Environmentally friendly ways to heat and cool buildings are becoming more popular as Americans seek to reduce their carbon footprint and, lessen the country’s dependence on foreign oil. Alternative energy solutions like solar power are usually more costly than conventional technologies. However, in many cases, adding solar or another alternative energy source to existing … [Read more...] about Going Green While Saving Green: How to reduce your energy costs
Archives for May 2009
Legislators Reconsider Medical Malpractice Bill
Those of us who lived in Nevada in 2002 remember when medical malpractice insurance premiums were so high that physicians were leaving Nevada in droves. Doctors refused to move here from other states, and high-risk specialists like obstetricians moved away or stopped delivering babies. The situation became so critical that the governor called an emergency legislative … [Read more...] about Legislators Reconsider Medical Malpractice Bill
At The Crossroads: Education faces tough road ahead
Public education in Nevada is again being threatened with slashes in funding – but there are two sides to every story. The recent budget spotlight is prompted by Governor Jim Gibbons’ proposed state budget, which has cut funding for public education. This follows two previous funding cuts that led to eliminated programs and staff layoffs. Now, additional services, classes … [Read more...] about At The Crossroads: Education faces tough road ahead
May 2009: Business Up Front
Federal Incomes Taxes Need Overhaul A new national survey commissioned by the Tax Foundation and conducted by Harris Interactive shows a majority of U.S. adults think that federal income taxes are “too high” (56%), while four in every five adults say the federal tax code is complex (85%) and say that the tax system needs to be completely overhauled (82%). Healthcare Costs … [Read more...] about May 2009: Business Up Front
Tourism: Resort Industry Suffers Downturn
Whether it is the snow of Lake Tahoe or the slots of Las Vegas, people have been coming to Nevada in record numbers for decades – up until 2009 that is. The economic recession has hit the Silver State with a vengeance. Hotel occupancy rates in Northern and Southern Nevada are seeing double-digit declines. The crown jewel, the convention industry, has also taken a big hit. … [Read more...] about Tourism: Resort Industry Suffers Downturn
Industry Focus: Society of Industrial and Office Realtors
Recently, more than a dozen SIOR (Society of Industrial and Office Realtors) commercial real estate executives gathered at the Las Vegas offices of Holland & Hart, LLP. The commercial real estate industry was among the hardest hit when the economy entered the current recession. The brokers discussed how business has changed, the increasing number of commercial … [Read more...] about Industry Focus: Society of Industrial and Office Realtors
May 2009: Around the State
Nevada Hospitals Among Nation’s Best Consumers’ Checkbook, a non-profit watchdog group, surveyed doctors from across the country asking them whether and where they recommend patients seek care in their own and other communities for difficult cases including complicated heart conditions, cancer and other unusual ailments. From 140,000 hospital ratings, the organization … [Read more...] about May 2009: Around the State
Protection From Mortgage Fraud And Scams
The “mortgage crisis” is now familiar to all Nevadans. As the mortgage crisis continues to unfold, record-breaking home foreclosures will be experienced and many homeowners will be forced to make tough choices. Nevada is number one in the nation for foreclosures, with one filing for every 70 households. Foreclosure scams are a statewide problem. Many people who never thought … [Read more...] about Protection From Mortgage Fraud And Scams
Architects: Designing Around Economic Turmoil
Survival Tactics Today’s construction climate in Nevada is a reverse from what has been seen in the past. Projects are fewer and farther between and every sector of commercial development has been affected in some way. Even so, some of the state’s top architectural firms are thriving despite it all. Public works projects have become much more prevalent and a backlog of work … [Read more...] about Architects: Designing Around Economic Turmoil
Finding Financial Solutions in a Challenging Environment
It is no secret that obtaining credit is especially challenging for businesses in this market of fewer lending sources and stricter requirements. In addition, finding new ways to maximize the efficiency of cash flow is more important than ever. If a business owner is considering a new loan, a key factor is taking the time for thorough preparation and documentation. Include … [Read more...] about Finding Financial Solutions in a Challenging Environment
Renewable Energy: Sporadic And Costly
Renewable energy is all the rage in the halls of Congress and the Nevada Legislature. Lawmakers are pushing for higher and higher production quotas for the centrally planned electric utility industry. They would require government-controlled electric utility monopolies to produce greater shares of electricity through renewable energy sources such as wind or solar power. The … [Read more...] about Renewable Energy: Sporadic And Costly
Industrial Summary: Fourth Quarter 2008
Las Vegas The Las Vegas Valley industrial market continued its expansion, reaching 102.4 million square feet by the close of 2008. Inventory levels grew by 1.2 million square feet as a number of projects completed construction during the quarter, resulting in an annual expansion of 5.2 million square feet. The market’s expansion fell short of the 2007 new supply total of 7.2 … [Read more...] about Industrial Summary: Fourth Quarter 2008
May 2009: Business Indicators
The lyrics of Francis Paul Webster and the haunting melody of Maurice Jarre’s soundtrack from “Doctor Zhivago” say it best. It puts you in the right frame for seeing a way forward from the current economic travail. Yes, we find ourselves in an economic winter, but we will see an economic recovery, perhaps earlier, but hopefully by spring 2010. Hope will first appear in … [Read more...] about May 2009: Business Indicators
How has the social networking trend affected your business?
Dr. Darren Soong, Partner, The Gastric Band Institute, Las Vegas We recently added a blog to our website and started posting videos of our patients’ success stories on YouTube. Although these new tactics have not replaced our involvement with traditional media, it definitely has become an essential enhancement to our program. Holly Silvestri, Principal, The Ferraro Group, Las … [Read more...] about How has the social networking trend affected your business?
Reno Looks to the Future
Downtown Reno Remains “The Biggest Little City” Since Myron Lake built the first permanent bridge over the Truckee River on South Virginia Street in the 1860s, the heart and soul of Reno has remained in its downtown area. From its humble beginnings as a rough and ready trading center, the core of the “Biggest Little City” has survived the shifts of growth and change that at … [Read more...] about Reno Looks to the Future