‘Parade of Homes’ opens doors today

Today’s the day that Michael Nuffer and his fellow builders open their latest homes to the public.

Nuffer’s home at 5004 W. 18th St., above, played host to a Friday celebration leading into the Lawrence Home Builders Assn.’s “Spring Parade of Homes.”

Homes are open from noon to 5 p.m. today and Sunday, and again May 7 and 8.

For more information about homes on the tour, click on www.lhba.net.

Taxes

Personal property values in the mail

Valuation notices for personal property are in the mail, the Douglas County Appraiser’s Office said.

The notices provide valuation information for tax bills that will be mailed in November on a variety of equipment. For businesses, it’s everything from office chairs to factory machinery; for individuals, it includes boats, trailers, mobile homes, airplanes, Jet Skis, large trucks, mo-peds and business equipment.

Taxpayers wanting to appeal the values placed on such properties may request an informal hearing by contacting the appraiser’s office by 5 p.m. May 16. Full instructions are on the back of the forms.

Finance

Morgan Stanley shares rise on report

Shares of Morgan Stanley rose sharply late Friday after a television report said the Wall Street firm’s board of directors would conduct an emergency meeting today to determine the fate of embattled Chairman and Chief Executive Phil Purcell.

Business news channel CNBC reported that the board either could strip Purcell of one of his two titles, or that the board would move to dismiss him.

Morgan Stanley shares climbed $2.18, or 4.3 percent, to $52.62 on the New York Stock Exchange. The stock experienced a late surge in volume on rumors of Purcell’s departure.

Morgan Stanley has an office in Lawrence, which started this week with another six employees who had joined the company after having been with Robert W. Baird: Stephen Edmonds, Jason Edmonds, Don Duncan, John Oberzan, Dinah Hirst and Rita Barritt.

Boeing-Wichita sale

Gephardt to aid Onex

Former House Minority Leader Richard Gephardt will help a Canadian investment firm with labor negotiations related to its purchase of the Boeing Co.’s commercial airplane operations in Kansas and Oklahoma, Onex Corp. announced Friday.

Gephardt will join a team of Onex advisers on the planned acquisition. Gephardt’s focus will be on “transition labor matters” in negotiations with Boeing’s union employees, Onex said.