(WLP) WellPoint Beats Consensus Earnings Estimates

(WLP) reported fourth quarter as well as full-year results for fiscal 2009.

The company earned $1.16 per share in the fourth quarter as opposed to $1.34 in the year-ago quarter. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter was $1.02. For the full-year 2009, Well Point earned $6.09 which was above the year-ago earnings of $5.48 and the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $5.91.

Total operating revenues for the quarter came in at approximately $15.1 billion as opposed to $15.4 billion in the year-ago quarter. The decrease was primarily attributable to lower fully insured enrollment in 2009, partially offset by the rise in premium rate. Total operating revenues for 2009 came in at approximately $60.83 billion as opposed to $61.58 billion in 2008.

Operating gains for the Commercial Business segment decreased 56.5% to $316.8 million in the reported quarter. The decline was due to restructuring costs incurred by WellPoint in addition to a reduction in fully insured enrollment and an increase in the benefit expense ratio for the Local Group business. Operating gains for the Consumer Business segment fell 32.6% to $158.9 million in the quarter. The Other segment reported a 15.7% year-over-year increase in operating gains.

The health insurer completed the sale of NextRx subsidiaries to Express Scripts, Inc (ESRX) on Dec 1, 2009 and received consideration of $4.7 billion from the transaction and recognized a pre-tax gain on the sale totaling $3.8 billion in the reported quarter.

We were disappointed to see a significant decline in medical enrollment. Medical membership came in at 33.7 million as of Dec 31, 2009, which represented a decrease of 3.9 % from Dec 31, 2008. Medical expenses also climbed during the quarter to a benefit-expense-ratio of 84.8% from 83.4% in the year-ago quarter.

The membership decline was most significant in the Local Group business, which saw a 989,000 member decline from the prior-year period. The decrease in membership in this segment was primarily attributable to lapses and in-group enrollment losses arising from the recession and the consequent rise in unemployment.

Enrollment in State Sponsored business witnessed a decrease of 259,000, as WellPoint withdrew from certain State Sponsored programs. Membership declines were also experienced in the Individual and Senior businesses, while enrollment in the National business grew by 101,000 members. Medical enrollment is expected to decline further because of the continuous rise in unemployment. Operating cash flow for the entire 2009 was more than $3.0 billion.

WellPoint expects to earn at least $6 a share in 2010. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2010 is $6.10. Currently, we are Neutral on WellPoint shares.

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NRG Energy, Inc. Added to the S&P 500 Index

NRG Energy, Inc.’s common stock was added to the Standard and Poor’s 500 Index after the market close today. The S&P 500, a market-value-weighted index, is the world’s most followed stock market measure and is seen as the benchmark standard to measure overall U.S. equity market performance.

“We are honored to be grouped among the most-widely held companies in leading industries across the country,’’ David Crane, President and Chief Executive Officer, said. “Our membership in the world-renowned S&P 500 Index is a testament to all of the great work performed by NRG’s employees and provides added momentum to our commitment to maximize shareholder value.’’

NRG also will be added to the S&P 500 GICS (Global Industry Classification Standard) Independent Power Producers & Energy Traders Sub-Industry index.

About NRG

NRG Energy, Inc., a Fortune 500 company, owns and operates one of the country’s largest and most diverse power generation portfolios. Headquartered in Princeton, NJ, the Company’s power plants provide more than 24,000 megawatts of generation capacity—enough to supply more than 20 million homes. NRG’s retail business, Reliant Energy, serves more than 1.6 million residential, business, commercial and industrial customers in Texas. A past recipient of the energy industry’s highest honors—Platts Industry Leadership and Energy Company of the Year awards, NRG is a member of the U.S. Climate Action Partnership (USCAP), a group of business and environmental organizations calling for mandatory legislation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. More information is available at www.nrgenergy.com.

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NRG Might Exit Nuclear Project

NRG Energy Inc. said it might be forced to take a $400 million charge and pull the plug on its nuclear-development efforts in Texas if it is unable to settle a dispute with its partner, a city-owned utility company in San Antonio.

The disclosure came prior to a state-court ruling Friday that advised NRG and CPS Energy to resume negotiations surrounding CPS's desire to withdraw from efforts to build two nuclear reactors at a South Texas site, near Bay City.

NRG Chief Executive David Crane, in a call with investors, said he spent last week in San Antonio trying to reach a settlement but the parties remain far apart. CPS has sued NRG, alleging unfair dealings and seeking $32 billion.

The rift between the parties underscores the political risks that remain part of nuclear-development efforts. Mr. Crane, in an interview Friday, said it was "ironic'' that his project is stumbling based on an "internecine squabble'' between the city-owned utility and the San Antonio elected officials just as "national politics are aligning'' to back nuclear power.

CPS General Counsel Carolyn Shellman said the utility is trying to "chart a path...that is financially responsible." She added that she hopes the two sides "can work out a reasonable solution."

President Barack Obama, in his State of the Union address, gave his clearest statement of support yet for construction of a fleet of new reactors able to reduce power-sector emissions. On Monday, Mr. Obama's budget is expected to propose tripling federal loan guarantees for nuclear projects.

The Texas project has been regarded as a frontrunner, one of only four thus far to make the short list for federal loan guarantees. It was the only proposal with a reactor design supplied and previously built elsewhere by its vendor.

Mr. Crane said Friday he accepted full blame for the difficulty. He said he didn't understand that CPS had invested hundreds of millions of dollars in the project "without having received San Antonio city council approval.''

Support for the project faltered late last year when it became clear to elected officials that project costs could top $10 billion, apparently more than they understood from earlier estimates.

People familiar with the companies' negotiations said that the two sides now are trying to find a way to allow CPS to withdraw without jeopardizing a federal loan guarantee, without which the project wouldn't be economically viable.

The utility has invested $370 million in the project and believes it is entitled to far more in compensation.

Negotiations have focused on finding a way to fairly compensate CPS, avoid more political fallout and find a way to substitute new investors so the project remains viable.

Texas Judge Larry Noll on Friday upheld CPS's right to cease funding the project without directly forfeiting its equity interest. But he warned, in essence, that the city couldn't hold NRG hostage.

"If you want to be in the play, you have to pay or you can't stay,'' he told CPS. "You will eventually lose your equity share.'' He advised the partners to go back to the negotiating table "and resolve this controversy and move forward for the betterment of this project and for the citizens...''

CPS's Ms. Shellman said the utility's board "hasn't made a final decision" on how to proceed. But it "needed to know the legal risks of withdrawing."

The people familiar with the discussions said that NRG hopes to find a way to get CPS to surrender its interest to NRG and a third, smaller partner, Toshiba Corp., which then would be free to bring in additional equity investors. Tokyo Electric Power Co. has expressed an interest in investing, Mr. Crane said in his investor call Friday.

Mr. Crane said he would hesitate to proceed with CPS as an active participant since "we would have to be sure they couldn't walk out of the project six months or 12 months from now.''

He added that there was "a total absence of trust between the two parties.''

The San Antonio city council was poised to approve a $400 million bond issuance in late October but held back when new numbers came to light that indicated the nuclear project could cost more than it expected. Like most municipal utilities, CPS has an appointed board that reports to elected city officials, whose approval is needed for rate changes or bond issuances.

A political ruckus ensued that led to the resignation of the utility's interim general manager and deputy general counsel.

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The Home Depot opens new distribution center in Topeka

Topeka — This center will serve approximately 100 Home Deport retail stores throughout the Central Plains Region. The first outbound delivery will start Monday. This center has already created 200 jobs in office and warehouse positions. The Home Depot plans on building seven more distribution centers over the next few years at the site. State and city officials joined the general manager, Chad Sommer, in a unique board-cutting ceremony along with 200 employees.

City Council member Larry Wolgast says, "To see the excitement that's here, the new employees and the equipments coming in, it's just a tremendous economic boost for our community."

This center is part of a larger program to transform The Home Depot supply chain, making it easier for Home Depot stores to keep the right products in stock for their customers.

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Earnings preview: Cost cutting to help Gannett 4Q

Gannett Co., the largest U.S. newspaper publisher, is scheduled to report its fourth-quarter results before the stock market opens Monday. The following is a summary of key developments and analyst opinion related to the period.

OVERVIEW: Gannett should book a healthy profit for the fourth quarter. Not because advertisers are flocking back to its newspapers, but because the company has spent the past year cutting expenses.

Most recently, the Gannett announced in December that its flagship title, USA Today, will cut its newsroom staff by 5 percent, eliminating 26 jobs. It is also cutting 11 positions at USA Weekend magazine, a weekly insert in other newspapers, and consolidating the rest of the staff with USA Today. The company's other newspapers cut 1,400 positions last summer, or about 3 percent of Gannett's work force.

The company's outlook should improve as well. While publishers are still seeing their revenue shrink, the pace is starting to ease up.

McClatchy Co., for instance, which owns The Miami Herald and 29 other dailies, said ad revenue fell 20.5 percent in the last three months of the year. That compares with a 28.1 percent decline in the third quarter.

Gannett signaled confidence in December that its earnings would match its projections. CEO and President Craig A. Dubow said the company is "comfortable" with the high end of its forecast, which calls for earnings of 48 cents to 62 cents per share.

BY THE NUMBERS: Analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters are betting the company can edge out an even better profit, predicting earnings of 63 cents per share, on average. That compares with earnings of 69 cents per share a year ago, but that profit was wiped out by impairment charges to account for the falling value of Gannett's newspapers and other assets on its books.

ANALYST TAKE: Benchmark Co. analyst Edward Atorino upgraded Gannett's stock last month to "Buy" from "Hold," citing the company's cost cutting efforts.

"With solid franchises in small local newspaper markets in the U.S. and U.K., and ongoing efforts to expand content through new print and new media products, we believe Gannett is well positioned to weather the prolonged downturn in the newspaper publishing industry," he told investors in a note.

WHAT'S AHEAD: Gannett's TV stations should get a lift in ad revenue this year from political spending during the 2010 midterm elections. And its NBC affiliates will benefit from advertising during the Olympics.

STOCK PERFORMANCE: Gannett shares climbed almost 19 percent to end the quarter at $14.85.

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M&T Bank Set New 52-Week High Wednesday

M&T Bank Corp. reported fourth quarter net income available to common shareholders of $1.04 per share Wednesday morning, compared to $0.92 last year. Net operating income came in at $1.16 per share, compared to $1.00 last year.

M&T Bank climbed during the first half hour of trade Wednesday and advanced further late in the morning. Shares finished up by $2.99 at $77.69 on the highest volume in over 7 months. The stock has been gaining ground for the past 2 weeks and set a new high for the year.

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Union Pacific begins to recall railcars

Union Pacific Railroad this week began pulling mothballed railcars out of storage in Wallowa County as its business picks up.

Some 150 cars were moved off Wallowa Union Railroad tracks this week and another 75 have been ordered by UP for next week, Mark Davidson, Union County commissioner and the railroad's general manager, said Friday, Jan. 29.

The removed cars were among those that UP has been paying WURR to store since 2009 because of the economic downturn. Another 72 had been expected to be delivered for storage soon, bringing the total to the 1,980 called for in the $2.1 million contract with UP that ends in 2012.

Davidson said the reversal was unexpected.

Just a week earlier, Davidson had said UP told him its business was improving but wouldn't need the centerbeam flatcars stored here. They are used primarily to transport lumber and other building products.

"I have a bit of a concern," Davidson said, "but there's no immediate problem." UP pays to lease the 30-mile stretch of track used for the railcar storage, and pays the same monthly payment no matter how many or how few cars are in storage, he said.

But if UP finds enough business to justify putting all the cars back in service, it can cancel the contract with six months notice, Davidson said.

The railroad is using the UP income to make its payments to the state on the loan it received to purchase the rail line from Elgin to Joseph when it was about to be abandoned and torn up in the 1990s.

The UP revenue had come as a relief to the railroad, but the miles of stored cars had caused community debate in a county known for its majestic scenery.

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Wesco Financial Corporation Declares Cash Dividend

Wesco Financial Corporation’s Board of Directors declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.41 per share payable March 4, 2010 to shareholders of record at the close of business on February 4, 2010.

This is an increase of $0.015 per share over the regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.395 per share paid in 2009.

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Eaton Corp. 4th-quarter net up 28%, sales off 10%

Eaton Corp., the Cleveland manufacturer with interests including electrical parts, hydraulic systems, and vehicle power trains, reported fourth-quarter net income rose 28% on 10% lower sales. Earnings reached $212 million from $165 million in the year-earlier period. Earnings attributable to holders reached $211 million, or $1.25 a share, from $163 million, or 98 cents, in the year-earlier period. Sales fell to $3.13 billion from $3.49 billion. A survey of analysts by FactSet Research produced a consensus estimate of $1.23 a share of profit on $3.05 billion of sales.

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Meritor Wabco Celebrates 20 Years of Offering Parts

Meritor Wabco Vehicle Control Systems has reached the 20-year mark of providing commercial vehicle braking and active safety systems.

As part of the company's anniversary, it celebrated its aftermarket business, which has grown 5 percent each year since 1990 and has shipped over 8.1 million units to date.

"Our complete customer support team in Hebron, Ky., in Florence, Ky., and in district managers across the country makes the world's most advanced vehicle control systems easier to understand, use, and service," said Jon Morrison, president of Meritor Wabco Vehicle Control Systems.

While the company's antilock brake parts accounted for all of its aftermarket sales 20 years ago, these products now account for about 50 percent of its sales, as the company has expanded its product offerings to include a range of air dryers, compressors, valves, and other parts.

Over the years, the company has also added and improved other services, including its one-year warranty on replacement parts, diagnostic support, its suite of electronic ordering and fulfillment services, training, and field support.

Meritor Wabco is a joint venture of ArvinMeritor and the Wabco Automotive Control Systems, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Wabco Holdings, Inc.

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Regain Your Lost Sexual Power with levitra manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline

Recent medical research found that Levitra plays a very significant role in curing your lost sexual urges. It is very effective and one dose is enough for a day. Though side effects are very mild and reversible but consulting a doctor shall benefit you the most. But one should strictly keep this in mind that Levitra helps only to regain your lost sexual power and is not meant for any sexually transmitted diseases.

Levitra, Levitra Online Information, Erectile dysfunction, Online Levitra Prescriptions, Online Levitra

Just imagine you are running from pillar to post inorder to save your married life. Why? Because you have lost you sexual power and is unable to satisfy your partner. It’s really a serious problem that can bring a complete halt to your normal and happy life. Now if you think there is still power inside you but is becoming incapable of utilizing it, then it is the high time that you seek for some remedies as soon as possible.

Now don’t take your sexual dysfunction as a disease rater you should know that there is some metabolic disorder inside you for which you are loosing your sexual power. So it is better to rectify the disorder as soon as possible or else it would be too late. Every problem does have a solution and Levitra can be your option to choose. It is an oral therapy treatment to boost up your sexual power. Each tablet is either of 10mg or 20 mg strength. However two lower doses (2.5 and 5.0) are also available usually for the first time users.

Generally Levitra is taken with or without food just one hour before going to bed with your partner. Some sexual stimulation is needed for a sexual urge to occur with Levitra. A chemical named Verdenafil HCL in Levitra stimulates your nerves in your penis and increase the amount of blood flow to erect your sleeping penis. However erection decreases after the act. It is so effective that 90% of men reported to have improved erections and a dose is enough to work for 24 hours.

Levitra got its approval from FDA on 19th august 2003 and the sole manufacturers of this drug are Bayer and GlaxoSmithKline. Due to its increasingly productive results it has captured the market within a very short span of time.

However no major side affects are reported till date, expect a bit of headache, constipation and dizziness. These are normal affects only for the first timers and tend to fade away as the body gets used to it. But it is always a cleaver idea to consult a sexologist before getting used to it especially for people with heart troubles.

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GlaxoSmithKline fined $5.8 million for deceptive marketing in Ky.

Franklin Circuit Judge Roger Crittenden has awarded Kentucky more than $5.8 million in civil penalties in its case against GlaxoSmithKline for deceptive or false marketing of drugs including the anti-nausea drugs Kytril and Zofran.

The award was announced by state Attorney General Jack Conway and was the second in two days against a major pharmaceutical company. On Wednesday, Conway announced that Crittenden had awarded $5.3 million in civil penalties against AstraZeneca for violating Kentucky's Consumer Protection Act.

On Nov. 13, a Franklin Circuit Court jury handed down a $661,860 verdict against Glaxo.

Mary Ann Rhyne, a spokeswoman for Glaxo, said the company "is disappointed because we believe the result is disproportionate to what the jury found, and we're considering our options including an appeal."

The state attorney general's office has filed suit against 47 pharmaceutical companies alleging violations of Kentucky's Medicaid Fraud and Consumer Protection statutes, and false and deceptive advertising.

Glaxo, Novartis and AstraZeneca were sued by Alabama based on claims that their actions resulted in the state paying too much for drugs. Judgments against the companies were overturned by the Alabama Supreme Court in 2009 when the court ruled the companies did not defraud the state in pricing Medicaid prescription drugs.

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GlaxoSmithKline's LamictalXR Gets FDA Approval For Tonic-Clonic Seizures - Update

Drug maker GlaxoSmithKline said it has received an approval for LamictalXR from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of tonic-clonic seizures as an once-a-day, add-on therapy for epilepsy in patients aged 13 years and older. The drug is already approved for partial onset seizures for patients in this age group.

The addition of LamictalXR to therapy for patients 13 years of age and older, reduced seizure frequency more than placebo in patients with uncontrolled primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures in the study.

Victor Biton, director of the Arkansas Epilepsy Program and Clinical Trials, Inc., in Little Rock, Arkansas said, "We were encouraged that the study showed such a significant reduction in the number of primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures in patients who received Lamictal XR in addition to their current regimen. Over the 19 week treatment period, the median percent reduction in weekly seizure frequency was 75 percent in patients treated with Lamictal XR compared to 32 percent for those taking placebo."

Also known as "grand mal" seizures, primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures, are most common form of seizure occurring in approximately 20% of patients with epilepsy. Usually, patients experiencing a generalized tonic-clonic seizure lose consciousness and, collapse following which they experience muscle stiffening (the tonic phase) and then jerking involving both sides of the body (the clonic phase).

Lamictal XR may cause a serious skin rash that may cause the patient to be hospitalized or to stop the drug, though it may rarely cause death. Lamictal XR can also cause other types of allergic reactions or serious problems which may affect organs and other parts of the body like the liver or blood cells.

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GlaxoSmithKline, Genmab Get European Approval For Arzerra

The European Medicines Agency Thursday approved a new leukemia medicine from GlaxoSmithKline PLC (GSK.LN) and Denmark's Genmab A/S (GEN.KO), although it still wants further data about the drug's long-term effects.

The EMEA said it granted conditional marketing authorization for Arzerra as a treatment for patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia who don't respond to fludarabine or Campath, a drug sold by Genzyme Corp. (GENZ).

However, the agency added it wants to see further clinical data about long-term use of Arzerra and data on a specific group of patients who don't respond to fludarabine but can't be given Campath.

An agency spokeswoman said conditional marketing authorization is granted when there's a real need for medicines in serious illnesses.

"We need additional data but nevertheless the benefit is considered quite high," said the spokeswoman.

Also Friday, the EMEA said it approved Arepanrix, a second swine flu vaccine from GlaxoSmithKline.

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GlaxoSmithKline to publish Malaria reasearch report

GlaxoSmithKline, a manufacturer of pharmacy products, has revealed that it will open up its database containing thousands of potential anti-malaria compounds.

The information, which has remained confidential until now, will be shared with the world's scientists as they work to develop a cure for the mosquito-transmitted condition.

In addition to the data on 13,500 molecules, the organisation stated that it will also establish a not-for-profit foundation in Europe with a starting investment of $8 million (4.91 million pounds).

This, it added, will work towards funding research and establishing greater knowledge-sharing between scientists.

"GSK has the capability to make a difference and a genuine appetite to change the landscape of healthcare for the world's poorest people," stated chief executive of the organisation Andrew Witty.

According to the World Health Organization, malaria is caused by plasmodium which are transmitted via mosquitoes and multiply in the liver, before attacking the red blood cells of those infected.

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Piper Jaffray Downgrades Becton, Dickinson (BDX) to Neutral

Piper Jaffray downgrades Becton, Dickinson (NYSE: BDX) from Overweight to Neutral. Price target $78.

Piper analyst says, "Overall, our favorable fundamental thesis on Becton Dickinson remains intact, however, with BDX shares trading very close to our 12-month price target we believe it is fully valued and warrants a Neutral rating. We anticipate BD to benefit from traction with recently launched products (e.g. Nexiva catheter, Viper XTR, etc.), pipeline products (e.g. diabetic pen needles, BD MAX) and favorable macro trends (e.g. international safety adoption, stimulus) and would view pullbacks into the upper $60's as an attractive entry point...We would note a favorable foreign exchange impact in 1Q09 benefitted gross margin by 220 bpts. We anticipate flattish operating expenses yoy (down 20 bpts yoy to 29.1% of revenue), which combined with the gross margin decrease translates into EPS of $1.20 (Street consensus $1.21)."

Becton, Dickinson and Company (BD) is a medical technology company engaged principally in the development, manufacture and sale of a range of medical supplies, devices, instrument systems and reagents used by healthcare institutions, life science researchers, clinical laboratories, the pharmaceutical industry and the general public.

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New Credit Rating: Coca-Cola Company

Morningstar is initiating credit coverage of The Coca-Cola Company with an issuer rating of AA-, in line with our rating for Cola War foe PepsiCo . Coke's control over syrup prices (and in some cases retail prices) means that it holds the aces in its bottler relationships and is able to keep the lion's share of economic rents generated by the Coke system as a whole. PepsiCo's much-ballyhooed bottler consolidation is changing the competitive landscape in North America. If Pepsi can demonstrate a competitive advantage in its route to market, Coke may be forced to follow suit. That said, we believe such an undertaking would diminish Coke's creditworthiness only marginally.

Indeed, we expect to Coke to generate strong operating margins and enviable free cash flow regardless of its downstream ambitions. On a stand-alone basis, we expect cash plus cash generation to cover cash commitments 3.9 times over the next five years (Morningstar's Cash Flow Cushion ratio), and to cover total debt (including maturities beyond 2013) 3.1 times. Adding Coca-Cola Enterprises' cash flows to the picture diminishes our coverage estimates to 2.5 times and 1.3 times respectively, in effect, making Coca-Cola look a whole lot more like PepsiCo. A quick glance at traditional credit relevant ratios suggests a similar picture: Debt-to-book capital swells from 0.39 to 0.62 and pro forma 2009 EBTIDA-to-interest coverage diminishes from 25.9 to 9.7 (all ratios adjusted for debt-like commitments such as pensions).

Notably, Coke's cash flow cushion under either scenario is somewhat thinner than that projected for our typical AA minus-rated issuer. However, given the company's incredibly low cash flow variability (EBITDA margin has averaged 30% for a decade, varying by no more than a percentage point from year-to-year), these seemingly modest ratios are much more robust than they might otherwise appear and, in our view, afford debt investors a sufficient margin of safety. From a methodological perspective, we capture Coke's low cash flow variability in the more qualitative Business Risk component of our credit rating. Here, Coke scores extremely well, owing to a demonstrable economic moat and very low sensitivity to the economic cycle.

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The Coca-Cola Company, TechnoServe and the Gates Foundation Partner to Boost Incomes of 50,000 Small-Scale Fruit Farmers in East

The Coca-Cola Company, nonprofit TechnoServe, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation today launched a partnership to enable over 50,000 small fruit farmers in Uganda and Kenya to increase their productivity and double their incomes by 2014.

This four-year, $11.5 million partnership will enable mango and passion fruit farmers to participate in the Company's supply chain for the first time. With a $7.5 million grant provided by the Gates Foundation to TechnoServe, $3 million provided by The Coca-Cola Company, and $1 million by bottling partner Coca-Cola Sabco, the project aims to create new market opportunities for local farmers whose fruit will be used for Coca-Cola's locally-produced and sold fruit juices. As the implementing partner, TechnoServe will train participating farmers in improving quality, increasing production, getting organized into farmer groups, and will facilitate access to credit.

"This partnership is a great example of sustainability. By partnering with tens of thousands of local farmers, we can help increase their incomes while meeting our needs for locally sourced fruit, benefiting both the community and our business," says Nathan Kalumbu, Coca Cola's East & Central Africa business unit president.

As global and local demand for fruit juice grows, there is a critical need to increase production. Small farmers can benefit from this increased demand by supplying fruit that meets the needs of local buyers such as Coca-Cola. Through this partnership, farmers who were previously unable to access this market opportunity will be provided with the tools to do so. This partnership will also serve as a model for Coca-Cola as it grows its juice business in other markets and has been designed to be easily replicated.

"This partnership is the type of innovative approach needed to foster economic empowerment across the globe and we are proud to be a part of this effort in East Africa," says Muhtar Kent, Chairman and CEO of The Coca-Cola Company. "We and our partners the Gates Foundation and TechnoServe believe that investing in farmers is a proven strategy to reduce poverty and build sustainable communities."

"Empowering small farmers to increase productivity, improve crop quality and access reliable markets is critical to addressing global hunger and poverty," says Sylvia Mathews Burwell, president of the Global Development Program of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The foundation has committed more than $1.4 billion, focused on Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, to strengthen the entire agricultural value chain--from seeds and soil to farm management and market access--so that progress against hunger and poverty is sustainable over the long term. "Partnerships like this provide farmers with the tools and resources that can help revitalize African agriculture and increase opportunities for small farmers so they build better lives for themselves and their families."

TechnoServe's implementation of this partnership will build on a track record of similar partnerships underway across Africa including banana, cashews, cocoa and coffee. They will ensure that sustainable environmental and social standards are embedded into the program at the farm level.

"We are honored to be a part of this innovative collaboration as it represents a significant step forward for private sector development in Africa," says TechnoServe President and CEO Bruce McNamer. "This investment will drive momentum toward reducing poverty across Africa by helping entrepreneurial farmers connect to markets and get the support they need."

This project will be implemented in close collaboration with the governments of Kenya and Uganda, given its significance in the context of their poverty reduction strategies. It is intended to produce lasting benefits for participating farm communities, enabling them to benefit from improved livelihoods for many years to come.

About The Coca-Cola Company

The Coca-Cola Company is the world's largest beverage company, refreshing consumers with nearly 500 sparkling and still brands. Along with Coca-Cola, recognized as the world's most valuable brand, the Company's portfolio includes 12 other billion dollar brands, including Diet Coke, Fanta, Sprite, Coca-Cola Zero, vitaminwater, Powerade, Minute Maid and Georgia Coffee. Globally, we are the No. 1 provider of sparkling beverages, juices and juice drinks and ready-to-drink teas and coffees. Through the world's largest beverage distribution system, consumers in more than 200 countries enjoy the Company's beverages at a rate of nearly 1.6 billion servings a day. With an enduring commitment to building sustainable communities, our Company is focused on initiatives that protect the environment, conserve resources and enhance the economic development of the communities where we operate. For more information about our Company, please visit our website at www.thecocacolacompany.com.

About TechnoServe

TechnoServe is a leader in a movement that empowers people in the developing world to build businesses that break the cycle of poverty. Growing enterprises generate jobs and other income opportunities for poor people, enabling them to improve their lives and secure a better future for their families. Since its founding in 1968, the U.S.-based nonprofit has helped to create or expand thousands of businesses, benefiting millions of people in more than 30 countries. The Financial Times has rated TechnoServe one of the top five NGOs for corporate partnerships. TechnoServe's corporate partners include Cargill, Kraft, Nestle-Nespresso, Olam International, Peet's Coffee & Tea and Unilever, among others. Charity Navigator has also awarded its highest Four Star ranking to TechnoServe. For more information about our organization, please visit our website at www.technoserve.org.

About the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Guided by the belief that every life has equal value, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation works to help all people lead healthy, productive lives. In developing countries, it focuses on improving people's health and giving them the chance to lift themselves out of hunger and extreme poverty. In the United States, it seeks to ensure that all people -- especially those with the fewest resources -- have access to the opportunities they need to succeed in school and life. Based in Seattle, Washington, the foundation is led by CEO Jeff Raikes and Co-chair William H. Gates Sr., under the direction of Bill and Melinda Gates and Warren Buffett.

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CarMax Provides Expert Advice on Maintaining Your Car Battery

Replacing a car battery can be a hassle. That’s why CarMax, Inc. (NYSE: KMX), the nation’s largest retailer of used cars, wants you to know how to keep your car battery in top-notch condition.

“Car batteries supply electrical energy to retain the memory in the onboard computers as well as the energy needed to start the engine,” said Tom Damon, ASE Master Technician for CarMax. "Proper maintenance is vital to keep your vehicle running year round, especially during the harsh winter months."

CarMax technicians offer a few do’s and don’ts to help you safely maintain your car battery for peak performance:

Do’s

• Wear proper eye, hand and clothing protection when working with batteries.
• Check the terminals where cables connect to be sure they are tight and corrosion free. If corrosion is present, have terminals cleaned by a professional.
• Lubricate terminals with a dab of petroleum jelly to keep cables clean and free from corrosion.
• Make sure the battery is firmly secured to its mounting bracket. An unsecured battery can become damaged and cause short circuits.
• Check the fluid level unless it’s a maintenance-free battery. If the fluid is low, add distilled water. If there is no fluid visible, then replace the battery.
• Keep your battery case clean. Dirt conducts electricity and can discharge the battery. Use a solution of baking soda dissolved in warm water to clean the battery. Wet the case and agitate with a nylon bristle brush to scrub surface. Rinse well with plain water.
• Batteries come in many different sizes. When replacing a car battery, make sure you choose the right size for your vehicle. When it comes to car batteries, bigger is not always better.
• Prior to disconnecting the battery, check manufacturer specifications on what items may be disrupted when disconnecting the battery. For example, the radio may require a security code when the battery has been disconnected.
• Always disconnect the negative cable first and reconnect it last.
• Charge battery in a well-ventilated area.

Don’ts

	X		If your battery is frozen, do not charge it, as it may explode! One visual sign of a frozen battery is that the sides are bowed out. This condition is dangerous; the battery will need to be replaced.
	X		If you need to charge your battery yourself, switch the charger to a low-charge setting. Most chargers have this feature, but if not, have a professional charge the battery.
	X		Don’t charge a dead battery with a car’s alternator. An alternator is not designed to function as a charger, and it may be damaged or have a shortened life as a result.
	X		Never lean over a battery when charging, testing, or jump-starting the engine.
	X		Don’t disconnect battery cables while engine is running (your battery acts as a filter).
	X		Don't let the battery get totally discharged. Most car batteries get their power from lead cells submerged in electrolyte and these cells can be damaged when the battery is totally discharged.
	X		Don’t let the battery get hot while charging.

About CarMax

CarMax, a Fortune 500 company, and one of the Fortune 2009 “100 Best Companies to Work For,” is the nation’s largest retailer of used cars. Headquartered in Richmond, Va., we currently operate 100 used car superstores in 46 markets. The CarMax consumer offer is structured around four customer benefits: low, no-haggle prices; a broad selection; high quality vehicles; and customer-friendly service. During the twelve months ended February 28, 2009, the company retailed 345,465 used vehicles and sold 194,081 wholesale vehicles at our in-store auctions. For more information, access the CarMax website at http://www.carmax.com.

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Boston Scientific Sued by Johnson & Johnson Over Patents for Stents

Johnson & Johnson’s Cordis unit sued Boston Scientific Corp., claiming its Promus drug-coated stent wrongfully uses three of Cordis’s patents without permission.

J&J, the world’s largest health-products company, asked for an order barring Boston Scientific’s infringement and for unspecified damages, Jan. 15 in a lawsuit in federal court in Wilmington, Delaware. The Promus stent competes with J&J’s Cypher product.

Boston Scientific’s “infringing sales have reduced Cordis’s Cypher stent sales and caused irreparable harm to Cordis,” J&J said in the lawsuit.

Boston Scientific said it will vigorously defend itself.

“We dispute these allegations and believe they are without merit,” spokesman Paul Donovan said.

Boston Scientific agreed in September to pay $716.3 million to Cordis to end some litigation over heart devices. That accord ended more than a dozen lawsuits between the two companies.

Boston Scientific, based in Natick, Massachusetts, and New Brunswick, New Jersey-based J&J have been suing each other since 1997 over technology related to cardiac stents, tiny mesh tubes that prop open heart arteries after they’ve been cleared of fat.

Patent litigation over stents has gone on for more than a decade, with the top makers of the devices each claiming the other is using proprietary technology for the basic structure of the products, the drugs that coat them to prevent the growth of scar tissue, or the systems used to put them in the arteries.

Trial Next Month

The companies will face each other in court next month for a hearing on damages after an appeals court last year said Boston Scientific infringed two patents owned by J&J’s Cordis, while Cordis violated a patent owned by Boston Scientific. The trial is scheduled to start Feb. 1 in Wilmington.

J&J rose 67 cents to $65.23 at 3:20 p.m. in New York Stock Exchange composite trading. Boston Scientific rose 7 cents to $9.50.

The case is Cordis Corp. v. Boston Scientific Corp., 10cv39, U.S. District Court for Delaware (Wilmington).

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Johnson & Johnson paid millions in kickbacks to Omnicare, False Claims suit alleges

The U.S. Department of Justice has filed a False Claims Act suit against Johnson & Johnson and two subsidiaries, arguing that they paid millions in kickbacks to nursing home pharmacy supply specialist Omnicare. The DoJ previously settled with Omnicare in November 2009, agreeing to a $98 million settlement that relieved Omnicare of civil liability under the False Claims Act for accepting J&J kickbacks.

In the current complaint, the DoJ asserts that J&J, along with subsidiaries Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals Inc. and Johnson & Johnson Health Care Systems Inc., paid kickbacks to Omnicare to induce the nursing home pharmacy firm to buy and recommend J&J drugs for use in nursing homes. These included anti-psychotic drug Risperdal.

The DoJ alleges that J&J knew Omnicare was reviewing nursing home patient charts at least every month, making recommendations as to which drugs patients should be prescribed. In fact, physicians were apparently accepting Omnicare recommendations more than 80 percent of the time, something J&J knew, the DoJ claims.

The government argues that to get Omnicare and its pharmacists to recommend J&J drugs, it provided kickbacks in a variety of ways, including paying larger rebates when Omnicare boosted use of J&J drugs; paying Omnicare millions for "data" which was largely not provided; and offering Omnicare "grants" and "educational funding," the true purpose of which was to induce Omnicare to recommend J&J drugs.

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FTSE's fall accelerates after Bank of America and Morgan Stanley updatesFTSE's fall accelerates after Bank of America and Morgan Stanley updates

An opening fall on Wall Street has accelerated declines in London shares, with both markets currently down around 1%.

The US market has been spooked by below part results from Bank of America and Morgan Stanley, which has helped push the Dow Jones Industrial Average down 110 points. It has now lost the bulk of yesterday's gains in just the first half hour of trading.

Meanwhile the FTSE 100 has fallen 53.65 points to 5459.49. The other concern for investors which has emerged today is a further sign of China tightening its monetary policy, raising fears that demand in the country may be hit and weaken the global economy further as it tries to recover from recession. The Chinese central bank has reportedly instructed banks to curb their lending for the rest of January after a splurge of credit so far this year.

So UK quoted miners are falling sharply despite news of record production figures from BHP Billiton. BHP is down 61.5p at 2018.5p while Xstrata is now 63p lower at 1154.5p and Antofagasta is off 51.5p at 987.5p. Nine of the top ten fallers in the leading index are miners, the exception being Imperial Tobacco, down 74p at £19.91. David Buik at BGC Partners said:

Investors have taken some money off the table and will reflect on the message being circulated, which is that the recovery will take longer to bring forth fruit than many hoped for.

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Bank of America's Securities Profit Swings $12.1 Billion

Bank of America reported Wednesday morning that its global securities business produced net income of $7.1 billion in 2009, a swing of $12.1 billion over 2008. The 2009 results include the acquisition of Merrill Lynch, announced in September 2008 and completed on Dec. 31, even as the brokerage╒s losses from subprime assets exceeded then-chief executive Kenneth Lewis╒ expectations.

Revenues for its Global Markets unit, which includes fixed income, currency and commodity trading as well as equities operations, reached $20.6 billion, a swing of $24.4 billion. In 2008, the comparable figures were negative revenue of $3.8 billion and a net loss of $4.9 billion.

Fixed income, currency and commodities revenue reached $14.9 billion, the company said, driven by sales and trading revenues of $12.7 billion. ╥Credit products benefited from improved market liquidity and tighter credit spreads,╒╒ the company said, in its earnings summary.

Equities revenue of $5.7 billion was driven by the addition of Merrill Lynch and ╥positive market sentiment. In the fourth quarter, the markets unit reported net income of $1.1 billion.

Fourth-quarter net income increased $4.8 billion compared with a net loss of $3.7 billion a year earlier.

Global Wealth and Investment Management net income in 2009 rose to $2.5 billion, also driven by the addition of Merrill Lynch, from $1.4 billion. Net revenue more than doubled to $18.1 billion, from $7.8 billion.

Overall, Bank of America Corporation reported 2009 net income of $6.3 billion, compared with net income of $4.0 billion in 2008. But its shareholders did not fare so well. When the company counted preferred stock dividends and the impact of repaying the U.S. government's $45 billion preferred stock investment in the company under the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP), income applicable to common shareholders was a net loss of $2.2 billion, or $0.29 per diluted share.That compared with 2008 net income applicable to common shareholders of $2.6 billion, or $0.54 per diluted share.

In the fourth quarter of 2009, the company's net loss narrowed to $194 million from a loss of $1.8 billion a year earlier.

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Bank of America Posts Loss After Firm Repays Bailout

Bank of America Corp., the largest U.S. lender, posted a quarterly loss and its first full-year deficit in more than two decades, driven by the cost of repaying U.S. bailout money and defaults on consumer loans.

The fourth-quarter loss including the cost of exiting the Troubled Asset Relief Program widened to $5.2 billion, or 60 cents a share, from $2.4 billion, or 48 cents, a year earlier, according to a statement. Excluding TARP costs, the deficit was $194 million, the third in the past five quarters for the Charlotte, North Carolina-based lender.

New Chief Executive Officer Brian T. Moynihan has promised a “DNA change” as the firm focuses on operations instead of takeovers and bailouts. Credit cards and home lending were both unprofitable, the bank said. Costs tied to bad loans declined from the third quarter, and the bank said it benefited from gains at investment and brokerage services.

“Economic conditions remain fragile and we expect high unemployment levels to continue, creating an ongoing drag on consumer spending and growth,” Moynihan said in the statement. “We are encouraged by signs the economy is improving, as we have seen in the stabilization of our credit costs, particularly in the consumer business.”

The quarterly report is the first under Moynihan, 50, after he took over on Jan. 1 for Kenneth D. Lewis, 62, who spent more than $120 billion on acquisitions since 2004. Moynihan has said the bank doesn’t need more big purchases to recover from the recession.

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Two sue N-S railroad for $13.5M

Two men who suffered injuries in separate mishaps while employees of Norfolk Southern Railway Co. have filed civil actions in Mingo County, seeking judgments totaling $13.5 million.

Carl L. Felts, who was employed by the defendant railway company as a trackman/machine operator, seeks $10 million judgment and costs in a suit filed Jan. 11, 2010 in the Mingo County Circuit Court clerk’s office.

Richard A. Saunders was employed as a conductor and was engaged in the performance of his duties as such worker at the time he was caused to be injured. His suit, filed Dec. 8, 2009 in Mingo County, asks for judgment against the defendant in a sum of $3.5 million.

Gregory M. Tobin of Pratt & Tobin, P.C., East Alton, Ill., is attorney for both Felts and Saunders, who are West Virginia residents.

#Felts’ complaint said Norfolk Southern Railway was engaged in the business of interstate commerce prior to and at the time of the accident, which occurred Dec. 13, 2007 at or near Sutton Township, Ohio.

The complaint states that Felts was engaged in the course of his employment when his vehicle was struck by another vehicle, causing him to be severely and permanently injured in whole or in part. The plaintiff alleges the mishap occurred due to the carelessness and negligence of defendant.

Felts alleges Norfolk Southern violated the Federal Employers’ Liability Acts by failing to furnish the plaintiff with reasonably necessary and proper equipment and personal protective equipment; proper supervision in the performance of his assigned duties, and failing to warn him of reasonably foreseeable hazardous conditions existing with defendant’s equipment.

The suit of Felts also alleges the defendant allowed unsafe practices to become the standard practice; assigned the plaintiff work plaintiff should have known would result in injury; failed to provide a reasonably safe place to work and did not provide reasonably safe methods of work.

Felts’ suit alleges he sustained severe and permanent injuries to his head, spine, leg and body, resulting in disability and disfigurement. He also claims to have suffered great pain and mental anguish, lost past and future earnings and will in future be obligated for medical aid and attention.

Saunders’ complaint is worded similarly to that of Felts with regard to the plaintiff’s duties as an employee of the plaintiffs and alleged failures regarding proper equipment, employee supervision, etc.

The plaintiff’s suit states that on or about July 21, 2009, Saunders was engaged in the course of his employment with the defendant railway company at or near Wharncliffe, Mingo County. A train derailed and struck a building on which plaintiff was positioned, causing the building to collapse.

Saunders alleges he sustained severe and permanent injuries to his neck, back, shoulder, knee and body, resulting in disability and disfigurement. His future earning capacity has been seriously diminished.

He asks judgment of $3.5 million and for costs of the suit. Both Saunders and Felts demand a trial by jury in each case.

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M&T Bank 4Q Profit Rises 34%

M&T Bank Corp.'s (MTB) fourth-quarter earnings rose 34%, beating analysts' estimates, as the company's loan-loss provisions fell and it saw total deposits increase.

M&T, which operates throughout the Northeast and mid-Atlantic, has seen relative stability throughout the financial crisis as it pushed its community-banking model and made acquisitions. A longtime Warren Buffett pick, the bank has a stronger balance sheet than some of its regional-bank rivals, although it took $600 million from the U.S. Treasury's Troubled Asset Relief Program.

M&T reported a profit of $136.8 million, or $1.04 a share, up from $102.2 million, or 92 cents, a year earlier. The bank said its earnings would have been about 21 cents a share higher but it incurred $21 million of charges related to investment securities and merger-related costs of $4 million.

The company's provision for loan losses was $145 million, down from $151 million a year earlier, results of which were hurt because of a commercial loan that was transferred to nonperforming status during the quarter. Net charge-offs, or loans the bank doesn't think it can collect on, were 1.03% of average loans, down from 1.17% a year earlier though up from 0.83% in the prior quarter.

Quarterly total deposits rose 11% from a year earlier and 1.3% sequentially.

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Comcast To Offer Norton Security Suite To Its High-speed Internet Customers

Comcast Corp. (CMCSA: CMCSK) said that starting today it is offering the #1 brand in Internet security, Norton from Symantec, to residential and business high-speed Internet subscribers for no additional cost.

Norton Security Suite, powered by Norton 360 technology, includes PC security that protects against viruses, spyware, worms, Trojans, malicious bots, identity theft, as well as a range of customizable parental controls.

Comcast subscribers with Macintosh systems will receive Norton Internet Security for Mac. The Norton Security Suite is valued at $160 for residential customers and the Norton Security Suite Business Edition is valued at up to $490 for business customers. It is available to Comcast High-Speed Internet subscribers for no additional charge, the company said.

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GE Oil & Gas Goes Deeper into China (GE)

General Electric Co. (NYSE: GE) has an interesting acquisition this morning, one that is far from its normal acquisition of the past. The company’s GE Oil & Gas unit has entered into a agreement to acquire a minority equity interest in Shenyang Turbo Machinery Corporation. This company is a large-scale Chinese state-owned enterprise, and it is dedicated to designing and manufacturing turbomachinery equipment and the main operating subsidiary of Shenyang Blower Works Group Company Ltd. SBW Group has its headquarters in Shenyang and was first founded in 1934 for centrifugal and reciprocating compressors and pumps for application in the domestic petrochemical, fertilizer, coal, natural gas transportation, and power industries.

The domestic installed base includes over 1,850 large-scale centrifugal compressors, 1,059 large water pumps, and 885 reciprocating compressors. Its customers include China Petrochemical Corporation, China National Petroleum Corporation, Linde, JSW Steel Limited, and China National Offshore Oil Corporation.

This agreement was signed today in Shenyang by Mr. Su Yongqiang, Chairman of SBW Group and Fernando Bertoni, General Manager of Business Development for GE Oil & Gas in the presence of Mayor Chen Haibo and other senior government officials. It also has 13 subsidiaries and more than 6,000 employees; its sales for 2008 were roughly $700 million after 14% growth in the prior year.

The companies have been working alongside each other in the West-to-East gas pipeline infrastructure project that spans 13 provinces and autonomous regions.

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General Electric Stock News (NYSE:GE) - Poised For A Comeback

General Electric Co. (NYSE:GE) is one American business that's been around the block more than a few times. The company has seen its share of ups and downs and so have the investors who have tenaciously held their shares.

Right now, GE appears to be stabilizing from an operational standpoint, and the stock price seems to be firming up as well.

There's no question GE and its stock were hit by the global financial crisis. The company's huge GE Capital division faced all of the same problems faced by many of America's largest financial outfits. This put a drag on earnings for the conglomerate, as well as the share prices.

Now the company seems to have engineered its turnaround and has even announced a small profit for the fourth quarter. The company earned 36 cents a share on sales of $46 billion.

The big question remains how will GE Capital's toxic asset portfolio affect future earnings. As long as the threat is there, it could continue to constrain GE stock growth. We will learn much more about this in the coming months as 2010 data is crunched. If the worst is over for GE Capital, GE stock could be set for a decent run.

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FD Seeks Partnership with General Electric:Power Sector

The Minister of Power, Dr. Lanre Babalola yesterday disclosed that the Federal Government would welcome greater participation by the United States-based energy supply conglomerate, the General Electric in the efforts to find lasting solution to Nigeria’s power supply crisis.

Babalola in a statement signed by his Special Assistant on Media, Mr. Yakubu Lawal expressed the commitment of government to partner with private investors, with a view to providing definite and sustainable solutions to the nation’s power needs.

The Minister who made the statement when a delegation from General Electric (GE), America, led by the President, GE for African Region, Lazarus Agbazo paid him a courtesy call in Abuja, called on the company to improve on its business model by increasing its presence in the country, to ensure quicker response from all quarters in possible problem situations.

The meeting with GE was held under the auspices of a country to company agreement signed in 2009, with the aim of exploring, identifying, reviewing and promoting specific sector projects for the development of Nigeria’s critical infrastructure as well as location of service and technical support for such structures.

Babalola noted that given the importance of power to the socio-economic development of the country, efforts were being put in place for diversification to reduce the overdependence on gas for power generation.

He said the first Wind-Farm power Project in Nigeria contracted last year would soon be commissioned soon. He further said that there was a visible problem in the power sector that could only be resolved through the provision of articulated solution, welcoming the inclusion of a visit to Olorunsogo power station in the delegation’s itinerary pointing out that firsthand assessment will go a long way in optimizing both interests.

Earlier, the President, GE for African Region, Lazarus Agbazo who led other senior Management team of GE said the visit is targeted at strengthening business relationship with Nigeria.

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South-side Costco seems a sure thing

South-side residents could be shopping at a new Costco Wholesale by March 2011, after development plans for the site were approved by the city last week. The developer - Eastbourne Investments Ltd. and Retail West - still need city approval for grading and building plans, but both sides anticipate final construction approval by March.

Costco representatives did not return calls for comment on Monday. But Cindy Ayala, president of the nearby Pueblo Gardens Neighborhood Association, who was involved in talks with the company, said she was told opening is planned for March 2011, a date that was confirmed by other sources.

The new Costco - the third in the Tucson region - would be on 14 acres at Interstate 10 and South Kino Parkway. It is part of a larger commercial project that would cover about 115 acres from I-10 and Kino west to South Park Avenue. The other Costcos are at East Grant Road near East Tanque Verde Road, and off North Thornydale Road near West Orange Grove Road.

That retail "power center" is the anchor of a larger 350-acre project called "The Bridges," bounded roughly by I-10, East 36th Street, Park and Kino. In addition to a retail development, plans for the site include a 65-acre biosciences park to be developed by the University of Arizona at Kino and East 36th Street, and 110 acres for an upscale housing development.

The new Costco would measure 180,000 square feet, which is a "big-box" under Tucson code that classifies every store of more than 100,000 square feet as a big-box store that has to follow special rules.

After years of city debate about the property, the City Council voted 6-1 in March 2007 to allow a big box on site, but with extra conditions put on Eastbourne, including $2 million to pay for job training, business-assistance programs, neighborhood improvements, economic-improvement grants to area nonprofit organizations, and improvements for pedestrian access and roads. That money will be matched with $4.5 million the city expects from construction sales taxes at the site.

Jim Portner, a consultant for the project's developers, said the 14 acres will be sold to Costco after the final construction permits are obtained from the city. The remaining retail will be developed by Eastbourne and Retail West, he said, although there are no other stores currently signed on to move in. Portner said he expects interest to perk up once the Costco is under construction.

Developers said they are in talks with another major retail anchor but wouldn't name it, although there has been significant behind-the-scenes speculation a Walmart is coming.

The developers are doing several types of infrastructure work on the site, Portner said, adding that the county is doing major sewer line work as well. Ernie Duarte, city director of planning and development services, said he hopes the final permits for the project can be issued in March. Portner said that despite recent criticism charging the city is anti-business, the city has been a key partner.

"Our experience has been absolutely the opposite," Portner said. "It's really helped make a very clear review process." Although the project was finally approved by the council in 2007 after years of discussions, construction work was later delayed by county flood-control work that needed to be done on-site.

The new Costco can't come soon enough for local residents, including Ayala, who said the store will bring shopping and jobs to the south-side area. "The neighbors are all supporting this as something that we need," Ayala said. "Where the other Costco is, it's a pain. This is great. It's good for this side of town's economy."

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United Parcel Service adds more green trucks to fleet

United Parcel Service Inc. has on the street in Colorado and California 245 new delivery trucks powered by Compressed Natural Gas (CNG).

The Atlanta-based package shipper said 140 of the trucks were deployed over the past month to Denver. The rest went to four in California: San Ramon (18), Fresno (16), West Los Angeles (59) and Ontario (12).

The vehicles are part of UPS’ effort to reduce its emissions from the use of fossil fuels like gasoline and diesel and lower its carbon footprint.

UPS (NYSE: UPS) runs one of the largest private fleets of alternative fuel vehicles in its industry with more than 1,900. For its alternative fuel fleet, UPS has deployed CNG, Liquefied Natural Gas, propane, electric and hybrid electric vehicles in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Germany, France, Brazil, Chile, Korea and the United Kingdom.

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United Parcel Service moves air service from Charleston to Wood County

A second national delivery service has decided to use the Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Airport on a daily basis, an official said.

"I was informed Monday that UPS will have one plane here on a daily basis for the next 12 months," said airport manager Terry Moore.

United Parcel Service will have a plane at the airport dropping off and leaving with packages and letters from around the world every Tuesday through Friday through mid- January 2011.

"UPS is now, officially, serving Parkersburg and the rest of the Mid-Ohio Valley by air daily," Moore said.

Air service by the delivery agency means that items sent through it will have a faster delivery time because they will not need to be driven by truck to Yeager Airport in Charleston for flight.

"For the (local) community, there is an advantage to UPS having a plane servicing the area on a daily basis," Moore said.

Telephone messages left at the UPS Atlanta media office were not returned Monday and Tuesday, but Moore said he was told by a UPS representative the company chose to move a plane to the Mid-Ohio Valley because of the amount of fog in Charleston.

"A UPS representative came to talk to me (Monday) and said that the dense morning fog made it difficult for them to have the early morning arrival at Yeager, which led, in part, to their decision to come here," Moore said.

Unfortunately, in a twist of fate, the service's arrival at 6:15 a.m. Tuesday, the first day of the service, was delayed until the afternoon due to fog.

"It was ironic because fog was one of the main reasons they came up here," Moore said. "We usually don't have that much trouble with fog outside of spring and fall, so it was just strange."

The plane will not be staying at the airport overnight, but will arrive daily around 6:15 a.m. and leave each afternoon.

While it is not a large contract, Moore said every little bit helps the airport's struggling finances.

"The airport can expect about $1,000 per month in landing fees and there is a potential for more money if the pilots for UPS need cargo handling," he said.

Cargo handling will be decided on by the pilots and the pilots will also choose who does the labor, which means those performing the work may or may not be airport employees.

"Cargo handling will likely be on a case-by-case basis, but it does allow the airport the possibility of receiving some extra revenue," Moore said.

Although UPS may not bring the airport a large windfall, Moore said he and the airport are more than grateful for the opportunity to serve the company.

"Any increase in traffic is good," he said. "The fact that it is business traffic is even better because when the plane goes out of the area, the pilot will talk to people and get the Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Airport's name out.

"We won't just be a dot on the map; we will become a dot with a name."

UPS has had daily service at the airport during the Christmas season for years and now joins competitors Federal Express (FedEx) with daily usage of the local airport. FedEx has had a plane at the Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Airport for many years.

UPS delivers more than 15 million packages a day to roughly 6.1 million customers in 200 countries, which makes it the world's largest package delivery company, according to the UPS Web site (www.ups.com).

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