If you can say one thing about the Pioneer Valley, it’s that we love local. We champion and support small business, artists, makers, musicians, farmers, organic food, craft beer and pretty much artisanal anything. My recent expedition to INSA — the adult recreational use dispensary in Easthampton where I stuck my toes into the world of modern cannabis — sparked my curiosity and got me thinking about local in a different light. Technically, all legal cannabis is local — cultivated, processed, and sold in Massachusetts — because importing product from one cannabis-friendly state to another is a big federal no-no. But with very few exceptions, the Commonwealth’s cannabis industry currently consists mainly of big players with very deep pockets and a hefty head start on small business owners (more on that in a minute). That includes multi-state operations like Surterra Wellness, which recently bought Northampton’s NETA, and GTI, owner of … [Read more...] about Can Small Business Survive in the World of Big Cannabis?
Small business regulatory enforcement fairness act
Colorado’s vaunted oil and gas rules are flawed and inadequately enforced
Colorado’s much-touted regulations on emissions from oil and gas operations have not kept pace with explosive growth in oil and gas activity, resulting in underreported methane leaks, unmonitored releases of toxic chemicals, and substantial contributions to the Denver area’s persistently unhealthy air quality. Former and current state employees, scientists, environmental watchdogs, oil and gas patch residents and the state’s own records point to a flawed monitoring, inspection, and enforcement framework that has allowed the rapid increase of oil and gas development over the past two decades to continue fouling Colorado’s air. A months-long investigation by The Story Group found that the state does not comprehensively monitor or regulate the industry’s air pollution emissions. In fact, records show that oil and gas companies are still releasing unknown levels of smog-generating and climate-altering pollutants that are not being measured or reported. One … [Read more...] about Colorado’s vaunted oil and gas rules are flawed and inadequately enforced
Small fry takes on Goliath in Texas
At first glance, it didn't look like a fair fight. On one side: an enormous and powerful global consulting company. On the other: the retired founder of a smaller turnaround firm who has become a thorn in the side of its larger rival. But the brawl that is underway in the federal bankruptcy court in Houston has the potential to cause big problems for the consultancy McKinsey & Co. The courtroom fight hinges on whether McKinsey or its clients have hidden interests in a bankrupt coal company that the firm has been advising, a practice prohibited by federal laws meant to ensure that one insider can't effectively cut itself or its friends a great deal at the expense of others. The man leveling the accusations, Jay Alix, is a retired turnaround expert who has made it his personal mission to harry McKinsey. Alix has spent four years first needling the firm's leadership, then attacking it in court, accusing it of violating federal laws and unethical behavior. Normally, a firm of … [Read more...] about Small fry takes on Goliath in Texas
Congressional candidates on business issues
1st, 2nd District hopefuls offer stances in NHBR survey Published: October 25, 2018 While Washington seems far away, decisions made there hit close to home, when it comes to trade, healthcare, energy, the workforce, taxes, labor and much more. NH Business Review asked the major party candidates in both the 1st and 2nd Congressional Districts the same questions with the same wording and required answers to fit the same word limit. The answers we received were very different. 1st Congressional District International Trade Q. What is your position on the Trump administration’s stance on tariffs and trade negotiations and what would you do about it? Edwards: I am a free-trade conservative who is generally opposed to tariffs. However, I support giving the administration the latitude to negotiate the best possible trade deals for our country. For too long, American workers have been left behind. It is time that we focus on ensuring that our trade … [Read more...] about Congressional candidates on business issues
THE NOONER for 10-11-18
If you don't see images in this message, click "Display Images" or the equivalent.Click hereGet the Nooner in your e-mail box.Become a Nooner Premium subscriber to access exclusive election analysis and back end data. | Follow @scottlayAdvertise in The Nooner to reach over 8,000 readers REMINDER: My [email protected] email address is still in DNS hell. [email protected] (where that other email usually goes anyway) is working just fine. THE NOONER NOVEMBER 2018 ELECTION CONTEST Here are the current tallies of the picks participants. These are all percentages of participants who predict the candidate will win, of course not how much they will win by. The page is updated live as participants join and make picks. With 367 participants as of this morning, here are some of the closest projected wins: IC Ricardo Lara (D) 48.38% IC Steve Poizner (N) 51.62% CD39 Young Kim (R) 42.50% CD39 Gil Cisneros (D) 57.50% SD14 … [Read more...] about THE NOONER for 10-11-18