News from April 2020


Federal Reserve announces buying municipal debt

On April 9, the Federal Reserve announced it will buy municipal debt to help with massive revenue declines caused by COVID-19 shutdown.

Parking industry suffering heavy losses during COVID-19 crisis

Without people moving about, parking businesses and employees struggle to endure the pandemic

Taxpayers Protection Alliance: Economists Urge Lawmakers to Reject Healthcare Rate-Setting

Today, the Coalition Against Rate-Setting (CARS) released a letter signed by more than 160 economists opposing healthcare rate-setting in any legislation, especially any potential forthcoming COVID-19 relief legislation.

DANAHER CORPORATION: Danaher Corporation Changes its Annual Shareholders Meeting to a Virtual Format

Danaher Corporation (NYSE: DHR) ("Danaher" or "the Company") announced today that, due to the public health impact of COVID-19, the Company will hold its 2020 Annual Meeting of Shareholders in a virtual meeting format only, via audio webcast. The date and time of the meeting and the proposals to be presented to shareholders at the meeting are unchanged.

BAKER & MCKENZIE L.L.P: Baker McKenzie Advises Zen-Noh Grain Corporation on Acquisition of Assets from Bunge North America

Baker McKenzie is advising Zen-Noh Grain Corporation (ZGC), a subsidiary of the National Federation of Agricultural Cooperative Associations of Japan (Zen-Noh), in its agreement to acquire 35 operating US grain origination elevators along the Mississippi River from Bunge North America, Inc. (BNA), a subsidiary of Bunge Limited (St Louis, MO; NYSE: BG).

Texas Public Policy Foundation proposes act to catalyze business recovery from COVID-19 pandemic

Texas Public Policy Foundation (TPPF) proposes the Workplace Recovery Act (WRA) to catalyze economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic by rolling out business-interruption insurance payouts to businesses impacted by the nationwide COVID-19 shutdowns.

D.C. hotel general managers urge Rep. Norton to stop lenders' COVID-19 'vulture tactics'

Two D.C. hotel general managers recently appealed to their congressional representative to stop lenders using "vulture tactics" to prey on borrowers hard struck by the COVID-19 pandemic's economic impact.

Hotel industry fights predatory lenders in bid to recover from COVID-19 financial fallout

The COVID-19 pandemic has been a disaster for many workers and businesses, particularly the hospitality industry.

Ashford Hospitality CEO calls for lawmakers to get back to work; urges employees to call representatives

Hotel industry CEO launches hoteljobsmatter.org so that workers can easily call Congress and lenders

Business leaders expect companies, workers to follow safety guidelines in virus fight

Three business leaders who specialize in energizing urban economies believe Americans will continue to embrace safety guidelines that have been proven effective in containing COVID-19, a key element to political leaders possibly reopening the economy.

Supreme Court narrows instances where courts can defer to federal agencies' interpretations of regulations

In a case similar to one the Mountain States Legal Foundation is pursuing on behalf of retired Army Sgt. Major Jeff S. Howard, a combat veteran who has also volunteered as a Veteran Service Officer, the U.S. Supreme Court has outlined several instances where the courts will no longer defer to a government agency’s interpretation of its own regulations.

BAKER & MCKENZIE LLP: Baker McKenzie Advised Kantar in its Sale of the SRDS Platform to Adwanted Group

Global law firm Baker McKenzie advised Kantar, a data, insights and consulting company and portfolio company of Bain Capital, in its divestment of its SRDS platform to the Adwanted Group.

AMTRAK: Essential Service Plan: Updates to Service

At this time, various states are undertaking specific safety precautions at stations for customers arriving from out of state.

Morgan Stanley projects COVID-19 impact on leisure industry worse than 9/11 and 2008 Great Recession

On March 30, Morgan Stanley released “Pricing COVID-19; Roll the Dice on Gaming,” projecting a dire forecast for the leisure and U.S. hotel industries.

Nashville parking, driving company officials seek government assistance in COVID-19 crisis

Leaders in the nationwide parking industry need to ask the government for help to remain afloat during the COVID-19 pandemic, three officials in a company's Nashville-area office said.

Garage parking VP on layoffs: 'I will never forget the experience of seeing the fear'

Premier Parking vice president Owen Sanford has never seen anything like the economic impact wrought by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Parking industry uses Smarking to track effects of COVID-19 on business

The national parking industry has begun monitoring how the spread of the novel coronavirus and the COVID-19 outbreak is affecting its businesses.

AMTRAK: Amtrak's Commitment to Safety

At this time, various states are undertaking specific safety precautions at stations for customers arriving from out of state.

DANAHER CORPORATION: Danaher Completes Acquisition of the BioPharma Business of General Electric Life Sciences; Business will be called Cytiva

Danaher Completes Acquisition of the BioPharma Business of General Electric Life Sciences; Business will be called Cytiva

Ashford CEO: CARES Act fails to benefit hoteliers

The CARES Act, signed March 27 by President Trump, is a $2 trillion stimulus package designed to provide financial assistance to businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, while calling the measure helpful, some leaders in the hospitality industry say it is not enough for hotels.