WASHINGTON (AP) — The National Labor Relations Board is moving closer to approving rules that would speed the pace of union elections. But the lone Republican member on the board has threatened to resign his post and quash the entire process.
Republicans lawmakers in the House are also poised to approve a bill aimed at short-circuiting the rules, which could make it more difficult for businesses to resist union …
Omar Arellano scored the equalizer in the second half as Mexican club Chivas drew 1-1 with Universidad de Chile in the first leg of the Copa Libertadores semifinals Tuesday.
Rafael Olarra opened the scoring for Universidad with a header at the back post in the 48th minute against the run of play. Arellano headed in Alberto Medinas corner in the 52nd to …
Zella Bardsley brings her mixed-metals quilts to Art Source Gallery
This First Thursday, Zella Bardsley will be commemorating a traditionally female art form of quilting in her own feminist way: with metal and a blowtorch. Her patterns aren't those handed down from generation to generation, they are instead her "own, new definition of the metal quilt." Even though Bardsley's definition varies from the norm, she maintains many of the typical quilting conventions such as weaving her stories of joy, pain, gossip and laughter into her works. She also uses castaways, combines new pieces and says she "pushes the quilt form to suit her own desire to construct pieces that she finds …
Police have rescued 10 South Korean women who were forced to work in a Sydney brothel as part of a sex slavery syndicate, officials said Friday.
Four Australian men and women as well as a South Korean woman were arrested in Sydney early Friday and charged with multiple offenses relating to a sex trafficking business that was making 3 million Australian dollars (US$2.8 million; euro1.8 million) a year, Australian Federal Police and the Immigration Department said in a joint statement.
The victims, rescued by police Thursday, were receiving counseling and government support, Immigration official Lyn O'Connell said.
A decision has yet to be made …
Haiti's government has declared the search and rescue phase for survivors of the country's devastating earthquake over, the United Nations said Saturday.
The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said that 132 people were pulled from the rubble alive by international search and rescue teams.
Spokeswoman Elizebeth Byrs told The Associated Press that rescue teams still searching through the rubble would not be prevented from carrying out whatever work they felt necessary. "It doesn't mean the government will order them to stop. In case there is the slightest sign of life, they will act."
But she added: "Except for miracles, …
The savings and loan mess may still be with us when yourgrandchildren are old because it's more complex and intractable thanpoliticians let on.
To be sure, there may be no real problems for most depositors,whose savings are insured up to $100,000. But depositors also paytaxes, and taxpayers ultimately will foot the bill. So willborrowers because the cost of paying off insured deposits and losseson bad thrift assets will make loans scarcer and dearer.
Estimates of the S&L clean-up cost keep growing, from thegovernment's initial estimate of $157 billion over 10 years to anestimate widely accepted today of $300 billion.
And Friday, when officials of the …
MANILA, Philippines (AP) — The largest Muslim rebel group in the Philippines said an early peace pact with the government is unlikely, citing remaining key differences.
Government negotiators on Wednesday ended three days of talks with the 11,000-strong Moro Islamic Liberation Front in Malaysia, which has been brokering the yearslong negotiations. Both sides agreed to hold another round of talks next month.
Government negotiator Marvic Leonen said in a statement Thursday that the talks "have inched forward but not fast enough." He has hoped a peace pact could be concluded within the next three months to allow it to be enforced and adjusted if necessary before President Benigno …
Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic had straight-set wins Thursday to advance to quarterfinals of the Shanghai Masters on a day when two more players retired with injuries.
The top-seeded Nadal, aiming for his first title since winning the Rome Masters in May, defeated Tommy Robredo 6-1, 6-4.
"I started the second set bad," said Nadal, who won five tournaments this year, including the Australian Open. "So for that reason, later I had to play all the set under pressure."
Djokovic moved into the quarterfinals by stopping German qualifier Rainer Schuettler 6-4, 6-2, closing out the match with back-to-back aces.
"It was …
The 1996 BMW 328i and 1997 Buick LeSabre provide significantlydifferent driving experiences that should satisfy the dissimilarcrowds at which they are aimed.
Both look good because BMW and Buick stylists are adept atcreating sleek cars. But the Buick is big and soft and the BMW iscompact and tight.
Here are pros and cons of these cars, which I recently tested:Le-Sabre: The fact that Buick began selling its 1997 LeSabre in Januaryshows that the old Detroit practice of having auto dealers covershowroom windows each fall to hide new cars from public eyes until"official" introduction dates is long gone.The 1997 LeSabre is much the same as the 1996 model and is …
WASHINGTON (AP) — The health of the world's oceans is declining much faster than originally thought — under siege from pollution, overfishing and other man-made problems all at once — scientists say in a new report.
The mix of interacting ingredients is in place for a mass extinction in the world's oceans, said a report by a top panel of scientists that will be presented to the United Nations on Tuesday.
The report says the troubles from global warming and other factors are worse when they combine with each other. Factors include dead zones from farm run-off, an increase in acidity from too much carbon dioxide, habitat destruction and melting sea ice, along with …
Outgoing Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo swore in a new chief justice Monday whose appointment has been questioned by her apparent successor, sparking fears of a constitutional crisis.
Opposition Sen. Benigno Aquino III, who is set to become the president-elect in an almost-complete vote count of May 10 elections, has vowed not to take his oath of office before newly-appointed Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona, who once served as Arroyo's chief of staff and spokesman.
Aquino has said he preferred to take his oath before a village leader in Tarlac, his northern home province, when Arroyo's term ends on June 3. The constitution does not say …
The White Sox have their own home shopping network, but don't tryto call. It's strictly an in-house service.
They feel they have enough depth in their minor-league system tomake call-ups without having to dial around the major leagues. Howdeep is it really? Not as deep as organizations like the Braves,Yankees and Expos, and now the Pirates, Athletics and Marlins. Butit's deep enough, and it could get deeper for player-developmentdirector Ken Williams if Larry Monroe and Duane Shaffer have the kindof draft they had last June.
Rotation: The Sox might not have to tap into the minors fortheir first choice should James Baldwin or Jason Bere falter.Tapping reliever …
The Army AL&T Magazine editorial staff would like to thank the man who has chaired our Editorial Advisory Board (EAB) for the past 6 years. Our publication's strongest supporter, Army Acquisition Executive and Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology Claude M. Bolton Jr. helped guide the direction and scope of Army AL&T Magazine throughout his remarkable tenure. His insight, knowledge and expert guidance enabled us to provide our readers with the latest information regarding the Army's science and technology initiatives, research and development accomplishments, Future Combat Systems capabilities, best business practices, and career and professional development policies. Secretary Bolton knows that Soldiers rely heavily on the Acquisition, Logistics and Technology (AL&T) Workforce for their weapon systems, equipment, logistics and support services, and he has worked tirelessly to ensure that our warfighters have the technological advantage to remain the finest fighting force on Earth.
We thank secretary Bolton for his dedicated service to the AL&T Workforce, the U.S. Army and this proud Nation. It was our distinct honor and privilege to have worked so closely with him as our EAB Chair. We wish him a fond farewell and continued success in all his future personal and professional endeavors.
Army AL&T Magazine
Editorial Staff
Britain's former leader Tony Blair is making a dramatic comeback to domestic politics ahead of the country's national election.
Blair will make a speech defending his successor Gordon Brown's record, and attacking opposition leader David Cameron's claims to have dramatically changed his Conservative Party.
Currently envoy to the Quartet of Mideast peacemakers, Blair has made few appearances in Britain since he quit as prime minister in 2007.
In January, he defended his actions over Iraq to the country's inquiry into the war _ but has had little other involvement in national politics.
Blair will speak Tuesday in his former parliamentary district in northern England. Aides say he's likely to make other appearances during the election campaign.
Q. We hear what we believe are squirrels pouncing on our roof and fear that they may get into our home. Any suggestions on how we might keep them out?
A. This is the time of year when little wild critters who didn't head south for the winter are looking for shelter - and your house will do just fine, if you let them in. You can stop uninvited little guests from joining the family by checking traditional hideouts like the attic, crawl space or garage for points of entry. Loose soffits or trim allow birds and squirrels to enter. Open roof and foundation vents should also be checked and screened. Chimney caps are another good idea as chimneys attract raccoons. Check all interior attic and crawl spaces during the day, without lights. If outside light comes in, so might the critters.
The hiring freeze implemented by Gov. Rod Blagojevich will not prevent DCFS from hiring for 200 vacancies created after case workers and others retired, Deputy Governor Doug Scofield said Monday.
In an interview with the Chicago Defender, Scofield said Blagojevich will honor Ryan's moratorium on the death penalty.
"The hiring freeze does not prevent them (DCFS) from putting new case workers on.
"They simply need to give us a list of the people they believe are urgent and need to be brought on and we will quickly approve that. We've not received any list from DCFS; in fact, we've been asking for a list," he explained.
"We are eager to approve anyone qualified. We recognize this is a need and know that it's important to get these people on...," he stated.
And, when told that Senate President Emil Jones vowed to "fight like hell" to restore the member initiatives frozen by Blagojevich, and Rep. Lou Jones (D-5th) saying state lawmakers "need to be able to bring something back home," Scofield explained the governor's rationale.
"We've suspended funding of the member initiatives while we review them, and there may be some very worthy and good usages of tax dollars. We'll take a look at those.
"Many of them could certainly end up going forward, but, given the budget crisis ($5 billion deficit)," we want to slow down the funding and make sure they fit into the state's priorities," Scofield said.
Asked about the governor's appointment of Tim Martin to head the Illinois Department of Transportation whom Black activists and lawmakers claimed "stood in the door" of the contract process and allegedly prevented Blacks from getting a slice of the contractual pie, Scofield said the governor "is absolutely committed to making sure that minority contractors get their fair share of state business, and he will assure that is the case at IDOT.
"The governor will monitor it as well."
"Martin was hired with the belief that he will be fair. That is the instructions from the governor. It's a priority for the governor and if it is not the case we will make our protests known as well," said Scofield.
That sets the stage for opening statements to begin Monday — and likely the first witness, an FBI agent.
The final jury, though, hasn't been chosen. Attorneys will get the next three days to decide how they want to issue their strikes to pick a final jury from a group of 45. At the start of trial, 12 regular jurors and six alternates will be seated.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Reid Schar said opening statements for the prosecution will take an hour — maybe less. The same is true for the defense, said Aaron Goldstein, who will be delivering openings for Blagojevich.
Also Thursday, Schar asked U.S. District Judge James Zagel to keep tabs on the defense's opening remarks. Schar complained that the defense used an "advice of counsel" defense last time, in part by saying Blagojevich considered his chief of staff John Harris, an attorney. That's a stretch, Schar argued.
"The only way to get the defense in is for someone to stand up and say, 'I thought that was legal,' " Zagel said. Zagel said he allowed in some statements in the last trial because Blagojevich's attorney swore that the former governor would take the stand.
Blagojevich eventually did not testify. Even if defense lawyers promise that testimony this time during openings, Zagel will not base his rulings on the promise, he said.
The end came after spirited tugs-of-war between Schar and defense lawyer Sheldon Sorosky.
Sorosky accused the government of trying to toss potential jurors who were good for the defense under the guise of saying the jurors had hardships. That included one person who said defendants were innocent until proven guilty.
"All of the sudden the government is the kindest person in the world," Sorosky said. "Mr. Schar's heart would not allow that to happen."
Sorosky also accused the government of trying to get a "Norman Rockwell" jury, as he argued to keep an unemployed man who had once stabbed his brother.
Burglars have broken into two properties in Lower Weston, makingoff with computer equipment and garden ornaments. Police areinvestigating whether the incidents, one in Audley Grove and theother in Audley Park Road, are connected.
They are appealing to witnesses who may have seen thoseresponsible to come forward. The first burglary, in Audley Grove, isthought to have taken place between 10.30pm on Tuesday, July 26, and9am on Wednesday, July 27, when thieves took computer equipment, awallet containing cards and cash and mobile phones. The secondincident saw burglars enter a garden on the same night, between 8pmand 6am, when they broke into a shed and also took ornaments fromthe garden and a wheelbarrow.
The ornaments were later found nearby.
A police spokesman said: "We are not able to confirm that theincidents are linked but if anyone was in the area and saw anyoneacting suspiciously, or carrying handfuls of computer equipment, wewould ask them to get in touch." Anyone with information about theburglaries, or has been offered items believed to be stolen forsale, should call Bath police on 0845 456 7000 or Crimestoppersanonymously on 0800 555111.
PHILADELPHIA The problems facing America's vulnerable childrenare well beyond the capacity of government to address or evenunderstand, President Clinton said here Monday as he called onindividuals to help save these children "one by one."
Standing in front of Independence Hall, Clinton delivered aspeech on volunteerism that attempted to define the limits ofgovernment in America regarding children who "are being left behindin lives of too much danger."
"Even if we do everything we should, you and I know that a lotof the problems facing our children are problems of the human heart,"said Clinton, delivering the keynote address for the Presidents'Summit for America's Future.One-on-one mentoring of vulnerable children by successful adultswas the principal solution advanced by Clinton and by the formidablecast of three former presidents, 30 governors and more than 100mayors attending the three-day summit here. Organizers said thereare 15 million children in need of mentors and other assistance."In terms of numbers, the task may seem staggering. But if welook at the simple needs that these children have, then the task ismanageable," said Colin L. Powell, the summit's general chairman."We know what they need. They need an adult caring person."To put more mentors, teachers and other full-time volunteers towork, Clinton Monday proposed a de facto melding of AmeriCorps, thedomestic Peace Corps created in 1993, with programs already run bycharitable institutions.The president said he will propose legislation creating 50,000new AmeriCorps scholarships for volunteers working for church andcharitable groups, which would be asked to pay the volunteers' livingexpenses."I want to challenge every charity, every religious group, everycommunity group and their business supporters to give young peoplethe support they need to do a year of community service," Clintonsaid.The AmeriCorps program currently awards a college scholarshipworth $4,725 for every year of service. It also picks up livingcosts of about $7,000.Several of the approximately 3,000 delegates said Monday theywould attempt to raise the money.
