Fairfield Chamber of Commerce

Check back here often for the latest news as delivered by the Fairfield Chamber of Commerce

After one year, free trade pact paying some dividends in Dominican Republic
May 18, 2008 — South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Dominicans are seeing U.S. investment rise in hotels, real estate and more. U.S. exports are up partly because of a weak dollar. It has stepped up promotions of factories to make medical devices and electronics to offset the loss of apparel jobs.
ASD panel wonders if efforts were wasted
May 18, 2008 — Allentown Morning Call
In the Bethlehem Area School District, meanwhile, minority teachers also make up 7 percent of the work force, but the student minority population is 45 percent. To meet its 16 percent goal, the Allentown district would need to hire 120 minority teachers each year over the next three years. And the district works jointly with Lehigh University to develop teachers in a special program it offers, Mayo said.
Bush faults Democrats for gas prices
May 18, 2008 — Washington Times, A1
Bush yesterday after talks with Afghan President Hamid Karzai. Bush's Friday visit with King Abdullah in Riyadh. Bush promised he would lean on the Saudis, said Mr.
Can a Dead Brand Live Again?
May 18, 2008 — New York Times
Aside from Brim, the brands it acquired in the last few years include Underalls, Salon Selectives, Nuprin and the game maker Coleco, among others. Beanstalk was exploring strategies to revive the Coleco and Brim brands as, essentially, licensing fodder. We circled back around to Beanstalk’s ideas for River West’s brands, particularly Brim.
Community calendar
May 18, 2008 — Cincinnati Enquirer
Monday: Garth Stein, 7 p.m., Joseph-Beth Booksellers, 2692 Madison Road, Norwood. Carotid artery, abdominal aortic and peripheral arterial screening ultrasounds. PETS Today: Greater Cincinnati Pet Health Fair, noon to 4 p.m., College Hill Pet Clinic, 957 North Bend Road, College Hill.
Despite win in W.Va., Clinton's chances slim
May 18, 2008 — The Philadelphia Inquirer
The same demographic dynamics that have kept the marathon campaign going this long are expected to produce a split in that day's primaries -- with Obama winning Oregon and Clinton taking Kentucky.
Ex-assembly speaker Núñez looks at options for his future
May 18, 2008 — San Diego Union-Tribune
“I have deep roots in San Diego. After graduating from San Diego High School and attending the University of California San Diego, Núñez, the son of a former bracero worker from Mexico, moved to Los Angeles at age 22. “Global warming, minimum-wage increase, prescription drugs, all the things Democrats care about we've been working on successfully because of the speaker's leadership,” Torrico said.
Girl's fear of school costs district thousands
May 18, 2008 — Allentown Morning Call
All of the expenses were allowed under the agreement Barbara Maykish reached with the school district. Barbara Maykish never received cash up front. Maykish, who is unemployed, has paid $1 so far.
No time to waste in improving schools
May 18, 2008 — Tennessean
Nine out of 15 MNPS high schools have average ACT scores under 19. One hundred thirty-six Tennessee school systems met NCLB standards in 2007, and other large urban school systems in the state made adequate yearly progress. And too many schools lack parent-teacher organizations or associations.
Obama Seeks Decisive Turnout
May 18, 2008 — Tampa Tribune
A poorly organized event makes the candidate look hapless.But because of the boycott, which lasted until the Jan. 29 primary, and the protracted primary battle against Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton since then, Obama hasn't built much of a Florida organization.He has only a single paid staff member in the state, a fundraiser.
Obama's challenge: attracting blue collar voters
May 18, 2008 — St. Louis Post-Dispatch
And the next day the Steelworkers union, which had previously supported Edwards, endorsed Obama. But Edwards' speech drove home some of Obama's difficulties in relating to blue-collar workers. Edwards spoke passionately about people struggling to make it and about kitchen-table issues.
Off the Shelf: A Rock, a Hard Place and an Exit Strategy
May 18, 2008 — New York Times
Jared Bernstein offers an explanation for the causes of this economic disconnect in “Crunch: Why Do I Feel So Squeezed?” (Berrett-Koehler Publishers, $26.95). Mr. Bernstein, a senior economist at the Economic Policy Institute in Washington, also outlines a “reconnection agenda” to cure the nation’s economic ills. He says that the Federal Reserve should focus on promoting job growth over limiting inflation.
Pace picks up as lawmakers hurry to pass major bills
May 18, 2008 — Telegram & Gazette
DiMasi tried to put to rest a series of nagging ethics questions and reassert control over an increasingly rambunctious House of Representatives. Ironically, DiMasi had planned a press conference Monday with Gov. Patrick also is eager to chalk up more wins before the session ends.
Phenomenon: Drilling for Defeat?
May 18, 2008 — New York Times
The Rocky Mountain drilling boom has been aided by the 2005 Energy Policy Act, which was once considered a partisan political masterstroke. But the acceleration of energy exploration has split the national Republican Party from local Republicans upset by the downsides of the energy boom. Already a conservative group has broadcast television ads attacking Udall for trying to limit drilling.
So You Think Gas Costs a Lot?
May 18, 2008 — New York Times
As a result, production at European refineries is geared toward processing crude oil to meet the demand for diesel. Goldstein said that the increased production of ethanol was also pushing up diesel prices by offsetting some of the need for gasoline, because as refiners make less gasoline they produce less diesel as well. The strategy now looks iffy because diesel models cost more than the equivalent gasoline vehicles.
Speedy bill diagnosis
May 18, 2008 — Chicago Sun-Times
Healthation is promoting its enterprise health care administration software, called AcceleHealth, and a business infrastructure it calls the Information Currency Exchange as the underpinnings of the health care retail revolution. Consumers decide who pays for their health care and who can see their health care records. The health care industry is headed in the direction of Healthation's vision.
Task force addresses needs of the disabled
May 18, 2008 — Pittsburgh Tribune Review
Marilyn Forbes FOR THE Scottdale-area residents concerned about treatment of disabled people met recently. The group, calling itself the Westmoreland County Disability Task Force, hopes to address the needs of the disabled and work with feedback from those in need of assistance. The group's next meeting will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Music n' More on Broadway in Scottdale.
The Akron Beacon Journal, Ohio, Dennis Willard column: Dems move too quickly with Dann
May 18, 2008 — Akron Beacon Journal
His former chief of staff, Ed Simpson, and scheduler, Jessica Utovich, resigned. Ted Strickland, they needed the public to understand they would clean their own house.On May 4, Strickland asked Dann to resign during two telephone conversations. Just two days earlier, Dann had told the media he was staying despite admitting to an affair with a junior staffer, allegedly Utovich.
Views of Missouri legislative session follow party lines
May 18, 2008 — The Kansas City Star
The property tax reforms proposed by Senate leader Michael Gibbons, a St. But he said he was still pleased with progress on health care."There are lots of ways to increase health care," Blunt said. "Medicaid funding, for instance. I'm committed to expanding health care for Missourians.
A Lifetime of Danger
May 17, 2008 — Washington Post
Treating a child with obesity is three times more costly than treating the average child, according to a study by Thomson Reuters. The research company pegged the country's overall expense of care for overweight youth at $14 billion annually. Childhood obesity is nothing less than "a national catastrophe," acting U.S. Surgeon General Steven Galson has declared.
Bush Halts Oil Reserve Purchases
May 17, 2008 — Washington Post
After climbing to a trading record of $127.82 a barrel, crude oil prices on the New York Mercantile Exchange closed at $126.29, up $2.17 for the day. World demand for oil often increases in the summer, and Saudi production can fluctuate. That's good news." Diwan said that during the first quarter, the amount of oil pumped into the emergency reserve was the same as the increase in crude oil produced in non-OPEC countries.
Congressional Pressure Prevails as U.S. Halts Filling of Oil Reserve
May 17, 2008 — New York Times
JAD MOUAWAD Bowing to pressure from Congress, the Energy Department said Friday that it would temporarily suspend a program to fill the nation’s strategic oil stocks. The speed with which politicians have jumped on this policy is a measure of how anxious people feel about mounting energy costs. But many analysts cautioned the decision was unlikely to have much of an impact on oil or gasoline prices.
Courting N.R.A., McCain Criticizes Obama and Clinton on Gun Control
May 17, 2008 — New York Times
McCain said, drew the derisive comment from Mr. Clinton support limits on gun sales and extending the ban on assault weapons. Albans Gun & Archery shop near Charleston, W.Va.
EDITORIAL: State Senate Picks
May 17, 2008 — Albuquerque Journal
Dede Feldman: A tireless worker in the Senate since 1997, Feldman has emerged as a leader on health care reform, education funding and open government. They want health care reform, Blair says, not a power struggle over the power of appointment to a health care oversight panel. Democrats in this mid-Northeast Heights district should support John Blair.
Historic presidential race leads a full primary ballot
May 17, 2008 — Lexington Herald-Leader
Lunsford gave more than $60,000 to GOP candidates. Charlie Walton in the Republican primary to replace GOP Sen. In Central Kentucky, several Democratic incumbents have received challenges, including: Rep.
In Effort to Avoid Conflicts, McCain Issues New Rules for Staff
May 17, 2008 — New York Times
On Thursday, the campaign removed one of its energy policy advisers, Eric Burgeson, because he was also a paid lobbyist for energy companies. A McCain campaign official said Friday that Mr. It also forbids lobbyists who may volunteer for the campaign from lobbying Mr.
McCain Shows NRA Strong Pro-Gun Side
May 17, 2008 — Washington Post
McCain "definitely has his full pander on in Louisville today," said Democratic National Committee spokesman Damien LaVera. But McCain himself is viewed with alarm by plenty of gun owners and many in the gun-rights leadership. In 2001, he championed efforts in several states to close the gun-show loophole that allows firearms to be purchased at the shows without background checks.
More Campaign Staffers Out Because of New Ethics Policy
May 17, 2008 — Washington Post
John McCain continued to dismiss staff members this week for violating its new ethics policy, as Democrats ratcheted up pressure on McCain advisers for their lobbying backgrounds. One staffer, Craig Shirley, was dismissed after the Politico reported that he worked for the attack site StopHerNow.com. Another, Eric Burgeson, left Thursday after it was disclosed that he lobbies the federal government on energy policy.
Obama keeps sights set on McCain
May 17, 2008 — Chicago Tribune
Those are all people who have health care. Clinton's plan includes a mandate for coverage; Obama's does not, and Clinton says that could leave 15 million Americans uninsured. Both candidates say they will reduce costs across the board.
Obama, McCain tangle anew on national security: Rivals fire from afar on Mideast policy
May 17, 2008 — Chicago Tribune
Bush and John McCain over the last couple days," the Illinois senator said."If they want a debate about protecting the United States of America, that's a debate I'm ready to win because George Bush and John McCain have a lot to answer for," he said.McCain: Bring it onMcCain said he would "welcome a debate about protecting America."The Republican's remarks came during a visit to the annual meeting of the NRA. While he has had serious differences with the...
Obama, McCain tangle on national security: Rivals fire from afar on Mideast policy
May 17, 2008 — Chicago Tribune
Republican nominee on what the Illinois senator called "failed" policies that have resulted in strengthening terrorist groups such as Hamas and Al Qaeda.Challenging McCain to a debate on foreign policy "anywhere, any time," the Democratic front-runner said the Arizonan shared a "naive and irresponsible belief that tough talk from Washington will somehow cause Iran to give up its nuclear program and support for terrorism."Long-distance snipingMcCain used an address...
Pickens' Mesa Power bets $2 billion on wind farm
May 17, 2008 — Pittsburgh Tribune Review
Tax credits of 2 cents per kilowatt hour are set to expire this December, said Christine Real de Azua, a spokeswoman for the American Wind Energy Association. The credits expired in 1999, 2001 and 2003, Real de Azua said. More than 5,200 megawatts of new wind power capacity was installed last year, more than double the amount in 2006, the American Wind Energy Association said.
Unions' secret deals to get foot in door at companies stir controversy
May 17, 2008 — Chicago Tribune
The SEIU has acted as organized labor's maverick, criticizing others for falling behind the times while boasting about its ability to sign up members. A union drive can quickly evaporate if workers do not feel committed, he added. Yet some unions seem to have benefited from such pacts. The other option is to take part in a secret election. The agreement called for up to 11,000 workers at Sodexho and more than 12,500 at Compass to become union members.
White House Memo: A Fast-Fading Sway: The Nation's Leader, but Not His Party's
May 17, 2008 — New York Times
Bush could do now to help the Republican Party, Mr. Bush’s assistant on economic policy, referring to Ms. “In ’88, facing a Democratic Congress, Reagan got immigration reform, welfare reforms and arms control, and Vice President George H. W. Bush became the next president,” Mr.
'Green' training program sets up front in labor war
May 16, 2008 — The Hill
When Congress authorized the $125 million pilot program it only provided for training programs with some labor affiliation. Unions dispute the contention that the program blocks the participation of non-union training programs. AGC and the homebuilders both operate sizable PACs.
BRIEF: Lawyer who fought nuclear waste site
May 16, 2008 — Chicago Tribune
Egan's wife, Patricia, said by telephone last week that Mr. Egan had been cremated, adding, "We are going to do it."Legal challenges by Mr. Egan's firm, Egan, Fitzpatrick & Malsch, have helped set back the Energy Department's project at Yucca by years.
City won't tie casino fees to lower tax: Officials will build cash reserves first, consider property levy cuts later.
May 16, 2008 — The Morning Call
I could go on and on."Reynolds and Councilwoman Karen Dolan also said they were uncomfortable with locking future City Councils into this arrangement. He predicted that the city will soon be staring at a 2009 budget that has a hole of $5 million to $7 million.

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