Martha Stewart, who founded the media company bearing her name and was released from prison in March, is writing a handbook on how to start up a business.
The book, called “Martha’s Rules,” will be published by Rodale Press Inc. in October, the New York-based publisher said Wednesday.
Stewart has been developing television shows for next season since serving a five-month prison sentence for lying to authorities about a stock sale in December 2001. Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia Inc. last month increased its revenue forecast at its flagship magazine, indicating that advertisers are overcoming their reluctance to buy pages in the publication.
“She has defied the odds,” said Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, a professor at Yale University’s School of Management. “There is a lot to be learned even from her comeback.”
COMMERCE CITY
Suncor pipeline leaks; spill held to plant site
Suncor Energy USA reported a leak Wednesday in an underground gasoline pipeline at its Commerce City oil refinery.
Suncor officials said late Wednesday that they didn’t know how much gasoline leaked into the ground before the pipeline was shut.
Suncor said its emergency response team contained the spill on the plant site and placed a foam blanket over the leak. Power to the refinery near the spill was shut down and all employees and contractors were evacuated as a precaution. There were no injuries.
Part of Brighton Boulevard, which parallels the refinery, was closed following the 1:30 p.m. spill. It was reopened later.
Suncor said the spill will not affect local gasoline supplies.
SEATTLE
Court asked to lift ban on Canada cattle
The Bush administration urged a federal appeals court Wednesday to reopen the border to Canadian cattle imports, which were banned from the United States in 2003 after a cow in Alberta was found to have mad cow disease.
Justice Department attorney Mark Stern told a three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that lifting the ban would not result in an “infestation in American livestock,” and added that reopening the border was based on “good science.”
NEW YORK
Rigases stay free on bail during appeals
John Rigas, the 80-year-old founder of Adelphia Communications Corp. who was ordered to report to prison on Sept. 19 to begin serving a 15-year term, may remain free on bail while he appeals his fraud conviction.
His son, ex-finance chief Timothy Rigas, also may stay out of prison until his appeal is complete, U.S. District Judge Leonard Sand said in New York. The Rigases were convicted a year ago of looting the company and lying about its finances. Timothy Rigas was sentenced to 20 years in prison.
McLEAN, Va.
Gannett reports rising costs, falling profits
Gannett Co., the biggest U.S. newspaper publisher, said second-quarter profit fell 4.5 percent as costs rose, and advertising revenue dropped at its 21 television stations and flagship USA Today newspaper. In Colorado, Gannett owns KUSA-TV in Denver and the Coloradoan newspaper in Fort Collins.
Net income declined to $338.6 million, or $1.37 a share, from $354.4 million a year earlier, the McLean, Va.-based company said Wednesday in a statement.
CUPERTINO, Calif.
Apple credits iPod for 75 percent sales jump
Apple Computer Inc. saw sales jump 75 percent in its latest quarter – and net income more than quadruple – as sizzling sales of iPod music players led the company to what chief executive Steve Jobs called its best quarterly performance.
For the three months ending on June 25, Apple’s profit rose to $320 million, or 37 cents per share, up from the $61 million and 8 cents per share the company reported in the year-ago quarter. Sales surged 75 percent to $3.52 billion from $2.01 billion last year.
DENVER
Birner Dental shares rise after stock split
Shares of Birner Dental Management Services Inc. rose Wednesday after the company declared a 2-for-1 stock split of its common stock. Birner shares closed Wednesday at $31, up $3 or 10.7 percent.
“We believe that the stock split will provide greater liquidity and wider distribution for our shares and will allow the stock to be more accessible and attractive to a broader range of investors,” said CEO Fred Birner.
NEW YORK
H-P chief targets jobs, research for cost cuts
Hewlett-Packard Co. CEO Mark Hurd, who joined the company in April, will probably target research and development in his efforts to slash spending.
Hurd, 48, will announce in coming weeks the elimination of as many as 15,000 jobs, or 10 percent of the workforce, and the reduction of a $3.5 billion budget for research, according to Toni Sacconaghi, at New York-based Sanford C. Bernstein & Co.
DENVER
Nominees sought for Business Hall of Fame
The Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce and Junior Achievement-Rocky Mountain Inc. are seeking statewide nominations for induction into the Colorado Business Hall of Fame through July 22.
This honor is bestowed upon Colorado business legends who have made a significant and lasting impression on Colorado. For information, call 303-628-7369.
PEOPLE
Colin Powell hired; ProLogis chief leaves
Former U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell joined Menlo Park, Calif.-based Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, the venture capital firm that helped finance Google Inc., Amazon.com Inc. and America Online Inc., as a part-time adviser to companies on management and international expansion … ProLogis, a Denver-based provider of distribution facilities and services, announced Wednesday that John W. Seiple Jr. will resign as president and chief executive officer of North America, with the completion of the previously announced merger with Catellus Development Corp. He will terminate his employment with the company on Dec. 31. … Clarity Media Group, the Denver-based parent of The San Francisco Examiner and The Washington D.C. Examiner, appointed Vivienne Sosnowski to the newly created position of editorial director of the group’s newspapers. She will remain as executive editor of The San Francisco Examiner.
