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Subscribers: This is the last regularly scheduled WisBusiness Thanks for subscribing and have a happy holiday season. — North central Wisconsin has the highest health insurance costs in the state, while the south central region of the state continues to have the lowest costs, according to an analysis from left-leaning Citizen Action Wisconsin. The metro areas with the highest costs are Wausau, Stevens Point, Wisconsin Rapids, Kenosha, La Crosse and Eau Claire, according to the report. Health insurance costs statewide rose 9 percent in 2009 and 179 percent in the last decade, faster than the 120 percent increase nationwide. U.S. Rep. Ron Kind, D-La Crosse, said the report shows health care costs are “way too expensive … and going up way too fast.” He said the rising health care costs are causing wage stagnation for working families, and the results of the analysis sharpen the need for national health care reform. “Not passing health care reform really isn‚Äôt an option,” Kind said. See the Citizen Action Wisconsin Report: http://wispolitics.com/index.iml?Article=180417 — In a new BizOpinion column, the president of the Independent Business Association of Wisconsin argues that it’s time to extend the program that offered $375 million in Small Business Administration stimulus loans. Jeff Hoffman says “the extension and expansion of the SBA stimulus funds are an appropriate measure for growth that Congress should act upon immediately.” Read his piece: http://blogs.wisbusiness.com/bizopinion — Allied Systems Holdings filed notice with the state that it will close its terminal operations at 544 Kellogg Avenue in Janesville on or about February 26, 2010, resulting in approximately 100 layoffs. See the state filing: http://www.wisbusiness.com/1008/091222allied.pdf TOP STORIES
API Software buys Texas software firm: API Healthcare, a Hartford provider of human capital management technology to the health care industry, said Tuesday it has acquired Clearview Staffing Software Inc., an Addison, Texas, provider of health care temp scheduling software. Conde Nast renews contract with Quad/Graphics: Commercial printing company Quad/Graphics Inc. of Sussex said Tuesday that it has been awarded a new multiyear contract with Conde Nast calling for Quad to continue print production on 11 of the publisher’s magazine titles through year-end 2013. Bankruptcy court approves Grede sale : Grede Foundries has received approval from U.S. Bankruptcy Court to sell its principal operating plants to an affiliate of Wayzata Investment Partners of Minnesota. The transaction includes Grede’s corporate headquarters in Milwaukee and foundries in Reedsburg; Wauwatosa; St. Cloud, Minn.; Wichita, Kan.; New Castle, Ind.; and Iron Mountain/Kingsford, Mich.Grede Foundries has received approval from U.S. Bankruptcy Court to sell its principal operating plants to an affiliate of Wayzata Investment Partners of Minnesota. The transaction includes Grede’s corporate headquarters in Milwaukee and foundries in Reedsburg; Wauwatosa; St. Cloud, Minn.; Wichita, Kan.; New Castle, Ind.; and Iron Mountain/Kingsford, Mich. Iowa firm seeks to block Jefferson ethanol plant sale: An Iowa company that seeks to become a producer of ethanol fuel has filed a court motion to block the sale of Renew Energy LLC’s ethanol plant in Jefferson to a unit of Valero Energy Corp. for $72 million.
************************************************************ See commentary from around the state and columns from WisBusiness contributors Jennifer Sereno, Kevin McKinley, Tom Burzinski, Gregg Hoffmann, Tom Still and Steve Jagler: ************************************************************
MANUFACTURING (back to top) – New owner to invest in Merrill plant – Bankruptcy court approves sale of Grede Foundries
INVESTING (back to top)
REAL ESTATE (back to top) – November new home sales seen rising 2.3 percent
AGRIBUSINESS (back to top)
RETAIL (back to top) – Woodman’s drops mental health coverage, blames federal mandate
TOURISM (back to top) – Common Council approves Summerfest lease extension
UTILITIES (back to top)
HEALTH CARE (back to top) – Milwaukee law firm donates five defibrillators
FINANCIAL SERVICES (back to top) – American Express alerted Koss about executive’s spending spree – Net income at state credit unions down 28.5%
PRESS RELEASES (back to top) For these and more releases visit http://www.wisbusiness.com/index.iml?Content=82 |
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