CLINTON TOWNSHIP, Mich. – Motor City Co-op CU said William Taylor is retiring today, after 40 years with credit unions, the last four as CEO of the $116-million credit union.

SAN FRANCISCO – The Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco granted three credit unions a total of $75,000 in Access to Housing and Economic Assistance for Development funding to help the development of non-profit projects in their markets.

COLUMBUS, Ga. – A rookie police officer shot and killed two suspects in an armed robbery at MEA FCU yesterday morning as they tried to make their getaway.

AUSTIN, Texas – Ongoing wildfires here have destroyed more than 1,000 homes, and in the process taken with them some credit unions’ collateral.

WASHINGTON – Democratic Senators yesterday labeled as “gamesmanship” and “hijacking the legislative process” Republican vows to block any nomination to head the new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau until they get reforms to the fledgling agency’s structure.

SAN DIEGO – San Diego County CU surprised area beachgoers over the Labor Day weekend with a spoof of its own television commercials poking fun at the banks – this time with real actors on the beach.

COLUMBUS, Ga. – Two men believed to have just robbed an MEA FCU branch here were killed this morning after a pursuing police officer fired into their getaway car and forced it to crash into a utility pole.

MADISON, Wis. – Executive compensation at credit unions has gone up with the improvement in credit union financial performance, as this year’s increases for executive comp were double last year’s, according to CU Executives Society.

JANSEVILLE, Wis. – A former loan officer at Parker Community CU last week pleaded not guilty to charges she stole as much as $800,000 from the credit union by using the identities of 10 members., including family and friends.

PUEBLO, Colo. – Pueblo Government Agencies FCU has named Susan McKay, its chief financial officer, the new president and CEO of the $25-million credit union.

HONOLULU – Hawaii First FCU is opening a new community center in the Hilo Shopping Center that will offer residents a variety of free services, including computer access, financial counseling and job seeking advice.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – NCUA ruled it is permissible for a federal credit union to award volunteers with certain cash remuneration, such as a $250 Visa gift card.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Postal Federal Community CU has changed its name to BluCurrent CU as part of a plan to reach out to a broader membership base.

MELROSE, Minn. – Central Minnesota CU, with $580 million in assets, has agreed to merge into it Heart of Lakes CU, a $22-million credit union based in nearby New York Mills, Minn.

ENDICOTT, N.Y. – Visions FCU has received approval from NCUA to enter the New Jersey market with the acquisition of Paragon FCU, a troubled one-time $415 million credit union.

CHARLESTON, S.C. – Three people last week pleaded guilty to roles in a loan scheme that siphoned more than $800,000 from area credit unions with auto loans that were not used to buy vehicles.

ST. JOSEPH, Mich. – United FCU, which is in the process of acquiring nearby Griffith Savings Bank, said it has had all depositors in the troubled Indiana S&L join the American Consumer Council to facilitate the rare credit union deal.

NORTH CANTON, Ohio – Diebold FCU said it is offering a new service provided by its corporate sponsor, Diebold Inc., aimed at preventing unauthorized use of debit and ATM cards.

WASHINGTON-Credit Union lending improved in the second quarter, while share growth declined. But the big story may be the strength of core checking deposits, an indication credit unions are taking advantage of big banks' pricing problems resulting from the new interchange rules.

ALEXANDRIA, Va.-NCUA last week said federal credit unions may provide emergency financial services to anyone, even nonmembers, during natural disasters and other emergencies, such as Hurricane Irene.