STEVE HARRINGTON NAMED IEEP’S VICE PRESIDENT

INLAND EMPIRE, CA (January 30, 2008) – Steve Harrington has been named Vice President of Economic and Workforce Development for the Inland Empire Economic Partnership. Harrington comes to IEEP from the County of San Bernardino’s Economic Development Agency where he served as Business Development Manager.

Prior to entering the economic development profession, Harrington spent 28 years in warehousing, distribution and transportation including 11 years with Perrigo Co. as its West Coast Distribution Manager, and nearly 18 years with Vons Grocery Company.

Harrington is Chairman and Past President of the Distribution Management Association of Southern CA. Harrington was a “Spirit of the Entrepreneur” award finalist in recognition of his work with the DMA.

Harrington presently serves on advisory boards at the Leonard Transportation Center at Cal State University, San Bernardino, Valley College, Riverside Community College, the Ontario Chamber of Commerce and A Foundation for Kids. He is also a board member of California Manufacturing Technology Consulting (CMTC).

Harrington graduated from Cal State Fullerton with a degree in Business Administration and earned a Certificate in Logistics Management from the College of Extended Learning at CSUSB in 2004. He graduated from the “Leadership Connection” program at Chaffey College in 2005.

Mary Jane Olhasso named woman of the year

You could say Mary Jane Olhasso has done it all, seen it all.

But holding the reins of economic development in Ontario is a major undertaking of its own, and Olhasso says she's in it for the long haul.

As Ontario's status among Southern California cities keeps growing by leaps and bounds, the city's 10-year economic development director wants to grow with it.

The 47-year-old professional's resume boasts an impressive track record in the corporate world, on top of recently being named "Woman of the Year" by Real Estate Southern California magazine.

Impressive, but Ontario's grand scheme holds even bigger challenges. The city's insatiable appetite for attracting new businesses is in its prime, and local leaders are pressing Olhasso to take the Ontario to new levels.

"Most cities believe they're in the business of providing services," Olhasso said. "Ontario believes we're in the business of growing assets just like a corporation. That's why I'm in it for the long haul."

She's got a jumpstart on the uphill battle but still has a long row to hoe. Ontario and L.A./Ontario International Airport have catapulted into the world of international trade, becoming a magnet for attracting warehouse distribution centers and professional office buildings. With that comes a hefty responsibility to coordinate balanced commercial and residential growth.

"A lot of people compare us to Orange County 20 years ago," Olhasso said.

"There's far more potential here when it comes to being an urban center than when it comes to Orange County. (Our airport) will be three times John Wayne Airport and half the size of LAX ... within the next 10 to 20 years."

While it's Olhasso's job to be optimistic about the city's future, she's seen the other side of the fence. Her early career put her in touch with the Orange County real estate industry before eventually becoming finance director for Dana Point.

Beyond all that, the fact that Ontario lies in the state of California is her biggest challenge, she said.

"Brokers will just sit down and tell me very honestly, `Our clients don't even let us look in California because the taxes are too high, and the cost of living is too high,' " Olhasso said. "Given those facts, how can we countersell that? Corporate America knows we're here. Now it's just overcoming the whole tax environment relative to California."

Almost a quarter of her time at work is spent hashing out details for the New Model Colony - 8,200 acres of dairyland in south Ontario that Olhasso dubs "a second city." At buildout, the colony is projected to have 31,000 new homes and several businesses.

"She's worth her weight in gold," said Mayor Paul Leon.

He said Olhasso faces promoting Ontario during the current economic downturn nationwide. "She has to see the value in businesses locating to Ontario, and she already does that significantly," Leon said.

Perhaps Olhasso says it best.

"I want people to see... what we need to plan for so we're not overshooting the market," she said. "Most cities will over-zone land for retail and office space. Instead of saying `We want this,' let's do our homework and prove our case. It's a business approach."

matthew.wrye@sbsun.com

(909) 386-3871

---

Mary Jane Olhasso

Occupation: Economic development director of Ontario

Age: 47

Education: Bachelor of science in business with emphasis in accounting, Cal State Fullerton; masters in business administration, University of Redlands

Resume: Certified public accountant for Deloitte Haskins and Sells; finance director for Dana Point; chief financial officer, assistant city manager, and redevelopment director for Temecula

Favorite music: Classical, country

Favorite book: Economic technical periodicals

Mentor: Gregory Devereaux, city manager of Ontario

FOMC Cuts Fed-Funds Rate by 1/2 Point

NEWS ALERT
from The Wall Street Journal

Jan. 30, 2008
The Federal Reserve lowered its key federal-funds rate by one-half percentage point, to 3%, capping an unprecedented eight-day period in which officials slashed rates massively to ward off recession risks. Officials signaled they're willing to ease still further in coming weeks - a reflection of the risk management approach to policy that officials have now embraced. But they also suggested that the recent cuts may be enough to keep the economy on track. The vote was 9-1; Dallas Fed President Richard Fisher dissented, preferring no rate change.

UPS Sees 'Difficult' First Quarter

By Ted Reed
TheStreet.com Staff Reporter

UPS matched analysts' adjusted earnings estimates for the fourth quarter, but the package shipper predicted a "difficult" first three months of 2008.

Excluding special items, earnings in the final quarter of last year were $1.20 billion, or $1.13 a share, in line with the Thomson Financial consensus estimate. Revenue rose 6.1% to $13.4 billion. Analysts had estimated $13.1 billion.

The quarter "produced solid growth in spite of a sluggish U.S. economy," UPS said Wednesday. In the year-earlier period, it earned $1.1 billion, or $1.04 a share.

Looking ahead, UPS projected earnings of 94 cents to 98 cents in the first quarter and $4.30 to $4.50 for the full year. Analysts had estimated 98 cents for the quarter and $4.45 for the year.

"While there is more uncertainty in the U.S. economy today than there was a year ago, we remain focused and confident that we will grow our global business," said CFO Kurt Kuehn, in a prepared statement. "We anticipate the first quarter will be the most difficult of the year due to lower profitability from an early Easter and additional interest expense not yet offset by labor contract benefits."

During the fourth quarter, the company ratified a new five-year agreement with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, resulting in a $6.1 billion payment to withdraw approximately 45,000 UPS employees from the union pension plan.

Including the impact of that charge, UPS had a loss of $2.6 billion, or $2.46 a share.

Guge Named Businesswoman of the Year

Business Woman of the Year - Gail Guge, Wilkin Guge Marketing


Gail Guge is Southern California’s first certified brand strategist and one of the first 20 certified in the nation. As a Certified Brand Strategist and Managing Partner for Wilkin Guge Marketing, she is the commanding force building brand strategy for every client. Her talent for marrying research and strategy drives right to the heart of the strategic platform, where brand essence comes alive. With more than 25 years of experience in both agency and corporate environments, Gail has established a record of success in branding and strategic planning for products and services, consumers and B2B. Over the years, she has developed a proprietary 10-step branding process called Brandus Operandi™ to help companies reach aggressive growth goals. In her career, Gail has helped more than 60 companies become more successful through results-based, integrated campaigns. From education to healthcare and technology to tourism, Gail’s experience runs the gamut of industries and includes the following brands: Alcoa, American Water Works, Chiquita, Cincinnati Financial, Curad and Curity, Deloitte & Touche, Hardees, Hawaiian Airlines, Heinz, Hospital Corporation of America, Procter & Gamble, Prudential and Wendy’s Foods International. Gail currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Southern California Public Affairs Association and the University of La Verne College of Business. In 2001, Gail established Purple Hearts, a non-profit organization to support families living in a local domestic violence shelter.

Sears CEO Lewis to Leave Company

NEWS ALERT

from The Wall Street Journal

Jan. 28, 2008

Sears said its president and chief executive, Aylwin B. Lewis, will step down at the end of the week as the retailer undertakes its recently announced restructuring. Mr. Lewis, who will also step down from the retailer's board, will be succeeded on an interim basis by W. Bruce Johnson, executive vice president of supply chain and operations.

"We are entering a new phase in Sears' evolution as a multi-channel retailer ... and the board has determined that now is the right time to put in place new leadership to take the company forward," said Chairman Eddie Lampert. Sears last week announced a new organizational structure more like a holding company that consists of five units - operating businesses, support, brands, online and real estate.

EBay's retiring CEO weighs run for California governor

As she prepares to depart from EBay after a decade at the helm, Chief Executive Meg Whitman appears to be investigating a new career -- in politics.

Whitman has talked with top Republicans about the possibility of a run for California governor in 2010, according to three operatives who have had discussions with her. Whitman is said to be asking detailed questions about the logistics of a run and the impact she could have as governor, according to the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to reveal the conversations.

Whitman did not make herself available for comment. A source close to her said she had been talking with Republicans around the state and had become "fascinated" by politics in her work as a fundraiser for GOP presidential hopeful Mitt Romney, a former governor of Massachusetts and a former colleague of Whitman at the consulting firm Bain & Company.

The source close to Whitman, however, downplayed the seriousness of the conversations, saying that Whitman was still new to politics and that California Republicans, not Whitman, were the ones driving the discussion.

"This thing has come to her," the source said. "She hasn't given it all that much thought. It's not, 'I'm going to run. Give me a game plan.' "

Last September, Whitman switched her party registration from "decline to state" to Republican, according to records in San Mateo County, where she lives. The source close to Whitman said she had made the change so she could vote for Romney in the Feb. 5 Republican primary, which is closed to independents this year.

"Whitman has the potential to be a very strong candidate," says former Republican consultant Dan Schnur. "She brings very strong private sector experience to the table, and her involvement in politics gives her a potential base of support as well."

Whitman could breathe life into a party that has little money and few stars beyond Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who is often at odds with Republican doctrine.

A moderate, she is a billionaire who could fund her own campaign. She ranked No. 361 on Forbes' 2007 list of the richest Americans, with an estimated net worth of $1.4 billion.

Another anticipated GOP gubernatorial candidate, Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner, is also a billionaire from Silicon Valley. The two do not know each other.

Whitman, like Poizner, could face a difficult Republican primary against a conservative candidate such as State Sen. Tom McClintock (R-Thousand Oaks). "It will be very difficult for her to explain to primary voters why she and Steve Poizner are different in any respect other than gender," Schnur said.

Former Republican Party Chairman Duf Sundheim, who was among those who encouraged Schwarzenegger to leave Hollywood for politics, says he sees Whitman as a potential candidate. Sundheim is leading an effort to find candidates for 2010, and is talking to people inside and outside politics, including nontraditional candidates who are wealthy enough to finance their own campaign, according to people who have spoken with him. Three sources said Whitman is among the candidates with whom he has talked.

"I've heard from others that Meg may have an interest in running for office someday," Sundheim said in an interview Thursday. "We have many excellent potential candidates and I think Meg could be one of those candidates, and I hope she seriously considers it."

Margaret C. "Meg" Whitman, a 51-year-old New York native, joined EBay as its president and chief executive in 1998, when the online auction company had 30 employees and annual revenues of $4 million, according to a biography posted on the company's website. The company now has 15,000 employees globally.

Whitman said Wednesday that she would retire from EBay on March 31.

Since launching her career at Procter & Gamble in Cincinnati in 1979, Whitman has spent her professional life in the corporate sector, as an executive at toy-maker Hasbro, Florists Transworld Delivery, Stride Rite Corp. and the Walt Disney Co.

She did her undergraduate work at Princeton and later earned a master's degree at Harvard Business School.

Congressional Leaders Reach Agreement on Stimulus Package

NEWS ALERT
from The Wall Street Journal

Congressional aides said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House Minority Leader John Boehner reached an "agreement in principle" in meetings last night on a bill to provide roughly $100 billion in tax rebates to a broad group of workers and about $40 billion in tax breaks for business. The details still were being vetted with lawmakers, and Democrats and their allies already were raising concerns that the agreement does not include added spending on unemployment benefits or food stamps.

The rebates would be at least $300 for anyone who earned at least $3,000 in 2007, with $300 bonuses for children. People who owe income taxes would receive gradually more, up to $600 for individuals and $1,200 for couples. The rebates would be available to those below a certain income cap, likely $75,000 adjusted gross income for individuals and $150,000 for families.

Southwest Airlines Bringing the Internet to the Sky Via Satellite

DALLAS, Jan. 23 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Southwest Airlines will be the first US carrier to test satellite-delivered broadband Internet access on multiple aircraft. With this innovation, Southwest Customers with a wi-fi enabled device will have full access to the Internet including e-mail, music, shopping, and virtual private networks (VPN) via a high-speed connection. Southwest Airlines is partnering with Southern California-based Row 44 and hopes to begin testing Internet capabilities on four aircraft this summer.

"Southwest Airlines is pleased to announce its partnership with Row 44, and we intend to deliver the highest bandwidth available to commercial airlines in the United States," said Dave Ridley, Southwest Airlines' Senior Vice President of Marketing. "Southwest's selection of satellite technology will offer a more robust experience for more Customers per aircraft versus other solutions available in the marketplace."

"Southwest is looking for the best solution for our Customers not only for Internet e-mail access, but for additional inflight entertainment as well," Ridley said. "We look forward to exploring this cutting-edge technology with Row 44 and hope this will keep our Customers productive and entertained inflight."

"We're excited to partner with Southwest Airlines to keep passengers informed, in touch, and entertained," said Gregg Fialcowitz, President of Row 44. "This service will set the standard for excellence in inflight connectivity."

After almost 37 years of service, Southwest Airlines continues to differentiate itself from other airlines-offering low fares and a reliable product with impeccable Customer Service. Southwest Airlines is the most efficient airline in the sky and offers Customers a pleasant traveling experience. Southwest recently updated its gate areas and improved its boarding procedure to make flying Southwest productive and convenient. Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV), the nation's largest carrier in terms of domestic passengers boarded, currently serves 64 cities in 32 states. Based in Dallas, Southwest currently operates more than 3,300 flights a day and has more than 33,000 Employees systemwide.

Row 44 is the fast, global, fleet-wide solution for inflight broadband services -- high-speed Internet, video entertainment, cell phone support, and airline operational services. The system offers wide-body, narrow-body and even regional jet support along with flexible service deployment options. And its cost effective because installation is quick, the hardware is light, and the service leverages existing satellite networks.

SOURCE
Southwest Airlines

CONTACT:
Public Relations of Southwest Airlines, +1-214-792-4847

Bush Calls for $145 Billion Economy Plan

WASHINGTON - President Bush embraced as much as $150 billion in tax relief on Friday to jump start the lackluster economy. If Congress passes an economic stimulus package, the country will be "just fine," he said.

Bush said in a White House announcement that such a growth package must also include tax incentives for business investment and quick tax relief for individuals. To be effective, he said an economic stimulus package would need to roughly represent 1 percent of the gross domestic product -- the value of all U.S. goods and services and the best measure of the country's economic standing.

Later, visiting a manufacturing plant in Frederick, Md., about 50 miles north of Washington, Bush said: "We need to get this deal done and get it out."

"I believe we can come together on a growth package very quickly," the president said. Earlier, he had said, "There is a risk of a downturn."

Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson said 1 percent of GDP would equate to $140 billion to $150 billion, which is along the lines of what private economists say should be sufficient to help give the economy a short-term boost.

Paulson said the largest part of the stimulus package would be targeted to individual taxpayers. One Republican official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Bush was hoping to target about $100 billion toward individuals and about $50 billion toward businesses.

"The cost of not acting has become too high," Paulson said. "We must act now."

While Bush focused solely on taxes, Democratic and Republican leaders in Congress have been working on a broader package that also would include a temporary increase in food stamps and an extension of and perhaps increase in unemployment benefits.

The president and Congress are scrambling to take action as fears mount that a severe housing slump and painful credit crisis could cause people to close their wallets and businesses to put a lid on hiring, throwing the nation into its first recession since 2001.

"Letting Americans keep more of their money should increase consumer spending," Bush said.

He outlined several criteria for the package to meet: It must be "big enough to make a difference in an economy as large and dynamic as ours," it must be built on "broad-based tax relief," it must take effect right away but be temporary, and it must not include any tax increases.

Specifically, he called for tax incentives for businesses, including small companies, to make new and major investments this year. "Giving them an incentive to invest now will encourage business owners to expand their operations, create new jobs and inject new energy into our economy in the process," Bush said.

He also called for tax relief for individuals -- probably to come in the form of one-time rebates. But he did not say what size checks Americans would get or the amount of other tax incentives that could be in the package. Nor did Bush detail how the nation would pay for such a plan.

"Americans can spend this money as they see fit: to help meet their monthly bills, cover higher costs at the gas pump, pay for other basic necessities," he said.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., has talked of a package totaling $100 billion or more. House Republican leader John Boehner of Ohio spoke of a bill in the range of $100 billion to $150 billion. Aides have said Bush does not believe the stimulus spending should be offset -- or paid for -- by any tax or spending changes elsewhere. Some deficit hawks want this but it isn't expected to be part of any package.

Speaking for about seven minutes, Bush called passing a growth package "our most pressing economic priority."

He acknowledged Americans' fears, while defending the economy's fundamental strength and its continued growth -- albeit slower.

"We're in the midst of a challenging period," Bush said. "And I know that Americans are concerned ... But our economy has seen challenging times before. It is resilient."

Paulson said the markets are due for a needed correction, and that swift, temporary action by the government can help lessen the impact on individuals and the economy as a whole.

Bush has gone down the tax rebate road before. Back in 2001, he added refunds of up to $300 per individual and $600 per household as a recession-fighting element of the tax cut plan that had been the centerpiece of his 2000 campaign.

Economists said a reasonable range for tax cuts in the new package might be $500 to $1,000. Congressional aides said the White House plan is looking at rebates of up to $800 for individuals and $1,600 for married couples, but Paulson said the administration wants to be "intentionally not specific" in public to avoid poisoning the well with Congress.

Bush first signaled his support for the approach of income tax rebates for people and tax breaks for business investment in a conference call Thursday with bipartisan congressional leaders.

Democratic congressional leaders agree that tax relief should be in the package, but are working on a broader measure. Lawmakers are discussing a $500 rebate for individuals, said aides to lawmakers involved in the talks, with details for couples and people with children still being negotiated. The rebates would likely be limited to individuals with incomes of $85,000 or less and couples with incomes of $110,000 or less, the aides said, speaking on condition of anonymity because no final decisions had been made.

Senior aides to House Democrats and Republicans said the measure also would contain tax breaks for businesses investing in new equipment, increases in food stamps, and higher unemployment benefits. They spoke on condition of anonymity, since the talks are ongoing and lawmakers have promised not to reveal details.

Pelosi says she wanted legislation enacted within a month. "Democrats welcome President Bush's willingness to work together with Congress to provide urgent relief to the millions of Americans facing economic hardships," she said. "Now we will work together on the details."

Paulson indicated that the White House approach would not include rebates or relief for those who do not pay income taxes. He also signaled Bush's distaste for non-tax-related ideas, saying the White House goal is simplicity and speed. "We're not looking to decorate a Christmas tree," Paulson said.

White House estimates show that a stimulus in the range of what Bush talked about could create 500,000 additional jobs this year, Paulson said.

White House deputy press secretary Tony Fratto said Bush chose to lay out "principles" with few specifics to the American people now, while bipartisan negotiations with Capitol Hill continue privately. The White House feels Bush was out of the mix for too long, because he was away for eight days in the Mideast while Democratic leaders talked almost daily about the need to stimulate the economy -- and how.

So the White House scheduled two appearances by Bush on the economy Friday. At the lawn equipment manufacturer in Frederick, he toured assembly lines and briefly -- and playfully -- operated a standing lawnmower.

"While there's some uncertainty right now, if we act quickly and in a smart way, that helps growth. We're gonna be just fine," he said.

Bush said he also wants all of his 2001 and 2003 tax cuts made permanent. But, with most of the Democrats who control Congress opposing that, the White House has said it regards that issue as separate from the stimulus effort.

Southwest Airlines to buy back $500M in stock

Southwest Airlines Co. said Thursday that its board authorized the company to buy back $500 million in stock.

Chief Executive Gary C. Kelly said the move demonstrated the company's confidence in its future and interest in boosting shareholder value.

Southwest shares were trading at $12.16, up 8 cents for the day. At that price, the company could buy back about 41 million shares.

Southwest has about 735 million shares of common stock outstanding.

Gov. Schwarzenegger Announces Action to Combat Increased Unemployment Rate

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today released the following statement after the California Employment Development Department released its most recent unemployment data:

“The people of California are feeling the hit of the subprime mortgage crisis and housing slump. While other sectors of our economy remain strong, creating more than 15,000 new jobs last month, it's clear that California and the rest of the nation will have to weather this disruption for a while.

“I called an emergency meeting of my cabinet yesterday and instructed agency directors and department heads to immediately recommend ways we can work with the legislature to speed the release of $29 billion in unallocated funds from the 2006 infrastructure bonds. Speeding up construction of roads, schools and levee repairs will help our economy continue to grow and keep more people working.

“As one of the first actions, I have instructed Finance Director Mike Genest to use his authority in the current budget act to release $300 million in funding for roads, highways and corridor mobility improvements.

“The Department of Water Resources will also begin early environmental work and mitigation to allow $200 million of already allocated levee projects to move quicker.

“I have directed my Employment Development Department to extend the hours of operation at all job assistance centers across the state so displaced workers can get help finding jobs.

“While I haven’t seen the full details of the proposal, I support the President's call to stimulate the economy with tax rebates.

“I have spoken with all four legislative leaders and we are committed to acting quickly on removing regulatory and statutory hurdles that hinder investment in new construction in both the public and private sector.

“We will continue to identify other steps we can take to stimulate our economy.”

Bush Calls for Up to $150 Billion In Stimulus to Boost Economy

By Henry J. Pulizzi, Wall Street

Journal

WASHINGTON -- President George W. Bush called for tax incentives for businesses and "direct and rapid" tax relief for individuals, saying a stimulus package should be passed as soon as possible to shield the U.S. economy from a steep downturn.

"This growth package must be built on broad based tax relief that will directly affect economic growth and not the kind of spending projects that will have little impact on our economy," Mr. Bush said in brief remarks from the White House.

Kaiser breaks ground for Ontario hospital

ONTARIO - The very first hospital to come to this city of 175,000 people broke ground Wednesday at the Kaiser Permanente Ontario Vineyard campus.

By 2011, Ontario is expected to have a 224-bed hospital with a 36-bay emergency department as well as a three-story hospital support building housing a range of specialty services.

"This facility is a testament to this community's need for additional health-care facilities," Mayor Paul Leon said at the groundbreaking.

"We don't have a comprehensive hospital in the city of Ontario," he said. "We have a lot of clinics in town, but what quality of health care are they providing? ... We know Kaiser does it right."

A medical office and ambulatory surgery center currently occupy a 28-acre site at 2295 S. Vineyard Ave., just north of the 60 Freeway.

Once complete, the city will not only have an emergency room, but access to a variety of new services in addition to those currently provided by the medical office.

Kaiser Permanente's new medical center will bring specialty services in obstetrics and gynecology, pulmonology, gastroenterology, cardiology, urology, infectious disease, physical-medicine, orthopedics, endocrinology, dermatology, rheumatology, nephrology and neurology to the city.

The center will employ more than 100 physicians and providers as well as have a staff of about 1,200 at build-out.

Pedestrian struck and killed by maintenance vehicle at LA/ONT

Ontario police responded around 8 this morning to a pedestrian struck by a Los Angeles World Airport vehicle at the Ground Transportation Center at Los Angeles/Ontario International Airport, 3450 E. Car Rental Lane, Ontario, according to the police department.

Preliminary investigations revealed a 20-year-old female from Wisconsin was walking south across the road and was struck by Ontario International Airport maintenance vehicle. The woman was air-lifted to Loma Linda University Medical Center where she died.

The pedestrian's name is being with held pending the notification of her next of kin.

The driver of the vehicle was released at the scene. As part of the traffic investigation, the maintenance vehicle was towed pending a vehicle inspection by Ontario police traffic investigators.

The accident is still under investigation. Anyone having information regarding this accident is asked to call, Officer Craig Ansman of the Ontario Police Department Traffic Division, (909) 395-4637.

Arena may be delayed at the start

Ontario's National Hockey League game could be rained out ...

Plans to open Ontario's $150 million arena on Oct.5 with a Los Angeles Kings exhibition hockey game are at risk after three recent storms slowed construction, arena general manager Steve Eckerson confirmed Thursday.

The rain came just as Turner Construction was planning the delicate task of pouring concrete for the concourse of the 10,000-capacity building, formally known as Citizens Business Bank Arena.

Turner won't commit to a completion date for at least three more weeks, Eckerson said, and the Kings may not be willing to wait to secure a site for their Oct.5 game.

"The October 5 date was a little optimistic," Eckerson said. "The storms have put things a bit behind schedule."

A Lakers exhibition game later in the month might be the first sports event in the Ontario arena - if it isn't ready for its Oct.5 closeup. After that would come the debut of the Ontario Reign hockey club of the ECHL.

Sports officials and coaches at San Bernardino Valley College hope MeasureM passes when voters go to the polls on Feb. 5.

Why? Because the $500 million bond would mean two new gyms, a football stadium, a baseball/softball complex, a tennis complex and a new aquatics center for the 80-year-old school.

Prentice Harris is playing basketball in Singapore today and Saturday with the American Basketball Association's San Diego Wildcats. Their opponent:

Chinese team Aoshen Olympian of Beijing.

Harris, who played at Upland High School, Chaffey College and Cal State San Bernardino, is a top performer so far for San Diego, an ABA-best 15-2. Also on the team: Former San Bernardino Valley College big man Jerome Habel, a 6-10 center.

Sheldon Pace is another local kid who will by suiting up in Singapore. Pace, who starred at Upland with Harris, plays for the Beijing team and "is averaging a double-double," said Jeff Klein, who coached Pace and Harris at Upland.

Inland Empire basketball fans may have un-fond memories of the ABA franchise that was based in Ontario for the 2004-05 season. The Warriors stopped paying their players midway though the season and disappeared under a mountain of ill will and unpaid debts.

Not all ABA teams are disasters. Just most of them.

Michael Coleman won't be back at USC this spring. The former Trojans tailback, out of Arroyo Valley High School, dropped his classes at Riverside Community College last fall and remains academically ineligible.

Playing football isn't a be-all and end-all. But a free education at USC is worth more effort than Coleman seems willing (or able) to give.

Coleman's USC experience (2005-06) was notable for a serious hip injury and playing out of position, at the wishes of the coaching staff - which at one point in time suggested he could be "the next LenDale White."

Terrell Thomas, the USC cornerback out of Rancho Cucamonga, is a redshirt junior and has another year of college eligibility. But Thomas is sure to come out for the NFL draft because he will be a high pick.

Can't fault a guy for cashing in when another year of college could end in catastrophic injury.

A Cal State San Bernardino first: Both the men and women have started 4-0 in California Collegiate Athletic Association basketball.

The Cal State men (11-1) are gaining national attention, again. They are ranked No.6 in the country in the NABC poll, with games at Stanislaus and Chico this weekend.

Vanessa Wilt, a 6-1 senior center out of Sultana High School, is the most dominant player in the history of Cal State women's basketball.

Wilt leads the conference in scoring (23.9 ppg), rebounding (13.8) and blocks (2.6) and has registered a double-double in every game this season, a big reason the Coyotes are 10-1. She already has been CCAA player of the week four times.

Is Wilt known as The Stilt? Or perhaps The Big Dipper? Those were Wilt Chamberlain's nicknames, another center of some renown.

Greg Kamansky's Cal Poly Pomona men are struggling, at 3-6, but they picked a good year to be less than formidable. The 11-school CCAA is inaugurating an eight-team tournament at the end of the regular season, and the Broncos certainly will make that field.

Larry Reynolds, whose Cal State teams were 110-35 in five seasons (1998-2002), is taking a year off from basketball after being fired by Long Beach State last spring. Reynolds lives in Riverside.

Ronnie Fouch, Washington quarterback out of Redlands East Valley High School, has decided not to transfer to Hawaii, or elsewhere. Fouch apparently will be stuck behind Jake Locker for three more years but isn't leaving Tyrone Willingham's program.

Brian Billick, recently fired as Baltimore Ravens coach, ought to pursue a career in broadcasting. It's easier than coaching, and the Redlands native would be good at it, considering his sharp wit.

Kudos: To Prentice Harris, who gets $100 per game to play for the San Diego Wildcats.

Condolences: To the Ontario Warriors players, who went unpaid the second half of their only season.

Lookalikes: UCLA basketball coach Ben Howland, Cal State San Bernardino coach Jeff Oliver.

Where are they now? Construction workers are 30 feet below ground level at the Ontario arena site, pumping out water.

They said it: "You don't want to get into a situation where you promise something and can't deliver." - Steve Eckerson, Ontario arena GM.

And finally: Let's see, a Kings game in Ontario in early October ... or a Lakers game in late October? Kobe & Co. would make for a far more memorable debut. So maybe those storms were a blessing, not a curse.

Read Paul Oberjuerge's blog at www.insidesocal.com/sb/inthiscorner.

Busy ER will be bolstered

UPLAND - In just a few moments, the emergency room at San Antonio Community Hospital can go from relatively quiet to being jam-packed with those needing care.

"We have a very busy ER," said Vince Leist, the hospital's vice president and chief operating officer. "We saw 67,000 people (in 2007) when we have the capacity of 30,000."

After mentally tallying the space in the facility - 19 licensed emergency beds and eight to 10 overflow spaces where patients sit on portable beds at numbered spots along the walls - registered nurse Kevin Norris put it more bluntly.

"We need a new ER," he said.

Hospital officials are familiar with the growing problem of shrinking space. Plans call for a 52-bed emergency department expansion beginning in 2009.

Leist is in charge of the plans - called the Tower Expansion - which include more patient beds.

"We do know we need to expand," he said.

In the meantime, some relief is on the way.

Construction has begun on the expanded ED/South, an addition to the emergency department that will provide eight additional beds and is expected by March.

Additional staff will be hired to cover the extra beds, and more shifts will be created to accommodate patients.

Three-quarters of patients at the hospital are seen through the emergency room, partially explaining the long stays people sometimes experience in the waiting room, Leist said.

To ease those waits, Leist said hospital officials hope to implement a care-provider program in the ER waiting room. Providers would check on patients who have non-life-threatening situations, provide ice packs and other symptom-relieving aids, check vital signs and talk with family members.

"People need to understand that when they come in to see us, they need to have confidence to know that we're doing what is best for the individual (who) asked us to care for them," Leist said.

Nurses and doctors in the ER said no matter how many beds or staff they add, some patients will still have to follow after others who have more serious problems.

"We are in a worst-come, first-served business," said Karl Van Allen, an RN in the ER and a nurse educator.

Van Allen explained that patients are escorted through the ER doors by order of how sick or hurt they are and how long they have been waiting.

"There are hospitals in the local area that have wait times from 12 to 20 hours - us included," said Dr. Kevin Parkes, the ER's medical director. "We decided we don't want to do that, that waiting 12 hours isn't acceptable."

Parkes said physicians and nurses are anxiously awaiting the extra beds because that will be "eight more places we can see patients and eight less people we'll see on the walls."

Sections on the ER walls are numbered and designated for overflow beds. Staff uses them as regular stations, even setting up portable curtains for privacy, when they need more space.

"I hate that, but (patients) are getting safer and better care than sitting in the waiting room," Parkes said.

Although they have had the help of fairly new computer systems that keep ER staff better organized as well as additional employees to help out with patients, Parkes said there is still one more thing that would make his job easier.

"My biggest problem is just space. That's truly the biggest thing we need, physical space," he said. "Our volume has outgrown our physical space."

That's evident when business suddenly picks up. A relatively quiet ER waiting room populated by a handful of patients awaiting care can suddenly become jam-packed, the initial trickle of patients becoming a torrent inundating the small facility.

Staff members immediately change their demeanor as they adjust to the influx. Some hustle to prepare empty beds for incoming patients, while others clear space for the overflow.

The ER eventually calms down again as patients are comforted or cleared out.

This is the nature of the beast, said many employees - and is why they love coming into work.

"It's 20 (minutes) to 12 and I have no idea what's gonna happen at noon," Van Allen said during one of his morning shifts. "I love that."

United Airlines, competitors see stock jump as Delta Air Lines to explore merger with UAL, Northwest Airlines

Shares of United Airlines parent UAL Corp. jumped sharply higher Thursday, along with those of Northwest Airlines and other industry rivals, after a published report raised fresh investor hopes for a merger between two major U.S. carriers.

An as-yet-unconfirmed article on The Wall Street Journal's online edition said that Delta Air Lines Inc. will ask its directors Friday to approve opening formal merger talks with United and Northwest, as it seeks to cut costs and gain efficiencies.

The idea of an airline-industry merger has become something of a Holy Grail on Wall Street, because such a combination could help trim excess industry capacity and help boost profit for the sector.

Although the financial logic of a combination between so-called legacy carriers is compelling, mergers in the airline industry are difficult to pull off, in part because they require the cooperation of the powerful unionized pilots and other workers. At many airlines, employees who made deep concessions regarding pay and work rules during the troubled years between 2001 and 2005 are wary of new cost-cutting plans.

United open to idea

Chicago-based UAL has signaled in the past that its management is open to the idea of combining with another airline, and Delta took preliminary steps last fall to "explore options," including acquisitions. But while rumors surface periodically, no major combination has come to pass in recent years.

In truth, airline stocks have been hammered over the past several months, as investors fretted that the softening economy will weaken passenger traffic, while soaring jet-fuel costs continue to push airline operating costs dramatically higher.

On Thursday, however, the sector staged a frenzied rebound.

Early in the session, airline stocks got a modest boost as oil prices eased. But the real catalyst for the jump was the Journal's story about Delta pushing for consolidation.

The article, based on unidentified sources "familiar with the matter," generally a reference to company insiders or investment bankers acting as counselors, said Delta would ultimately choose one of the two airlines as a merger partner.

By day's end, shares of Northwest had jumped an eye-popping 32 percent, or $3.84, to close at $15.85. UAL, which suffered a punishing sell-off this week when an analyst downgraded its shares because of United's simmering labor woes, reversed course Thursday and climbed 23.7 percent, a $6.16 gain, to a close of $32.19.

Shares of purported suitor Delta showed nearly as much bounce, surging 18.2 percent, or $2.46, to close at $15.98.

Even airlines not mentioned in the report moved higher. American Airlines parent AMR Corp. enjoyed a 13.3 percent jump, or $1.57, to $13.41, and Continental Air Lines Inc. matched UAL's percentage gain, adding $4.45, to finish at $23.25.

Bargain share prices

Airline stocks had sunk so low recently that a number of experts have been suggesting investors shop for bargains. On Wednesday, for example, UBS analyst Kevin Crissey raised his recommendation to "buy" from "neutral" on six major airlines, including United, Northwest and Delta, citing the enhanced potential for consolidation in the industry during 2008.

"We believe the announcement of a major merger is more likely than not in the next six months," the analyst said in a report, adding that "a Delta/Northwest combination looks most likely."

Also Wednesday, JPMorgan analyst Jamie Baker upgraded UAL shares to "overweight," saying that while there's plenty of reason for caution, the stock has been sold off to a level that "we can no longer resist."

Meanwhile, Delta's unionized pilots met this week to address merger possibilities involving the carrier. Airline consolidation "may indeed be at our door," Lee Moak, chairman of the pilots union, told members in a letter posted Wednesday on the union's Web site.

Thursday's Journal item simply served to crystallize the growing sentiment that an airline-industry merger might at last be preparing for takeoff.

The talk last peaked in October, when a hedge fund that owns relatively modest stakes in UAL and Delta sent a letter to the latter, urging it to explore a combination with United. That letter was leaked to the press, and a wire service later proclaimed it had confirmed UAL and Delta were in active merger talks, but within hours both airlines publicly denied that.

However, Delta directors did create a committee and hire advisers last autumn to look into strategic options for the carrier, "including potential consolidation transactions."

A number of experts think a Delta/Northwest merger is more likely than a UAL/Delta one, because Delta's board in August tapped Northwest's former chief executive, Richard Anderson, to succeed Gerald Grinstein as Delta's CEO.

UAL CEO Glenn Tilton is among the most prominent backers of industry consolidation. In September he told the Tribune that he believes United needs a large-scale merger to remain a global player.

UAL Chief Financial Officer Jake Brace sounded the same theme at an investor conference in New York in early December.

"We are not standing around waiting for consolidation to happen," Brace said. "We're interested in that. But we're focused on our business plan."

Talk that a deal needs to happen soon or risk facing less receptive regulators in Washington under a new administration is just "idle speculation," Brace told the group. "Nobody really knows."

A UAL spokeswoman declined to comment on the Journal story, saying that while "our position on the need for consolidation generally in the industry is well known ... we don't comment on rumors or speculation."

Delta and Northwest representatives declined to comment.