International Business News - MI http://www.ibtimes.com All articles are copyrighted by IBTimes.com 400 100 http://www.ibtimes.com/ http://www.ibtimes.com/images/top_logo_ibt2_3.gif Shares of regional banks were mixed amid modest gains in the broader market Wednesday, as a sharp drop in oil prices partially offset a lackluster earnings report from Washington Mutual Inc. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080723/sector-snap-regional-bank-stocks-mixed.htm Wed, 23 Jul 2008 16:08:13 EDT Ann Reed has resigned as publisher of the Traverse City Record-Eagle. The resignation was announced Tuesday by Henry Bird, vice president of the Midwest Division of the Record-Eagle's parent company, Community Newspaper Holdings Inc. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080722/traverse-city-record-eagle-publisher-resigns.htm Tue, 22 Jul 2008 15:33:53 EDT Fearing a major deal may be in jeopardy, a Texas company that recycles sludge is urging the City Council to wait for the conclusion of a criminal investigation before deciding whether to scratch a $47 million contract. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080721/sludge-recycler-appeals-to-detroit-council.htm Mon, 21 Jul 2008 14:53:34 EDT Michigan needs to double its spending on roads and bridges or many will keep deteriorating and become unsafe, says a report to a task force studying how to pay for transportation projects without raising the state's gasoline tax. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080721/report-michigan-must-double-spending-on-roads.htm Mon, 21 Jul 2008 13:14:33 EDT Tall grass and garbage are more common sights along Michigan highways this summer because of government budget problems, created in part by bad weather, high fuel prices and the sketchy economy. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080718/budget-cuts-mean-long-grass-along-mich-highways.htm Fri, 18 Jul 2008 15:37:51 EDT Regional bank stocks were mixed Friday in line with the broader market, as Wall Street waded through financial reports from a number of sector giants--including Citigroup Inc. and Merrill Lynch & Co. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080718/sector-snap-regional-bank-stocks-mixed.htm Fri, 18 Jul 2008 12:51:39 EDT Regional bank stocks closed mostly higher Thursday after a spate of better-than-expected second-quarter results from financial firms, including JPMorgan Chase, helped lift the sector for a second day in a row. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080717/sector-wrap-regional-banks-rise-on-profit-reports.htm Thu, 17 Jul 2008 16:19:16 EDT Michigan's new insurance consumer advocate says state laws favor insurance companies over consumers when it comes to setting rates. State law requires that insurance rates not be "excessive, inadequate, or unfairly discriminatory," but assumes rates are affordable as long as there's competition in the market, Melvin "Butch" Hollowell told reporters Wednesday. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080716/michigan-consumer-advocate-wants-fairer-premiums.htm Wed, 16 Jul 2008 18:46:24 EDT Michigan's unemployment rate didn't change in June from the prior month, holding steady at 8.5 percent. Wednesday's announcement was the latest in a string of relatively sour monthly economic reports for the state, which has had the nation's highest annual average jobless rate since 2006. The national unemployment rate last month was unchanged at 5.5 percent. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080716/michigans-jobless-rate-remains-at-8-5-percent.htm Wed, 16 Jul 2008 17:51:35 EDT Michigan Technological University researchers are teaming with a Marquette company to help make an upgraded compact and wireless "wearable video system" that could be used by the military. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080716/grant-money-to-boost-michigan-university-research.htm Wed, 16 Jul 2008 17:21:20 EDT Regional bank shares advanced Wednesday, in line with the broader market, as Wells Fargo & Co.'s milder-than-expected second-quarter loss and decision to boost its dividend instilled some confidence in the sector. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080716/sector-wrap-regional-bank-shares-advance.htm Wed, 16 Jul 2008 16:15:13 EDT Stocks that moved substantially or traded heavily Wednesday on the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq Stock Market: NYSE http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080716/wells-fargo-gannett-amr-schwab-among-big-movers.htm Wed, 16 Jul 2008 16:56:26 EDT A former maker of clothes for the popular American Girl dolls who authorities say disguised personal expenses for a Lincoln Town Car as the cost for five used sewing machines has pleaded guilty to tax evasion. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080716/mich-doll-clothes-maker-admits-tax-evasion.htm Wed, 16 Jul 2008 12:49:00 EDT Dow Chemical Co. and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency have agreed on a plan requiring the company to clean up dioxin contamination in a Saginaw, Mich. neighborhood. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080716/dow-to-clean-up-dioxin-in-mich-neighborhood.htm Wed, 16 Jul 2008 12:25:36 EDT Environmentalists have warned that Michigan will be stuck with more coal-fired power plants if lawmakers do not significantly change an energy plan that passed the state Senate last month. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080716/environmentalists-oppose-more-coal-plants-in-mich.htm Wed, 16 Jul 2008 12:08:01 EDT Marshall & Ilsley Corp. said Wednesday it swung to a loss in the second quarter as the regional bank recorded a hefty provision for loan losses, but results beat Wall Street expectations. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080716/marshall-ilsley-posts-2q-loss-but-tops-streeet.htm Wed, 16 Jul 2008 09:41:13 EDT Bad news for Michigan in the auto industry on Tuesday was softened somewhat by the announcement that Dow Chemical Co. and a Kuwaiti company plan to open a headquarters building near Detroit for a new $11 billion joint venture. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080715/mich-k-dow-hq-announcement-cushions-auto-letdown.htm Tue, 15 Jul 2008 13:02:33 EDT Federal authorities are hoping to recover hundreds of thousands of dollars from an unusual source: The sale of antique dolls, dollhouse furniture and miniature toys. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080714/man-accused-of-buying-rare-dolls-with-stolen-cash.htm Mon, 14 Jul 2008 18:25:10 EDT As foreign species such as quagga mussels and a killer fish virus continue assaulting the Great Lakes, federal policymakers are taking long-delayed steps to slam the door on other invaders. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080711/epa-plan-for-stopping-lake-invaders-debated.htm Fri, 11 Jul 2008 15:02:47 EDT Michigan likely will soon join a growing list of states planning to pull public pension investments from companies that do business with Sudan and other nations accused of government-supported genocide or terrorism. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080711/michigan-expected-to-divest-from-sudan.htm Fri, 11 Jul 2008 11:13:23 EDT