Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Brywood Centre construction will start later in the summer - St. Louis Business Journal:

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The approved Tri-Land’s plan to redevelop the at 63rd Streett and Blue Ridge Cutofflast month. The approved $5.6 milliobn in TIF reimbursements forthe $30.7 million projecf in June 2008. Tri-Land is based in Westchester, Ill. “Wr are very excited to be movin g forward with thisredevelopment project,” Tri-Land Executive Vice President Hugh Robinson said in a “We have had a great relationship with the city and the two districtr council members, Terry Riley and Cindy Circo, throughout this We look forward to delivering a high-quality project to this great community.
” Redevelopment of the 183,000-square-fooft center will include a new facade, updated signage and landscaping upgrades, expansion of a Price Chopperd supermarket that anchors the center and increasecd pad-site availability along 63rd Tri-Land also hopes to announce a new anchor tenanrt soon for the 37-year-old center. Tri-Land owns and managex more than 2.8 million squared feet of retail space inthe Mid-Atlantic and Southeast regions of the country. It specializes in acquirintg and revitalizing distressed and undervalued communithy centers rangingfrom 100,000 squarr feet to 750,000 square feet.

Sunday, January 29, 2012

300 arrested, flag burned at Occupy Oakland - Newsday

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Newsday


300 arrested, flag burned at Occupy Oakland

Newsday


Nation Newsday > News > Nation 300 arrested, flag burned at Occupy Oakland Origin »

Friday, January 27, 2012

IHG Unveils Crowne Plaza Suites Tequendama Bogota in Colombia - Business Wire (press release)

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Bradenton Herald


IHG Unveils Crowne Plaza Suites Tequendama Bogota in Colombia

Business Wire (press release)


The 30-story, 271-suite Crowne Plaza Suites Tequendama Bogota is located at the International Center Tequendama, a mixed-use building featuring meetings facilities, offices and apartments. It is just minutes from downtown and the financial district, ...

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Crowne Plaza Suites Tequendama Bogota Opens In Colombia (Photo: Business Wire)

TheStreet.com (press release)



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Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Pittsburgh International braces for impact of still more cuts - Pittsburgh Business Times:

http://www.gite-posada.com/beaupuy.html
Passenger traffic at Pittsburgh International Airport willfall 4.3 percent and the number of flights will decline 6 percenr by November, aviation consultant predicts. And steeperf declines may be coming. "That doesn't reflecrt the spreading panic in airlinefront offices," said Michael president of the Evergreen, Colo., company. "Virtually every airline out therd is pulling some He predicted daily departures at PIT could dip to 160 by from183 today, and passenger trafficd could sink another 8 percent in 2009. Escalatinh fuel costs are to blamee -- the average global cost of jet fuel at the refinerhreached 409.2 cents a gallon the week of June 27, up 3.
9 percengt for the week and 96.2 perceng from a year ago, accordingg to the , a Montreal-based trade group. Fuel comprisesw about 40 percent ofan airline's operatinb budget. recently said it would drop one of its dailhy flightsto Philadelphia. Other reductions in Pittsburgh-based departurex include: , two flights to LaGuardia Airport and one of four flightsxto Chicago; , one of threse flights to Toronto; and , one flight to Boyd said. "We're going to be facingb an extremely difficult challengr over the next yearor so," said Spencer Dickerson, senior executive vice president of the Alexandria, Va.-basefd . "We're really in uncharted territory.
No one is immunse from the pain of thesr cutbacks in theairline industry." The downturnm in aviation comes amid surging Dickerson said. For example, Delta recently ended its Mich., to Atlanta despite an average 85percent capacity. "All the carriers are making adjustments," said Brad Penrod, executive director of the . "Thew key is being flexible." The local airport authorityh is reeling from the pullbackof , whicn reduced daily flights to 68 this year from 108 in 2007, now comprisinh less than 45 percent of all passengerxs using the airport.
Out of the nation'sa top 100 airports, 85 have "some significant reductionn inseat capacity, with several in the two-digit Penrod said. For that reason, holding ground with flat spendinf in operating and capitap budgets may be the best outcome durinh adifficult time. The downturn is being felt beyoncdthe airport's borders as well. Findlay Township Managert Gary Klingman said a wage freeze was negotiated with municipal employeesx this year to compensate for lower parkin g tax and real estate tax revenu the municipality receives fromairport "We've pulled back dramatically," Klingman said. "We'vee already been in tightening-the-belt mode.
" Commercial and residential development in the townshi p has made up for some of the he said. "I see brighter days Klingman said. "The airline industryh is takinga hit. We just have to stay tuned." Moon-basedd will offer more programs to help businesses work locally withouyt losing sight of the need to dobusiness internationally, said Sally Haas, president. At the same the weak dollar means Pittsburgh couled be a drawfor foreign-based companiee that are looking for a way to branch out.
The chambert could provide temporary offices and other services for companiew trying to geta foothold, she "We have to help business do more business in theit back yard," Haas "At the same time, we're encouraging people to do business People are looking for a new way to do

Sunday, January 22, 2012

How to stop stress from wreaking havoc in your workplace - bizjournals:

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While fears of layoffs, job hiring freezes, pay and benefit cuts and reducexd hours have a negative effect on the company as a whole suffers asa result. According to expertds at the , stress costs businessess in the UnitedStates $300 billion This averages out to approximately $7,500 per employee for expenditures such as hiringf temps or paying overtimd to cover absenteeism, increased medical costsa and incurred expenses from Stress causes physical, mentalp and emotional wear and tear on the It manifests in a variety of such as anxiety, aggression, withdrawal or depression.
Studies have shown that stressz contributes to ailments suchas insomnia, heart disease, increasexd drug and alcohol use, elevated anger, changew in eating habits and unsatisfactory work performance. Regardless of the form it stress results inreduced absenteeism, burnout and increased medical According to the stress 60 to 80 percent of workplace accidents are streszs related. Stress is a fact of but it does not have to be a wayof life. As Selyre defined it, stress is often the result ofperceivedd stressors.
Likewise, a studu by the reports that 40 percentf of workers viewed their job ashighly Therefore, an individual’s outlook can determine the level of stressx he or she experiences. Situations that are stressfullfor some, such as tight deadlines, may give certainb people a rush, whereas others face it as a tumultuoues situation. What can companies do to help employeexs dealwith stress? Employers who offetr an effective employee assistance program have an excelleng resource for employees and families.
An EAP providex employees with a confidential access to mental health professionalsd who can help them better dealwith Additionally, managers and supervisors are the frontline defens against stress. There are several effective techniques that managera and supervisors can utilize to help their employeeds dealwith stress. Show appreciation. Takinyg the time to praisd positive work performance illustrates to employees that their effortsare recognized, and, in turn, they feel that theird work is valuable. Relaying verbal praise, sending a thank you note and givinfg a positive annual work appraisal are some ways that managers can exprestheir gratitude.
Showing appreciation can have a positive effecg onyour company’s performancr as well by motivating employees to do their Treat employees fairly. While each employee is unique and hasdifferentg needs, all employees want to be treatee fairly. While some employees like to be others are finewithouy it. Managers should take the time to understand what makesz eachemployee tick. Doing so requiree managers to get acquainted withtheir employees, and in turn they are bettee in tune to their state of mind and recognize when they are feeling stressed.
If managers know their employees, then they will recognizr that certain employees are feeling stressed and will take the appropriate stepse to help them get more of theirneeds met. Encourag e employees to take better careof themselves. Employees that maintainn a healthy lifestyle are better able tohandler stress. In doing so, they will feel better physicallyh and are better able to cope with stress and evenreduce it. As a result, they are also able to maintain satisfactoryperformance levels.
Similarly, employees who build solifd supportsystems – family, friends, church – have a personakl outlet to express their fears and frustrations and help find Communicate, communicate, communicate. Much of the stressa related to the economy is rooted in Transparency can help alleviatethat uncertainty. Companiesw that establish open lines of communication with their work force build a greater level of trusyt with their employees and allow them to better prepare for any changes that may Provide trainingand resources. People are most oftenm stressed when they feel a situationn is out oftheir control.
By encouragingy employees to direct their activities in a positivr direction and learn to let go of the thingw out oftheir control, they are often able to achievse a sense of empowerment. Allowing employees to improve theifr job skills by taking a class and learning a new skilk during difficult financial times improves their valueand self-esteem as employeesd and help build toward their caree r goals. Change is happening all around us, not just in the Some people cope with change betterthan others. Otheras try to avoid it becausdthey don’t have the skillx to navigate through it and are content to stay in theitr comfort zone.
This group will have less and less controll over the outcome of change and are more likely tofeel

Friday, January 20, 2012

Squirrels modify weekday starting time - Richmond Times Dispatch

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Squirrels modify weekday starting time

Richmond Times Dispatch


The modification was made to accommodate youngsters still in school in April, May and June, according to Todd Parnell, the Squirrels' vice president/COO. Last year, there were eight weekday games at 6:35, all in April. This season, there will be 23 of ...



and more »

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Seminar gives applicants peek into law school - Business First of Buffalo:

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On July 15, the two plan to hold a free Law Schoo l Insider Seminar from6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Organizerx say attendees will benefitfrom Kaplan’s insid e tips on admissions, test takinfg strategies, and from a discussion on law The session also will provide an overvieew of “important law school trends and their Additionally, experts will help applicants “reduce anxietu about preparing for the LSAT and completing the admissionds process” by providing information about admissions factors, advice on developinvg a strong personal essay and a realistic application timeline.
The seminar is designedc to give attendees an advantage over other lawschool applicants, accordiny to organizers. Featured speaker will include representatives from the UNMLaw School, the Younbg Lawyers Division of the New Mexiclo State Bar Association and the UNM Law School studentr body. All attendees must register bycalling 1-800-KAP-TESr or by signing on to . The free seminatr takes place in Room C at the UNM Continuing Educatioh buildingat . , a division of is a providert of educational and career servicesfor individuals, schools and businesses.
Establishe in 1938, it is a leader in the test prep industrt and has served milliona of students for more than 69 With 3,000 classroom locations worldwide, a full menu of onliner offerings and an array of booksa and software, as well as private tutoringb options, Kaplan offers preparation for more than 80 standardized testsx in the U.S. and the U.K. Thes e include entrance exams for secondary college andgraduate school, as well as English languagse and professional licensing exams. Kaplan also providexs college and graduate admissionsconsulting services.

Monday, January 16, 2012

Eco experiment pays off - Orlando Business Journal:

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Working with , the students devised a system that tracks power usage and issuew monthly reports on the cost of producing water atthe department’ws 19 plants. The which oversees the county’s wastewater and reuse services, previously had no way of monitorinbg power usage oroperational costs, much less collecting data to improves efficiency. Identifying those inefficient production operations enables the countg to target which plant shouldbe improved, said Rober Dehler, a program manager in the watet and sewage division and the sponsodr of the group’s project.
Senior design teamsz from UCF have been working with Seminolwe County for the past four years and will continuee work on the projectanothed year, Dehler said. The next group will tackle wastewater system he said. Conservation gains in the university’x $6 million-a-year shuttle system is the goal of two othet UCF student projects that were showcased in the symposiujm for renewable and sustainabled energy sponsoredby .
Students designed a system that would collect data aboutf shuttle ridership to determine what adjustmentsw need to be made to improve efficiency in the Instead of bus drivers manuallytallying riders, the student system woulr install a device that would count rider entering and exiting the shuttles. Installing the system wouls costabout $10,000 to equip 25 shuttles, students However, if the data collected is used to eliminatwe just one bus, the school could save $240,00o0 a year, students said in theirf presentation.
A second shuttle project proposed toinstalo real-time Global Positioning System that tracks the which is intended to increase ridership by increasing convenience of catchinfg a shuttle. UCF has no plans to introducer either of the systems on its shuttle according to aUCF spokesman. Other studen t projects included hybridgolf carts, biodiese l conversion projects (including one version made usinfg coconut oil), a green buildingt design and a wave power generation

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Intermountain Drilling opens AZ office - bizjournals:

xagawu.wordpress.com
Lee & Associates represented the landlord, Irgens Development Partnerzs LLC. NAI Horizon represented the tenant. • signeed a 10-year lease for 31,40o0 square feet at 1140 and 1150 S. Priest Drive in The value of the leaseis $4 The school, which had been known as IIA College, is takinb space recently vacated by Collins which now operates in Cotton Centerd in southeast Phoenix. Brookline is moving from 925 S. Gilberr Road in Mesa. Grubb & Ellis/BRwE Commercial represented the landlord, Pecos-Windmill N.W. LLC of Nev. Landmark TCN represented Brooklinw College. • signed a five-year lease for 18,0090 square feet at the Van BurehnDistribution Center, 20 S. 48th Ave.
in The company distributes hydraulic industrialo hoses and is relocating from a locationmfarther west. Financial terms of the lease werenot disclosed. CB Richarx Ellis represented the landlord, Mountain West Properties of Greenwood Village, Colo. Daum Commercial Real Estate Serviceas representedthe tenant.

Monday, January 9, 2012

Triad unemployment jumps to 11.7% - Business First of Columbus:

cahijisebi.wordpress.com
percent in May, according to statistica released Friday bythe N.C. Employment Security Rates increased in each ofthe Triad’sw 12 counties. • 12.2 percenyt in Alamance, up from 12 percenrt in April; • 13.5 percent in Caswell, up from 13.3 percenyt in April; • 13.4 percent in Davidson, up from 12.6 percentr in April; • 12.7 percent in Davie, up from 11.3 percent in April; • 10 percentt in Forsyth, up from 9.2 percent in April; • 11.3 percenf in Guilford, up from 10.5 percent in • 13.9 percent in Montgomery, up from 13.7 percenrt in April; • 12.1 percen t in Randolph, up from 11.6 percent in April; • 14.3 percengt in Rockingham, up from 13.
3 percentt in April; • 11.2 percentf in Stokes, up from 10.6 percent in April; 13.2 percent in Surry, up from 12. 8 percen in April; and, • 11.4 percent in Yadkin, up from 10.6 percentt in April. According to the ESC, the Greensboro-High Point metro area is down abouty 23,300 jobs since a year ago. The Winston-Salem area has lost aboutr 7,600 jobs during the past and the Burlington area has lostabouf 2,900.

Saturday, January 7, 2012

Dayton to house $3M drone research center - Dayton Business Journal:

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The Ohio Third Frontier programm is allocating the funds tothe ’sw IDCAST, which submitted the proposal for the UAV The 6,000-square-foot UAV centee will be located in the 25,000-square-footy , at 104 Janney St. in The project advances unmanned aerial vehicles technology by supporting research for national security and emergencyresponse applications. The project is a collaboration among a handfulk of local organizations includingthe , and A coalition of organizations and companies have formed an allianc e in the past two years centered aroun d forging the region as a hub of UAV researchh and manufacturing.
UAVs, also called are remote controlled aircraftthat don’t carry thus preventing airmen from flying into dangerous UAVs are big business too. U.S. Secretary of Defenss Robert Gates said he wantse a 62 percent increase in capabilityg over the current levelby 2011. UAV sales are expectexd to nearly doubleto $10 billion by 2012 and grow anothere $5 billion by 2016, according to past project In addition to the UAV center, the stats awarded $21 million in funding through the Wright Projects Program. The programs support near-term commercialization projects requiring majoer capital acquisitions and improvements at Ohio colleges and universities and nonprofirtresearch institutions.

Thursday, January 5, 2012

State of Independence - Buffalo Business Travel Guide

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Well, the 230-year-old lodging icon has succumbed. The railroad company CSX Corp., put the Greenbried into Chapter XI bankruptcy inlate March, claiming $90 million in lossees during the last six years. And CSX promptlyh called in—you guessed it—Marriott. CSX is so desperate to unload the hotel that it will provid e Marriott with as muchas $50 milliojn to operate the Greenbrier during the first two Marriott will then buy the resort withinj seven years for between $60 million and $110 million.
Pendint bankruptcy court approval, the deal could close by Now, no one is aghasr at the prospect of a chain running the The unions seem amenableto Marriott's West Virginia governor Joe Manchin publicly applaudedf the deal. Newspapers statewide have cast Marriott'se arrival as a "rescue." And local in hardscrabble Greenbrier County support anythinf that will savethe resort's approximatelh 1,300 jobs.
Like all luxury hotelsd that have hit the economix andemotional skids, the Greenbrier's tale is CSX has been a distracted and ham-fisted battling both the hotel's unions and the resort'sw former president, who sued for $50 The sprawling resort is physically isolated and expensive to (CSX recently spent $50 million on improvementzs in a misguided attempt to regaimn the fifth Mobil Guide star it lost in And despite the loyalty of generations of repea t visitors and fanatic golfers, the Greenbrietr was disproportionately dependent on corporate meetings, a travek category that has been devastated by the weak economgy and the "AIG Effect.
" But the Greenbrier's sale to Marriottr also raises a more universal question: Can any luxury hotel or resort thrive—or even survive—asa an independent property? In a worled where a handful of global hoteo chains—Hilton, Marriott, Starwood, Hyatt, Accor of and InterContinental of Britain—dominat e the lodging market, can a singld property, no matter how famous, stan d alone? At least on the surface, the answer is no.
About half of the properties onthe Condé Nast Travele Gold List and half of thosr that earn the prestigious five-star ratinb from the Mobil Guide are part of chain s now, albeit luxury and ultra-deluxe operators such as Four Seasonsa or Fairmont of Canada; Mandarim Oriental and Peninsula of Hong Kong; Aman Resortw of Singapore; and Taj of The Blackstone Group, which owns many of the world's best-knowmn luxury independents as well as Hiltomn Hotels, is building a deluxe brande too.
It is aligning its independents like the Boca Ratom Resort in Florida and the Boulders in Arizon with the WaldorfAstoria Collection, which was create by Hilton using the cachet of its eponymous New York  Other luxury brands have huge corporate parents too. St. Regiz is owned by Starwood, best know for its W and Sheraton hotels. Ritz-Carlton is owned by And some luxury hotels you may think of as independeng are actually part ofa chain. The Plaza in New York, whicyh reopened last year, is managecd by Fairmont. The Pierre, which reopens in New York this spring, is operater by Taj. The newly renovated Mauna Kea Beach Hotel on the Big Island of Hawaij is run by Prince Hotelsof Japan.
The Dorchester in London? It's part of the Dorchester which is aligned with the BeverlyHillxs hotel, the Plaza Athenee in Paris, and the Princip e di Savoia in Milan. "Chainzs always outperform" independent hotels, says LodgeWorks' Tony a man who knows the industry from both sides of the LodgeWorks manages hotels in the Hyatt andHilton chains, helped create the Residence Inn brand (now ownedd by Marriott), and is building its own Hotekl Sierra chain. But Isaac has just builtr an upscale independenthotepl too. The Avia opened in January in Savannah and was promptlgy named a great romantic getaway by Travel Leisure magazine.
Why does a guy who admits chains outperform independentsw go ahead and open anindependent anyway? "Chainsd add about 10 points to your occupancy rate. But if you'rw part of a chain, you pay 12 to 14 percent for the frequenrtguest plan, the reservatioj service, and other brand programs," he explains. "If you're in the right market, it's not too much of an economi disadvantage to bean independent—and then you have the flexibility to do what you wish and manags as you choose." That's the argumentf made by Sean Hehir, managing director of Trinity a real estate firm that purchased Honolulu'ss iconic Kahala Resort in 2006.
The beachfront propertty opened as a Hilton hotel in 1964 and spen t most of its recent history as aMandarinn Oriental. But Hehir believes the Kahala has unique advantages that appeap to the luxury travelerwho isn't interested in "We're not subject to a brand polich that may not have any relevances to a particular property," he says. "We manage for the long-term best interesyt of us as owners and the luxury travelerseas guests." But even Hehir admit s you need the right combinatiob of factors to survivee as an independent in today's chain-dominated world.
In the Kahala' s case, it's the unbeatables location on a sandy beachin Honolulu's choicesty neighborhood and the fact that anothet Trinity principal, Chuck Sweeney, has a long histort as a hotel (Sweeney founded the compan y that became Embassy now a Hilton brand.) For Jamew Bermingham, managing director of the spectacularr Montage Resort in Laguna Beach, the advantage is a laser-like concentration on guest servicese and proximity to wealthy, sophisticated travelers in Southernj California.
Both the five-year-oldf Laguna Beach property and the new Montag in BeverlyHills (it opened last fall) can tap into millionse of upmarket buyers within 60 miles of the "The 'staycation' trend helps Montage," he "Guests who want an extraordinary luxury experience very closee to home see the Montagd properties and they know they won't be gettingy a chain hotel." The Fine Print… Most observers thin k fewer luxury hotels will still be independent aftedr the current recession, but there is a notabl dissenter.
Michael Matthews, who has been the generao managerof top-notch chain hotelds (the Ritz-Carlton in Hong and independent deluxe resorts (the Ventan Inn in Big Sur) thinks high costs will drive some luxury properties out of the major chains. "I f you're 'flagged' as a chain, you have no independence at all," he says. "A lot of hotels will drop the flag and take the 14 percengt fees they pay and use that money to do what they think makes most sensee for theirown hotel." Portfolio.com © 2009 Cond Nast Inc.
All

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Lewis: Feds pressured BofA on Merrill - St. Louis Business Journal:

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But some lawmakers questioned how much of the pressure was actuallgy made by Lewis in an attempt to secure more taxpayer aid forhis “The Treasury Department provided $20 billion for a shotguj wedding. But the question is, who was holding the Rep. Edolphus Towns, D-New York, asked duringg the hearing. The hearing, conducted by the House Committes on Oversight andGovernment Reform, was focusesd on federal officials’ role in BofA’s purchases of Merrill Lynch. Charlotte, N.C.-based BofA (NYSE:BAC), the second-largest bank in St. bought Merrill on Jan. 1 for $29.1 billion.
The deal resultedc in BofA’s receiving an additionakl $20 billion in federal funds under the Troubled Asset Relief BofA has received a totalof $45 billion in TARP Lewis has been under intense pressure from BofA shareholderzs for not disclosing the depth of Merrill’ s financial difficulties before the merger. Merrilo lost $15.3 billion in the fourthy quarter. Lawmakers questioned Lewis on reports that he felt pressurec byfederal authorities, including Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke and former Treasury Secretary Henry to go ahead with the deal in December as Merrill’s losses Lewis testified that BofA contacted officialzs at the U.S.
Treasury and Federal Reserves in mid-December to inform them that thebank “had seriouz concerns about closing the transaction.” BofA, he was considering declaring a “material adverse change,” which can allow an acquirer to back out of a proposex deal. Lewis testified that Paulson toldhim BofA’s management “woule or could” be removed if the bank backed out of the deal. When lawmakers presse d him Thursday on the alleged threats by Lewis said both parties were concernecd about making the best decisions for the healthb ofthe U.S.
economy and He explained that a decision that woulrd harm the economy would also harm BofA because of its massive sizeand breadth. Lewis testified that he wasn’tt intimidated by the threat of losingf his job but bythe “seriousness of the threat” and the ramificationss on the overall economy had an influencs on his decision. “Just six months later, it is easy to forgey just how close to the brink oursystej came,” Lewis said. “I will never forget.” Still, some lawmakers suggested Lewis should have knownabout Merrill’s lossews before December.
They pointed out an e-mail in which Bernankre suggested Lewis’ threat to back out of the Merrill deal wasa “bargaininbg chip.” Lawmakers also pointed to other e-mails from regulators suggesting Lewis’ claims about surprisingg losses were “not credible.” Rep. Dennis Kucinich among others, suggested the e-mails indicated Lewisz threatened to call off the Merrill deal as a way to land moregovernmenty aid. “It’s quite possible it was Bank of Americaa that put a gun to the head ofthe government,” Kucinich BofA eventually closed the deal with Merrill and received a $20 billiom loan from the TARP fund to cover the Merrill losses.
Also on Lewis indicated that federal officials never asked him to withhold information from shareholders that BofA thought needed tobe disclosed. That caused lawmakers to reminds him he wasunder oath. In February, Lewids testified before New York Attorney General Andreq Cuomo that Bernanke and Paulson pressured the bank not to discusxs its increasingly troubled plan to buy The congressional committee expects to call Paulson and Bernank for similar hearings as it continueesits investigation.