NewsFeeds 11.11.09

How $17 million in stimulus spread (Virginia Gazette)
The federal stimulus is pumping more than $17 million into greater Williamsburg. However, the stimulus may not boost the economy because the funds in many cases fill gaps created by budget cuts. The payments will only close those gaps once, leaving the fiscal future in doubt.

Quicker rebound seen for D.C. area (Washington Post)
An anticipated expansion of the Washington area economy — to be spurred largely by a federal hiring spree and military base realignment — should help local governments restore tax revenue to pre-recession levels quicker than other municipalities across the country, according to a new report Tuesday by the bond rating firm Moody’s Investors Service.

Sen. Christopher Dodd proposes single watchdog for banks (LA Times)
The Senate Banking Committee chairman’s sweeping proposal to toughen oversight of the financial industry complicates White House efforts to get an overhaul passed by year’s end.

Online Ads Are Booming, if They’re Attached to a Video (NY Times)
CNN.com and ESPN.com are featuring video much more prominently on their home pages, often prompting visitors to press play before they begin to read. Even The Wall Street Journal has moved its video player front and center with a twice-a-day live newscast on WSJ.com.  At a time when other categories of advertising dollars are shrinking, video ads are booming. News sites are adding more video inventory to keep pace with the demands of advertisers, and benefiting from the higher cost-per-thousands, or C.P.M.’s, that ads on those videos command.

It Just Isn’t Working? Some File for Customer Divorce (WSJ)
As weak economy exerts financial pressure, firms shed their ‘High-Maintenance’ or delinquent clients.

When Money and Family Mix (Inc.)
Editor’s Pick. Many entrepreneurs turn to relatives when starting a business. But relationships change whenever money enters the picture. After all, the adjectives traditionally paired with cash are cold and hard. A look at some of the pitfalls.

Leading during a downturn (Fortune)
Leadership problems come up again and again in a downturn. Solving them doesn’t take fancy technology – just character and courage.