Mr Johnston reckons that the heart of the problem is the lack of a regional mechanism to pull together the work of the various planning agencies in the area's four counties.

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If they do, TWC could generate one of the largest viewerships among regional sports nets if they can pull off the daily double of Lakers-Dodgers within their sports rights arsenal.

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With a blended learning approach, you can provide them with videos and interactive assignments at their primary locations, and then pull them together either in regional hubs or your main office for one-one-one and group discussions as well as mini-lectures.

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They negotiated an end to the standoff with regional officials, who persuaded the goons to pull back.

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"I thought we had a chance there, and then boom, " said Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski, who watched Louisville pull away for an 85-63 victory in the Midwest Regional final.

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If these economies can pull through, and if Japan's imports pick up, the resulting boost in regional demand will make it easier for the others to weather a global downturn.

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He said companies are unlikely to pull out of China in any case, but they likely will think twice about moves like shifting their regional headquarters to Beijing from places like Singapore and Hong Kong.

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