• State begins review process

• Would generate 250 Megawatts of power

Denham recall campaign ends

SACRAMENTO, 5/7/08 8:16pm

• Will remain on June ballot

• Senate president says he made his point

Jiffy Lube signs deal with state to protect against spills

SACRAMENTO, 5/7/08 2:31pm

• Deals with how fluids are stored

• Agreement covers 300-plus Jiffy Lubes in the state

AUDIO: Today's top business news

STOCKTON, 5/7/08 2:00pm

• Restoration of the San Joaquin River moves closer... the secret that lawyers use to get the next job... refiney says it's running out of time... and Butte County figures out a better use for its gas

• The top news in under two minutes

AUDIO: Today's stock market report

STOCKTON, 5/7/08 1:59pm

• Market closes down

• Oil hits yet another record high

Gasoline production up; diesel production drops

SACRAMENTO, 5/7/08 1:57pm

• Gas production jumps 5.4 percent

• Inventories of both fuels up

San Joaquin River restoration moves closer

WASHINGTON, D.C., 5/7/08 11:04am

• Senate committee gives its OK

• ‘It would transform the San Joaquin into a living river’

CELSOC becomes ACEC California

SACRAMENTO, 5/7/08 9:57am

• Adopts name of national group

• ‘Will have an instant impact’

Butte gas to make electricity

OROVILLE, 5/7/08 9:09am

• County landfill problem to become asset

• Could supply power to 4,000 homes

Central Valley refinery wants faster action on expansion

BAKERSFIELD, 5/7/08 8:08am

• Seeks Kern County supervisors’ OK

• Says it’s running out of time

Survey: Networking works best for attorneys looking for jobs

MENLO PARK, 5/7/08 6:51am

• Staffing or placement firms second most popular method

• ‘Knowing the right person is often the most effective way’

Venerable restaurant in Old Sacramento closes

SACRAMENTO, 5/7/08 12:03am

• California Fat’s shuttered

• Weak economy blamed in part

New chapter written in life of serial bank robber

SACRAMENTO, 5/7/08 12:02am

• Citrus Heights man gets 30 months in prison

• Had knocked over three Central Valley banks

Frost damage losses mount across California

SACRAMENTO, 5/7/08 12:01am, by Kate Campbell

• Several crops suffered damage from mid-April freeze

• It will be several weeks before the extent can be determined

Profits shaved at Granite Community Bank

GRANITE BAY, 5/6/08 9:32pm

• Q1 net income drops 41 percent year-over-year

• Declining residential real estate values blamed in part

VIDEO: Foreclosed homes raise health worries

SAN FRANCISCO, 5/6/08 4:53pm, by Stacey Delo (Wall Street Journal)

• Abandoned homes may spawn West Nile virus mosquitoes

• Santa Clara County takes a high-tech approach

VIDEO: Will oil prices top $200 per barrel?

NEW YORK CITY, N.Y., 5/6/08 4:50pm, by Sasha Salama (Reuters)

• Market fundamentals may not apply

• Experts are divided on how high the price will go

WEBCAST: The Day's Top Business News

NICE IN SPRINGVILLE, 5/6/08 3:40pm
More than 50% 2006 home-buyers "upside down" on mortgages; Stockton home prices declined 33.5% since Q1 last year; Congressman McNearny introduces bill to increase loan limits for Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and FHA; A Sacramento developer giving land to the Catholic Church for administration in one of the Central Valley's largest new developments.

• News you can use

• Interviews that inform

• Fact ... not OUR opinion