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Flower beds catching fire at Yakima WalMart
September 16, 2019
YAKIMA, Wash. (AP) — The landscaping at a Wal-Mart store in Yakima is a fire hazard.KAPP-TV reports firefighters have put out five small fires this month. The latest one Wednesday started when someone flipped a cigarette into a flower beds.Deputy Fire Chief Ron Melcher says the landscaping bark is a shredded wood that easily catches fire.A Wal-Mart spokeswoman says the company is aware of the danger and will replace it.Information from: KAPP-TV, http://www.kapptv.com/
Roadside safety tips may save lives
The Washington State Patrol supports and appreciates good-willed drivers pulling off the freeway to help someone stalled by a blown tire or overheated engine — with a caveat: “If you are going to stop, you need to look out for your own personal safety,” said Trooper Ryan Tanner.In the past 11 months, the state patrol has investigated seven automotive vs. pedestrian fatalities in southwest Washington, including three in Clark County. The most recent saw a man killed on northbound Interstate 5 just south of Woodland after he had stopped to check on someone who had wrecked her car on a bridge. In total, that crash snared four vehicles and resulted in serious injuries to two women in addition to the death of the man, Ronnie Walker, 61, of Spokane. At the time, Sgt. Thomas Butsch of the state patrol said, “There’s no shoulders on the bridge. There’s just no space there. A vehicle is really more dangerous than a firearm.”The circumstances of the seven fatalities were not all alike; they did not all involve eager-to-help good Samaritans. Still, state patrol officials offered a series of tips for people who either have to or choose to stop on the side of the freeway.
Different walks of life represented at Occupy Vancouver
The estimated 700 participants in Saturday afternoon’s Occupy Vancouver protest and march came from backgrounds that transcended easy categorizations on age, occupational status — or even their specific reason for attending.However, what united the masses that congregated at Esther Short Park was a collective, if generalized, sense that America had stumbled down the wrong path and needed to curb its corporate and political greed, in order to prevent ruin.Here are portraits of five people who reflect the different concerns and similar frustrations among Occupy Vancouver’s demonstrators.“ZOMBIE STATE OF MIND”In the time it would take Ms. Pac-Man to eat all the dots in a maze, Ana Jordache realized higher education’s costs would provide a major obstacle to her post-high-school dreams of becoming a doctor. The cost of higher education, the influence of the nation’s most affluent one percent and her generation’s love of video games were among the influences the 19-year-old Fort Vancouver High alum used to create an eye-catching image of discontent.On Jordache’s sign, Ms. Pac-Man prepared to eats dots and then a monster with a $ sign inside each. Above the images were the words “GAME OVER.”
Trucker passenger hurt in Highway 14 crash
A truck driver and his passenger were injured when the driver lost control of the vehicle and collided with a concrete barrier on westbound State Route 14 east of Stevenson, according to Washington State Patrol.Driver Edward I. Zakharchuck, 39, and passenger Irina A. Zakharchuck, 39, both of Lynnwood, were transported to PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center for neck and back pain and head injuries, respectively. They were treated and released.The cause of the crash was excessive speed, according to State Patrol.Edward Zakharchuck was cited for negligent driving.
Man struck by car on Highway 99 following crash
A man was injured Monday evening when authorities said he left the scene of a rear-end accident and was hit by a car on Highway 99 at Northeast 99th Street, in front of the Walgreens. At 5:09 p.m., a Ford Ranger driven by Jose Funes Ramos, 30, of Vancouver collided with the back of a Chevy Suburban in the northbound lane, said Sgt. Chad Rothenberger of the Clark County Sheriff’s Office. Ramos’ passenger, Oscar Cruz-Ramirez, 29, of Vancouver went across the street into southbound traffic and was hit by a car. “He just walked right into a vehicle going southbound,” Rothenberger said. Cruz-Ramirez was transported to PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center for what were described as non-life-threatening injuries. Funes Ramos was arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated.No one else was hurt in the accident, Rothenberger said.
Older bridges at risk of collapse
SEATTLE — Thousands of bridges around the U.S. may be one freak accident or mistake away from collapse, even if the spans are deemed structurally sound.The crossings are kept standing by engineering design, not supported with brute strength or redundant protections like their more modern counterparts. Bridge regulators call the more risky spans “fracture critical,” meaning that if a single, vital component of the bridge is compromised, it can crumple.Those vulnerable crossing carry millions of drivers every day. In Boston, a six-lane highway 1A near Logan airport includes a “fracture critical” bridge over Bennington Street. In northern Chicago, an I-90 pass that goes over Ashland Avenue is in the same category. An I-880 bridge over 5th Avenue in Oakland, Calif., is also on the list.Also in that category is the Interstate 5 bridge over the Skagit River north of Seattle, which collapsed into the water days ago after officials say an oversized truck load clipped the steel truss.Public officials have focused in recent years on the desperate need for money to repair thousands of bridges deemed structurally deficient, which typically means a major portion of the bridge is in poor condition or worse. But the bridge that collapsed Thursday is not in that deficient category, highlighting another major problem with the nation’s infrastructure: Although it’s rare, some bridges deemed to be fine structurally can still be crippled if they are struck hard enough in the wrong spot.
NLRB Merit in claims by union United Grain
The National Labor Relations Board has found merit to claims of unfair labor practices filed by the International Longshore and Warehouse Union and United Grain Corp. against each other as part of a larger contract dispute between Northwest grain terminal operators and union dockworkers.In separate complaints, obtained by The Columbian on Wednesday, the NLRB levels multiple allegations at both parties, orders them to respond by March 14 and schedules hearings before an administrative law judge in June and July in Portland. No rulings have been made.The complaints, filed Feb. 28, underscore the intensity of a long-running conflict that saw another large protest by the ILWU on Wednesday at which two religious leaders called on United Grain to repent for numerous sins, including greed and wrath “in hiring a paramilitary anti-union security force.”In a complaint favorable to the union, United Grain’s decision to lock out up to 44 Longshore workers in February 2013 was illegal, in part, because the action was intended to “discourage employees” from engaging in protected union activities, according to a Feb. 28 complaint issued by Ron Hooks, a Seattle-based regional director for the NLRB.In January and early February 2013, before it locked out workers on Feb. 27, United Grain also illegally fired nine ILWU workers, Hooks alleged. Five of those workers had raised “safety complaints with management,” according to Hooks, and had refused to operate equipment “that they honestly believed was unsafe.”
Police 3 family members dead in Seattle shooting
SEATTLE — A man fatally shot his adult daughter and a teenage granddaughter on Monday night at a south Seattle home, then killed himself, Seattle police said. An unharmed 10-year-old boy was able to call 911 and report the shooting. The boy called for help shortly after 8 p.m., saying his grandfather had waved a handgun at the two victims before shooting them, police said. The boy said his grandfather then turned the gun on himself.Police described the gunman as in his 60s. None of the victims was immediately identified.Police officials and Mayor Ed Murray rushed to the scene on South Fountain Street.The boy was “shaken up” but unhurt, Assistant Police Chief Nick Metz told reporters at the scene. The child was placed in the care of his extended family. It appeared there were just four people in the house, Metz said.The motive for the shooting wasn’t immediately known, Metz said. Medics pronounced all three people dead at the scene. The mayor said the shooting appears to be “a family tragedy.” “One thing I would say is the neighborhood itself is safe,” Murray added.
Countys winery code matures ripens
BATTLE GROUND — Last month, Clark County posted a “do not occupy” notice on the exterior of Rusty Grape Vineyard’s entrance door. If this sounds like déjà vu, it’s because several North County wineries received similar notices around the Christmas holiday in 2013. Jeremy Brown, owner of Rusty Grape Vineyard, discovered first-hand the power of the Internet when he posted a photo of the notice to his Facebook page. It was quickly visible on the timelines of 40,000 social media fans, leading people to believe that the winery, which opened in 2006, was closed for business.It turns out, however, that Rusty Grape never closed. According to Marty Snell, director of Clark County Community Development, a letter was sent to Rusty Grape and two other area wineries on Oct. 15 requesting that work for which permits had been issued be completed by Nov. 14. By the time the county reviewed whether work had been completed, the popular Thanksgiving wine tour weekend was looming and the county decided to wait until after the event to post the “do not occupy” notice. The notice was posted Dec. 8. Brown contacted the county with updated information, and it was determined that Rusty Grape had a permit with an expiration date of “Dec. 15-ish, so we pulled the ‘do not occupy’ because he said he’d do the work and he did,” Snell said said.The situation highlights growing pains in Clark County’s budding wine industry, tasking winery owners, neighbors and community development to come together to formulate a comprehensive wineries and tasting room plan based on a unique set of business practices. Test Caption
Galaxy beats out rivals to appoint Ted Chan as COO – Japan
Uncovered documents reveal Tokyo IR ambitions Galaxy Entertainment Group (GEG) has bolstered its Japan team with the appointment of former Melco Resorts Chief Operating Officer Ted Chan as COO – Japan Development.Chan, who had been the subject of widely known rumors suggesting he was in discussions with both SJM and Macau junket operator Suncity, will be based in Japan where he will be responsible for overseeing Galaxy’s Japan IR bid. RelatedPosts Melco International Development grants Evan Winkler HK$269 million share options In a statement, GEG Vice Chairman Francis Lui said, “I am delighted to welcome Ted to GEG and I am confident that he will add significant value to our existing team and successfully drive the execution of our Japan International expansion ambitions. Ted brings a wealth of gaming and integrated resort experience to GEG and we are fortunate to have a person of his caliber and experience joining GEG.”Chan’s recruitment was quickly applauded by industry commentators, with analysts from brokerage Bernstein lauding it as a positive for Galaxy.“The company has been positioning itself as a strong potential candidate for a Japan integrated resort development if the gaming process were to move forward,” said Bernstein’s Vitaly Umansky, Zhen Gong and Cathy Huang.“Galaxy has had an office in Tokyo for over three years and has been actively involved in discussions surrounding legalization of casinos in Japan. While Mike Mecca has been leading the effort on international development opportunities, including Japan, the time was ripe to put a seasoned well experienced executive on the ground to heighten the effort as legalization moves potentially closer to fruition.”Chan’s appointment coincides with Mecca’s nomination to the GEG board. Mecca will step down as GEG’s President of International Development – a position he has held for three years – to join the board. He will remain a director of Monte-Carlo SBM and also joins the Japan development committee. Load More Japan to conduct nationwide prefectural survey to confirm IR intentions
Michelle Cracknell A new approach is required to help people plan for
September 15, 2019
The pension landscape has undertaken a massive rebuild in order to be sustainable in our ageing society. The topping-out ceremony was the pension freedoms introduced from April 2015. Now, we need to make the new pensions infrastructure habitable for members so they can properly plan for retirement, making informed choices on their options.Previously members were helped through workplace presentations, retirement meetings with in-house pensions managers, newsletters, payslip inserts and posters. The irony is that these channels have become less relevant or available when members need more support. So what are the new support structures that need to be put in place?The employer-employee relationship has changed, becoming more transactional as individuals are more likely to have multiple jobs during their career. The pension scheme is no longer an HR tool that manages retention and redundancy exercises. The question is what motivation does the employer have to offer support, but also is the employee receptive to listening? The ability for employees to take control of their retirement plan sits at the heart of a healthy workforce, where employees work because they want to, not because they have to keep on earning. Nevertheless, the cost-benefit analysis of providing workplace support is harder to prove.This is compounded by workplace changes. Less people ‘go to work’, instead working from home or remotely. The workplace seminar and noticeboard is less applicable, as is the ability to normalise contacting the pensions manager. For some years, information about employment has been put online. But do people use it? Is it tailored to be relevant and capture the imagination?Providing pensions support needs a makeover to fit the new infrastructure. Here are three things to consider:First, make it about people not pensions; target life events, explaining the pension implications rather than featuring pensions within a list of what-if scenarios.Second, make the information shorter; our concentration is measured in seconds not minutes, people have much greater capability to follow it up than in the past.Finally, make use of public services such as The Pensions Advisory Service. People receiving personalised guidance about their situation, including all of their pension arrangements, is more appropriate being delivered by an independent provider, because it’s not natural for the employer or employee to receive or share so much detail.Helping staff needs to move from the traditional layout of ‘two-up, two-down’ to ‘open-plan living’.Michelle Cracknell is chief executive of The Pensions Advisory Service
EY Kingfisher and Scottish Power to speak at Employee Benefits Live 2016
EY, Kingfisher, Royal Bank of Scotland and Scottish Power are among the employers that will be speaking at Employee Benefits Live 2016.Now in its 18th year, Employee Benefits Live offers an extensive conference programme alongside an exhibition featuring leading industry providers, advisers and consultants.Employee benefits professionals will have the opportunity to hear from their peers and industry experts on the key issues affecting reward and benefits today.Among those speaking at the event are: Steve Varley, chairman and managing partner UK and Ireland at EY; Bekki Peters, category manager, HR at Centrica and British Gas; Gillian Thomson, reward manager at Scottish Power; Graeme Wyllie, head of pensions UK and Ireland at Royal Bank of Scotland; Evan Davidge, head of reward at Arup; Sarah Miller, director, international compensation and benefits at Verizon; Dermot Courtier, head of group pensions at Kingfisher.The two-day conference will cover a range of topics, including: employee engagement; benefits technology; financial wellbeing; global reward; workplace pensions; cost-efficient benefits; and health and wellbeing, among others.The event will take place on Tuesday 11 and Wednesday 12 October at Olympia National, London.For more information and to register your interest to attend.
32 do not feel supported when family is affected by cancer
Just under a third (32%) of employee respondents do not feel supported by their employer when a loved one is diagnosed with cancer, according to research by Axa PPP Healthcare.Its Love for the loved ones: how to support employees when cancer affects their family report, which surveyed 1,000 managers of employees who have had a family member diagnosed with cancer and 1,000 employees with a family member who has been diagnosed with cancer within the last five years, also found that 49% of manager respondents report that their organisation does not have a formal policy for employees caring for family members or dependents diagnosed with cancer.The research also found that more than a quarter (28%) of manager respondents take it upon themselves to offer flexible working to employees who are dealing with a cancer diagnosis in their home life.Chris Horlick (pictured), distribution director at Axa PPP healthcare, said: “When someone is diagnosed with cancer, focus rightly turns to that person’s health and wellbeing. But it’s also important to remember the impact the diagnosis can have on the sufferer’s family. In addition to the emotional impact, family members may find themselves facing a host of additional pressures and responsibilities.“Improvement in treatment is enabling many people affected by cancer to live longer lives with the disease held in check or even cured. While this is welcome, it means that the impact of having cancer in the family will continue to be felt for months and even years to come. There’s much that employers can do to support employees who find themselves in this situation. And, by doing this well, they’ll not only help employees through a difficult time, they’ll also help to maintain morale and productivity and retain valued employees.”
Twothirds of employers find that offering diverse benefits is a major challenge
Two-thirds (66%) of employers find that providing benefits that suit the needs of a diverse workforce is a major challenge, according to research by global insurance brokerage, risk management and consultancy firm Gallagher.Its Benefits strategy and benchmarking survey, which polled 172 UK employers, also found that 45% of HR professionals plan to change their current benefits provision, with 72% of those who do aim to make changes seeking to enhance their offering. Just under half (47%) want to increase the number of flexible options within their benefits package, to extend individual choice.In terms of flexible working, 91% of respondents offer part-time roles or shorter hours and 69% enable staff to personalise their working hours, within certain parameters. However, 52% of employers do not allow staff to work from home.Just over two-fifths (43%) of organisations offer their employees the opportunity to work a condensed week, while 24% provide agile working options. Only 14% of employers have the ability to offer term-time only working arrangements.Communication is also a topic on employers’ radars, as 36% view this as a barrier to effective employee benefits. The majority (84%) of respondents do not use total reward statements to communicate about their benefits; of those that do use this method, 77% send them digitally.More than half (52%) of respondents state that it is difficult to adequately benchmark their benefits offering against the market.Leslie Lemenager, president, international employee benefits consulting and brokerage at Gallagher, said: “While cost is always central to business performance, we are seeing a shift in the market as employers are having to compete for talent in a very diverse workforce.“The fact that 47% of organisations are aiming to enhance flexibility in benefits provisions, despite cost management being the biggest challenge, points to a strong recognition that there is a need to go above and beyond to attract and retain talent.”
Hillary Clintons Resume
(WSVN) – Hillary Clinton’s foray into the political arena started decades ago.“What I’ve tried to do in this campaign is what I’ve tried to do my entire life in public service: Figuring out how we can help each other,” Clinton said.Clinton served as First Lady of Arkansas from 1979-1981 and again from 1983-1992, but she didn’t enter the national spotlight until Bill Clinton was elected President in 1992.She played a key role in her husband’s successful presidential campaign. She acted as his chief advisor, gave many speeches and greeted voters.Then, as First Lady, she set up her own office in the West Wing and appointed her own staff — something that had never been done before.She has pushed for the Family and Medical Leave Act, or FMLA, and now wants to take that further.As president she plans to guarantee 12 weeks paid family or medical leave to care for a new baby or sick family member. She also wants to double the child tax credit for middle class families from $1,000 to $2,000. “In addition to creating jobs, I want to raise the national minimum wage so that if you work full time you’re not in poverty.”“If companies try to ship jobs overseas, we’re going to make them pay back every penny in any tax benefit they ever got.”So who will foot the bill?“I’ve been very clear about how we’re going to pay for what I want to do. It is going to be going after the wealthy, closing the loopholes in corporations. I can pledge to you I will never raise middle class federal taxes. It is not right.”Copyright 2019 Sunbeam Television Corp. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Clinton served on several Senatorial committees during her term, including the Committee for Armed Services.After the Sept. 11 attacks, Clinton supported the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan but became outspoken against the war in Iraq.And when it comes to fighting ISIS, she has proposed a three-pronged approach:“Smashing its stronghold, hitting its fighters, leaders and infastructure from the air and intensifying support for local forces who can pursue them on the ground.”“Dismantling the global network of terror that supplies radical jihadists with money, arms, propoganda and fighters.”“Foiling plots, disrupting radicalization and hardening our defenses.”Clinton easily won re-election in 2006 before announcing her campaign for the democratic presidential nomination in 2008.After falling to President Barack Obama, she was appointed Secretary of State.She resigned in 2013.Now, she’s hoping her economic plan will pave her way to the White House. 
Furthermore, as she explained, “I want to finaly guarantee equal pay for women’s work.”Former President Bill Clinton placed her at the helm of one of his largest legislative tasks during his tenure, making her the head of the task force on national health care.Congressional committees ultimately rejected their recommendations, but her work then has helped shape her policies today.“Join me and the president in working for fundamental change in America’s healthcare system,” she said. “You want to make sure we have quality affordable healthcare.”Clinton said she will expand the Affordable Care Act, lower co-pays and deductibles and reduce the cost of prescription drugs.In 1999, Clinton launched her candidacy for the U.S. Senate seat of New York.To qualify, she moved to the state, and, after a fierce campaign, became the first First Lady to win elected office. 
KPEDD Optimistic In Local Economy As Oil Prices Rise
September 14, 2019
According to the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development, the most recent Kenai Peninsula Borough Regional unemployment rate was 5.8 percent in August. Facebook0TwitterEmailPrintFriendly分享*This story was updated to correct 2018’s most recent Kenai Peninsula Borough regional unemployment rate at 5.8 percent, not nine percent.* According to the KPEDD’s two-page report on 2017, business sales last year totalled $3.6 billion, up six percent compared to 2016 which “broke a two-year cycle of decline.” The Kenai Peninsula Economic Development Division recently released their two-page snapshot of 2017’s economy compared to 2016’s and the numbers are looking good. Dillon says there are also current indications that people are more confident in the local economy as oil prices rise. Dillon: “We have seen All-American Oil, we’ve had a steady stream of people in there for the last two-weeks because they have an additional two-projects that they’re gearing up for right now. And you wind up with a trickle down with that. That means that the driving school has had more people trying to get their CDL’s, the Petroleum Academy has had people in there making sure their Hazwopers and their confined spaces and all the other certifications are done.” Figures from the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development showed the Kenai Peninsula Borough’s unemployment rate between 10.1 and 10.3 percent in the beginning of 2018. As per usual, with this summer’s seasonal jobs the unemployment rate fluctuated between 7.1 and 5.8 percent. Dillon says the local unemployment rate may soon improve again as local retail stores begin hiring to prepare for the holiday season. 2018 S&P Kenai Peninsula Borough Summary (1)
254M In Capital Budget For Hiland Mountain Womens Mental Health Unit
According to a release from the governor’s office stated that this plan aims to reduce stresses on other resources for Alaska’s mentally ill. This unit will provide much needed acute psychiatric treatment beds for women – a population that is rapidly growing. 65% of the prisoner population in Alaska suffer from some form of mental illness. Often their involvement with the criminal justice system begins with low-level offenses like disorderly conduct, or trespassing. Facebook0TwitterEmailPrintFriendly分享Written within the capital budget signed earlier this week, the State of Alaska will spend $2.54 million to create a new women’s mental health unit at Hiland Mountain Correctional Center in Eagle River. Governor Dunleavy: “Support for the Highland Mountain Women’s Mental Health Unit, and more. Importantly, the bill also provides the necessary resources and funding to implement HB 49 – an across the board reform to our public safety statutes, that will give our law enforcement, judges and prosecutors the tools to hold criminals accountable.” The lack of sufficient community-based treatment options has resulted in the drastic increase in the incarceration of the people with mental illness. According to Brooks, the Department of Corrections is the largest mental health care provider in the state. Laura Brooks Director/Healthcare Administrator for the Department of Corrections: “People simply think ‘well these are criminals just lock them up’, and some of our people if it weren’t for that illness would not have committed those crimes. They get put in jail when medication or treatment are the much better answer, but a lot of times the illness prevents them from recognizing that they have an illness so they don’t seek treatment or they don’t take their medications and the cycle just continues.” The Alaska Department of Corrections is responsible for providing medical, behavioral health, dental, vision, and pharmaceutical services to individuals incarcerated in the state operated correctional facilities from the first moment they step into the facility.
BP Announces Sale Of Entire Business In Alaska To Hilcorp
Bob Dudley, BP group chief executive, said: “Alaska has been instrumental in BP’s growth and success for well over half a century and our work there has helped shape the careers of many throughout the company. However, we are steadily reshaping BP and today we have other opportunities, both in the US and around the world, that are more closely aligned with our long-term strategy and more competitive for our investment.” Under the terms of the agreement, Hilcorp will pay BP a total of $5.6 billion, comprising of $4 billion payable near-term and $1.6 billion through an earnout thereafter. This is subject to state and federal approval.The sale will include BP’s entire upstream and midstream business in the state, including BP Exploration (Alaska) Inc., that owns all of BP’s upstream oil and gas interests in Alaska, and BP Pipelines (Alaska) Inc.’s interest in the Trans Alaska Pipeline System (TAPS). Approximately 1,600 employees are currently associated with BP’s Alaska business and BP is committed to providing clarity about their future as soon as possible as part of the transition process with Hilcorp, according to the release. Facebook0TwitterEmailPrintFriendly分享BP announced on Tuesday that it has agreed to sell its entire business in Alaska to Hilcorp Alaska, based in Anchorage. The transaction is expected to be completed in 2020, according to the release.
It also holds non-operating interests in the Liberty project and exploration lease interests in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). In addition to shares in TAPS and its operator the Alyeska Pipeline Service Company, BP is divesting its midstream interests in the Milne Point Pipeline and the Point Thomson Pipeline. BP’s net oil production from Alaska in 2019 is expected to average almost 74,000 barrels a day. BP operates Prudhoe Bay, with a working interest of 26%, and holds non-operating interests in the producing Milne Point and Point Thomson fields.
Fast Company Hires ExFortune Portfolio Staffers
All three will report to Fast Company editor and managing director Robert Safian.According to the Publishers Information Bureau, Fast Company’s ad pages through November were up 19 percent, while Forbes (-4.1 percent), Fortune (-18.6 percent) and BusinessWeek (-16.5 percent) were down. Newsstand sales for Fast Company were up 39 percent during the first half of 2007, according to the company. It’s only January 3, but the battle between consumer business magazines over talent is already heating up. 2008’s first shot across the bow: Mansueto Ventures’ Fast Company, which today announced the poaching of a pair of former Fortune and Portfolio staffers.Jane Meier, part of Condé Nast’s Portfolio launch team, becomes Fast Company’s deputy art director. Mark Borden, a reporter at Fortune from 1998-2002 and a noted freelancer, was named senior editor.Anya Kamenetz, Pultizer Prize-nominated author of the book Generation Debt, was named staff writer, effective January 14.
Family Circle Uses Refresh to Continue Growth Momentum
Meredith’s Family Circle magazine has seen an 8 percent increase in the number of single copies sold at newsstands, according to the Audit Bureau of Circulation’s first half Fas-Fax report from January to June, and the title has even increased its rate base in the last year, going from 3.8 to 4 million. To continue to grow, the magazine is undergoing a brand refresh—incorporating new monthly editorial features, columns and design elements.“Since we have such an enormous audience, it’s important that we keep up with trends,” says the magazine’s editor in chief, Linda Fears. “We conducted focus groups last fall and we learned what they loved about the magazine and wanted to see more of, and what we weren’t doing that we needed to add to the mix.”There are 10 new columns incorporated into the magazine and the refresh features more open layouts and new typography. The publication will also be including more video tutorials on its website that will be linked to its print magazine. “Part of the design of making it airier, cleaner and a bit more sophisticated plays into what we were hearing (from readers),” says Fears. “We feel like we understand what moves on the newsstand, and what readers are looking for.”Along with the added editorial content and new design, the publication has also secured more and different advertising support—the first two pages of the magazine include a note from the commissioner of the NFL alerting Family Circle readers, who primarily consist of parents of teens and tweens, to the possible dangers surrounding concussions. Additionally, the September 2011 issue was the magazine’s biggest edition for ad pages in about a decade, and the September 2012 edition has held steady, garnering about 133 ad pages.“We were 3.8 million for about the last six years,” says vice president and publisher Lee Slattery. “In one of the most challenging of economic times we’re one of the few magazines that took our rate base up last year. Its unbelievable that we took the bold move with the January 2012 issue to go to 4 million. Any of our advertisers can say they’re enjoying a nice bonus with our ABC statement. There are subtle cutbacks in some of the lifestyle magazines and we’re not cutting back, we’re investing in this magazine.”