Economic Policy Institute launches new web site on State of Working America

We are keeping an eye on the EPI's new website called the State of Working America.

Economic Policy Institute launches new web site on State of Working America.
http://www.stateofworkingamerica.org/

Canal Energy of Bogalusa, Louisana accused of refusing to hire Blacks

Same old story: A Louisana company is accused of discrimination in hiring. Here.

Prison population statistics

The United Kingdom prision population is here.
Here

Bureau of Justice Statistics

I have frequent discussion with some friends on the cost of the criminal justice system. You cannot have a factual debate with out consulting the Bureau of Justice Statistics at the US Deparment of Justice.

Bureau of Justice Statistics

DOJ BJS perferred link is Here.

Super informative news release with a summary of prison statistics is here.

The only shred of good news is that the trends is recently down lagging the crime downturn.

What's the value of one year of human life

Time Magazine says it is $129,000. Read the story here.

Forbes story was first. Here.

Editors note: I find the figure rather high.

Schiavone Construction Company admits fraud

A large NYC construction company admitted write fraud and failing to use Minority, women-own and disadvantaged businesses as subcontractors.

The Schiavone Construction Company admits fraud. Here.

Skanska USA and Schiavone evade helping disadvantaged business

Two of the biggest construction contractors are being invetigated by Federal government for evading requirements to use Women, minority or disadvantaged subcontractors.

In the New York Times Here.

How the enterprises trashed the economy

How the enterprises trashed the economy by Henry Mintzberg

Here

GE: General Electric Stories; GE Closes Last Bulb Factory

I was reading a little about jobs, of course, US manufacturing, when a couple of interesting GR stories popped-up. GE closed the last factory in the US making incandescent bulbs. The complete package gives a nice view of the current economic climate in manufacturing in the US. Really good stuff.

Here is a puff pieces on GE going back to manufacturing after the financial crisis affected GE capital. New York Times.

GE shuts down last incandescent bulb factory in Winchester, VA. Here.

Some stuff on the dangers on CFLs. Here.

An editorial here from the Heritage Foundation tries to simplify a complex issue to support a point of view. Philadelphia Inquirer

Here is an article on innovation using the incandecent bulb(US) and the conpact flourcent bulb (China) as an example.

You can read about Ellis Yan of TCP, Technical Consumer Products, Inc. here.

Black farmers compensation bill passes Senate

The Senate has approved $4.6 Billion to settle discrimination suits by Black and Native American farmers. Here for Washington Post

And Here for Leadership Conference on Civil Rights.

New York Times is Here.

Cabrini-Green HOPE VI Survey

Here is an old, interesting survey from 2003 regarding the demographics and needs of residents of the Cabrini-Green housing project in Chicago. Cabrini Green and Robert Taylor Houses have come to symbolize the problems of urban housing projects, Black crime and Black poverty. The projects were torn down in 2005 and 2007 respectively.

Here

Wal-Mart Articles

For the story on Wal-Mart, here are some links to the support material

The Impact of an Urban Wal-Mart Store on Area Businesses: An Evaluation of One Chicago Neighborhood's Experience [2009] (HERE)

Wal-Mart Press Release. Here.

A call for change: Black Male Educational Achievement in the US

The Council of Great City Schools has released a large report on Black male education in the United States shows a large gaps in student achievement. You can read the report here.

Intelligence spending at $80 Billion

Washington Post reported that the spending for intelligence services over the past 12 months was $80 Billion dollars. Washington Post Story.

Dotson murder trial costs more that $450,000

Ever wonder what court actually costs. This article has all the dirt. Here is a very detailed breakdown of the court costs.

The Commercial Appeal (Memphis, Tn) court costs article

More than half of Black Men in Milwaukee are out of work

Milwaukee Courier Story Here

You can read the study from University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee (UWM) Center for Economic Development here.

NY Times Editorial on Britain government spending cuts

NY Times Editorial on Britain government spending cuts

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/23/opinion/23sat2.html

UK cuts college subsidies

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/19/business/global/19iht-riedukpol.html

British government cuts in the US

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/24/weekinreview/24herzenhorn.html

New Jersey Black Issues Convention

New Jersey Black Issues Convention

http://njbic.org/

NJ police officers earn the most in the Nation.

New Jersey police officers earn a median pay of $90,672

Star Ledger's analysis is here

US is the 2nd "fattest" nation in the world

The US is the second most over weight nation in the world with 68% of it citizens either overweight or obese. UK and Canada ranked 5th(61% o/w or obese) and 8th(60%), respectively. The poll lists the number of people overweight or obese, not the total amount of obeseness. The US leads in the number of total overweightness.

OECD's story

OECD's original report

Huffington Post's story

Article blames Information Technology for middle class job loses

The economist has an interesting article blaming some of the middle class job losses on information technology

Job polarization in Europe

Republicans: Business Uncertainty contributes to unemployment

One of the charges Obama's critics try to stick him with is increasing business incertainity. Luckily, it is a sound bite that does not really stick. I read or hear it from the pundits all the time. And with no backup.

How do you measure uncertainty ? Is it going up or down ? Is high historically but going down or low but rising ? It it linked to job creation ?? If there is a link are other variables more important like a strong, growing economy ?? Can you separate out the uncertainty linked to Obama's policies vs. all the others that affect business ? Does uncertainty even matter ?

This one kind of attack exposes the republicans lack economic understanding. It might be great politics, but is definitely a distraction. This issue was definitely focus group approved. Luckily, it is a little too complicated to stick.

It looks a very weak attempt to blame Obama for 8, 12, or 20 years of poor economic management. The fact that they are trying to use it as an issue, really show the lack of any real economic ideas for advancing the economy.

NYT: Black Happiness Increases

From the NY Times

Blacks have increased their self reported rate of happiness over the past 40 years.

NYT: Blacks show increases in happiness.

Holding down health costs: Reuter's story on UK NICE not recommending a new drug

If you are following the healthcare debate you know holding down costs and central to the debate. The UK NHS has a model that works. A panel of experts reviews the cost effectiveness of the treatments.

Here is a story about a tough decision: Whether to extend the benefits of a new, expensive and slighly better schophrenia drug to teenagers.

Reuter's story here

NHS NICE

Student Debt Project

Link to the "Project on Student Debt" is here

Unbanked by choice: Pew report on Low income Money Management

Low income money management in LA produced by the PEW Health Group

The summary is here

There story is here.

Alternative Financial Services (AFS) providers

Brookings and the Ninth district Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis detailed the unbanked who are served by AFS providers

Fed Report Here

Mary J Blige sets sales record on Home Shopping Network

According to a press-release by Home Shopping Network(HSN), Mary J Blige's fragrance, My Life, so more than 60,000 units in six hours. The sales figures set a new record for fragrances on HSN.

Read the HSN press release here.

The perfume was developed by Carol's Daughter.

Carol's Daughter

Newsweek: Lay off the Layoffs

Newsweek discusses corporations love of Layoffs

Newsweek

NICE: National Health Service National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence

The UK's NHS has a department that evaluates the cost-effectiveness of treatments.


Official NICE site

Read about NICE here.

WP on Slow Hiring

Basically, slow consumer spending leads to slow hiring

You can read the Washington Post story here.

NPR on Affirmative Action

NPR story on Affirmative Action

Johnson Publishing Link

Link to Johnson Publishing

Desiree Rodgers will Run Johnson Publishing

Desiree Rodgers will Run Johnson Publishing

Putting Our Brains on Hold

Another great article from Bob Herbert who raises some college education issues. The issues are important in the larger context of jobs and employment. I am also worried about college boards self interest.

Read the editorial here.

The New Poor: Blacks in Memphis Lose Decades of Economic Gains

The New Poor: Blacks in Memphis Lose Decades of Economic Gains

New York Times covers the high home foreclosure rate in Memphis amount
Blacks. NYT

Senate refuses to pay for discrimination claims by Black Farmers

Black farmers still denied discrimination compensation

in the Network Journal

News Black businesses outpace national average

Network Journal

Atlantic City update

The star ledger reports a plan by New Jersey governor Christie to reform the Casino governance process and keep more money in Atlantic City. See the story here.

SBA loan programs for small business

A nice story on SBA lending

New York Times

Five East African Countries try to form a common market

Five East African Countries try to form a common market

New York Times

Companies pile up cash but remain hesitant to add jobs

Companies pile up cash but remain hesitant to add jobs

Washington Post

NAACP Economic Justice paper from convention

The NAACP released and excellent paper on two important issues related to economic justice: Unemployment and predatory lending. The unemployment topics covers discrimination again workers with criminal records and jobs not listed with government employment centers.

NAACP Economic Justice Paper

NAACP

NAACP stress the need for people of color to get a seat at the table of the emerging green economy

NAACP stress the need for people of color to get a seat at the table of the emerging green economy

NAACP

World Cup No Panacea for SAFrica's Economic Woes

World Cup No Panacea for SAFrica's Economic Woes
Associated Press

ABC News
Associated Press

Top Black Business Story

Lebron James signs with the Miami Heat for 6-years at a total pay of 110.1 million dollars.

WSJ
Miami Herald

New blog for Black Business, Finance and Economics links

New blog for Black Business, Finance and Economics links

I was have trouble find all of the news stories on Black Business and I looked around and could find no specific source. So, I guess that means it is time to create one. I was keeping track of the sources and links already, so a website just makes it easier.