Trump wins approval for bankruptcy plan

Donald Trump’s cash-strapped casino empire played its cards right and received court permission Tuesday to emerge from bankruptcy.

Trump Hotels & Casino Resorts, which operates three casinos in Atlantic City and a riverboat casino in Indiana, had filed for Chapter 11 in November because of a crushing $1.8 billion in debt.

U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Judith Wizmur signed off on the company’s reorganization, under which the star of TV’s “The Apprentice” will surrender majority control. But Trump will remain the largest single shareholder and retain titles of chairman and chief executive officer in a new company called Trump Entertainment Resorts.

The move is expected to save an estimated $98 million annually in interest payments.

Award

World Company leader new Cable TV Pioneer

Dolph Simons Jr. has been named a cable television pioneer, 36 years after his Lawrence-based company first ventured into the industry.

Simons, chairman of The World Company, was inducted last weekend into the Cable TV Pioneers, a group dedicated to preserving the history of cable television. The recognition came in conjunction with a National Cable & Telecommunications Assn. meeting in San Francisco.

The World Company owns Sunflower Broadband, which started in 1969 as Sunflower Cablevision and today provides cable television, Internet and telephone services in Lawrence and several area communities. The World Company also owns the Journal-World.

“It pleases me that the company is recognized for its pioneering years in cable, and that we offer supporting services that continue to be at the forefront of the industry,” Simons said.

Leadership

State hires director for travel and tourism

Becky Blake, a tourism official in Manhattan, has been named director of the state travel and tourism division, effective April 25.

Blake is executive vice president and director of the Convention and Visitors Bureau of the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce, where she has worked for 27 years.

She will replace Scott Allegrucci, who has been the state’s director of travel and tourism since April 2003. Allegrucci is returning to Los Angeles, where his wife lives and works.

“Becky will be a wonderful addition to the Commerce team,” Commerce Secretary Howard Fricke said. “Her leadership, proven experience in the tourism industry, and past involvement with Commerce initiatives will be extremely beneficial in promoting travel and tourism to Kansans as well as others.”