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Colorado business confidence remains positive going into first quarter, says CU Leeds School index
Jan 2nd
Colorado business leaders’ optimism is modest going into the first quarter of 2013 with uncertainty surrounding the country’s political and economic environments, according to the most recent quarterly Leeds Business Confidence Index, or LBCI, released today by the University of Colorado Boulder’s Leeds School of Business.
For the first quarter of 2013 the LBCI, conducted by the Leeds School’s Business Research Division, posted an overall confidence reading of 51.3, down slightly from 51.6 in the fourth quarter of 2012. A reading greater than the neutral mark of 50 indicates positive expectations and one less than 50 indicates negative expectations going forward
Business leaders are optimistic about all of the metrics of the quarterly index except for the national economy and industry hiring plans. The other categories measured include the state economy, industry sales, industry profits and capital expenditures.
“For months, drags on the national economy have included the European debt crisis, the slow rate of employment growth and the resolution of the federal debt crisis,” said economist Richard Wobbekind, executive director of the Business Research Division. “While Colorado business leaders have stronger confidence in the local economy than the national economy, they’re proceeding very cautiously.”
Confidence in the state economy, which is at 55.5 points for the first quarter of 2013, outstrips that of the national economy, which posted a reading of 47. The outpacing of confidence in Colorado’s economy compared to the national economy is a 30-quarter trend, based on LBCI results.
Business leaders’ sales expectations for the first quarter rose to 54.4, up from 53.2 last quarter, and are buoyed by 44.1 percent of LBCI respondents who anticipate an increase in the first quarter versus only 25.2 percent who predict a decline. Meanwhile, leaders’ profit expectations fell to 51.6, down from 52.2 for the last quarter of 2012.
Hiring expectations have slipped into negative territory at 49.3, down from 51 in the last quarter of 2012, while capital expenditures remain close to neutral at 50.1.
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Free, expanded bus services to provide safe transportation New Year’s Eve
Dec 28th
The City of Boulder, University of Colorado Student Union, RTD and Via encourage New Year’s Eve revelers to take advantage of:
· free HOP bus service from 7 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 31, 2012, until midnight on Tuesday, Jan.1, 2013;
· free Buff Bus, Black, Gold and Silver Line Late Night Transit bus service from midnight until 3 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan.1, 2013; and
· free RTD bus services, including the SKIP, JUMP, BOUND, DASH, BOLT and SkyRide routes, from 7 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 31, 2012, until 6 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2013.
Hop abord if you’ve been drinking
In addition to the free bus services that are being offered, the University of Colorado Buff Bus and Late Night Transit services will expand coverage to larger areas of the city. The Buff Bus will provide service on Broadway south to Greenbriar Boulevard, on Baseline Road east to 30th Street, and on 30th Street north to Arapahoe Avenue. The Silver Line will extend service on Broadway north to Iris Avenue. The Black Line will extend service on Moorhead Avenue south to Table Mesa Drive. The Gold Line will extend service from areas east of downtown to 30th Street between Arapahoe and Iris avenues. These expanded bus services will allow passengers to safely access most areas of Boulder while celebrating the New Year. Passengers do not have to be University of Colorado students to ride and may ask any bus driver for information if they are unsure about which bus route to take.
The HOP bus and all RTD bus services will operate on the regular weekday schedule on New Year’s Eve and on a holiday schedule on New Year’s Day. The normal weekday services will return on Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2013.
For more information about the free HOP and Late Night Transit bus services, call Via at 303-447-8282 or visit www.viacolorado.org. For bus route maps, fares, schedules and other information, visit www.rtd-denver.com and www.goboulder.net.
For real-time arrival and departure information for the HOP bus, visit www.nextbus.com.
Police looking for six suspects in burglary, criminal mischief at former fraternity house
Dec 28th
Boulder police are looking for six male suspects who caused extensive damage to the former Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity house, located at 1101 University, in the early-morning hours of November 17, 2012.
Video surveillance captured images of the six suspects throwing rocks and breaking windows while standing outside the former fraternity house, before pushing a table against a wall to gain entry into a room on the second floor. Once inside, the suspects kicked in a wall and set off a fire extinguisher and caused additional damage.
Damage is estimated to be around $70,000. The building is currently vacant.
A white female was seen with the suspects outside the building, but she was not seen entering.
Police are looking for any information that would help identify the suspects. Photos from the surveillance video are attached. The suspects appear to be white males, between 18 and 25 years old. (You can see more photos by clicking here).
The case number is 12-15840.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Kipp Euler at 303-441-3393. Those who have information but wish to remain anonymous may contact the Northern Colorado Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or 1-800-444-3776. Tips can also be submitted through the Crime Stoppers website at www.crimeshurt.com. Those submitting tips through Crime Stoppers that lead to the arrest and filing of charges on a suspect(s) may be eligible for a cash reward of up to $1,000 from Crime Stoppers.
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