Navy orders $422M worth of missiles from Raytheon
U.S. Naval Sea Systems Command awarded Raytheon Missile Systems a $422 million production contract for its Standard Missile-2 to be used by the U.S. Navy, Taiwan, the Republic of Korea and Japan.
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SM-2 has been the U.S. Navy’s primary surface-to-air fleet defense weapon for more than three decades. It is capable of engaging anti-ship cruise missiles, fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters. The latest versions of the missile feature improved guidance software.
Raytheon gets $5.7M contract for missile software upgrages
Raytheon Missile Systems was awarded a $5.7 million contract from the Air Combat Command to upgrade software on TV-guided Maverick air-to-surface missiles.
“The software retrofit improves pilots’ ability to visually identify and engage distant targets,” said Col. Eric Theisen, division chief for the Air Combat Command’s Advanced Programs.
UTILITIES/ENERGY
TEP’s parent reports $11M quarterly loss
Tucson Electric Power’s parent, Tucson-based UniSource Energy Corp., reported it had a net loss of $11 million for the third quarter, largely due to it having to defer $30 million in revenue it collected as part of its pending rate increase.
Through the first nine months of the year, UniSource Energy reported a net loss of $9 million compared with net income of $42 million for the same period in 2007.
“A number of factors unrelated to UniSource Energy’s long-term prospects combined to drag down our results during the third quarter,” said James S. Pignatelli, chairman, president CEO of UniSource. “The proposed settlement of TEP’s rate case will provide the company with a solid foundation for the future.”
An administrative law judge last month recommended approval of a settlement agreement granting TEP a 6-percent base rate increase plus a new charge to recover fuel and purchased power costs. Based on current market prices, the charge for fuel and purchased power costs could increase average residential customers’ bills by 3 percent to 4 percent. The recommendation is for the new rates to take effect Dec. 1.
The proposed settlement agreement would be TEP’s first rate increase since 1996.
SMALL BUSINESS
SCORE starts podcasts for small businesses
In an effort to help start-up entrepreneurs and small business owners, SCORE launched a program of podcasts called the Small Business Success Podcast Series.
Each month, two new podcasts will be added, one for www.score.org and one for www.score.org/women.
Each podcast is available as an audio broadcast online. A SCORE expert or guest expert will offer tips and advice about a business issue for approximately seven minutes. Past podcasts will be available on archive pages at each website.
Topics for future podcasts include: branding; networking; home business; solo entrepreneurship; social networking; sales growth; franchising; volunteerism; and mentoring.
TRANSPORTATION
Thornydale widening done Nov. 22, ahead of schedule
Marana’s widening of Thornydale Road from Orange Grove Road to the Cañada del Oro Wash is going to be finished before Thanksgiving — five months ahead of schedule.
A grand reopening of the six-lane divided roadway is planned for Nov. 22.
The $20 million widening project began in November 2007 and was originally planned to be completed in the spring.
The project includes widening and reconstructing the intersection at Orange Grove Road plus the addition of turn lanes, drainage improvements, landscaping and construction of retaining and noise walls.
After Nov. 22, the town says the only thing left to do will be some minor finishing and landscaping work, which should not affect traffic during the holiday season.
RETAIL
Tucson stores escape Circuit City closures
Electronics retailer Circuit City is closing 155 of its 721 stores — including all 13 stores in the Phoenix market — in an effort to cut costs and stave off bankruptcy. The company’s two Tucson stores and one in Yuma will be the only locations left open in Arizona.
Liquidation sales at the Phoenix stores started Nov. 5.
“We evaluated our stores…and elected to close those that were underperforming or were no longer a strategic fit for the company,” said Jessica Clarke, an investor relations spokeswoman. “It’s pretty much cut and dried at this point,” she said adding that the Tucson locations were performing to the company’s expectations.
Circuit City’s Tucson stores are at 5530 E. Broadway and 4380 N. Oracle Road.
ENTERTAINMENT/SPORTS
Cox, La Frontera work to revive Mariachi Festival
Cox Communications’ leadership and La Frontera Center are partnering to revive the International Mariachi Festival through a nearly $500,000 infusion of cash and in-kind support.
The International Mariachi Conference is La Frontera Center’s primary annual fundraiser, but has seen tough economic times and a lack of community participation in recent years.
“The Tucson International Mariachi Conference is a world-class event and we needed a world-class communications and marketing partner to bring it to the next level,” said Daniel Ranieri, President of La Frontera Center.
Each year approximately 900 students come from all over the country to learn from the masters of mariachi and folklórico dance.
“The Mariachi Conference is second to none in terms of educating our youth about this style of music and its cultural significance. And now, with the help of Cox, we will carry that message to new audiences and new communities,” said Tim Escobedo, President of the Mariachi Conference Board.
Lisa Lovallo, a native Tucsonan and Vice President and System Manager for Cox, credits the Mariachi Conference for fostering a nation-wide interest in the culture, language and music of Southern Arizona.
“We see this as an amazing opportunity to bring the important pillars of the Southern Arizona community – the private sector, government, non-profit community and citizens – together toward a sustainable partnership,” she said.
The festival is a four-day event held each April. Since its inception in 1982, the conference has helped raise $3.5 million for La Frontera Center, which provides social services to needy Tucsonans.
Cox Communications will bring the Mariachi Festival to a statewide audience beginning in early 2009 through Cox, Cox Media and Cox Channel 7.
WGC-Accenture Match Play tickets are now on sale
Tickets are on sale for the World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship featuring the world’s top 64 professional golfers playing Feb. 23 to March 1 at the new Jack Nicklaus-designed Ritz-Carlton Golf Club at Dove Mountain.
Ticket prices start at $25 a day for the Monday and Tuesday practice rounds or $45 for both days. Tickets for each of the first three days of play — Wednesday, Thursday and Friday — are $45 each or $120 for all three days. There are no individual day tickets available for Saturday or Sunday, except there are limited number of Monday through Sunday tickets available for $175 each.
Hospitality packages are also available.
Tickets can be ordered online at www.worldgolfchampionships.com or (520) 571-0400 or toll-free at 1-866-942-2672.
State’s casino revenues fall 9.5% to $25 million
Arizona’s tribal-run casinos saw a 9.5 percent drop in business during the third quarter, according to the Arizona Department of Gaming.
The 22 casinos sent almost $25 million to the state during the quarter, down from almost $28 million for the same quarter a year ago. The casinos send between 1 and 8 percent of their revenue to the state which uses it for education, tourism, conservation and gambling education.
ARCHITECTURE & DESIGN
GLHN selected to do $25M project at NAU
GLHN Architects and Engineers Inc. has been selected by Northern Arizona University to do architectural and engineering work for a $25 million project to replace and upgrade utility and mechanical systems on the university’s north campus in Flagstaff.
The project is expected to be completed in December 2010.
GLHN, 2939 E. Broadway, has done more than $100 million in utility infrastructure and building projects for NAU since 1983.
HEALTH CARE
Children’s Medical Center remodels, expands clinic
Children’s Medical Center, a privately owned independent pediatric care clinic at 5861 N. Oracle Road, has completed a 3,200 square-foot expansion and renovation, increasing the facility’s size to 8,000 square feet.
The center, which has been in operation since 1980, offers a full range of pediatric medical care, including front-line care for sick children, as well as baby and child exams, vaccinations, and sports and school physicals.
Carondelet hospitals recognized for care
Carondelet Health Network’s St. Mary’s and St. Joseph’s hospitals and the Tucson Heart Hospital are Southern Arizona’s first accredited chest pain centers by the Society of Chest Pain Centers, an international nonprofit working to improve care for patients with acute coronary syndromes and acute heart failure.
Both St. Mary’s and St. Joseph’s hospitals were also recognized by the American Heart Association for their performances in treating cardiac and stroke patients using a quality-improvement program following the most up-to-date guidelines and recommendations.
United Healthcare grants $100,000 to UPH program
University Physicians Hospital has received a $100,000 grant from United Healthcare to help support its graduate medical education program.
The grant will provide teleconferencing for educating physicians in the residency programs at the hospital and will enable residents participating in rotations at rural locations to participate in grand rounds and supplemental training taking place at either University Physicians Hospital or the University of Arizona.
UA medical team provides care to Honduran town
After learning about health problems in La Guacamaya, Honduras, a group of students, a physician and nurse volunteers from the University of Arizona School of Medicine joined Seattle-based Salud Juntos to form a “health brigade” and spend five weeks this summer doing health screenings and educating community lay workers who will continue to educate the community.
Led by Dr. Mindy Fain, co-director of the Arizona Center on Aging, the team learned through a friend of Dr. Fain’s daughter traveling in Honduras that vision care was needed, dental hygiene was nonexistent and a rarely used clinic sat in the middle of the rural village.
Then 11 UA volunteers saw more than 1,000 patients during their five-week summer visit.
GOVERNMENT
City Procurement wins two national awards
The City of Tucson’s Department of Procurement received two national awards — the Achievement of Excellence in Procurement Award and the Outstanding Agency Accreditation Achievement Award
It is one of only six agencies across the country that has won the Achievement of Excellence Award from the National Purchasing Institute.
The second award came from the National Institute of Governmental Purchasing which recognizes best practices. Only 92 agencies in North America have received the accreditation award, which is valid for three years.
EDUCATION
Visual arts high school now open to everyone
The Museum School for the Visual Arts is the new name for what was called ArtWorks Academy.
With the name change, the school, housed at the Tucson Museum of Art, 140 N. Main Ave., opens its doors to all high school students who are interested in the visual arts. Formerly, the alternative education high school was open only to at-risk youth through a program administered by the Arts Council and Tucson Unified School District.
Trico Coop has college scholarships for customers
Trico Electric Cooperative has college scholarship money to give students in their service area for the 2009-2010 school year.
Winners are chosen on the basis of scholastic standing, participation in extracurricular activities, volunteerism, leadership and special circumstances, including financial need.
Scholarships are available for $4,600 for students attending a four-year college and $1,840 for students attending a two-year college.
Application information is online at www.trico.coop.
ENVIRONMENT
Starr Pass certified as Audubon sanctuary
The JW Marriott Starr Pass Golf Club has been designated a certified Audubon cooperative sanctuary for golf courses.
The certification from Audubon International, is a result of Starr Pass demonstrating its environmental planning, wildlife and habitat management, chemical use reduction and water conservation.
KUDOS
New Beginnings receives accredition award
New Beginnings Treatment Center Inc. received an accreditation award from the American Correctional Association for its juvenile facilities.
This award is given to facilities meeting and excelling performance standards in the criminal justice industry.
New Beginnings’ administrative offices are at 231 Giaconda Way, Suite 103. Information is online at www.nbtcinc.com.
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