'Different from being a pastor'

MC Manitoba executive director reflects on the role of leadership

Ken Warkentin has been sitting in the executive director's chair of Mennonite Church Manitoba for eight months now. He swivels that chair comfortably from the desk to a table where he invites people into conversation, or to his guitar that is always within arm's reach.

"It's very different from being a pastor," says Warkentin, who has served in pastoral roles almost continuously since 1981. "Here, there is more distance from the people. In church, you are much closer to the itchy spots. Here, you are often guessing where the itchy spots are."

The New Directions document, which was prepared by the MC …

Ariz. crash raises questions about medical flights

A fiery collision that killed six people aboard two medical helicopters has underscored the dangers of emergency flights and renewed questions about whether they are worth the risks.

Experts agree air ambulances can save lives when the victim is in grave condition and the hospital is a long way off or hard to reach by road. But they say there are other cases in which an ordinary ground ambulance is just as good, and perhaps safer.

The collision involved two helicopters that were arriving with patients Sunday at Flagstaff Medical Center. It was the ninth accident this year involving emergency medical aircraft, bringing the number of deaths to 16, National …

Court says worker's picnic injury not work related: Employee says he was paid to play that day

When William Gooden's bosses made the offer, the decision was asimple one.

Work a full day as a machine operator, he was told, or work only ahalf-day, while spending the other half playing volleyball, footballand the egg toss at the annual company picnic.

Gooden, like so many other employees at the Allstate printingplant in Wheeling, opted for the company picnic.

But it was after the egg toss and during a volleyball game thatGooden said he felt tightness in his lower back.

He sat out the rest of the picnic and worked his half-day, but bythe weekend, he said, the pain was too much to bear.

A few months later, he was undergoing back surgery. …

A case study on easing an institutional bottleneck in aged care

Abstract

This is a case study about a cross-sector Interim Health Care Strategy (IHCS) developed by a Victorian metropolitan health service in partnership with a private residential facility and a community agency to provide a range of transitional or interim care initiatives for public hospital patients awaiting permanent residential care after completing acute or subacute treatment. The aims were to improve access to emergency and acute inpatient services, while meeting the needs of residential care clients in the metropolitan suburbs. The components included care within a residential care facility, community-based interim care and a subsequent Extended Rehabilitation Program. …

Rescued kidnapping victim Elizabeth Smart engaged

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — A woman kidnapped at knifepoint at age 14 and held captive for nine months is getting married.

A spokesman for 24-year-old Elizabeth Smart says she got engaged last weekend and will likely marry in the summer.

No details about the groom-to-be were disclosed. The spokesman says Smart plans to keep her personal life …

Rates mixed at weekly Treasury auction

Interest rates on short-term Treasury bills were mixed in Monday's auction: Three-month bills rose to the highest level in two weeks while six-month bills were unchanged from last week.

The Treasury Department auctioned $26 billion in three-month bills at a discount rate of 0.160 percent, up from 0.155 percent last week. Treasury also auctioned $26 billion in six-month bills at a discount rate of 0.230 percent, unchanged from last week.

The three-month rate was the highest since three-month bills averaged 0.165 percent two weeks ago on May 3. The six-month rate for the past two weeks has …

Principal gets her just desserts

DAILY MAIL STAFF

Glenwood Elementary School Principal Deborah Shelton got creamed,but she didn't care.

There was a good reason for having her students launch cold,sticky pies at her face.

For the second year, the students have scored above the 50thpercentile on their SAT-9 test. The chance to hit the principal witha pie was the reward.

While waiting on Shelton to emerge from the school, the 220students cheered and waved signs with the principal's face taped onPopsicle sticks.

Shelton presented the students with the initiative last fall.Counselor Sue Lovejoy said the students have counted the days untilthey could collect on their …

Google working on phone with built-in payment tool

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Google Inc. is taking another stab at designing a game-changing mobile phone, this time by including a built-in payment system that could eventually enable the devices to replace credit cards.

The new phone got a brief preview Monday when Google CEO Eric Schmidt took the stage to kick off the Web 2.0 summit, a technology conference held annually in San Francisco.

Schmidt confirmed that Google has been working on a sophisticated new computer chip and an upgrade of its Android mobile operating system that will include a payment processing tool. He showed off the new phone with the device's name and manufacturer concealed.

Several technology websites …

Analysis: Debate grows over keeping troops in Iraq

BAGHDAD (AP) — As the U.S. winds up combat operations in Iraq this month, a gap is widening between the militaries of both countries and their political masters over whether American soldiers should stay beyond the 2011 deadline for a complete U.S. troop withdrawal.

It's the latest friction as the uneasy allies try to end the seven-year U.S. war without unraveling Iraq's precarious security.

A security agreement between the two nations calls for all U.S. troops to leave Iraq by the end of 2011. By Sept. 1, only 50,000 American soldiers will remain in the country, their combat authority strictly curtailed in the largest step to date toward the 2011 deadline.

Mindful of …

OBITUARIES

Hugh W. Bellas, 95, Raymore, MO

Gilbert W. Denison, 78, Norman, OK

Sherwood A. Fox, 81, Grand Junction, CO

John A. …

BP, ConocoPhillips team up to build pipeline from Alaska to North American markets

Two of the world's largest oil companies have announced plans to jointly develop a multibillion dollar natural gas pipeline to move North Slope natural gas to North American markets.

Britain's BP PLC and ConocoPhillips, based in Houston, said Tuesday they plan to spend $600 million (euro382 million) in the …

Kidman, Affleck films among Toronto fest debuts

A showcase for potential Academy Awards contenders and big fall releases, September's Toronto International Film Festival will feature titles starring Nicole Kidman, Ben Affleck, Robert De Niro, Natalie Portman, Keanu Reeves, Keira Knightley and Carey Mulligan.

The Toronto festival announced many of the titles Tuesday that will be screened at the event Sept. 9-19.

Affleck directs and stars in the heist tale "The Town," playing a thief who falls for a bank manager his crew takes hostage on their last job.

Other actors-turned-directors premiering films at the festival include Robert Redford with the Abraham Lincoln assassination tale …

Charges in deaths of Curry ex-girlfriend, her baby

Authorities in Chicago have charged a man with murder in the deaths of the former girlfriend of New York Knicks' basketball player Eddy Curry and her infant daughter.

Cook County State's Attorney spokeswoman Sally Daly says 36-year-old Frederick Goings was charged with two counts of first-degree murder on Sunday.

The bodies of 24-year-old Nova Henry and her 9-month-old daughter, Ava, were found in their Chicago apartment on Jan. 24. Both died of multiple gunshot wounds.

Henry was the mother of Curry's 3-year-old son. The boy was found unharmed at the scene.

A spokesman for the Knicks and Curry, a former Chicago Bull, declined comment Sunday.

Goings is due in bond court Monday. It was not immediately clear if he had an attorney.

German Football Results

Results from the 10th round of the Bundesliga, the German first-division football league (home team listed first):

Friday's Game

Bayer Leverkusen 1, Borussia Dortmund 1

Saturday's Games

Bayern Munich 2, Eintracht Frankfurt 1

Hoffenheim 3, Nuremberg 0

Hannover 1, Stuttgart 0

Borussia Moenchengladbach 0, Cologne 0

Mainz 3, Freiburg 0

Sunday's Games

Hertha Berlin 0, Wolfsburg 0

Schalke 3, Hamburger SV 3

Bochum 1, Werder Bremen 4

Friday, Oct. 30

Borussia Dortmund vs. Hertha Berlin

Saturday, Oct. 31

Wolfsburg vs. Mainz

Stuttgart vs. Bayern Munich

Hamburger SV vs. Borussia Moenchengladbach

Cologne vs. Hannover

Nuremberg vs. Werder Bremen

Schalke vs. Bayer Leverkusen

Sunday, Nov. 1

Freiburg vs. Hoffenheim

Eintracht Frankfurt vs. Bochum

SASQUATCH AND THE SICK-A-BILLYS, JULY 19, THE BOUQUET

An unknown band has to play Boise three times before we really start to take notice. The first time, the band may play to a single-digit crowd. The second time, they may woo upward of 20 people. The third time, they could potentially play a packed house. Such is the case for Rhode Island-spawned Sasquatch and the Sick-A-Billys who are about to descend on Boise like a runaway train.

Touring in support of their June release, Storming the Gates (the follow-up to Burning Miles of Sin), Sasquatch and the Sick-A-Billys is guitarist/vocalist Sasquatch, a.k.a. Dave Caetano, Brettbot on doghouse bass and LiI' Dave Hemingway on drums. But it's Caetano-his ideologies, morals, values, ethics, voice-who is the driving force behind the music: gritty rockabilly brought up from the depths of hellfire and damnation and spewed across the country with each tour. And it's brilliant.

Since that first Boise performance on a Thursday night in the summer of '05 when the dozen of us who made up the crowd at the Bouquet (including members of the opening band Wilson St. Pub and Sluthouse Band, without whom Sasquatch won't play a Boise show) listened and watched in awe, I couldn't wait for their return. Last summer, I even skipped a vacation to see them perform when they came through town. But if you're looking for me this Thursday night, I might be a little harder to find. Not because I won't be at the Bouquet (oh, I'll be there), but because if I'm right, there's going to be one hell of a crowd.

-Amy Atkins

July 19, 9 p.m., $5, with Wilson St. Pub & Sluthouse Band. The Bouquet, 1010 W. Main St., www.thebouquet.net.

Cottrill to play at E. Michigan

DAILY MAIL SPORTSWRITER

Ricky Cottrill received the ultimate graduation present.

Thursday, the Poca High School basketball star got a release fromthe national letter-of-intent he signed with Robert Morris andreceived a scholarship from Eastern Michigan University. "He got afull release," said Poca Coach Allen Osborne, who will watchCottrill participate in graduation ceremonies tonight. "It was along process. It took about six weeks. I've never been involved inanything like this.

"But I'm glad he got it. He's worked awfully hard. We're prettyexcited about this."

Not to mention relieved. Now, the 6-foot-3 guard will indeed getto compete for the coach he always wanted to play for - Jim Boone.

That's how this entire scenario started. Cottrill committedduring the early signing period to Boone and Robert Morris. But,then, Boone accepted the job at Eastern Michigan. Cottrill has beenfighting to get his release from Robert Morris and the nationalletter-of-intent ever since.

"I've known Ricky since he was 9 or 10 years old," said Boone, aWinfield native. "I've watched him develop. There is no doubt in mymind that Ricky has the ability to compete at the collegiate level.

"The most important thing to me in building a program here wasnot only recruiting good players, but bringing in young men withgreat character. As good a player as Ricky is, he's a betterperson."

Kids need inspiring icons

Jim Tilmon is an intelligent, eloquent, polished and confident television weatherman with a rich voice -- A perfect role model for the young.

His overall persona conveys nothing less than the truth spoken properly. If Tilmon says its going to rain tomorrow morning, you confidently go to bed prepared for bad weather the next day. If it doesn't rain, well, the Gods have a right to change their plans.

Not only is Tilmon an excellent communicator, he is a veteran commercial airline pilot. Don't take that last line casually.

The streets are full of young and old people who can't imagine Black men and women flying commercial planes. Yet. Tilmon flew for American Airlines for over 22 years while appearing on WTTW-TV for four years and 22 years on WMAQ-TV. He has been an aviation expert practically on every major network television system.

Recently Jim has come out of an eight-year retirement in Phoenix to return to Chicago as a flight expert and weatherman at WBBM-TV, Channel 2. He reports the weather on the 4:30 p.m. Channel 2 News.

That's another way of reporting that veteran WLS-TV manager Joseph Ahern has returned from San Francisco to take the helm at Channel 2. Ahern was one of a string of pro station managers who guided Channel 7, to its current long run as the top news station in this city.

Channel 2 already has a very likeable and skilled Black weather forecaster in Steve Baskerville, a talented Philadelphian. But what's wrong with having two Afro-Americans doing the weather in a city with a majority-Black population?

Wednesday night I had the honor of presenting a welcome-back award to Tilmon during a reception sponsored by the Chicago Chapter of the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ). Tilmon was honored with Bob Petty, veteran reporter for WLS-TV, who recently retired after 31 years.

As both were cheered by their media friends, it struck me as to what wonderful male role models these two men represent. Both speak well, enunciating every word with clarity and precision without appearing the least bit affected. Both always evince confidence while reading the news or reporting ad lib.

That kind of confidence is crucial to what young students need to understand as the basis for real professionalism. Both men first pursued a proper education before they ever thought of television. Both sought and earned a college education.

I especially reviere my experiences with Petty with whom I worked at WLS-TV for close to 30 years. I especially recall him being there 26 years ago when Chicago's Black journalists came together and finally created a formal organization in my home.

But one experience above all proves my point about the mutual roles of preparedness and confidence. Several years ago Bob and I covered the dedication of the famous memorial to the heroes of the civil rights movement in Montgomery, Alabama. After the ceremony, I suggested that Bob take his cameras to the site of the first Confederate White House near Dr. Martin Luther King's Dexter Avenue Baptist Church.

While, I, a former college history teacher, began to lecture Bob on where Jefferson Davis mapped his strategy for the Civil War, Bob smiled and ad libbed the rest of the story. He had read much on the Civil War. Therefore he reported with maximum ease and confidence.

Bob, who spent much of his youth in Arkansas, learned early the value of reading. He is a real role model for Chicago youngsters who, though educationally shortchanged, have more learning tools than Bob ever had in Arkansas. I've always considered Bob Petty one of the most underrated reporters in Chicago television.

But in a sense, both Tilmon and Petty could be considered among the relatively underrated. That's why the NABJ's Chicago Chapter has adopted my Freedom Readers program, through which Black and white media stars are presented in our schools as inspirational examples of what an education--especially reading--can do.

The Tilmons and Pettys of our society deserve as much public recognition and respect from our children as do athletes and hip hop stars, particularly those celebrities who have difficulty completing a sentence.

FORE! (AND AFTER)

When I think of golf, I think of the perfect backdrop for an afternoon nap. I think of the flat screen in my basement, tuned to the PGA Tour, the deep-cushioned sofa cradling me in the fetal position, and the air conditioner creating enough of a chill that I can burrow under a Polarfleece throw without overheating. The mild-mannered announcers call the game in their most distinguished indoor voices like a lullaby whispering me off to sleep.

Much to my chagrin, my idealized vision of this more-of-ahobby-than-a-sport sport dissolved like sugar in scalding coffee when my husband persuaded me to accompany him to Boise's only par-three course on a recent Tuesday morning. Lured by the promise of a sunny vitamin-D infusion during the match and a lunch date after the game, I thought I had little to lose. My only investment was time, itself a hot commodity as the pace of our ever-shrinking world gets faster and faster.

Time is something few of us can afford to squander. However, Pierce Park Greens (5812 N. Pierce Park Lane, Boise, 208-853-3302. pierceparkgreens.com) is something of a timesaving anomaly in the world of driving and putting. For starters, there is no advance commitment because you don't have to reserve a tee-time. Although generally a fan of structure and schedules, I was immediately intrigued by the idea that golf could promote spontaneity. But even better than the lack of tee-times is the fact that the course has only nine holes - it's a short-course secluded gem in a community largely populated by traditional 18-hole courses. Quick mental arithmetic: our round should only take half as long as a full round.

My enthusiasm snowballed as we drove down the unpretentious dirt driveway set deeply off Pierce Park Road. Shrouded by dense foliage, the entrance to the course is easy to miss if you're not looking for it, but the tunnel of trees quickly gives way to acres of grass, cut short-and-tight and peppered with sand bunkers.

After a relatively quick game, in which I scored well over par on each hole, I was still inclined toward the fetal position - not so much in need of a nap as crippled by the frustration experienced by golfers of all levels. The ball simply didn't go where I wanted it to go.

Nevertheless, I appreciated the fundamental joys of fresh air, blue skies and that intense sensation that results from a flawless hit. I think Kevin Costner said it best in the movie Tin Cup, when he described the perfect golf swing as "a living sculpture, down through contact, always down, striking the ball crisply, with character. A tuning fork goes off in your heart and your balls. Such a pure feeling is the well-struck golf shot."

I also adore the opportunity for strident fashion statements. Where else can you reasonably wear plaid pants with a striped shirt and a solid sweater-vest? Furthermore, the Dutch Goose is a short hop down the road from Pierce Park Greens, and with two-for-one sandwiches on Tuesdays, I can think of no better way to unwind after a game of golf. Or after a nap.

- Sarah Barber

WVU running game looking average

BLACKSBURG, Va. - The national polls no longer say so, but WestVirginia University is still a Top 10 football team in one way.

Rushing. The Mountaineers, with an average rushing attack of 247.6yards, are the 10th-best rushing team in NCAA Division I-A.

Yet of late, WVU's run game hardly looks like it is one of thebest in the Eastern Time Zone, let alone the nation.

"I don't know if we're not pressing the blocks enough," WVU CoachRich Rodriguez said Saturday. "I'll have to check how the runningbacks are doing. Obviously, Kay-Jay (Harris) has been hobbled a bit.They committed a lot of people to the run."

That Saturday's opponent, Virginia Tech, did to the Mountaineers.And for the second game in a row, a team from Virginia made WVU'svaunted ground attack look like a tank in 5 feet of mud.

A week after I-AA James Madison limited WVU to a sub-par 171rushing yards, unranked Tech held the Mountaineers to 134 as itearned revenge for the previous two seasons with a 19-13 non-leaguevictory Saturday afternoon before a sellout of 65,115 at LaneStadium.

"They ran the ball pretty well when they had to and we didn't,"Rodriguez said.

Entering the game unbeaten and ranked No. 6, WVU (4-1) fell 10spots Sunday when the Associated Press poll was released. TheMountaineers are off until Oct. 13, when they open Big East play inmid-week fashion at Connecticut (4-1).

"We had to play on their side of the ball," Tech defensive tackleJim Davis said. "It starts with the 'D' line against their 'O' line.Who wants it more. There were a lot of cheap shots, a lot in betweenthe whistles. Everything you can ask for in a dogfight."

"We knew if we could come out and stop the run and make them one-dimensional, we'd come out with the victory," Hokie cornerback EricGreen said.

A veteran WVU offensive line that returned all of its 2003starters plus sixth-year senior Tim Brown was supposed to avoidmediocre outings in big games.

Instead, Tech (3-2) held WVU to just 10 first downs and 247 totalyards. A 46-yard scoring scamper in the fourth quarter by quarterbackRasheed Marshall provided WVU with its lone rushing outburst.

Harris was held to 22 yards on seven carries and fumbled on afourth-and-one try in the first quarter. His day was cut short by asprained knee. His backup, Jason Colson, had several good runs.Still, neither Marshall nor any of the running backs has combined asindividuals for more than 100 yards rushing the last two weeks.

"I thought Virginia Tech kind of set their sights and their mainfocus was to stop the run," Marshall said.

An erratic Mountaineer passing attack then permitted Tech to winwithout scoring an offensive touchdown in a game marred by 251 yardsin penalties. Despite 334 total yards, all of Tech's offensiveproduction was four Brandon Pace field goals. The other score came onWilliam Fuller's 74-yard return of a blocked field goal - one playafter WVU wideout John Pennington dropped a Marshall pass at Tech's2.

"I'll try to make up for it," said Pennington, a senior fromGeorge Washington High. "I'm pretty hungry now."

In the fourth quarter, Marshall lost a first down on WVU's next-to-last possession when wideout Eddie Jackson dropped a pass.

Tech was able to hold standout WVU wideout Chris Henry to fivecatches for 42 yards.

"Maryland's a great program, but they were double-teaming ChrisHenry," Green said. "We thought we had the athletes to go out andplay with them. West Virginia is really dependent on that. They throwit up and let their athletes make plays."

The defeat ended speculation about WVU sweeping its schedule in ayear that the Big East is competitively down with the losses of Techand Miami (Fla.) to the Atlantic Coast Conference.

"Maybe if you are undefeated, you're playing not to lose,"Pennington said. "I guess it takes some pressure off."

"We know we have a good team, good players and we're going to keepit rolling," Marshall said.

The Mountaineer rushing attack could use a push start.

* n n

Odds and tight ends:

* The WVU loss snapped an 11-game regular-season winning streakthat included three road victories.

* One of the penalties that Rodriguez did not agree with was awaved-off interference call on Green against Henry along the WVUsideline. Rodriguez said Green shoved Henry out with the ball in theair.

Green's version? "We even had the scout team guys pushing off onus because he does that. He pushed me forward. As I was falling, Ijust tried to grab onto something."

* Davis on his up-the-middle block of Brad Cooper's 40-yard field-goal attempt: "I thought I jumped the snap a little bit. I got twohands up."

* Cooper's version: "This one didn't feel like the first one(against Maryland) that I had blocked. I kicked that one high on theball. It definitely made a big impact on the game."

* Following the game, hundreds of Tech students stood on the fieldnear the WVU fan section and chanted "over-rated" and "ACC." Waterbottles were thrown in both directions before security, some withdogs, intervened on the field.

* WVU juggled its offensive line during the game, placing JeremyHines at center and moving starting center Tim Brown to right tacklefor Garin Justice.

* WVU starting "bandit" safety Lawrence Audena did not dress forthe game because of a "stinger" injury.

Contact sportswriter Mike Cherry at mikecherry@dailymail.com or348-5170.

Brown, Bush, Reaffirm Shared Values

CAMP DAVID, Md. - British Prime Minister Gordon Brown told President Bush Monday he shares the U.S. view that there are "duties to discharge and responsibilities to keep" in Iraq.

"Our aim, like the United States is, step-by-step, to move control to the Iraqi authorities," Brown said, joining Bush at a news conference at the president's Maryland mountaintop ranch.

Brown hinted that a decision about British troop levels was coming soon, while assuring that such a determination would be based "on the military advice of our commanders on the ground," thus echoing language often heard from Bush.

Indeed, minutes later, in response to a question, Bush said: "The decisions on the way forward in Iraq must be made with a military recommendation as an integral part of it."

The United Kingdom's commitment to the war is essential to the Bush administration. Britain has 5,500 troops there, with forces moving from a combat role to aiding local Iraqi forces.

Bush didn't directly answer whether he planned to pass on the war to the next president, who will take office in January 2009. But he suggested that was likely. "This is going to take a long time in Iraq, just like the ideological struggle is going to take a long time," he said.

The Camp David meeting was an attempt by Brown and Bush to seek common footing between leaders new to each other, but who jointly oversee one of the world's most important alliances.

In deference to the U.S.-British relationship, Bush gave Brown the full foreign-leader treatment: a coveted overnight stay at the presidential retreat here, three meals of all-American fare and introductory talks spanning a range of weighty matters.

But building personal rapport was the main theme. The men have been together before, but this was their first official sit-down since Brown took office in Britain a month ago. There was some sign they achieved a connection, with Brown thanking Bush for his compassionate words about the death of a baby daughter four years ago and the two trading jokes about Brown's reputation as a dour Scotsman.

Still, what the men stressed was what their nations have in common when they appeared together before reporters - 25 minutes late, a rarity for the usually punctual president - to cap the two days of talks - both one-on-one and with advisers.

"So everyone's wondering whether or not the prime minister and I were able to find common ground, to get along, to have a meaningful discussion," Bush said at the outset. "And the answer is `Absolutely.'"

Bush said they met over dinner Sunday night for more than two hours alone, dismissing aides from both countries to the rustic camp's bowling alley (where the British side apparently prevailed).

"You know, he probably wasn't sure what to expect from me," the president said. "I kinda had a sense of the kind of person I was going to be dealing with. I would describe Gordon Brown as a principled man who really wants to get something done."

On the battle against terror, in particular, the men said there is no daylight between their views.

"We are one in fighting the battle against terrorism," said Brown.

Bush congratulated the prime minister on his response when his country was hit with terror threats and catastrophic flooding immediately after he took office. "You've proved your worthiness as a leader."

"He gets it," the president said of his new partner.

Some of Brown's advisers have caused a stir with comments about Bush's famously close ties with Brown's predecessor, Tony Blair, and the Iraq war - raising questions about whether British troops were headed for an early withdrawal from Iraq.

"In Iraq we have duties to discharge and responsibilities to keep in support of the democratically elected government and in support of the explicit will of the international community," Brown said.

Military officials have said that British forces are likely to hand over control of Basra, the last area for which they hold responsibility, by the end of the year. Brown said at Bush's side that a decision on the future role of British troops could be announced to Parliament when it returns from a summer recess in October.

That decision would follow the scheduled September report to Bush by Army Gen. David Petraeus.

If Bush had any dissatisfaction about what he heard from Brown on Iraq, he didn't reveal it.

"There's no doubt in my mind he understands the stake of the struggle," Bush said. "And there's no doubt in my mind that he will keep me abreast of his military commanders' recommendations based upon conditions on the ground."

Notably, though, Brown is covering his bases. After leaving Bush, he planned to meet U.S. congressional leaders on Capitol Hill, where support for Bush on the war is fading.

He also was heading from Washington for New York, where he will hold talks with U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and deliver a speech to the United Nations.

Brown arrived Sunday at Camp David, and the two got off to a chatty start. Brown could be overhead remarking on how he was honored to be at Camp David, given its rich history. Part of that history included a stop by Blair in 2001 when Bush barely knew him, either.

The alliance of the United States and Britain has long been shaped by personalities - Roosevelt and Churchill, Reagan and Thatcher, Bush and Blair.

Bush likes to size up a fellow world leader in person and measure the person's mettle under fire. Yet time is short and his popularity and clout have worn away with the war in Iraq.

"What the president wants to find out is whether the new prime minister is a reliable ally," said Simon Serfaty, a European expert at the Center for Strategic & International Studies.

---

Associated Press writer David Stringer contributed to this report.

Twins complicate surrogacy issue

The birth three weeks ago of twins, a boy and a girl, to a paidsurrogate mother in Michigan further complicates the debatesurrounding the issue of such surrogacy and sounds a strong warningthat careful regulatory legislation is urgently needed.

What was supposed to be a simple - even if offensive - businessarrangement took an ugly and cruel twist after surrogate mother PattyNowakowski of Ionia, Mich., found that she was pregnant with twins.

She had been paid $10,000 to carry a child for a wealthyMichigan husband and wife who were no longer able to have children.

But the conception of twins complicated matters, especiallysince one of them was a boy and the couple already had three sons.

And, two weeks before delivery, the couple informed Mrs.Nowakowski that they did not want male children because the wife wastoo frail to raise boys. They took the girl and left the boy withthe Nowakowskis.

These events raise a lot of questions. Among them:

Should only childless couples be allowed to enter into surrogacyagreements.

Do people who pay a woman to bear them a child have the right tobe gender-specific and to specify whether they want a boy or a girlwhen they enter such a business arrangement? And if so, what happensto the child if it is of the opposite sex?

What are the responsibilities of the surrogate and naturalparents if the child is born with mental or physical handicaps?

And what of the future of these twins? The boy was given awayand spent a week in a foster home before Mrs. Nowakowski and herhusband decided he needed a home and a family with a stableenvironment.

Mrs. Nowakowski says she will tell her new son of thecircumstances of his birth. But she faces legal obstacles if shecarries through on her desire to have the twins know each other.

Legally there is nothing wrong with separating siblings. Ithappens all the time in divorce cases. But this is not a messydivorce squabble in which custody is granted to one parent. This isa tangled, complicated issue that evolved because tremendous advancesin medical technology confronted legal, ethical and moral issues.

Michigan Sen. Connie Binsfield, who is sponsoring legislation tooutlaw paid surrogate motherhood, admits never having thought of sucha scenario involving twins.

Apparently no one has thought much about the issue.

And for that reason we urge Gov. Thompson to appoint a panel toanalyze the statutes and attempt to come up with reasonable,equitable and enforceable legislation here.

EU investigates Italy for church tax breaks

ROME (AP) — The European Commission has placed Italy under investigation for granting tax breaks to the Catholic Church for church-run clinics and hostels amid complaints the exemptions give the church an unfair economic advantage over rivals.

While stressing that it was not prejudging the outcome of the investigation, the commission said Tuesday it believed the tax exemptions could violate EU rules on state subsidies and could distort competition.

The Italian government has a month to respond before the commission makes a final decision. The Foreign Ministry said in a statement that "the government is convinced that it can demonstrate to the commission in a clear and conclusive way the good and sound reasons" behind the exemptions.

However, if the commission rules against Italy, the EU could order Italy to demand that the church reimburse the government.

The EU didn't specify whether the tax breaks were for the Italian Catholic Church or the Vatican, which has extensive real estate holdings in Rome.

In 2005, Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi extended a property tax exemption for the church to cover buildings where it runs businesses such as private health clinics or convents that host pilgrims.

Unnamed rivals complained in 2006, prompting EU regulators to ask Italy for more information on how the businesses worked. On Tuesday, the EU launched a formal investigation.

Italy's minister for European policy, Andrea Ronchi, said the decision was "surprising" but that he expected Italy would be cleared. He said he believed the investigation was merely a "required step to arrive at the definitive closure of the case."

In a statement, the commission said among other things the investigation would verify whether the tax exemptions could be considered as services of general economic interest.

Under EU state aid rules, public service providers such as mail, transport and telecommunications companies can receive compensation from the government for their extra costs under certain conditions.

The commission said Tuesday that Italy hadn't provided sufficient information to establish that was the case for church institutions.

Report: NFL investigators meet with steroids dealer

NFL investigators have met with a convicted steroids dealer, who has said he provided performance-enhancing drugs to professional football players, according to a newspaper report.

David Jacobs pleaded guilty last year in federal court to conspiring to possess with intent to distribute anabolic steroids and was sentenced to probation on May 1. He has said he sold steroids and human growth hormone to NFL offensive lineman Matt Lehr and another NFL player. He also said the players he provided performance-enhancing drugs supplied them to other NFL players.

The New York Times reported in Friday's edition that Jacobs said NFL investigators visited him the day after he was sentenced.

"They wanted to know what information I had and what other documentary evidence I could provide them with," Jacobs told the Times. "I told them I was not going to talk specifics without my lawyer present. They wanted to know a list of players I dealt with and knew, and I told them I didn't feel comfortable doing that."

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello confirmed to the Times that the league's investigators met with Jacobs and said future meetings were scheduled.

Lehr's attorney has denied his client ever sold steroids or HGH. He said the player hasn't used banned substances since he was suspended for four games during the 2006 season while playing for Atlanta, and has passed NFL drug tests.

Littler mermaid to surface when big sis in China

When the Little Mermaid goes to China, her smaller sister will make a rare appearance at Copenhagen's Tivoli amusement park.

Manager Lars Liebst says Tivoli will show an identical but smaller mermaid statue while the landmark bronze is exhibited at the 2010 World Expo in Shanghai.

Both were created in the early 20th century by Danish sculptor Edvard Eriksen.

The life-sized Little Mermaid is Copenhagen's most famous landmark. The smaller version is little known because it's privately held by Eriksen's family.

Liebst says the family agreed to lend it to Tivoli "while her 'sister' is representing Denmark at the World Expo."

A video installation by a Chinese artist will replace the bigger mermaid on her location in the Copenhagen harbor.

Hundreds in Chile not told of positive HIV tests

Chile is scrambling to reach people who could be unknowingly spreading AIDS.

Public health services failed to tell 512 people that they tested positive for HIV, and private-sector services failed to inform an estimated 1,700, Health Minister Alvaro Erazo told lawmakers Thursday.

Chile's public health service said some patients provided incorrect addresses, but in about half the cases, there is no evidence anyone tried to reach them. "There is no justification for that," said Erazo, who was summoned to Congress after the scandal forced his predecessor to resign.

Now Chile is launching an intense campaign to locate and inform the patients. Erazo said it would be done with the most confidentiality possible. But it appears some health workers have not gotten that message.

In Puerto Montt, a man who refused to be identified by name said two health officials arrived at his workplace in an ambulance and, in the presence of his boss, told him he is HIV-positive.

"I lost my job and my girlfriend" as a result, the man told Radio Cooperativa of Santiago. "My family is broken."

Of 18,500 AIDS cases registered in Chile since 1984, 5,710 people have died of the disease, Erazo said. According to the Health Ministry, 62 percent of the cases have been homosexual or bisexual men, but infections are increasing among heterosexuals.

Some experts blame the spread on conservative sexual mores that have prevented sexual education in Chile's schools and hindered public health campaigns.

Conservative groups persuaded courts this year to block government distribution of free morning-after pills to girls as young as 14 without reporting to their parents. And a government campaign to promote condom use suffered when two television networks refused to air the ads.

"There is a great general negligence," said Marco Becerra, a social worker who leads Asosida, an organization that coordinates AIDS prevention efforts by private groups in Chile. "Argentina and Brazil have mandatory sexual education at schools from early grades, while here we are still discussing it."

"Liberalization of sexual behavior in Chile is no greater than in other countries, but ours is a hypocrite society," he added. "The same television stations that rejected the condom campaign show semi-naked women all the time."

Shop's `bull' back - kids keep eye on it

The purple cow's purloined paramour has been back for a month,but South Side children still are checking to make sure it is at homeon the roof of the Purple Cow ice cream shop.

The 100-pound purple papier-mache and fiberglass bull, namedRambo, was heisted, and perhaps hoisted, from the top of the shop at10409 S. Western in the wee hours of Nov. 16. That left its indoormate, a purple cow named Lavender, all alone.

Though Rambo was returned a few days later, its absence wassorely noted by hundreds of children in the store's Birthday Club,owner John Homan said.

"We're still getting calls; they mainly come from children," hesaid. "We've had hundreds, maybe close to a thousand calls.

"People are stopping by, looking at the roof. Now they arecoming back saying they're glad to see it back."

The bull was returned by a Jerry Adams, who said he was not thepurple-trator of the crime but found it on a sidewalk, Homan said.

"I haven't filed a complaint. I'm trying to find out who didit," said Homan, who is upset because no witnesses have steppedforward.

"If they can take a cow that size off the roof and no policemansees that, the question is how safe are the children, property, otherthings? That's the main point."

Homan is disturbed also by the gouges and cracks in Rambo'shide, apparently caused by the rustler or rustlers dropping thebeast, which he is told was made in 1923.

"Nobody can come up with a cost for this. It is not somethingyou can go to the market and buy," Homan said.

Angry UAW members lash out at Southern senators

Festering animosity between the United Auto Workers union and Republican senators from southern states who torpedoed the auto industry bailout bill has erupted into full-fledged name calling as union officials accused the lawmakers of trying to break the union on behalf of foreign automakers.

The vitriol had been near the surface for weeks as senators from states that house the transplant automakers' factories criticized Detroit's Big Three automakers for management miscues and bloated UAW labor costs that lawmakers said make them uncompetitive.

But the UAW stopped biting its tongue after Senate Republicans sank a bill passed by the House of Representatives Thursday night that would have loaned $14 billion to cash-poor General Motors Corp. and Chrysler LLC to keep them out of bankruptcy protection. The Bush administration later stepped in and said it was ready to make money available to the automakers, likely from the $700 billion Wall Street bailout program.

Still, autoworkers remain angry with the senators who tried to negotiate wage and benefit concessions from the union, then scuttled the House-passed bill that would have granted the loans and set up a "car czar" to oversee the nearly insolvent companies and get concessions from the union and creditors. Their top targets were Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky; Sen. Bob Corker of Tennessee, who led negotiations on a compromise; and Sen. Richard Shelby of Alabama, who has been a vocal critic of the loans.

Kentucky, Tennessee and Alabama all house auto assembly plants from foreign automakers, and union officials contend the senators want to drive UAW wages down so there would be no reason for workers at the foreign plants to join the union.

"They thought perhaps they could have a twofer here maybe: Pierce the heart of organized labor while representing the foreign brands," UAW President Ron Gettelfinger said at a Friday morning news conference in Detroit.

Republicans in several Western states _ where unions are often shunned _ joined the Southerners in opposition.

But lawmakers and their spokesmen said the criticism is off base. Jonathan Graffeo, Shelby's spokesman on the Senate Banking Committee, said the senator has consistently opposed taxpayer-funded bailouts.

"He opposed the Chrysler bailout in 1979 when there were no foreign auto manufacturers in Alabama, and he opposed the recent $700 billion bailout of the banking industry," Graffeo said.

"Bailouts generally don't work, and this is a huge proposed bailout, and I fear it's just the down payment on more to come next year," Shelby said on the Senate floor Thursday night. "These companies are either already failed or failing, and that's a shame. These aren't the General Motors, Ford and Chrysler I knew."

Corker said the alternative he tried to develop would have provided federal money in exchange for restructuring the companies' debt and making the UAW more competitive in wages with workers at U.S. plants of Japanese competitors.

"Our members wanted to know that the UAW was willing to be competitive," Corker said.

"I basically pleaded with them to give me some language by some date certain that they were competitive with these other companies," Corker said. "That's where it broke down."

Hourly wages for UAW workers at GM factories already are about equal to those paid by Toyota Motor Corp. at its older U.S. factories, according to the companies. GM says the average UAW laborer makes $29.78 per hour, while Toyota _ generally viewed as the main competitor of the Detroit Three _ says it pays about $30 per hour. But the unionized factories have far higher benefit costs.

The union, GM and Chrysler have contended that the companies have restructured and the UAW has granted concessions that would make them competitive in 2010, but the economy went south this year and forced them into trouble. A third Detroit automaker, Ford Motor Co., asked for loans in case of emergency but says it has enough cash to make it through 2009.

Union officials also accused the senators of retaliating for the UAW's overwhelming support of Democratic candidates in federal races. The union gave $1.9 million to Democrats but only $11,500 to Republicans in the 2008 election cycle.

Most Southern U.S. auto plants run by Toyota, Honda Motor Co., Nissan Motor Co., BMW AG, Daimler AG and other manufacturers are nonunion. The UAW has tried numerous times without success to organize workers at the foreign-owned factories.

Spokesmen for Toyota and Nissan declined comment, but Honda spokesman Ed Miller said in a statement the company did not lobby against the bill.

"Honda has been encouraging initiatives that would maintain the short- and long-term viability of the U.S. auto industry, including the hundreds of the shared supplier companies in the United States," he said.

As the Detroit Three have declined and ceded market share to the foreign nameplates, the UAW's membership has plummeted 69 percent, from a peak 1.5 million in 1979 to 465,000 at the end of 2007.

___

Associated Press Writer Ken Thomas in Washington and AP Business Writer Ellen Simon in New York contributed to this report.

Firefighters Lose Ground Against Blaze

OJAI, Calif. - Firefighters lost ground Sunday against a large blaze in a national forest as gusty winds fanned the flames, shutting down highways and prompting officials to urge evacuations.

The fire, which has burned for almost two weeks about 75 miles northwest of Los Angeles, nearly doubled in size Sunday. The blaze moved within about 10 miles of the artists' enclave of Ojai, a town of about 9,000 that is a popular weekend escape for the rich and famous.

Meanwhile, two new wildfires burned eight miles apart in the desert northwest of Palm Springs, forcing authorities to evacuate about 2,500 people but allowing them to return early Sunday evening.

In the Los Padres National Forest, winds slowed enough Sunday afternoon to allow firefighters to renew air operations to help corral the blaze, which has scorched more than 93 square miles of Ventura County since it began on Labor Day. Officials initially estimated the fire's size to be 125 square miles Sunday, but revised the estimate later in the day after re-mapping the area.

Low humidity and high winds over the weekend caused firefighters to lose ground. It was only 15 percent contained Sunday after being 30 percent contained the day before. High winds and low humidity were expected to create extreme fire conditions through Monday morning.

The fire had threatened a cluster of homes northwest of Fillmore early Sunday, said Forest Service spokesman Joe Pasinato. But the winds shifted and sent the fire toward Ojai in the afternoon.

"Ojai is the biggest danger," fire inspector Scott Ross said.

No mandatory evacuations were ordered, but all 90 students in a boarding school near the fire cleared out.

Portions of two highways were closed, but the blaze was west of Interstate 5 and burning away from it. The interstate, which had been threatened in recent days, remained open.

Marsha Campiglio, 58, who lives in the small forest community of Matilija Canyon near Ojai, said she had been "prepared to go at any time" since being contacted by officials at 6 a.m.

"We've been putting stuff in the car all day, but we've been watching football too," she said, laughing. "We're nervously watchful. ... We have three cats and two of them look nervous. They're sniffing the ash."

The fire, ignited by someone burning debris, has remained largely in the national forest on the border between Los Angeles and Ventura counties.

Meanwhile, two homes and two outbuildings were destroyed by a fire that ignited Saturday afternoon about 80 miles east of Los Angeles near the town of Cherry Valley, said Becky Luther of the California Department of Forestry.

The fire had burned about 1,500 acres, or two square miles, and was 50 percent contained Sunday afternoon, Luther said.

Another fire in Banning apparently started in a structure and spread rapidly toward Cherry Valley, swelling from 500 to 1,400 acres in a few hours. Authorities said it did not appear the two fires would merge.

---

On the Net:

http://www.inciweb.org/

Firefighters Lose Ground Against Blaze

OJAI, Calif. - Firefighters lost ground Sunday against a large blaze in a national forest as gusty winds fanned the flames, shutting down highways and prompting officials to urge evacuations.

The fire, which has burned for almost two weeks about 75 miles northwest of Los Angeles, nearly doubled in size Sunday. The blaze moved within about 10 miles of the artists' enclave of Ojai, a town of about 9,000 that is a popular weekend escape for the rich and famous.

Meanwhile, two new wildfires burned eight miles apart in the desert northwest of Palm Springs, forcing authorities to evacuate about 2,500 people but allowing them to return early Sunday evening.

In the Los Padres National Forest, winds slowed enough Sunday afternoon to allow firefighters to renew air operations to help corral the blaze, which has scorched more than 93 square miles of Ventura County since it began on Labor Day. Officials initially estimated the fire's size to be 125 square miles Sunday, but revised the estimate later in the day after re-mapping the area.

Low humidity and high winds over the weekend caused firefighters to lose ground. It was only 15 percent contained Sunday after being 30 percent contained the day before. High winds and low humidity were expected to create extreme fire conditions through Monday morning.

The fire had threatened a cluster of homes northwest of Fillmore early Sunday, said Forest Service spokesman Joe Pasinato. But the winds shifted and sent the fire toward Ojai in the afternoon.

"Ojai is the biggest danger," fire inspector Scott Ross said.

No mandatory evacuations were ordered, but all 90 students in a boarding school near the fire cleared out.

Portions of two highways were closed, but the blaze was west of Interstate 5 and burning away from it. The interstate, which had been threatened in recent days, remained open.

Marsha Campiglio, 58, who lives in the small forest community of Matilija Canyon near Ojai, said she had been "prepared to go at any time" since being contacted by officials at 6 a.m.

"We've been putting stuff in the car all day, but we've been watching football too," she said, laughing. "We're nervously watchful. ... We have three cats and two of them look nervous. They're sniffing the ash."

The fire, ignited by someone burning debris, has remained largely in the national forest on the border between Los Angeles and Ventura counties.

Meanwhile, two homes and two outbuildings were destroyed by a fire that ignited Saturday afternoon about 80 miles east of Los Angeles near the town of Cherry Valley, said Becky Luther of the California Department of Forestry.

The fire had burned about 1,500 acres, or two square miles, and was 50 percent contained Sunday afternoon, Luther said.

Another fire in Banning apparently started in a structure and spread rapidly toward Cherry Valley, swelling from 500 to 1,400 acres in a few hours. Authorities said it did not appear the two fires would merge.

---

On the Net:

http://www.inciweb.org/

No deal in budget standoff; New Jersey Assembly panel planned to meet Tuesday night to forge spending plan.(Main)

Byline: TOM HESTER Jr. Associated Press

TRENTON, N.J. - Legislators opposed to Gov. Jon S. Corzine's proposal to raise the sales tax rejected a compromise sought by the governor Tuesday and began devising their own budget, which might involve an income tax increase.

Corzine had hauled lawmakers in to work on the July Fourth holiday, imploring them to end a budget standoff that has shut down many government services, while Atlantic City casinos fought to keep from being dragged into the dispute.

Members of the state Assembly budget panel planned to spend the night crafting a new plan, Speaker Joseph Roberts Jr. said.

Tuesday's special session came three days after Corzine started shutting down state government because lawmakers missed the July 1 constitutional deadline to approve a new budget. Without a budget, the government can't spend money.

"Make no mistake, people are being hurt, and unfortunately, more will be hurt in the days ahead," Corzine told lawmakers.

The state lottery, road construction, motor vehicle offices, vehicle inspection stations and courts already have closed. More than half the state work force was ordered to stay home Monday. Lost lottery ticket sales are costing the state $2.2 million per day, according to the state treasury.

If no deal is reached, state parks and historic sites would be closed Wednesday, along with Atlantic City casinos, which are required to have state regulators on duty.

It would be the first time casinos have been forced to close since Resorts opened its doors in 1978 as New Jersey's first casino-hotel. In the intervening years, they have always managed to keep the doors open, even if it meant shoveling snow, fortifying entrances with sand bags to protect against ocean waves or CEOs flipping burgers during labor strikes.

Casino operators, whose arguments were rejected by the state Supreme Court in one effort to avoid the budget crunch, lost in a lower court again Tuesday after asking to avoid being shut down as a side effect of the state's problems. An appeal was planned.

"It's uncharted territory," said Joseph Corbo, president of the Casino Association of New Jersey. "We'll obviously try to control it as best we can under the circumstances."

No deal in budget standoff; New Jersey Assembly panel planned to meet Tuesday night to forge spending plan.(Main)

Byline: TOM HESTER Jr. Associated Press

TRENTON, N.J. - Legislators opposed to Gov. Jon S. Corzine's proposal to raise the sales tax rejected a compromise sought by the governor Tuesday and began devising their own budget, which might involve an income tax increase.

Corzine had hauled lawmakers in to work on the July Fourth holiday, imploring them to end a budget standoff that has shut down many government services, while Atlantic City casinos fought to keep from being dragged into the dispute.

Members of the state Assembly budget panel planned to spend the night crafting a new plan, Speaker Joseph Roberts Jr. said.

Tuesday's special session came three days after Corzine started shutting down state government because lawmakers missed the July 1 constitutional deadline to approve a new budget. Without a budget, the government can't spend money.

"Make no mistake, people are being hurt, and unfortunately, more will be hurt in the days ahead," Corzine told lawmakers.

The state lottery, road construction, motor vehicle offices, vehicle inspection stations and courts already have closed. More than half the state work force was ordered to stay home Monday. Lost lottery ticket sales are costing the state $2.2 million per day, according to the state treasury.

If no deal is reached, state parks and historic sites would be closed Wednesday, along with Atlantic City casinos, which are required to have state regulators on duty.

It would be the first time casinos have been forced to close since Resorts opened its doors in 1978 as New Jersey's first casino-hotel. In the intervening years, they have always managed to keep the doors open, even if it meant shoveling snow, fortifying entrances with sand bags to protect against ocean waves or CEOs flipping burgers during labor strikes.

Casino operators, whose arguments were rejected by the state Supreme Court in one effort to avoid the budget crunch, lost in a lower court again Tuesday after asking to avoid being shut down as a side effect of the state's problems. An appeal was planned.

"It's uncharted territory," said Joseph Corbo, president of the Casino Association of New Jersey. "We'll obviously try to control it as best we can under the circumstances."

No deal in budget standoff; New Jersey Assembly panel planned to meet Tuesday night to forge spending plan.(Main)

Byline: TOM HESTER Jr. Associated Press

TRENTON, N.J. - Legislators opposed to Gov. Jon S. Corzine's proposal to raise the sales tax rejected a compromise sought by the governor Tuesday and began devising their own budget, which might involve an income tax increase.

Corzine had hauled lawmakers in to work on the July Fourth holiday, imploring them to end a budget standoff that has shut down many government services, while Atlantic City casinos fought to keep from being dragged into the dispute.

Members of the state Assembly budget panel planned to spend the night crafting a new plan, Speaker Joseph Roberts Jr. said.

Tuesday's special session came three days after Corzine started shutting down state government because lawmakers missed the July 1 constitutional deadline to approve a new budget. Without a budget, the government can't spend money.

"Make no mistake, people are being hurt, and unfortunately, more will be hurt in the days ahead," Corzine told lawmakers.

The state lottery, road construction, motor vehicle offices, vehicle inspection stations and courts already have closed. More than half the state work force was ordered to stay home Monday. Lost lottery ticket sales are costing the state $2.2 million per day, according to the state treasury.

If no deal is reached, state parks and historic sites would be closed Wednesday, along with Atlantic City casinos, which are required to have state regulators on duty.

It would be the first time casinos have been forced to close since Resorts opened its doors in 1978 as New Jersey's first casino-hotel. In the intervening years, they have always managed to keep the doors open, even if it meant shoveling snow, fortifying entrances with sand bags to protect against ocean waves or CEOs flipping burgers during labor strikes.

Casino operators, whose arguments were rejected by the state Supreme Court in one effort to avoid the budget crunch, lost in a lower court again Tuesday after asking to avoid being shut down as a side effect of the state's problems. An appeal was planned.

"It's uncharted territory," said Joseph Corbo, president of the Casino Association of New Jersey. "We'll obviously try to control it as best we can under the circumstances."

No deal in budget standoff; New Jersey Assembly panel planned to meet Tuesday night to forge spending plan.(Main)

Byline: TOM HESTER Jr. Associated Press

TRENTON, N.J. - Legislators opposed to Gov. Jon S. Corzine's proposal to raise the sales tax rejected a compromise sought by the governor Tuesday and began devising their own budget, which might involve an income tax increase.

Corzine had hauled lawmakers in to work on the July Fourth holiday, imploring them to end a budget standoff that has shut down many government services, while Atlantic City casinos fought to keep from being dragged into the dispute.

Members of the state Assembly budget panel planned to spend the night crafting a new plan, Speaker Joseph Roberts Jr. said.

Tuesday's special session came three days after Corzine started shutting down state government because lawmakers missed the July 1 constitutional deadline to approve a new budget. Without a budget, the government can't spend money.

"Make no mistake, people are being hurt, and unfortunately, more will be hurt in the days ahead," Corzine told lawmakers.

The state lottery, road construction, motor vehicle offices, vehicle inspection stations and courts already have closed. More than half the state work force was ordered to stay home Monday. Lost lottery ticket sales are costing the state $2.2 million per day, according to the state treasury.

If no deal is reached, state parks and historic sites would be closed Wednesday, along with Atlantic City casinos, which are required to have state regulators on duty.

It would be the first time casinos have been forced to close since Resorts opened its doors in 1978 as New Jersey's first casino-hotel. In the intervening years, they have always managed to keep the doors open, even if it meant shoveling snow, fortifying entrances with sand bags to protect against ocean waves or CEOs flipping burgers during labor strikes.

Casino operators, whose arguments were rejected by the state Supreme Court in one effort to avoid the budget crunch, lost in a lower court again Tuesday after asking to avoid being shut down as a side effect of the state's problems. An appeal was planned.

"It's uncharted territory," said Joseph Corbo, president of the Casino Association of New Jersey. "We'll obviously try to control it as best we can under the circumstances."

No deal in budget standoff; New Jersey Assembly panel planned to meet Tuesday night to forge spending plan.(Main)

Byline: TOM HESTER Jr. Associated Press

TRENTON, N.J. - Legislators opposed to Gov. Jon S. Corzine's proposal to raise the sales tax rejected a compromise sought by the governor Tuesday and began devising their own budget, which might involve an income tax increase.

Corzine had hauled lawmakers in to work on the July Fourth holiday, imploring them to end a budget standoff that has shut down many government services, while Atlantic City casinos fought to keep from being dragged into the dispute.

Members of the state Assembly budget panel planned to spend the night crafting a new plan, Speaker Joseph Roberts Jr. said.

Tuesday's special session came three days after Corzine started shutting down state government because lawmakers missed the July 1 constitutional deadline to approve a new budget. Without a budget, the government can't spend money.

"Make no mistake, people are being hurt, and unfortunately, more will be hurt in the days ahead," Corzine told lawmakers.

The state lottery, road construction, motor vehicle offices, vehicle inspection stations and courts already have closed. More than half the state work force was ordered to stay home Monday. Lost lottery ticket sales are costing the state $2.2 million per day, according to the state treasury.

If no deal is reached, state parks and historic sites would be closed Wednesday, along with Atlantic City casinos, which are required to have state regulators on duty.

It would be the first time casinos have been forced to close since Resorts opened its doors in 1978 as New Jersey's first casino-hotel. In the intervening years, they have always managed to keep the doors open, even if it meant shoveling snow, fortifying entrances with sand bags to protect against ocean waves or CEOs flipping burgers during labor strikes.

Casino operators, whose arguments were rejected by the state Supreme Court in one effort to avoid the budget crunch, lost in a lower court again Tuesday after asking to avoid being shut down as a side effect of the state's problems. An appeal was planned.

"It's uncharted territory," said Joseph Corbo, president of the Casino Association of New Jersey. "We'll obviously try to control it as best we can under the circumstances."

Lap up natural pet food samples at open house

Savvy dog owners who feed their pets natural foods can check out the free goodies at an open house Saturday at Liz's Pet Shop on the Near West Side.

Representatives from natural pet food manufacturers will be handing out samples for cats and dogs. Featured brands include: NutriSource, Holistic Select, Nature's Variety, Canidae Pet Foods and Stella & Chewy's.

"It's important for your …

Mystery caller.

POLICE are warning the public to be on their guard about visitors to their home.

A man claiming to be from British Gas called at a house in Nightingale Road, Bridlington, last Wednesday between 3pm and 3.20pm and told the householder he had come to check the electricity meter inside the house.

He did not produce any identification and was not allowed in because the housholder told him he did not have an …

DEATH ROBS TEENAGERS OF YET ANOTHER BUDDY.(CAPITAL REGION)

Byline: JANE GOTTLIEB AND BECHETTA JACKSON Staff writers

SCOTIA -- For the teenagers suffering through their friend's wake Tuesday night, the emotions seemed to run far deeper even than the grief that goes with losing a friend so suddenly and so young.

``My son and his friends were killed and they've barely been able get through that, now they're in shock that there's more bad news,'' Janice Palmo said Tuesday night as hundreds of teenagers and their parents paid their respects to Justin Curren, 17.

Curren died Sunday when, according to police, his close friend Frank Connor shot him in the neck with a hunting rifle after a night of drinking at …

Indonesian police arrest 3 militants in Aceh raid

Indonesian police arrested three suspected Islamist militants Thursday as part of an ongoing crackdown in restive Aceh province.

The arrests occurred at a house in Saree village, bringing to seven the total number of terrorist suspects detained this week, district police chief Lt. Col. Agus Susanto said. Police also recovered three rifles in the raid.

Four men were arrested Monday when more than 100 police officers raided a suspected paramilitary training camp for the Southeast Asian terrorist network Jemaah Islamiyah. Police …

AMBS reports slight dip in giving for 2009-10

ELKHART, IND.- In spite of slightly lower giving to Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary (AMBS) for the 200910 fiscal year- compared to the previous year- the seminary expects income to balance expenses when reporting for the year is completed. Overall giving to the seminary's annual fund in 200910 was $1.43 million (all figures in US dollars), compared to $1.46 million in 2008-09. Increases in giving came from businesses, congregations, conferences and foundations, although total giving missed the goal of $1.49 million. Contributions from faculty, staff and board members almost doubled from the previous year, in part because employees opted to contribute part of their …

Handheld MPEG test solution. (Test Equipment).(from Tektronix Inc.)(Brief Article)

BEAVERTON, Ore.--Tektronix Inc. has introduced a new handheld MPEG test tool that provides a portable first line of defense in analyzing MPEG-2 transport stream formats. The new Tektronix AD920 is a handheld, battery-powered MPEG transport stream confidence tester that reduces downtime, provides faster installation time, and quickly identifies faults. It will be used to help ensure quality and reliability in networks that distribute video, audio, and data in digital formats, including DVB and ATSC formats. The portable unit is ideally suited for broadcast integration, maintenance, and field service.

The AD920 tests MPEG-2, DVB and ATSC streams via SMPTE 301M and ASI …

Federal aid cuts risk of supply chain breakdown.(NEWS)

Byline: David Barkholz

The $5 billion federal bailout of auto suppliers unveiled this month has minimized the risk that a bankruptcy filing by General Motors or Chrysler LLC would disrupt North American auto production, analysts say.

Late last year, the Detroit 3's CEOs warned that a Chrysler or GM bankruptcy would cause a chain-reaction collapse of their suppliers. Mindful of that threat, the Bush administration gave GM and Chrysler emergency loans worth $17.4 billion.

Now that suppliers can count on federal aid, the White House auto task force can decide whether to make crucial new loans to GM and Chrysler based on their viability and the merits of …

Class offers tools for keeping your anger at bay.(Capital Region)

Byline: TIM O'BRIEN Staff Writer

TROY - Stop right there.

Don't throw that punch, raise that finger or jab with that elbow.

Geralyn McDowell wants to teach you how to respond nonviolently to everyday intrusions, from that person who cut you off in traffic to that boss who told you off at the staff meeting.

She will teach a class on "Nonviolent Response to Public Provocation" at 7 tonight at Rosa House Peace Community/Troy Catholic Worker, 2251 Old Sixth Ave.

"This one is to use nonviolence in situations that come up, public provocations: road rage, someone yelling at you at work," she said. "We can't do what we're doing in the …

TROY POLICE KILL PIT BULL DURING DRUG RAID.(CAPITAL REGION)

A pit bull was killed Wednesday night during a raid on an apartmentbuilding where drug use was suspected, police said.

The pit bull began attacking members of the emergency response team, who sprayed the dog with pepper mace, Sgt. Brian Baker said.

The pepper mace did not work, so the dog was shot, Baker said.

The search warrant for three apartments at 2339 Fifth Ave. was executed at about 8:30 p.m. by members of detective office with help …

Canadian Pereira a local delight in New Delhi

NEW DELHI (AP) — Like most Canadian kids, Ken Pereira's first experience with hockey was on skates. More than 30 years later, the field hockey player with Indian-born parents has become somewhat of a celebrity at the Commonwealth Games.

Pereira, who has played 310 matches for Canada, will be the country's flag-bearer at the opening ceremonies on Sunday, the first Indian-Canadian and field hockey player to receive the honor. The Canadians have their first match against South Africa on Tuesday.

On Saturday the Canadian captain, who also plays in the Dutch league, found himself the center of attention with throngs of Indian media, all anxious to find out about his roots to the …

Study traces Haitian cholera to South Asian origin

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Scientists reported Thursday the strongest evidence yet that a cholera outbreak that has killed more than 2,000 people in Haiti can be traced to South Asia.

The analysis fits with, but does not prove, the controversial idea that the disease came from U.N. troops dispatched from that region.

DNA analysis found that cholera bacteria recovered in Haiti were nearly identical to strains predominant in South Asia, and different from those found in Latin America, researchers said.

That indicates that cholera was introduced by people, rather than arriving through ocean currents or arising within Haiti, as has been suggested, said Harvard researcher …

Historic sites at risk of ruin

A DERELICT 18th-century chapel in Kingswood and historic buildingsat neglected Arnos Vale Cemetery in Bristol have been listed on anupdated nationwide "at risk" register published today.

Whitfield Tabernacle in Park Road, and the entrance lodge, gatesand mortuary chapel at Arnos Vale Cemetery are among 22 buildings inthe former Avon area that are worrying English Heritage, anindependent watchdog set up by the Government.

There are three new entries from the former Avon area which havebeen added to this year's list.

They are the Grade II-listed Orangery at the Tyntesfield Estate,at Wraxall, near Bristol, which was recently bought by the NationalTrust; …