Morning Links: 17 November 2008

CHS buys out Oregon partner, CCA to buy back stock, Gee still pulling down big bucks, and more...

Email | Print By Geert De Lombaerde

Community Health Systems (Ticker: CYH) has bought out its partner in a five-year-old joint venture that runs a 114-bed hospital in Oregon.

The board of Corrections Corp. (Ticker: CXW) has authorized a plan to buy back up to 9 percent of the company's shares, which have lost amost 50 percent of their value since Oct. 1.

Third quarter net income for Nashville Bank & Trust fell to $66,000 compared with $454,000 in the same quarter of last year. Year-to-date that figure has fallen to $362,000, down from just over $1 million in the same period of '07. Company cites declining interest rates as the major issue leading to the decline

Serial entrepreneur and HealthSpring director Marty Rash last Wednesday sold almost half his stake in that company (Ticker: HS), grossing more than $700,000. See his filing here and here.

On the flip side, HealthStream CEO Bobby Frist spent more than $400,000 to increase his stake in the company (Ticker: HSTM) to about 27 percent. 

Baltimore and D.C. tourism officials talk about the impact of Gaylord's nearby resort, which served its millionth banquet meal in its seventh month of business.

Vet hospital operator Pet DRx lost $3.2 million last quarter on revenues that were even with a year earlier. The company (Ticker: VETS) said it will close one of its facilities

According to the Columbus Dispatch, former Vanderbilt Chancellor Gordon Gee continues to make a healthy living as the highest paid public university president in the country with a pay package totalling $1.4 million. Next year that figure could jump to $2 million if he receives a full bonus