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The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 30, 2009

E-Track Vehicles

The Department of Justice says an online system allowing consumers to track a vehicle's detailed history, including whether it was stolen, will go live on Friday. The National Motor Vehicle Title Information System will be accessible for a fee through third-party Web sites. The department says the system will help consumers and law enforcement track brand history, odometer data and other vehicle background information to ensure it is not stolen and prevent fraud.

On Friday, the department will disclose sites where consumers can access data.

Ford At A Loss
Ford Motor Co. said Thursday it lost $5.9 billion in the fourth quarter and burned through $5.5 billion cash, pushing the automaker to the worst annual loss in its 105-year history as sales slumped worldwide.

The second-largest U.S. automaker lost $14.6 billion in 2008 but said it would not seek federal loans. With a precarious year ahead, Ford announced plans to cut 1,200 jobs at its credit arm and borrow $10.1 billion from an existing line of credit in case the economy worsens.

Media Report

Media General Inc., the parent company of The Tampa Tribune, WFLA and TBO.com, said it lost $85.5 million in the fourth quarter on an impairment charge and a steep drop in publishing profit attributed to declining advertising sales.

Its loss for the period ending Dec. 28 amounted to $3.86 per share, compared with profit of $9.6 million, or 43 cents a share, in the year-ago period. Revenue fell about 12 percent to $207 million from $235 million in 2007. The loss in the latest quarter included a noncash impairment charge of $130.4 million.

AirJamaica Cuts

If you're planning a trip to Jamaica, your choices of where to fly from just narrowed. Air Jamaica is eliminating service at Miami, Atlanta, Los Angeles and Grand Cayman and trimming its fleet of Airbus A-321 and A-321 jets from 13 to nine, the government-controlled airline says on its Web site.
Air Jamaica does not serve Tampa International Airport. It will continue to serve Fort Lauderdale, where it competes with Spirit Airlines.

A staff and wire report

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