Crikey! Huge crocodile captured in Philippines

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — What a croc!

Its mighty snout wrapped tightly with ropes, a one-ton, 20-foot saltwater crocodile was captured and put on display in a town in the southern Philippines — one of the biggest such reptiles to be caught in recent years.

But shed no crocodile tears for this colossal captive.

"Lolong," as it has been nicknamed, is about to become the star attraction of an ecotourism park — unless it is upstaged by an even larger reptile that may be still be on the loose.

Residents of Bunawan township celebrated when they captured the croc, with about 100 people pulling the feared beast from a creek by rope, then hoisting it by crane onto a …

New life found in Hong Kong

GOD AT WORK IN THE CHURCH

For at least one Hong Kong immigrant, new life begat new life. On Aug. 14, 2007, nine months after she was baptized in the Pacific Ocean waters, Winnie Moyco Chan gave birth to a son. Zane Austin Chan's arrival was the culmination of years of searching for happiness and for God.

Altiiough Chan, a Filipino living in Hong Kong after marrying a Chinese man, had grown up Catholic and been baptized as a Mormon, she never felt that she understood either faith. From the end of a Cheung Chau Island park bench, she proclaimed that she would go to church if God would give a child to her and her husband of 16 years.

On me other end of die bench was Nora …

Malaysian Party Urges Dutch Boycott

Malaysia's Islamic opposition party delivered a protest note to the Netherlands' embassy Monday over the release of an anti-Islam movie by a maverick Dutch lawmaker, while hard-line Muslims in neighboring Indonesia demanded the death of the filmmaker.

The Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party said in the note that the movie created unnecessary tensions and would "invite vengeance" from the Muslim community if it is not withdrawn.

"To signify our protest, we strongly urge Muslims all over the world to boycott all Dutch products," the party's youth leader, Salahuddin Ayub, said in a statement.

"We hope the protests by Muslims all …

10 REALLY COOL THINGS TO DO

1 Think 'Barbershop' with roses

The Chicago Theatre Company's smash hit, Cut Flowers, about anAfrican-American flower shop in Washington D.C., returns for a five-week engagement beginning Wednesday. The Noble Fool Theater, 16 W.Randolph. Wedesdays-Fridays at 8 p.m. Saturdays at 4:30 and 8:30 p.m.and Sundays at 3 p.m., through May 11. $32-$36. Call (312) 726-1156.

2A musical in two hacks New Millennium Theatre presents theircampy take on the classic Sam Raimi horror film Evil Dead! TheMusical on Friday and Saturday nights at 10:30 through April 26.Boxer Rebellion Theater, 1257 W. Loyola. $15. Call (773) 989-4515

3 You gotta have heart The Mexican Fine Arts Center …

Washington state adopts Canadian fertilizer standards

The Washington State legislature passed a bill this spring, to become effective on June 11, 1998, that formally adopts Canada's standards for allowable levels of nonnutritive substances in commercial fertilizers. Commercial fertilizers are defined as "a substance containing one or more recognized plant nutrients and that is used for its plant nutrient content or that is designated for use or claimed to have value in promoting plant growth, and shall include limes, gypsum and manipulated animal and vegetable manures. It does not include unmanipulated animal and vegetable manures, organic waste-derived material and other products exempted by the department by rule."

The purpose of …

UN group backs gay rights for the 1st time ever

GENEVA (AP) — The United Nations endorsed the rights of gay, lesbian and transgender people for the first time ever Friday, passing a resolution hailed as historic by the U.S. and other backers and decried by African and Islamic countries.

The declaration was cautiously worded, expressing "grave concern" about abuses suffered by people because of their sexual orientation, and commissioning a global report on discrimination of gays. But activists called it a remarkable shift on an issue that has divided the global body for decades, and credited the Obama administration's push for gay rights at home and abroad with helping win support for the resolution.

"This represents a …

Northern Colorado beats Montana State, 74-68

Will Figures scored 14 of his 20 points in the second half as Northern Colorado avenged its worst loss of the season with a 74-68 victory on Sunday.

Neal Kingman added 14 points and 10 rebounds for Northern Colorado (18-5, 7-3 Big Sky). Mike Proctor had 12 and Devon Beitzel and Chris Kaba 11 each for the Bears, who lost …

Factory orders rise slightly

WASHINGTON Held back by slumping demand for aircraft andautomobiles, orders to U.S. factories inched only 0.1 percent higherin June, failing to recover from a sharp decline the month before.

Orders totaled a seasonally adjusted $330.5 billion, theCommerce Department said today. In May, they had fallen 2.2 percent- the biggest drop in three years - to a seasonally adjusted $330.2billion.

Orders in the April-June quarter were 0.7 percent below thefirst quarter.

Economists said that reflects spillover from Asia's economicturmoil. Export sales to Asia have plummeted. Meanwhile, U.S.manufacturers face increased competition from Asian imports, pricedcheaply …

Norwegian court convicts 2 men in terror plot against Danish newspaper

OSLO, Norway (AP) — Norwegian court convicts 2 …

Sen. Robert Byrd of West Virginia dead at 92

Robert C. Byrd, who rose from the poverty of West Virginia coal country to become the sage and conscience of U.S. Senate in a political career stretching more than half a century, died Monday. He was 92.

Byrd's desk in the Senate chamber was draped in black, in recognition both of his longevity _ he served longer and cast more votes than any senator in history _ and the tenacity in which he defended the traditions and prerogatives of the Senate.

Brandishing his copy of the U.S. Constitution that he always carried with him, he resisted any attempt to diminish the role of the Senate, as in the days leading up to the 2003 invasion of Iraq when he was one of the …

AUTHORIAL AIR

LIT

Mark Helprin on writing, critics, history

Most people wouldn't know where to begin in writing a novel-the activity and the outcome seem like a peculiar mix of alchemy and magic. It's disappointing then, when hearing an author interviewed on Fresh Air or Charlie Rose-or the Today Show-far from the expected magician, the writer is revealed to be a naval-gazing solipsist with nothing interesting to say. (Given the "write what you know" dictum, maybe that's why so many novels of late are so boring.)

Happily, this is not the case with Mark Helprin-author of books like Winter's Tale, Memoir From Antproof Case and A Soldier of the Great War-a novelist of rare talent, …

Tiger Victims' Lawyer Rips City, Zoo

An attorney for the two brothers who survived a tiger attack on Christmas accused city and zoo officials in a letter released Monday of character assassination for suggesting that the young men provoked the animal.

After the deadly mauling of 17-year-old Carlos Sousa and the serious injury to attorney Mark Geragos' clients, Kulbir and Paul Dhaliwal, San Francisco Zoo Director Manuel Mollinedo said, "Something happened to provoke that tiger to leap out of her exhibit."

In a letter to the city's attorneys, Geragos said Singer Associates, the public relations team hired by the zoo, has continued to pursue a strategy of blaming the victims.

…

Fielder, McGehee homer as Brewers beat Astros 8-2

HOUSTON (AP) — Milwaukee manager Ron Roenicke watched his team through the first six innings and wondered if it would score at all on Friday night.

Turns out he had nothing to worry about.

Prince Fielder had four hits, including a two-run homer in the ninth, and the Brewers scored all their runs in the last three innings to rally for an 8-2 victory over the Houston Astros.

"Any time we score a bunch like that, it always makes you feel good," Roenicke said.

Ryan Braun hit the go-ahead, two-run single in the seventh inning to help the NL Central-leading Brewers snap a three-game skid and end Houston's four-game winning streak.

Milwaukee's eight runs on Friday equaled the number it scored combined in a three-game sweep by the Cardinals this week.

Casey McGehee had a two-run shot in the eighth inning to stretch the lead to 5-2 and Nyjer Morgan scored in the ninth before Fielder's 31st homer.

Trailing 2-0 entering the seventh, Milwaukee got consecutive two-out singles by pinch-hitter Taylor Green and Corey Hart.

The Astros looked to have a chance to get out of the seventh when Hart hit a high popup foul that Jimmy Paredes was in position to catch. But it bounced off a beam on the roof and out of his reach, and Hart capitalized on his second chance with a single.

"You'd like to have it not hit the roof," Houston manager Brad Mills said. "Had it not hit the roof there, we might have been able to get out of that thing, but it hit the beam and they were able to keep the inning going with a base hit and wound up getting some big runs there."

Morgan walked to load the bases and chase reliever Aneury Rodriguez (1-6), who was replaced by David Carpenter.

A wild pitch by Carpenter allowed Logan Schafer, who made his major league debut pinch-running for Green, to score and cut the lead to 2-1.

Braun's single to left field scored Hart and Morgan to put Milwaukee on top 3-2, but Braun was out on a rundown at second.

"It was definitely an important time in the game for us," Braun said of the seventh inning. "You know you're not going to get too many opportunities, so when you do get big opportunities like that, it's important to find a way to come through and try to help the team win."

Fielder, who finished a triple short of the cycle, doubled to start the eighth inning before McGehee's homer to left field.

"Prince looked really good today at the plate," Roenicke said. "His rhythm was great, his swings were great, even the balls he was fouling back, and he's also seeing the ball really well."

Milwaukee starter Zack Greinke (14-5) allowed a season-high nine hits with two runs and six strikeouts in six innings.

He said Houston's youth-filled roster was a lot tougher on him than it was when he gave up four hits and a run in seven innings against the Astros less than a month ago.

"I felt decent," he said. "I really want to give them a lot of credit. They had a way better approach than last time I started against them. I felt like there were times where I was making my pitches and they were still putting the good part of the bat on the ball. It felt like everyone through the lineup was kind of a tough out."

Lucas Harrell yielded three hits and no runs in 5 1-3 innings in his Astros' debut and fourth career start overall after being called up from Triple-A Oklahoma City.

"I felt like I got in a groove a little bit later on," Harrell said. "Early I was a little bit here-and-there. You're always a little nervous and a little excited. I feel like after I got through a few innings it went a little bit better."

Brian Bogusevic hit his first career triple in the fourth inning on a ball that landed in deep right-center field, just in front of the Astros' bullpen. Paredes followed with an RBI single to put Houston up 1-0. Paredes has seven RBIs in his last 10 games.

A wild pitch allowed Paredes to advance to second before an error on the same play by catcher Jonathan Lucroy let him take third. Clint Barmes followed with a double that scored Paredes and made it 2-0. Greinke limited the damage by retiring the next three Astros.

Carlos Lee and Bogusevic hit consecutive no-out singles in the second inning before Barmes drew a one-out walk to load the bases. Greinke was able to escape that jam when Humberto Quintero grounded into a double play to end the inning.

Lee's single extended his hitting streak to a season-high 13 games.

NOTES: Brewers SS Yuniesky Betancourt left the game in the eighth inning with a right elbow bruise after being plunked by Carpenter. ... Milwaukee 2B Rickie Weeks, who has been out since severely spraining his left ankle on July 27, is progressing, but Roenicke said it will still be a while before he's healthy enough to play defense. He did say that he's thought about using him as a pinch-hitter before he's ready to return full time. But he said, even if he decides to use him in that capacity that would still be more than a few days away. ... Hart has a 15-game hitting streak. ... Brewers pitching coach Rick Kranitz wasn't with the team on Friday because his mother is sick. Roenicke doesn't expect him back for this series. ... Milwaukee lefty Chris Narveson (9-6) faces Houston's Bud Norris (6-8) in the second game of the series on Saturday. Narveson last pitched in relief on Wednesday against the Cardinals, his first work as a reliever this season. Norris didn't factor into the decision in his last start despite striking out 10 in seven innings.

Dollar slips against euro in Asia on speculation European Central Bank to raise rates

The euro rose slightly against the dollar Wednesday in Asia on growing speculation the European Central Bank will raise rates soon, with some traders forecasting it will climb to a fresh record high.

The euro was around US$1.5995 Wednesday afternoon in Tokyo, higher than US$1.5916 in late New York trading on Tuesday. The euro rose as high as US$1.6018 overnight, crossing the US$1.60 barrier for the first time.

"It appears that ECB officials are seriously concerned about inflation risks in the euro-zone, which has encouraged investors to buy euros on the belief that the central bank might raise interest rates soon," said Tsutomu Soma, a senior trader at Okasan Securities.

"The euro-zone economy, in addition, remains healthy, compared with that in the U.S.," he said. "There are few reasons for players to buy the dollar instead of the euro for now."

On Tuesday, Bank of France Gov. Christian Noyer _ also a member of the ECB governing council _ indicated that the ECB is prepared to raise interest rates to push inflation lower. Inflation in the euro-zone was 3.6 percent in March.

Noyer later said his remarks had been over-interpreted, after his comment led to euro buying.

Some analysts said buying euros now might be risky, considering that finance heads of the Group of Seven industrialized nations indicated at their meeting earlier this month that they weren't happy about the steep rise in the euro. Their statement said there have been "sharp fluctuations in major currencies" recently, although they did not outline any steps they might take.

The U.S. unit also fell against the yen Wednesday as Japanese exporters sold the currency to take advantage of its recent recovery versus the domestic denomination. The dollar was trading at 103.01 yen in the afternoon, down from 103.09 yen in New York.

Against the Australian dollar, the U.S. unit plunged to 24-year lows after data from the central bank showed consumer prices in Australia surged more than expected in the first quarter. The pricing report from the Reserve Bank of Australia raised speculation that the country's benchmark interest rate _ already at a 12-year high _ may be raised again.

The Australian dollar was at 95.06 U.S. cents Wednesday afternoon.

The dollar was mixed versus other Asian currencies. It rose slightly to 41.94 Philippine pesos and fell to 1.3473 Singapore dollars.

Seoul mayor loses school-lunch vote he tied to job

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — The mayor of Seoul, South Korea, has lost a referendum on free school lunches but hasn't said if he'll resign.

Oh Se-hoon had vowed to leave if less than a third of Seoul's 8 million eligible voters particpated. Wednesday's turnout of 25.7 percent doesn't meet the legal requirement for counting ballots.

Voters were asked if Seoul should fund free lunches to all elementary and middle school students or 50 percent of all schoolchildren. Oh supported the 50 percent plan.

The referendum's failure means the full option takes effect. The program sparked national debate over how far South Korea should pursue a welfare state.

Oh deplored the turnout in a news conference but did not say if he would leave.

Minn. woman accused of robbing home to buy porn

EAST BETHEL, Minn. (AP) — Authorities say an 18-year-old Minnesota woman admitted to investigators that she broke into a neighbor's home three times looking for items she could fence to feed her porn addiction.

Anoka County sheriff's investigators say the neighbor called to report he had surveillance footage of Amanda Rose Owens sneaking into his East Bethel home through a dog door.

The St. Paul Pioneer Press reports (http://bit.ly/oXEskf ) that the neighbor set up the camera after $300 and several items were stolen.

Investigators say Owens admitted she had broken in three times. She said she need money so she could pay for 20 to 30 pornographic DVDs she bought.

Owens was charged Wednesday with second-degree burglary. She does not have a listed phone number and it wasn't clear Saturday if she had an attorney.

___

Information from: St. Paul Pioneer Press, http://www.twincities.com

Date Raped Her, but She Doesn't Know What to Do

Dear Zazz: I met a man who I thought was the last of the niceguys. Our first date was wonderful. But after returning to my placeand exchanging a few kisses, I said I didn't want to haveintercourse. He wouldn't listen to me and had his way.

I'm 5-foot-3 and 110 pounds. He's 6-foot-2 and 220 pounds. Ididn't fight him.

Days later, he called and apologized for his "insensitive machobehavior." Because I had internal injuries from his roughness (andneeded a doctor's treatment), I asked him to pay my medical expenses.He refuses.

For a month, I was in denial about the incident - I suppose itwas because he apologized.

I've been seeing a therapist who says that, by law, this wasdate rape. At the least, I want him accountable for my doctor bills.Should I sue? Press charges? DAMAGED

Dear Damaged: Yes, you were raped. But because you've waited solong, it could be harder to press criminal charges. Some courts anddistrict attorneys still suspect that if a rape victim doesn't filecharges right away, she could be fabricating her story.

However, even if you don't file criminal charges, you can file acivil suit to recover monetary damages for medical expenses, loss ofearnings, pain and suffering. (It's tougher, however, to win a civilsuit if a criminal conviction hasn't preceded it.)

It will take strength to go through with a case, but assertingyourself could help your recovery. Yes, consider suing.

Also, read Date Rape: The Secret Epidemic, by Marcia Boumil,Joel Friedman and Barbara Taylor (Health Communications, $9.95).Written by two attorneys and a psychologist, the book explains youroptions and can help you recover.

A Marriage Contract: Before marrying, many Jewish couples sign atraditional contract called "the ketubah." It is usually abeautifully illustrated document spelling out a couple's pledge to befaithful and supportive of one another. Many couples frame theirketubahs in their homes, reminding them of their love and theirpromises.

Most rabbis do not believe ketubahs are proper for mixedmarriages, since the contract also calls for couples to follow Jewishtraditions. But Rabbi Alan Secher, knowing how meaningful a ketubahcan be for a couple, has designed several marriage contracts for the1990s, accessible to Jews and gentiles alike.

He has created a contract for Jews marrying non-Jews (in Englishand Hebrew), for non-Jewish couples (in English), and even forhomosexual couples.

All three contracts include such phrasing as: "We pledge to eachother to be loving friends and partners; to talk and listen; to trustand appreciate one another; to respect and cherish each other'suniqueness; and to support, comfort and strengthen each other throughlife's sorrows and joys."

The contract for non-Jews features a quote from Corinthians:"There are three things that last: Faith, hope and love, and thegreatest of these is love. Love bears all things, believes allthings, hopes all things, endures all things."

The contract for homosexuals includes a quote from Jewish mysticBaal Shem Tov: "From every human being there rises a light thatreaches straight to heaven. And when two souls that are destined tobe together find each other, their streams of light flow together anda single, brighter light goes forth from their united being."

Though Secher's contracts are controversial in religiouscircles, I believe they ought to be available to interested couples.

There is a beauty to such marital agreements. They can serveas reminders of the goals of a marriage, and the power of love.

For information, write Good Company, Box 3218, Chicago 60654; orcall (312) 755-0880.

Write Zazz, Box 3455, Chicago 60654. Or fax your questions orcomments to: (312) 661-0375 or call Zazz's 24-hour hotline: (312)321-2003.

Daiwabo Rayon

Stable Supply of High-- Quality Fibers

This year, three Japanese rayon fiber producers, namely Toyobo Co., Ltd., Fujibo Ehime Co., Ltd. and Toho Rayon Tokushima Co., Ltd., announced successively that they would stop production of rayon staple fibers. However, this Japanese viscose rayon staple fiber industry, Daiwabo Rayon Co., Ltd. has been continuing stable business performances. Its corporate strategy is the improvement of "non-price competitiveness."

Probably, Daiwabo Rayon should have anticipated that it would make up for the loss of these three former competitors. Hoevers, Daiwabo Rayon failed to register higher sales because these three withdrawing firms began to increase production for stockpiling.

It has been said that Daiwabo Rayon has offered the highest rayon staple fiber prices. This statement is true even today. The company maintains its high prices despite the weak overall tone of the shrinking demand for rayon staple fibers. This is probably because Daiwabo Rayon knows that lower unit prices would not ensure much volume in business. Furthermore, even at very low prices, acceptance is not given to rayon staple fibers for nonwoven fabric applications, the specialty of Daiwabo Rayon, unless they pass rigid quality requirements.

Nevertheless, Daiwabo Rayon cannot rest on its comfortable position because customers have begun to examine importing fibers for nonwoven fiber applications as well. According to Executive Director Yoshitsugu Hirata, Daiwabo Rayon has placed particular emphasis on "non-price competitiveness" in order to cope with imported fibers.

In order to accomplish this, Daiwabo Rayon will make its best endeavors to innovate the equipment and stabilize the quality. Even when fed to nonwoven fabric manufacturing equipment, rayon staple fibers tend to generate various troubles, including contamination by foreign matter. Whether the company can overcome these problems and supply high-quality fibers on a stable basis is essential in marketing for nonwoven fabric applications.

The marketing of diversified functional materials by means of the kneaded-in process is one possible for solution for domestically manufactured products. However, its concept seems to be the "strengthening of basics." It goes without saying that this concept is most critical for nonwoven fabrics with their deteriorating expansion of demands, especially, spunlaced nonwoven fabrics made principally from rayon staple fibers.

It appears that even Daiwabo Rayon, specializing in nonwoven fabric applications, is also affected in no small way by the sluggishness of consumption and falling unit prices as well.

Based on the assumption that the rayon staple fiber market has been considerably aggravated and the deflationary condition will continue for quite some time, Daiwabo Rayon is working on the reduction of its stocks. While squeezing fiber stocks from one month's demand to nearly 0.8 month's, the company is currently operating by cutting back production by 10-15%.

In the meantime, Daiwabo Rayon is going to improve its production systems, including new investments and the refurbishment of existing equipment despite a severe environment. This is based on its policy that the improvement of quality is the only and additionally the best way to maintain selling prices, along with thorough cost reductions, in order to cope with falling unit prices.

As for plant expansions announced last year, its intentions are: "We have started to build up our basics, but we have slowed our pace partly because of the weak market. We intend to implement plant expansions by the end of next year."

The rayon staple fiber market has become worse not only in Japan, but also overseas. The market condition of other fibers such as cotton and synthetic fibers are also in chaos. Especially, the fall in polyester staple fiber prices has influenced rayon staple fibers, which have to be sold at high prices.

Unlike synthetic fibers, however, rayon staple fibers are natural fibers. Rayon staple fiber is not the main material but an indispensable material. Rayon staple fiber is required for both nonwoven fabric manufacturers and spinners for apparel materials. In this sense, the role to be played by the company is important.

Utah OKs settlement with waste incinerator

Utah regulators on Thursday approved a nearly $520,000 settlement over environmental violations at the state's only large-scale incinerator for hazardous waste.

The state's Solid and Hazardous Waste Control Board approved the deal with Norwell, Mass.-based Clean Harbors Aragonite, LLC.

Each year, the operation processes millions of pounds of hazardous materials from Utah and around the West, including contaminated soils, pesticides, industrial solvents and out-of-date pharmaceuticals.

The Utah Department of Environmental Quality issued 48 violations against the West Desert facility in 2007 and 2008. Regulators said 10 violations had a "major" potential for harm, including several fires.

As part of the deal, the company will pay $153,000 in cash, build storage facilities for certain kinds of chemicals and install roof-mounted monitors intended to detect potentially explosive contaminants

Scott Anderson, manager of the state's hazardous waste branch, said it's one of the largest hazardous waste settlements ever reached in Utah.

The incinerator _ which has changed hands several times since opening in 1991 _ has a history of trouble with state regulators.

Prior to the latest round of violations, the DEQ had issued more than $644,000 in penalties. That includes $323,666 in fines for 89 violations since Clean Harbors took over in 2002, according to DEQ records.

Company officials said the latest problems came during a time of high turnover at the plant and difficulty in getting new employees up to speed on complicated regulations and procedures.

"We regret that the enforcement actions had to occur but we have learned from them," Phillip Retallick, Clean Harbor's senior vice president of regulatory affairs, said after Thursday's decision.

Since then, new managers have been brought in, employment has stabilized, audits have been conducted and steps have been taken to make sure the operation complies with the law, he said.

"We look forward to showing the state of Utah, and the Utah Department of Environmental Quality, that we have made significant improvements and will continue to make significant improvements," Retallick said.

Clean Harbors calls itself the largest hazardous waste disposal company in North America. The Aragonite facility is one of four incineration operations it runs in the United States.

Many of the violations in Utah involved failures to keep track of shipments, violations of storage regulations and problems with documentation. Among the more serious were several fires at the site, lapses in monitoring for radioactive waste, a lack of monitors checking for dangerous vapors and recorded results for tests that were never conducted.

The settlement, which took months to negotiate, was 40 percent less than it could have been based on per-violation calculations. State officials, in proposing the initial draft, said it had been adjusted downward because of the current economic crisis and a "significant reduction" in the amount of waste coming into the plant.

Of the eight state board members who voted on the settlement Thursday, two dissented, wondering if the penalties were stiff enough.

Police hunt still on for abusive gang

Police say they are still hunting a gang who terrorised a groupof people with learning difficulties in July.

A group of delegates from Timebanking UK were camping on thefields at Tor Sport and Leisure Centre when they were subjected toabuse and racist taunts.

The incident - which shocked residents of the town - was so badthat one of the women attacked collapsed, and required medicalattention.

"The campers - some of whom were from minority ethnic groups -were subjected to an incredible torrent of abuse, including racistabuse, shining laser pens into their eyes, and claiming to have gunsand threatening to shoot them," said John Cousins, a committeemember of Avalon Fair Shares at the time of the attack.

"One of the campers was so traumatised during the incident thatshe collapsed at the scene and required medical assistance byparamedics."

A spokesman for the police said they are still investigating theincident and renewed their appeal for witnesses. He said: "Wehaven't arrested anyone with relation to this incident yet and wouldlike to renew our appeal for people who saw what happened to comeforward.

"It's not too late for anyone who knows who may have beenresponsible for this to come and talk to us - or to Crimestoppersanonymously to ensure that the people responsible for this incidentare bought to justice."

"Our investigations remain ongoing and we ask anyone withinformation to call us on 0845 456 7000, or Crimestoppers on 0800555111."

ICBC to buy stake in Standard's Argentine unit

BEIJING (AP) — China's biggest lender is expanding its global reach by purchasing 80 percent of a bank in Argentina.

State-owned Industrial & Commercial Bank of China said Friday it will pay $600 million for the stake in South Africa-based Standard Bank Group's Argentina unit. The deal includes buying out ownership stakes of two families and requires regulatory approval.

China's state-owned banks, flush with cash from its economic boom, are expanding abroad to serve Chinese customers' rising global activities and take advantage of growing trade.

ICBC bought a 20 percent stake in Standard Bank for $4.75 billion in 2008 and the two institutions have collaborated on a series of ventures, including a $1 billion fund to invest in mineral and other resource projects.

Argentina is "one of the key focus markets for the bank's phased expansion in South America," ICBC's board of directors said in a statement.

The acquisition will strengthen ICBC's presence in Latin America and "contribute to the fast-growing bilateral trade relations between China and Argentina," it said.

ICBC said it will buy out ownership stakes of the local Werthein and Sielecki families in the bank. Standard Bank will retain a 20 percent stake.

The Chinese lender also will buy stakes in an investment fund and a commercial service provider linked to the bank.

Standard Bank Argentina, established in 1917, has 103 branches in Argentina.

ICBC is the world's biggest bank by market capitalization and said it had 14.4 trillion yuan ($2.2 trillion) in assets as of March 31.

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ICBC: www.icbc.com.cn

Standard Bank: www.standardbank.co.za

Convicted child killer's execution is halted

A U.S. court halted the execution of a man convicted of the rape and murder of an 11-year-old boy in a step widely expected as the U.S. Supreme Court hears a constitutional challenge to the use of lethal injections.

The U.S. District Court's stay in Mark Dean Schwab's execution, scheduled for Thursday, continued the move to halt death sentences in the United States pending an appeal to the high court by two inmates in the state of Kentucky. The inmates contend the toxic three-drug combination used for lethal injections there is cruel and unusual punishment.

Florida uses the same drugs, and Schwab's appeal was based on the same constitutional grounds.

The state quickly filed an appeal seeking to overturn the order.

The stay will remain in effect while the high court considers the Kentucky cases. The U.S. Supreme Court has delayed executions in three other states while it considers the appeals of the Kentucky inmates.

Schwab's execution for the 1991 killing of Junny Rios-Martinez was to be the first in Florida since the botched execution of Angel Diaz last Dec. 13. It took 34 minutes for Diaz to die _ twice as long as normal _ because the guards pushed the needles through his veins.

Diaz's execution sparked outrage among death penalty opponents and prompted then-Governor Jeb Bush, President George W. Bush's brother, to suspend executions in the state. Officials then revised the procedure and Gov. Charlie Crist lifted the moratorium by signing Schwab's death warrant.

In its response to Schwab's appeal, the state of Florida said the state's procedure is designed to prevent potentially painful drugs from being injected until an inmate is "deeply unconscious."

Crist, issued a statement, saying, "I am disappointed that the family of the victim, Junny Rios-Martinez, will have to continue to wait to see justice done."

Schwab, who had an earlier sexual assault conviction, saw the boy's photo in a newspaper and gained the confidence of his family, claiming he was with the newspaper and was writing an article on him.

Schwab later called Junny's school and pretended to be Junny's father and asked that the boy meet him. A friend saw Junny get into a truck with a man.

During his trial, it was revealed that Schwab kidnapped the boy, bound his hands and face with duct tape and cut off the boy's clothes. He raped the crying boy before strangling him.

After the boy's murder, the Legislature passed the Junny Rios-Martinez Act, which prohibits sex offenders from early release from prison.

___

Associated Press Writer Mark Sherman in Washington contributed to this report.

Report: several dead in Finland school shooting

Finnish broadcaster YLE is reporting that several people have been fatally shot by a gunman who opened fire at a vocational school.

YLE is citing police at the school in Kauhajoki in western Finland. Police could not immediately be reached to confirm the report. They said earlier Tuesday that several people were feared wounded and that the gunman had been disarmed.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

HELSINKI, Finland (AP) _ A gunman opened fire on students at a school for adults in western Finland Tuesday and several people are feared wounded, police said.

Police disarmed the gunman at the school at Kauhajoki, said Superintendent Jussi Muotio of the Kauhajoki police.

"The incident is over now," said Muotio. "We don't know if he killed anyone but we fear that several have been wounded." He declined to give more details.

Media reports say the shootings began just before 11 a.m. local time when there were some 200 students in the building. Kauhajoki is about 180 miles northwest of Helsinki.

The Finnish news agency STT reported the school building was on fire and that the gunman possibly had explosives on him.

Finnish media said video clips on YouTube of a man firing a gun appeared to be linked to the shooting. In one of them, a young man wearing a leather jacket fires several shots in rapid succession with a handgun at what appears to be a shooting range.

The posting was made five days before the shooting and the location was given as Kauhajoki. The posting included a message saying: "Whole life is war and whole life is pain. And you will fight alone in your personal war."

The person who posted the clip identified himself as a 22-year-old with the name "Mr. Saari." He also posted three other clips of himself firing a handgun in the past three weeks.

Clips from the 1999 Columbine school shootings in Colorado were listed among his favorite videos.

Police could not immediately confirm whether the postings were linked to Tuesday's shooting.

The shootings happened almost a year after a gunman killed eight people and himself at a school in southern Finland.

Pekka-Eric Auvinen, described by police as a bullied 18-year-old outcast, opened fire at his high school in southern Finland on Nov. 7 last year. He killed six students, a school nurse and the principal before ending his own life with a gunshot to the head.

Finnish investigators have said Auvinen left a suicide note for his family and foreshadowed his attack in YouTube postings. That attack triggered a debate about gun laws in a Nordic nation with deep-rooted traditions of hunting in the sub-Arctic wilderness.

With 1.6 million firearms in private hands, the Nordic nation is an anomaly in Europe, lagging behind only the U.S. and Yemen in civilian gun ownership, studies show.

The government said after Auvinen's rampage it would raise the minimum age for buying guns from 15 to 18, but insisted there was no need for sweeping changes to Finland's gun laws.

Convenience complied in a book

"Software for Electrical Engineering Analysis and Design V," is a compilation of papers presented at the Fifth International Conference on Software for Electrical Engineering Analysis & Design (ELECTROSOFT 2001) held by the Wessex Institute in 2001. This book delves into the design, construction, evaluation, and use of software for engineering design and analysis of electrical and electromagnetic systems. An extensive array of software is covered with an emphasis on numerical methods and computational codes. Other major issues addressed in the book include software packages, symbolic computation, optimization, and image processing and interfaces. For further information or to request a copy, visit the Web site at www.compmech.com.

[Author Affiliation]

Cara Green is an advertising assistant at Prism magazine. She can be reached by e-mail at c.green@asee.org.

Royals Send `Cy' Winner Cone to Jays

HAINES CITY, Fla. Declaring the future of baseball in KansasCity is at stake, the Royals traded Cy Young Award winner David Coneand his $5 million salary to the Toronto Blue Jays on Thursday forthree minor-leaguers.

"Our No. 1 goal is to keep baseball in Kansas City and keep itviable," general manager Herk Robinson said.

Toronto was pleased at the return of Cone, who helped the BlueJays win the 1992 World Series.

"David's our No. 1 starter now," Blue Jays manager Cito Gastonsaid. "We'll try to start the season with him."

Robinson said Cone's union activities had "nothing whatsoever"to do with the trade.

"We got three players in return we think can be very, very goodplayers in the future," Robinson said of infielders Chris Stynes andTony Medrano and relief pitcher David Sinnes.

Cone, a Kansas City native and one of the team's most popularplayers, was 16-5 with a 2.94 ERA in the strike-shortened 1994 seasonand has a 111-70 career record.

"It's a sad day," Cone said. "But I understand it from theRoyals' standpoint. They're doing what they have to do, and I hopeit works out. I've had nothing but good experiences with thisorganization."

Spanish Football Summaries

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Summaries from the 20th round of the Spanish league (home team listed first):

Saturday's Games
Rayo Vallecano 2, Athletic Bilbao 3

Rayo Vallecano: Miguel "Michu" Perez (11), Alejandro Arribas (26).

Athletic Bilbao: Fernando Llorente (16, 23, 68).

Halftime: 2-2.

Attendance: 12,450.

Espanyol 1, Mallorca 0

Espanyol: Vladimir Weiss (18).

Halftime: 1-0.

Attendance: 19,740.

Real Madrid 3, Zaragoza 1

Real Madrid: Kaka (32), Cristiano Ronaldo (49), Mesut Oezil (56).

Zaragoza: Angel Lafita (11).

Halftime: 1-1.

Attendance: 67,000.

Villarreal 0, Barcelona 0

Attendance: 22,000.

Jockey Smith Has Tough Derby Decision

New York jockey Mike Smith, who got a good start riding atChicago tracks until three years ago, has an important decision tomake. He can ride either Loblolly Stable's Prairie Bayou or Dalhartin the Kentucky Derby at Louisville, May 1.

Smith has won stakes on both horses. After he won the RebelStakes aboard Dalhart on March 27, he was pretty sure he'd selectDalhart as his Kentucky Derby mount.

The picture changed Saturday when Smith won the $500,000 BlueGrass Stakes against a classier field with Prairie Bayou. He movedfrom eighth and last to win the race by two lengths going away.

That's when the jockey, who leads all riders at Aqueduct,started to handicap his two Kentucky Derby mounts.

"I started to worry about what horse I'm going to ride in theDerby right after I crossed the finish line," Smith said. "IfDalhart wins Saturday's $500,000 Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park, I'llhave to discuss my Derby mount with (owner) John Ed Anthony and(trainer) Tom Bohannon."

Anthony has the most powerful stable in the United States.Watching his horses brought back memories of the powerful Calumetstable that won stakes almost everywhere, especially at Arlington,Hialeah and Churchill Downs.

If Dalhart wins Saturday, we'll find out what kind of ahandicapper Smith is.

I'll never forget when the great Eddie Arcaro had his choice toride either Devil Diver or Shut Out in the 1942 Kentucky Derby.Arcaro chose Devil Diver which finished out of the money. Shut Out,with Wayne Wright riding, defeated Chicago's hope Alsab with ease.

"It may be a tough decision for me," Smith said. "Dalhart is avery good colt. I never gave it a thought to ride another horse inthe Derby, but Prairie Bayou is getting better and better."

Loblolly Stable has five other 3-year-olds named for the 119thannual Kentucky Derby, but only Marked Tree may run as part of athree-horse entry in the 1 1/4-mile affair.

Marked Tree is far from a bum. He's won $297,870 from sevenstarts, winning four and adding a second, third and fourth. IfMarked Tree runs in the Arkansas Derby and wins or is close, you canlook for him in the Kentucky Derby lineup.

It isn't that easy to get into the Derby lineup, which could bethe 20-horse limit. Officials at Churchill Downs permit horses withthe most graded stakes victories a priority to start when there are20 or more entered.

Anthony, a wealthy Arkansas businessman, isn't worried abouthis horses records in graded races. Dalhart won the Rebel and NashuaStakes. Prairie Bayou won the $500,000 Jim Beam Stakes atKentucky's Turfway Park and the Whirlaway and Count Fleet Stakes atAqueduct.

If Marked Tree can win another stake or get close, I believehe'll also run in the Kentucky Derby. Anthony's two- or three-horseentry will be the public's choice, not higher than 5-2.

After three months of trying to figure the Kentucky Derbyfavorite and odds on the others, it's possible there will be no morechanges. Bruce Karp, who is making the Derby line for the Sport ofKings in Las Vegas, wired the new Derby line.

Karp's line: Dalhart 4-1, Prairie Bayou 4-1, Personable Hope 9-2and Dixieland Heat 15-1. Corby, one of the favorites untilSaturday when he finished seventh in the Blue Grass Stakes, is 15-1.

Union City is 12-1 and my new long-shot threat, Wallenda, whofinished a good second in the Blue Grass, is 15-1.

Among those who have no place in my line and are likelynon-starters Silver of Silver, Devoted Brass, Jack Livingston, Stuka,Storm Tower, Apprentice, Eliza and Gilded Time. Sportsman's Park had a great weekend with approximately $6.5 millionwagered for the two days.

True Affair helped the favorites win the Oaks Saturday. LittleBro Affair shocked the favorite players Sunday with a $59.20 payoff.I loved Stalwars in the feature, but I couldn't find him. Help. Here's a good tip. Make your reservations now at Sportsman's Parkfor Kentucky Derby Day or go hungry. More than 500 fans crowded thedining room Easter Sunday.

I'm sure Derby Day will be another dining room sellout atSportsman's. Other than my own Woulda Could Shoulda book, I'm recommending theDaily Racing Form Manual. It has names and records of hundreds ofowners, trainers and jockeys and records and charts of championhorses of the past. The book, normally $75, is on sale for $35.

Nords again defeat Canadiens, lead 2-0

Michel Goulet and Basil McRae scored 17 seconds apart in thethird period last night to power the visiting Quebec Nordiques to a2-1 victory and a 2-0 series lead over the defending StanleyCup-champion Montreal Canadiens in their Adams Division final.

The Nordiques swept both games in Montreal and return home forGames 3 and 4.

The teams played two tight-checking, scoreless periods beforeGoulet connected on a 15-foot wrist shot that beat goalie BrianHayward low to the left side at 2:47.

Paul Gillis outmuscled Canadiens forward Bobby Smith behind theMontreal net before passing to Goulet, who leads the Nordiques inplayoff scoring with eight goals.

McRae notched his second goal of the playoffs on a rebound at3:04 after a slap shot from the point by Risto Siltanen. Haywardwent down on the point shot and blocked it with his left pad, but anunchecked McRae lifted the rebound over the prone goalie.

Montreal reduced the margin to 2-1 on a power play at 5:21.Ryan Walter took a pass from Mats Naslund and beat goalie MarioGosselin with a low 10-foot slap shot inside the left post.

Gosselin made several big saves to preserve the victory,including point-blank stops on two slap shots - one a rebound byChris Nilan from 15 feet with 8:28 left.

Islanders 2, Flyers 1: Mikko Makela scored a power-play goalwith three seconds left to give New York victory at Philadelphia andeven the series 1-1.

The Islanders received a power play with 48 seconds left in thegame when Philadelphia was penalized for having too many men on theice. Makela took a pass from Tomas Jonsson, skated in on goaltenderRon Hextall and fired the puck into the net on Hextall's stick sideat 19:57 of the third.

CENSUS: HISPANICS, ASIANS UP AGENCY RELEASES ESTIMATES FOR 1990-99

WASHINGTON Those new hotels and casinos that sprouted up inNevada's Clark County this past decade attracted more than justgamblers anxious to try their luck under the bright lights of LasVegas.

The boom also brought an influx of Asians and Hispanics eager tofill new construction and service-industry jobs, a development thathelped make Nevada the fastest-growing state in the 1990s.

New Census Bureau estimates being released Wednesday show thatincreases in the nation's two fastest-growing minority populationsalso are helping to spark gains elsewhere.

Between July 1, 1990, and July 1, 1999, the nation's Asian andPacific Islander population grew 43 percent to 10.8 million, and theHispanic population grew 38.8 percent to 31.3 million, the Censusestimates show. These are the last such estimates to be releasedbefore detailed Census 2000 results come out next year.

California, Texas and New York-the three most populous states-continue to have the highest numbers of minorities, but Nevada,Georgia and North Carolina experienced the biggest percentageincreases, Census analyst Larry Sink said.

"It's largely a condition of jobs and the network of people theyknow there," said John Haaga of the Population Reference Bureau, aWashington-based research group. "That's the traditional Americanexperience."

Nationally, the country's white population increased 7.3 percentbetween 1990 and 1999 to 224.6 million. Blacks remained the country'slargest minority group, experiencing a 13.8 percent spike during thesame period to 34.8 million, while the American Indian and AlaskaNative population increased 15.5 percent to 2.3 million.

"The white, black and American Indian populations for the mostpart just don't show that dramatic of a change," Sink said. Overall,the Hispanic and Asian growth is "largely being fueled byimmigration."

Nevada's 50 percent population growth led all states during the90s. Its Asian population rose 123.7 percent to 88,208, the largestsuch increase in the nation, while its Hispanic population rose 144.6percent to 304,364. Hispanics can be of any race.

California had the biggest Hispanic population with 10.4 million.More than 2.7 million Hispanics moved into the state between 1990 and1999, a 35.8 percent increase.

As for Asian population by state, California had the most, 4million, up 36.8 percent in the 90s. New York was second withslightly more than 1 million, up 44.5 percent.

Appointments

Items intended for the Appointments column must be sub- mitted oneto two weeks in advance to: Javeen Castile, 350 N. Orleans, Chicago60654. Fax to (312) 321-3027 or e-mail jcastile@suntimes.com

CONSULTING

Aon appointed two as executives in the firm: Kathryn Hayley hasbeen named CEO of Aon Consulting U.S. She is currently Midwestregional managing director at Deloitte Consulting; Hayley begins herposition with Aon in the late spring. Also appointed, Kathy Burns,former senior executive at Marsh Inc., named CEO of Aon Risk ServicesAmericas eSolutions Group.

Parson Consulting appointed Diana Smith to regional managingdirector, overseeing the Central region. …

Durbin asks Social Security to probe death record errors

U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) has asked the Social Security Administration why its Death Master File lists so many Illinoisans as dead when they are still alive.

Durbin's inquiry follows a report last week by the SouthtownStar newspaper that told the stories of two south suburban men who were shocked to learn of their "deaths," and the problems they encountered when they tried to get jobs and file for benefits checks because of the false listing.

Illinois has the third-highest rate of such mistakes in the country, according to a Scripps Howard News Service report. Nationally, about 14,000 of these errors occur every year.

Last week, Durbin sent a letter to Michael Astrue, commissioner of the Social Security Administration, to find out why the errors are happening.

"What steps have been taken to ensure that these reporting errors will be corrected and what plans are in place to avoid these problems in the future?" Durbin wrote.

He commended the agency's "high rate of accuracy" — 99.5 percent — but he expressed concern about those who were incorrectly listed as deceased.

"This error can cause significant challenges" in getting it corrected, Durbin said.

He also was concerned that the number of false reports of deaths in Illinois quadrupled from 461 to 1,675 between 2007 and 2008, according to the Scripps Howard report. "What changed between 2007 and 2008 to explain the dramatic increase?" Durbin asked in his letter. He concluded by saying he looked forward to working with Astrue to "ensure that the proper safeguards are in place to significantly reduce these errors."

Looking for answers: U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin on Tuesday sent a letter to Michael Astrue, commissioner of the Social SecurityAdministration, to find out why so many residents are falsely reported as dead.John Greenwood

Huron, S.D., Native Works to Unseat Daschle.

Byline: Scott Waltman

May 14--WASHINGTON -- Patrick Davis has a different take on South Dakota's Senate race than does Tom Daschle.

Daschle, the Democratic leader in the Senate, feels he will be re-elected in November. But Davis, a 36-year-old Huron native, strongly disagrees. He sees Republican John Thune trumping Daschle.

Davis' take isn't surprising. He is, after all, political director for the National Republican Senatorial Committee. It's his job to help Thune win.

For most of his adult life, Davis has been involved in politics. From 1990-1992 he worked in the White House Office of Political Affairs under the first President George Bush. He's held a variety of campaign-related jobs like the …

Huron, S.D., Native Works to Unseat Daschle.

Byline: Scott Waltman

May 14--WASHINGTON -- Patrick Davis has a different take on South Dakota's Senate race than does Tom Daschle.

Daschle, the Democratic leader in the Senate, feels he will be re-elected in November. But Davis, a 36-year-old Huron native, strongly disagrees. He sees Republican John Thune trumping Daschle.

Davis' take isn't surprising. He is, after all, political director for the National Republican Senatorial Committee. It's his job to help Thune win.

For most of his adult life, Davis has been involved in politics. From 1990-1992 he worked in the White House Office of Political Affairs under the first President George Bush. He's held a variety of campaign-related jobs like the …

Census may count multiracial people as distinct category

WASHINGTON The Census Bureau is considering counting people ofmixed race as a separate category for the first time.

Supporters say doing so would help foster a sense of pride andself-affirmation among the growing numbers of mixed-race Americans.

Some civil rights advocates worry that the new category wouldreduce the numbers of blacks and Hispanics recorded in the census,imperiling minority voting districts and financing for minority aidprograms.For Ramona E. Douglass, a California activist who is of mixedrace, the issue is simple."I don't want to be invisible anymore," said Douglass, presidentof the Association of MultiEthnic Americans, a San …

Lexus launches new range of F Sport accessories and packages.

Auto Business News-11 May 2010-Lexus launches new range of F Sport accessories and packages(C)2010 ENPublishing - http://www.enpublishing.co.uk

Auto Business News - 11 May 2010(c)2005 - Electronic News Publishing - http://www.enpublishing.co.uk

Lexus, a subsidiary of Toyota Motor Corporation (NYSE: TM) (LSE: TYT) (TYO: 7203), has launched a new range of F Sport accessories and packages for three of its models.

…

SEHORN OUT FOR 4 GAMES.(SPORTS)

Byline: Combined wire services

St. Louis Rams safety Jason Sehorn will miss the first four games of the regular season after breaking a bone in his left foot during Sunday's practice.

Sehorn signed with the Rams in May after spending his first nine seasons with the New York Giants. He was injured when he landed awkwardly on his foot during a passing drill at the Rams' training camp in Macomb, Ill.

Sehorn will have surgery today and will be sidelined for 10 weeks, which would keep him out of the lineup until October. Sehorn will miss the regular-season opener against the Giants on Sept. 7, along with games against San Francisco, Seattle and Arizona. …

Lafayette College to Host Conference on Paul Robeson; April 7 - 9 Conference Will Inaugurate Series of Major Lafayette Events on History, Culture of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties.

Byline: Lafayette College

EASTON, Pa., March 17 (AScribe Newswire) -- Lafayette College will inaugurate a series of major conferences on the history and culture of civil rights and civil liberties with a three-day conference entitled "Paul Robeson: His History and Development as an Intellectual" on campus April 7-9.

The conference will engage the life of Paul Robeson (1898-1976) - stage and film actor, opera singer, athlete, attorney, political and social activist - who explored, at another time and in another context, some of the same personal and national identity questions that are prominently at issue today. It promises to deepen the national and international discussion on American identity, human interdependency, and our shared responsibilities of security and advancing civil society.

An extensive website on the conference, including a detailed schedule, is available at http://www.lafayette.edu/webdata/robeson/ .

Conference director John T. McCartney, professor of government and law and head of the department, says, "We have invited the leading …

India's Yadav ruled out of remaining England games

NEW DELHI (AP) — India pace bowler Umesh Yadav has been ruled out of the remainder of the ongoing limited overs series against England due to an injury and will be replaced by Abhimanyu Mithun.

India officials said Friday that Yadav suffered a finger injury during the third game in Mohali, which India won by five wickets to take a winning 3-0 lead.

The …

LEADING OFF

Caption …

Burnley enjoy an unbeaten weekend.

On Sunday, having thumped Enfield by nine wickets in their rearranged game the previous day, Burnley entertained Rishton, and, having won the toss for their third match of the weekend, Steve Brunt elected to bat on a fast track and outfield.

Openers Daniel Pickup and Qasim Ali were once again in sparkling form.
The score board rattled on to 89 before the first wicket fell, Qasim out for 49 - a hotly disputed dismissal that left a scorch mark on his shirt on his waist.

More drama was to follow at 92 when Burnley professional Farhaan Behardien was allegedly stumped without leaving his crease.

Pickup (36) departed on 96, but with 27 overs to go, …

Beaver may review mercantile tax.

Byline: Kristen Garrett

Jun. 13--BEAVER -- Retailers in Beaver aren't necessarily going to see the mercantile tax disappear, but borough council members said they do want to look for ways to help out business owners. Councilman Jim Christiana asked council Tuesday to consider doing away with the borough's mercantile tax, saying he thinks it's a burden on businesses.

On the other hand, Councilwoman Kay Nestor, who is also a member of the Beaver Chamber of Commerce, said she has never had a merchant complain about the mercantile tax.

Councilman Marlin Erin, who owns a business in Beaver, said he doesn't think the mercantile tax is a considerable …

CASTANEDA'S QUIET DEATH WAS AS SECRET AS HIS LIFE.(MAIN)

Byline: New York Times

Carlos Castaneda, whose best- selling exploration of mystical and pharmacological frontiers helped to define the psychological landscape of the 1960s, died two months ago just as privately and secretly as he had lived, associates revealed this week. Befitting a man who made an aesthetic out of mystery, even his age is uncertain, but he was believed to be 72.

He died of liver cancer on April 27 at his home in Los Angeles, said Deborah Drooz, an entertainment lawyer, friend of Castaneda and executor of his estate. She said he had suffered from the illness for at least 10 months. After his death, his body was cremated and the remains were …

Avgol America.(TRIAD)(Brief Article)

MOCKSVILLE -- Avgol America, which makes nonwoven textiles used in disposable diapers and other products, is spending $27 million to expand its factory here, adding …

Appeals court: EchoStar not barred from lease deal

Federal law does not bar satellite television provider EchoStar Communications Corp. from leasing a transponder to another company to transmit network signals, a U.S. appeals court ruled Monday.

CBS Corp.'s CBS Broadcasting subsidiary, News Corp.'s Fox network and other major network affiliate groups sued EchoStar 10 years ago in South Florida to prevent the Englewood, Co.-based company, which operates the DISH satellite network, from providing distant network signals to customers who can receive local affiliates' broadcasts through regular antennas.

The Satellite Home Viewer Act of 1988 allowed carriers such as EchoStar to provide secondary transmissions …

Breakfast Briefing // Chicago

United's July business up 3.7% United Airlines said its traffic hadincreased 3.7 percent in July, compared with the same month a yearago, led by a 5.5 percent increase in North American traffic. Theairline said 75.4 percent of its seats were filled during the month. Stock Exchange sets record The Chicago Stock Exchange said it brokeits monthly volume records in July, beating the most recent recordsestablished in April. Trade volume totaled 1,509,794, and sharevolume was 764,495,197. Compared with July, 1997, trades and sharesrose 52 percent and 49 percent respectively. Wis. Central earnings off 8% Rosemont-based Wisconsin CentralTransportation Corp. said second-quarter earnings …

Lilly Bolsters Diagnostics Capabilities with Avid Buy.

Washington Editor

Seeking to build on its neuroscience product development program, Eli Lilly and Co. has put $300 million on the table to buy privately held Avid Radiopharmaceuticals Inc., a Philadelphia-based firm that develops molecular imaging compounds, including florbetapir F 18 (18F-AV-45), an investigational agent used to detect the presence of amyloid plaque in the brain u a hallmark sign of Alzheimer's disease.

Avid stockholders also are eligible to receive up to $500 million if florbetapir, which currently is under review at the FDA, meets its regulatory and commercial goals.

The deal also provides Indianapolis-based Lilly, which has 22 drugs on the market for cancer, neuroscience conditions, diabetes, osteoporosis and other diseases, …

Forget the tiger _ new technology will put a microbe in your tank.(Main)

Byline: PAUL ELIAS Associated Press

SAN FRANCISCO - The key to kicking what President Bush calls the nation's oil addiction could very well lie in termite guts, canvas-eating jungle bugs and other microbes genetically engineered to spew enzymes that turn waste into fuel.

It may seem hard to believe that microscopic bugs usually viewed as destructive pests can be so productive. But scientists and several companies are working with the creatures to convert wood, corn stalks and other plant waste into sugars that are easily brewed into ethanol - essentially 199-proof moonshine that can be used to power automobiles.

Thanks to biotechnology breakthroughs, …

CARDONA WINS COURT SEAT BY 2-1 RATIO.(Local)

Byline: Carol DeMare Staff writer

Anthony V. Cardona won by a more than 2-to-1 ratio Tuesday a seat on the state Supreme Court as he breezed to victory in all but one of the seven counties in the 3rd Judicial District.

The 48-year-old Democrat who has been an Albany County Family Court judge for six years lost only Schoharie County, the home of his opponent, Dan

Lamont, 49, who ran on the Conservative line.

Unofficial final returns give Cardona, a Delmar resident, 135,883, to 58,181 for Lamont. Cardona's biggest margin was in his home county of Albany - the largest county in the judicial district - where he trounced Lamont 67,733 to …

Britain sending more troops to Afghanistan

Defense Secretary Des Browne announced Monday that 230 more British troops are going to Afghanistan, bringing the country's troop strength there to more than 8,000.

Browne told the House of Commons that 230 new troops include engineers, logistical staff and military trainers. Browne said the increase "means our mission is expanding" to include a greater emphasis on building the capacity of Afghan forces.

There are currently 7,800 British troops in the country, most based in Helmand province in the south.

A total of 102 British troops have died in Afghanistan since 2001 _ most in fighting with a resurgent Taliban since 2006.

…

Sox thriving thanks to big home crowds

Less elbow room at the ballpark seems to mean more success for theWhite Sox.

When the Sox rallied to win Monday's game against the AnaheimAngels in front of 32,381 fans, they improved to 9-3 at U.S.Cellular Field in front of crowds of 30,000 or more.

"We've had some pretty good crowds, crowds that have expressedtheir feelings one way or another and have gotten into the game, andguys feed off that," manager Jerry Manuel said. "If you have toperform, either way, you would rather the performance be in front ofyour fans. Hopefully, for at least this week, we can continue that."

With the Sox in a race with the Kansas City Royals and MinnesotaTwins for the …

Ceradyne enjoys opportunities beyond military markets.(IN THE NEWS)

Ceradyne, Inc. recently announced that its ceramics operation, ESK Ceramics in Kempten, Germany, received a five-year contract for its EKasic[R] silicon carbide industrial pump seal faces for an estimated minimum amount of 35 million [euro] ($50 million). ESK Ceramics has developed a product line of these pump seal faces for a variety of stringent applications requiring high levels of material properties and precision mechanical dimensions. ESK has been working on this program for more than 20 years.

"This multi-year order will support Ceradyne's strategy of developing commercial and industrial advanced technical ceramic products that are not dependent on its military …