Dominion Va. Power presses rate-case argument (Times-Dispatch)
Cutting Dominion Virginia Power’s rates would hurt the company’s ability to provide its customers with reliable, economical power, the state’s largest utility argued yesterday.
Va. business group wants “buy local” plates (Virginian-Pilot)
For the General Assembly to approve the measure, the Department of Motor Vehicles must receive 350 prepaid license applications by mid-January. So far, the DMV has received about 50 applications. Proceeds from the plate’s $25 annual fee would help fund Retail Alliance’s efforts to raise money for training and grants for small businesses.
Subway, other restaurants try catering to boost sales (USA Today)
Some of the nation’s most familiar restaurant chains — from fast food’s Subway to fine dining’s Ruth’s Chris Steak House — are pushing catering business this holiday like never before.
Small banks, big problems (Fortune)
The smallest banks have been dropping like flies for years, as they labor to master expensive new technologies and regulatory changes — at a time when giant banks spawned in a rash of megamergers are expanding their reach. The consolidation trend should only strengthen in the coming year. Dozens of banks will fail as their customers retrench in a weak economy. Meanwhile, regulators will keep pressuring bankers to lend cautiously — prompting weaker banks to merge into stronger ones as growth remains elusive.
Business Fumbles and Blunders From 2009. What Were They Thinking? (BNET)
for a year in which everyone supposedly was extra mindful of job security, 2009 was loaded with amazingly boneheaded moves. Did Burger King really run sexually suggestive ad in super-conservative Singapore? Did execs at Amazon.com actually pull a classic book from its store and assume no one would notice? You have to ask, ‘What were they thinking?’ So ask is what we did, in quiz form.
