Business

2 Utah private schools facing accreditation loss

Submitted by Associated Press on Friday, December 3rd, 3:11 pm

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- Utah state school trustees are due to consider the accreditation fate of two private schools, and to review the status of four public high schools.

The Utah Board of Education is expected Friday to decide whether the John Locke Academy and the School for Autistic Healing should lose accreditation.

The two schools are separate but have the same principal. Both are appealing the recommendations.

Accreditation is based on factors including curriculum, counselor-to-student ratio and assessment.

State accreditation specialist Georgia Loutensock says Bingham, Kearns and Timpanogos public high schools are on "advised" status for having teachers with excessive student loads.

American Leadership Academy charter school in Spanish Fork made the advised list due to under-qualified personnel and a late report.

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American First Shred Fest

Submitted by Max Calise on Thursday, December 2nd, 12:43 pm

The following is a press release from America first Credit Union:

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LDS church upgrades website for central faith

Submitted by Associated Press on Wednesday, November 24th, 3:52 pm

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- Mormon church officials are launching a major upgrade to the faith's website.

The upgrade to the site for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is launching to all users next week after three months of beta tests.

Website director Lee Gibbons says the new site's design is meant to be more warm and inviting, and include many images, videos and articles.

One new feature includes the ability for users to highlight and take notes on scriptures and other study materials.

The site also gives church leaders access to calendars, handbooks and other administrative tools.

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Better Business Bureau warns consumers about layaway dangers

Submitted by Max Calise on Monday, November 22nd, 12:22 pm

The following is a press release from The Better Business Bureau:

The BBB has noted an increase in consumers complaining about layaway plans and has these tips for consumers as they rush into the gift buying season.
Layaway has become increasingly popular with the challenging economic times. However, putting an item on layaway may result in a loss of money or the item if you don't read the contract carefully.
The BBB has received hundreds of complaints in the last year from consumers whose layaway purchase did not turn out the way they anticipated.
Consumers mainly place furniture, toys and jewelry on layaway and do so at a variety of stores, including national chain stores, local retail stores and pawn shops.
Some consumers paid money to a store only to have that company go out of business. While consumers will most likely not know if a company is going to go out of business, they should take care to only do business with reliable companies or make payments with a credit card, which comes with protections (charges can be disputed if the product is not delivered).
Based on the complaints we have received, the BBB suggests consumers should consider the following:
Ask the company for a written contract for the layaway and read it carefully. Keep in mind that each company may have a different layaway policy. Check for:

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Utah unemployment rate rises slightly

Submitted by Associated Press on Thursday, November 18th, 11:35 am

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- Utah's unemployment rate rose slightly in October, but a state economist says that increase is likely a sign more people are seeking work because of a slowly rebounding economy.

Utah's unemployment rate rose one-tenth of a percent to 7.6 percent from September to October, or by about 4,000 people, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics figures released Thursday.

Last October the unemployment rate was 6.7 percent.

The Utah Department of Workforce Services also said the state has gained about 16,500 jobs over the past year, leaving total employment at more than 1.2 million. In the past month, job growth rose by 1.4 percent.

"To me, the job growth number is the one that is more telling of the economy," said Mark Knold, the department's chief economist.

Knold said the unemployment is rate is probably rising because people who haven't been seeking work are beginning to do so, adding to the unemployment count.

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Renewable Energy Summit Slated for Nov. 15

Submitted by Ryan Lesar on Monday, November 15th, 12:19 pm

Samantha Mary Julian, energy and natural resources cluster director for the Governor's Office of Economic Development (GOED), announced today that GOED will be producing a Utah Renewable Energy Business Summit to be held November 15, 2010 at the Larry H. Miller Campus of the Salt Lake Community College.

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Fake email asks consumers to register cell phone numbers with FTC by “deadline”

Submitted by Max Calise on Monday, November 15th, 12:06 pm

The following provided by the Utah Department of Commerce:

(For immediate release…) SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Francine A. Giani, Executive Director of the Utah Department of Commerce, announced today that the Utah Division of Consumer Protection has received several reports that a fake email is circulating which informs the recipient that unless they register their cell phone numbers with the National Do Not Call Registry this month, their information will be published to telemarketers.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), which houses the National Do Not Call Registry, has posted the following language on their website (http://www.ftc.gov/donotcall) regarding this email to ensure consumers won’t be fooled; From the FTC: Cell Phones “You may place your personal cell phone number on the National Do Not Call Registry. The registry has accepted cell phone numbers since it opened for registrations in June 2003. There is no deadline to register a home or cell phone number on the Registry.

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