Real Estate Daily News Buzz is designed to give news snippets to readers that our (yet to be award winning) editors thought you could use to start your day. They come from various business perspectives, real estate, government, the Fed, local news, and the stock markets to save you time. Here you will find the headlines and what the news buzz for the day will be.

The Dow Jones industrial average rose 115.92 points, or 0.7%, to close at 16,373.86 Tuesday. The Standard & Poor’s 500 index rose 19.68 points, or 1.1%, to 1,838.88. The NASDAQ composite index rose 69.71 points, or 1.7%, to 4,183.02. Bond prices fell. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note rose to 2.87%. Benchmark U.S. oil for February delivery rose 79 cents to close at $92.59 a barrel in New York.

APPEALS COURT SETS ASIDE INTERNET NEUTRALITY RULES
WASHINGTON (AP) — In a decision that could reshape consumers’ access to entertainment, news and other online content, a federal appeals court Tuesday set aside Federal Communications Commission (FCC) rules designed to ensure that transmission of all Internet content be treated equally. The anti-discrimination and anti-blocking rules have barred broadband providers from prioritizing some types of Internet traffic over others. A three-judge panel said that the FCC has the authority to regulate broadband providers’ treatment of Internet traffic. However, the judges concluded that the FCC failed to establish that its regulations don’t overreach.

WELLS FARGO CALLS MEETING TO DISCUSS BITCOIN
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) – Wells Fargo & Co has called finance executives, virtual currency experts and U.S. government representatives to discuss “rules of engagement” with Bitcoin amid concern about the money laundering risk of the currency, the Financial Times reported. The meeting, scheduled for Tuesday in San Francisco, focuses on the security issues surrounding banking and Bitcoin as financial regulators warn consumers on the risks of using unregulated online currencies, the London-based financial daily reported. The fourth-largest U.S. bank by assets has shown interest in dealing with a potential new Bitcoin economy, but regulatory uncertainty has deterred banks from offering services to virtual currency start-ups, the newspaper said on Tuesday.

Bitcoin, which unlike conventional money is bought and sold on a peer-to-peer network independent of any central authority, has grown popular among users who lack faith in the established banking system. Wells Fargo’s anti-money laundering chief, Jim Richards, has launched a group to examine how the bank might safely offer Bitcoin-related services or banking arrangements to virtual currency entrepreneurs, the Financial Times said, quoting people familiar with the matter. The bank aims to draw up a new set of anti-money laundering rules for financial institutions to follow when dealing with virtual currency start-ups, the paper said, citing a person familiar with the matter.

BOEING CONFIRMS NEW 787 BATTERY INCIDENT
Battery problems resurfaced on Boeing’s 787 on Tuesday, after gas was discovered coming out of a battery on a plane parked in Tokyo. Boeing said the problem on a Japan Airlines 787 was discovered during scheduled maintenance. No passengers were on board. The company said it appears that a single battery cell “vented,” or released gas. The incident comes a year after a fire in a lithium ion battery aboard a Japan Airlines 787 parked at Boston’s Logan International Airport. That was followed nine days later by another battery incident that forced an emergency landing in Japan by an All Nippon Airways 787. Those problems prompted the FAA and other authorities to ground all 787s for more than three months. The planes began flying again after Boeing changed the battery system, adding a tougher box to hold the battery and measures to contain any short-circuit or fire. Boeing said those changes appear to have worked as designed in the battery incident on Tuesday. It said it’s working with Japan Airlines to get the plane flying again.

GENERAL MOTORS’ QUARTERLY DIVIDEND IS BACK
DETROIT (AP) — General Motors Co. says it will resume paying a quarterly dividend, its first since the height of the financial crisis in 2008. The U.S. automaker’s CEO Dan Akerson had hinted that a dividend may be coming and the company confirmed the move Tuesday. General Motors says its dividend of 30 cents per share is payable March 28 to stockholders of record as of March 18. The Detroit-based company says investors should share in the company’s success and that the dividend is a signal of confidence for a profitable future. Competitor Ford Motor Co. halted its dividend payment in 2006 and resumed it in 2012.

HOLIDAY SALES RISE ON DISCOUNTS, ONLINE SHOPPING
NEW YORK – Severe winter weather did not dampen December retail sales as shoppers took advantage of heavy promotions and last-minute deals. According to the National Retail Federation (NRF) – December retail sales, which excludes automobiles, gas stations and restaurants, increased 0.4 percent seasonally adjusted month-to-month, and 4.6 percent unadjusted year-over-year.  Total holiday retail sales, which includes November and December sales, increased 3.8 percent to $601.8 billion, which was in line with NRF’s projected forecast of 3.9 percent and $602.1 billion. In addition, non-store holiday sales, which is an indicator of online and e-commerce sales, grew 9.3 percent to $95.7 billion. It was better than the 3.5% increase in 2012 and the 3.3% average for the past 10 years.

US BUSINESSES BOOST STOCKPILES 0.4% IN NOVEMBER
WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. companies built up their stockpiles in November as their sales improved. Continued growth in inventories suggests businesses believe consumers will increase spending in the months ahead. The Commerce Department said Tuesday that business stockpiles grew 0.4% in November. That follows a strong 0.8% gain in October. Sales increased 0.8% in November after a 0.5% gain the previous month. Rising stockpiles should help keep economic growth solid in the October-December quarter. Several economists project growth at a 3 per cent annual rate in that period after a 4.1% rate in the previous quarter. Greater restocking boosts growth because it requires more factory production. Retailers led much of the gains in inventories ahead of the holiday shopping season. Wholesalers also increased their stockpiles. Stockpiling by manufacturers was flat.

DIRECT TV CUSTOMERS LOSE THE WEATHER CHANNEL
LOS ANGELES (AP) — About 20 million DirecTV customers nationwide lost The Weather Channel because of a dispute over fees between the channel and the satellite service. The two companies pointed fingers at each other late Monday as a midnight deadline for renegotiation of carriage fees paid by DirecTV to The Weather Channel passed without an agreement. In a statement, David Kenny, CEO of the channel’s parent company, The Weather Co., said it offered DirecTV the best rate for its programming. Kenny accused the satellite provider of putting profits ahead of public safety. DirecTV called the loss of The Weather Channel “regrettable” but added that it would continue to provide weather news on its WeatherNation channel. According to a statement from Dan York, DirecTV chief content officer, the two sides haven’t stopped talking.

GM GLOBAL SALES HIT 9.7M LAST YEAR, BEATS VW
DETROIT (AP) — General Motors sold 9.71 million cars and trucks last year, probably not enough to beat out Toyota for the global sales crown, but about 200,000 better than Volkswagen. Toyota, the sales champion in 2012, will report its sales next week. It only needs to show a little growth to beat GM again. GM said Tuesday that sales of light vehicles worldwide grew 4 per cent in 2013, led by growth in China and the United Kingdom. The company’s sales in China rose 11 per cent to set a record. U.S. sales were up 7%, slightly below the market’s growth of nearly 8%. Volkswagen said Monday that it sold 9.5 million light vehicles last year, setting a company record for overall sales. Toyota sold roughly 9.7 million cars and trucks in 2012, recapturing the lead it ceded to GM in 2011. GM was the top-selling carmaker for more than seven decades before losing the title to Toyota in 2008. But GM retook the sales crown in 2011 when Toyota’s factories were slowed by an earthquake and tsunami in Japan. The disaster left Toyota dealers with few cars to sell. The Japanese company has since recovered.

BEANIE BABIES CREATOR GETS PROBATION, NO PRISON
CHICAGO (AP) — The billionaire creator of Beanie Babies was sentenced to two years of probation, but no prison time, on Tuesday for tax evasion on $25 million in income he had stashed away in Swiss bank accounts. H. Ty Warner, 69, appeared sombre but composed as he made a brief statement before receiving his sentence in a Chicago federal courtroom, apologizing and saying he felt “shame and embarrassment” for what he had done. He could have been sentenced to up to five years in prison, and prosecutors were seeking prison time for Warner, who pleaded guilty last year to a single tax evasion count. U.S. District Judge Charles Kocoras, however, sentenced Warner to probation and 500 hours of community service, praising the toy magnate for the charity work he’s done.

GOVERNMENTS SEEK TO AVOID TECHNOLOGY PROBLEMS
With well-publicized glitches in the federal government’s new HealthCare.gov website last October, experts who follow how government acquires, develops and deploys computer-based services, were not surprised. Problems occurred when New York City watched the costs of its payroll modernization project grow from $63 million to $700 million before stopping the project. The State of Texas had a seven-year, $863 million outsourcing deal with IBM that was plagued by problems. One IT expert says it sounds obvious, but problems could be avoided when more assumptions are tested before launch, stakeholders are identified, and people on staff have the capability to manage work across departmental boundaries. From Governing: https://bit.ly/1d3zYOZ

STREETCAR CELEBRATION TOMORROW AT UA
TUCSON – The Sun Link Modern Streetcar will be on display tomorrow at Main Gate Square at the University of Arizona. Take your picture with the streetcar, enjoy live music and take advantage of specials and promotions provided by area merchants along the streetcar route. The celebration, sponsored by Friends of the Tucson Streetcar and others, runs from 4 p.m. – 7 p.m. The Downtown Tucson Partnership reports the American-made streetcar already has helped generate $800 million in public and private investment along the route, through downtown and the UA.

Real Estate Daily News Buzz is designed to give news snippets to readers that our (yet to be award winning) editors thought you could use to start your day. They come from various business perspectives, real estate, government, the Fed, local news, and the stock markets to save you time. Here you will find the headlines and what the news buzz for the day will be.

Tuesday, the Dow Jones industrial average crept down nine points, or 0.1%, to close at 15,875.26. The Standard & Poor’s 500 index eased five points, or 0.3%, to 1,781. The NASDAQ composite edged lower by five points, or 0.1%, to 4,023.68.Benchmark U.S. crude for January delivery slipped 26 cents to $97.22 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

MEXICO’S NATIONAL OIL MONOPOLY EXPECTED TO END WITHIN DAYS

MEXICO CITY – Mexico’s controversial energy reform breaking a 75-year national oil monopoly will be enacted immediately now that a majority of states have approved it, the president said Monday. A standing committee in Congress still has to OK the change, designed to lure foreign investment. But this is expected in a matter of days “and once it happens I will promulgate the reform immediately,” President Enrique Pena Nieto said during a visit to Turkey, according to a statement from his office. Congress passed the reform last Thursday, and after that it needed the green light from the legislatures of a majority of Mexico’s 31 states because it involved a constitutional amendment. Sixteen have done so since Friday. Opening the oil and gas industry to private investment is a highly sensitive issue in Mexico, where many look back with pride at the expulsion of foreign companies in 1938.

BOEING ANNOUNCES $10 BILLION SHARE BUYBACK

NEW YORK – Aerospace giant Boeing brought some holiday cheer to investors Monday, announcing a $10 billion share buyback and a 50% dividend hike. The company said its board of directors had approved the repurchase of an additional $10 billion in the company’s stocks and a 50 percent increase in the quarterly dividend, to 73 cents. “These actions reflect sustained, strong operational performance by our businesses, increasing cash flow, and our confidence in the future,” Jim McNerney, Boeing chairman, president and chief executive, said in a statement after stock markets closed.

SIEMENS WINS HUGE WIND POWER CONTRACT IN US

FRANKFURT – Siemens said Monday it was won a contract to supply wind turbines for five wind power projects in Iowa in the United States. Siemens said in a statement that it secured a contract from MidAmerican Energy to supply a total 448 wind turbines with a total capacity of 1,050 megawatts. “This represents not only the largest order for onshore wind turbines for Siemens, but also the largest single order for onshore wind power awarded globally to date,” the statement said. The wind turbines, each with a nominal rating of 2.3 MW and a rotor diameter of 108 meters, are to be installed in five different projects in Iowa. “Siemens will also be responsible for service and maintenance of the wind turbines,” the German group said. Financial details were not disclosed, but an industry source said the contract was worth about $1 billion.

INCREASE IN TAX-FREE GOODS COULD BRING MORE SHOPPERS FROM MEXICO

TUCSON – People heading to Mexico with items they bought in Arizona may be relieved of some taxes on their purchases through January 8, 2014. The new limited-time rule change and other measures are designed to help boost Arizona’s economy year round. Typically around the holiday season, shoppers from Mexico can take $300 worth of goods bought in the United States across the border without having to pay taxes on the items. As the result of a temporary rules change by Mexican Customs, the cap now is $500 worth of goods per person. Every year tourism from Mexico brings in almost $1 billion into Tucson and surrounding areas.  From KOLD/KMSB: https://bit.ly/1k8G3B8

JFK STATUE STOLEN FROM EL PRESIDIO PARK IN TUCSON

TUCSON – The bronze statue of John F. Kennedy is missing, stolen off its pedestal base over the weekend. The bust was installed in the downtown park in 1964, one year after President Kennedy’s assassination. The statue was ripped off its granite base, bolts and all.  Scrap yards have been notified, and Parks and Recreation officials express hope that the statue is found and returned.

UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA TO EXPAND McKALE CENTER

TUCSON – The University of Arizona is working to raise the first $30 million of the McKale Center arena renovation project, with the total cost expected to be around $80 million upon completion. Pending approval from the Arizona Board of Regents, the project, most of which will begin in May, will include new seating for the 40-year-old arena, upgraded lighting and a new floor in time for next season. A new video board that is 25 percent larger than the current one is expected to be finished within the next month. Benefactors Jeannie and Cole Davis donated the first $6 million to help seed the project funding. From the Arizona Daily Wildcat: https://bit.ly/1kdeg2w

BOMBER TO BE DESTROYED IN TUCSON AS PART OF ARMS PACT

TUCSON – The final B-52G bomber being eliminated under a weapons treaty will meet its end Thursday at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson. Base officials say a rescue saw will be used to sever the bomber’s tail section from the fuselage. That’ll make the plane the 39th B-52G eliminated under the New START Treaty and the last such elimination required under the treaty.

AP SURVEY: US INCOME GAP HOLDING BACK ECONOMY

WASHINGTON (AP) — The growing gap between the richest Americans and everyone else isn’t just bad for individuals. It’s hurting the U.S. economy. So say most of the more than three dozen economists surveyed last week by The Associated Press. Their concerns tap into a debate that’s intensified as middle-class pay has stagnated while wealthier households have thrived. A key source of the economists’ concern: Higher pay and outsize stock market gains are flowing mainly to affluent Americans. Yet these households spend less of their money than do low- and middle-income consumers who make up most of the population but whose pay is barely rising.

FED IS LIKELY TO MAINTAIN BOND-BUYING PACE FOR NOW

WASHINGTON (AP) — Is this the week when the Federal Reserve finally slows its aggressive stimulus for the economy? Or does it want to await more evidence of a consistently improving economy? Most economists think the Fed will maintain the pace of its monthly bond purchases to keep long-term loan rates low to spur spending and growth. The decision carries high stakes for individuals, businesses and global financial markets. A pullback in the Fed’s bond buying would likely send long-term rates up and stock and bond prices down. Many analysts think the Fed will signal that it expects to slow the pace of its bond purchases from $85 billion a month perhaps early next year, if the economy strengthens further. The Fed will announce its decision after its latest policy meeting ends Wednesday, just before Chairman Ben Bernanke holds his final quarterly news conference. Bernanke will step down Jan. 31 after eight years as chairman.

GOOGLE’S TOP SEARCHES PEER INTO SOCIETY’S MINDSET

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Death, devices and celebrity drove the quest for more information on Google’s search engine this year. Three of the world’s four fastest-rising search requests on Google were triggered by the deaths of famous men. Former South African President Nelson Mandela, who died earlier this month, occupied the top spot, followed by “Fast & Furious” movie star Paul Walker, who died in a Nov. 30 car crash. “Glee” TV series cast member Cory Monteith, who died of a drug overdose in July, ranked fourth in an annual retrospective released Tuesday. The iPhone 5S, the latest upgrade in Apple’s most popular product line, finished third in Google’s rankings. The Top 10 was rounded out by the “Harlem Shake,” a song that inspired a procession of amusing dance videos, at No. 5; “royal baby” Prince George, the heir to England’s throne, at No. 7; and North Korea, whose saber-rattling has become a source of international tension, at No. 10. Google’s review follows annual round-ups compiled during the previous two weeks by its main search rivals — Microsoft Corp.’s Bing, Yahoo Inc. and Ask.com. Although its list usually comes last each year, Google’s breakdown typically provides the greatest insight into the world’s collective mindset because the company’s technology processes about two out of every three search requests made on the Internet.

US CONSUMER PRICES FLAT AS GAS COSTS KEEP FALLING

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. consumer prices stayed flat in November, held down by falling gas prices. Inflation remains low across the broader economy, giving the Federal Reserve latitude to continue its extraordinary stimulus program. The consumer price index was unchanged last month, after dropping 0.1% in October, the Labor Department said Tuesday. Gas prices declined 1.6% in November to keep overall prices down. Over the past 12 months, consumer prices have risen just 1.2 per cent. That’s well below the Fed’s 2% inflation target. Excluding volatile energy and food costs, core prices rose 0.2% in November from October and just 1.7% over the past 12 months. High unemployment and small wage increases have kept consumers from ramping up spending, making it difficult for businesses to raise prices since the Great Recession ended. Low inflation also gives Fed members more reason to hold off scaling back its buying $85 billion a month in bond purchases for a few more months. The Fed’s final two-day policy meeting starts Tuesday and many economists expect the Fed to keep purchases at that level.

US HOMEBUILDER CONFIDENCE SURGES IN DECEMBER

U.S. homebuilders’ confidence bounced back strongly this month, a sign that construction and industry hiring may pick up in coming months. The National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo builder sentiment index released Tuesday climbed to 58. That was up from 54 in November and matched an eight-year high reached in August. Readings above 50 indicate that more builders view sales conditions as good than poor. In addition, builders’ view of current sales conditions jumped this month to the highest level in eight years. And their outlook for sales heading into next year’s spring home-selling season also improved. The index has stayed above 50 now for seven straight months after being below that level since May 2006. This month’s reading is 11 points higher than a year ago. It reflects a U.S. housing market fueled by steady job growth and still-low mortgage rates. The latest index suggests that builders remain optimistic that the housing recovery will endure even though mortgage rates have risen in recent months.

US CURRENT ACCOUNT DEFICIT DROPS TO $94.8 BILLION IN 3Q

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. current account deficit narrowed in the July-September quarter to the lowest level in four years as a rise in Americans’ foreign investment earnings helped offset a bigger deficit in goods. The deficit in the current account declined to $94.8 billion in the third quarter, the Commerce Department reported Tuesday. It was the smallest imbalance since the third quarter of 2009 when the country was climbing out of a deep recession. The deficit was 1.8 per cent lower than a revised $96.6 billion deficit in the April-June quarter. The current account is the country’s broadest trade measure covering not only goods and services but also investment flows. A smaller trade deficit usually means that U.S. companies are producing more to meet domestic and overseas demand. For the third quarter, the deficit in goods increased by 1.7% but this was offset by a 7.1% rise in investment earnings.

FACEBOOK TESTING VIDEO ADVERTISEMENTS

NEW YORK (AP) — Facebook said Tuesday that it’s testing video advertisements that show up in its users’ news feeds, creating another potential source of advertising revenue for the social network. Under the current plan, the advertisements automatically start playing without sound when they appear. Users can click on a video to view it with sound, or scroll past it if they’re not interested. Facebook said it’s been testing the silent auto-playing videos for video content shared between Facebook users since September, and has seen a 10% increase in the number of videos watched, liked, shared and commented on.

Real Estate Daily News Buzz is designed to give news snippets to readers that our (yet to be award winning) editors thought you could use to start your day. They come from various business perspectives, real estate, government, the Fed, local news, and the stock markets to save you time. Here you will find the headlines and what the news buzz for the day will be.

Thursday, the Dow Jones industrial average fell 68.26 points, or 0.4%, to close at 15,821.51. The NASDAQ composite declined 4.84 points, or 0.1%, at 4,033.16. The S&P 500 index fell 7.78 points, or 0.4%, to 1,785.03. Benchmark U.S. crude for January delivery rose 18 cents to $97.38 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

FEDERAL U.S./MEXICO TRADE HEARING SCHEDULED FOR TUCSON
TUCSON – The U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs, Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, will hold a hearing in the Mayor and Council Chambers of City Hall on Monday, Dec. 9, 2013, beginning at 9:30 a.m. The subject is a field hearing on “Promoting Best Practices in U.S.-Mexico Trade.” U.S. Representative Matt Salmon of Arizona is the Chairperson of the Subcommittee. Tucson 12 will provide live coverage of the event.

US FACTORY ORDERS FALL 0.9% IN OCTOBER
WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. factories received fewer orders in October, as aircraft demand fell and businesses cut back on computers. The decline suggests companies were hesitant to invest during the 16-day partial government shutdown. Factory orders dropped 0.9% in October, the Commerce Department said Thursday. That followed a 1.8% increase in September. A big reason for the decline in October was a steep drop in orders for aircraft.

US ECONOMY GROWS AT 3.6% RATE IN 3rd QUARTER
WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. economy grew at a 3.6% annual rate from July through September, the fastest since early 2012. But nearly half the growth came from a buildup in business stockpiles, a trend that could reverse in the current quarter and hold back growth. The Commerce Department’s second estimate of third-quarter growth released Thursday was sharply higher than the initial 2.8 per cent rate reported last month. And it was well above the 2.5% growth rate for the April-June quarter. Almost the entire third-quarter revision was due to a big jump in stockpiles. Consumer spending, the lifeblood of the economy, was the weakest in nearly four years.

US JOBLESS CLAIMS PLUNGE TO 298,000 AS LAYOFFS SLOW
WASHINGTON (AP) — The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits tumbled 23,000 last week to 298,000, nearly a six-year low that shows companies are laying off fewer workers. The Labor Department said the less volatile four-week moving average declined 10,750 to 322,250. Last week’s unemployment benefit applications nearly matched a September figure that was distorted by late reporting from California. When excluding the September report, last week’s figures were the lowest since May 2007.

BP PUSHES TECHNICAL LIMITS TO TAP EXTREME FIELDS
HOUSTON (AP) — BP’s strategy after the Deepwater Horizon tragedy: Go deeper. BP is leading an industry-wide push to develop technology that can retrieve oil from formations that are so deep under the sea floor, and under such high pressure and temperature, that conventional equipment would melt or be crushed by the conditions. One BP field in the Gulf of Mexico, called Tiber, makes the Macondo field that the Deepwater Horizon rig was probing look like puddle of oil. It is thought to hold 20 times the amount of oil as Macondo and about twice as deep. There’s an extraordinary amount of oil in similar discoveries around the world, several of which are controlled by BP. But BP first must figure out how to get it. New equipment, including blowout preventers far stronger than the one that failed on the Deepwater Horizon, must be developed. Then BP must convince regulators it can tap this oil safely.

STATES GROVEL BEFORE BOEING IN BID FOR 777X JOBS
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — With Boeing the king of U.S. aircraft manufacturing, more than a dozen states are groveling before the throne for a share of the riches to be made from the next-generation 777 jetliner. From coast to coast, states are rushing to impress Boeing with lavish incentive packages that offer property, labor deals and billions of dollars in tax breaks. All this in the hopes that the aerospace giant will select them to assemble the new 777X — or at least give them a wing to construct. The competition underscores Boeing’s commanding bargaining position in an economy where top-notch manufacturing jobs remain scarce and elected officials feel obligated to pursue every growth opportunity, no matter how improbable.

FAST-FOOD PROTESTS RETURN AMID PUSH FOR WAGE HIKES
NEW YORK (AP) — Fast-food workers and labor organizers marched, waved signs and chanted in cities across the country on Thursday in a push for higher wages. Organizers say employees planned to forgo work in 100 cities, with rallies set for another 100 cities. But by late afternoon, it was unclear what the actual turnout was or how many of the participants were workers. At targeted restaurants, the disruptions seemed minimal or temporary. The protests are part of an effort that began about a year ago and is spearheaded by the Service Employees International Union, which has spent millions to bankroll local worker groups and organize publicity for the demonstrations. Protesters are calling for pay of $15 an hour, but the figure is seen more as a rallying point than a near-term possibility.

AT 50, NEW-LOOK MUSTANG STILL HAS PLENTY OF MUSCLE
DEARBORN, Mich. (AP) — The Ford Mustang is still galloping at 50. Ford Motor Co. on Thursday introduced the 2015 Mustang, a confident and aggressive riff on the iconic pony car that first made Americans swoon in the 1960s. The Mustang’s passionate fans are sure to love it, but Ford will have to wait and see if it’s enough to overtake rivals and win over international buyers.

AT&T REDUCES FEES FOR PEOPLE WHO BRING OWN DEVICES
NEW YORK (AP) — AT&T is joining T-Mobile in reducing monthly fees for people who pay for their own devices. It’s the latest break from a longstanding practice of offering subsidies on devices to lock customers into two-year service agreements. Many customers have been forgoing those subsidies anyway as they opt for plans that allow frequent phone upgrades. But until now, AT&T’s and Verizon’s service fees have still factored in the costs of those subsidies, whether the customer uses them or not. Beginning Sunday, customers will be able to switch to the cheaper plans if they buy or bring their own phone. That includes paying for the device in installments through the frequent-upgrade Next plan. Those whose contracts have run out also qualify.

COMMUNITY LEARNS ABOUT STREETCAR SAFETY
TUCSON – As Sun Link Tucson Streetcar vehicles go through testing along the tracks, the streetcar’s management team continues to educate community members and streetcar operators about safety. The streetcar’s “Be Street-Smart” educational safety campaign is an ongoing effort to educate citizens about the streetcars presence and how to be safe around the tracks.

STARTING OR EXPANDING A BUSINESS IN TUCSON? CALL THE SMALL BUSINESS ASSISTANCE LINE
TUCSON – The City of Tucson’s Small Business Assistance Line (520) 837-4100, is available from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Help is available in both English and Spanish. Staff from the City Manager’s Office of Economic Initiatives answer the calls. The Small Business Assistance Line is one of a number of City initiatives, along with 21 new business incentives, streamlined permit processes and more, to make the City of Tucson more business-friendly.

NINTH CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS TO STREAM LIVE VIDEO
TUCSON – The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, which includes rulings on Arizona cases, will begin live video streaming of oral arguments beginning next week. Streaming services will open with five cases scheduled to begin Monday. The nation’s busiest federal appeals court says it believes this will be the first time a federal appellate court will use its technology to deliver live video of a proceeding over the Internet. Streaming will consist of “en banc” proceedings, which resolve intra-circuit conflicts and other legal questions of exceptional importance. The panel consists of the chief judge of the circuit and 10 judges drawn at random, rather than a three-judge appellate panel. On average, the 9th Circuit says, about 20 cases receive en banc review each year.

AG SAYS PUBLIC HAS RIGHT TO REVIEW PUBLIC DOCS WITHOUT FEE
TUCSON – State Attorney General Tom Horne says public documents must be subject to inspection at public offices without any fees. In a formal opinion, Horne says the no-charge rule applies even if the agency has to make copies to redact certain private information, saying the costs of doing that cannot be charged to the person who wants to simply view the documents. Horne also says individuals are free to use their own equipment, such as smartphones and portable document scanners, to make copies without having to pay a fee. Tucson City Clerk Roger Randolph tells NewsNet the ruling shouldn’t affect Tucson. “We do not charge for a copy made simply to redact information. We do charge 25 cents per page to make copies of documents,” he says. “This is still authorized under ARS Title 39. We have never prohibit anyone from taking a photograph of a document in lieu of purchasing a copy.”

PHOENIX: COURT IT HAS RIGHT TO LIMIT BUS STOP ADVERTISING
PHOENIX – In a case with statewide implications, the City of Phoenix argued to the Court of Appeals Tuesday that governments can deny access to candidates or controversial causes. Assistant City Attorney David Schwartz said there is no First Amendment right of those promoting political or even religious causes to make their case on city-owned property. The advertisement the City of Phoenix rejected is an image of a heart with the words “Guns Save Lives” superimposed.

ZOO LIGHTS 2013 BEGINS FRIDAY AT REID PARK ZOO
TUCSON – Zoo Lights at the City of Tucson’s Reid Park Zoo features animal-themed light sculptures, thousands of sparkling holiday lights and Santa Claus. The annual event is Dec. 6-23, from 6 p.m.-8 p.m. Ticket prices are $6 for adults, $4 for children and kids under the age of two are free.