NewsFeeds 11.24.09

Army takes Fort Lee hotel plan to Congress before environmental review (Progress-Index)
Army officials have made a formal request to Congress to approve a 1,000-room hotel at Fort Lee even though an environmental review of the proposal has not been completed, a spokesman for a local coalition of business owners said Monday.

Arlington County offers buyouts (Washington Business Journal)
Arlington County is offering a retirement incentive to county employees in an effort to close its 2011 budget gap that could be as large as $100 million.

Electronics chain eyes Roanoke site (Roanoke Times)
A spokesman for Hhgregg, an Indiana-based chain (pronounced H.H. Gregg), said Monday that the retailer is making plans to open a store inside the former Circuit City space adjacent to Valley View Mall in Roanoke

Blacks hit hard by economy’s punch (Washington Post)
Joblessness for 16-to-24-year-old black men has reached Great Depression proportions — 34.5 percent in October, more than three times the rate for the general U.S. population.

Restaurants brace for a sour season as consumers lose appetite for dining out (LA Times)
The number of people visiting restaurants has plunged for four quarters in a row, according to NPD Group. Some higher-end establishments are offering discounts for holiday parties.

Geithner’s Disgrace (Slate)
The new AIG report reveals how the Treasury secretary—and U.S. taxpayers—were fleeced by Wall Street banks.

Top 10 Mistakes Entrepreneurs Make When Writing a Business Plan (Inc.)
You cannot expect a business plan to appeal to every possible audience. With this in mind, try to pick one business model, and to focus on one industry or one problem. Otherwise, you risk spreading yourself too thin, and potentially creating a sprawling plan that makes a bad first impression.