National US News

ATLANTA, Ga. -- The economy may be in the doghouse, but Georgia businesses that pamper pooches and caress kittens are doing well. Last year, top Georgia business broker Loren Marc Schmerler, of Bottom Line Management, Inc., helped owners sell two pet-centered businesses, and says such businesses are bucking the economic trend.

DIAMOND BAR, Calif. -- The mission to bring education to everyone across America took center stage last week at the Distance Education and Training Council workshop at the Brown Palace Hotel in Denver, Colorado. The public service announcement (PSA) entitled 'Think About It' was warmly received by over 100 schools in attendance. The 'Think About It' concept was developed by California Intercontinental University to bring awareness to the public.

ATLANTA, Ga. -- Many skilled but unemployed workers have taken advantage of tax laws that enable them to use funds from retirement accounts to buy a new business, and the Georgia Association of Business Brokers (GABB) will hear an industry expert describe the process at their Oct. 26 meeting.

TACOMA, Wash. -- Donald Bayeur owns and operates the new website, AutomotiveExpos.com. It serves as an online auto expo site where people seeking automotive insights can go to find answers, and to learn about the many different classic cars of the past and present.

PARAMUS, N.J. -- Paul Granito, First Vice President, Financial Advisor at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney was one of approximately 500 financial advisors who were selected by their firms to attend the sixth-annual Barron's Winner's Circle Top Advisors Summit, hosted by Barron's magazine to promote best practices in the industry and the value of advice to the investing public.

TULSA, Okla. -- Dylan Woods owns and operates the new website, Real Nerds Reel Movies. It serves as an online community where people seeking movie insights can go to find answers, and to learn about the many different genres of movies and film of the past and present. His website says that every movie lover knows a great movie when they see one.

NEW YORK, N.Y. -- Jeff Koch, senior loan officer of Preferred Mortgage Corporation, announced this week that Manhattan mortgage rates are at record lows. This information is based on a survey released by Freddie Mac, the second largest mortgage finance company. It reported that 30 and 15-year Manhattan mortgage rates either tied or reached record lows this last week.

ATLANTA, Ga. -- International Document Services, Inc. (IDS), a mortgage document preparation vendor, and Atlanta Habitat for Humanity, one of the top producers of affordable home ownership opportunities among U.S. Habitat affiliates, have teamed up to challenge attendees at the Mortgage Bankers Association's (MBA) 97th Annual Convention and Expo to raise $10,000 for Atlanta Habitat for Humanity.

NEW YORK CITY, N.Y. -- NTFS to FAT32 Converter, the most professional and reliable tool for converting a file system, has been released by Aomei Technology. Its prominent advantage in an operation - convert NTFS to FAT32 on the condition that the data security is ensured.

NEW YORK, N.Y. -- CheapOair is the proud recipient of three of Travel Weekly's esteemed 2010 Magellan Awards. CheapOair was honored with a Gold Award in the Promotional Videos category and Silver Awards in the Booking Interface and TV Campaign categories. The Travel Weekly Magellan Awards recognize the best in the travel industry.

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Bran-Rae today announced the launch of EVtones, an MP3 download service providing unique MP3 music tones, tunes and sounds for electric and electric hybrid vehicles. Car sounds, jet engines, etc. will also be offered as downloads to an electric vehicles MP3 compatible tone generating system.

KIRKLAND, Wash. -- Today the non-profit 3in4 Association, established by thirteen long term care insurance leaders, announces the formation of an advisory board and executive committee for the 'Nearly 3 in 4 Need More Campaign.'

ST. LOUIS, Mo. -- As of October 1, 2010, shippers must be in compliance with the new rules for DOT packaging, emergency response numbers, special permits, and security plans. Lion Technology will cover these new hazmat rules in its hands-on training workshops in Las Vegas on October 21-22; Milwaukee on October 25-26; St. Louis on October 28-29; Detroit on November 1-2; Kansas City on November 8-9; Cincinnati on November 15-16; Cleveland on December 2-3; Pittsburgh on December 6-7; and Chicago on December 13-14, 2010.

ATLANTA, Ga. -- White Horse Advisors, LLC, an independently-owned provider of financial advisory services to owners of closely-held businesses and retirement plan sponsors, announces that Stephen Griner, COO of White Horse Advisors, has earned the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation. Griner was one of only 42 percent of investment professionals to pass the June 2010 CFA exam.

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. -- According to a recent survey taken by the Department of Education, enrollment in online educational programs is still showing a substantial increase and is having a dramatic effect on education in general. The Department of Education statistics say that in 2007 12.2 million students were enrolled in online programs with an expected increase of up to 18 million by 2012.

ATLANTA, Ga. -- Lift361 debuts, a newly formed data analytics company. Lift361 is a spin-off of database marketing provider Integrative Logic. Ed Higdon, formerly the executive vice president and chief analytics officer for Integrative Logic, will serve as president and CEO for Lift361.

ROANOKE, Ill. -- Residents of Woodford and Marshall counties are being warned about the possibility of mine subsidence damage occurring to homes built over abandoned, underground mines. The warning is being issued by the Illinois Mine Subsidence Insurance Fund (IMSIF) in its continuing effort to educate consumers about the risk of mine subsidence in Illinois.

LOS ALTOS, Calif. -- Luminis Consulting has developed a blog: 'Business That Cares,' that focuses on innovative ideas in business and corporate philanthropy. This blog was launched to reflect the new direction of Luminis Consulting in helping companies develop strategic philanthropy, corporate community relations and employee volunteer programs.

KIRKLAND, Wash. -- Stagnant economy? Jobs hard to come by? If you're an employer, jobs too risky to create? One company - LTC Financial Partners LLC (LTCFP) - isn't buying in to the doom and gloom. They're bucking the trend with bullish expansion plans. 'We need 300 new people now, in all parts of the country,' says Denise Gott, LTCFP's Chairman of the Board.

NEW YORK CITY, N.Y. -- EASEUS Software today expanded their licensing offerings even further by adding a third product line. According to the company, software source code selling is a fast track to enter the lucrative data backup and security market. EASEUS Software is providing its highly-rated backup utility source code for sale so that more software developers can secure success in the next big wave.