Huntington's City Council does not have good news for the Huntington Fire Department's grant application due to the city's financial concerns.
The department is in need of additional staffing, communications upgrades, new safety equipment, new vehicles and repairs to the fire stations. Fire Chief Craig Moore said radios are the most important requirement for the department at this time.
The application for staffing would cost $1.015 million. It would fund 10 firefighter positions which the city would begin to pay for in the third year with an annual cost of $515,196.
Monday, February 28, 2011
Monday, February 14, 2011
After the State of the City Address
Mayor Kim Wolfe announced that there would not be a significant increase in the next fiscal year's budget. Despite news of additional budget cuts, the mayor is "impressed by the work of the departments in overcoming obstacles" in the past year and remains optimistic about the future.
Sunday, February 13, 2011
State of the City
I will be attending the State of the City address delivered by Mayor Kim Wolfe at 6:30 p.m. Monday. He will present the annual report and the proposed budget for 2011-2012.
Thursday, February 10, 2011
CVS Caremark Corp. company filings
I found the filings of CVS Caremark Corp. through the SEC web site. The company is based in Rhode Island. Documents that were listed include statements of changes in beneficial ownership of securities and a press release detailing the 2010 full year results. The press release also included initial guidance for 2011 earnings and free cash flow as well as details about the company at the bottom of the page. It was discovered that the store sales increased by 2.1% in the full year of 2010. Other documents contain information about changes in ownership securities, quarterly reports and employment benefit plans.
Monday, January 31, 2011
Proposed grants allow for increased fire department staffing and vehicles
Two grants were proposed for the Huntington Fire Department at the Jan. 25th city council meeting.
The first was for $1.015 million which would fund 10 firefighter positions for two years. $515,196 will be paid by the city starting in the third year.
The second grant is for $450, 000 for a response vehicle that serves as both a fire engine and a rescue vehicle. It would respond to accidents on U.S. 60 and Interstate 64.
The first was for $1.015 million which would fund 10 firefighter positions for two years. $515,196 will be paid by the city starting in the third year.
The second grant is for $450, 000 for a response vehicle that serves as both a fire engine and a rescue vehicle. It would respond to accidents on U.S. 60 and Interstate 64.
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Obama hopes to 'win the future for America'
President Barack Obama said Tuesday in his State of the Union Address that the challenges America faces are “bigger than party and bigger than politics.”
The president stressed a need for bipartisanship in order to strengthen what he said are three key steps in securing the nation’s future: innovation, education and improving America’s infrastructure.
Members of congress broke tradition and sat together during the address and, as predicted, Obama said that continuing this bipartisanship beyond the speech is what will encourage productive changes within the nation.
“What comes of this moment will be determined not by whether we can sit together tonight, but whether we can work together tomorrow,” Obama said.
Though it was predicted he would talk about the economy, Obama tied everything together promoting that encouraging innovation will stimulate job growth. He emphasized the importance of renewable and clean energy methods, believing this will create many new opportunities for jobs.
The innovation of this new technology will be stimulated through improving the inevitable topic of education. It was not anticipated, however, that it would be such a large part of his speech. Obama gave much credit to the teaching profession and encouraged others to do the same or even to join the teaching career path.
Unexpectedly, at the end of his education segment, he included a word about students who are studying abroad in America, and that sending them home after obtaining advanced degrees “to compete against us” does not make sense.
“And let’s stop expelling talented, responsible young people who could be staffing out research labs or starting a new business, who could be further enriching this nation,” Obama said.
This led the president to his third key concept: rebuilding America’s infrastructure. As anticipated, he suggested ideas to improve the economy and reduce the deficit. He promised that within 25 years most Americans would be proved access to high-speed rail systems. This again ties in with his promotion of cleaner modes of transportation and energy because it would encourage less driving.
Next, Obama set a goal of doubling America’s exports by 2014 and, starting this year, annual domestic spending will be frozen for the next five years. He said this will reduce the deficit by more than $400 billion in the next decade.
Obama raised the topic of improved communication and less wasteful technology. He said he would like to see the American people regain faith in the government through providing tax dollar spending information online to everyone. It will be interesting to see these changes and if privacy laws become an issue.
“Because you deserve to know when your elected officials are meeting with lobbyists, I ask Congress to do what the White House has already done - put that information online,” Obama said.
Going back to his original concept of bipartisanship, he suggested the ideas he mentioned will function better if the parties work together.
“Not is the time for both sides and both houses of Congress – Democrats and Republicans – to forge a principled compromise that gets the job done. If we make the hard choices now to rein in our deficits, we can make the investments we need to win the future,” Obama said.
Overall, Obama touched upon most of the anticipated topics but expanded upon even more. His plans to stimulate innovation and job growth stem from education and it was refreshing to hear that he thinks the encouraged bipartisan mentalities would improve all of these topics.
“We shouldn't just give our people a government that's more affordable. We should give them a government that's more competent and more efficient. We can't win the future with a government of the past,” Obama said.
The president stressed a need for bipartisanship in order to strengthen what he said are three key steps in securing the nation’s future: innovation, education and improving America’s infrastructure.
Members of congress broke tradition and sat together during the address and, as predicted, Obama said that continuing this bipartisanship beyond the speech is what will encourage productive changes within the nation.
“What comes of this moment will be determined not by whether we can sit together tonight, but whether we can work together tomorrow,” Obama said.
Though it was predicted he would talk about the economy, Obama tied everything together promoting that encouraging innovation will stimulate job growth. He emphasized the importance of renewable and clean energy methods, believing this will create many new opportunities for jobs.
The innovation of this new technology will be stimulated through improving the inevitable topic of education. It was not anticipated, however, that it would be such a large part of his speech. Obama gave much credit to the teaching profession and encouraged others to do the same or even to join the teaching career path.
Unexpectedly, at the end of his education segment, he included a word about students who are studying abroad in America, and that sending them home after obtaining advanced degrees “to compete against us” does not make sense.
“And let’s stop expelling talented, responsible young people who could be staffing out research labs or starting a new business, who could be further enriching this nation,” Obama said.
This led the president to his third key concept: rebuilding America’s infrastructure. As anticipated, he suggested ideas to improve the economy and reduce the deficit. He promised that within 25 years most Americans would be proved access to high-speed rail systems. This again ties in with his promotion of cleaner modes of transportation and energy because it would encourage less driving.
Next, Obama set a goal of doubling America’s exports by 2014 and, starting this year, annual domestic spending will be frozen for the next five years. He said this will reduce the deficit by more than $400 billion in the next decade.
Obama raised the topic of improved communication and less wasteful technology. He said he would like to see the American people regain faith in the government through providing tax dollar spending information online to everyone. It will be interesting to see these changes and if privacy laws become an issue.
“Because you deserve to know when your elected officials are meeting with lobbyists, I ask Congress to do what the White House has already done - put that information online,” Obama said.
Going back to his original concept of bipartisanship, he suggested the ideas he mentioned will function better if the parties work together.
“Not is the time for both sides and both houses of Congress – Democrats and Republicans – to forge a principled compromise that gets the job done. If we make the hard choices now to rein in our deficits, we can make the investments we need to win the future,” Obama said.
Overall, Obama touched upon most of the anticipated topics but expanded upon even more. His plans to stimulate innovation and job growth stem from education and it was refreshing to hear that he thinks the encouraged bipartisan mentalities would improve all of these topics.
“We shouldn't just give our people a government that's more affordable. We should give them a government that's more competent and more efficient. We can't win the future with a government of the past,” Obama said.
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Updated State of the Union prediction
Once again the president of the United States will make the annual trip January 25 to Capitol Hill to deliver the State of the Union Address.
George Washington and John Adams delivered their speeches in person, but Thomas Jefferson began a short-lived tradition of submitting a written speech. This continued until 1913 when Woodrow Wilson decided to give his speech in person. Situations have varied, but the tradition of providing the nation with an update of the status of the economy and new laws while providing plans for future progress remains.
Some topics President Barack Obama may talk about in his State of the Union Address are ways to work with the Republicans in congress to create new legislation to stimulate job growth. Working with the Republicans to develop an overall sense of unity will probably be a major theme of the speech.
Other topics may concern the government’s progress improving the economy and strategies to ultimately lower the national debt. Health care reform, bringing soldiers home from the war in Iraq and education will most likely be topics of concern as well.
These issues would not be new concerns for former presidents. Obama can be compared to presidents such as John F. Kennedy. Franklin D. Roosevelt or Lyndon B. Johnson for different reasons.
Obama and Kennedy have age, religion and large voter turnouts in common. Obama’s religion was under intense scrutiny when he was running for president. In light of the 9/11 attacks and following rumors of being Muslim, he had much to prove to the American people. The topic was brought up again when the reverend at the church Obama attended made controversial statements.
Kennedy was the nation’s first catholic president. In an address to the Greater Houston Ministerial Association, he said, “For contrary to common newspaper usage, I am not the Catholic candidate for President. I am the Democratic Party's candidate for President who happens also to be a Catholic.” His point was to get the public to see him for what he could do for the country, not to misinterpret his personal beliefs. Obama took a similar approach.
Both had two of the largest voter turnouts in history, with about 64.8 percent of eligible voters in the 2008 election and 67 percent in 1960.
When Roosevelt entered office, the economic state of the nation was not in great shape, similar to Obama’s situation. Both entered presidency aiming to diminish a recession. Roosevelt’s New Deal and some of Obama’s proposed legislations, while controversial, made a dent in their economic crises.
Johnson’s first role was to provide reassurance to a distressed nation. Obama used a similar position when first speaking as president. He attempted to reassure the nation that the economy and the situation in Afghanistan would one day stabilize.
There are a number of other presidents who can be compared to Obama in a number of different ways, depending on perspective. The facts remain that his presidential career has proved successful so far. Last year, he mentioned job creation, clean energy, exporting more goods, education, middle-class issues, health care reform, immigration and, of course, deficit reduction.
In his speech from last year, he said, “Now, because of the steps we took, there are about 2 million Americans working right now who would otherwise be unemployed. Two hundred thousand work in construction and clean energy. Three hundred thousand are teachers and other education workers. Tens of thousands are cops, firefighters, correctional officers, first-responders. And we're on track to add another 1½ million jobs to this total by the end of the year.”
This year will probably include more of the same topics considering most of them cannot be resolved in a year’s time.
George Washington and John Adams delivered their speeches in person, but Thomas Jefferson began a short-lived tradition of submitting a written speech. This continued until 1913 when Woodrow Wilson decided to give his speech in person. Situations have varied, but the tradition of providing the nation with an update of the status of the economy and new laws while providing plans for future progress remains.
Some topics President Barack Obama may talk about in his State of the Union Address are ways to work with the Republicans in congress to create new legislation to stimulate job growth. Working with the Republicans to develop an overall sense of unity will probably be a major theme of the speech.
Other topics may concern the government’s progress improving the economy and strategies to ultimately lower the national debt. Health care reform, bringing soldiers home from the war in Iraq and education will most likely be topics of concern as well.
These issues would not be new concerns for former presidents. Obama can be compared to presidents such as John F. Kennedy. Franklin D. Roosevelt or Lyndon B. Johnson for different reasons.
Obama and Kennedy have age, religion and large voter turnouts in common. Obama’s religion was under intense scrutiny when he was running for president. In light of the 9/11 attacks and following rumors of being Muslim, he had much to prove to the American people. The topic was brought up again when the reverend at the church Obama attended made controversial statements.
Kennedy was the nation’s first catholic president. In an address to the Greater Houston Ministerial Association, he said, “For contrary to common newspaper usage, I am not the Catholic candidate for President. I am the Democratic Party's candidate for President who happens also to be a Catholic.” His point was to get the public to see him for what he could do for the country, not to misinterpret his personal beliefs. Obama took a similar approach.
Both had two of the largest voter turnouts in history, with about 64.8 percent of eligible voters in the 2008 election and 67 percent in 1960.
When Roosevelt entered office, the economic state of the nation was not in great shape, similar to Obama’s situation. Both entered presidency aiming to diminish a recession. Roosevelt’s New Deal and some of Obama’s proposed legislations, while controversial, made a dent in their economic crises.
Johnson’s first role was to provide reassurance to a distressed nation. Obama used a similar position when first speaking as president. He attempted to reassure the nation that the economy and the situation in Afghanistan would one day stabilize.
There are a number of other presidents who can be compared to Obama in a number of different ways, depending on perspective. The facts remain that his presidential career has proved successful so far. Last year, he mentioned job creation, clean energy, exporting more goods, education, middle-class issues, health care reform, immigration and, of course, deficit reduction.
In his speech from last year, he said, “Now, because of the steps we took, there are about 2 million Americans working right now who would otherwise be unemployed. Two hundred thousand work in construction and clean energy. Three hundred thousand are teachers and other education workers. Tens of thousands are cops, firefighters, correctional officers, first-responders. And we're on track to add another 1½ million jobs to this total by the end of the year.”
This year will probably include more of the same topics considering most of them cannot be resolved in a year’s time.
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