Dallas promoter demands refund from Lance Armstrong

AUSTIN, Texas — A Dallas promotions company that paid Lance Armstrong more than $7 million in bonuses for winning the Tour de France is demanding he return the money.

A spokesman for SCA Promotions said Friday the company will send Armstrong a demand letter on Monday now that Armstrong' seven Tour de France titles have been revoked. The company paid Armstrong about $7 million for winning his sixth tour in 2004 and reportedly paid up to $12 million total.

The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency recently reported extensive evidence that Armstrong used performance-enhancing drugs during all seven of his tour victories. The International Cycling Union, the sport's governing body, on Monday accepted sanctions that included banning Armstrong from the sport for life and stripping him of his tour wins.

Armstrong denies doping but has not commented on the USADA report.

The company had warned Armstrong that it would seek return of the money if his victories were officially wiped out.

Armstrong's attorneys have said he has no intention of paying. They note that SCA entered a voluntary settlement to pay Armstrong, which included a no appeal clause. Armstrong's attorneys say Texas law won't allow SCA to try to reopen a voluntary settlement.

In a letter to SCA in June, Armstrong attorney Tim Herman wrote, "When SCA decided to settle the case, it settled the entire matter forever. No backs. No re-dos. No do-overs. SCA knowingly and independently waived any right to make further claims to any of the money it paid."

The company tried in 2005 to not pay Armstrong because of allegations in doping. The arbitration case included some of the original sworn witness testimony against Armstrong, including claims by Betsy Andreu, the wife of former Armstrong teammate Frankie Andreu, that Armstrong admitted taking performance-enhancing drugs in a conversation with doctors while undergoing cancer treatment in 1996.

Earlier Friday, the UCI said Armstrong should return about $4 million in prize money.

Armstrong recently lost most of his personal endorsement deals in the wake of the USADA report. He also has stepped down as chairman of the Livestrong cancer-fighting charity he founded in 1997.

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Cadillac pulls ahead

Cadillac has set its sights firmly on the premium import category. The new XTS4 competes head-on with a nice combination of styling, performance and luxury, but beats all of them on sticker price.

New for 2013 and the only true entry left in the premium American sedan category, GM focuses its attention on detail and comfort with the introduction of the Cadillac XTS4 Premium.

Using GM's V6, 304-horsepower powerplant mated to a six-speed transmission, it provided nice pickup and comfortable highway driving- while returning decent gas mileage for a full-sized car: 17 mpg in the city and 28 highway.

After years — perhaps dec-ades — Cadillac is taking- cues from the full-sized European luxury sedans, reaching into their playbook of refined driving- experience with sports cars genes and producing a vehicle that will cruise the highway but also tackle a slalom course.

Cadillac has moved away from the corpulent acres of sheet metal surrounding a mammoth powerplant, but it still paid homage to the classics with some very subtle body detailing, including the famous chrome V trim on the trunk and a hint of the rear fins in the rear lights from the '50s.

This all-wheel-drive car is very responsive in acceleration, but it was the Euro-style handling that caught me off guard and was pleasantly sur-prising. The magnetic traction system, think high-speed railway technology, real-ly does a wonderful job of flattening out the car's ride and hugging the road, particularly on curves and turns. Yet, it has that iconic, opulent American comfort ride absorbing road bumps and uneven pavement, but without the tendency to drift and yaw. Engineers have added a nice set of Brembo brakes for sure stopping power.

Caddy took care of the interior with quality leather seats, soft touch surfaces, wood trim and great attention to the fit and finish of the cabin. True to its heritage as a touring sedan, passenger comfort is paramount. Leg room and sight lines, including the panoramic sunroof and personal climate controls, highlight the rider experience. The cockpit envelops the driver with well-placed controls, a European-styled minimalist electronic gauge display and the CUE, or Cadillac User Experience, entertainment system.

CUE is a large, inter-active one-piece touchscreen that handles all your phone, Bluetooth and car information technology. And the Bose surround system includes headrest speakers. The driver-assist package adds rearview camera, collision warning and blind-spot monitors. One of the weirdest, yet useful, options in this package is the vibrating seat and audible alerts when backing up and changing lanes.

With a base price of $55,800, our tester rolled at $59,100 with some upgrades that helped this luxury entry compare favorably with the BMW 7 series, Jaguar XJ, Mercedes E series and the Infinity M56.

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Obama warns GOP not to undo Wall Street law

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama is warning congressional Republicans not to undo financial regulations he signed two years ago, taking specific note of the work of a consumer agency created by the new law.

In his Internet and radio address Saturday, Obama drew attention to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, noting that it and other regulators recently cracked down on three credit card companies, ordering them to pay $400 million to people who were misled into making purchases they didn't want.

"Sadly, that hasn't been enough to stop Republicans in Congress from fighting these reforms," Obama said. "Backed by an army of financial industry lobbyists, they've been waging an all-out battle to delay, defund and dismantle these new rules."

Obama often reminds campaign audiences of his push for new restrictions on Wall Street, changes that passed Congress despite widespread opposition from Republicans.

Obama, sounding much like a consumer advocate, also informed listeners that they can now contact the consumer bureau to seek redress over problems with credit scores.

In the Republican address, Missouri congressional candidate Ann Wagner promoted Mitt Romney for president, called for changing the U.S. tax code, which she called a "72,000-page monstrosity," and urged the repeal of Obama's health care law. Wagner is seeking a seat vacated by Republican Todd Akin, who is running for the Senate.

"He promised to listen, promised us change, but all we've gotten is more of the same," she said of Obama. "More spending, more red tape, more debt and decline."

___

Online:

Obama address: www.whitehouse.gov

GOP address: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P4cCrokXDFI

© Copyright 2012 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Johnson Controls declines lender role for A123

MILWAUKEE — Auto parts maker Johnson Controls says it will step away from its position as the debtor-in-possession lender during the bankruptcy process for battery maker A123 Systems in order to prevent delays.

The company wants to avoid a premature legal tussle with the Chinese auto parts maker Wanxiang Group Corp., which is challenging Johnson Controls' role as the primary bidder for A123.

Massachusetts' A123 Systems Inc. filed for bankruptcy protection earlier this month, and Johnson Controls Inc. agreed to buy its automotive assets. Johnson says it maintains that $125 million offer, and it plans to expand the offer to include the company's government business.

Johnson, based in Milwaukee, says it also maintains its primary position in the bankruptcy process, subject to court approval next month, over Wanxiang or any other rivals.

© Copyright 2012 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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3 companies make 1st cut for Springfield casino

SPRINGFIELD - Springfield officials say all three casino developers who submitted proposals during the first phase of the city's selection process have been approved for the next phase of consideration.

Mayor Domenic Sarno, the city's chief development officer and city solicitor said Friday the three companies were asked to respond to prequalifying questions that were evaluated by a review committee.

The companies, Ameristar Casinos, Inc., MGM Resorts International and Penn National Gaming, Inc., will now present more detailed proposals.

The state's new gambling law allows up to three regional casinos in the state, including one in western Massachusetts. A casino would have to be approved by local voters and the state gaming commission.

The owners of Connecticut's Mohegan Sun also are proposing a western Massachusetts casino, in Palmer.

© Copyright 2012 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Greening up in Newton

This architect-designed newly built contemporary in south Newton is on the cutting edge of green home design, with energy efficient systems and super-insulation that brings the cost of winter heating of this 6,367-square-foot home down to an incredibly low $200 a month.

Built by Hub developer Samuel & Associates, the super eco-friendly home at 99 Littlefield Road sits at the end of a street in the city's Oak Hill area, overlooking some 20 acres of recreational fields for Newton South High School and Brown Middle School.

The home is applying for LEED Gold and EnergyStar Tier III certifications based on its super energy-efficiency and insulation, LED lighting, water conservation, indoor environmental quality and the use of sustainable materials. It features solar hot water, an indoor air exchanger and a 2,000-gallon cistern for rainwater irrigation through a sprinkler system.

Designed by Boston architect Rick Ames, the six-bedroom house has great room flow, high-end materials and appliances, lots of tall triple-pane windows to maximize daylight, bamboo floors throughout and on-demand hot water triggered by motion sensors in the bathrooms. It has 8-inch-thick exterior walls with an R-40 rating and a super-insulated R55 roof. A heat exchanger brings in fresh air, recovering 85 percent of heat loss, and rooftop solar thermal panels provide 65 percent of the home's hot-water needs.

The exterior of the home has a trellised cedar entryway that opens into a two-story atrium with a coat closet.

The first floor features formal living and dining rooms with 10-foot ceilings and wraparound corner windows, plus a very large open kitchen/dining/family room with a wraparound rear deck overlooking an organic grass backyard.

The high-end kitchen has custom white cabinetry, LED recessed lighting, black granite countertops and green mosaic tile backsplashes. All the appliances are EnergyStar-rated Thermador stainless steel, including an electric induction range, two convection wall ovens and two dishwashers. There's a granite-topped island with a second sink and pendant lights overhead and a dining nook with five tall windows overlooking the backyard. Behind the room is a built-in pantry area and porcelain-tiled half bath. And there's a glass-doored den/playroom where children can gather and be seen while parents entertain.

The adjacent family room also has corner wraparound windows, a built-in gas fireplace and glass doors out to the deck.

Behind the kitchen is a mud room with a large wall of closets and direct access to a three-car garage with an electric car charger port.

A wing off the formal living room has a bedroom/home office with a full bathroom with porcelain walls and white marble tile floors.

There are five bamboo-floored bedrooms and four full bathrooms on the second floor, reachable via a front staircase in the atrium and a rear one in the family room.

The rear-facing master bedroom has a private rear deck, and there are two large walk-in closets that need built-in storage systems. The en-suite master bathroom has a Carrara marble raised whirlpool tub and walk-in shower, both with glass mosaic tile backsplashes. There's a double marble-topped wood vanity and a linen closet. Outside the master suite is a laundry room with storage cabinets and a granite folding counter.

Two of the other bedrooms have en-suite porcelain and marble tile baths, and two small bedrooms share a full bathroom.

The home's finished basement sits mostly above grade with a large bamboo-floored entertainment room. There's also a wired media/TV room, a glass-doored exercise room and a full bathroom with a walk-in shower, and a room that could serve as a nanny bedroom. The basement also houses the home's six-zone gas-fired, super-energy-efficient heating and cooling systems, two water heaters and 400-amp electrical service.

For more information or to see this property, call Ezra Stillman of Hammond Residential at 617-721-7007.

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Galvin fines Citigroup $2M

Massachusetts Secretary of State William Galvin yesterday fined Citigroup Global Markets Inc. $2 million for failing to properly supervise a research analyst who disclosed confidential information about Facebook's initial public offering. Galvin is also investigating the IPO's other underwriters.

The state's top securities regulator said he has subpoenaed Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley and J.P. Morgan as part of his probe, which led to the firing of the analyst and a supervisor.

"If you're going to have a hard and fast rule that protects the integrity of confidential information, you can't have two sets of rules," Galvin said. "We thought we had to act. ... Clearly, a lot of Massachusetts people invested in Facebook."

In an email yesterday, Citigroup Global Markets spokeswoman Sophia Stewart said, "We take our internal policies and procedures very seriously and have taken the appropriate actions."

Citigroup Global Markets is accused of violating securities laws, which barred the underwriters of Facebook's May 18 initial public offering from disseminating written research about the social network until 40 days after the IPO.

"If you're inviting the whole public into the Facebook IPO process, then the whole public has to be given equal information and equal access to the information," said Max Wolff, senior analyst at Greencrest Capital. "You can't have some larger institutional investors being told more or different information than the general public."

Until the $2 million fine against Citigroup Global Markets, such disclosures happened "from time to time" in the industry, said Francis Gaskins, president of the research company IPOdesktop.com.

"But they're going to be very careful what, if anything, they put in writing now," Gaskins said. "That's very important for their image."

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Regulators again increase dogfish catch

Regulators are again increasing the catch limit on the spiny dogfish, a species fishermen have long said is far too abundant.

On Thursday, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission upped the 2013 fishing year quota by about 5 million pounds in the region from Maine to North Carolina.

About 23.7 million pounds, roughly 60 percent of the overall quota, is tabbed for the coastal New England states. That's an increase from the 20 million pound limit in 2011.

The dogfish was once protected by lower catch limits. But fishermen say the stock grew so large, it crowded out more valuable species, such as cod. Now, as they face massive cuts in their catch for other species, some rely on dogfish to get by.

Dogfish are eaten mainly overseas, in dishes such as fish and chips.

© Copyright 2012 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Opponents blast Cape Wind guru over gas plant

The man at the heart of a plan to generate renewable energy by erecting wind turbines on Nantucket Sound is also building a natural gas plant in Western Massachusetts, where opponents are calling him an environmental hypocrite.

"It's our belief Jim Gordon is playing two games here. He's talking out of both sides of his mouth," said 69-year-old Mary Ann Babinski, who walked 100 miles from the site of the proposed Westfield plant to Gordon's Boston office last week to deliver a petition with more than 1,000 signatures of opponents. "We don't believe clean energy comes from a smoke stack. If he was truly green, he wouldn't even be considering building a fossil fuel plant."

Gordon is founder of Energy Management Inc., the parent company of Pioneer Valley Energy Center, which is planning to begin construction on the 431-megawatt plant next fall. He is also the developer of Cape Wind, a controversial $2.5 billion plan to build 130 wind turbines on 25 miles of Nantucket Sound, starting in 2014.

Calls to Energy Management were referred to Matt Palmer, the manager of the Westfield project.

Palmer said the Westfield plant is fully permitted and has the support of local officials, adding that it will create up to 300 temporary construction jobs, and another 15 to 20 permanent, full-time jobs.

"Right now, we don't have the practical ability to supply all of our energy with only renewable sources," Palmer told the Herald. "We will some day. In the meantime, rather than let the lights go out, it would make sense to build the cleanest, most efficient-fueled power plant in all of New England."

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Pats help NFL score with Brits

The National Football League continues its lucrative drive to win over United Kingdom fans tomorrow when the New England Patriots [team stats] take on the St. Louis Rams before a sellout 80,000-plus crowd.

The goal is to build the fan base to a scale where American-style football becomes a top five sport in the UK, according to Chris Parsons, a Manchester, England, native and an NFL vice president who has headed its international business since 2008.

"The primary reason for our involvement here is building our branding," Parsons said from London yesterday. "The NFL has been very successful in the U.S., and we've started playing these games and they have been an incredible catalyst for the growth of our fan base."

The UK's Sky Sports television network, which carries the NFL games, ranks it as the seventh most-watched sport during the season.

"We started at 18 or 19 when we first started playing the game," Parsons said.

This is the sixth year that the NFL has scheduled a regular-season game at Wembley, and the league last week committed for the first time to two games next year.

It counts its UK fan base at 11 million — including more than two million "avid" fans — a 32 percent increase in two years. TV viewership has grown 154 percent for Sunday games since 2006, and by 74 percent for the Super Bowl.

Wembley has an exclusive contract for NFL games in the UK for the next five years, and it's not likely the NFL will schedule games outside the UK right now, said Parsons, who oversees NFL offices in Beijing, London, Mexico City, Tokyo and Toronto.

"We want to get the UK market right," he said.

The NFL sets up a 131-foot-long merchandise tent at Wembley that sells jerseys from every NFL team and racks up $1.5 million in sales per game.

"On the day of our game at Wembley Stadium, we'll sell more merchandise than any other sports event in the UK on any calendar day, so we've done really well," Parsons said.

And the Patriots — who beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 35-7 at Wembley in 2009 before 84,254 people, the largest regular season audience in its history — are the most popular team.

UK participation in American football also is on the rise, growing by about 15 percent per year since 2007. And it became a sanctioned UK university sport this year.

Patriots quarterback Tom Brady [stats] hopes the NFL's popularity continues to grow in the region.

"That's why we're here," he said during a London press conference yesterday.

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