The Virginian-Pilot

THE LEDGER-STAR

: Friday, December 15, 1995

• BEACH HAS AMERICA'S TOP DAIRY QUEEN SWEET SUCCESS A UNIQUE COLLABORATION BETWEEN A BUSINESS AND A CITY - VIRGINIA BEACH - PRODUCES THE BEST-SELLING DAIRY QUEEN IN AMERICA.
• N. SOUTHERN TO SPEND MORE ON CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS
• AT&T gets $2.5 billion Navy contract AT&T Corp. said Thursday it received a contract worth up to $2.5 billion to provide telephone services at Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard facilities. AT&T said the agreement will be worth at least $1.5 billion over 10 years. If the military exercises five one-year renewal options, the contract could be worth an additional $1 billion. AT&T will provide residential phone services, pay phones, calling cards, prepaid debit cards, long distance phone centers and other services. Implementation of the contract will begin next year and services will be phased in at more than 200 military installations during the next two years. (Dow Jones News) Circuit City earnings up 11 percent Richmond-based Circuit City Stores Inc. reported net earnings for the third quarter were $31.5 million, an 11 percent increase from $28.4 million in the same period last year. Net earnings per share increased 10 percent for the quarter to 32 cents from 29 cents. Total sales grew 27 percent to $1.78 billion from $1.41 billion in the same period last year. Comparable store sales rose 3 percent. Net earnings for the nine months were $97.3 million, a 16 percent increase from $84.2 million in the same period last year. Net earnings per share rose 15 percent to 99 cents from 86 cents. (Staff) Four states sign interstate bank pact Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland and Virginia officials signed an agreement Wednesday allowing banks to operate branches in all four states without dealing with multiple regulations. It is the country's broadest interstate banking and branching agreement since federal legislation last year allowed state-chartered banks to cross state lines. The only other existing agreement is between Kansas and Missouri. The new guidelines pave the way for interstate branching to begin and are expected to result in lower bank fees by reducing regulatory costs. (Associated Press)