Poetry gathering

On April 9-11, City Lore and Poets House, two national literary organizations, will host the First Annual People's Poetry Gathering on the streets of Lower Manhattan in New York. Some of America's best known poets will come together "to explore some of the least known treasures of our literary heritage -- from hobo poetry to work songs and blues lyrics -- the many American poetries and experiences of poetry." African American poets expected to be in attendance include: Raymond Patterson, Victor Hernandez …

EUROPE NEWS AT 0600GMT

UPCOMING COVERAGE FOR WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 6:

RUSSIA-SOLZHENITSYN

MOSCOW _ The funeral of the author, dissident and patriot Alexander Solzhenitsyn takes place.

BUSINESS & FINANCE:

FRANCE-EARNS-BNP PARIBAS

PARIS _ France's largest bank, BNP Paribas, announces second-quarter earnings.

…

Approaching the point of maximum uncertainty ; The events of the past few months leave a question mark on India's medium-term growth prospects and, thus, equity valuations have been shattered.

The world is going through a crisis the likes of which most of ushave never seen before. The excessive gearing of the past 25 yearshad taken gross debt in the US to over 300 per cent of GDP and abreakdown of this debt super cycle will likely slow global growth,dragging the world into a recession. It may take several years torestore the confidence of the system. India has been affectedadversely by this, although this conclusion may appear surprising tothe lay observer. After all, India derives less than 14 per cent ofits GDP from exports, runs a relatively closed capital account anddoes not seem overly dependent on global growth. However, India wasa big beneficiary of the very …

Dora, Raiders Do It Again to Jayhawks

LUBBOCK, Texas - Bob Knight considered astrology in trying to explain Darryl Dora's play in Texas Tech's 69-64 win over No. 5 Kansas on Saturday. "Maybe the moon was right," Knight said. "Darryl played, which is sometimes unusual."

Dora scored 19 points to help the Red Raiders snap the Jayhawks' 10-game winning streak.

It was the second time Tech has beaten the Jayhawks when they came to Lubbock as a Top 10 team. Dora was also the difference the last time. In February 2005, Dora hit a 3-pointer with 3.6 seconds remaining in the second overtime to beat then-No. 2 Kansas 80-79.

The last ranked team the Red Raiders beat was Gonzaga, which was ranked 11th going into …

Newspaper owners team up in deal-finding venture

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A group of newspaper publishers and other media companies are teaming up to sell more advertising aimed at people looking for online deals.

Eight companies formed a joint venture that has acquired Find n Save, a search engine focused on discount offers made by merchants in cities across the U.S. The venture acquired Find n Save as part of its purchase of Travidia, an online shopping service. Financial terms of that deal weren't disclosed in Thursday's announcement.

The joint venture's initial owners include: Advance Digital, part of Advance Publications Inc., whose newspapers include The Plain Dealer in Cleveland; A.H. Belo Corp., owner of The Dallas …

NKorea rejects UN Command talks on ship sinking

North Korea said Sunday it has rejected a proposal by the American-led U.N. Command to hold military talks on the deadly sinking of a South Korean warship blamed on Pyongyang.

The U.N. Command, which oversees the armistice that ended the three-year Korean War in 1953, has launched an investigation of the sinking.

A separate team of international investigators concluded last month that North Korea torpedoed the warship Cheonan near the tense Korean sea border. North Korea denied the allegation and has warned any punishment would trigger war.

Details of the U.N. Command's probe have not been released.

North Korea said Sunday that the U.N. …

Children's composting video distributed to schools

The Chester County Board of Commissioners, through its Division of Solid Waste Management, produced a children's video entitled "Do the Rot Thing With Dudley Do-Rot." This 12 minute Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection grant funded video features Dudley Do-Rot, a magic friendly red wiggler worm, who teaches elementary school aged Jamie and Mary about …

Search called off for medical transport helicopter missing in Alaska

The search was called off for a medical transport helicopter that disappeared a week ago somewhere near Prince William Sound with four people on board.

The Rescue Coordination Center and the Alaska State Troopers made the decision Monday to suspend the search for the LifeGuard Alaska helicopter. Bad weather Monday prevented rescuers from searching for the helicopter and crew.

The helicopter was on its way from Cordova to Anchorage on Dec. 3 when it went missing.

The aircraft was providing ambulance service for Providence Alaska Medical Center when it is believed to have gone down in blowing snow.

A search helicopter on Saturday found …

Week 14 Report

NFC

NORTH W L T Pct.

Minnesota 10 2 0 .833

Green Bay 8 4 0 .667

BEARS 5 7 0 .417

Detroit 2 10 0 .167

EAST W L T Pct.

Dallas 8 4 0 .667

Philadelphia 8 4 0 .667

N.Y. Giants 7 5 0 .583

Washington 3 9 0 .250

SOUTH W L T Pct.

x-New Orleans 12 0 0 1.000

Atlanta 6 6 0 .500

Carolina 5 7 0 .417

Tampa Bay 1 11 0 .083

WEST W L T Pct.

Arizona 8 4 0 .667

San Francisco 5 7 0 .417

Seattle 5 7 0 .417

St. Louis 1 11 0 .083

AFC

EAST W L T Pct.

New England 7 5 0 .583

Miami 6 6 0 .500

N.Y. Jets 6 6 0 …

What would a world-class innovator do?

YOUR GUIDE TO BUSINESS & ACCOUNTING ON THE INTERNET

As we come out of the economic downturn into a hopeful recovery, more organizations are focusing on what they need to do next. My advice to them is to behave like a world-class innovator. And what exactly do world-class innovators do that other organizations don't? Here's a rundown:

Possess a relentless focus on growth There are unprec edented opportunities for growth in almost every industry. One document I wrote several years ago ("Where's the Growth?") is still a good barometer of some key trends that will provide for economic growth in the future. It's my belief that we live in transformative times t hat offer …

Stocks tumble on $135 oil, Fed meeting minutes

Wall Street pitched lower for the second straight session Wednesday as record-high oil prices and a bleak economic assessment from the Federal Reserve deepened investors' worry about rising costs and a shaky employment picture. The Dow Jones industrial average fell 227 points, logging its widest two-day loss since late February.

Early in the day, stocks began falling on the surging price of oil, which shot up more than $4 and breached $135 a barrel for the first time on the futures market Wednesday.

The stock market slumped further after minutes from last month's Fed meeting revealed that while policymakers expected sharply lower economic growth and higher …

China: January foreign investment up 23.4 percent

BEIJING (AP) — China's foreign direct investment jumped 23.4 percent in January, rebounding from weakness in December, the Commerce Ministry announced Thursday.

Foreign spending on factories and other nonfinancial assets hit $10 billion, the ministry announced. The monthly growth rate was up from December's 15.6 percent rate and 2010's full-year rate of 17 percent.

Foreign investment in China …

Military officials move to oust Geraldo Rivera from posting

NEW YORK - The Pentagon said today it is asking Fox News Channelto remove Geraldo Rivera from a posting with U.S. troops in Iraqwhere he was accused of disclosing unauthorized information. "Wehave asked that he be removed and we are working with them to makethat happen," Lt. Col. Dave Lapan said. He said the network hadagreed. Fox News Channel executives did not immediately return callsseeking comment today.

Earlier, Rivera had dismissed reports that he had been ejectedfrom Iraq for revealing tactical information about the 101st AirborneDivision.

Also today, a British tabloid said it has hired Peter Arnett, whowas dismissed by NBC on Monday for giving an unauthorized interviewto Iraqi state television in which he said the American-led wareffort initially failed because of Iraq's resistance.

"Fired by America for telling the truth," the Daily Mirror said ina Page 1 headline. The Mirror, is vehemently opposed to the war.

Lapan said Rivera reported details of troop operations by drawinga line in the sand showing where his unit was and where it was goingnext.

Reporters who are "embedded" with U.S. troops are not supposed todisclose details that could help Iraqis figure out their location andplans.

Mexico: US extradition request came too late

The United States did not ask Mexico to arrange for a suspect's extradition in the death of a Border Patrol agent until the man had been freed, a Mexican government spokesman said Thursday.

U.S. officials presented Mexican authorities "with a provisional arrest request for extradition purposes" for Jesus Navarro Montes in late June, said Ricardo Alday, spokesman for the Mexican Embassy in Washington.

But the request came more than a week after a Mexican judge cleared Navarro of an unrelated migrant smuggling charge and released him from a prison in Mexicali, Alday said.

Alday's announcement came hours after 39 U.S. congressmen wrote to President Bush and Attorney General Michael Mukasey asking whether the government had asked Mexico to extradite Navarro.

It also occurred shortly after Justice Department spokesman Peter Carr said that the letter would be reviewed and that the department remains committed to investigating the death of agent Luis Aguilar.

After-hours calls to Carr and another Justice Department representative seeking comment on the Mexican announcement were not immediately returned.

Navarro was released June 18, five months after his initial arrest on human smuggling charges in Mexico, Alday said.

U.S. authorities allege Navarro's Hummer struck and killed Aguilar on Jan. 19 as the agent tried to stop suspected drug smugglers by setting spike strips on a road. Navarro was later arrested in Mexico.

Last month, Alday said Navarro was released after the U.S. government failed to issue an arrest warrant, provide evidence or contact Mexican authorities to seek extradition.

The letter from California Rep. Brian Bilbray _ who heads a group of lawmakers supporting tougher immigration laws _ noted the congressmen's concerns over Navarro's release and Alday's statement. The lawmakers want an accounting of communications between U.S. and Mexican officials.

Alday declined to comment on why American and Mexican officials had delayed making public the provisional arrest request for extradition.

The U.S. attorney's office in San Diego, which has been in charge of investigating Aguilar's death and has refused any comment, referred calls to the Justice Department. So did the White House media affairs office.

Alday said his government was working cooperatively with an ongoing intensive search for Navarro, whose whereabouts are unknown.

"Once he's located, the arrest warrant based upon the provisional request for extradition purposes will be executed," Alday said.

Capello calls up Kyle Walker for England friendly

LONDON (AP) — Kyle Walker was called up by England coach Fabio Capello for Wednesday's friendly against Denmark after the Tottenham fullback impressed on loan at Aston Villa.

The 20-year-old Walker has played only three minutes as a substitute for Spurs this season but has excelled on loan at second-tier Queen's Park Rangers and now Villa.

The right back is the fifth Villa player in the 25-man squad, with Stewart Downing, Ashley Young, Gabriel Agbonlahor and Darren Bent also picked.

Bent is likely to start up front alongside Wayne Rooney in Copenhagen.

Rio Ferdinand is unavailable after he was hurt warming up for Manchester United on Saturday, so Steven Gerrard will be captain.

"I want to see him with Rooney because everyone knows he is terrible for defenders in the box," Capello said. "He takes up good positions, he gets the ball. He scores."

Capello left Bent out of his squad for last year's disappointing World Cup campaign in South Africa but said he has improved this season, especially since joining Villa last month.

"Bent was not as good before the World Cup as he is at this moment," Capello said. "Before, he was only playing for the box. Now, he is a player who can play for the team. At Sunderland before, it was important for them to go straight for the goal. I told him he had to change. He had to work a lot, press a lot.

"He has probably changed something in his mind, not only in his style."

With Ferdinand missing, Capello recalled fit-again Tottenham defender Michael Dawson. He also has Gary Cahill and Joleon Lescott as options to partner John Terry in central defense.

Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere may play a holding role in front of the defense, with Capello comparing him favorably with France and Real Madrid great Claude Makelele.

"Makelele was faster and could play with both feet but Wilshere is better," Capello said. "He is really intelligent on the pitch and his movement, with and without the ball, has improved a lot."

___

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Ben Foster (Birmingham), Joe Hart (Manchester City), David Stockdale (Fulham).

Defenders: Leighton Baines (Everton), Gary Cahill (Bolton), Ashley Cole (Chelsea), Michael Dawson (Tottenham), Glen Johnson (Liverpool), Joleon Lescott (Manchester City), John Terry (Chelsea), Kyle Walker (Aston Villa).

Midfielders: Gareth Barry (Manchester City), Stewart Downing (Aston Villa), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), James Milner (Manchester City), Scott Parker (West Ham), Theo Walcott (Arsenal), Jack Wilshere (Arsenal), Ashley Young (Aston Villa).

Strikers: Gabriel Agbonlahor (Aston Villa), Darren Bent (Aston Villa), Peter Crouch (Tottenham), Jermain Defoe (Tottenham), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United.

Report: NKorea begins building light-water reactor

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea has begun building an experimental light-water reactor at its Yongbyon nuclear complex, a news report said Saturday, in what could be an attempt to draw attention and press Washington to resume talks on Pyongyang's atomic programs.

The reactor will be able to generate about 25 to 30 megawatts of electricity, Siegfried Hecker, former director of the U.S. Los Alamos Nuclear Laboratory, told reporters in Beijing after a trip to North Korea, according to Japan's Kyodo News agency.

Hecker said construction of the reactor has just begun and is likely to take several years to complete, according to Kyodo.

In March, North Korea said it would build a light-water power plant using its own nuclear fuel in the near future.

Building a light-water reactor would give the country a reason to enrich uranium, which at low levels can be used in power reactors — and at higher levels in nuclear bombs.

Recent satellite images of the Yongbyon complex have shown new activity there, the Institute for Science and International Security said in September.

South Korea is aware of some movements at the nuclear complex and needs to further analyze North Korea's intentions, a South Korean Foreign Ministry official said on condition of anonymity.

Lee Byung-ryung, a South Korean nuclear expert who was involved in a now-canceled U.S.-led project to build two light-water reactors in North Korea, said a reactor of that size "doesn't appear to be a meaningful source of electricity because it is small."

Under a 1994 deal to freeze North Korea's atomic program, the U.S. and other nations promised the energy-starved North two light-water reactors that would have be less likely to lead to nuclear proliferation. The deal collapsed in 2002 when the U.S. accused North Korea of running a secret uranium enrichment program.

After nearly seven years of adamant denials, North Korea announced last year that it was in the final stages of uranium enrichment — a process that would give it a second way to build atomic bombs in addition to its earlier plutonium program.

The reported construction "is a message to the United States that North Korea will keep working on its nuclear programs unless the U.S. comes forward to the six-nation talks," said Kim Yong-hyun, an expert on North Korean affairs at Seoul's Dongguk University.

He also doubted any actual achievement of construction of the reactor.

There has been no recent sign of progress in restarting stalled talks on ending North Korea's nuclear programs.

All of North Korea's nuclear projects are of intense concern because of worries the country is building its arsenal of atomic weapons. Pyongyang carried out nuclear tests in 2006 and 2009, drawing international condemnation and U.N. sanctions.

Just before the second test, North Korea quit the nuclear talks, but it has recently expressed a willingness to rejoin the negotiations, which involve the two Koreas, the United States, China, Russia and Japan.

However, South Korea and the U.S. have said North Korea must first take specific moves to demonstrate its sincerity.

Kesler Lifts Canucks to 2-1 OT Win

Ryan Kesler scored the tying goal with 2:41 left in regulation and scored again on a tip-in 46 seconds into overtime, helping the Vancouver Canucks beat Los Angeles 2-1 on Monday night and avoid a four-game season sweep by the Kings.

The Kings, who have the worst record in the NHL, were outshot 37-18 in regulation. Cloutier stopped the first 33 shots he faced before Kesler got the equalizer. Alex Burrows took a 20-foot wrist shot from the left circle, and defenseman Lubomir Visnovsky blocked it with his right skate while Cloutier kicked out his left leg. However, Kesler was right there for the rebound.

Mattias Ohlund rang one off the left post just seconds into OT, but Kesler redirected Willie Mitchell's slap shot from the right point just 16 seconds after the Kings killed off an interference penalty against Rob Blake.

The victory was Vancouver's 100th in overtime during the regular season since the format for breaking ties was instituted by the NHL in 1983-84.

The Canucks' victory put lifted them into a tie with Colorado for seventh place in the Western Conference playoff race, two points ahead of ninth-place Nashville.

Patrick O'Sullivan scored the Kings' goal moments after Mitchell broke his stick while attempting a slap shot in the Los Angeles zone. Dustin Brown took off with the puck and started a 2-on-2 rush, with Mitchell one of the defenseman back. O'Donnell got a cross-ice pass from Brown near the net and whipped his 19th goal past Roberto Luongo's stick.

Cloutier, who was traded by the Canucks to the Kings in July 2006 for a pair of draft picks, is 0-2-2 against his former team. The Kings, who have scored no more than two goals in any of their last six games, are 3-27-3 this season when they fail to get at least three.

The Canucks' top three point producers _ Henrik Sedin, Daniel Sedin and Markus Naslund _ did not have any goals in the four games against Los Angeles this season. The trio has combined for 61 goals and 179 total points through the team's first 69 games.

Center Brendan Morrison returned to the Vancouver lineup for the start of a four-game road trip, after missing 38 games with a nagging wrist injury that required surgery. He had played in 542 consecutive games, the longest active streak in the NHL at that time. It ended after the Canucks' 4-2 loss to the Kings on Dec. 10.

Morrison's injury occurred during an exhibition game against San Jose on Sept. 26, when he jammed his wrist into the boards while taking a hit. He played in Vancouver's first 30 games of the regular season, getting eight goals and 12 assists.

Notes:@ The Kings' only season sweep of Vancouver was a four-game set in 1980-81. ... Canucks C Trevor Linden, who has played in a franchise-record 1,129 games, was a healthy scratch for the third straight game. ... Cloutier's seven shutouts with Vancouver in 2001-02 still stand as the most in a single season by a Canucks goalie. Luongo is one away from tying that mark. ... Luongo has started 15 consecutive games and 31 of Vancouver's last 33, after sitting out four straight with bruised ribs. His record during that stretch is 18-10-6.

Palestinian Infighting Flares in Gaza

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip - Gunmen fired at the house of Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas early Monday and warring factions threw militants to their deaths from high-rise buildings, in a dangerous escalation of infighting in Gaza.

There were no reports of casualties in the attack on Haniyeh's house in the Shati refugee camp next to Gaza City. His office wouldn't say whether he was inside when the house and surrounding area came under heavy fire for about 15 minutes from a nearby high-rise building. But his wife, children and grandchildren were, his family said.

It was the first time in a month of fighting between Hamas and the rival Fatah group that Haniyeh was an apparent target.

Before daybreak Monday the sides reached an agreement to stop the clashes, and Fatah-linked security forces began pulling back from points of friction around the Gaza Strip. But several such cease-fires in recent weeks have been short-lived. Shooting could still be heard at several points around Gaza City as residents awoke Monday.

The fighting took a grisly turn on Sunday, when Hamas militants kidnapped a member of the elite presidential guard of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas of Fatah, took him to the roof of a 15-story apartment building and threw him to his death.

That set off skirmishes through the city, including gun battles and shelling. Fatah militants surrounded the house of a Hamas mosque preacher, fired rocket-propelled grenades at the four-story building and then entered, firing at the preacher, and taking him away. Later, his body was brought to a hospital. Hamas pledged revenge.

And just before midnight, a Hamas activist was thrown off the 12th floor of a building and killed, security officials said. Four other Hamas men in the building were shot and wounded, bringing the day's toll to three dead and 36 wounded, medical officials said.

A Hamas militant wounded Friday in southern Gaza infighting also died on Sunday.

The two sides have been locked in a violent power struggle since Hamas ousted Fatah from power in January 2006 elections. Hamas brought Fatah into its government in March in an effort to quell an earlier round of internal strife, but the fighting reignited in mid-May over an unresolved dispute over who controls the powerful security forces.

Fifty-five people have been killed in the latest outbreak of violence, most of them militants. A truce declared two weeks ago was meant to end the clashes, but last week the fighting resumed around the southern Gaza city of Rafah.

Palestinian TV reported that Haniyeh called on gunmen to pull back from streets and rooftops to allow about 24,000 Gaza 12th grade high school students to start their final exams on Monday. The Education Ministry said Monday the tests would go ahead as planned.

The deadly infighting has overlapped with new clashes between Israel and Palestinian militants who have been firing rockets at southern Israeli communities bordering Gaza.

On Sunday, Israeli political and military leaders pledged to keep up the pressure on Gaza after Palestinian militants infiltrated Israel a day earlier in a failed attempt to capture a soldier.

"I said a week ago that our operations in Gaza will continue as long as it takes to block the terrorists attempts to infiltrate and the Qassam rockets," Prime Minister Ehud Olmert told his Cabinet.

The military chief of staff, Lt. Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi, favors more intensive military activity in Gaza, but not a full-scale invasion, defense officials said Sunday. They spoke on condition of anonymity because military policy is confidential.

Israeli forces briefly entered southern Gaza late Sunday in what the military said was a routine, small-scale operation aimed at demonstrating a presence and deterring rocket fire. Despite the incursion, two rockets landed in the southern Israeli town of Sderot Monday, causing panic but no injuries, the army said.

Because of the ongoing rocket fire, high school seniors from Sderot and were sent to a neighboring town to take matriculation exams on Monday, Army Radio reported.

Jones: GOP attack on majority will fail

The Republicans just won't give up the fight to regain control of the Illinois Senate, and Democratic Senate President Emil Jones Jr. (D-14th) plans to deal them another defeat.

Jones is all over the state defending the Democratic majority in the Legislature while he also is up for re-election in his own district on Tuesday. Currently, there are 33 Democrats and 26 Republicans in the Illinois Senate.

The Illinois Republican Party is pouring buckets of money into targeted Democratic districts across the state to chip away at Jones's Senate majority.

Jones told me that one of those on the GOP hit list is state Sen. Gary Forby (D-59th) in Benton, which historically has voted Democratic.

"Forby served in the Illinois House of Representatives (and) his district is composed of working class people," Jones said. "Because he is a freshman senator, the Republicans have targeted him. But he should win and he is right on the issues of education and the farm community."

Jones is also keeping a close watch on the race of John Sullivan (D-47th) western Illinois' Rushville.

"He is a high quality candidate and came out strong on the issues that relate to farmers in his district. Sullivan should win, the people in the district like him and he is a hard worker," said Jones.

Jones' majority, unlike past Democratic Senate Presidents Tom Hynes, Phillip Rock, and Cecil Partee, seemingly is split between downstate and Chicago Senate districts.

"We have a balance, but I have to work with diverse groups such as the suburbs, downstate, and urban areas like Chicago. We all have to work together in a cohesive way. My job as the leader is to get them to work together for the common good. That is how I have been able to pull together this majority," stated Jones.

"As the President of the Senate, I am able to get more done, because I control the agenda. We reformed the criminal justice system, passed minimum wage and equal pay laws. My entire Democratic Caucus gave strong support for funding of public education and increased funding for health care. These issues will continue throughout my tenure as president."

Prior to Jones taking over, most of these reform laws were held in the Senate Rules Committee by the Republicans. They know the importance of Senate control and continue to target several other Democratic Senate Districts for defeat.

The 29th Senate District currently held by Senator Susan Garrett from Lake Forest has been targeted too.

"The district is an affluent community on the North Shore. She is a hard worker and the Republicans have targeted the district for defeat, but with my strong support, she should easily win re-election," said Jones.

The Republicans have also targeted Jones' assistant majority leader, Senator Patrick Welch's 38th district, located in LaSalle-Peru (central Illinois).

"Welch has been a senator for more than 20 years," Jones said. "Although the district tends to be Republican, he should win. They run against him every time he is up for re-election. I am confident we will defeat the Republicans," said Jones.

Jones Democratic majority has proven fairness and great benefits to Illinoisans across the state. The past Republican Senate unabashedly stood in the way of the best interest of working people in this state. On Tuesday, vote and ensure that the Republicans fail.

Melvin Caldwell is a columnist for the Chicago Defender. He can be reached at Melvincaldwell@aol.com.

Article copyright REAL TIMES Inc.

Photograph (Emil Jones)

Summary Box: GM to recall 1.3 million compacts

THE RECALL: General Motors Co. will recall 1.3 million Chevrolet and Pontiac compact cars sold in the U.S., Canada and Mexico.

THE PROBLEM: The power steering assist can fail due to faulty electric motors.

THE MODELS: 2005 to 2010 Chevrolet Cobalts, 2007 to 2010 Pontiac G5s, 2005 and 2006 Pontiac Pursuits sold in Canada and 2005 and 2006 Pontiac G4s sold in Mexico.

THE REMEDY: Replace the motors as soon as GM can get parts to dealers. Owners will be notified when to come in for repairs.

WHAT TO DO: GM says the cars can still be driven safely but could become harder to steer below 15 mph.

W.Va. now $121 million ahead on budget

West Virginia entered December with its general revenue budget$121 million in the black while nearly a dozen other states facedeficit threats totaling $10 billion, according to figures fromacting Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin's administration and a new nationalreport.

November state tax collections brought in $278 million, or $26million more than expected. Marking the seventh straight month forbetter-than-projected revenues, West Virginia is 8.2 percent aheadof its forecast for the budget year.

State government has banked on raising $3.7 billion for itsgeneral revenue budget by the year's June 30 end. It's collectednearly $1.6 billion of that.

The Tomblin administration released the tax figures Wednesday,just as a new report found other states still struggling in theGreat Recession's wake.

That report also suggests West Virginia is well-positioned tobalance the upcoming budget that the Legislature must craft earlynext year.

The National Governors Association and the National Associationof State Budget Officers released their latest fiscal survey ofstates. Among other findings, the report said 14 states have alreadycut $4 billion from current spending to avoid deficits. They includeone of West Virginia's five neighbors, Pennsylvania.

While states overall have seen revenues rise, the survey found 11facing a combined $10 billion in budget gaps.

"Even with a slight improvement over fiscal 2010, fiscal 2011 isexpected to be another very difficult fiscal year for states," NGAExecutive Director Raymond Scheppach said in a statement.

The report also warns of challenges to 2011-2012 budgets, notingthat states can no longer rely on federal stimulus dollars. Thatwill combine with slow revenue growth and rising costs to "create acliff in fiscal 2012 and contribute to state fiscal strains," thegroups said.

"Strained state budgets will be the norm for the next severalyears as mandated expenditures such as Medicaid continue to grow,"Scott Pattison, the state budget officers' executive director, saidin a statement.

"While states will continue to fund 'core functions' from theirgeneral fund, they may fund other services such as parks or artsprograms from different sources, including user fees."

But West Virginia may avoid that route, as well as such toughchoices as tax hikes, program cuts and public worker layoffs. Thesurvey ranked it second nationally, behind only Alaska, for the sizeof its revenue balance when compared to its spending. Balancesinclude emergency reserves as well as funds left unspent from priorbudget years.

Mountain State lawmakers passed a balanced budget earlier thisyear by tapping the surplus portion, sparing the state's "rainy day"fund. Just over half the states have seen their reserves declineover the last two years. Fifteen began this budget year with anempty rainy day fund, the survey said.

With West Virginia's reserves at $631 million, the surveyestimates the state still has unspent surplus it could devote to itsupcoming budget. The report found 23 states estimating looming gapstotaling $40.5 billion for their next budget. Gaps of $40.9 billionwere projected by 17 states for their 2012-2013 budgets.

November's general revenues also show continuing signs of aneconomic rebound for West Virginia. Its key sources, personal incomeand sales and use taxes, beat their monthly targets by a combined$16.7 million. These two tax areas provide 70 percent of all generalrevenue.

Another economic indicator, business franchise and corporate netincome taxes, brought in $1.5 million though only $200,000 wasexpected.

Severance taxes on coal and other extracted natural resourceshave been crucial over the past two years in buoying generalrevenues. Those taxes totaled $47.7 million, $7.9 million or 20percent above their projection.

No Legionnaires' Disease at Courthouse

TRENTON, N.J. - A courthouse reopened Monday after weekend tests found no signs of the bacteria that cause Legionnaires' disease.

The Mercer County courthouse was closed Thursday after a woman who works there, Carol Green, tested positive for Legionella.

Mercer County Executive Brian Hughes said more than 25 test samples taken from the building over three days showed no signs of the bacteria.

"It is highly unlikely that this employee contracted the bacteria through any of her work at the courthouse," Hughes said.

Don MacNeill, a spokesman for Capital Health System, said Green was in serious condition Monday afternoon.

Legionellosis is a serious form of pneumonia, dubbed Legionnaires' disease after a 1976 outbreak at an American Legion convention in Philadelphia.

Indoor cases are often associated with poorly maintained cooling towers and potable water systems, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

Quotes from testimony of US student

Excerpts from the testimony of Amanda Knox, the U.S. student on trial for murder and sexual assault in the 2007 slaying of her British roommate. Knox took the witness stand Friday in Perugia, Italy, where she is being tried with her ex-boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito of Italy, and testified sometimes in English, sometimes in Italian, according to her choice.

__

On the last time she said she saw Meredith Kercher, on Nov. 1.

"She left her room, said 'bye,' walked out the door. That was the last time I saw her." In Italian.

__

On her alibi the night of the murder:

"On Nov. 1, I told Raffaele that I wanted to watch a movie so we went to his place ... I sat on the bed, he sat at his desk, he prepared the joint and then we smoked it together. First we made love, then we fell asleep." In Italian.

__

On how police treated her:

"The declarations were taken against my will, so everything that I said was said in confusion and under pressure."

"They called me a stupid liar; said I was trying to protect someone. I was not trying to protect anyone. I didn't know what to respond. They said I left Raffaele's home, which I denied, but they continued to call me 'stupid liar.'" In English.

__

On her relationship with the victim:

"I confided in her, I would often ask for her advice. ... When Meredith had a problem over my behavior, she would tell me. That was it. There was nothing she would keep hidden or that we couldn't find agreement on." In Italian.

__

On her turning cartwheels at the police station after the killing:

"In general I'm someone who tends to act a little silly when I feel I'm in difficulty or not at ease." In Italian.

___

On whether she cried after Kercher's body was found:

"I cried but I was always hugged by Raffaele. First he gave me his jacket, then he was cuddling with me because I was shaking. I didn't know what to think, I was shocked." In Italian.

___

On police questioning:

"When I arrived at the police office I wasn't expecting to be interrogated at all. I was sitting on my own, doing my homework, when a couple of police officers came to sit with me. They began to ask me the same questions they'd been asking me all those days ... for instance, who could I imagine could be the person who had killed Meredith. I said I still didn't know." In English.

___

On whether she used drugs:

"Every once in a while, with friends." In English.

Australia investigating French breast implant risk

SYDNEY (AP) — Australia's medical watchdog agency met Wednesday to assess whether potentially faulty French-made breast implants pose a threat to women.

An expert panel of the Therapeutic Goods Administration was meeting to discuss safety concerns about the silicon implants that were made by the now-defunct French company Poly Implant Prothese. The implants were made with cheap industrial silicone instead of medical grade silicone, and were banned last year in countries around the world after more than 1,000 women in France suffered ruptures.

Around 8,900 of the implants have been used in Australian women. The TGA — which regulates Australia's drugs and medical devices — said in a statement that it had received 39 reports of ruptures.

Health experts across the globe have been trying to determine the health risk and whether to tell women to have the implants taken out. Last month, French officials said women with the implants should have them removed, with the government picking up the tab.

The TGA was reviewing information on rupture rates and consulting with cosmetic surgery experts as part of its investigation. Wednesday's meeting was not expected to result in a decision on what the agency will recommend, TGA spokeswoman Kay McNiece said.

INSTITUTE AND BOARD AWARD NOMINATIONS DUE FEB. 15

Nominations are being accepted for AIChE's 201 1 Institute and Board of Directors' Awards. These honors, to be presented at the October 201 1 AIChE Annual Meeting in Minneapolis, MN, recognize significant achievement in the chemical engineering profession, and include a series of recently inaugurated awards that celebrate outstanding contributions in industrial practice. Information on each award and the nomination process can be found at www.aiche.org/About/Awards/ InstituteandBoard.aspx.

Nomination forms, supporting letters, and supplemental materials should be saved as electronic documents (PDF format is preferred) and submitted to AlChE on a single CD. The postmark deadline for Institute and Board award nominations is Feb. 15, 201 1 . Questions about the nomination process may be addressed to awards@aiche.org.

World Sprint Speedskating Championships Results

Results Saturday from the World Sprint Speedskating Championships at the Tokachi Oval (race distances in meters):

Women

500 meters

1. Lee Sang-hwa, South Korea, 38.19 seconds.

2. Jenny Wolf, Germany, 38.31.

3. Sayuri Yoshii, Japan, 38.74.

4. Nao Kodaira, Japan, 38.75.

5. Yu Jing, China, 38.84.

6. Tomomi Okazaki, Japan, 38.99.

7. Shiomi Shinya, Japan, 39.02.

7. Yekaterina Malysheva, Russia, 39.02.

9. Yulia Nemaya, Russia, 39.08.

10. Jin Peiyu, China, 39.15.

1,000 meters

1. Sayuri Yoshii, Japan, 1:17.26.

2. Monique Angermueller, Germany, 1:17.59.

3. Nao Kodaira, Japan, 1:17.64.

4. Lee Sang-hwa, South Korea, 1:17.78.

5. Lotte Van Beek, Netherlands, 1:17.83.

6. Sophie Nijman, Netherlands, 1:18.11.

7. Yekaterina Malysheva, Russia, 1:18.31.

8. Jenny Wolf, Germany, 1:18.32.

9. Jin Peiyu, China, 1:18.37.

10. Olga Fatkulina, Russia, 1:18.40.

Men

500

1. Keiichiro Nagashima, Japan, 35.01.

2. Lee Kang-seok, South Korea, 35.15.

3. Lee Kyou-hyuk, South Korea, 35.22.

4. Ronald Mulder, Netherlands, 35.24.

5. Mika Poutala, Finland, 35.26.

6. Tadashi Obara, Japan, 35.44.

7. Dmitry Lobkov, Russia, 35.50.

8. Zhang Zhongqi, China, 35.52.

9. Parker Vance, United States, 35.62.

10. Nico Ihle, Germany, 35.66.

1,000

1. Lee Kyou-hyuk, South Korea, 1:09.44.

2. Beorn Nijenhuis, Netherlands, 1:09.73.

3. Samuel Schwarz, Germany, 1:10.20.

4. Dmitry Lobkov, Russia, 1:10.23.

5. Ronald Mulder, Netherlands, 1:10.48.

6. Christoffer Fagerli Rukke, Norway, 1:10.62.

7. Lars Elgersma, Netherlands, 1:10.81.

8. Lee Kang-seok, South Korea, 1:10.85.

9. Keiichiro Nagashima, Japan, 1:10.99.

10. Ryohei Haga, Japan, 1:11.01.

Nigerian militant group says government restricting access to imprisoned leader

The imprisoned leader of a militant group active in Nigeria's oil region hasn't been granted access to his lawyers, his group said Friday.

A court last week ordered Nigerian authorities to allow Henry Okah visits from his family and legal counsel, but his Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta said in an e-mail statement Friday that has yet to happen.

Government officials couldn't immediately be reached for comment.

The militants said they would file another court case seeking to force officials to allow lawyers to visit the leader held on accusations of gun running and other crimes. The militants are threatening further "anarchy" in Nigeria's already chaotic oil-producing region if their demands aren't met.

N.Korea Urged to Abandon Atomic Weapons

UNITED NATIONS - With speculation mounting of a North Korean nuclear test as early as this weekend, a unanimous U.N. Security Council urged the secretive, communist nation Friday to abandon all atomic weapons as it promised last year and cancel plans to detonate a device. Japan hinted the North could face sanctions or possible military action.

A statement adopted by the council expresses "deep concern" over North Korea's announcement that it planned a test - which would confirm strong suspicions it is a nuclear power - and warns Pyongyang of unspecified consequences if it carries through. The message also urges the North to return to six-party talks on scrapping its nuclear …

The mystery of the disappearing bees.(FORE FRONT)

A crisis is developing in the world of beekeeping. Beekeepers around the country have gone to check on their honey bee colonies only to find that the majority have died or--even more mysteriously--vanished. Although this is alarming for the livelihood of beekeepers, the problem has much more far-reaching implications.

Honey bees are of course best known for making honey. Their most important task, however, is to pollinate a wide range of crops including apples, blueberries, cucumbers, almonds and avocados. According to the USDA, one-third of the human diet is derived from insect-pollinated plants, with honey bees accounting for 80% of this. Cornell University researchers have determined that the value of honey bee pollination to U.S. agricultural output is more than $14 billion per year.

Many culprits have been named to explain this disappearance--known as "colony collapse disorder"--including parasites, nutritional problems and genetically modified crops. One of the more prevalent theories faults pesticides, particularly a class of nicotine-derivatives known as neonicotinoids. One such chemical insecticide, imidacloprid, has become the subject of much controversy.

Manufactured by a division of Bayer AG, imidacloprid is typically used to control a variety of pests including aphids, beetles, termites and locusts. However, it also highly toxic to honey bees and may impair their ability to return to the hive, which might explain why some colonies were virtually empty.

Imidacloprid has come under intense scrutiny around the world. After being suspected of decimating the bee population and the country's honey production, imidacloprid was banned altogether in 1999 in France, where it was sold as a sunflower seed treatment under the trade name "Gaucho." Bayer disputed the link between imidacloprid and bee deaths and even went so far as to sue a member of a French beekeeping union for defamation. The case was dismissed, however, and the ban remains in place with other countries considering following suit.

The mystery of the disappearing bees.(FORE FRONT)

A crisis is developing in the world of beekeeping. Beekeepers around the country have gone to check on their honey bee colonies only to find that the majority have died or--even more mysteriously--vanished. Although this is alarming for the livelihood of beekeepers, the problem has much more far-reaching implications.

Honey bees are of course best known for making honey. Their most important task, however, is to pollinate a wide range of crops including apples, blueberries, cucumbers, almonds and avocados. According to the USDA, one-third of the human diet is derived from insect-pollinated plants, with honey bees accounting for 80% of this. Cornell University researchers have determined that the value of honey bee pollination to U.S. agricultural output is more than $14 billion per year.

Many culprits have been named to explain this disappearance--known as "colony collapse disorder"--including parasites, nutritional problems and genetically modified crops. One of the more prevalent theories faults pesticides, particularly a class of nicotine-derivatives known as neonicotinoids. One such chemical insecticide, imidacloprid, has become the subject of much controversy.

Manufactured by a division of Bayer AG, imidacloprid is typically used to control a variety of pests including aphids, beetles, termites and locusts. However, it also highly toxic to honey bees and may impair their ability to return to the hive, which might explain why some colonies were virtually empty.

Imidacloprid has come under intense scrutiny around the world. After being suspected of decimating the bee population and the country's honey production, imidacloprid was banned altogether in 1999 in France, where it was sold as a sunflower seed treatment under the trade name "Gaucho." Bayer disputed the link between imidacloprid and bee deaths and even went so far as to sue a member of a French beekeeping union for defamation. The case was dismissed, however, and the ban remains in place with other countries considering following suit.

The mystery of the disappearing bees.(FORE FRONT)

A crisis is developing in the world of beekeeping. Beekeepers around the country have gone to check on their honey bee colonies only to find that the majority have died or--even more mysteriously--vanished. Although this is alarming for the livelihood of beekeepers, the problem has much more far-reaching implications.

Honey bees are of course best known for making honey. Their most important task, however, is to pollinate a wide range of crops including apples, blueberries, cucumbers, almonds and avocados. According to the USDA, one-third of the human diet is derived from insect-pollinated plants, with honey bees accounting for 80% of this. Cornell University researchers have determined that the value of honey bee pollination to U.S. agricultural output is more than $14 billion per year.

Many culprits have been named to explain this disappearance--known as "colony collapse disorder"--including parasites, nutritional problems and genetically modified crops. One of the more prevalent theories faults pesticides, particularly a class of nicotine-derivatives known as neonicotinoids. One such chemical insecticide, imidacloprid, has become the subject of much controversy.

Manufactured by a division of Bayer AG, imidacloprid is typically used to control a variety of pests including aphids, beetles, termites and locusts. However, it also highly toxic to honey bees and may impair their ability to return to the hive, which might explain why some colonies were virtually empty.

Imidacloprid has come under intense scrutiny around the world. After being suspected of decimating the bee population and the country's honey production, imidacloprid was banned altogether in 1999 in France, where it was sold as a sunflower seed treatment under the trade name "Gaucho." Bayer disputed the link between imidacloprid and bee deaths and even went so far as to sue a member of a French beekeeping union for defamation. The case was dismissed, however, and the ban remains in place with other countries considering following suit.

Goalie Crawford

MONTREAL — For Corey Crawford, the moment was years in the making.

The Montreal native, who grew up attending games at the Bell Centre, returned Tuesday as an NHL goalie.

"It's special to come back and be here after being a kid and coming to watch games when I was younger," Crawford said. "I don't know how to explain it. It's a weird feeling."

Crawford, who admitted he'd be a little nervous for the first five minutes, said about 20 family members and friends were in attendance and had gotten their tickets months ago.

Before the game, he fielded questions from a throng of reporters and answered in French and English. He talked about his journey to become an …

Williamstown's 'Flea' a farce of a farce.(Life-Spaces)

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. -- Georges Feydeau. David Ives. The father of French farce, the modern master of contemporary farce.

It would seem a natural fit, but it doesn't work, at least not in Williamstown Theatre Festival's new production of Feydeau's "A Flea In Her Ear," as translated and adapted by Ives.

Feydeau's plot is a purposeful mess of mistaken identities, culture clashes and slamming doors.

It focuses on the circle of folk around Victor (Mark Harelik) and Raymonde (Kathryn Meisle) Chandebise, with the second act moving the hoity-toities to the decidedly lurid Frisky Puss Hotel for fun, games and sexual confusion.

If anything, Ives ups …

HEROIC CATHOLIC FIGURES CAN STILL INSPIRE TODAY.(MAIN)

Byline: SR. JOAN SCHERMERHORN Latham

The Nov. 24 editorial betrays a fear that the U.S. Catholic Bishops' recent statement on ``Living the Gospel of Life'' will put ``political pressure'' on Catholic politicians in opposing abortion.

Contrary to ``political'' pressure, our bishops acknowledge that ``as chief teachers in the Church'' they ``must explain, persuade, correct and admonish those in leadership positions who contradict the Gospel of Life through their actions and policies.''

Unfortunately, some Catholic officials, as well as other Catholics, have failed to recognize …

Iraq's PM leads in early Baghdad vote count

A coalition led by Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki was winning in the all-important capital and a Shiite province in the south, according to a partial tally of election results released Saturday.

If the Baghdad trend continues, the results would be a substantial boost to al-Maliki and his chances to retain the prime minister's post. Baghdad accounts for 70 of the parliament's 325 seats and would go a long way toward deciding who will be tasked with forming a government that will oversee the country as U.S. forces go home.

Al-Maliki has been ahead so far in preliminary results that have been trickling out from election officials since last Sunday's …

China: Brand strategy to be enhanced

INSIDE ASIA

China will make great efforts to develop its own brand names in the next five to ten years with an aim to help sharpen the competitive edge of Chinese enterprises on both the domestic and international markets.

As a WTO member, China's exports will face less trade barriers. In order to gain a larger share of the market, Chinese firms need to work harder to develop top competitive brand names, said Rong Jianying, Executive Deputy Secretary General of the China Promotion Committee for Top-Brand Strategy.

Brand names are seen as a symbol of strict production and sales management and scientific marketing techniques, as well as having a good reputation among …

Likely sources of attacks.(Brief Article)

Ranked according to probability

1. Independent hackers

2. Disgruntled employees

3. U.S. competitors

4. …

PLAN AHEAD.(Capital Region)

Get rid of computers, TVs at recycling day

ALBANY -- Unwanted household electronics can be disposed of at an electronics recycling day from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. April 26 at B'nai Sholom Reform Congregation, 420 Whitehall Road.

Computers, televisions, printers, scanners, fax machines, air conditioners, refrigerators, VCRs and DVD players, audio components and other household appliances may be dropped off for a donation of $5-$15, depending on the number of items per car.

The cost to properly dispose of the toxic materials in TVs requires an additional $10 fee for TVs and up to $30 for TVs with wood console paneling. All computers will have the hard …

Kodak will discontinue black-and-white paper.(Business)

ROCHESTER - Eastman Kodak Co. said Wednesday it will discontinue production of black-and-white photographic paper by the end of the year as continues its transition to digital photography.

Kodak spokesman David Lanzillo said the paper, used in traditional darkrooms, is produced in Brazil. The company will continue to make black-and-white film and chemicals for processing.

Lanzillo said he could not specify how many employees will be affected, but …

WITNESS SAYS KING BEGGED OFFICERS TO STOP.(Main)

Byline: Associated Press

A woman and man testifying in public for the first time said Friday they saw police beating and kicking a compliant Rodney King. The woman said King screamed out, "Please stop!"

Dorothy Gibson broke down in tears after recalling the violent scene she saw from her apartment patio on March 3, 1991.

"He didn't do anything," Gibson said of King. "He was just dodging blows. He was on the ground. It seemed I heard him scream out, 'Please stop!'"

"And what else did you see?" Assistant U.S. Attorney Barry Kowalski said.

"They were kicking him. I saw them kicking him with their feet on both sides of his body," she …

The Phoenix Companies, Inc.

Are clients asking you about retirement income strategies? One way they can create consistent retirement income is through immediate annuities, which convert a lump sum payment into an income stream delivering payments monthly, quarterly, semi-annually or annually. Depending upon the options selected, the income can be provided for a lifetime or a specified period of time ew variations of immediate annuities often give the client the flexibility to make partial or full withdrawals at any time.

Immediate annuities offer either variable or fixed payments, and some contracts offer both, allowing the annuitant to create steady income that also benefits from potential …

San Diego border crossing shuts after canopy falls

SAN DIEGO (AP) — The border crossing between San Diego and Tijuana, Mexico, is closed to U.S.-bound vehicles after part of a canopy collapsed.

The canopy fell over vehicle lanes at the San Ysidro port of entry, which is the nation's busiest border crossing.

It's unclear if …

Wrestling cycle complete for Hogan

He has come full circle--from main-eventing "WrestleMania 1," to alackluster run in the WCW, to the formation of the NWO, to a returnto the WWF to headline "WrestleMania X8." But now, in what is perhapshis greatest achievement yet, Hulk Hogan is back on top of thewrestling world.

In just a few short weeks, Hogan did the impossible--going fromthe most-hated man in the business who everyone felt was over thehill, to the clear No. 1 man in the sport the fans can't wait to see.It all could come to a classic conclusion next Sunday night at"Backlash," when Hogan gets a shot at the undisputed title andfederation champion HHH.

I won't go so far as to say Hogan will leave …

Other action.(Legislative Roundup)(Senate Committee on Public Health, Welfare & Labor)(Brief article)

A bill requiring health care plans to cover prostate cancer screenings for men 40 and older passed the House on Thursday. HB1031, by Rep. Fred Allen, D-Little Rock, was referred to the Senate Committee on Public Health, Welfare & Labor.

The House also approved on Thursday a bill allowing the sale of alcoholic beverages for on-premises consumption at restaurants in the same city of a large-attendance facility. HB1036, by Rep. Keith Ingram, D-West Memphis, was referred to the Senate Committee on State Agencies & Governmental Affairs.

And a bill that would …

HOME REPAIRS COULD BE FREE.(CAPITAL REGION)

Byline: MICHELE MORGAN BOLTON Staff writer

If it ain't broke, don't fix it. But if it is, and you fall within acceptable income guidelines, you may qualify for free minor home repairs from Rensselaer County Housing Resources.

The new mini-repair program offered since July by the not-for-profit community-based housing organization gives free labor to elderly, disabled or otherwise eligible county residents outside of the city of Troy who are only asked to pay the cost of materials.

Maximum job size is two days with a five-day limit per homeowner per year, according to program director Gail Padalino.

Examples of available repairs are …

Metro Ethernet provides 911 for bandwidth: New Mexico's largest health care provider got fatter pipes at lower prices by switching to an alternate provider's service.(Case Study)

Efficiency and dollar savings drove Presbyterian Healthcare Services of Albuquerque, NM to metro Ethernet.

"We're a not-for-profit, so there is more emphasis here on efficient operations than anything else," said Aaron Jaramillo, network technologies manager for the hospital. He oversees both the PBX and the data side of the house. "Our goal was to get double the bandwidth at half the cost."

Presbyterian is New Mexico's largest health care provider, with seven hospitals, the state's largest health plan, home health care, outpatient centers and ambulance services. Founded in 1908, it now employs more than 7,500 people. By early 2004, the demand on bandwidth became overwhelming.

Presbyterian had a point-to-point ATM OC-3 network with Qwest. While there were no huge issues with the service provided, the contract was set to expire and Jaramillo figured it was as good a time as any to explore options.

One thing he knew for sure: The Presbyterian network would continue to grow. The cost of keeping up with the growth was wreaking havoc on budgets, and the administration was clear that they expected technology to lead the way to improved health care, and not represent a stumbling block. …

Summary Box: Stocks rise as Europe fears ease

GREECE: Signs of progress in Europe's debt crisis helped lift stocks Thursday. A day after a breakdown in power-sharing talks in Greece jolted financial markets, senior banker Lucas Papademos was named prime minister of a new coalition government.

ITALY: Italy borrowed $6.8 billion at lower interest rates than …

ST. KITTS-NEVIS:PLAN TO DOUBLE LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION.

Livestock production in St. Kitts is to be doubled by the year 2000 with the development of lands for animal production at Con Phipps Estate, the Director of Agriculture, Dr. Jerome …

Target vice chairman steps down abruptly.(Business)

MINNEAPOLIS - Target Corp. Vice Chairman Gerald Storch has stepped down, and the retailer didn't immediately say why. Storch was seen as a potential successor to Chairman and Chief Executive Robert Ulrich.

"We would like to thank Jerry for his contributions and wish him the best in his future endeavors," …

June 1964: Fear of the reaper? Hindsight A b-to-b time capsule.(Opinion)

Sydney Russell, publisher of Casket & Sunnyside, wondered in a letter to the editor why funeral service publications were left out of Industrial Marketing's Business Publication Guide.

You must be superstitious. That's the only thing that explains it. You know you'll finally wind up …

Clinton urges biotech workers to apply high-tech solutions to everyday life

Biotechnology research is critical in resolving environmental,international health-care and energy crises as the world shrinks andglobal interdependence grows, former President Bill Clinton toldthousands gathered here for the Biotechnology Industry Organizationconvention Tuesday in Chicago.

Travel between countries is getting easier, which for the mostpart is a good thing, but it also increases the possible spread ofinfectious diseases and hazardous materials, Clinton said during a 40-minute speech at McCormick Place.

To curb the problems that arise with globalization, progress willonly take place with "science, evidence and argument," he said.

"We need …

ARTICLE SHOULD HAVE INCLUDED NYS THEATER INSTITUTE.(SHOWTIME)

TO THE ARTS EDITOR:

The article by Steve Barnes (``Arts Climate Warming Up,'' Showtime, Jan. 12) was a welcome report, but he glaringly omitted the area theater company which is likely responsible for a good part of theater's current upturn in the Capital Region.

For more than 20 years, one area company alone has committed itself to developing theatergoers and theater artists of the future by steadfastly conducting theater and education programs for families and for young people through high school age.

That company alone committed itself to nurturing the natural hunger of young people for theatrical experience and it is the only company in the …