How to resolve AdBlock issue? 
Business News
- Details
- Written by: Editor
UKIAH, Calif. – Robert L. Scott of Westport is the new chair of the Mendo Lake Credit Union (MLCU) board of directors.
Scott was elected to the post during the credit union’s 55th annual meeting of staff, directors and members.
Joining Scott on the board from Lake County is newly-elected director John Burke from Kelseyville.
Burke also serves as a board member for the Lake County Children's Museum of Art and Science, and says that he is “looking forward to being a part of a financial institution whose sole interest is to serve the needs of its members, with the mission of making Lake and Mendocino Counties a great place to live and work.”
Outgoing chair Cameron Reeves from Lakeport will continue to serve as a director.
Mendocino County board members are Larry Myers, vice chair; Arlene Colombini, secretary/treasurer; directors Karen Christopherson and Monte Hill – all of Ukiah; and director Dale Simpson, Fort Bragg.
Carolyn Welch of Ukiah was elected to the Supervisory Committee joining members Dave Goodman and Madelin Holtkamp of Ukiah.
For MLCU, 2013 was “a year of amazing growth and substantial progress,” the credit union’s chief executive officer, Richard Cooper, reported during the meeting.
Highlights for the year included a merge with Fort Bragg Community Federal Credit Union, which increased assets by more than $47 million and brought more than 4,700 members to MLCU. In addition, a major data processing conversion was completed.
The credit union saw an increase in lending that included over $38 million in new consumer loans issued during 2013.
Cooper also noted that more than $85,000 was invested to assist nonprofits and community service organizations in the two-county area.
“Thanks go out to our dedicated volunteer group, including our Board of Directors and Supervisory Committee, as well as our remarkable service team (over 60 strong!) who serve our members every day,” noted Cooper. He went on to thank the membership for its “continued trust and confidence,” noting that MLCU “looks forward to continuing to grow and meet the communities’ financial needs in the years to come.”
Total assets reported for MLCU for 2013 grew from $127 million to $174 million, according to figures published in the MLCU Annual Report.
The number of members increased from 18,528 to 25,043. During 2013, MLCU was recognized by the California and Nevada Credit Union Leagues, receiving first place in the state Desjardins Youth Financial Education Award. This award acknowledged MLCU’s ongoing work with elementary school, high school and college students in both counties.
Mendo Lake Credit Union is a member-owned financial cooperative and has been serving members’ financial needs since 1959. MLCU branches are located in Lakeport, Clearlake, Fort Bragg and Ukiah.
- Details
- Written by: Editor
SACRAMENTO – State Controller John Chiang has released his monthly report covering California's cash balance, receipts and disbursements in March 2014.
Revenues for the month totaled $6.4 billion, surpassing estimates in the 2014-15 Governor’s Budget by $470.9 million, or 7.9 percent.
“As employment in California nears its pre-recession peak, the state is seeing positive gains in many of its primary revenue sources,” said Chiang. “As we enter the important month of April, all eyes will be on the state's income tax receipts – and whether they size up against budget estimates.”
Last week, the controller launched a new tax tracker site, http://scotaxtracker.blogspot.com/ , logging deposits from the state's major taxes through the end of April.
The site is updated multiple times a day, always using the latest figures available from tax collection agencies.
March income tax receipts exceeded the latest expectations by $231.6 million, or 8.6 percent. Corporate tax receipts came in ahead of estimates by $130.6 million, or 9.5 percent.
Sales and use taxes were $22.4 million above, or 1.4 percent, expectations in the governor’s 2014-15 proposed budget.
The state ended the month with a general fund cash deficit of $16.7 billion, which was covered with both internal and external borrowing.
That figure was up from last year, when the state faced a cash deficit of $15.2 billion at the end of March 2013.
- Details
- Written by: Editor
As the temperatures rise in California, so do the gas prices.
The average pump price in California has been creeping upwards for weeks.
Today’s average price in the Golden State is $0.14 cents higher than a month ago, according to the AAA Northern California monthly gas survey.
Northern California’s average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline is $3.98, that’s $0.14 cents more than last month’s AAA report on March 11.
For perspective, California’s average gas price, $4.05, is $0.03 higher on this date than it was a year ago.
“There is a reason why we typically see gas prices rise as the weather becomes warmer. Each spring, refiners must start producing their summer-blend gasoline by May 1, and that process is well underway,” said Bob Brown, AAA Northern California spokesperson. “Additional additives are put into to the gasoline to make it burn properly, so that it will meet clean-air standards. The cost of those additives is passed on to the consumer.”
Today’s national average price at the pump is $3.59 per gallon, which is the highest price in nearly six months. This price is $0.02 higher than one week ago and $0.10 more than one month ago. The national average price is the same as a year ago.
The national average continues to steadily climb and has now increased for 18 straight days.
In addition to warm-weather blends of gasoline coming into play this time of year, seasonal refinery maintenance has also helped to push up the pump price.
However, there is good news. Many refineries in the United States have come out of their seasonal maintenance cycles, lessening the impact of restricted output due to maintenance.
That said, demand for gasoline was at a three-month high in the United States just two weeks ago, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
This higher demand has continued to breathe life into the upward trend in pump prices.
News from Libya might soon bring some relief. Libyan rebels have agreed to reopen two oil ports they previously closed. That announcement has now started to put downward pressure on oil prices.
Following an eight-month closure, the two ports will return a combined 180,000 barrels per day of crude oil supply to the global market. Also yesterday, for the first time in three days, the costs of both Brent and West Texas Intermediate crude oils dropped.
The least expensive average price in Northern California can be found in Marysville where regular unleaded gasoline is $3.82 per gallon. Of all the metro areas tracked by AAA in Northern California, Eureka has the highest price at $4.14 per gallon of unleaded regular.
To get the best mileage possible, AAA recommends keeping tires at the proper pressure suggested by the vehicle manufacturer, performing routine maintenance and making sure fluids are clean and belts and hoses are in good repair. The way you drive can also impact fuel economy. Smooth driving to avoid sudden stops and starts, combining trips and lightening your load also helps conserve gasoline.
AAA’s Fuel Gauge Report is the most comprehensive retail gasoline survey available, with over 100,000 self-serve stations surveyed every day, nationwide. Data is provided in cooperation with OPIS Energy Group and Wright Express, LLC.
- Details
- Written by: Editor
SACRAMENTO – The California Department of Food and Agriculture Bureau of Livestock Identification is announcing a vacancy on the Livestock Identification Advisory Board.
The board makes recommendations to the secretary relative to improvements and changes in the administration and enforcement of the hide and brand laws and regulations which are adopted pursuant to such laws; procedures which are followed by the Bureau of Livestock Identification; curbing of livestock thefts; the annual budget for the Bureau of Livestock Identification; and legislation designed to improve the functioning of the bureau.
The present board consists of two members that are beef cattle producers, two dairy producers, and two registered feedlot operators.
Any individual representing the livestock marketing business should send a brief resume by April 15 to the California Department of Food and Agriculture, Bureau of Livestock Identification, 1220 N St., Sacramento, CA 95814, Attention: Greg Lawley.
The Bureau of Livestock Identification is the sole state authority to register and inspect cattle operations.
The bureau maintains a brand registration and inspection program to protect cattle owners in California against loss of animals by theft, straying, or misappropriation.
The bureau's program consists of registration of livestock brands; inspection of cattle for lawful possession prior to transportation, sale, or slaughter; recording of information obtained by such inspections; and assisting local law enforcement with investigations and prosecutions involving cattle theft.
Additional information is available on the Bureau’s Web page, http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/ahfss/Livestock_ID/index.html .