Baltimore Checkbook

Hidden force behind oil's rise: sabotage by...

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Oil prices have surged on hopes of a freeze in global production. But a more hidden factor is also fueling the price spike: terror attacks on oil facilities.



from http://www.wbaltv.com/money/hidden-force-behind-oils-rise-sabotage-by-terrorists/38743584

Stephanie Rawlings-Blake named top mayor on...

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Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake has named the country’s top mayor on Twitter. The list, “The Tweet Elite: 25 Mayors Who Have Mastered Twitter”, was released Tuesday by marketing firm Development Counsellors International. The report looked at the Twitter accounts of mayors in the 250 biggest cities in terms of audience, number of tweets and engagement with the audience, among other metrics. The firm evaluated their Twitter activity over a 60 day period from Jan. 1-Feb. 29. Rawlings-Blake tweets…

Light City director: Opening night gave Baltimore...

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For organizers of Light City Baltimore, the opening events couldn’t have gone any better. Festival Director Kathy Hornig said Monday night’s kickoff event, the Creative Alliance’s Lantern Parade was “glorious” and a “dream come true” for Hornig, who for the last 18 months has been helping to plan the week-long events of light installations, conferences and concerts. “It turned out so much better than I could have imagined,” Hornig said. “It was like we gave Baltimore the big hug that it needed.” Speaking…

South Moon Under wants to expand to 'national...

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South Moon Under has ambitious plans for growth after a Columbia private equity firm purchased a majority stake in the contemporary fashion retailer, bringing in former leaders from White House/Black Market as new management. JPB Capital Partners purchased a majority share of South Moon Under, headquartered in Berlin on the Eastern Shore, the private-equity firm announced Tuesday. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but it includes stakes taken by executives who helmed White House/Black Market…

Russia raises minimum wage by 20%

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Russians are finally getting some good news: minimum wage is going up by 20%.



from http://www.wbaltv.com/money/russia-raises-minimum-wage-by-20/38744190

Janet Yellen: Global 'risks' could hurt U.S....

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Janet Yellen feels good about America’s economy but sees risks rising overseas.



from http://www.wbaltv.com/money/janet-yellen-global-risks-could-hurt-us-economy/38745626

Owings Mills Mall remnants — from escalators to...

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Going, going, gone. That’s soon to be the status of the remnants of the Owings Mills Mall after a scheduled online auction is held to get rid of much of the development’s guts and (former) glory. The mall, which closed last fall, was once home to 155 tenants and a food court. Included in the items up for auctionare lamp posts, wooden and concrete benches, passenger and freight elevators, drinking fountains, escalators, customer service counters, fitting rooms and a Dyson turbo restroom hand dryers. Even…

​Analysts caution Marriott on going too much...

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Wall Street analysts don’t expect Marriott International Inc. to go too much higher in its bid to buy Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc., after Chinese insurer Anbang increased its offer for the company to $82.75 in cash per share Monday. Marriott reaffirmed its commitment to merging with Starwood in a statement Monday. Both of the Bethesda-based hotelier’s offers for Starwood have been rooted more in its stock than cash: Marriott’s second offer attached $21 in cash per Starwood share…

Bloomberg, others give $125M to Johns Hopkins for...

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Johns Hopkins is launching an immunotherapy center for cancer research with a $125 million gift from longtime Hopkins donors Michael R. Bloomberg and Sidney Kimmel, along with other donors. Hopkins announced the new Bloomberg-Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy Tuesday and later today will hold a formal announcement with Hopkins leadership, former New York City Mayor and Hopkins alum Bloomberg, and Vice President Joe Biden. Biden, whose son Beau died of brain cancer in 2015, famously called…

McCormick earnings outpace estimates as Premier...

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Rising sales fueled an increase in first-quarter profitability at McCormick & Co. Inc., helping the spice giant beat analysts’ estimates in earnings released Tuesday, just days after attempts to take over a British food heavyweight became public. Sparks-based McCormick (NYSE: MKC) posted net income of $93.4 million, or 73 cents per share, for its first quarter ending Feb. 29. Earnings were up 32 percent from $70.5 million, or 55 cents per share, in the same quarter a year ago, when McCormick took…