Wal-Mart "The Halliburton of Retail" where being a Peon really means It !!!!!

Wal-Mart Thefts
News Channel 11 Staff
TriCities.com
Feb 2, 5:17 PM EST

A man and woman from Bristol, Virginia have been arrested for stealing merchandise from the Wal-Mart Supercenter on Lee Highway.

http://www.bristolnews.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=TRI/MGArticle/TRI_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1031780601838&path=Variables.path

Wal-Mart, a second Walgreens in works for Penn Hills
Wednesday, February 02, 2005
By Judy Laurinatis, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Two Walgreens stores and a Super Wal-Mart may soon be on the Penn Hills commercial landscape.

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05033/451140.stm

Residents wary of Wal-Mart expansion
By YOLANDA RODRÍGUEZ
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 02/06/05
The Wal-Mart on Johnson Ferry Road wants to be bigger.
But so far, residents living near the store are not convinced that a super-sized Wal-Mart — the company wants to add 50,100 square feet — is what their neighborhoods need or want. Residents are scheduled to meet with company officials on Feb. 18 to discuss the plans.

http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/cobb/0205/06supersize.html

Wal-Mart pulls back; family buys U.S. 72 site
Walkers promise to protect house, historic cemetery
Friday, February 04, 2005
By MARIAN ACCARDI
Times Business Writer accardi@htimes.com
Wal-Mart has backed off plans to build a new supercenter on U.S. 72 East at the base of Chapman Mountain and is looking at other locations in the Huntsville area.

http://www.al.com/news/huntsvilletimes/index.ssf?/base/news/1107512103231160.xml

Wal-Mart Supercenter coming to Ottawa
Store will anchor 80-acre mall
By JONATHAN BILYK — For The Times-Press
A Wal-Mart Supercenter will anchor Ottawa’s new proposed North Side shopping center.
Tuesday, Mayor Robert Eschbach announced that the world’s largest retailer will become the first and likely the largest retail tenant for the planned Ottawa Centre development.

http://www.times-press.com/newsmain.php?storyid=10877

Young entrepreneur wiggles his way into Wal-Mart
By MARINA STRAUSS
RETAILING REPORTER
Friday, February 4, 2005, Page B1
Thomas Szaky shocked his parents a few years ago when he decided to drop out of Princeton University to start a business making plant food. To their dismay, he explained that the product came from worm poop.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/Page/document/v4/sub/MarketingPage?user_URL=http://www.theglobeandmail.com%2Fservlet%2FArticleNews%2FTPStory%2FLAC%2F20050204%2FRWALMART04%2FTPBusiness%2FCanadian&ord=1109645466319&brand=theglobeandmail&force_login=true

Wal-Mart sees Feb. sales up 2%-4%
By Carla Mozee, MarketWatch
Last Update: 1:16 PM ET Feb. 5, 2005
E-mail it Print Alert Reprint RSS
SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) - Wal-Mart on Saturday said it expects same-store sales at its U.S. stores to increase between 2 percent and 4 percent during February.

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Wal-Mart's (WMT: news, chart, profile) sales figures for the month should get a boost from Sunday's Super Bowl, as consumers pick up party items like snacks, beverages and decorations to watch the country's biggest annual sporting event.

http://cbs.marketwatch.com/news/story.asp?guid=%7BC77656B8-58DC-4C9B-9105-2DEEE0E70D58%7D&siteid=google&dist=google

Wal-Mart foes launch petition drive
Residents group hopes to sway council, says retailer is bad fit
12:55 PM CST on Saturday, February 5, 2005
By MIKKI KIRBY / The Dallas Morning News
Highland Village residents outraged by the City Council's approval of a Wal-Mart Supercenter as part of a larger development are taking steps to overturn that decision.

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/city/denton/stories/020506dndenwalmart.ee76.html

Critics appeal Union County permit for Wal-Mart
County, residents file appeal of special-use license for supercenter
HOWIE PAUL HARTNETT
Staff Writer
Union County and residents against a proposed Wal-Mart will appeal a local board's decision to give the retail giant one of the two permits it needs to build a 206,000-square-foot building off Rea Road.

http://www.charlotte.com/mld/observer/news/local/10826100.htm

Wal-Mart: NLRB ORDERS UNION RECOGNITION VOTE AT COLO. WAL-MART AUTO SERVICE DEPTS.

NLRB ORDERS UNION RECOGNITION VOTE AT COLO. WAL-MART AUTO SERVICE DEPTS.
By Mark Gruenberg, PAI, ILCA Member
LOVELAND, Colo. (PAI)--The United Food and Commercial Workers will get another shot at breaking through Wal-Mart’s anti-union blockade in the U.S., when 20 workers in its two auto service departments in the Loveland, Colo., supercenter vote on representation by the union’s Local 7.

http://www.ilcaonline.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=1736&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0

TYLER WAL-MART EVACUATED
AFTER BOMB THREAT
By: Staff
February 05, 2005

The Wal-Mart Supercenter at Texas Highway 64 West and Loop 323 was evacuated at about 8:20 p.m. Saturday.
Don Martin, Tyler Police Department public information officer, said the store had received a bomb threat.

http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=13899874&BRD=1994&PAG=461&dept_id=227937&rfi=6

Walmart Expands Low-End Linux Notebook Offerings

Posted by timothy on Fri Feb 04, '05 10:28 PM
from the cheap-at-the-price dept.
startleman writes "A story on Tom's Hardware reports that Walmart apparently will offer a Linare-equipped notebook below the $500 mark. Manufacturer Linare said that it will bring a Linux-based device to the retailer 'within the next few days.' Specs include an AMD Athlon 1800+, a 40 GByte harddrive, 128 MByte memory, a CD-ROM drive, an Ethernet port and the firm's Linare OS as well as Open Office."

http://linux.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=05/02/05/0032255&from=rss

Wal-Mart To Close Store In Canada With a Union
By IAN AUSTEN (NYT) 580 words
Late Edition - Final , Section C , Page 3 , Column 1
DISPLAYING FIRST 50 OF 580 WORDS - Wal-Mart Canada, a division of Wal-Mart Stores, said on Wednesday that it would close a store in Quebec where unionized workers are attempting to negotiate the first collective agreement in North America with the company ... A spokesman for Wal-Mart Canada, Andrew Pelletier, said the store in Jonquière, Quebec, would...

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F30D14F93D5E0C738DDDAB0894DD404482

Foes Dig In As Wal-Mart Aims for City
By STEVEN GREENHOUSE (NYT) 1609 words
Late Edition - Final , Section A , Page 1 , Column 1
Correction Appended
ABSTRACT - Wal-Mart's plan to open its first New York City store, in Rego Park, Queens, is expected to spark biggest battle against single store in city's history; it is opposed by small businesses, union leaders, City Council members and even some mayoral candidates;

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=FB0E1EF73D5E0C738DDDAB0894DD404482

Wal-Mart still wants to help Daiei
By Mariko Sanchanta in Tokyo
Published: February 9 2005 22:12 Last updated: February 9 2005 22:12

Wal-Mart, the world's biggest retailer, on Wednesday said that it still wanted to participate in the rescue of Daiei, Japan's third-largest retailer, which is being restructured by a government-owned turnround body.
Although Wal-Mart was eliminated from a shortlist of consortia bidding to become the lead investorin the rehabilitation of Daiei, Jeff McAllister, the chief operating officer of the company's Japanese operations, said: “It was a disappointment but I think the process was fair. We think we have a solution and we'll see how that progresses.”

http://news.ft.com/cms/s/0c369e3e-7abd-11d9-a8c9-00000e2511c8.html

Quebec Unions Call for Wal-Mart Boycott
Thu Feb 10, 2005 04:37 PM ET

By Martin Croteau
QUEBEC CITY (Reuters) - Unions for thousands workers in northern Quebec have urged a boycott of Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (WMT.N: Quote, Profile, Research) over its plans to close a store that last year became North America's first unionized Wal-Mart.

http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=businessNews&storyID=7598829

Wal-Mart's Clean Bill of Health?
The retailer says its own survey refutes charges that many workers rely on Medicaid. Nonsense, say critics, who want to see the full data
For years, critics have accused Wal-Mart, the world's largest retailer, of pushing employees into federal and state health-care programs and forcing taxpayers to subsidize the retailer's low-cost operations. Now, as part of a sweeping campaign to improve its image, Wal-Mart (WMT ) is fighting back by releasing the results of a of new survey about its employees' health-care coverage.

http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/feb2005/nf20050210_3996_db016.htm

Wal-Mart debate sparks another late night
By:, Sarah Piland
02/10/2005

Highland Village City Council met last night and on the agenda was the second and final reading on the variation to the Market Overlay District plan, which if approved, would include a Wal-Mart Super Center as the main anchor.

http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=13934121&BRD=1426&PAG=461&dept_id=528199&rfi=6


Wal-Mart talks should have been public

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
February 10, 2005
CRIPPLE CREEK — A judge said the Woodland Park City Council violated the state’s open meeting laws by meeting in secret to discuss a proposed Wal-Mart but concluded they had made a mistake.

http://www.summitdaily.com/article/20050210/NEWS/50210001

Panel proposes changes that could lead to Wal-Mart supercenter
Associated Press
ABERDEEN, S.D. - The city planning commission has recommended changing part of the city's development code to clear the way for a Wal-Mart supercenter.

http://www.aberdeennews.com/mld/aberdeennews/news/10865796.htm

Wal-Mart Chief Defends Closing Unionized Store
Scott Says Labor Costs Guided Quebec Decision
By Michael Barbaro
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, February 11, 2005; Page E01
The chief executive of Wal-Mart Stores Inc. yesterday defended the retailer's decision to close a Canadian store after its employees voted to form a union, saying demands from negotiators would have forced an already unprofitable store to hire 30 more people and abide by inefficient work rules.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A15832-2005Feb10.html

Wal-Mart debate sparks another late night
By:, Sarah Piland
02/10/2005

Highland Village City Council met last night and on the agenda was the second and final reading on the variation to the Market Overlay District plan, which if approved, would include a Wal-Mart Super Center as the main anchor.

http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=13934121&BRD=1426&PAG=461&dept_id=528199&rfi=6

Wal-Mart talks should have been public

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
February 10, 2005
CRIPPLE CREEK — A judge said the Woodland Park City Council violated the state’s open meeting laws by meeting in secret to discuss a proposed Wal-Mart but concluded they had made a mistake.

http://www.summitdaily.com/article/20050210/NEWS/50210001

Panel proposes changes that could lead to Wal-Mart supercenter
Associated Press
ABERDEEN, S.D. - The city planning commission has recommended changing part of the city's development code to clear the way for a Wal-Mart supercenter.

http://www.aberdeennews.com/mld/aberdeennews/news/10865796.htm

Families still disagree on Wal-Mart reburial
By Vicki Viotti
Advertiser Staff Writer
A week before the scheduled reburial of Native Hawaiian bones unearthed during construction of the Wal-Mart complex, descendants remain at odds over when and how the estimated 44 to 50 sets of remains will be reinterred.

http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2005/Feb/10/ln/ln18p.html

Boycott wouldn't surprise: Wal-Mart
By CP

MONTREAL -- Wal-Mart Canada anticipates a union-supported boycott of its stores after it announced the closure of a unionized Quebec store, a spokesman with the retail giant said yesterday.

http://www.canoe.ca/NewsStand/WinnipegSun/Business/2005/02/11/927650-sun.html

Unionized Wal-Mart employees fear second Quebec store to shut
By INGRID PERITZ
With reports from Rhéal Séguin in Quebec City and from Reuters
Friday, February 11, 2005, Page A7
SAINT-HYACINTHE, QUE. -- There were shrugs of resignation in the housewares aisle and whispers of fear over in sporting goods. Wal-Mart, a store known for its greeters, yellow smiley faces and the famous Wal-Mart cheer, was not an especially happy place yesterday.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/Page/document/v4/sub/MarketingPage?user_URL=http://www.theglobeandmail.com%2Fservlet%2FArticleNews%2FTPStory%2FLAC%2F20050211%2FWALMART11%2FTPNational%2FTopStories&ord=1109648989010&brand=theglobeandmail&force_login=true

Wal-Mart Opponents Hire Attorney To Halt Store
Published: Feb 11, 2005

TARPON SPRINGS - A group of residents opposing the construction of a Wal-Mart Supercenter on U.S. 19 along the Anclote River will sue Tarpon Springs to overturn the city commission's approval of the project Jan. 19.

http://news.tbo.com/news/MGBGG8KY15E.html

Tensions run high during Wal-Mart hearing
Attorney, city official behave ‘rudely' at court
By Chad Lawhorn, Journal-World
Friday, February 11, 2005
In a courtroom where emotions briefly boiled over, Wal-Mart attorneys Thursday argued city commissioners ignored expert opinions from their own staff when thwarting the retailer's plans to build a store in northwest Lawrence.

http://www.ljworld.com/section/citynews/story/195886

Union to fight Wal-Mart closing
Legal battles, national boycott of stores possible
Retail giant says it will shut its first unionized store
DANA FLAVELLE
BUSINESS REPORTER
Wal-Mart Canada Corp.'s decision to close its first unionized store could spark a protracted legal battle, a possible national boycott, and the retailer could be forced to re-open the store, the high-powered lawyer for the union says.

http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1108075812381&call_pageid=970599119419

Unionized Wal-Mart employees fear second Quebec store to shut
By INGRID PERITZ
With reports from Rhéal Séguin in Quebec City and from Reuters
Friday, February 11, 2005, Page A7
SAINT-HYACINTHE, QUE. -- There were shrugs of resignation in the housewares aisle and whispers of fear over in sporting goods. Wal-Mart, a store known for its greeters, yellow smiley faces and the famous Wal-Mart cheer, was not an especially happy place yesterday.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/Page/document/v4/sub/MarketingPage?user_URL=http://www.theglobeandmail.com%2Fservlet%2FArticleNews%2FTPStory%2FLAC%2F20050211%2FWALMART11%2FTPNational%2FTopStories&ord=1109649607389&brand=theglobeandmail&force_login=true

Council looks to keep Wal-Mart out

BY LAUREN WEBER
STAFF WRITER
February 11, 2005
City Council members promised yesterday to seek legislative ways to keep Wal-Mart away, or to make it so inconvenient for the giant retailer that it abandons plans to enter the city.

http://www.newsday.com/business/ny-bzlabo114141423feb11,0,2925933.story?coll=ny-business-headlines

Tensions run high during Wal-Mart hearing
Attorney, city official behave ‘rudely' at court
By Chad Lawhorn, Journal-World
Friday, February 11, 2005
In a courtroom where emotions briefly boiled over, Wal-Mart attorneys Thursday argued city commissioners ignored expert opinions from their own staff when thwarting the retailer's plans to build a store in northwest Lawrence.

http://www.ljworld.com/section/citynews/story/195886

Wal-Mart Opponents Hire Attorney To Halt Store
Published: Feb 11, 2005

TARPON SPRINGS - A group of residents opposing the construction of a Wal-Mart Supercenter on U.S. 19 along the Anclote River will sue Tarpon Springs to overturn the city commission's approval of the project Jan. 19.

http://news.tbo.com/news/MGBGG8KY15E.html

Wal-Mart Chief Defends Closing Unionized Store
Scott Says Labor Costs Guided Quebec Decision
By Michael Barbaro
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, February 11, 2005; Page E01
The chief executive of Wal-Mart Stores Inc. yesterday defended the retailer's decision to close a Canadian store after its employees voted to form a union, saying demands from negotiators would have forced an already unprofitable store to hire 30 more people and abide by inefficient work rules.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A15832-2005Feb10.html

Council looks to keep Wal-Mart out

BY LAUREN WEBER
STAFF WRITER
February 11, 2005
City Council members promised yesterday to seek legislative ways to keep Wal-Mart away, or to make it so inconvenient for the giant retailer that it abandons plans to enter the city.

http://www.newsday.com/business/ny-bzlabo114141423feb11,0,2925933.story?coll=ny-business-headlines

Unionized Wal-Mart employees fear second Quebec store to shut
By INGRID PERITZ
With reports from Rhéal Séguin in Quebec City and from Reuters
Friday, February 11, 2005, Page A7
SAINT-HYACINTHE, QUE. -- There were shrugs of resignation in the housewares aisle and whispers of fear over in sporting goods. Wal-Mart, a store known for its greeters, yellow smiley faces and the famous Wal-Mart cheer, was not an especially happy place yesterday.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/Page/document/v4/sub/MarketingPage?user_URL=http://www.theglobeandmail.com%2Fservlet%2FArticleNews%2FTPStory%2FLAC%2F20050211%2FWALMART11%2FTPNational%2FTopStories&ord=1109649946483&brand=theglobeandmail&force_login=true

Trustee seeks meeting with Wal-Mart CEO
Leitenberger wants to discuss connector road
By David Benson, dbenson@nncogannett.com
News Journal
MANSFIELD -- A Washington Township trustee wants to meet with the CEO of Wal-Mart.
Kay Leitenberger told the Richland County commissioners Thursday Wal-Mart should pay for a connector road between Ohio 13 and O'Possum Run Road near the site where a Wal-Mart supercenter will be built this year.

http://www.mansfieldnewsjournal.com/news/stories/20050211/localnews/1979042.html

Wal-Mart Opponents Hire Attorney To Halt Store
Published: Feb 11, 2005

TARPON SPRINGS - A group of residents opposing the construction of a Wal-Mart Supercenter on U.S. 19 along the Anclote River will sue Tarpon Springs to overturn the city commission's approval of the project Jan. 19.

http://news.tbo.com/news/MGBGG8KY15E.html

Wal-Mart's Canadian Union to File Complaint After Store Closure
Feb. 11 (Bloomberg) -- The United Food and Commercial Workers' Canadian arm said it plans to file a complaint against Wal-Mart Stores Inc. for bargaining in bad faith after the retailer said it would close its first unionized outlet in North America.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000082&sid=a6Tx9lrK4_Gw&refer=canada

Council looks to keep Wal-Mart out

BY LAUREN WEBER
STAFF WRITER
February 11, 2005
City Council members promised yesterday to seek legislative ways to keep Wal-Mart away, or to make it so inconvenient for the giant retailer that it abandons plans to enter the city.

http://www.newsday.com/business/ny-bzlabo114141423feb11,0,2925933.story?coll=ny-business-headlines

Unionized Wal-Mart employees fear second Quebec store to shut
By INGRID PERITZ
With reports from Rhéal Séguin in Quebec City and from Reuters
Friday, February 11, 2005, Page A7
SAINT-HYACINTHE, QUE. -- There were shrugs of resignation in the housewares aisle and whispers of fear over in sporting goods. Wal-Mart, a store known for its greeters, yellow smiley faces and the famous Wal-Mart cheer, was not an especially happy place yesterday.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/Page/document/v4/sub/MarketingPage?user_URL=http://www.theglobeandmail.com%2Fservlet%2FArticleNews%2FTPStory%2FLAC%2F20050211%2FWALMART11%2FTPNational%2FTopStories&ord=1109650176956&brand=theglobeandmail&force_login=true

Wal-Mart Opponents Hire Attorney To Halt Store
Published: Feb 11, 2005

TARPON SPRINGS - A group of residents opposing the construction of a Wal-Mart Supercenter on U.S. 19 along the Anclote River will sue Tarpon Springs to overturn the city commission's approval of the project Jan. 19.

http://news.tbo.com/news/MGBGG8KY15E.html

Tensions run high during Wal-Mart hearing
Attorney, city official behave ‘rudely' at court
By Chad Lawhorn, Journal-World
Friday, February 11, 2005
In a courtroom where emotions briefly boiled over, Wal-Mart attorneys Thursday argued city commissioners ignored expert opinions from their own staff when thwarting the retailer's plans to build a store in northwest Lawrence.

http://www.ljworld.com/section/citynews/story/195886

Wal-Mart settles child labour cases
Associated Press
Saturday, February 12, 2005
Washington — Wal-Mart Stores Inc., the world's largest retailer, will pay $135,540 (U.S.) to settle federal charges that it broke child labor laws, the Labor Department said Saturday.
The 24 violations, which occurred at stores in Arkansas, Connecticut and New Hampshire, had to do with teenage workers who used hazardous equipment such as a chain saw, paper balers and fork lifts.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/Page/document/v4/sub/MarketingPage?user_URL=http://www.theglobeandmail.com%2Fservlet%2Fstory%2FRTGAM.20050212.wwal-mart-labour12%2FBNStory%2FFront&ord=1109650725250&brand=theglobeandmail&force_login=true

Granby Wal-Mart receives bomb threat
Canadian Press
Saturday, February 12, 2005
Granby, Que. — A Wal-Mart store in this city about 80 kilometres east of Montreal was evacuated Saturday after police received a noon-hour bomb threat.
Mr. Granby police spokesman Lieut. Louis Gregoire said no suspicious objects were found, but the store remained closed as police continued to check the area following the anonymous 9-1-1 call that came in around 12:30 p.m.
It's the third store to receive such a threat in two days.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/Page/document/v4/sub/MarketingPage?user_URL=http://www.theglobeandmail.com%2Fservlet%2Fstory%2FRTGAM.20050212.wwal-mart-bomb12%2FBNStory%2FFront&ord=1109650786240&brand=theglobeandmail&force_login=true

Union weighs public boycott of Wal-Mart
From Saturday's Globe and Mail
Saturday, February 12, 2005
Montreal — The bitter conflict pitting unionized workers in the remote Quebec town of Jonquière against Wal-Mart reached a flashpoint yesterday as labour leaders vowed to ratchet up their fight against the U.S. retail colossus and bomb threats forced the evacuation of two of its stores in Gatineau.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/Page/document/v4/sub/MarketingPage?user_URL=http://www.theglobeandmail.com%2Fservlet%2Fstory%2FRTGAM.20050211.wwalm12%2FBNStory%2FNational%2F&ord=1109650836260&brand=theglobeandmail&force_login=true

Wal-Mart Says Feb. Same-Store Sales Rising Within Its Forecast
Feb. 12 (Bloomberg) -- Wal-Mart Stores Inc., the world's largest retailer, said February sales at U.S. stores open at least a year are rising within its forecast for a gain of as much as 4 percent.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000087&sid=aZCurQW4AR3o&refer=top_world_news

Wal-Mart to appeal union decision in Saint-Hyacinthe
Last Updated Mon, 14 Feb 2005 15:21:17 EST
CBC News
SAINT-HYACINTHE, QUE. - Wal-Mart Canada says it will appeal a provincial decision to unionize its store in Saint-Hyacinthe, Que., CBC News has learned.

http://www.cbc.ca/story/canada/national/2005/02/13/walmart-quebec050213.html

Albion eyes huge Wal-Mart
Public will speak today on plan for a new commercial district
Meaghan M. McDermott
Staff writer
(February 13, 2005) — ALBION — The public on Monday will weigh in on whether the Town Board should rezone agricultural land on Route 31 to make way for a new commercial district that would include a Wal-Mart supercenter.

http://www.democratandchronicle.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050213/NEWS01/502130330/1002/NEWS

Loveland tire shop takes on Wal-Mart to unionize
By KIRSTEN ORSINI-MEINHARD
KirstenOrsini@coloradoan.com

No one's quite sure who brought it up first.
Likely it was a couple of disgruntled workers who didn't know what they were getting into.
All Wal-Mart employee Alan Johnson can remember is that someone cried "union" and suddenly the Tire & Lube Express department in Lake Elsinore, Calif., was thrown into a years-long battle with the company that no one was prepared for.

http://www.coloradoan.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050213/BUSINESS/502130307/1046

Nashua doesn’t need Wal-Mart super store
George Skuse, Nashua
Published: Sunday, Feb. 13, 2005
Having just read Mark Dennison’s letter of Feb. 10 regarding the value of yet another Wal-Mart in the area, I can only say “bull pucky.”

http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050213/OPINION02/102130006/-1/opinion

When size matters at Wal-Mart
By Matthew Davies
BBC World Service business reporter

Wal-Mart dwarfs its rivals in the retail business
The cash tills at any one of Wal-Mart's giant retail stores are rarely quiet.
Customers bought more than $284bn (£153bn) worth of goods from the world's largest retailer in the year to the end of January.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/4253981.stm

Montana Debates Special Tax on Wal-Mart, Others
Mon Feb 14, 2005 02:14 PM ET

By Laura Zuckerman
MISSOULA, Montana (Reuters) - Montana's state legislature is targeting the big-box megastores that have taken the place of the old Western general store, weighing a special tax to offset welfare costs for low-paid employees of the retailers.

http://olympics.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=domesticNews&storyID=7624289

Wal-Mart: Secret Deal With Wal-Mart on Labor Violations Needs Investigating

Secret Deal With Wal-Mart on Labor Violations Needs Investigating
By Office of Congressman George Miller
So-called ‘compliance agreement’ gives preferential treatment to major Republican donor.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – After disclosure of a secret agreement between the U.S. Department of Labor and Wal-Mart giving the giant retailer the authority to conduct its own investigations of employee wage and hour complaints, Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.) today requested an investigation by the DOL’s Inspector General to determine whether the arrangement represents a sweetheart deal between the Bush Administration and one of the nation’s most frequent violators of labor laws.

http://www.ilcaonline.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=1818&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0

Keep Wal-Mart out of the neighborhood

Feb 10, 2005
February 14, 2005
You've heard that a rich guy named Jones wants to move into your modest middle-class neighborhood.
He plans to build a house that's at least four times as big as any of the other houses, and he has a reputation for being mean to the female members of his household, for paying low wages to his help, forcing them to work overtime without pay, and even locking them in the house when he goes out.

http://www.newsday.com/news/opinion/ny-vpmcc144145015feb14,0,2742070.column?coll=ny-viewpoints-headlines

Wal-Mart Supercenter Gets Green Light in Fairfield
Mayor Hopes Business Will Drive Development
POSTED: 7:34 pm CST February 14, 2005
FAIRFIELD, Ala. -- A project five years in the works is finally a reality for the city of Fairfield: a Wal-Mart Supercenter has been given the green light.

http://www.nbc13.com/news/4197120/detail.html

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. Announces Total Charitable Giving for 2004 Exceeded $170 Million; Touched 100,000 Organizations
Tuesday February 15, 3:15 pm ET
Largest Corporate Cash Giving Foundation in U.S. Focuses on Local Giving, Children and Community Efforts
BENTONVILLE, Ark., Feb. 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- With more than 90 percent of its charitable giving targeted at local communities, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT - News) today announced that for its fiscal year ending Jan. 31, 2005, cash donations through Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. and the Wal-Mart & SAM'S CLUB Foundation exceeded a record $170 million.

http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/050215/datu054_1.html

Dow Industrial Stocks Fall in Europe; Home Depot, Wal-Mart Drop
Feb. 15 (Bloomberg) -- U.S. retail stocks such as Home Depot Inc. and Wal-Mart Stores Inc. slid in Europe in advance of a government report economists expect to show falling U.S. retail sales. Stock-index futures were little changed.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000103&sid=aZZeFHpk7Jas&refer=us

Wal-Mart praises its workers in Quebec newspaper ads
Tuesday, February 15, 2005, Page B15
Wal-Mart Canada Corp. took out a full-page ad in several Quebec newspapers yesterday, telling its employees they are the "cornerstone" of the company.
The retail giant's move came after its decision last week to close a Quebec store where unionized employees were seeking a first collective agreement.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/Page/document/v4/sub/MarketingPage?user_URL=http://www.theglobeandmail.com%2Fservlet%2FArticleNews%2FTPStory%2FLAC%2F20050215%2FRWALTICK15%2FTPBusiness%2FCanadian&ord=1109651641728&brand=theglobeandmail&force_login=true

Big Bargains at Wal-Mart
By Will Swarts Published: February 15, 2005
AS WINTER SLOWLY STARTS to turn the corner to spring, American thoughts inevitably turn to hopping in the car and loading up on lots of inexpensive stuff.
That's excellent news for retailing giant Wal-Mart Stores (WMT), which releases its fourth-quarter results on Thursday before the opening bell. Buoyed by Tuesday's Department of Commerce report on improved January retail sales figures, America's largest retailer is expected to meet — or beat — Wall Street's 74 cents a share estimate for its final quarter, ended Jan. 31. That's up 17% from the same period last year, and consensus estimates suggest year-end earnings per share of $2.40, an 18% increase from last year.

http://www.smartmoney.com/stockwatch/index.cfm?story=20050215&hpadref=1

continued...

Buy Blue ! Wal-Mart has a 22% 'Buy Blue' rating. Second lowest rating available.

Costco has a 99% 'Buy Blue' Rating

Wal-Mart hits bargain levels
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Some say it's time to buy the discounter's stock. But others see few reasons to jump in now.
5:15 PM EST February 15, 2005
by Maya Kulycky
Wal-Mart

(WMT, news, msgs) proudly boasts that it gives its customers "always the low price ... always." But investors are hoping that the same motto doesn't apply to the company's stock price.

http://moneycentral.msn.com/content/CNBCTV/Articles/TVReports/P109679.asp>

Blumenthal slams Wal-Mart settlement over child labor allegations

By JOHN CHRISTOFFERSEN
Associated Press Writer
February 16, 2005, 7:56 PM EST
STAMFORD, Conn. -- Calling a federal settlement with Wal-Mart Stores Inc. a sweetheart deal, Attorney General Richard Blumenthal said Wednesday that he will try to enlist other states in an investigation into allegations the world's largest retailer broke child labor laws.

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/connecticut/ny-bc-ct--wal-mart-childlab0216feb16,0,1556790.story?coll=ny-region-apconnecticut

Wal-Mart wants to break big box
By Dan Morris
February 16, 2005
I can see it now. In five years, I’ll be driving back to Flagstaff to reminisce about my wacky college days when I’ll hit a corridor of strip malls right past Sunset Crater and a sign “Welcome to Flagstaff- Brought to You by Wal-Mart.”

http://www.lumberjackonline.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2005/02/16/4213c1bf6f8e1

Wal-Mart appeals court's decison on supercenters
Wednesday, February 16, 2005
By Laura Cook - Turlock Journal
Turlock’s battle against Wal-Mart may not be over just yet.
Wal-Mart, Inc. recently appealed a court’s decision that favored Turlock’s ban against supercenters.

http://www.turlockjournal.com/news/newsview.asp?c=144955

Wal-Mart's Scott Probably Lifted Profit With Marketing Blitz
Feb. 16 (Bloomberg) -- Wal-Mart Stores Inc. Chief Executive H. Lee Scott's unprecedented marketing campaign and price cuts three weeks before Christmas probably spurred the biggest profit increase in three quarters at the world's largest retailer.

http://quote.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000103&sid=abqTy4xtokaQ&refer=news_index

$7.6 Million Wal-Mart FLW Tour Coming to the Ouachita River
Wednesday February 16, 2:58 pm ET
MONROE, La., Feb. 16 /PRNewswire/ -- The $7.6 million Wal-Mart FLW Tour will make its third stop March 9-12 with a $900,000 event presented by 7 UP on the Ouachita River near Monroe, La. Hosted by the Monroe/West Monroe Convention and Visitors Bureau, the tournament features 400 anglers from the United States, Japan and Australia, with 200 of the world's best bass pros fishing for a top award of $100,000 cash. Two hundred co-anglers will also compete for a top award of $20,000 cash.

http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/050216/clw073_1.html

Blumenthal slams Wal-Mart settlement over child labor allegations

By JOHN CHRISTOFFERSEN
Associated Press Writer
February 16, 2005, 7:56 PM EST
STAMFORD, Conn. -- Calling a federal settlement with Wal-Mart Stores Inc. a sweetheart deal, Attorney General Richard Blumenthal said Wednesday that he will try to enlist other states in an

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/connecticut/ny-bc-ct--wal-mart-childlab0216feb16,0,1556790.story?coll=ny-region-apconnecticut

Wal-Mart wants to break big box
By Dan Morris
February 16, 2005
I can see it now. In five years, I’ll be driving back to Flagstaff to reminisce about my wacky college days when I’ll hit a corridor of strip malls right past Sunset Crater and a sign “Welcome to Flagstaff- Brought to You by Wal-Mart.”

http://www.lumberjackonline.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2005/02/16/4213c1bf6f8e1

Wal-Mart appeals court's decison on supercenters
Wednesday, February 16, 2005
By Laura Cook - Turlock Journal
Turlock’s battle against Wal-Mart may not be over just yet.
Wal-Mart, Inc. recently appealed a court’s decision that favored Turlock’s ban against supercenters.
“We felt that there were more merits to the case and we are looking forward to how the appellate court will rule on the case,” Peter Kanelos, a representative for Wal-Mart, said.

http://www.turlockjournal.com/news/newsview.asp?c=144955

Wal-Mart's Scott Probably Lifted Profit With Marketing Blitz
Feb. 16 (Bloomberg) -- Wal-Mart Stores Inc. Chief Executive H. Lee Scott's unprecedented marketing campaign and price cuts three weeks before Christmas probably spurred the biggest profit increase in three quarters at the world's largest retailer.

http://quote.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000103&sid=abqTy4xtokaQ&refer=news_index
$7.6 Million Wal-Mart FLW Tour Coming to the Ouachita River
Wednesday February 16, 2:58 pm ET
MONROE, La., Feb. 16 /PRNewswire/ -- The $7.6 million Wal-Mart FLW Tour will make its third stop March 9-12 with a $900,000 event presented by 7 UP on the Ouachita River near Monroe, La. Hosted by the Monroe/West Monroe Convention and Visitors Bureau, the tournament features 400 anglers from the United States, Japan and Australia, with 200 of the world's best bass pros fishing for a top award of $100,000 cash. Two hundred co-anglers will also compete for a top award of $20,000 cash.

http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/050216/clw073_1.html

A Few Worries For Wal-Mart In Sales Report
By CONSTANCE L. HAYS (NYT) 859 words
Late Edition - Final , Section C , Page 1 , Column 5
Correction Appended
ABSTRACT - Wal-Mart Stores reports $288 billion in sales in 2004, keeping it in first place among American corporations in terms of revenue; Target reports sales for year were $46.84 billion, increase of 11 percent over 2003, with net income of $3.51 per share; Wal-Mart's earnings per share rose to $2.41 for fiscal year 2005, up from $2.07; total revenue was $288.2 billion, compared with $258.68 billion year ago, and net income increased to $10.27 billion, from $9.05 billion; same-store sales at Wal-Mart rose 1.5 percent in quarter ended January, Target's revenue for year increased 11.5 percent, including $485 million in income from credit card operations (M)

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F00C16FF3A5E0C7B8DDDAB0894DD404482

Wal-Mart makes inroads into UK as profits top $10bn
David Teather in New York
Friday February 18, 2005
The Guardian
Wal-Mart, the world's biggest retailer, is pushing further into Britain with plans to open at least 15 Asda stores this year.
The company said it planned to invest £600m in Britain and create 6,000 jobs during 2005. Asda is already the nation's second-largest supermarket chain, with 275 sites and a market share of about 17.5%.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/supermarkets/story/0,12784,1417361,00.html

Lex: Wal-Mart
Published: February 17 2005 23:00 Last updated: February 17 2005 23:00

Home in the rangeCan Wal-Mart engineer a break-out? The US retailing giant has wallowed in a trading range of roughly $50 to $60 a share for the last two years. Over than time, its premium multiple has shrunk as earnings growth has slowed. Thursday's fourth-quarter results told a familiar story. US sales are healthy up 9 per cent in the quarter as Wal-Mart rolls out new stores. Gross margins continue to creep higher as the group uses its massive scale to source cheap products from overseas. But operating margins are being held back. Wal-Mart's US same-store sales up 1.5 per cent in the quarter are not increasing fast enough to outweigh the rising cost of running stores. Wages, utility costs and healthcare are the key pressures. That has left the retail giant relying more heavily on non-operating items, such as a lower tax rate and a lower share count to push forward earnings.

http://news.ft.com/cms/s/3411bd7e-8136-11d9-adb4-00000e2511c8.html

Wal-Mart's Civil War Battle
By Nat Worden
TheStreet.com Staff Reporter
2/17/2005 4:02 PM EST

After an aggressive media campaign to shore up its public image, Wal-Mart (WMT:NYSE - news - research) is still stumbling into scrapes within its communities.

http://www.thestreet.com/_googlen/stocks/retail/10209533.html?cm_ven=GOOGLEN&cm_cat=FREE&cm_ite=NA

Suppliers quake at power of Wal-Mart
By Patience Wheatcroft

THE mighty Wal-Mart lifted its profits by a whopping 16 per cent in the three months to the end of January. Growing sales outside the United States and a lowly dollar did their bit to flatter the figures but the underlying increase is still one that will be envied, not least by those suppliers who have helped the company to such success.

http://business.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,8210-1489342,00.html

By CHARLES HERMAN
Feb. 18, 2005 — Connecticut's governor ordered inspections of Wal-Mart stores as the state's attorney general accused the U.S. Labor Department of cutting a "sweetheart deal" with the retailing giant on child labor law violations.

http://abcnews.go.com/Business/story?id=513063&page=1

Holiday blues can't foil Wal-Mart; net rises 16%
Wall Street finds sales disappointing
By Geoff Dougherty
Tribune staff reporter
Published February 18, 2005
Wal-Mart Stores Inc. posted a double-digit jump in fourth-quarter profit Thursday despite a lackluster Christmas season.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-0502180214feb18,1,4921768.story?coll=chi-business-hed

Labor has no friend in Wal-Mart
Published on: 02/18/05
By incredible coincidence, Wal-Mart decided last week to close a store in Canada after the employees there joined a union and started negotiating a contract with the world's largest retailer.

http://www.ajc.com/opinion/content/opinion/0205/18walmart.html

Wal-Mart files trade-secrets lawsuit
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- Wal-Mart Stores Inc. sued a former computer worker Friday, alleging the man stole trade secrets shortly before resigning to work out of state for another company.

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/apbiz_story.asp?category=1310&slug=Wal%20Mart%20Secrets

Wal-Mart backs out on Pueblo West distribution center
Wal-Mart Corporation released a statement Thursday night saying Pueblo West is no longer in the running for a giant distribution center. "We decided that we have to move on because we really need to have a site tied up," said Keith Morris. "And this project could go on for another 6-12-18 months and still not have any feasible site. Tied up and ready to move forward with."

http://www.koaa.com/news/view.asp?ID=3235

Wal-Mart Says Feb. Same-Store Sales Rising Within Its Forecast
Feb. 19 (Bloomberg) -- Wal-Mart Stores Inc., the world's largest retailer, said February sales at U.S. stores open at least a year are rising within its forecast as shoppers bought more food and Valentine cards and gifts.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000103&sid=a.2Hk.3j.hHw&refer=us

Wal-Mart sees Feb. sales up 2%-4%
By Carla Mozee, MarketWatch
Last Update: 1:38 PM ET Feb. 19, 2005
E-mail it Print Alert Reprint RSS
SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) - Wal-Mart Stores Inc. said Saturday it expects U.S. same-store sales in February to grow within its previous forecast of 2 percent to 4 percent.

It appears Cupid played a part in the retail giant's results for the week ended Feb. 19, as the company saw strong sales of Valentine's Day items.

http://cbs.marketwatch.com/news/story.asp?guid=%7BB13B1E9D-41D9-4B8F-B457-450A3A87A103%7D&siteid=google&dist=google

Wal-Mart's Labor deal to get official scrutiny
By DIANE STAFFORD
The Kansas City Star
The U.S. Labor Department's inspector general said he will review an agreement between Wal-Mart and the department's Wage and Hour Division that arose from alleged child labor law violations.

http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/business/10938994.htm

Oil giant lumbers back into top spot
GE, Wal-Mart no longer biggest public companies
By LYNN J. COOK
Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle
Energy is officially king — again.

Exxon Mobil, the Irving-based behemoth of oil barrels, overtook General Electric as the biggest publicly traded company in the world, measured by the total value of its stock. And market capitalization isn't the only ranking Exxon has reconquered.

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/business/energy/3047152

What price a Wal-Mart?
On balance, it's probably a good thing that townspeople in Bennington will have to vote on the new zoning bylaw changes that have been ensnared by the debate over the wisdom of the 75,000 square feet limit for new commercial development. Better too much democracy than too little. But those who are inclined to look favorably upon eliminating the cap might want to be careful about what they wish for.

http://www.benningtonbanner.com/Stories/0,1413,104~8670~2721173,00.html

No stopping Wal-Mart!
Posted on : 2005-02-20 Author : Martin Booth
News Category : Business
Despite a not so spectacular Christmas season, Wal-Mart, the world’s largest retailer still managed to rake in a double-digit jump in fourth-quarter profit. Wal-Mart had chosen not to go overboard on discounts for holiday merchandise, a move that held its U.S. same-store-sales increase in the fourth quarter to 1.5 percent. This move reportedly disappointed Wall Street analysts.

http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/1679.html

The Labor Department and Wal-Mart signed a rather one-sided agreement regarding a recent child labor case and future investigations.
splorp!
Freeware links, cool websites, webcomic links and an amazing chili recipe.
Wal-Mart, the largest retailer in the nation (and also, interestingly enough, the second most often sued entity in the country, behind the government1) recently signed a settlement with the US Department of Labor over some child labor issues. Most of them (18 of 24) involved workers under 18 using hazardous machinery. The company settled the case for $135,540 (hardly difficult for a company whose profits topped $10 billion this year2).

http://web.morons.org/article.jsp?sectionid=1&id=5994

A brand-name survivor in a Wal-Mart world
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Private-label goods have just about killed the brand as we know it -- except for those that never stop innovating. Nobody does that better than Procter & Gamble.

http://moneycentral.msn.com/content/P109896.asp

Wal-Mart plans superstore near Ybor
By MARK ALBRIGHT, Times Staff Writer
Published February 21, 2005
TAMPA - Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is negotiating a deal to buy a huge Tampa warehouse facility near Ybor City as a site for one of its sprawling supercenters.

http://www.sptimes.com/2005/02/21/Business/Wal_Mart_plans_supers.shtml

Click to Watch Clip Video from KSL-TV:
Plans For New Wal- Mart Meet With Protests

http://tv.ksl.com/index.php?nid=39&sid=152038

Wal-Mart Agreement Under Review
Monday, February 21, 2005
The Labor Department's inspector general will review an agreement between the department and Wal-Mart that would give the company 15 days of notice before the department begins an investigation of child-labor allegations, the Associated Press reports.

http://hr2.blr.com/Article.cfm/Nav/5.0.0.0.32187

Discount Juice
Christopher Helman, 02.22.05, 6:00 AM ET
NEW YORK - Wal-Mart Stores' 5,100 stores worldwide suck up $1.1 billion worth of electricity annually for air-conditioning and lighting. Now the Bentonville, Ark., giant has itself entered the power industry. Four months ago, it quietly opened its own power trading desk and began buying juice on the wholesale market in Texas. Already it has cut out many of the middleman energy companies that used to stand between Wal-Mart and nearly $100 million per year of electricity for its 295 Texas stores.

http://www.forbes.com/2005/02/22/cz_ch_0222walmart.html?partner=daily_newsletter

Competition from Wal-Mart sends Winn-Dixie to bankruptcy court
New Feature
Language Tools What is this? English Definitions English->Spanish English->French English->German English->Italian English->Portuguese
Powered by Ultralingua

By Constance L. Hays The New York Times
Winn-Dixie Stores filed for bankruptcy-court protection on Tuesday in an effort to address financial and operational problems that have hampered its performance.

http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/02/22/business/winndixie.html

Next major U.S. TV network? Wal-Mart
PEARLAND, Texas Here in the Houston suburbs, Banana-Vision has arrived. That is the industry nickname for the high-definition liquid crystal display monitors installed directly over a pyramid of bright yellow bananas in the produce section of the local Wal-Mart store

http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/02/21/business/walmart.html

Dell beats Wal-Mart as 'Most Admired'
General Electric, Starbucks, Southwest also take top spots in Fortune magazine's annual survey.
February 22, 2005: 10:00 AM EST
The Top 5: The highest rankers on Fortune's list of "Most Admired Companies." Click for full report at Fortune.com.
NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - Dell Inc. was No. 1 on Fortune magazine's annual list of the nation's most admired companies, displacing Wal-Mart, which has held the top spot for the past two years and fell to No. 4.
Rounding out the Top 5 are General Electric (Research), Starbucks (Research) and Southwest Airlines (Research).
"Corporate reputation is the product of alchemy -- a mixture of everything from the way a company nurtures homegrown talent to how it manages its balance sheet," Fortune writer Abrahm Lustgarten said.

http://money.cnn.com/2005/02/21/news/fortune500/most_admired/

Pact between Wal-Mart and Wage and Hour Division will be reviewed
By DIANE STAFFORD
The Kansas City Star
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The U.S. Labor Department's inspector general said he will review an agreement between Wal-Mart and the department's Wage and Hour Division that arose from alleged child labor law violations.

http://www.casperstartribune.net/articles/2005/02/22/news/business/4c062ce850abfad187256fad0052b77c.txt

Wal-Mart festivities shrouded by protest
1st city store breaks ground amid outcry
By Kevin Pang
Tribune staff reporter
Published February 22, 2005
At a ceremony that resembled a corporate pep rally, community leaders and contractors from Chicago's West Side broke ground Monday for the city's first Wal-Mart store.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chicago/chi-0502220359feb22,1,5085273.story?coll=chi-newslocalchicago-hed

Wal-Mart CEO Takes His Case to California
He says the retailer erred in its aggressive pursuit of the crucial market but won't back down.

By Nancy Cleeland and Debora Vrana, Times Staff Writers
With its California expansion plans stalled, Wal-Mart Stores Inc. dispatched its top executive to Los Angeles on Wednesday to plead the case for the world's largest company.

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-walmartceo24feb24,0,4827889.story?coll=la-home-headlines

Wal-Mart ordered to stop harassing workers in Quebec
Last Updated Fri, 25 Feb 2005 18:53:33 EST
CBC News
MONTREAL - The Quebec Labour Relations Board has ordered Wal-Mart Canada to stop intimidating workers who want to form a union.

http://www.cbc.ca/story/business/national/2005/02/25/walmart-050225.html

Developer drops Wal-Mart from Rego Park project
By Zach Patberg
02/24/2005

Ever since word began to circulate in December that Wal-Mart was considering a 132,000-square-foot store off Queens Boulevard, the discount retailer faced intense opposition from labor and civic leaders who cited its anti-union practices and the negative impact it would have on small businesses in the borough.

http://www.timesledger.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=14037262&BRD=2676&PAG=461&dept_id=542415&rfi=6

Man wins $7.5M in Wal-Mart bias suit
By RIVKA BUKOWSKY
DAILY NEWS WRITER
A Centereach who sued Wal-Mart for disability discrimination was awarded $7.5 million Tuesday night, after a week-long trial.
"I felt very good," said Patrick Brady, 21, who suffers from cerebral palsy. "I felt it was very fair."

http://www.nydailynews.com/boroughs/story/284170p-243461c.html

Scott Touts Wal-Mart Role as Bargaining Agent for Consumers
FEBRUARY 25, 2005 -- LOS ANGELES--In presenting one of the strongest public defenses of Wal-Mart’s role in society, Wal-Mart ceo H. Lee Scott touted the "negotiating power" of millions of Wal-Mart shoppers for reshaping the retail landscape to create savings that are improving lives. The ceo admitted that the economic change that Wal-Mart produces creates a "handful" of losers, but he insisted that the majority of Americans gain.

http://www.retail-merchandiser.com/retailmerchandiser/headlines/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000817844

Wal-Mart Awards $100,000 to Tavis Smiley Center for Professional Media Studies
Friday February 25, 3:35 pm ET
BENTONVILLE, Ark., Feb. 25 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT - News) today announced a grant for $100,000 to the Tavis Smiley Center for Professional Media Studies, further extending the scholarships for minority journalism students initiative the company launched to help increase diversity in the nation's newsrooms.

http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/050225/daf028_1.html

Wal-Mart plans new supercenter in Rapid City
Associated Press
RAPID CITY, S.D. - Wal-Mart Stores planned to file papers on Friday to start the city approval process for a second supercenter in Rapid City.

http://www.aberdeennews.com/mld/aberdeennews/news/10991940.htm

Block Grant program in jeopardy
By Jennifer Kovalich, Enterprise staff writer
Local and federal elected officials are calling on the governor to oppose cuts the Bush Administration wants to make to the federal Community Development Block Grant program, saying it could cripple many municipal projects.

http://enterprise.southofboston.com/articles/2005/02/25/news/news/news04.txt

LOCAL VOICES: Wal-Mart leads way in lowering standards for employees
February 25, 2005
BY JOHN SWEENEY
Perhaps you've seen the ads -- a recent college graduate who has furnished her first real apartment with goods from her favorite store; a mentally-challenged man who has found a job he loves; a trio of seniors who come to shop and socialize at what's become their second home; and, most beseechingly, a grandfatherly type enlisting an animated gingerbread man in his pledge to "make people feel welcome" at his store, Wal-Mart.

http://www.freep.com/voices/columnists/esweeney25e_20050225.htm

Supervisors Put Off Vote On New Wal-Mart
POSTED: 5:28 pm EST February 25, 2005
NORTH CORNWALL TOWNSHIP, Pa. -- Wal-Mart's plans for a new supercenter in Lebanon County will have to wait at least six more weeks.
Wal-Mart wants to build a 227,000-square-foot store on land just off route 72 in North Cornwall Township.

http://www.thewgalchannel.com/money/4234244/detail.html

See, ‘people power’ made a difference at Wal-Mart hearing
State Rep. Suzanne Harvey, D-Nashua
Published: Friday, Feb. 25, 2005
You read it in this paper – at least 150 residents attended Tuesday night’s Zoning Board of Adjustment hearing where Wal-Mart representatives brought their argument in favor of building a new super store on Amherst Street.

http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050225/OPINION02/50225011/-1/opinion

Door shut to Wal-Mart closed shop
David Nason
February 28, 2005
SAM Walton, the legendary founder of the Wal-Mart chain of discount stores, had 10 rules for success in business.

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,12390379%5E643,00.html

Wal-Mart Canada ordered to stop intimidating workers
NY TIMES NEWS SERVICE , OTTAWA
Sunday, Feb 27, 2005,Page 11
Wal-Mart Canada was ordered by Quebec's labor relations board on Friday to stop intimidating workers at a store in the midst of an organizing drive.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/biz/archives/2005/02/27/2003224815

Watching Wal-Mart
As stock price hovers, analysts are confounded
By ANN ZIMMERMAN
The Wall Street Journal
Wal-Mart Stores may have managed to rescue its shaky holiday sales season, but it's having a tougher time fixing a stalled stock price.

http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/business/10992616.htm

Watching Wal-Mart
As stock price hovers, analysts are confounded
By ANN ZIMMERMAN
The Wall Street Journal
Wal-Mart Stores may have managed to rescue its shaky holiday sales season, but it's having a tougher time fixing a stalled stock price.

http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/business/10992616.htm

Pros and cons for Ketchikan with Wal-Mart
Jobs and consumer choice versus tough competition for locals
By TONY CARROLL
JUNEAU EMPIRE
Nearly four years after Wal-Mart opened its doors in Ketchikan, Julie Rowe said she isn't ashamed to tell people she shops there "for some things," something she couldn't do when she moved there.

http://www.juneauempire.com/stories/022705/sta_20050227002.shtml

Yamaha Sponsorship Boosts Winnings at Wal-Mart FLW Redfish Series Tournament
Sunday February 27, 2:44 pm ET
KENNESAW, Ga., Feb. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- Team Yamaha's redfish anglers will be out in full force in Sarasota, Fla., for the inaugural Wal-Mart FLW Redfish Series East Division tournament March 4-5, sponsored in part by Yamaha Outboards.

http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/050227/nysu024_1.html

Wal-Mart robber remains at large

A Somersworth Wal-Mart security camera on Friday caught this man wanted by police on armed robbery charges at the nearby Rochester Wal-Mart. He was exchanging items at the Somersworth store, hours before the Rochester incident. (Courtesy photo)
ROCHESTER — Police continued their hunt Saturday for an armed robber who threatened two security guards with a knife as they thwarted a Friday robbery at Wal-Mart.

http://www.fosters.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050227/NEWS05/50227018/-1/NEWS20

Wal-Mart seeks to build superstore
Published: Sunday, Feb. 27, 2005
HILLSBORO
(AP) – After suffering a setback in its plans to build a superstore in Nashua, Wal-Mart now plans to focus on efforts to put a similar store in Hillsboro.

http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050227/NEWS01/50227011/-1/news01

Iowa City author's novel criticizes Wal-Mart
By Mike McWilliams
Iowa City Press-Citizen
• What: "Death by Discount," a mystery novel by Iowa City author Mary Vermillion
• Published: October
• Where to find: On sale at Prairie Lights Books, 15 S. Dubuque St., or online at www.amazon.com or www.barnesandnoble.com.
Low prices come at a high cost, including murder in one fictional southwest Iowa town.
That's the premise behind Iowa City author Mary Vermillion's book, "Death by Discount," a mystery novel that focuses on Wal-Mart and its impact on small businesses and small-town life.

http://www.press-citizen.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050227/NEWS01/502270311/1079

Group fears shopping center may lead to Wal-Mart
By Naomi Kresge, Staff Writer
ONTARIO - Foes of a Wal-Mart Supercenter will cut their teeth this week on something smaller - a neighborhood shopping center.

http://www.sbsun.com/Stories/0,1413,208~12588~2735264,00.html

Wal-Mart hammers out a bottom, again
Commentary: Retail giant poised for March gains
By Tomi Kilgore, MarketWatch
Last Update: 6:00 PM ET Feb. 28, 2005
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NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- How many times does support have to hold until investors finally get the message?

As February wound down, there were a number of reasons to believe that Wal-Mart investors should beware the coming of March.

http://cbs.marketwatch.com/news/story.asp?guid=%7B86D56CA2-B889-406B-AA7C-54A9A46F526A%7D&siteid=google&dist=google

Wal-Mart Wins
The story about the failed organizing drive at the Loveland, Colorado, Wal-Mart lube shop is almost tragic.

http://www.progressive.org/blogs05/rc022805.php

Wal-Mart February Sales Jump
By TSC Staff
2/28/2005 8:02 AM EST

Wal-Mart (WMT:NYSE - news - research) reported an unexpectedly strong February, saying same-store sales rose 4% in the month, hitting the high end of its standing 2% to 4% range.

http://www.thestreet.com/_googlen/stocks/retail/10210749.html?cm_ven=GOOGLEN&cm_cat=FREE&cm_ite=NA

Fallout seen from Wal-Mart Super Center
By Robert E. Kimball
Posted: Monday, February 28, 2005 2:33 PM PST
It's been two years since the Wal-Mart Super Center opened in Nogales. The 219,000 square foot big box store replaced a much smaller store that had more than outgrown its 103,000 square feet. The Super Center is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week and employees 600 people.

http://www.nogalesinternational.com/articles/2005/02/28/news/news3.txt

No end to Wal-Mart
City in need of reasonable policy

February 28, 2005
Wal-Mart's proposed Rego Park store may have satisfied the city's land-use and zoning standards. Or maybe not. Too bad we'll never know for sure, now that the site's developer has jettisoned the retailer at the urging of opponents who object to Wal-Mart's labor practices and business impact. This is no way to manage the city's growth and development.

http://www.newsday.com/news/opinion/ny-vpwal284160186feb28,0,3842412.story?coll=ny-editorials-headlines

Dow Industrials Decline in Europe; Home Depot, Wal-Mart Fall
Feb. 28 (Bloomberg) -- Dow Jones Industrial Average stocks trading in Europe declined. Home Depot Inc. and Wal-Mart Stores Inc. fell in advance of a government report that may show U.S. personal spending slowed in January.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000103&sid=aThFZNSU0tDU&re

Economic Growth and Wal-Mart
Leave it to the genius of Wal-Mart CEO H. Lee Scott Jr. to identify the source of the poor morale among Wal-Mart "associates" (Feb. 24). It's not the minimum-wage pay, lack of benefits, the repeated labor law violations by the company, or the take-no-prisoners attitude of management that would rather close stores than accede to workers' demands for decent compensation. No, the real source of his workers' poor morale is the union activists who are so impolite as to point these things out!

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/letters/la-le-walmart28.1feb28,0,3535774.story?coll=la-news-comment-letters

Wal-Mart Same-store Sales Rise 4 Percent
2/28/05 11:49:50 AM
By Arkansas Business staff, Arkansasbusiness.com Daily Report
Wal-Mart Stores Inc. of Bentonville said over the weekend that February same-store sales rose 4 percent, the high end of its projections.

http://arkansasbusiness.com/news/headline_article.asp?aid=40067

ZBA’s rejection of Wal-Mart plan commendable act
Berta and Howard Denton, Nashua
Published: Monday, Feb. 28, 2005
It was with enormous relief that we read that the Nashua Zoning Board of Adjustment unanimously rejected Wal-Mart’s request for a special exemption and variances permitting construction of a new super store.

http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050228/OPINION02/102280075/-1/opinion

We want Wal-Mart, BEAU & LORI CARRINGTON, Hillsboro - Letter
February 28. 2005 8:00AM
Not that I believe our input will matter, but we believe a new Wal-Mart would be great for Hillsboro and surrounding towns.
We are both disabled and firmly believe such a store nearby with reasonable prices would help out greatly and save us and many others a 45-minute ride to the nearest one. My wife's parents also live in town, are disabled and would greatly appreciate a closer alternative than Concord or Keene.

http://www.cmonitor.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050228/REPOSITORY/502280316/1029/OPINION03

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The Nefarious Wal-Mart 

When does all the violence in Iraq stop? When Lebanon gets a Lebanese government as well?

This is the old entry from February 2, 2005. I basically believe that an accord for peace with the Sunnis ultimately has to be the answer. The Sunnis removed themselves from a democratic process when The USA lead Coalition attacked Fallujah. It was after that they withdrew diplomats from the Iraqi Coalition Process including any elections.

Below the Saudis may feel differently.

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http://stopwarsaveearth.blogspot.com/2005_02_01_stopwarsaveearth_archive.html

Next Steps in Iraq
The New Iraqi Coalition Government needs to address The United Nations General Assembly to bring to bear a resolution taking The Dayton Peace Accords as a model to bring about a stable and peaceful Iraq. The parites involved in such a process will have to be representatives from the new 'elected' government and representatives of the Sunnis who were wrongfully estranged from the political process in Iraq by the wrongful aggressions in Fallujah by Bush. There was no voting in that hamlet due to the resistance of the Sunnis.The USA Republican Neocons have no peaceful measure for Iraq following the elections. They say there should be no 'artifical' deadlines for withdrawal of troops from Iraq but yet there have been plenty of artifical deadlines for every other date set arbitrarily. Sistani may have insisted the voting go forward but he didn't set the initial date which excluded most of the Sunnis, an entire ethnic division.The New York Times editorial is embellished in it's attempt to justify an unnecessary war by looking the other way at the methods this election was achieved and the level of dead and innocent Iraqis that will never grow into adulthood or those that would have voted but were denied life because of a very poorly conceived, illegal and immoral invasion.All of this could have happened by removing Saddam and without endangering the people of Iraq. It happened in Bosnia and Herzegovina and with that I point out what should have been the focus the editorial. The New York Times chronically panders to this president either out of it's inability to reach beyond the violence or it's refusal to do so. Pandering to criminals is the last thing this newspaper should be doing.THE NEXT STEP IN IRAQ IS NOT MILITARY. Is is however the de-escalation of the confrontation that started the most violent movement yet in Iraq resulted from the alienation of the Sunnis. I propose the use of Bosnia-Herzegovina as a model for the stabilization of Iraq and NATO ,which Russia is longing to be a part of, has the most experience in this area.The USA military never provided comfort to the people of Iraq as the reconstruction never ensued and the monies were funneled instead into bolstering further confrontation of the Sunni rebels in Iraq. To finish the thought each ethnic group, of which two are already settled into peaceful strongholds and a third that finds itself injured and alienated could easily be seen as confronting boundaries with the need for stabilization with the addition of a 'centralized government' as a goal.The USA has to begin withdrawal. Our presence there is wrong and once again as with Bosnia-Herzegovina we need 'peacekeeping' and not further confrontation.The Dayton Agreement is a world renowned doctrine with it's inception realized under President Bill Clinton. Greatest again can be realized in Iraq by applying the basis of Dayton. Dayton formed a multi-ethnic and democratic government while maintaining the sovereign boundaries of each country.With that said, again, we are looking not to the war mongering Bush/Cheney who maintain their precense in the area to irritate Iran while securing their profits with Halliburton; but to the United Nations to settle the peace in Iraq and to NATO to organize it and decide it's 'tone' and approach.The USA needs to leave Iraq and stop Allawis co-dependancy on OUR military and not Iraq's.A look at Dayton:Dayton Peace AccordThere aren't many lawyers who can say they made a country.From 1991 to 1995, Yugoslavia was a nation torn apart by war. Friends, neighbors, even family members, were split along ethnic lines and bent on destroying one another. The three warring ethnic groups—the Bosnian Serbs, Bosnian Muslims and Bosnian Croats—shocked the conscience of the international community with their actions.The Dayton Peace Accords on BosniaText of documents related to the Dayton Peace Agreement which was initialed at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio on November 21, 1995 and signed in Paris on December 14, 1995. The agreement is known as the Dayton Peace Accords. An official print version of the accords will be made available in the U.S. Department of State Dispatch Supplement, Volume 7, Number 1.
posted by Elisa Barrett @ 5:13 AM 0 comments

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Saudi-German Talks Focus on Iraq

RIYADH, 28 February 2005 — Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd and Crown Prince Abdullah held talks here yesterday with visiting German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder on major international issues including Iraq and Palestine. The two sides also explored ways of strengthening relations.

Saud Rules Out Ties With Israel Before Peace Deal

JEDDAH, 28 February 2005 — Saudi Arabia will not make any contacts or relations with Israel until the Jewish state signs a comprehensive peace deal with Arabs, Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal has said.

Israel Freezes Middle East Peace Moves

GAZA, 28 February 2005 — Israel yesterday froze the peace process with Palestinians and Prime Minister Ariel Sharon threatened retaliation for Friday night’s Tel Aviv attack if the Palestinian leadership does not crack down on militant groups.

Editorial: Reforms in Egypt

All nations which aspire to a genuine democracy must have at the forefront free and fair elections. They must, of their choosing, elect representatives who will be of the people and for the people. Any country lacking a genuine ballot box can only pretend to be democratic. In the Middle East, pretenses are now being pushed aside for the real thing. We have seen unprecedented elections in Iraq and Palestine and nationwide municipal elections in the Kingdom. Now Egypt is also to be added to the list of countries participating in democracy in the Middle East.

Western Pacific Satellite 28.02.2005 - Right side of satellite image shows the source referred to below. 

Pacific Global Satellite 28.02.2005 - This is ths source for the 'heat energy' of the Super Cell over northeast North America. 

This is GOES EAST Water Vapor Satellite 28.02.2005 - "Clink On" Hemispheric - Super Cell to Right

Super Cell of the Day - GOES EAST 28.02.2005