Category Archives: Economy

Non-stop flights from Roanoke to New York in jeopardy

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Delta and U.S. Airways want to swap some spaces at airports in New York City and Washington D.C.  If it’s approved, it would mean that Roanoke would lose its three daily non-stop flights to New York City.

It would impact not only people going on vacation,  but the ability of our region to attract businesses.

This move comes after the Greenbrier Resort announced earlier this week that Delta will start new routes to service the resort this summer.  The resort will have non-stop flights to New York City starting June 10.

[Read](http://www2.wsls.com/sls/news/local/article/non-stop_flights_from_roanoke_to_new_york_in_jeopardy/89420/#When:02:01:55Z “Read the Article”) (WSLS)

Illinois farmers buying land back from shell-shocked banks

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Past American recessions call to mind images of poor farmers forced off their land by heartless bankers. But this time, instead of “Grapes of Wrath” migrations or Farm Aid concerts, farmers around Chicago are buying back the land — at rock-bottom prices — from shell-shocked banks.

This may become more common as farmland in exurban Chicago that was rapidly paved over for tract housing for much of the 2000’s now is going to seed — literally. Farmers in Northern Illinois who only a few years ago were making plans to move their operations Downstate or closer to Iowa now have a rare opportunity to reclaim land sold to developers, at a fraction of the price the homebuilders paid.

[Read](http://www.chicagobusiness.com/cgi-bin/mag/article.pl?articleId=33152 “Read the Article”) (Chicago Business)

Wholesale Prices Rise Twice As Much As Expected

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Wholesale prices shot up at double the expected pace in January, propelled higher by big increases in energy costs. The surprisingly large jump was viewed as a temporary blip and not the start of inflation problems, however.

The Labor Department said Thursday that wholesale prices rose 1.4 percent last month, reflecting higher costs for gasoline and other energy products. Private economists had expected a 0.7 percent increase.

The 1.4 percent January rise in the department’s Producer Price Index was the biggest gain since a 1.5 percent increase in November.

In another report Thursday, the Labor Department said that the number of newly laid-off workers filing claims for unemployment benefits jumped to 473,000 last week, an increase of 31,000 over the previous week. Economists had expected a decline and the large increase served notice that the labor market is still facing serious problems.

[Read](http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=123843109&ft=1&f=1001 “Read the Article”) (NPR)

The 5 State Parks McDonnell Would Like to Close

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McDonnell’s proposed budget calls for the temporary closure of:

* [Caledon Natural Area](http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state_parks/cal.shtml) in King George County
* [Mason Neck State Park](http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state_parks/mas.shtml) in Fairfax County
* [False Cape State Park](http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state_parks/fal.shtml) in Virginia Beach
* [Twin Lakes State Park](http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state_parks/twi.shtml) in Prince Edward County
* [Staunton River Battlefield Park](http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state_parks/stb.shtml) in Halifax and Charlotte counties.

Caledon encompasses 2,579 acres along the Potomac, with dense forest and prime habitat for eagles and other wildlife.

Twin Lakes is Virginia’s most historically significant park for African-Americans.

False Cape is one of the most pristine five miles on the eastern seaboard.

If the budget is approved as proposed, the parks would close to the public, but a skeleton crew would remain on hand as caretakers until the budget situation improves.

Last year, according to the National Association of State Park Directors, Virginia ranked 46th in parks spending per capita and 47th in percentage of state general funds devoted to parks.

[Read](http://fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2010/022010/02182010/528781 “Read the Article”) (Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star)

*How will this affect [Biscuit Run](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biscuit_Run_State_Park), the new state park in Albemarle County that was purchased by the state last month?*