Top Story

• Import surge drives up U.S. trade deficit
  The U.S. trade deficit reached $48.7 billion in November, the highest level in seven months, the Commerce Department says. Increased importation of vehicles and a wide range of consumer goods played a big part. Decreased exports to Europe set back manufacturers. Los Angeles Times (tiered subscription model)/Money & Co. blog (1/11)     

Industry Buzz

• Some manufacturers invest in in-house training programs
  Rather than rely on vocational centers to provide the specific type of technical training needed in their factories, some manufacturers are providing their own training programs to make sure all the skills needed on the job are covered. For example, Penn United Technologies, in Pennsylvania, created the Learning Institute for the Growth of High Technology, a 17,000-square-foot facility complete with classrooms, labs and the latest in manufacturing machinery. Manufacturing.net (1/9)     

• BASF's pest-control unit joins its turf management, ornamentals units
  BASF has decided to relocate its Pest Control Solutions unit to Research Triangle Park in North Carolina under a move to merge several of its divisions into the BASF Specialty Products Department. The specialty unit also includes BASF's Professional Turf & Ornamentals and Professional Vegetation Management units. "Having these businesses come together as one strengthens BASF and its commitment to the specialty markets," said Nevin McDougall, a senior vice president at the company. American City Business Journals/Raleigh/Durham, N.C. (1/11)     

• Stormwater runoff to be used as irrigation for 2 Minn. golf courses
  Pioneer Press (St. Paul, Minn.) (1/13)     

• Column: Manage earthworm castings for a healthy lawn
  The Columbia County News-Times (Evans, Ga.) (1/13)     

Economic Indicators

• U.S. paychecks shrink as tax cut expires
  Americans are seeing decreased take-home pay after a 2-year-old tax cut expired. About $125 billion in consumer spending power is expected to disappear from the economy this year as the payroll tax increases 2 percentage points. Bloomberg (1/14)     

Hot Topics

Top five news stories selected by OPEI SmartBrief readers in the past week.

• John Deere ends business with 84-year-old dealership in N.H. (The Union Leader (Manchester, N.H.))

• The strangest stuff employees attempted to expense in 2012 (Bloomberg Businessweek)

• Device helps you care for plants, lawns (Mashable)

• Proposal seeks to ban fuel with over 10% ethanol in Maine (Bangor Daily News (Maine) (free registration))

• John Deere expands 2 plants in N.D. to cater to growing demand (Prairie Business (Grand Forks, N.D.))

• Results based on number of times each story was clicked by readers.

Inside & Out

• Leadership lessons from Mark Zuckerberg
  Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg wasn't a natural CEO -- and that's what makes his successful leadership of the social network so impressive, writes Ekaterina Walter. Zuckerberg acknowledged his weaknesses and set out to learn from top bosses including Steve Jobs and Bill Gates. "He doesn’t shy away from admitting what he doesn’t know, and he isn’t afraid to ask tough questions, with 'Why?' being his favorite," Walter writes. Fast Company online (1/10)     

• Can sales principles create better leadership?
  Leaders may be able to improve their approach to management by applying effective sales techniques, writes David Brock. Many, however, apply bad sales techniques as they attempt to manage salespeople, he writes. "Too many managers are in 'tell mode.' They command their people, telling them what to do, how to do it, and why," he writes. Partners in Excellence Blog (1/9)     

Policy Update

• House Republicans are ready to back default, party says
  House Republican leaders said more than half of their members are ready to force the U.S. government to default on its debt by refusing to raise the debt limit, to pressure President Barack Obama to back spending cuts. An even greater number of House Republicans are ready to shut down the government over the issue, they said. Politico (Washington, D.C.)/Behind the Curtain blog (1/13), Reuters (1/13)     

• Obama administration to propose broad changes to immigration
  A comprehensive measure on immigration reform could soon be introduced by President Barack Obama and Democratic members of the Senate, according to senior administration officials. The bill is expected to put forth a legal process by which undocumented residents could become citizens through a series of payments and taxes. It would also mandate that the legal status of all new hires be verified. The measure could be unveiled in the State of the Union Address next month, officials said. The New York Times (tiered subscription model) (1/12), The Wall Street Journal (1/13)     

SmartQuote

You will do foolish things, but do them with enthusiasm." --Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette, French novelist and performer