Briefcase

Auction of bourbon will benefit two charities

Two charities, including Spokane’s Ronald McDonald House, are getting $2,650 from selling the first ever bottle of bourbon released in Washington state.

Spokane’s Dry Fly Distilling produced the state’s first true bourbon whiskey last month. It donated the first bottle of the whiskey to the Ronald McDonald House, a charity providing lodging for families in need of extended medical care.

The auction ended this week with an unnamed buyer providing the winning bid, The identity of the buyer has not been disclosed.

The proceeds will be split with Casting4ACure, a national charity working on finding a cure for Rett’s syndrome, a childhood disease. Dry Fly has supported both charities with past donations.

Tom Sowa

Barnes & Noble bidder will buy shares instead

New York – Barnes & Noble Inc. said Thursday that Liberty Media, the conglomerate controlled by John Malone, has dropped its $1 billion bid to buy the bookseller and instead will invest $204 million in the company.

In May, Liberty Media Corp. offered to buy all of Barnes & Noble, apparently enticed by the potential of the company’s Nook electronic reader.

But Barnes & Noble said the takeover talks had been ditched in light of the investment agreement unveiled Thursday.

Associated Press

Gold pullout will deter Venezuela investors

Caracas, Venezuela – Analysts say Venezuela’s decision to pull $11 billion in gold reserves out of U.S. and European banks will make investors see the country as riskier.

President Hugo Chavez has announced the plan while also saying the government will nationalize gold mining.

Economist Jose Guerra said the decision will have an impact on “the perception of risk” for investors as the gold is moved to Venezuela, where there are fewer controls.

Associated Press

Verizon workers hold vigil at CEO’s home

Mendham, N.J. – Hundreds of Verizon workers held a candlelight vigil Thursday outside their CEO’s New Jersey home to protest benefit cuts.

They carried American flags and chanted “What’s disgusting? Union busting” outside Lowell McAdam’s Mendham residence. Police say the protest was peaceful and without incident.

About 45,000 Verizon workers from Massachusetts to Virginia walked off the job Aug. 7.

The Communications Workers of America and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers are fighting Verizon’s call for a pension freeze and for contributions to health insurance premiums, among other things.

Associated Press