Saturday, November 3, 2012
LITTLE ROCK — QUOTE OF THE DAY
“In an industry where reputation is so important, this will undoubtedly give both carmakers ugly black eyes.” John O’Dell, an editor for auto research firm Edmunds.com on Hyundai and Kia gas-mileage claims Article, 1D
Wal-Mart to add more self-checkouts
ATLANTA - Wal-Mart says it will add 10,000 self checkout devices at 1,200 stores. The company already has self-checkouts in 1,800 of its 3,900 stores.
NCR, the technology company from Duluth, Ga., that is selling the devices to Wal-Mart, expects that the large contract will mean other retailers that have been slow to jump on the bandwagon will be inclined to follow.
Richa Gupta, a bar-code analyst with VDC Research Group, said self-checkout allows customers to feel as though they’re in full control of their shopping experience. Though Wal-Mart and NCR did not disclose the terms of the deal, self-checkout devices usually cost between $12,000 and $24,000 each, she said.
Self-checkout, which has been around in the United States for more than a decade, is taking off globally, said Scott Kingsfield, NCR Retail’s senior vice president and general manager. NCR is seeing continued acceptance, and a number of retailers - in addition to Wal-Mart- are expanding their self-checkout offerings, he said.
Home Depot continues to upgrade the devices, spokesman Stephen Holmes said, and moved to faster software in 2010. It upgrades hardware annually in phases. Kroger is adding more self-checkout devices in its new stores, and customers often prefer to handle their own groceries, spokesman Lori Smith said.
Arizonan denied bail in fraud case
FAYETTEVILLE - An Arizona resident was denied bail Thursday on a wire-fraud charge during a detention hearing before U.S. Magistrate Judge Erin Setser, according to a U.S. Department of Justice news release.
Michael Columbia, 27, is accused of a scheme to obtain money through fraudulent misrepresentation. An indictment alleges Columbia used his investment company to defraud a customer of about $1 million.
The indictment accuses Columbia of accepting a bond from a customer as collateral to obtain a loan and then selling the bond without the customer’s knowledge and pocketing a portion of the proceeds.
The indictment also seeks forfeiture of any property that was used to facilitate the offense or any proceeds gained. If convicted, Columbia faces up to 30 years in prison and up to $1 million in fines.
Columbia pleaded not guilty on Oct. 16. A jury trial is scheduled for Dec. 3.
The case was investigated by the FBI and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven Snyder.
Nominees sought for agriculture honor
The Arkansas Agriculture Hall of Fame selection committee is seeking nominees for induction into its 2012 class.
Established 25 years ago, the Agriculture Hall of Fame recognizes Arkansans who are contributing or who have contributed significantly to the state’s largest industry.
The public has until Friday to nominate or renominate candidates.
“A large part of Arkansas’ economy is centered on the great men and women of agriculture,” said Hall of Fame Chairman Cal McCastlain. “It is a worthy cause to recognize the men and women who have dedicated their lives to bettering agriculture in our state.”
Sponsored by the Arkansas Farm Bureau and the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce, the Hall of Fame exhibit, showcasing the accomplishments of 131 men and women, is housed at the Farm Bureau Center, at 10720 Kanis Road in Little Rock.
More information about the Hall of Fame and nomination forms are available by e-mailing [email protected] or by contacting MaLeta Stephens at (501) 228-1470.
The induction ceremony will be March 8 in Little Rock.
Weekly count of oil, gas rigs falls 26
HOUSTON - The number of rigs actively exploring for oil and natural gas in the U.S. dropped this week by 26 to 1,800.
Texas-based oil-field services company Baker Hughes Inc. reported Friday that 1,373 rigs were exploring for oil and 424 were searching for gas. Three were listed as miscellaneous. A year ago, Baker Hughes listed 2,026 rigs.
Of the major oil- and gas-producing states, Texas dropped 20 rigs, Colorado lost seven, North Dakota decreased by six, Alaska and California each lost two, while New Mexico decreased by one. Oklahoma added six rigs, while Arkansas, Louisiana, West Virginia and Wyoming each gained one each. Pennsylvania remained unchanged.
The rig count peaked at 4,530 in 1981 and bottomed at 488 in 1999.
Fakers told to pay Coach $257 million
Coach Inc., the largest U.S. luxury handbag maker, said it won a $257 million default judgment in a lawsuit against businesses that operate websites selling counterfeit merchandise.
The judgment also awards Coach ownership of 573 Internet domain names, the company said Friday in a statement. The docket in the case, filed in federal court in Chicago, shows that the decision was rendered Oct. 15.
“This judgment should serve as a warning to everyone involved in any aspect of trafficking in counterfeit goods that Coach will find you and will seek to impose the harshest penalties available against you,” Coach’s general counsel, Todd Kahn, said in the statement.
The judgment is the latest victory in Coach’s anti-counterfeiting campaign, known as “Operation Turnlock,” the company said. Since the program’s inception in 2009, Coach has obtained monetary awards against manufacturers, wholesalers, flea-market operators and other links in the counterfeit-distribution chain, the New York-based company said.
The case is Coach Inc. v. Does 1-573, 12-cv-01514, U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois (Chicago).
Business, Pages 30 on 11/03/2012