Google, U.S. regulators close to deal in patents dispute: sources

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. regulators are near a settlement with Google Inc in a dispute over the search giant's efforts to stop the sale of products it says infringe essential patents, according to two sources close to the probe.

But the Federal Trade Commission is not expected to reach a deal soon on the larger, more contentious issue of whether Google tweaks its search results to disadvantage rivals in travel, shopping and other specialized searches.

Its rivals say Google fears the specialized sites will siphon away its most lucrative advertising and the revenue that goes with it.

Under the expected settlement, which could be announced this week or next, Google will be required to drop demands for injunctions in lawsuits filed using a special class of patents called standard essential patents, or SEPs, the sources said.

SEPs ensure, for example, that one brand of wireless phone can call another brand.

There would be an exception to the injunction ban, however. Google would be allowed to request injunctions if companies refuse to negotiate SEP licensing at all, the sources said.

SEPs are usually expected to be broadly licensed for a reasonable price. One view is that if a company convinces a standard-setting organization to name its patent as the standard, that company should be barred from asking for an injunction if there is infringement.

The larger investigation, which is more than a year old, addresses search bias as well as smaller items that aggravate Google's rivals in Silicon Valley and beyond.

These include taking data, such as hotel reviews, from non-Google web sites to use on Google products, and preventing the export of data on advertising effectiveness to non-Google software so ad campaigns can be evaluated.

The European Commission is investigating many of the same allegations.

Google's critics, disappointed with the trajectory of the FTC probe, appear prepared to take their grievances to the U.S. Justice Department.

At least one Google adversary met with Justice Department officials recently, pressing them to investigate if the FTC fails to get a satisfactory settlement on search or litigate against Google, according to sources with knowledge of the situation.

The Texas attorney general's office is also leading a probe into Google's practices.

(Reporting By Diane Bartz; editing by John Wallace)

FedEx drops Kinko's from stores

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - FedEx Corp. said it plans to stop using theKinko's name on its copy and office service stores and book an $891million charge for the quarter that ended Saturday.

The charge relates to the value of the Kinko's name and a write-down of the value of its acquisition of the brand. The charge, whichworks out to $2.22 a share, was not part of FedEx's earningsforecast.

The company early last month cut its outlook to $1.45 to $1.50per share, down from $1.60 to $1.80, because of increasing fuelcosts. FedEx reports its financial results for the fiscal fourthquarter June 18.

The company said it will change the name of its FedEx Kinko'sstores to FedEx …

Holy Day, Holiday: The American Sunday

Holy Day, Holiday: The American Sunday. By Alexis McCrossen. Ithaca, N.Y.: Cornell University Press, 2000. 240 pp. Cloth, $39.95. ISBN 0-801-43417-3.

Reviewed by Richard Butsch

This is a broad history of debates about Sunday and the Sabbath in the United States since 1800, but primarily from about 1850 to 1930, during the transition from agrarian to modern industrial America. Alexis McCrossen examines the construction of Sunday through a wide variety of discourses on the activities for which Sunday became known. These include such diverse subjects as libraries and museums, expositions, railroads, public parks, bicycling and automobile excursions, commercial entertainment …

Virginia Tech defeats Elon 76-67

A.D. Vassallo and Victor Davilo scored 16 points apiece, and Malcolm Delaney hit 12 free throws in the final 2:12 to help Virginia Tech defeat Elon 76-67 on Wednesday night.

The Hokies (4-2) led 34-27 at halftime, but Elon (1-3) scored the first five points of the second half.

The Phoenix surged into the lead at 44-42 on a Chris Long 3-pointer with 12:52 remaining. With the …

Income tax law a fraud, says indicted protester

Millions of Americans are scurrying to pay their income taxestoday, but a South Holland man isn't even trying.

"Of course, I don't pay taxes. It would be absolutely illegal,"William J. Benson, 60, indignantly declared.

Benson, a lecturer and author who contends the 16th Amendment tothe Constitution was never properly ratified, was indicted by afederal grand jury yesterday for failing to file tax returns on$106,154 in income for 1980 and '81.

"The timing of the indictment is not coincidental," Benson saidyesterday, predicting his trial "will be one of the most fascinatingthis country has ever seen - as far as income taxes go."

Benson, a former …

2 Abducted Italians Freed in Afghanistan

KABUL, Afghanistan - A NATO-led combat operation secured the release of two kidnapped Italian military personnel Monday in western Afghanistan, two days after they went missing, officials said. Initial reports indicated at least five of the kidnappers were killed.

Both Italians were wounded during the operation, one seriously. The two were being treated in a hospital run by NATO's International Security Assistance Force.

"They were freed in an ISAF operation. They were both injured. One is in a more difficult situation than the other," an Italian Embassy official said on condition of anonymity because of embassy policy. "They are free now. They are at a military hospital …

Warner Music, lone major holdout in deal with Nokia music site, cites copyright issues

Nokia Corp.'s new Britain-based online music service launched this week with more than 2 million songs, including tracks from every major record label except one: Warner Music Group Corp., home to artists such as Green Day, Linkin Park and Red Hot Chili Peppers.

New York-based Warner refused to license its music for the service, taking issue with Nokia's operation of a file-sharing Web site called Mosh, an executive familiar with the negotiations between the two companies said Friday on condition of anonymity, citing the confidential nature of the talks.

Warner insisted that Nokia promise not to promote Mosh alongside its paid music offerings, the executive …

The Aston, pre-Bond

Most Americans first became aware of England's Aston Martin sports car when James Bond drove a 1964-65 DB5 model in early Bond movies. But the very classic 1958-63 Aston DB4, which the DB5 strongly resembled, was the first all-new Aston since David Brown bought -- and saved -- the automaker in 1947.

Most Astons long have had a "DB" prefix because -- you guessed it -- those were Brown's initials, although he sold the automaker in 1972 just before the big fuel crunch and new government regulations caused the U.S. exotic sports car market to nearly crash.

Aston Martin had a history dating to 1917, and auto racing enthusiast and England's Brown bought the financially troubled …

Interfaith centre learns about Mennonites

Briefly noted

EDMONTON- The words of the choir were a perfect fit for the Feb. 4 Edmonton lnterfaith Centre meeting: "For we are strangers no more, but part of one humanity ..." Members of the centre, including representatives of a variety of religions, gathered at Lendrum Mennonite Brethren Church to learn about Mennonites in a program featuring a brief history, presentations from service organizations, short perspectives on worship and peace, a choir and potluck fellowship. Organizer Dave Hubert struck a note of commonality among faiths when he quipped, …

Madeleine's Parents Accept Apology

The parents of missing Madeleine McCann on Wednesday accepted an apology and more than $1 million in damages over tabloid newspaper stories suggesting they had caused their daughter's death.

Madeleine vanished May 3 _ a few days before her 4th birthday _ from a hotel room during a family vacation in Praia da Luz in Portugal's Algarve region.

Kate and Gerry McCann said Wednesday that Express Newspapers had agreed to pay the equivalent of $1.1 million. The couple's lawyer said the money would go into a fund they have set up to help find their daughter.

Two of the group's newspapers ran front-page apologies Wednesday for suggesting the couple were …

School cuts will anger city parents

Every parent will have serious concerns about city schools beingtold to slash their budgets.

They will have every right to be fearful about the impact on theirchildren's education - especially if their school is one of thoseon the hit list that stands to lose pounds150,000 a year.

Many of these parents will have given up their …

3 WAYS TO FIGHT HEART DISEASE

1 Omega-3s

There's more evidence that consuming omega-3 fatty acids is good for your heart.

Researchers in Finland followed 285 men and 130 women with coronary heart disease. The volunteers' average age was 61.

As the study progressed, 36 participants died, 21 suffered heart attacks and 12 had strokes. But among all participants, those with the highest concentration of docosahexaenoic acid-an omega-3-showed a 69 percent lower risk of death than people with the lowest levels.

Exactly how omega-3 fatty acids work is unclear. They may lower triglycerides in the blood, or they may make blood platelets less likely to clot.

Omega-3 sources include fatty fish, …

US mil: suicide bomber kills US soldier in Iraq

The U.S. military says an American soldier has been killed by a suicide bomber in a troubled region north of Baghdad.

A statement says the attacker struck a Multi-National Division _ North soldier during operations Wednesday in Diyala province. U.S. and Iraqi …

Advertising Falls at N.Y. Times, Tribune

NEW YORK - Newspaper publishers New York Times Co. and Tribune Co. reported lower advertising revenues for the second quarter on Wednesday as the industry struggled with deep losses in several categories, especially classified.

The Times, which also owns The Boston Globe, the International Herald Tribune and a group of regional newspapers, posted a 6.9 percent decline in newspaper advertising in the period, while Tribune's fell 11.2 percent.

Chicago-based Tribune is the nation's No. 2 newspaper company by circulation and publishes 11 newspapers including the Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune and Newsday.

Weak classified advertising was a big factor behind the declines at both companies, falling 13.4 percent at the Times company and 17.7 percent at Tribune.

Classified advertising, long a cash cow for the industry, has been hurt by competition from online alternatives to newspapers and by weakness in the housing market, which affects real estate ads. The Times also noted softness in advertising for banking and other financial services.

Despite the declining revenues, the Times reported that net profits doubled to $118.4 million from $59.6 million a year ago, due mainly to a one-time gain of $94.3 million from the sale of the company's nine TV stations.

Excluding one-time items, the Times earned 34 cents per share from continuing operations in the quarter, versus 37 cents per share in the same period a year ago. Operating profit excluding depreciation and amortization fell 2.7 percent due to lower revenues, which fell 3.7 percent to $788.9 million.

With revenues continuing to decline, the Times said it would take another $230 million out of its annual cost structure over the next two years. The savings will come from selling an older printing plant in New Jersey, reducing the size of the Times by 1.5 inches beginning next month and other measures.

Tribune, meanwhile, reported that net profits fell 59 percent to $36.3 million from $85.7 million on falling advertising and several significant charges non-operating losses. Earnings per share fell to 18 cents from 28 cents. Excluding the one-time items, operating earnings were 47 cents per share.

Tribune's revenues fell 7 percent to $1.31 billion.

Reassurances from top Tribune executives that the company's going-private transaction was fully funded and on track helped send the company's shares up $1.12 or 4.1 percent to $28.29 in afternoon trading Wednesday.

Investors had pushed Tribune stock 20 percent below the agreed-to transaction price of $34 per share on concerns the deal, led by real estate magnate Sam Zell, could be in jeopardy because of the newspaper industry's worsening travails.

The Times' shares rose 18 cents to $23.40. Those shares have traded between $21.69 and $26.90 over the past year.

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AP Business Writer Dave Carpenter contributed to this report.

NKorean Nuclear Talks Hit Bumpy Road

BEIJING - A U.S. envoy said Saturday negotiators were working to narrow a gap between how far North Korea is willing to go to close down its nuclear facilities and what the U.S. wants the reclusive communist country to do.

North Korea has agreed to declare its nuclear programs and disable them, but has not been able to agree with the five other countries involved in the talks on how to define those terms.

Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill told reporters before a third day of talks Saturday in China's capital that there was still a gap between the U.S. and North Korea on the definitions of declaration and dismantling. He said the U.S. wanted a dismantling process that meant a nuclear facility could not be made operational for at least 12 months.

"We have a common definition, which is the idea that if there were a return ... to plutonium production that it should be made difficult by the process of disablement," Hill said. "So what we are looking at are specific actions in terms of taking things apart, taking equipment apart and trying to measure the effect of that action by the number of months it would retard putting it back together."

Under a February agreement, North Korea will be provided with 1 million tons of heavy fuel oil, or the monetary equivalent in other aid and assistance. In return, North Korea agreed to shut down its main nuclear reactor - which it did in July - and then declare and ultimately dismantle all its nuclear programs.

The talks - which also include host China, South Korea, Japan and Russia - have dragged on for four years, during which time North Korea successfully detonated a nuclear device.

China had been expected to circulate a draft statement Friday on what disarmament steps needed to be completed by the end of the year. Hill said that did not happen, but that North Korea gave a date for when it would give its declaration to the others.

It would happen "much before" the end of the year, he said, but added that he could not reveal the specific timing.

State Department spokesman Tom Casey said the talks have been "good and useful" so far and that he hoped that participants would issue their statement within two to three days.

An issue during talks Friday was North Korea's goal of being removed from a U.S. list of countries that sponsor terrorism, which would make it eligible for various benefits.

Hill said the topic came up during a bilateral discussion, but he did not elaborate. Various U.S. officials and lawmakers have said it is much too early for that to happen.

Delegates from South Korea and Japan have given negative assessments on the progress of the talks, held at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing.

Chun Yung-woo, the chief South Korean delegate, said there were still gaps over what North Korea was intending to do and what the other countries wanted.

"I don't bring good news," Chun told reporters. "At this stage, it's not the time we can say the prospect for the results of the talks is optimistic or negative."

Japanese envoy Kenichiro Sasae told reporters "the chances of reaching an agreement are quite slim."

"On the whole, North Korea and the other parties, including the U.S., have big differences in their opinions and demands, so the situation is not looking very optimistic," he said.

A sticking point has been Tokyo's focus on the issue of Japanese citizens kidnapped by the North.

North Korea said in 2002 it had abducted 13 Japanese citizens in the 1970s and 1980s and allowed five to return home, saying the others were dead. Many Japanese believe more victims remain in the Communist country, and the government has refused to contribute aid to North Korea under the February agreement.

The latest round of six-party discussions are scheduled to end Sunday.

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Associated Press writers Audra Ang and Hyung-Jin Kim contributed to this report.

James gets a better finals shot as Heat face Mavs

MIAMI (AP) — Even those critics who hated "The Decision" might understand why LeBron James made it.

Or maybe they don't, because so few of them bothered to watch the 2007 NBA finals.

James was a one-man team swatted away by three great players, his Cleveland Cavaliers held to the worst offensive performance in finals history and swept aside by the San Antonio Spurs. The series drew the worst TV ratings ever and ended with James admitting his team was simply overmatched, that nothing could have been done to change the outcome.

That led him to Miami for a partnership with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, and the promise of multiple championships. Less than a year after coming together, they have a shot at their first when they face Dirk Nowitzki and the Dallas Mavericks in a series that starts Tuesday night.

"I know what this league is all about, about having multiple guys on the court that can dominate a game," James said Monday. "With teaming up with these guys, I feel like we can compete for a lot of years to come. We've proven a lot of people wrong so far. We have a lot of work to do still."

And this time, people will be watching James — even if only in hope of seeing the Heat humbled after their theatrics of last summer.

"It's probably going to get the highest-rated finals, maybe ever. Just because of what they were assembled to do, and then the team that we have, I think it makes for great TV," Dallas guard Jason Terry said.

James' free agency announcement didn't. His televised special was blasted throughout the league, and his popularity tumbled further when the Heat celebrated winning the championship of July with a scene that was part pep rally, part rock concert.

It cast him in the villain role, but James only cares about the result.

"You know, we've got a lot of flack this year, mostly because of myself. And we've tried to use that as motivation every day we get on the basketball court," James said. "But just play the game of basketball. That's all we can do is play the game of basketball at a high level. Play Miami Heat basketball."

Five years after Wade largely overwhelmed the Mavericks by himself to win the Heat's first championship, the teams arrive at Game 1 of the rematch through decidedly different constructions.

The Heat essentially sacrificed seasons for salary-cap space, making the playoffs through Wade's greatness but with no realistic chance of winning. The gamble paid off in July, when James and Bosh agreed to come and Wade committed to stay, giving Miami the Nos. 1, 2 and 3 players on perhaps the greatest free-agency list in NBA history.

Nowitzki's name was on it, too, and he even said he would have listened if James and Wade had tried to recruit him. His preference was to remain in Dallas, as long as owner Mark Cuban would do what it takes to give the big German another shot at a ring.

"Ultimately, that's where my heart was at. I almost felt like we had unfinished business after '06," Nowitzki said. "Had a great meeting with Mark there, free agency. All I needed was reassurance that he was going to keep going and keep building around this team, and keep putting all his resources for us to hopefully be up there one day. We're here again at the big stage. Hopefully we can turn it around this year and finish strong."

With reliable role players such as Jason Kidd, Terry and Shawn Marion but no defined second scorer, the Mavericks arrived in the postseason as an afterthought, maybe even a first-round upset loser to Portland.

Instead, a stunning sweep of the Lakers in the second round was followed by Nowitzki's spectacular play against Oklahoma City in the Western Conference finals, making the Mavs the last hope for the Heat haters.

"We are facing a very tough team, a very good team with a bunch of closers and leaders. And so we've got to just go from there and bring our best game," Nowitzki said. "But we as players, we're not really worried about who are the good guys or the bad guys, what the fans want. That's not going to matter to us, anyhow."

Nowitzki believed the Heat were the favorites "on paper" last summer, but things changed by the time they met twice in the first two months of the season. Dallas beat Miami both times — the Mavs have won the last 14 regular-season meetings — as the Heat stumbled to a 9-8 start amid speculation coach Erik Spoelstra could be fired, and criticism that James' and Wade's styles couldn't work together.

The Heat have it all figured out now: James and Wade alternating big shots in the clutch, Bosh grasping his role as the third scorer, key reserves Udonis Haslem and Mike Miller getting healthy at just the right time after nearly season-long injuries.

So the Heat could win, like it or not. And they're aware the more likely answer is not.

Wade was briefly the NBA's brightest star in 2006, when he averaged 34.7 points to lead the Heat back from a 2-0 deficit to beat the Mavs in six games. A second ring could elevate him to a second level — or it could be diminished because he needed James and Bosh to get it.

"Only thing I care about is winning. That's all I care about," Wade said. "Whatever you guys want to decide to put me or talk about me, that's where I'll be. The biggest thing is to be a champion."

Wade said he was "blessed" to win a ring so early in his career, knowing this series is loaded with players who have been chasing one for more than a decade. Kidd reached the finals in consecutive years with the New Jersey Nets and figured he'd get another chance with the Nets or much sooner with the Mavericks. He's finally back — the oldest of seven players on the Dallas roster born in the 1970s.

"You have great teams in this league like the Lakers and the Celtics and San Antonio, who were all winning championships. It didn't work out," he said. "But now we're here. And hopefully we can find a way to win a championship."

___

Brian Mahoney can be reached at http://www.twitter.com/Briancmahoney

Sizing up the worst bank of the bunch

You don't need to be some financial doomsayer to conclude that the stocks of big banks have become an unnerving place to invest.

Real estate is still in a deep slumber, despite the wake-up call of cheap money, and banks are still dependent on property values. The European debt crisis could cause a ripple of defaults throughout the world. And regulators keep pressuring the banks not to lend, but to build capital reserves.

People who apply for loans report being put under intense scrutiny, as if banks are looking for a reason not to provide money. The headline-seeking banking analyst Meredith Whitney wasn't too far off last week when she said the nation's biggest lenders were turning into "zombie banks."

The industry's story has played like a horror movie on Wall Street. The KBW Bank Index has lost 26 percent of its value this year.

The "zombie" description is unfair to some companies. Citigroup (C) is a nascent turnaround story and has improved its capital ratios, as have several others.

JPMorgan Chase (JPM) has had problems managing foreclosures but otherwise has weathered the crisis well.

But the worst of the lot is Bank of America (BAC). Its shares are down 46 percent this year and, at last check, they were trading at 33 percent of book value. The stock closed Friday at $7.19, a level appropriate for some startup, not the biggest bank in the country.

Traders have pounded BAC because they see some­thing top management has said it doesn't see: a need to raise capital. It faces a $10 billion lawsuit from American International Group (AIG) over alleged securities fraud from the mortgage crisis, and that's just one of the allegations that have piled up from the bank's 2008 takeover of the disreputable Countrywide Financial.

It was a housing market deal from hell, executed under former BAC Chairman Ken Lewis, who had dreams of Manhattan grandeur from his headquarters in Charlotte, N.C.

To meet legal judgments and tighter standards for capital, traders think Lewis' successor, Brian Moynihan, will need to sell new shares. But that implies dilution, and that's holding down the stock price. The more the shares fall, the more have to be issued.

Closer to home, I apply a kind of Peter Lynch principle to Bank of America. I've never been impressed with its operation in Chicago. BAC frittered away much of the market share and goodwill it got from buying LaSalle Bank. And the deal itself included a lot of commercial real estate that went bad, from Block 37 in the Loop to the erstwhile Chicago Spire lot along the lakefront.

There are too many mistakes here for investors to forget, or forgive.

CROP CIRCLE: At the Chicago Board of Trade last week, the thinking was that the U.S. Department of Agriculture laid out a case for moderate bullishness in agricultural commodities, even though corn and soybeans are trading just off record levels set a few weeks ago.

The USDA reduced its estimates for the size of the corn and soybean crop, saying it has been damaged by record heat across the Midwest. "We needed a perfect growing season, and this was far from it," Jason Britt, president of the brokerage Central States Commodities, told Bloomberg News. "From spring flooding to late planting to a hot summer, a combination of things has been thrown at this crop."

Traders have said we could see grain shortages next year. A restraint on prices, however, will develop if world demand slows down.

MARKUP: FBR Capital Markets bumped up its rating on what it called a "heavyweight" of publicly traded apartment landlords, Chicago-based Equity Residential (EQR). The upgrade brings EQR to just a neutral "market weight" rating, but the analysts also raised their price target for the shares to $66 from $56.50. EQR closed Friday at $59.05.

The analysts applauded EQR's "capital recycling strategy," which it said goes something like this: "Equity Residential is doing the right thing: selling non-core and/or mature assets into a rich pricing environment." FBR said that with the upgrade, it is now overweighting the entire sector of multifamily real-estate investment trusts.

Meanwhile, FBR boosted its rating to "outperform" on shopping mall owner Regency Centers (REG), citing its "superior demographics portfolio" and recent declines in the share price. REG was a $46 stock a month ago but it closed Friday at $38.92.

The company owns mostly small- to mid-size plazas that are anchored by grocery stores, which are considered to be among the best risks for a retail landlord.

NEWS ITEM: From Reuters: "The octogenarian billionaire George Soros has been sued for $10 million by a former Brazilian soap star who said he reneged on promises to give her an expensive apartment on Manhattan's Upper East Side."

Rich old men need to invent an investment to hedge their girlfriend exposure.

CLOSING QUOTE: "If I thought this was a calamity, I would go back to New York." — Jamie Dimon, chairman, JPMorgan Chase (JPM), interviewed by CNBC while touring California bank branches Wednesday during one of the Dow's 500-point declines.

Bank of America is under heavy pressure from investors who think it needs to raise capital. | apChuck Burton

Fact Box: ROEDER REPORTDavid Roeder reports on real estate at 6:22 p.m. every Thursday on Newsradio 780 and 105.9 FM WBBM. The reports are repeated at 10:22 p.m. Thursday and 7:22 a.m. Sunday.

Sri Lanka vs. Zimbabwe Scoreboard

Scoreboard Monday in the Group B match between Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe at the World Twenty20 at Guyana National Stadium:

Sri Lanka Innings

Mahela Jayawardene c Cremer b Price 100

Tillakaratne Dilshan c Mpofu b Chigumbura 2

Thissara Perera c Chigumbura b Lamb 23

Kumar Sangakkara c Price b Cremer 3

Dinesh Chandimal c Mpofu b Utseya 9

Angelo Mathews c Ervine b Lamb 4

Chamara Kapugedera c Masakadza b Price 13

Sanath Jayasuriya not out 3

Lasith Malinga not out 2

Extras: (5lb, 9w) 14

TOTAL: (for seven wickets) 173

Overs: 20.

Fall of wickets: 1-24, 2-80, 3-96, 4-113, 5-138, 6-166, 7-166.

Did not bat: Suraj Randiv, Ajantha Mendis.

Bowling: Chris Mpofu 3-0-27-0, Ray Price 4-0-31-2 (2w), Elton Chigumbura 2-0-21-1, Greg Lamb 4-0-34-2, Prosper Utseya 4-0-32-1 (2w), Graeme Cremer 3-0-23-1 (5w).

Toss: Sri Lanka.

Umpires: Billy Bowden, New Zealand, and Asad Rauf, Pakistan.

Third umpire: Tony Hill, New Zealand. Match referee: Alan Hurst, Australia.

Third layer of asphalt shingles a no-no

Q. I have a question about roofs. Our home is due for a new roofsoon and we are getting different bids for the project.

The least expensive of the bids involves installing new shinglesover the existing shingles. One roofer said I already have two layersof older shingles and a third layer would place too much weight onthe roof.

He wants to remove the first layer of shingles before adding newones. His price is significantly higher than the others. I'mconcerned with his remarks that the extra weight could cause the roofto fall.

Is he just trying to frighten me into a more costly repair?

A. I will try to help you, but you did not give me enoughinformation to make a definite determination.

With that said, most roofs should not have more than two layers ofasphalt shingles. I have seen steep-pitched roofs with three layers,but the home's roof system had extra bracing in the attic to supportthe added weight of all the shingles.

In most cases, the costs of adding extra bracing might be morethan the costs for the removal of the two layers of shingles, but theroof system would always be braced against strong winds and deep snowcover.

On average, a common asphalt shingle weighs 240 pounds per 100square feet. A small, single-story home measuring 24 feet by 40 feethas 960 square feet of floor space.

If the roof were a simple gable style with a moderate pitch, theshingles would weigh in at 2,880 pounds. Adding a second layerdoubles that weight. A third layer could cripple the roof.

Also consider this: As you add layers of shingles, the lifeexpectancy of that layer decreases and the manufacturer's warrantywill be void. If the home has only one layer, you might consider oneof the new steel roof panels that weighs much less than an asphaltshingle, has a 40- to 50-year warranty and is 19 percent cooler thana common asphalt shingle.

According to the Florida Solar Energy Center, a steel shingle willreflect anywhere from 66 to 77 percent of the sun's energy, makingthe attic space much cooler. Steel panels also have a class 4 rating,which is the highest rating available against hale damage. When thepanels are screwed in rather than nailed, they can resist winds up to120 miles per hour.

Make sure the roofer is experienced in installing steel panels andthat a felt paper is applied to the old asphalt shingles beforeinstalling the steel panels. The felt paper protects the zinc coatingon the underside of the steel panels from being scratched by thesandy granules on the old shingles. If the zinc is scratched, thepanel could start to rust from the backside.

Steel roof panels come in a variety of sizes, shapes and colors.Most makers claim the colors do not change or fade with time, butonly time will tell.

Dwight Barnett is a certified master inspector with the AmericanSociety of Home Inspectors. Send home improvement questions to:Dwight Barnett, Evansville Courier & Press, P.O. Box 286, Evansville,Ind. 47702.

Malaysia's Anwar leaves Turkish compound following government assurance of safety

Malaysia's opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim has left his refuge in the Turkish ambassador's house after the government guaranteed his personal safety.

Anwar went to the Turkish Embassy on Sunday and subsequently moved to the envoy's residence. He claimed there could be a government plot to assassinate him. Supporters also feared he might be arrested after a 23-year-old aide filed a police complaint accusing Anwar of sodomizing him.

Anwar emerged from the house with his wife Azizah Ismail.

In a telephone interview with The Associated Press earlier, Anwar said he was leaving because the government "made all the undertakings to assure (his) personal safety."

Phone can save time, money

One of the greatest time-savers you have in your home is thetelephone.

Before wearing out your shoes looking for an item, call severalstores and inquire if the item is available. If you are about toshop for clothes, use the telephone to learn which store has thegarment in the color and the size you want. Think of the time youwill save by buying your groceries and meats by phone. Sure, youwill pay for delivery, but if your time is valuable, it's worth it.

Time and money can be saved if you telephone various sources anddo comparison shopping for home furnishings and for services such asappliance repair. Think about it!

Is it better to buy or rent your phone? According to HouseholdInternational Money Management Institute, the major advantage toleasing a phone is that you are not responsible for repairs. You'llget immediate replacement if you take the phone to a service centeror you can have a replacement shipped to your home or office at nocharge. If you buy your telephone, you are responsible for repairs.Most of the better new phones, however, are covered by one- tofive-year warranties and can last up to 20 years.

There are many places that sell phones, includingmanufacturer-owned telephone centers and their outlets, traditionaldepartment stores, specialty and electronics stores, and homecenters. If you want to lease a phone, call your telephone companyand ask about your options.

Working parents like phones that store frequently callednumbers, such as those for baby-sitters, doctors, emergency servicesand family members. Some people may want a combination phone andanswering machine. Telephones with two or more lines may beimportant for a large family.

Styles of telephones vary from the classic desk phone to themore contemporary trim-type and Euro-styles phones. Before buying anexotic style, find out if standard replacement parts are available.The electronic cordless phone is the most innovative design developedwithin recent years. You can busy yourself about the house, or workoutside, without interrupting your conversation. Earlycordless-phone users experienced some problems, but the new modelshave been improved substantially.

Whatever phone you shop for, remember that warranties andconvenient repair service are as important as quality and price.

TIMELY TIPS: Often when you give your freezer or the freezercompartment of your fridge a quick cleaning, the sponge or clothsticks to the surface. To prevent that, add a bit of rubbing alcoholto the water. No more sticking.

DEAR DORSEY: This is the way I widened shoes that were tootight: I placed water in two plastic sandwich bags and secured thebags with twist ties. I placed a bag in the toe of each shoe. Ithen placed the shoes in the freezer. As the water froze into ice,it stretched the shoes, so that they now are comfortable.

LAURIE BAKER

DEAR DORSEY: You suggested in your column that we should markour front door keys with a dab of red nail polish to be able toidentify them from other keys on our rings. That is a great idea ifyour front door area has enough light to see the marked key. Here isanother idea to mark that key for fast entry. Using a file, make anotch on the side of the key so you can feel it in the dark. Thisalso is a good tip for marking the key that opens the door to yourcar. Love your column.

ELNA BRATKE

Many thanks, Elna, for the fine tip and the kind words. Quickaccess to our homes and our cars is an important safety measure thesedays!

Send your helpful hints or time- or money-saving tips to DorseyConnors, Box 3600, Chicago, 60654. If your letter is used in thiscolumn we will send you $5. Dorsey's book, Helpful Hints for HurriedHomemakers (Bonus Books, $7.95), is available at leading book stores.

Nations team event at World Cup finals canceled

Rain and fog forced organizers to cancel Sunday's nations team event at the World Cup finals.

The event was supposed to officially end the season, though only seven teams had entered the event. The United States was not among them.

Bode Miller won the men's overall title, and Lindsey Vonn the women's, in the first American sweep of the two titles in 25 years.

Weather problems plagued the five-day finals. Both men's and women's downhill races were called off at the start of the event Wednesday because of soft snow on the Stelvio course.

Clinton resuming 'last chance' Mideast peace talks

WASHINGTON (AP) — Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton is shepherding Mideast talks this week that she says may be the last chance for peace between Israelis and Palestinians.

Clinton and former Sen. George Mitchell, President Barack Obama's special envoy to the region, planned to be in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheik, Egypt, for talks Tuesday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

They're scheduled to shift to Jerusalem for a second day of talks Wednesday, and it's likely that Obama will resume negotiations with Abbas and Netanyahu in New York the following week on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly.

The most immediate obstacle for negotiators is a Palestinian demand that Israel extend a curb on new housing construction in the West Bank, a constraint that Israel says will expire Sept. 26.

The Palestinians have insisted that without an extension, the peace talks will go nowhere.

Raising the pressure, Obama said Friday that he has urged Netanyahu to extend the partial moratorium as long as talks are making progress. However, Netanyahu said Sunday that the currect restrictions would indeed be lifted — he rejected a total freeze on construction — but he added that there would be some limits.

Obama also said he's told Abbas that if he shows he's serious about negotiating, it will give political maneuver room for Netanyahu on the settlement issue. Abbas knows "the window for creating a Palestinian state is closing," Obama said.

Clinton's task, Obama said, is to get the Israeli and Palestinian leaders to "start thinking about how can they help the other succeed, as opposed to how do they figure out a way for the other to fail."

Previewing the upcoming talks, Clinton said "there is a certain momentum" after an initial round in Washington on Sept. 2., which marked the first direct Israeli-Palestinian talks in nearly two years.

In an appearance this past week at the Council on Foreign Relations, Clinton was asked why those who see little chance of reaching a settlement in the one-year deadline Obama has set are wrong.

"I think they're wrong because I think that both sides and both leaders recognize that there may not ever be another chance," she replied.

The "last chance" notion is based in part on the knowledge that Abbas is living on borrowed time, in a political sense. His electoral mandate expired in 2009 and he fears a Hamas takeover of the West Bank, which is supposed to make up the bulk of an independent Palestinian state.

Time is a motivating factor for the Israelis, too. Some Israelis believe the longer that Israel occupies the West Bank and its growing Arab population, the more Israel's future as a Jewish state is imperiled. Creating a sovereign Palestine would get Israel out of the occupation business.

More broadly, the status quo is a drag on U.S. interests. The wars and grievances that flowed from Israel's 1948 founding as a Jewish state have divided the Middle East, and U.S. officials have argued that the conflict begets hatred and suspicion of the U.S. as Israel's principal ally.

Obama wants a deal within a year; Israelis are deeply skeptical after decades of failed efforts.

Netanyahu acknowledges the widespread doubts.

"There are many obstacles, many skeptics, and many reasons for skepticism," he said in a Jewish new year address last Tuesday. He called the resumed negotiations "an important step in an attempt" to make peace, but added that it "is an attempt because there is no certainty of success."

One concern of all the parties to the talks is Hamas, the militant Islamist movement that refuses to negotiate and opposes Israel's very existence. Hamas controls the Gaza Strip, which is supposed to be part of a negotiated Palestinian state along with most of the West Bank.

Michele Dunne, a Mideast expert at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, said it appears the talks will go nowhere until the two sides, with Clinton's help, can find a compromise solution to the settlements issue.

"That's probably going to have to be the first item on the agenda," she said in a telephone interview. "The first priority is to make sure that the talks don't collapse at the end of September."

She gives the current format for negotiations about six months before the U.S. will have to either give up or put forth its own peace plan and try to rally support for it from moderate Arab states.

___

Online:

State Department: http://www.state.gov/p/nea/index.htm

Clinton's Council on Foreign Relations speech: http://tinyurl.com/29yeusq

Spain's Supreme Court upholds acquittal of top suspect in 2004 bombings

Spain's Supreme Court has upheld the acquittal of a man once named as a top suspect in the 2004 bombings of commuter trains in Madrid, rejecting an appeal by prosecutors on the grounds he has already been convicted of the same crime in Italy.

Rabei Osman, an Egyptian, was one of three alleged masterminds cleared of mass murder in the bombings at a trial in Madrid in October.

The court ruled Thursday that because Osman had already been sentenced to eight years in prison in Italy, he could not be condemned again for the same crime.

The bombings on March 11, 2004, killed 191 people and injured more than 1,800.

To measure or not to measure

How does your organization measure up, and why don't more check their performances?

For some reason, determining how well an organization is doing in its strategic objectives and other metrics does not appear to be a priority despite its importance.

To investigate this strange phenomenon, CAmagazine teamed up with Robert Angel, president of consulting firm The Gilford Group and a chartered accountant, and sent out a questionnaire to Canadian CFOs and controllers with a CA designation to find out if, and how, they measure performance in their respective organizations. The results might surprise many: only 18% reported being satisfied with their performance management framework, while 18% said they were very dissatisfied. The rest, roughly 65%, reported being neutral about the usefulness of performance measures. "Just do it" (p. 28) makes for great reading.

Paul Sobey, CA, president and CEO of Empire Co., must have been doing a lot of performance measuring himself in the months preceding Empire's $1.06-billion offer to buy back the 28% of the Sobeys Inc. shares it didn't already own. The supermarket chain was founded by Sobey's great grandfather, J. W., 100 years ago. Writer Paul Brent met with the Nova Scotia-based head of Empire to discuss the future of the family holding that includes large real estate assets, drugstores, a theatre chain, etc. The result is an interesting and revealing profile of a man focused on "Empire building" (p. 20).

This month, the Regulars section for the first time offers two taxation articles. The first, "Tax and transaction costs" (p. 34), focuses on this important issue, particularly in a hot M&A market. The second, "It's a sure bet" (p. 37), is aimed at small businesses and small practices and suggests that stock options are a good way to retain key employees. The Technology article, "What have you got to lose?" (p. 41), deals with stolen computers that contain sensitive and valuable information. Our Standards article, "Your invitation to comment" (p. 43), is on the very important issue of reporting standards for private entities. Finally, our Education article, "Access to information" (p. 45), suggests that understanding stakeholder influence is key to improving website content management.

Columnist Jim Carroll appears at odds with the ever increasing speed of change. Read his thoughts in "The landscape of change" (p. 14). Michael Burns stays the course in "Chart your control with a matrix" (p. 16). In Outlook (p. 60), reflecting on the saga of Bell Canada, Marcel C�t� takes a hard look at the role of private equity funds and asks: who are the real winners and losers in this game?

[Author Affiliation]

Christian Bellavance, Editor-in-chief

Bravard helps Florida State hold off NC State

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Cierra Bravard scored eight of her 14 points in the final four minutes to help No. 21 Florida State beat North Carolina State 76-69 on Sunday afternoon.

Chasity Clayton scored 16 points for the Seminoles (18-4, 6-1 Atlantic Coast Conference), who won for the ninth time in 10 games. Natasha Howard added 10 points and 12 rebounds, and Christian Hunnicutt had 10 points and 11 rebounds for Florida State.

The Seminoles, who scored the game's first 10 points, watched a 15-point lead disappear early in the second half before rallying for their fourth consecutive victory over N.C. State.

Bonae Holston scored a career-high 30 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to lead the Wolfpack (9-12, 1-6).

Holston made 14 of 23 shots from the field. Her teammates combined to make just 13 of 53 shots.

Bravard hit a turnaround jumper in the lane to put the Seminoles ahead 66-64 with 3:38 remaining. She succeeded with the same move on Florida State's next possession to extend the lead to four.

After N.C. State cut the lead to 69-67 on a free throw by Holston with 1:50 remaining, Bravard responded with a layup and two free throws to put the Seminoles ahead 73-67 with 49.8 seconds to play.

N.C. State, which trailed 29-14 with 7:15 remaining in the first half, erased that deficit soon after halftime. The Wolfpack put together a 12-2 run early in the second half to take their first lead at 45-44 after a three-point play by Amber White with 15:45 remaining.

The teams exchanged the lead four more times before Florida State went ahead 58-57 on a jumper by Clayton with 9:36 remaining.

N.C. State fought back behind Holston, who scored seven consecutive points for her team down the stretch. After hitting a jumper and a layup, Holston made a floater in the lane to tie the score at 64 with 3:59 to play.

The game was part of the sixth-annual Hoops 4 Hope event at N.C. State to raise awareness for breast cancer. The Wolfpack wore special pink uniforms and pink shoes, and Florida State's players wore pink shoes and socks with their black uniforms.

The event raised more than $50,000 for the Kay Yow Cancer Fund, named for the Wolfpack's Hall of Fame coach who died in January 2009 after a long battle with the disease.

Getting power to the people // Big generator puts tenants in business

The tenants returned Monday to an 18-story office building at 211W. Wacker where the Chicago River had deposited 22 feet of water aweek earlier.

With no small amount of pride, the building's owners called it amiracle.

Indeed, while attention has focused on resurrecting Chicagolandmarks like the Board of Trade and Marshall Field's, thousands ofworkers are engaged in herculean efforts to revive other buildings.

The building at 211 W. Wacker was one of the first with heavyflood damage to reopen, thanks to a quick-thinking crisis teamassembled by Orix Real Estate Equities, owners of the 65-year-oldbuilding.

Within the first few hours of the disaster, Orix personneldecided to forget about the city's efforts to plug the hole in thetunnel system and devise its own strategy.

By cutting off all the major building systems in thewater-filled basement, they figured they could start over on theground floor with auxiliary power.

Within 36 hours of the water rising, a two-megawatt powerstation, housed in a 42-foot tractor trailer, had arrived fromLafayette, Ind.

The power station, which costs $10,000 a week to rent and needs1,000 gallons of fuel per day to operate, is now providing thebuilding with electricity.

The entire effort, which included 12 electricians working aroundthe clock to install a new electrical switchboard, has cost hundredsof thousands of dollars already, said Mark Sullivan, investmentmanager for Orix.

Sullivan said 211 W. Wacker, at 150,000 square feet, is justsmall enough to make auxiliary power feasible. Most larger buildingscould not attempt the same feat, he conceded.

But that didn't make the building's tenants any lessappreciative.

"The people in the building did a fantastic job," said tenantMichael Gedney, vice president of Tricom Shipping Agency, aninternational company that found it impossible to relocate to anotherbuilding because of its reliance on computers.

"Our business would have been seriously impacted" if 211 W.Wacker had remained closed even another week, Gedney said.

As the water receded Monday from the basement, leaving a coatingof mud in its place, Orix vice president Ron Clarkson said thecompany had made the right decision.

"You can't wait. You have to resolve the problem immediately orelse it compounds itself," he said.

Phoenix announced as new home of Chinese solar biz

A Chinese-owned manufacturer of solar panels plans to build a 100,000 square-foot headquarters and manufacturing plant in the Phoenix area.

Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer plans to announce Monday that Suntech Power Holdings will open a facility that would produce solar panels sometime in 2010 and eventually employ 250 or more people.

Suntech Power Holdings could be the first company eligible under the new Renewable Energy Tax Incentive program which provides refundable tax credits and property tax reductions for manufacturers.

Taylor Swift wins video of the year at CMT awards

Taylor Swift opened the Country Music Television awards with a skit about living out her dreams. The 19-year-old country and pop sensation went a long way toward doing just that by winning video of the year and female video of the year for "Love Story" and by performing with one of her favorite rock bands.

"I want to thank Shania Twain for always making such theatrical videos, and Garth Brooks for always putting the fans first. I take my cues from you," Swift said Tuesday in accepting video of the year honors at Nashville's Sommet Center.

"I thank the fans for giving me video of the year when my whole family is here watching."

Swift won the fan-voted award over Brad Paisley's "Waitin' on a Woman," Trace Adkins' "You're Gonna Miss This," Carrie Underwood's "Just a Dream" and Sugarland's "All I Want to Do."

Her "Love Story" video is an elaborate production with period costumes that echoes the story of Romeo and Juliet.

"This is for everybody who still believes in love stories, because I do," Swift said earlier in winning female video.

She closed the awards show by performing "Pour Some Sugar on Me" with the British rock band Def Leppard.

Brad Paisley was the night's other big winner, taking home awards for male video ("Waitin' on a Woman"), collaborative video ("Start a Band" with Keith Urban) and performance of the year (Alan Jackson's "Country Boy" with Jackson, George Strait and Dierks Bentley).

"Start a Band" features two youngsters playing the "Rock Band" music video game. Paisley and Urban urged young viewers to learn to play.

"Learn guitar kids _ the real thing," Urban said.

"`Rock Band' never got anybody a date _ never," Paisley added.

In his acceptance speech for male video, Paisley thanked TV's Andy Griffith, who passes on some wisdom to a younger man in the video.

"He has changed my life in so many ways, and to be on film with him you can imagine what that would be like," Paisley said of Griffith, who wasn't at the show.

Rascal Flatts won group video of the year for "Every Day." The band's bassist, Jay DeMarcus, called country fans "the greatest fans on the entire planet."

In accepting the award for performance of the year, Jackson said he signed his record deal 20 years ago this week.

"I've made I think about 45 country music videos in that time," Jackson said. "CMT and the fans have been with me ever since."

Sugarland won duo of the year for their island-themed video, "All I Want to Do," and the Zac Brown Band won breakthrough video for "Chicken Fried," their snappy song about life's simple pleasures.

"Thank you for following us wherever we've been going," Sugarland's Kristian Bush said of the soulful song and video, which features singer Jennifer Nettles on a surfboard.

Kid Rock won wide open country video for "All Summer Long," which samples Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Sweet Home Alabama" and Warren Zevon's "Werewolves of London." The video, set on a lake in northern Michigan, features bikini-clad dancers on a pontoon boat.

"I think this was based on creativity, this award, because what's more creative than a strip pole on a pontoon boat?" said Kid Rock, who hugged Sheryl Crow as he walked up to accept the award. A few years ago, Kid Rock and Crow teamed for the hit "Picture."

The show kicked off with a skit featuring Swift and host Bill Engvall that had Swift rapping with T-Pain, appearing in a "Star Trek" movie and playing for the NFL's Tennessee Titans.

In his opening remarks, Engvall poked fun at Jessica Simpson's lackluster country career, saying T-Pain doesn't wear boots or a cowboy hat "and is still more embraced by country fans than Jessica Simpson."

The comedian also had a few cracks for John Rich of the duo Big & Rich. Rich was recently charged with misdemeanor assault charges. The singer recently told Larry King that he may run for governor of Tennessee next year.

"It's not that he likes politics that much. He just thinks it might be easier asking for a pardon," Engvall said.

There were also some unusual combinations with the presenters. Ted Nugent teamed with Alison Krauss, Kid Rock joined model Karolina Kurkova, and Naomi Judd paired with Bill O'Reilly.

"I try to live in the No Spin Zone all the time," Judd told O'Reilly.

Musical performances were a big part of the show. Paisley punctuated his hit "Then" with bluesy guitar solos. Swift brought out a stage full of cheerleaders for "You Belong With Me." Urban ran up into the stands during "Sweet Thing" and joined Jason Aldean for the thumping rocker "She's Country."

The topper, though, may have been Sugarland bringing out fellow Georgia greats the B-52's for a performance of "Love Shack."

Viewers cast more than 2.5 million votes to decide the four finalists in most categories. Fans could vote for their favorites for video of the year throughout the show.

____

On the Net:

http://www.cmt.com

New ventures

Bayer Launches New North American Organization and Leadership

Bayer AG (Leverkusen, Germany; www.bayer.com) is adopting a new corporate structure proposed by the Bayer AG board of management last May. Consistent with the global reorganization, Bayer's U.S. subsidiary, Bayer Corp. (Pittsburgh, PA), will comprise five operating companies and a new leadership team for North America. The businesses include: Bayer CropScience LP (Research Triangle Park, NC), Bayer HealthCare LLC (Tarrytown, NY), Bayer Pharmaceuticals Corp. (West Haven, CT), Bayer Chemicals Corp., Bayer Polymers LLC and Bayer Corporate and Business Services LLC (the last three hail from Pittsburgh, PA) within the Bayer Corp. management holding firm. The units' executives have all been appointed internally.

A 'Total' Name Change for ATOFINA

TotalFinaElf (Paris, France; www.atofina.com) has changed its name to Total S.A. The subsidiaries of Total, ATOFINA Petrochemicals, Inc. (Houston, TX; www.atofinapetrochemicals.com) and ATOFlNA Chemicals, Inc. (Philadelphia, PA; www.atofinachemicals.com) will retain their original names and U.S. headquarters.

DOE Solicits Millions to Implement National Hydrogen Economy...

The Dept. of Energy (DOE; Washington, DC; www.doe.gov) is backing President Bush's commitment to implement a national hydrogen economy by creating the Controlled Hydrogen Fleet and Infrastructure Demonstration and Validation Program (CHFVP). Three to five applicants, including automakers, energy companies and other stakeholders, will be awarded $150-$250 million to advance the economical and efficient use of hydrogen production and systems development for hydrogen-powered fuel cell (HPFC) vehicles. The five-year project will monitor the performance of the HPFCs and all data will be provided to the U.S. hydrogen R&D program. Applications are due to the DOE by Aug. 15, 2003.

...and Moves Fuel Cells into Mainstream Energy Markets

Two new projects valued at more than $213 million will be added to the DOE's Solid State Energy Conversion Alliance (SECA) program to develop fuel cells (FCs) that can compete economically with virtually all types of power systems available today, including gas turbine and diesel generators. The DOE has selected teams headed by FuelCell Energy, Inc. (Danbury, CT; www.fce.com.) and Acumentrics Corp. (Westwood, MA; www.acumentrics.com) to implement its plan. The first phase extends to 2006, at which time the developers must produce an early prototype for testing at the National Energy Technology Laboratory (Morgantown, WV; www.netl.gov). Subsequent phases would focus on improvements in performance and commercial FC cost - ideally a factor-of-ten reduction compared with current prices.

Safety inspectors say conditions at Massey Energy mine posed significant risks

Safety inspectors concluded as recently as last month thatconditions at Massey Energy Co.'s Upper Big Branch mine posedsubstantial and significant risks to miner well-being before aMonday explosion killed at least 12 miners and trapped nearly 10.

In March alone, U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administrationofficials cited the mine, which is owned by Massey subsidiaryPerformance Coal Co., for failing to control dust; improperlyplanning to ventilate the mine of dust and the combustible gasmethane; inadequate protection from roof falls; failing to maintainproper escapeways; and allowing the accumulation of combustiblematerials.

Since 1995, there have been more than 3,000 …

Parents rally to keep their school open

Parents rally Monday to keep their school open

Parents whose children attend the Miriam G. Canter Elementary School in the Kenwood/Oakland area are holding a rally tonight at Dr. King's Workshop to protest the closing of their facility because it will soon become a middle school pushing some students out the door.

They are meeting at 6:30 p.m. at 930 E. 50th Street to vent their anger and frustration that the their school, located at 4959 S. Blackstone could be closed.

Renita Braggs, a parent, explained that: "They're closing the school. There was a proposal to redesignate. They'll elect a new principal and new teachers and we're not certain if our students will be allowed back into the school."

Gretta Chamberlain, a teacher and Local School Council member whose daughter attends Canter Middle School, said: "Supposedly, the community has decided they wanted to have a neighborhood middle school.

"They've been meeting for the last two-years, but, the process actually started back in 1997 with the University of Chicago involved," she stated. "Many of the parents are not for this proposal. They don't want to uproot their child from the school where they've been in sixth grade."

However, when contacted, Ald. Toni Preckwinkle (4th) said: "I support the creation of a neighborhood middle school for the Hyde Park/Kenwood community in response to the concerns of our school leadership.

"This is a proposal that comes from the principals of our neighborhood schools," she said. "They think it is a good idea, and so do I."

When asked if that's is going to be good for the students, Preckwinkle said: "I think middle schools are great ideas. Academic and emotional needs of preteens can be better served in an environment that's focused on them and where you don't have the broad age groups that you have in traditional grade schools."

"We have some serious problems with students not doing well in their first year at Kenwood, and we wanted to make sure these kids are well prepared."

Preckwinkle said a middle school ensures that these students entering Kenwood "would be given a better shot" academically by preparing them better in the middle school.

Article Copyright Sengstacke Enterprises, Inc.

Photo (Parents from Miriam G. Canter Middle School)

American League

American League East

Baseball's big spenders now have a division all to themselves.The budget bullies shipped the Cleveland Indians off to the theCentral Division where they belong. Now the Toronto Blue Jays, NewYork Yankees, Boston Red Sox and Baltimore Orioles can gohead-to-head, wallet-to-wallet. And don't discount the poorest teamin the division, the Detroit Tigers, when it comes to spending. Newowner Mike Ilitch already has said (and proven) his checkbook is notglued shut. All this is just a simple way of saying the two-timedefending world champion Blue Jays could be in big trouble, at leastif World Series are won at the teller's window. They have donelittle to improve, while the Yankees and Red Sox both betteredthemselves on paper. But the biggest spenders were the Orioles, whoare rolling in money because of new ownership and a new stadium. Canspending $10 million more make up 10 games in the standings? That'show far the Orioles finished behind the Blue Jays last season (tiedwith the Tigers). This might be a division of money, but it also isone of talent. Four of the top six records in the American Leaguereside here. TORONTO BLUE JAYS LAST YEAR: 95-67 MANAGER: Cito Gaston. WHY THEY'LL FINISH FIRST: Because this team has players who know howto win and has a general manager who knows what it takes to win. PatGillick never has been shy about adding pieces where necessary - andhas the money to do it. Jays are getting older (Joe Carter, DevonWhite) and younger (Carlos Delgado, Alex Gonzalez) at the same time,and there are health questions (Carter thumb, closer Duane Ward arm),but this team has an attitude. BALTIMORE ORIOLES LAST YEAR: 85-77 MANAGER: Johnny Oates. WHY THEY'LL FINISH SECOND: Because they're better than the rest, butnot the best. Nucleus is good, but the questions are: Who startsbehind Ben McDonald and Mike Mussina (Sid Fernandez?), is closer LeeSmith completely over the hill, is star-in-waiting Jeffrey Hammondshealthy and can Rafael Palmeiro be as productive in Birdland as inTexas? Best signing was Chris Sabo at third, but everything needs toclick. NEW YORK YANKEES LAST YEAR: 88-74. MANAGER: Buck Showalter. WHY THEY'LL FINISH THIRD: Because George Steinbrenner seems intenton proving he can win without spending big bucks. He wouldn't buy abullpen closer, even though he knows no team can win with Steve Howeas the ace. Starting staff (Jimmy Key, Jim Abbott, Terry Mulholland)OK and lineup is capable of scoring runs, but Steinbrenner'simpatience may ruin it all by time season's over. DETROIT TIGERS LAST YEAR: 85-77. MANAGER: Sparky Anderson. WHY THEY'LL FINISH FOURTH: Because Sparky can still manage when hegets enthused, and this team has him charged. Tigers are short instarting pitching (Mike Moore, Tim Belcher, John Doherty, DavidWells) but do have legit ace in pen (Mike Henneman). And the lineupcan bang with any of them (Cecil Fielder, Travis Fryman, MickeyTettleton and rookie Danny Bautista). BOSTON RED SOX LAST YEAR: 80-82. MANAGER: Butch Hobson. WHY THEY'LL FINISH FIFTH: Because someone has to and the Red Soxseem to be the logical candidates. A healthy Roger Clemens couldmove Red Sox up a notch by himself. But bullpen is question (JeffRussell's chronic elbow). Otis Nixon's speed could help but AndreDawson will have to be healthy and Mo Vaughn will have to be forreal. The first month will tell which way team (and Hobson) willturn this season. American League Central

The question here is whether the White Sox really have gone intoan easier division. Most experts thought that was the case becausethe improving Texas Rangers and Seattle Mariners were shuttled intothe West Division. But those experts apparently forgot about theyoung, improving and suddenly rich Cleveland Indians. And they mighthave forgotten that the Kansas City Royals have been nearly as goodas the White Sox the past two seasons--if the first three weeks ofeach season were eliminated. But the defending West champion Soxshould be the favorite. They have the best young starting staff inthe league, a bullpen closer and the near-unanimous MVP. TheIndians' lineup might be as good, if not better than the Sox', butthe entire pitching staff is questionable, from the No. 1 starter tothe unknown who will end games. The Royals have the second-beststaff in the division, probably in the league, and and improvedlineup with speed but little power. The chances of the MilwaukeeBrewers or Minnesota Twins appear about as small as their payrolls.They are two of the smallest market-biggest losers in all ofbaseball. And their talent level shows it. CHICAGO WHITE SOX LAST YEAR: 94-68. MANAGER: Gene Lamont. WHY THEY'LL FINISH FIRST: Because they have been there once - andthey are even better this year. That marvelous young starting staff(Jack McDowell, Alex Fernandez, Wilson Alvarez, Jason Bere) is a yearolder; so is closer Roberto Hernandez. The offense has no holes,since Julio Franco replaced George Bell and Darrin Jackson replacedEllis Burks. No weak spots here, unless it's depth. CLEVELAND INDIANS LAST YEAR: 76-86. MANAGER: Mike Hargrove. WHY THEY'LL FINISH SECOND: Because for a team that's awfully good,the Indians are awful unsettled. There are rumors Hargrove won'tlast the first month, done in by dissension and no one in bullpen toclose games. On the other hand, Indians have tons of talent andhelped themselves with veteran starters Dennis Martinez and JackMorris to help sluggers Albert Belle and Carlos Baerga and speedmerchant Kenny Lofton. KANSAS CITY ROYALS LAST YEAR: 84-78. MANAGER: Hal McRae. WHY THEY'LL FINISH THIRD: Because their pitching (Kevin Appier,David Cone, Tom Gordon) is good enough but their hitting isn't. Evenwith Vince Coleman helping, the offense misses the one big cruncherthan the Sox and Indians have (their leading homer hitter was catcherMike Macfarlane with 20). Royals will have to run and produce runsand hope to be ahead when it's time for closer Jeff Montgomery. MILWAUKEE BREWERS LAST YEAR: 69-93. MANAGER: Phil Garner. WHY THEY'LL FINISH FOURTH: Because one year the Brewers have to getlucky with injuries. It hasn't happened in the last decade, but it'spossible that Teddy Higuera really will pitch this year. Robin Yountis gone but he didn't contribute much anyhow. The path has beencleared for Greg Vaughn and Darryl Hamilton to take over. That makesthem better than the Twins. MINNESOTA TWINS LAST YEAR: 71-91. MANAGER: Tom Kelly. WHY THEY'LL FINISH FIFTH: Because this is one bad baseball team.Kirby Puckett and Kent Hrbek are getting very old, Shane Mack andcloser Rick Aguilera probably will be traded to save money and topstarters Scott Erickson and Kevin Tapani are unreliable at best.Other than that, everything's fine under the Dome, nothing that about$10 million wouldn't help. American League West

Welcome to the Texas Two-Step, a dance in a division that hastwo teams stepping forward and two backward. On paper, this looks tobe a division duel to the end between the Texas Rangers and SeattleMariners, neither of whom has sniffed an inning of postseason play.But both could smell a championship this winter in a weak, four-teamdivision. They were among the most active teams in baseball,wheeling-and-dealing in both the trade and free-agent markets intrying to get it right. Both have high-octane offenses, among thebest in baseball, and questionable pitching. The final outcome mightbe decided by which of the two improves its staff most during theseason. The Rangers should be the consensus preseason favoritebecause they have closer Tom Henke and the Mariners have BobbyThigpen. Strangely, the two teams with all the postseason experienceshould be doing the two-step for last place. Both are rebuildingfrom past successes, and it's a toss-up on which is further along inthe process. TEXAS RANGERS LAST YEAR: 86-76. MANAGER: Kevin Kennedy. WHY THEY'LL FINISH FIRST: Because this is (finally!) the year.Rangers have been favored before but pitching has always let themdown. Now they have starters (Kevin Brown, Kenny Rogers, JackArmstrong) and real closer in bullpen (Tom Henke). They have healthyJose Canseco, wonderful Juan Gonzalez and an improved defense. Firstone to 90 victories wins this and Rangers had 86 last year. SEATTLE MARINERS LAST YEAR: 82-80. MANAGER: Lou Piniella. WHY THEY'LL FINISH SECOND: Because they play in Seattle? That seemsto be as good as any other reason. Despite strengths like RandyJohnson, Edgar Martinex and Ken Griffey Jr., this team has oneglaring weakness: Who is going to walk out of the bullpen and closegames? If Mariners have a strength, it's a manager who has beenthrough the pennant wars before - and won. CALIFORNIA ANGELS LAST YEAR: 71-91. MANAGER: Buck Rodgers. WHY THEY'LL FINISH THIRD: Because even the best young talent in theleague can't win with just Chuck Finley and Mark Langston asstarters. But this could be one dangerous team, if it would just letgo of some money for one more starter and someone in the bullpen.The youngsters (Tim Salmon, Chad Curtis, Damion Easley, EduardoPerez, J. T. Snow) need some front-office help, but new front officeis just as inexperienced as them. OAKLAND ATHLETICS LAST YEAR: 68-94. MANAGER: Tony La Russa. WHY THEY'LL FINISH FOURTH: Because this is a team right in themiddle of major transition. The question is whether the old guys(Rickey Henderson, Dennis Eckersley, Bob Welch, Ron Darling, MarkMcGwire) can still hold up their end. The problem is that theone-time rotation of the future now is down to Steve Karsay and ToddVan Poppel. The key to it all is Henderson, whose get-up-and-go maybe gone.

Volunteer needs home for her Haven Church can no longer house growing sports ministry for disadvantaged students

'There are hundreds of Lorraine Bogans out there that you willnever hear about," Lorraine Bogan says softly.

Maybe so, but it's still nice when you find one.

I found Lorraine Bogan where I was told I would find her, at theProgressive Community Church, 56 E. 48th, not far from the RobertTaylor Homes public housing project.

She was sitting at her desk in the big room off the side of thechurch that serves as a community center.

Dozens of kids of all ages were buzzing around her at varioustables, their buzz a little more subdued in the late afternoon of ahot summer day.

This is Bogan's S.A.F.E. Haven program. S.A.F.E. stands for SportsAffecting Future …

TURKISH-SPEAKING COUNTRIES` TOP DIPLOMATS GATHER IN ISTANBUL.

Istanbul, September 15, 2010 (AzerTAc) -- As part of the 10th summit of the Turkish-speaking countries` Heads of State, a meeting of foreign ministers of the Turkish-speaking countries has been held at the Ciragan palace here. Prior to the meeting, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu met his Azerbaijani counterpart Elmar Mammadyarov. The sides underlined the importance of the 10th summit of the Turkish-speaking countries` Heads of State. They praised what had been done since the 9th summit in Nakhchivan. The ministers also exchanged views on the current state of settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh …

WAL-MART PROMISES CHANGES.(BUSINESS)

Byline: CHUCK BARTELS Associated Press

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -- Wal-Mart Stores Inc., facing lawsuits for alleged gender bias and unfair treatment of workers, pledged Friday to work harder to promote women to management and announced a new pay system that would be more fair for hourly workers.

Chief executive Lee Scott told employees and shareholders at the company's annual meeting here that executives' bonuses, including his own, would be cut up to 7.5 percent this year and 15 percent next year if the company does not promote women and minorities in proportion to the number that apply for management positions.

``If 50 percent of the people applying for …