on Thursday approved

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A judge on Thursday approved a plan that allows Stockton to leave bankruptcy protection by eliminating more than $2 billion in long-term debt payments without touching the city's pension obligations.


The ruling by U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Christopher Klein marked an end to Stockton's Chapter 9 status Under Armour Speedform Shoes For Sale , first sought in 2012.


"This plan, I'm persuaded, is the best that can be done in terms of restructuring an adjustment of the debts of the city of Stockton," he said.


The city successfully negotiated deals with all major creditors except Franklin Templeton Investments, which argued it was being treated unfairly. The investment firm said the city didn't cut employee pensions while asking the company to walk away from collecting nearly $32.5 million it is still owed.


"Obviously we are disappointed," Franklin Templeton's attorney Under Armour Curry Shoes For Sale , James Johnston, told the judge about the ruling. "We will evaluate our next steps."


Klein's decision could be appealed.


Johnston was not available after the hearing for comment, and the firm's spokeswoman, Stacey Coleman, declined in an email to elaborate.


Klein ruled earlier this month that bankruptcy law allows the city to treat pension obligations like any other debt, meaning the city could have chosen to trim the benefits.


However Under Armour Scorpio Shoes For Sale , it did not — a decision that Klein supported, saying the city's plan to exit bankruptcy did not treat Franklin Templeton unfairly. He also noted that the city had cut employee pay and benefits, which had been higher that some comparable cities; eliminated millions of dollars in retiree health care coverage; and created a pension plan with lower payments for new employees.


"There already have been very substantial concessions," Klein said. "It would be no simple task to go back and redo the pensions.


This year, Stockton will pay the California Public Employees' Retirement System $42 million toward its pension costs, city spokeswoman Connie Cochran said. About $20 million will come from the general fund Under Armour Running Shoes For Sale , a figure that amounts to 11 percent of the fund.


Matthew Jacobs, CalPERS general counsel, praised Stockton for its decision against taking advantage of Klein's ruling that the city could have cut its pension benefits. He also believes Klein made an incorrect decision on the issue last month.


Stockton attorney Marc Levinson said the case had no direct implications on other cities.


"If a city in the future wants to impair pensions, they can take a crack at it," he said. "My client, Stockton Under Armour Basketball Shoes For Sale , did not want to."


Stockton, a city of nearly 300,000 residents 80 miles east of San Francisco, filed for Chapter 9 protection in 2012, making it the nation's largest bankrupt city before Detroit filed for that status last year.


Elsewhere in California, Vallejo went through bankruptcy before Stockton. San Bernardino filed shortly after Stockton and has yet to present an exit plan.


Stockton City Manager Kurt Wilson said a lesson for other cities is to watch for the early signs of deep financial troubles and head them off before it's too late. He said Stockton can now focus on providing services to residents Under Armour Shoes For Sale , rather than waging the bankruptcy fight.


"This has been a very draining and ugly process," Wilson said, adding that the city restructured its debts to bond market investors through the year 2054.


The bankruptcy cost Stockton more than $13 million for attorneys and consultants.


Stockton's leaders say the city was victimized by an unforgiving boom-and-bust economic cycle.


Before the recession, leaders spent millions of dollars revitalizing the downtown area with a new City Hall and building a marina, sports arena and ballpark. The city issued about 3,000 permits annually to build new homes Under Armour Speedform Shoes Outelt , and it paid police premium wages and health benefits.


With the recession, building dried up, and Stockton became ground zero for home foreclosures. Like many residents, City Hall couldn't pay its bills. The city slashed millions of dollars from its budget and laid off 25 percent of its police officers. Crime soared.


Stockton Mayor Anthony Silva said he was pleased by the ruling but it was no occasion for city officials to pat themselves on the back. The retirees, current city employees and residents all suffered, he said.


"I advise other cities to keep a close eye on your finances Under Armour Curry Shoes Outelt ," Silva said. "I wouldn't wish bankruptcy on anybody else."


XI'AN, Sept. 18 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese man whose skull was severely injured in an accident has had fractured bones rebuilt with the help of 3D printing technology.


The surgery appears to have been a success, as the appearance of the man's skull has nearly returned to normal after more than half a month of recovery.


The 46-year-old man, surnamed Hu, was injured after he fell from the third floor of a building about ten months ago in Xi'an, capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province. Half of his skull was dented in and his eyesight was affected. He was still able to walk and eat normally Under Armour Scorpio Shoes Outelt , but was unable to talk or write properly.


To repair his skull, doctors with the Xijing Hospital based in Xi'an used a 3D printer to create a titanium mesh. During a three-and-a-half hour operation on Aug. 28, doctors first separated his scalp from his skull and peeled off some of the muscle. They then inserted the titanium mesh, which weighs just 9.9 grams, to replace the damaged part of his skull.


After more than two weeks, Hu's head has nearly returned to its original shape and the scarring from the surgery is almost gone.


Doctors plan to conduct a second operation to repair his damaged left eyelid. By lifting his damaged eyelid Under Armour Running Shoes Outelt , his eye will be enlarged to a more normal size.


Guo Shuzhong, head of Xijing Hospital, said the skull operation has been very successful so far. Hu did not show any sign of infection or rejection toward the implanted mesh and his bra The wanted post. Cheap Bills Jerseys Cheap Bengals Jerseys Cheap Bears Jerseys Wholesale Vikings Jerseys Wholesale Titans Jerseys Wholesale Pittsburgh Steelers Jerseys Wholesale Seattle Seahawks Jerseys Wholesale Washington Redskin Jerseys Wholesale Los Angeles Rams Jerseys Wholesale Oakland Raiders Jerseys