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Will 'Amnesty' Sink McCain?
The perennial controversy over what to call McCain's amnesty is silly. Every program in the world that has allowed illegal immigrants to stay has been called an "amnesty." McCain himself called it "amnesty" as recently as May 2003, when he told the Tucson Citizen "I think we can set up a program where amnesty is extended to a certain number of people who are eligible … Amnesty has to be an important part ..." But once the focus-group results were in, "amnesty" became a four-letter word. ...[snip] Real Straight Talk would be to say "Sure, it's an amnesty, but we don't really have any choice" ... P.S.: The McCain, post-focus-group argument is that it can't be "amnesty" if it has some requirements--e.g., to pay a fine, learn English, etc. But it turns out that Ronald Reagan's 1986 "comprehensive" reform, which he and everyone else called an "amnesty," had requirements too, including payment of fees.
School districts finding a new way to save money: Outsource finances
Most of the day-to-day operation of the Brooklyn Center School District hums around its district offices just off Interstate 94. But the bulk of the number-crunching may be happening in Rochester, or in a home office elsewhere in the metro area. Brooklyn Center, Fridley and Columbia Heights are among a handful of smaller districts and charter schools around the state that are outsourcing all or part of their financial management to a private company, School Management Services, based in Rochester. It's a trend that may reflect a shortage of qualified school professionals, as baby boomers retire, said Sue Crockett, executive director of the Minnesota Association of School Business Professionals. And as school finance specialists become more in-demand, they become harder for small districts to attract and retain.
EDITOR'S CHOICE
BOLTON Wanderers are banking on new boss Gary Megson delivering results that will lift them clear of the relegation zone and ease growing concerns over a dramatic drop in attendances. Crowd figures at the Reebok have slumped to a record low as the Whites have struggled at the wrong end of the Premiership. And, while they are considering a range of incentives to boost gates, they don't expect any significant improvement until the team starts climbing the table. "The stark reality is that the club is struggling on the pitch," commercial director, Gareth Moores, said. .
BBC in private equity talks
Amazon is to bow out of DVD rentals and throw its weight behind Lovefilm, the leading European specialist,. Amazon is to transfer its subscribers and inject some cash to Lovefilm in exchange for a stake believed to be about 30 per cent of the company and valued at about £60 million (E80m) to £70 million.
Simon Calver, chief executive of Lovefilm, said the arrival of Amazon as the single biggest shareholder did not mean an end to plans for an eventual initial public offering or buy-out of the business. "This puts those options more firmly on the table than before," he said. Lovefilm, which hired Goldman Sachs in December 2006 to explore its strategic options, is backed by Arts Alliance Media, Index Ventures, Balderton Capital and DFJ Esprit. Amazon will offer Lovefilms rental service via its own websites in the UK and Germany and provide marketing support.
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