| Democrats Call on Government to Increase Minority Advertising Contracts
Today, leading Senate and House Democrats urged federal agencies to take an active role in increasing the amount of federal advertising contracts awarded to disadvantaged and minority-owned businesses. Their action comes in response to a report by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to be released today that found that federal agencies are falling short of the standards set by an executive order issued in 2000 calling on the government to "aggressively" reach out to minority and underserved firms. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-Mass.), senior Senate Judiciary Committee member Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), and Congressional Black Caucus Chair, Representative Carolyn Kilpatrick (D-Mich.) today sent letters to the Departments of Defense and the Treasury expressing concern for their poor record of awarding contracts to minority and disadvantaged businesses and requesting the agencies outline specific steps they are taking to increase contracts with minority advertising firms.
Qwest names new CEO
Qwest named a telecom veteran, former Ameritech colleague Edward A. Mueller, as its new chairman and CEO. He is succeeding Richard Notebaert, who said in June that he would be retiring. Notebaert said he recommended Mueller to the Qwest board. Mueller, 60, spent 34 years in the telecommunications industry, rising to president and CEO of Ameritech from 2000 to 2002. Mueller left Ameritech and became CEO in 2003 of retailer Williams-Sonoma. Hed been on its board since 1999. In a statement, Notebaert called Mueller, (pronounced Miller) "a proven leader with a broad background of communications and retail experience. We are most fortunate to have him join Qwest at a time when his proven leadership skills are well suited to meet the challenges of a highly competitive industry in a rapidly changing consumer and business marketplace." Mueller said: "Qwest has made great strides in upgrading and solidifying its infrastructure, and has built an impressive reputation for putting the customer first.
Veteran sent to the crease as energetic Tories strive to dominate the summer
As a cricket fan who kept the nation waiting during a weekend game while he decided whether to stand for the Tory leadership in the summer of 1995, you know John Redwood means business when he stirs in August. On Friday, the former cabinet minister will return to the political front line when he presents a long-awaited report to the Tory leadership on how to improve the competitiveness of the British economy. .
Younis Khan rejects ICL offer
Karachi: Star Pakistani batsman Younis Khan has rejected a lucrative offer made by the organisers of the rebel Indian Cricket League (ICL). Younis said that he had rejected the offer because playing for the country was much more important to him than earning money. The former Pakistan vice-captain, who turned down the opportunity to lead his country after the World Cup, said he also didn't want to play in the league as it would clash with Pakistan's domestic season. "And I don't want to miss the domestic matches," he said. Younis is among several Pakistani players approached by the ICL organisers. While Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammad Asif and Shahid Afridi have turned down the chance to play in the Twenty20 tournament, others like Mohammad Yousuf, Abdul Razzaq, Inzamam-ul-Haq and Asim Kamal are still mulling over the offers made to them.
Alexander M. Jackson, not a proud New Mexican
Alexander Melvorne Jackson is little noted by New Mexico historians in spite of the fact that he served as the number two ranking administrator in territorial New Mexico. President James Buchanan named him territorial secretary in 1857 and he held the job until the Civil War began. Secretary at the time was a position second only to the territorial governor. There was no such office as Lieutenant Governor. The job paid well, too; $500 per quarter. Two thousand dollars per year was a considerable sum at the time.A. M. Jackson was born in Ireland, but immigrated to the United States -Alabama- as a young child. He moved on to Tennessee and then to Ohio where he took up the study of law. Back in the south - Mississippi - he began the practice of law in 1842. He also helped edit the Ripley Advertiser.
Chrysler CEO's silence about his pay does not help repair his reputation
Opportunity knocked, and Robert Nardelli missed it. If he really wanted to begin rehabilitating his tarnished reputation, he could have started his CEO job at Chrysler by publicly promising he would not accept a penny in pay. Instead, the former Home Depot home improvement chain CEO _ who left the home improvement retail chain in January with a controversial $210 million (�153.85 million) severance package _ stayed mum on what he would be making while trying to lead struggling Chrysler out of its funk. Chrysler officials fed the media tidbits about his $1 a year salary. But they refused to provide details about any performance-based bonus Nardelli could collect should he manage to help reverse the automaker's slide. Technically, Chrysler and Nardelli had no obligation to talk about his pay.
Hispanics taking population lead
Hispanics for the first time outnumber non-Hispanic whites in Dallas County by a slim margin, U.S. Census Bureau numbers scheduled for release today show, as the rest of the state and the nation continue one of the biggest demographic shifts in the nation's history. Texas was officially deemed a majority-minority state two years ago. But county by county, the state is becoming increasingly Hispanic, the Census Bureau reported in its 2006 update. Nationwide, nearly one in 10 counties is now more than 50 percent minority. In Dallas County, minorities made up nearly 64 percent of residents in 2006, with Hispanics making up 37.7 percent of the population, compared with 36.1 for non-Hispanic whites. .
Community Meetings
THIS WEEK Geechee Sailing Club 6:30 p.m. Aug. 13, Tubby's Tank House, 2909 River Drive, Thunderbolt. Open to all persons interested in boating and related activities. Call 234-1903 or go to www.geecheesailingclub.org. Chatham County Board of Commissioners 7 p.m. Aug. 14, Inn at Ellis Square, 201 W. Bay St. Commissioner Pat Shay will host a Town Hall meeting. Guest speaker Michael Scott will speak. Topic: "Urban Police Methods and the Importance of Defensive Design and Planning." Call 652-7923. Savannah Ogeechee Canal Society Meet 6:30 p.m. Aug. 14, Fairmont Restaurant, 65 W. Fairmont Ave. Call 748-8068. Friends of Oatland 6:30 p.m. Aug.
|
