accompany101

Drive what you want

2012-03-15T06:42:00.000-07:00

I think it's a bit presumptuous, if not blasphemous, to assume that Jesus has somehow endorsed certain vehicle segments and condemned others.

Heaven help us.

I almost fell out of my chair when I first heard about the Evangelical Environmental Network's (EEN) campaign: "What Would Jesus Drive?" If you haven't already read the details you can catch up at http://whatwouldjesusdrive.org, but if you'd rather not have that on your browser history I can give you the Cliff Notes.

The thrust of the campaign suggests that what we drive is a moral issue and that Jesus, if he were holding a valid drivers license, would probably choose an ecologically friendly vehicle that got …

Republic Services rejects Waste Management offer

2012-03-15T04:16:00.000-07:00

Garbage disposal company Republic Services Inc. rejected on Friday an unsolicited $6.19 billion takeover offer from rival Waste Management Inc., saying it prefers an earlier deal with another suitor.

Republic's shares fell 2 percent in premarket trading.

The company said it wants to stick with an agreement announced June 23 to combine with Allied Waste Industries Inc., a deal worth $6.07 billion when it was unveiled.

"Republic is not for sale," James O'Connor, chairman and chief executive at Republic Services, wrote in a letter to David Steiner, chief executive of Waste Management. "Although we are always cognizant of our fiduciary …

Venus advances, awaits sister

2012-03-15T01:55:00.000-07:00

NEW YORK - Venus Williams is older, taller and one step ahead ofsister Serena.

Richard Williams, their father and coach, is predicting the U.S.Open women's singles title match will be a sister act. With a 6-4,6- 3 victory over Anne-Gaelle Sidot on Wednesday, the third-seededVenus grabbed a spot in the third round of the year's final GrandSlam tournament.

Seventh-seeded Serena Williams was to play her second-round matchtoday against Jelena Kostanic of Croatia.

Both Venus and Serena have won two Grand Slam tournament titleseach - all in mixed doubles last year. Venus teamed with JustinGimelstob to win the Australian and French Open championships.Serena and Max …

"Textbook example of using recycled content building materials"

2012-03-14T23:32:00.000-07:00

The Central Market in Poulsbo accepted the challenge of the county's recycling coordinator and built its 68,000 square foot grocery store and an adjacent parking lot out of recycled content materials. The building, which opened in August, 1995, is constructed with over a dozen materials that were diverted from landfills, including recycled content parking stops, drainage pipes, fiberglass insulation, latex paint, gypsum wallboard, structural steel and hot mix asphalt. Last month, at the Washington State Recycling Association Conference, Central Market received the state Department of Ecology "Special Recognition for Outstanding Achievement in Waste Reduction and Recycling" award. …

Group sues over US college's drug testing

2012-03-14T21:11:00.000-07:00

ST. LOUIS (AP) — A federal judge has blocked a mandatory drug testing program for students at a Missouri technical college after the American Civil Liberties Union went to court challenging the tests' constitutionality.

The ACLU of Eastern Missouri filed a lawsuit Wednesday on behalf of six students at Linn State Technical College seeking an injunction to end what it called the "suspicionless" screenings of all first-year students and some returning students for drugs including cocaine, methamphetamines and oxycodone.

Linn State implemented the program this fall, saying it was necessary to ensure student safety at a school where the coursework includes aircraft maintenance, …

On to grass for French champ Nadal

2012-03-14T18:51:00.000-07:00

Rafael Nadal's celebration of his fifth French Open title was exuberant but brief as he turns his attention to the grass courts of Wimbledon.

Twice Nadal sprawled onto the clay court Sunday, joined the crowd in applauding and shed tears of joy.

"Difficult to have a big celebration if you have to practice tomorrow," Nadal said.

Wimbledon awaits. The year's third and most prestigious Grand Slam tournament is only two weeks away, and Nadal wanted to begin his grass-court preparations Monday.

The switch in surfaces comes after he completed an undefeated clay-court season Sunday by beating Sweden's Robin Soderling in the final at …

Beware of the Internet's cozy familiarity: Marketing is the goal of efforts to personalize

2012-03-14T16:30:00.000-07:00

AS a twin, I think I have an unusual appreciation for the desireto be unique. When I was 10, this drive even involved breakfast: Ichallenged my mom's homemade-everything policy and begged for brand-name, boxed cereal.

Even if I couldn't convince her that Trix really were for kids -Grape-Nuts and Cheerios were as close as I got - in my mind theyfortified me as an individual, at least in the General Mills sense ofthings.

I ate one kind of cereal and my sister ate another, and I was waytoo young to see the irony of using a brand name to make myselfspecial.

I got past that clueless phase. But these days it seems most ofAmerican society is sinking into my preteen …

Singapore and China to jointly develop environment-friendly city

2012-03-14T14:10:00.000-07:00

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and Singapore's prime minister agreed Sunday to jointly develop an environmentally friendly city in northeastern China.

The city will be a model for sustainable development, a Singapore government statement said.

China is one of the world's biggest polluters and Chinese leaders have recently touted a shift in planning away from hyper-fast industrial expansion toward a more sustainable form of development.

The "Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-city" will be developed by a joint venture formed by Singapore and Chinese companies.

"This eco-city, to be built in Tianjin, will become another highlight in …

New congregation doubting Thomas?

2012-03-14T11:50:00.000-07:00

Some members of Christian Hills Church in Orland Hills are angry that their elder board recently hired the Rev. George Thomas, who was booted from a Homewood church last year amid allegations that he misappropriated hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Thomas, former senior pastor of All Nations Community Church, was appointed this summer as Christian Hills school principal and associate pastor without consulting members.

"The congregation should have input," said longtime Christian Hills member Dave Oberg, who points to the church's constitution, which says that members should vote on hiring a new pastor. "I'm not against change, I just want it done right."

Because …

Keeping your woman alive

2012-03-14T09:29:00.000-07:00

NOT DIAMONDS OR CLOTHES, BUT ATTENDING SERVICES CUTS A WOMAN'S DEATH RISK

Here's a news flash for the health conscious: Regular attendance at religious services reduces the risk of death for women by 20 percent, according to a new study.

The study by researchers at Yeshiva University and its Albert Einstein College of Medicine was published Nov. 17 in the journal Psychology and Health.

The researchers evaluated the religious practices of 92,395 women aged 50 to 79 participating in the Women's Health Initiative, a national, long-term study aimed at addressing women's health issues.

Those who said they attended religious services at least once a week showed a 20 …

Greg Maddux fails in 4th bid for No. 350

2012-03-14T07:09:00.000-07:00

When Greg Maddux's workday ended in the sixth inning, he walked off the mound and headed directly for the tunnel to the clubhouse, bypassing the San Diego Padres' dugout.

There were no slaps on the back from teammates, and no milestones for Maddux, either. He failed in his fourth bid to reach 350 victories Sunday, when he was outpitched by young Andrew Miller and lost to the Florida Marlins, 10-3.

Maddux (2-3) twice failed to hold a lead, and he allowed 11 hits and five runs, four earned, in 5 2-3 innings.

The four-time Cy Young award winner is 0-3 in four starts since April 13. He leads all active pitchers in …

Egyptian official, Israeli leaders discuss peace

2012-03-14T04:49:00.000-07:00

JERUSALEM (AP) — Egypt's powerful intelligence chief says his government is seeking a breakthrough in stalled Israeli-Palestinian peace talks.

Omar Suleiman's comments in Israel Thursday come as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu prepares to travel to the U.S. for talks with top administration officials.

Netanyahu's office gave no details about his talks …

New Zealand Says Farewell to Hillary

2012-03-14T02:06:00.000-07:00

Sherpas laid prayer scarves on the coffin of Edmund Hillary Tuesday as thousands across New Zealand bid farewell to the Mount Everest conqueror.

About 500 New Zealand and international dignitaries joined the Hillary family at a state funeral in St. Mary's Anglican Church in this northern city, while thousands gathered at big screen venues in cities nationwide to pay respects to Hillary.

The enormously popular adventurer died of a heart attack on Jan. 11 at the age of 88.

"In reality he was a colossus, he was our hero, he brought fame to our country ... but above all we loved Sir Ed for what he represented _ a determination to succeed against the odds," Prime Minister Helen Clark told mourners.

As the service began, five Sherpas, including one woman, laid traditional prayer scarves on the coffin for Hillary, who had spent more than 40 years working to aid Nepal's development.

The ice ax used by Hillary on his May 29, 1953, conquest of Mt. Everest with mountain guide Tenzing Norgay also lay atop the flag-draped coffin.

One of the 20th century's greatest adventurers, Hillary later made the first motorized overland trip to the South Pole, led a jet boat expedition from "sea to sky" up India's Ganges River and joined an expedition to the North Pole.

The former beekeeper became a humanitarian, building schools, hospitals, health clinics and other facilities in Nepal to aid the Sherpa people of Nepal's mountain region near Everest.

His son, mountaineer Peter Hillary, who has twice climbed Everest, said his father "was a real people's hero" and that helping the Nepali people "really was the great calling of my father's life."

BADWATER RISING

2012-03-13T23:14:00.000-07:00

Local man readies to run "world's toughest foot race"

It starts at the lowest point in North America and ends at the base of the highest peak in the lower 48 states. Only 100 people are be invited to participate. Of those 100, only about 90 will show up at the starting line. Not all of them will finish, and only some will complete the event in the 48 hours allotted. During those 48 hours, temperatures may be near 130 degrees at the start and closer to freezing at the finish line - 135 miles away.

The Badwater Ultramarathon, now in its 34th year as a race, begins on July 11, at Badwater Basin in Death Valley, Calif., 282 feet below sea level, and ends on July 13 at the Whitney Portal on Mt. Whitney, which has an elevation of 8,360 feet. During the course of the ultramarathon, runners will ascend and descend two mountain ranges for a cumulative vertical coverage of 13,000 feet. It is referred to as "the world's toughest foot race," and for 27-year-old Meridian man Benjamin Blessing, who recently received his acceptance letter, it's the culmination of only a few years of intense training.

"You actually have to submit a resume, and they won't even look at it unless you've done at least three 100-mile runs. I was well within the limit," Blessing said. "I've done 10."

For Blessing, a music major at Northwest Nazarene University, his introduction to the sport of ultramarathons - any marathon longer than the standard 26 miles - came by way of a tragedy. He was in the Marines and he and a buddy were training for a Marine Corps marathon. They were in Pennsylvania when his friend slipped from a waterfall and died.

"That was a big bummer," Blessing said, his clipped speech wavering slightly. "After that, my conductor got me a book about a guy who runs [ultramarathons]. I thought, ? want to run one of these for my buddy.'"

So he did. Blessing ran his first ultramarathon - 40 miles - in late 2007. It didn't go so well.

"I was trained, and I was ready to go ... but I'd only run a half marathon before that, so I was really scared," Blessing said. His parents, who were acting as his de facto pit crew, forgor ro put salt in his water bottles - an important element in keeping a runner hydrated.

"I got terrible cramps and almost had to go to the hospital," Blessing said. But he finished. "I was so proud and thought, ? have to do a longer one.'"

In the nearly three and a half years since that first race, Blessing has run more than three dozen ultramarathons including his second 150-mile run in December 2010- all in order to build his resume for the Badwater Ultramarathon.

Chris Koster is the founder and "Chief Adventure Officer" of AdventureCORPS Inc., an organization that produces extreme sports events including the Badwater Ultramarathon. Since founding AdventureCORPS in 1984, Koster, a runner himself, has seen hundreds just like Blessing take on the Badwater, which his company began producing in 2000. And just this year, the race became even more challenging. Runners used to have 60 hours to finish the race. This is the first year they have only 48. The change, Koster said, has been made because everybody wants to win the prize. And, no, it's not cash. It's a belt buckle.

"It used to be 60 [hours], but you had to finish in 48 to get the belt buckle. And everybody wants the belt buckle," Koster said, laughing. "So the last three or four years, only a few people were requiring more than 48 hour�. The field just kept getting faster, not necessarily just the front couple of people but the whole field. And it's an invitational ... people know they may not get a chance again so they put their best effort forward."

The 201 1 Badwater - which in past years has seen a 19-year-old, a 75-year-old and two blind finishers - will include participants from more than 19 countries including the 2010 men's champion and a 16-time finisher. The invitees include 70 men and 30 women, and the record time held by a man is just less than 23 hours, for a woman is a little more than 26 hours. The average finish time is around 40 hours - that's nearly two days of brutal exposure to the elements.

Blessing joined a support crew (a group allowed to follow the runner) in the 2010 Badwater to prepare for this year. From that and, of course, running several ultramarathons prior to this one, he has learned a couple of things that will aid in his success.

"Experience is making the right decisions after making the wrong ones," Blessing said. "In 2008 I experimented using running gel and energy chews. What I didn't realize was that overloading your body with sugar causes you to have terrible diarrhea. I had that for the last 20 miles of a run."

In that same race, Blessing missed a few spots with sunscreen and ended up with second-degree burns. A 60-mile-plus race in 2009 also taught him to always wear his glasses or protective goggles. Some dirt up under his contacts scratched his corneas so badly one of his eyes was actually gouged.

But Blessing has discovered that overcoming the physical aspects of the race is only part of the battle.

"Mental fortitude is the name of the game," Blessing said. "If you don't mind, it doesn't matter."

[Sidebar]

For more information on the race, visit badwater.com.

For more information on AdventureCORPS visit adventurecorps.com.

[Sidebar]

Benjamin Blessing looks like a perfectly normal man. Little would you know that a crazy ultramarathoner lurks under the surface.

Official: Fighting kills 14 in Somalia's capital

2012-03-13T20:22:00.000-07:00

Fierce overnight fighting between Islamic insurgents and pro-government forces in Somalia's capital killed at least 14 people including women and children, health officials said Tuesday.

Ambulance staff collected the bodies in Mogadishu Tuesday, said service chief Rufai Mohamed, and officials of two Mogadishu hospitals say they admitted at least 45 wounded people.

The fighting marks a continuation of weekend violence when the two sides pounded the capital with mortars and gunfire, killing at least 35 people.

The independent Elman Human Rights Organization said that by Monday afternoon 17,200 people had fled their homes for safer places inside and outside Mogadishu.

The intensity of the fighting had reduced by early Tuesday but sporadic gunfire could be heard in parts of the city.

Abdifitah Hassan, a resident at Sinai village in northern Mogadishu, told The Associated Press that he saw insurgents firing mortar rounds in the direction of the presidential palace and pro-government fighters returned fire.

President Sheik Sharif Sheik Ahmed and his staff were safe, said defense department official Col. Yasin Haile. Insurgents have previously targeted the presidential palace without causing much damage.

Islamic insurgents, including the al-Shabab group which is seeking to overthrow Somalia's Western-backed government and establish an Islamic state, have been trying to topple the weak government since late 2006.

Al-Shabab controls much of southern Somalia. Ahmed's government directly controls only a few blocks of Mogadishu and one border town. But the president has allies among the militias that control much of central Somalia and pockets of the south.

Ahmed, elected by parliament in January, used to be one of the leaders of the Islamic insurgency. Since his election he has been trying to broker peace with warring groups and gain legitimacy.

Ahmed told journalists Monday that the people behind the weekend fighting are against peace, but he is willing to talk with his opponents.

The U.S. worries that Somalia could be a terrorist breeding ground, particularly since Osama bin Laden declared his support for al-Shabab.

The U.S. also accuses al-Shabab of harboring the al-Qaida-linked terrorists who allegedly blew up the U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania in 1998.

Somalia has not had an effective government since 1991, when warlords overthrew longtime dictator Mohamed Siad Barre. The warlords then turned on each other, plunging the nation into anarchy and chaos.

Somalia's transitional government was formed in 2004, but has failed to assert any control over the country. The lawlessness also has allowed piracy to explode off Somalia's coast.

German Football Summaries

2012-03-13T17:30:00.000-07:00

Summaries of Sunday's games in the Bundesliga (home team listed first):

Schalke 1, Nuremberg 0

Schalke: Kevin Kuranyi (48).

Attendance: 61,515.

Cologne 2, Borussia Dortmund 3

Cologne: Kevin McKenna (82), Youssef Mohamad (88).

Dortmund: Mats Hummels (28, 45), Kevin Grosskreutz (90).

Attendance: 50,000.

AP Weekly News Calendar

2012-03-13T14:38:00.000-07:00

Friday, Feb. 12:

SHANGHAI, China _ Return of dissident Feng Zhenghua. 0430 GMT.

PYONGYANG, North Korea _ U.N. envoy Lynn Pascoe visits North Korea. Through Feb. 12.

SANTIAGO, Chile _ President-elect Sebastian Pinera meets with Brazilian Foreign Minister Celso Amorim.

RIO DE JANEIRO _ Carnival begins.

VANCOUVER, Canada _ Winter Olympics opening ceremony, 9 p.m. (0200 GMT).

ROME _ Haiti's agriculture minister addresses a high-level U.N. meeting on medium and long-term food needs in Haiti.

NEW YORK _ U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is scheduled to hold a joint press conference with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, by video-conference, at 7:30 a.m. EST (1230 GMT).

Saturday, Feb. 13:

HARARE, Zimbabwe _ South African President Jacob Zuma is expected to travel to Zimbabwe to continue further mediations with all factions of the Zimbabwean unity government.

QENA, Egypt _ Three suspects charged in the Coptic Christmas Eve drive-by shooting Jan. 6 in southern Egyptian town of Nag Hamadi that killed seven go on trial in an emergency state security court.

Sunday, Feb. 14:

CAIRO _ 25 men, including 2 Palestinians, part of an alleged Qaida cell will go on trial in State Security court on charges of platting to attack govt and foreign targets. Targets allegedly include oil tankers on Suez canal and tourist sites.

BEIRUT _ Thousands of people expected to take part in rally in downtown Beirut marking 5th anniversary of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri's assassination.

Monday, Feb. 15:

PRISTINA, Kosovo _ Youth leader Albin Kurti to appear in front of EU judges for inciting violent protests.

MANILA, Philippines _ U.S. military provides weeklong medical and reconstruction services in typhoon-stricken areas of the northern Philippines.

GENEVA _ The U.N. Human Rights Council examines Iran's record.

THE VALLEY, Anguilla _ British overseas territory holds election for 11 seats in House of Assembly, with ruling Anguilla United Front facing challenge from two opposition parties.

HARARE, Zimbabwe _ The one-year anniversary of the formation of the Zimbabwean unity government. Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai was sworn in on Feb. 13, 2009, and took office on Feb. 15, 2009.

JERUSALEM _ Conference at Israeli parliament on compensation for Jews from Arab countries. 1300 GMT.

DHAKA, Bangladesh _ Group of bilateral and multilateral donors, Bangladesh Development Forum, will hold meeting to discuss future course of development aid.Thru.Feb. 16.

NEW YORK _ Westminster Dog Show. Through Feb. 16.

HOLLYWOOD, California _ Broadcast Film Critics Association's 15th annual Critics' Choice Awards.

Tuesday, Feb. 16:

JERUSALEM _ News conference for beginning of convention of Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations. 1200 GMT. Convention thru Saturday.

BEIRUT _ Hezbollah rally marking the anniversary of Imad Mughniyeh's assassination.

NEW ORLEANS _ Mardi Gras, celebrated primarily in Louisiana and along the Mississippi and Alabama Gulf Coasts.

Wednesday, Feb. 17:

CAIRO, Egypt _ Supreme Council for Antiquities to announce DNA results meant to reveal the parentage of King Tut.

QENA, Egypt _ hearing for a Coptic man who was charged with raping a 12-year old Muslim girl in the south of Egypt.

PRISTINA, Kosovo _ Kosovo marks second anniversary of independence from Serbia.

GUANTANAMO BAY NAVAL BASE, Cuba _ Pre-trial hearing in war crimes case of Ibrahim Ahmed Mahmoud al Qosi, Sudanese accused of being bodyguard for Osama bin Laden.

WASHINGTON _ Federal Reserve releases minutes from January interest-rate meeting with updated economic forecast.

Thursday, Feb. 18:

BAGHDAD _ The trial of British security contractor, Danny Fitzsimons who is accused of shooting two colleagues to death.

WHITE PLAINS, New York _ Former New York City Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik is scheduled to be sentenced for corruption and tax crimes.

Unexploded Weapons Clearance Plan Progresses

2012-03-13T11:38:00.000-07:00

The Department of State opened a bidding process April 29 to solicit plans for a new quick-reaction force that would be able to handle threats to civilians from unexploded cluster bombs and other explosive remnants of war (ERW). U.S. officials hope that the privately run force could begin operating later this year with the capability to deploy anywhere in the world within 48 hours.

The rationale for the force is wrapped up in the ongoing debate about addressing the effects of cluster munitions, which are bombs, rockets, and artillery shells that disperse smaller submunitions over broad areas and sometime fail to explode and later maim or kill civilians if disturbed. (See ACT, March 2008.) On May 21, Stephen Mull, acting assistant secretary of state for political-military affairs, reiterated the administration's position that a narrow focus on such munitions is ill advised. Instead, he said, "the humanitarian issues brought on by cluster munitions are really a small part of a much larger problem that we think the whole world needs to work on together." Toward that end, the quick-reaction force is tasked with responding to humanitarian and destruction needs associated with a wide range of so-called remnants of war.

Katherine Baker, a U.S. delegation member to the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW), first discussed the force at a CCW meeting on Jan. 16, saying it would "deal holisticalIy with explosive remnants of war, small arms and light weapons, cluster munitions, landmines, man-portable air defense systems, and other types of conventional weapons found in countries suffering from the legacy of war." Washington prefers to address cluster munitions and other ERW within the CCW process. The United States has abstained from participating in a separate international effort known as the Oslo process, which May 30 in Dublin concluded treaty text limiting cluster munitions (see sidebar).

On April 29, the State Department's Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement released a solicitation asking for private companies to bid on the quick-reaction force. Force requirements include the ability to have an advance reconnaissance team onsite anywhere in the world within 48 hours and an operational force in place within 14 days.

The size and cost of the force is not specified in the solicitation. In some ways, it may be an evolution of a quick-reaction demining program that ended last year. That force, operated by private contractor RONCO Consulting Corporation, consisted of approximately 40 demining personnel and support infrastructure. Between 2001 and 2007, it deployed to Iraq, Mozambique, Sri Lanka, and Sudan, but dealt most specifically with mines, rather than the broader range of conventional weapons and unexploded ordnance envisioned for the new force.

The solicitation closes June 13. As of May 27, more than a dozen companies had added their names to an interested vendor list, suggesting that they may submit proposals to operate the force.

On May 21, Richard Kidd, director of the weapons removal and abatement office, told Arms Control Today that he is hopeful this asset could be operational as early as this fall. He also indicated that he has already been in conversation with UN officials about how to make it available to global efforts. The goal, he said, is to be able to "respond to any conventional weapons emergency" anywhere in the world. He added that "most of the weapons out there are not U.S. origin, not U.S. deployed, and not U.S. made." -JEFF ABRAMSON

[Sidebar]

A UN peacekeeper holds the remnants of an Israeli cluster bomblet May 14, 2007 in the Lebanese village of Khirbet Silem.

National Basketball Association

2012-03-13T08:29:00.000-07:00

EASTERN CONFERENCE
Atlantic Division
W L Pct GB
Boston 23 8 .742 _
Toronto 16 17 .485 8
New York 13 20 .394 11
Philadelphia 9 23 .281 14 1/2
New Jersey 3 29 .094 20 1/2
Southeast Division
W L Pct GB
Orlando 24 8 .750 _
Atlanta 21 11 .656 3
Miami 16 14 .533 7
Charlotte 12 18 .400 11
Washington 10 20 .333 13
Central Division
W L Pct GB
Cleveland 26 8 .765 _
Chicago 13 17 .433 11
Milwaukee 12 18 .400 12
Detroit 11 21 .344 14
Indiana 9 22 .290 15 1/2
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Southwest Division
W L Pct GB
Dallas 22 10 .688 _
San Antonio 19 11 .633 2
Houston 20 13 .606 2 1/2
Memphis 15 16 .484 6 1/2
New Orleans 14 16 .467 7
Northwest Division
W L Pct GB
Denver 20 12 .625 _
Portland 21 13 .618 _
Oklahoma City 18 14 .563 2
Utah 18 14 .563 2
Minnesota 7 27 .206 14
Pacific Division
W L Pct GB
L.A. Lakers 26 6 .813 _
Phoenix 21 12 .636 5 1/2
L.A. Clippers 14 18 .438 12
Sacramento 14 18 .438 12
Golden State 9 22 .290 16 1/2
___
Friday's Games
New York 112, Atlanta 108, OT
Orlando 106, Minnesota 94
L.A. Lakers 109, Sacramento 108
Saturday's Games
Cleveland at New Jersey
Charlotte at Miami
San Antonio at Washington
Minnesota at Indiana
Toronto at Boston
Houston at New Orleans
Orlando at Chicago
Oklahoma City at Milwaukee
Memphis at Phoenix
Denver at Utah
Golden State at Portland
Dallas at Sacramento

Community schools should be priority

2012-03-13T04:36:00.000-07:00

Recently, Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley and Chicago Public Schools CEO Arne Duncan jointly announced an expansion of "community schools" and other coordinated after-school activities as a way of creating safe havens for Chicago's children. (See story on page 22.) Though community schools do provide safe environments for students beyond the regular school day, they provide so much more for students and their families, enabling kids to succeed at school and beyond, and strengthening communities.

Community schools happen when a school decides to reach out beyond its school walls and engage the local community in assessing student and family needs, then working together to meet these needs and achieve common goals. One common program strategy of community schools is an extended day, before and after school, one that is enriched with robust academic, arts, athletic, health and other engaging activities. This is not day care at the school. Rather, it is structured, supportive, engaging and enriching time that develops the whole child-academic, mental, physical and social.

Chicago's community schools have had impressive results in their first few years. They have closed the achievement gap among students, raised standardized test scores, improved overall student behavior and increased student participation in the classroom. Grades have increased and children are healthier. Parents also have received invaluable training and resources at their children's schools, through adult-centered programming.

When we combine the strengths of a community, its residents, its families and schools, great things happen! Safe havens are created, and while they are there, children are enriched so they can succeed at school and life. The time is now for the community school initiative to become not only a Chicago priority, but a statewide one as well. All Illinois children deserve this chance.

Suzanne Armato, executive director

Federation for Community Schools

Medic: Info from Jackson doctor didn't add up

2012-03-13T01:23:00.000-07:00

LOS ANGELES (AP) — After just a few moments in Michael Jackson's bedroom, the paramedic dispatched to save the singer's life knew things weren't adding up.

There was the skinny man on the floor, eyes open with a surgical cap on his head. His skin was turning blue. Paramedic Richard Senneff asked the sweating, frantic-looking doctor in the room what condition the stricken man had.

"He said, 'Nothing. He has nothing,'" Senneff told jurors at the involuntary manslaughter trial of Jackson's doctor, Conrad Murray.

"Simply, that did not add up to me," Senneff said.

Over the course of the 42 minutes that Los Angeles paramedics tried to revive Jackson, several other things about the room and Murray's responses seemed inconsistent to Senneff.

After repeated prodding, Murray revealed a few details about his actions, saying he had only given Jackson a dose of the sedative lorazepam to help him sleep, Senneff testified.

In addition, there were bottles of medicine on Jackson's nightstand, and Murray finally offered that he was treating the singer for dehydration and exhaustion.

Senneff said Murray never mentioned that he had also been giving Jackson doses of the anesthetic propofol and other sedatives, a key omission that prosecutors say shows he repeatedly tried to conceal his actions during the struggle to save the pop superstar.

Murray, 58, has pleaded not guilty. If convicted, he could face up to four years in prison and lose his medical license.

Prosecutors contend the Houston-based cardiologist repeatedly lied to medics and emergency room doctors about medications he had been giving Jackson in the singer's bedroom. They claim Murray administered a fatal dose of propofol and other sedatives.

Defense lawyers claim Jackson gave himself the fatal dose after his doctor left the room.

Defense attorney Nareg Gourjian asked Senneff whether Jackson's appearance was consistent with someone who was a drug addict.

Senneff said that was a difficult determination to make, but he did think the singer "looked like he had a chronic health problem."

Senneff was the first paramedic to reach Jackson's bedroom and said within moments, he and three other paramedics were working to revive Jackson. After trying multiple heart-starting medications and other efforts, Jackson was still lifeless.

"Did you ever see any sign of life in Mr. Jackson during the entire time you were attempting to save him," prosecutor Deborah Brazil asked.

"No I did not," Senneff said.

Another paramedic dispatched to the room, Martin Blount, agreed. He told jurors that they thought Jackson was dead soon after they arrived in the room.

Blount also said he saw three open bottles of lidocaine on the floor of the room but noted that Murray never mentioned giving Jackson the painkiller. He told jurors he saw the doctor scoop up the vials and drop them in a black bag.

Between the paramedics' testimony, Superior Court Judge Michael Pastor threatened Murray's lawyers with a contempt charge over an interview the law partner of lead defense counsel Ed Chernoff conducted Friday with "The Today Show." In the interview, attorney Matt Alford criticized a key prosecution witness, Jackson's bodyguard Alberto Alvarez.

Alvarez testified Thursday that Murray ordered him to place vials of medication in a bag before calling 911. Defense attorneys have repeatedly challenged his account.

Prosecutors complained and Pastor watched the interview during a break. He told attorneys he was shocked and had watched the interview "with my mouth open." The interview was conducted hours after the judge warned attorneys not to comment about the case outside court.

He ordered Alford to appear for a contempt hearing on Nov. 15 and said classified him as a witness after Chernoff told Pastor to hold him in contempt instead of his partner.

All the discussions about the interview were held outside the presence of jurors, who are under strict orders to avoid media coverage about the case.

The seven-man, five-woman panel instead heard testimony about efforts to revive Jackson, who the paramedics and emergency room doctor thought was dead at his rented mansion. Still, the singer was transported to Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center because Murray wanted life-saving efforts to continue.

After loading Jackson into an ambulance, Senneff said he saw Murray collecting items from Jackson's bedside. The doctor was alone in the bedroom for several moments before joining paramedics in the ambulance for the drive to the hospital, Senneff said.

Gourjian suggested Murray had been collecting his wallet and glasses, but Senneff said he could not see the items.

In the ambulance, Blount said, he heard Murray make a phone call. "'It's about Michael, and it doesn't look good,'" Blount recalled hearing Murray saying.

Jurors also heard from a former Murray patient who lauded the doctor's treatment of him, but said the cardiologist became increasingly distant and hard to reach while working with Jackson.

"I felt like I was getting the best care in the world," said Robert Russell of Las Vegas, before Murray became the singer's personal physician. "The advice he gave me saved my life."

Russell said he couldn't get answers about his own treatment, and the man who once spent so much time offering care and advice was unreachable.

He called Murray's office on June 25, 2009 — the day Jackson died — and demanded to speak to the doctor.

The doctor returned the call and left him a voicemail at 11:49 a.m. Prosecutors are using records to show that Murray was on the phone in the moments before he realized Jackson was unconscious.

Thirty-seven minutes later, Senneff ran into Jackson's bedroom.

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Associated Press Writer Greg Risling contributed to this report

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Anthony McCartney can be reached at http://twitter.com/mccartneyAP

Dorothy Gordon Zucker, fund-raiser

2012-03-12T22:25:00.000-07:00

Dorothy Gordon Zucker, 83, a former Skokie resident who raisedmoney to combat cancer, died Thursday in Highland Park Hospital.

Mrs. Zucker, of Lake Worth, Fla., was a homemaker involved incharitable causes. In the 1940s, she founded the Chicago IvreyothSociety to aid cancer research.

As president, she and her members asked for donations on streetcorners, held dances and auctions, and conducted other fund-raisingactivities. Over the years, the society raised "millions ofdollars," her family said. In 1995, the society disbanded.Mrs. Zucker grew up in Wicker Park, near Division and Damen.Her father, Jacob Pollack, founded Pollack Electric in 1895.Along with her first husband, Philip Gordon, she was a foundingmember of Congregation B'nai Emunah in Skokie. She later was marriedto the late Sam Zucker.Surviving are three sons, Judge Robert, Barry and GilbertGordon, and a grandson.Services will be at 10 a.m. today at Weinstein Family ServicesChapel, 111 Skokie Blvd., Wilmette. Burial will be in WaldheimCemetery, 1800 S. Harlem, Forest Park.

KUP'S COLUMN

2012-03-12T19:33:00.000-07:00

You haven't heard much of late about Eddie Vrdolyak, thecelebrated Republican convert. But that doesn't mean he's been idle.Vrdolyak has been rounding up candidates for Republican wardcommitteemen to reform the local party in his own image. Even DonTotten, longtime head of the GOP Cook County organization, realizeshis own job may be in jeopardy as a result of Vrdolyak's blitz toelect committeemen loyal to him. . . . Mayor Sawyer must have beenmindful of Harold Washington's fate by undergoing a physicalexamination yesterday before embarking on a whirlwind tour of fourchildren's hospitals.

THE CITY COUNCIL vote tomorrow on the budget will be a key tofuture relations between Mayor Sawyer and his aldermanic coalition.The up or down vote will be watched closely to reveal "who's withwhom" and if the coalition is still holding. . . . Meanwhile, Ald.Larry Bloom, chairman of the Budget Committee, is winning applausefor reducing Washington's proposed $84 million property tax increaseby $36 million. That can only increase his popularity.

MAYOR SAWYER will be hard pressed by news interrogators for someexplanation of the $20,000 fee he accepted 10 years ago from anattorney, Fred Sudak, now a judge. He could take the position thathe can't comment while the Illinois Attorneys Registration andDisciplinary Commission investigates Sudak's conduct. But that wouldbe viewed as a copout. . . . Before the story broke, Sudak had sentout invitations to his fund-raiser next Monday at the MetropolitanClub. Now Sudak has received numerous cancellations ("So sorry, butI just discovered a conflict") and may call off the gathering.

A NUMBER of the city's movers and shakers are rallying to Dr.Cannutte Russell's side as a result of the report that there's aneffort to replace him as president of the Chicago Library Board withJames Compton. Russell, friends point out, is a strong-willedleader and played a major role in getting a new state-of-the-artlibrary, instead of the Goldblatt store. . . . The Joint Committeeof Italian Americans honored Realtor Carl DeMoon with a second termas president. Committee activities include sponsoring the ColumbusDay parade and Dante awards.

"THE FATHER CLEMENTS Story" dominated its time slot Sundaynight, according to the local ratings. And our phone has beenjingle-jangling with calls because of our appearance in the movie.(It wasn't easy for me to carry Lou Gossett Jr., Carroll O'Connor andMalcolm-Jamal Warner in the film.) . . . The Illinois State'sAttorneys Association will salute Rich Daley with a specialtestimonial Thursday in the Chicago Marriott Hotel.

UNCA MILTIE BERLE kept us entertained over dinner at the ClubInternational with the witticisms and humor in his book, B.S. - ILove You. Reading the book may be dangerous to your health. It'sside-splitting. . . . Berle, still sprightly at 79, has been comingto Chicago to perform since 1929. He revealed that he appeared on TVhere long before the public knew what television was. That was backin '29 when Berle was playing the old Palace. He was invited to takepart in experimental TV that paved the way for introduction of themedium many years later.

BERLE NEVER is at a loss for ideas. His latest is a syndicatedTV show, in which he will use clips of stars who have appeared onhis programs down through the years. The names boggle the mind:Frank Sinatra, Bob Hope, Phil Silvers, Elvis Presley, Jack Benny, RedSkelton, Martha Raye, Edward G. Robinson and Ronald Reagan. . . .Our condolences to Mrs. Arnie (Zorine) Morton on the death of herfather, Edward Ryba. He also was the father of actress ArleneGolonka.

SECOND CITY alum Mike Hagerty is enjoying the best week of hiscareer. He has a role in Goldie Hawn's new movie, "Overboard," beingreleased this week. He also has a role in Jim Belushi's film, "RedHeat," and appeared Sunday in Fox Broadcasting's "Married WithChildren" . . . Hagerty will be among the Second City graduates whowill assemble here tomorrow to celebrate the theater's 28th birthday.

GOV. THOMPSON and wife Jayne will host their annual holidayreception tomorrow at the Drake Hotel. As usual, it'll bewall-to-wall people, just the kind of party you adore. . . . AlexDana, owner of Rosebud, the new "in" Italian restaurant in the U. ofI. at Chicago area, is seeking a Near North site. . . . Adding ayear: William (Fridge) Perry, Don Johnson, Barbara Lee Cohen andJudge Albert Porter.

THE DRAMA CRITICS took delight in "Born Yesterday," revivedsuperbly at Steppenwolf Theatre. The performances of John Mahoneyand Glenne Headly and direction of John Galati merit salutes. JohnMalkovich, one of Steppenwolf's brightest lights, joined his wifeGlenne and the cast in a party at Shaw's Crab House. . . . Andreader Mike Lag offers this closer: "Jim and Tammy Bakker justrecorded a new album titled, "Come all ye unfaithful."

China's bank loans double in January to $237 bln

2012-03-12T15:31:00.000-07:00

Chinese banks extended a record 1.62 trillion yuan ($237 billion) in loans in January, more than double the year before, as lenders heeded government calls to loosen credit controls to help revive the economy.

Total bank loans rose by 814.1 billion yuan ($119 billion), nearly 104 percent over lending in January 2008, when the government was still imposing stringent curbs on credit as it battled inflation, the People's Bank of China reported Thursday.

Facing an abrupt slowdown due to plunging demand for China's exports, regulators have sought to boost liquidity after years of trying to rein in lending.

Banks made 771.8 billion yuan ($113 billion) in new loans in December, figures show, up nearly 15 fold over the same month a year before, when credit was at a virtual standstill due to the credit controls.

China's banks are in relatively good shape, with less exposure than most of their global rivals to the toxic mortgage-related securities that have wrought havoc in the global financial system.

The government has ordered them to make credit available to help battle the downturn which hit last fall. But with many industries facing overcapacity and demand slowing for many products, analyst warn the state-owned banks risk letting policy, rather than profitability, guide their lending decisions.

Analysts said the structure of lending in January, with short-term financing accounting for two-thirds of the total, does not bode well for a sustained expansion.

The trend suggests that demand for "attractive project finance is still insufficient to absorb excess bank liquidity, leaving banks to still pursue low risk, low return businesses in large scale," Citigroup Global Markets economist Ken Pang said in a report issued Thursday.

"If the short term credit expansion slows as we expect, broad credit growth would probably fall with it," he said.

On Wednesday, leaders announced fresh help for the shipbuilding industry, following similar moves to boost automakers, airlines, textile exporters and other key industries.

Customs data released Wednesday showed that trade plunged in January, with exports falling 17.5 percent from a year earlier and imports sinking 43 as factories bought less foreign raw materials and consumer demand weakened.

Like other major economies, it's evident that China is busy printing money: bank customers these days often get fresh bills when making withdrawals.

The central bank reported that China's M2, its broadest measure of money supply covering cash in circulation plus all deposits, rose nearly 19 percent in January from a year earlier to 49.61 trillion yuan ($7.2 trillion).

Teen Ishikawa hoping to make cut at British Open

2012-03-12T11:53:00.000-07:00

Japanese teenager Ryo Ishikawa has acknowledged that being a title contender in the upcoming British Open, or any other major, is beyond him at this early stage of his career.

"I may have to face my worst score ever. I may easily go double-digit over par," the 17-year-old Ishikawa said at a press conference Wednesday before departing for the July 16-19 British Open at Turnberry.

Ishikawa missed the cut this year at the Masters, where he was given a special invitation. He also has received an invitation to the PGA Championship in August at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Minnesota.

"Majors are still out of my league, but I feel a little more relaxed than last time," Ishikawa said. "I'd like to be on the course as long as possible, so I hope to make the cut and play all four days of the tournament."

Ishikawa qualified for the British Open by winning the Japan tour's Mizuno Open last month for the third victory of his career.

He became the youngest winner of a sanctioned tour when he won the Munsingwear Open KSB Cup two years ago at age 15.