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WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court hears arguments today in a major class action suit against Wal-Mart.

At issue in the largest job discrimination lawsuit ever against the nation’s largest retailer is not the outcome, but whether the suit can move forward.

More than two dozen briefs have been filed by business interests on Wal-Mart’s side, and civil rights, consumer and union groups on the other.

The question is crucial to the viability of discrimination claims, which become powerful vehicles to force change when they are presented together, instead of individually.

Lower courts have said the suit could go forward.

But Wal-Mart wants the high court to stop the suit. The company argues it includes too many women with too many different positions in its 3,400 stores. Wal-Mart says there is no evidence that women are poorly treated at Wal-Mart.

Scotiabank and the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) are partnering to celebrate the impact Canadian small businesses make in their communities.

To this end, they are awarding $30,000 in prizes ($10,000 in each of three categories).

To qualify for the Small Business Big Impact Challenge, entrants must demonstrate how their business has made a difference in the community where they live and work, in one of the following three categories:

• Providing Employment: Implementing employment practices that reflect and support community needs as well as employment opportunities.
• Offering Products or Services: Creating new industries or ways of doing business, or offering unique products or services that benefit their community.
• Demonstrating Leadership: Taking a leadership role in initiatives for their community that ultimately makes it a better place to live and work.

Visit the Small Business Big Impact Challenge website for more details and to enter.

Contest closes April 30th, 2011.

HARRISBURG — The competition for a coveted spot on the 2011 list of the 100 Best Places to Work in Pennsylvania has officially opened. Nominations for these valuable awards are now being accepted online at www.bestplacestoworkinpa.com through June 10.

While making the list alone is a prestigious honor, participating companies gain additional benefits. After the two part survey process is complete, each participating company receives the results of their Employee Engagement and Satisfaction Survey. Many participants agree the information they receive is nearly as valuable as making the list.

“Team Pennsylvania Foundation is proud to be a founding partner and annual supporter of the 100 Best Places to Work in Pennsylvania,” said Foundation Board Co-chair, and CEO of Winner International, Karen Winner Sed. “I encourage every business that is eligible in the commonwealth to go through the nomination process.”

Designed to recognize two types of businesses, the program ranks 50 medium-sized companies (25-249 employees) and 50 large-sized companies (250 employees or more). A

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If you are in business then one of the most critical things that you need to have sorted out at all times is your public liability insurance. This is not something that you can let go at any time, because you really never know when you are going to need it. If you are working anywhere, no matter how professional you are, you never know when circumstances will manifest in which you have a problem which leads to someone wanting to take you to court. Once faced with this position, you simply have to have this insurance in place, or you could be left with a six or even seven figure sum to deal with inn the most dire circumstances.

Although we have established the importance of having public liability insurance in place, you have to remember that it is certainly not the case that you should take up the first quote you find. Prices can fluctuate severely, so you need to look at a few possibilities before making a decision. You should make sure you know what sort of public liability insurance policy you need before you start searching, and then you will have a firm base which will indicate what a good and bad offer is. Read more…

Royal Dutch Shell has shortlisted bidders for the four Nigerian onshore oil blocks it has put up for sale but financing challenges and negotiations with state-oil company NNPC could yet undo best laid plans. India’s Essar Energy said this week it was unsuccessful in its bid for Shell’s Niger Delta assets, which are widely understood to be blocks 30, 34, 40 and 42. These zones all have sizeable reserves and have attracted bids of over $1-billion, sources close to the deals have said. Shell has declined to comment. “We are out of the race,” said Andrew Turpin, head of media relations at energy and power firm Essar Energy. “We bid at a level for blocks that we felt was economic and good value but clearly other people bid higher.” Shell owns the majority stake in the blocks but is partnered by Total, Eni and state-oil firm NNPC. The French and Italian majors could also sell their shares. No one is definitely out Independent commodity trader Elan Oil is favourite to win block 40, the smallest asset, while consortiums involving local players Oando, Niger Delta Ltd and Conoil are all in the mix for other blocks, sources said. Read more…

MISHAWAKA—

The Mishawaka Common Council voted 8-0 Monday to allow a use variance so that Gates Chevy World could hold an off-site car sale three times this summer at the north end of the University Park Mall parking lot.

It came over the objection of four competing car dealers in Mishawaka. And Monday’s discourse remained one among gentlemen.

“I love the Gates family — always have,” said Mike Leep Sr. of Gurley Leep Automotive.

His company’s chief operating officer, Don Reese, argued that it was less about unfair competition and more about “the use of the property.”

The “circus-like atmosphere,” including large tents, would degrade the competitors’ properties in the city, he said.

Leep said that Gates would be able to post “15 or 20 yellow signs saying, ‘sale sale sale,’ which we can’t do. That is a huge disadvantage to us.” He was referring to city ordinances that restrict balloons and banners from car dealership lots.

The city’s Board of Zoning Appeals had voted 3-1 to pass the issue along to the council without a recommendation. T

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