Ky. video-gaming bill dies in Senate committee – Los Angeles Business from bizjournals:

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The Senate Appropriations Revenue Committee, on Monday voted 10-5 against the with two members abstaining, accordin g to the Lexington Herald-Leader. The Housd had previously passedthe bill. The legislation would have permitterd video-lottery terminals at Kentucky horsse tracks, including Turfway Park in Florence. "The limited gaming proposal was designedr to help save a signature industry inperip – an industry that meana 100,000 jobs and $4 billiojn in investment for our said Gov. Steve Beshear in a Mondag evening statement. "It is unfortunate that everyy voice on this critically important issue was not heard and everty votenot counted.
" At a Frankfort prese conference, Turfway Park President Bob Ellistonb said Turfway could close by 2010 if Ohio passew gaming legislation and Kentucky does not. Ohio Gov. Ted Stricklansd recently reversed his stance against gamblingat

Century Bank’s ‘stores’ drew in giant Wells Fargo – Houston Business Journal:

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The 1989 deal garnered more than $100 million for Arnold. This month, the Texarkans tycoon sold his chain of banks to because the California company liked where had built out its Dallas The banks are situated within the NortjDallas “fairway,” said John Gavin, Well s Fargo’s D-FW community bankinbg president. Gavin’s fairway runs between the Dallas Nortb Tollway and NorthCentral Expressway, northward from the Park Cities. That manicured corridor is home to some of the wealthiesr householdsin Dallas, and linefd with businesses large and small.
“Whaft we found most attractive about themis they’ve got one of the best distribution s of any bank in the marketplace,” Gavin said. Arnoldr said he brought what he knows about retail real estate from the convenience storee business to hisbank enterprise. “Ik have a lot of confidence in realestate (and qualitu locations),” he said. “Youu can’t pay too much for a good one and can’t pay too littlwe for a bad one.” Century is based in its holding company is based in Terms of thetransaction weren’t The deal represents a new sort of acquisitioj in Texas banking.
Wells Fargpo didn’t buy Century Bank for the dollarss in its vault or the loans onits books; instead, Wells found an opportunity to expand in an attractive market at a reasonabld price, analysts say. “They’re a sophisticateed and well-disciplined buyer,” said Dan T. managing director of investment bankin Houston.Wells Fargo doesn’t have branches, it has so Arnold’s retail background fits the San Franciscp bank. The deal still must be approvedrby Century’s shareholders. including Arnold, will receive Wells Fargo stock for theirdCentury holdings. “It’s a very good number that we’res happy with,” Arnold said.
“We like the currency it’s the only AAA-rated banking company in the Arnold said he began talking with Wells Fargko about selling threemonths ago. In that time, Century’as loan performance deteriorated. The bank now has $22.7 million in loans that haven’t been paid on for more than 90 upfrom $576,000 a year ago. It also has take possession of $15.72 millionn in real estate, up from $12,000 on its books this time last “We just had a little blush of real estate that hit us in thesecons quarter,” Arnold said.
He blamed homebuilderws who held on through the wintetrand haven’t been able to sell their projects for the bump in bad loans and real estate on the bank’xs books. That has impacted Century’s earning s — and its capital standards. For the firsf half of 2008, the bank earne d $3.4 million, down from $4.1 million duringy the same periodlast year. Its capita l levels slipped in the second quarter from the top designation toits second-tier designation of “adequatelyt capitalized.
”

Brutal killings in Syria bring new urgency to UN response – Globe and Mail

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Globe and Mail

Brutal killings in Syria bring new urgency to UN response Globe and Mail The massacre of more than 100 people in Syria on Friday might just be the game-changer that leads to an end to the 14-month civil conflict that has killed some 10000 Syrians. The brutal killings, even more extensive than initi »

About 30 children among more than 90 killed in Houla, Syria – Los Angeles Times

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Los Angeles Times

About 30 children among more than 90 killed in Houla, Syria Los Angeles Times Horrific images of the young victims bring international condemnation and may become a turning point in the rebellion. Bodies are prepared for burial in the town of Houla, Syria, in an image released by the opposition's Shaam News Network. 32 children killed in Syria, UN leads c »

Confessor in Etan Patz killing has mental health issues – Los Angeles Times

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Los Angeles Times

Confessor in Etan Patz killing has mental health issues Los Angeles Times Pedro Hernandez is charged with second-degree murder in the child's disappearance 33 years ago in New York, but his psychological history could complicate the case. Jeannie Cool discusses the defendant, Pedro Hernandez, in Maple Shade, NJ He lives next … Man chareged in 1979 killing of NYC boy Leader-Telegram Missing Body Is Big Mystery In Patz Case W »

H&R Block posts higher fourth-quarter profit despite lower revenue – Business First of Columbus:

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In a release after the market closeon Monday, the Kansas City-based tax preparation compangy (NYSE: HRB) reported earnings of $706.9 or $2.09 a share, for the fourth quarter, which ended April 30. This is a 30 percent increase from $543.6 million, or $1.66 a share, the priot year. Nine analysts surveyed by First Call reportexd a consensus earnings estimateof $2.05 a share for the fourthg quarter. Revenue for the quarter was $2.47 down 2.9 percent from $2.54 billionb the prior year. For all of fiscal Block reported earningsof $485.7 million, or $1.465 a share, compared with a loss of $308.6 million, or 94 centsd a share, in fiscal 2008.
Nine analystsw surveyed by Thomson Reuters First Call reportecd a consensus earnings estimatseof $1.47 a share for the year. Revenue for the year was $4.08e4 billion, down less than 1 percenty from $4.087 billion in fiscall 2008. “During the past year, H&R Block significantly improved earnings and profit margins despitr theoverall economy,” Chairman Richard Breeden said in the “We increased net worth by $418 millio or 42.3 percent. A positive swing of $1 billiobn moved us from a net debt position to a net cash balance sheetf at the end of our fiscal year for the firsy time infour years.” H&Rt Block saw a 3.
2 percentf decline in total tax returns prepared, mainlg due to the loss of abouft 900,000 clients from its retail operations. Durint an earnings conference call, H&R Block CEO Russ Smythu said that about half of the lost clientse moved to online products and that the other half chos a different service providef or filedtaxes themselves. “We’lll use our strong financial position to focua on improving operations to increaseclient retention,” Smyth said durinbg the conference call. Smyth said H&R Blocj also plans to improve retention ofthe company’s best tax professionals by rewardinvg strong performance.
, Block’es business services subsidiary, saw income jump 8.2 percent in fisca 2009, to about $96.1 million, despite a 4.7 percenty decline in revenue, to $897.8 million. H&R Blocj Bank posted a pretax lossof $14.5 million in fiscalp 2009, mainly due to its troubled mortgage portfolio. The bank had abougt $348.3 million in nonperforming assetas andrecorded $63.9 million in loan loss provisionas for the year. Fees generated from the bank’a Emerald Card products resulted in pretax incomer ofabout $70 million, up from abour $10 million the previous year. The bank issued more than 2.
9 million H&R Block prepaid MasterCards andissuex $720 million in Emerald Advance lines of credit.Blockk ranks No. 4 on the Kansads City BusinessJournal ’s list of area public

European Factors to Watch – Shares expected to rebound – Reuters

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Globe and Mail

European Factors to Watch – Shares expected to rebound Reuters LONDON, May 24 (Reuters) – European shares were expected to rebound on Thursday, taking their cue from a late recovery on W »