Daily Archive : Sunday September 25, 2011
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News
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Buffalo Grove hosts Oct. 2 diabetes walk
Step Out: Walk to Stop Diabetes, the signature fundraising walk of the American Diabetes Association, will take place Sunday, Oct. 2 at Didier Farms, 16678 W. Aptakisic Road, in Buffalo Grove. Registration for the event begins at 8:30 a.m. and the walk kicks off at 10 a.m.
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Slain Naperville woman’s brother extradited
The brother of a Naperville woman whose murder remains unsolved has been extradited from Florida to face identity theft charges, while police say he is a "person of interest" in his sister's death.
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City has working colony of cats
A little social unit headed up by Smoky Joe — a buff and orange tomcat, his four females and their dozen or more offspring — patrol both sides of South Main Street in Marseilles, an area with several restaurants and taverns. They would prefer just to be left alone to do one of the things they do best, which is to provide effective and free rodent control.
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Cellphones in school and other things “unnecessary”
Chuck Goudie offers a one-word answer for schools when it comes to the question of students using cellphones on campus: Unncessary.
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Fox Valley Wildlife center hosts open house
The Fox Valley Wildlife Center in Elburn opened its doors Sunday to show the public how it makes squirrels, birds, raccoons and other animals fit for life in the wild once again. The center's annual open house took place at its building on Route 38.
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Aurora police hope to hit goal with motorcycle ride
Aurora police hope to hit their goal of raising $15,000 this year for Special Olympics Illinois. To that end, they have planned the “Ride for Athletes” Motorcycle Rally/Ride on Saturday, Oct. 1.
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Local school districts considering new wind turbine option
Community Unit District 300, Keeneyville Elementary District 20 and Prospect Heights Elementary District 23 are a step closer to using downstate wind turbines as a source of revenue. The districts are mulling an agreement with Chicago-based Invenergy to add five to six turbines on the company's wind farm in Bishop Hill. The 20-year deal is expected to save District 300 about $3.7 million in...
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Obama: GOP would ‘cripple’ America
President Barack Obama charged Sunday the GOP vision of government would “fundamentally cripple America,” as he tried out his newly combative message on the liberal West Coast.
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In U.S., hikers lash out at Iran
Two American hikers held for years in an Iranian prison came home Sunday, declaring they were detained because of their nationality, not because they might have crossed the border from Iraq.
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Nyad fails again in distance swim
Endurance athlete Diana Nyad ended her swimming ultramarathon from Cuba to Florida on Sunday after medics warned another painful sting from a Portuguese Man o’ War could be life threatening, Nyad team members said.
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County Farm master plan goes to Libertyville board
More than a year of debate regarding a master plan for Lake County’s 172-acre campus in Libertyville could be nearing a conclusion, but it is expected to face resistance to the end. Libertyville village trustees will meet at 8 p.m. Tuesday to discuss the 20-year plan for the property north and west of Winchester Road and Milwaukee Avenue. The proposal has met with continued scrutiny and...
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No free lunch: Kane County judge seeks more money to feed jurors
Proving there really is no such thing as a free lunch, Kane County judicial authorities are asking the county board for an additional $192,000 in funding this budget year, some of which they say is needed to buy lunches for citizens serving jury duty.
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Rosemont cop wins silver medal at world games
Dale Torii, deputy superintendent of administration for the Rosemont Public Safety Department, now holds another title as well: medal winner at the World Police & Fire Games in New York. Torii won a silver medal in doubles bowling and a bronze for his combined score in 15 games in the huge competition held earlier this month.
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St. Charles home improvement project in fourth decade
Cliff McIlvaine has been sued by the city of St. Charles over his 36-year home improvement project and over his practice of using the rainwater that's quenched him since he was a child in the home's plumbing system rather than buying city water. McIlvaine says it's his quest for perfectionism that's made the project take so long.
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Fest celebrates farm life in Lake County
Sunday's Farm Heritage Festival near Wauconda celebrated farm life from the turn of the century to the present day. The fest featured many demonstrations including sheep herding, wagon and barrel train rides, rope and scarecrow making, and the tractor and antique vehicle parade.
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Barkapalooza a doggone good time in Lisle
Barkapalooza, the annual fundraiser for the West Suburban Humane Society,drew a crowd Sunday at its new location, Community Park in Lisle. A pledge walk was the key event of the day, which also included a doggy kissing booth.
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Elgin police blotter
A van was reported stolen sometime between 11:30 p.m. Friday and 8:15 a.m. Saturday while it was parked in the 600 bock of Wellington Avenue in Elgin. The vehicle owner said she left her keys in the trunk lock after unloading the van Friday, reports said.
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Railroad agrees to fund landscaping in Lombard
Trees and shrubs will join train signals and a pedestrian underpass as part of changes to the Union Pacific Railroad in Lombard. The village plans to install evergreen hedges to block the bottom of a device holding train signals and a control shed from view, said Trustee Peter Breen. “No one wants a signal bridge in their back yard, or their front yard, or their community, but Union Pacific has...
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Stocks can get cheaper yet
Someone is about to play the fool Wall Street analysts or investors. For months, analysts who write reports praising or panning stocks have been saying they were cheap. Investors were unconvinced, buying one day, selling the next. Last week, they mostly sold, and stocks got cheaper yet.
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Spin overtaking facts in Marcellus Shale debate
Some insist Marcellus Shale natural gas is a huge economic boom for America, while others are certain it’s an environmental catastrophe. The one point of agreement? Scientists say advocates on both sides increasingly spin every shred of research to fit their own views, and ignore the bigger picture.
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Images: Bears vs. Packers tailgating at Soldier Field
Hours before the Bears game against the Packers kicks off, the fans fill the parking lots outside of Soldier Field for the pre-game tailgate festivities.
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Oil pipeline opponents pin hopes on Nebraska
Environmentalists hoping to block a proposed underground oil pipeline that would snake 1,700 miles from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico have pinned their hopes on an unlikely ally the conservative state of Nebraska.
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Obama heads west to energize liberals
President Barack Obama is trying out his newly combative message on the liberal West Coast, aiming to re-energize faithful Democratic voters who have grown increasingly disenchanted with him.
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Island Lake officials hope legal fees will tail off with lawsuit settled
The legal fight between Island Lake's mayor and two of the town's trustees ended last month, but the bills from the lawyers representing the town continue to add up. Through the end of August, the village has been charged $331,496 for legal services in 2011, a Daily Herald review of village documents showed.
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Grafton Twp. supervisor drops battle over attorney
Grafton Township Supervisor Linda Moore has ended her legal fight to compel the rest of the board to hire her pick for township attorney. Moore announced Friday that she would not appeal her case to the Illinois Supreme Court, pointing to a potentially lengthy legal morass that could cost taxpayers thousands of dollars. She will instead continue to nominate other attorneys for the spot.
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Ex-judge angered by burglaries at family farm
A former Illinois appellate judge is complaining that police aren't doing enough to protect his family farm from burglars he says have "raped" the property of everything from American Indian artifacts to his Purple Heart and an estimated $100,000 in collectible guns.
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Libyan opposition fighters renew assault on Qaddafi hometown
Libyan opposition forces renewed their assault on the coastal city of Sirte, the hometown of Muammar Qaddafi, after announcing the creation of their first joint military union.
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2 hikers released from Iranian prison return to U.S.
Associated PressTwo Americans held for more than two years in an Iranian prison on accusations of spying returned to the U.S. on Sunday, ending a diplomatic ordeal that began with what they called a wrong turn into the wrong country. Josh Fattal and Shane Bauer arrived at Kennedy Airport in New York City at about 11 a.m.
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King Abdullah Gives Saudi Women Right to Vote for First Time c.2011 Bloomberg News
Sept. 25 (Bloomberg) -- Saudi Arabia has given women the right to vote for the first time in its modern history as part of changes King Abdullah today said will allow them to run in future municipal elections.
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Obama to Raise Millions, Promote Jobs Agenda in Western Swing c.2011 Bloomberg News
Sept. 25 (Bloomberg) -- President Barack Obama plans to tap the wallets of Hollywood entertainers, corporate executives and supporters to raise millions of dollars at multiple re-election fundraisers during a three-day trip to western states.
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Plouffe blames republicans, tea party for Washington gridlock
Republican congressional leaders are putting the welfare of the majority of Americans behind the agenda of Tea Party members of the U.S. House, said David Plouffe, a White House special adviser.
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Spokeswoman: Nyad to quit Cuba-to-Florida swim
Associated Press Endurance athlete Diana Nyad ended her swimming ultramarathon from Cuba to Florida on Sunday after medics warned another painful sting from a Portuguese Man o’ War could be life threatening, Nyad team members said.Nyad was very swollen from multiple stings to her face and body, said Vanessa Linsley, who worked on Nyad’s team.
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ahrain court jails shiite head of teachers union over protests
Bloomberg NewsBahrain’s National Safety Court sentenced the chairman of the teachers’ union and his deputy, both Shiite Muslims, to prison for encouraging anti-government protests, the state-run Bahrain News Agency said.
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Police: 3 shot behind East St. Louis club
EAST ST. LOUIS — Authorities are investigating a shooting behind an East St. Louis club that left two men and a woman injured, including an unarmed security guard who was on duty.Police were called to the club around 2:30 a.m. on Saturday.
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After fast verdict, killing spree cases could slow
Associated PressCHAMPAIGN -- It took more than three years for Nicholas Sheley to go to trial in the first of eight slayings authorities allege he committed during a two-state crime spree.
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Weather service warns of Lake Michigan waterspouts
The National Weather Service is warning mariners to watch out for some stormy weather over Lake Michigan that includes waterspouts.The Chicago Tribune (http://trib.in/qO4aHS ) reports that various reports of waterspouts were received shortly after 11 a.m. Saturday as showers and thunderstorms moved across the Chicago area.
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No leads in case of baby found in Mississippi
WINONA, Minn. The Winona County Sheriff’s Department has pursued more than 50 leads since a newborn’s body was found in the Mississippi River but none have yielded substantial information.Boaters found the baby girl floating in a trash bag Sept. 5, about 6 miles south of Winona.
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Southern Ill. man killed trying to build grain bin
Authorities say a 21-year-old man was killed while trying to build a grain bin in southern Illinois' Perry County.
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80 people arrested at 'Occupy Wall Street' protest
NEW YORK -- About 80 people were arrested Saturday as demonstrators who were camped out near the New York Stock Exchange marched through lower Manhattan, police said.
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Prison the treatment for Buffalo Grove man’s mental illness
The years after graduating from the University of Iowa with nearly an "A" average have been rough on Daniel Jason of Buffalo Grove. He recently was ordered back to the prison where he has spent most of the last four years. Not a gang-banger or drug dealer, Jason's biggest problem seems to be his mental illness of Asperger syndrome.
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Bedbug fears, cures topics of Rosemont convention
The bedbug infestation across our nation has led to one death and more than 100 illnesses - not from the disease-free insects, but from misguided attempts to erradicate them. The North American Bedbug summit that runs Sunday through Tuesday in Rosemont will feature the latest news and products available in the fight against the annoying parasites.
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Prepare a kit for your pet in case of emergency
Ellaine Kiriluk of The Buddy Foundation offers suggestions on how to create an emergency kit for your animals -- something she says every pet owner should have.
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Myanmar residents live in fear of army
Rights groups and the AP have gathered testimony from victims confirming that even under the new Myanmar government, the army is still subjecting citizens to forced relocation, forced labor, gang-rape and extrajudicial killings. Amnesty International says troops have used civilians as human shields and minesweepers.
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A dying man’s race to adopt, and a small miracle
Dying of cancer, a man who’d survived 60 combat missions in Vietnam had one more task to complete. Marshall MClain wanted to give his name to the little girl who’d been the light of his life these past six months. More importantly, he wanted Alyssa to have the right to collect his benefits after he died. During the past few days, his lawyer and others moved heaven and earth to make the adoption...
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Training preps grain bin rescuers
Illinois led the nation last year with 10 grain bin entrapments and five deaths. Nationally, more than 50 men and children were engulfed in grain bins last year, with half ending in fatalities.
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Plane with 19 people on board crashes in Nepal
A plane carrying tourists to view Mount Everest crashed while attempting to land in dense fog in Nepal on Sunday, police and eyewitnesses said. A witness said 18 bodies were pulled out of the wreckage of the plane, which was carrying 19 people.
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Gas stations cheating state out of tax money?
More than one-fourth of Illinois gas station operators have pocketed millions of dollars in sales taxes owed to the cash-strapped state by underreporting the amount of fuel they sell to the public, according to a newspaper report, spurring criminal charges that state officials say still don't curb the problem.
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Killing spree cases may not slow after first verdict
It took more than three years for Nicholas Sheley to go to trial in the first of eight slayings authorities allege he committed during a two-state crime spree.
Sports
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Images: Bears vs. Packers
The Chicago Bears and the Green Bay Packers renewed their rivalry for the 2011 season Sunday at Soldier Field. The Bears were defeated by the Packers 27 - 17.
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Bears' passing game lets them down
The Bears couldn't run the ball against the Packers Sunday, but they could have won the game anyway if their passing game hadn't come up short. Instead they suffered a 27-17 defeat to drop to 1-2.
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Finley’s day a fantasy come true
Green Bay's Jermichael Finley caught 7 passes for 85 yards —start calculating the fantasy numbers in another performance that showed why he’s considered one of the game’s best young tight ends.
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Packers’ defense keys on Forte
For the second week in a row, running back Matt Forte was the Bears’ leading receiver. He caught 7 passes for 80 yards. For the season, he has caught a team-leading 22 catches (13.0 average).
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Is beating finally getting to Bears’ Cutler?
Jay Cutler was bad Sunday, looking like a man who has taken a beating the last two years. It's fair to wonder whether he will recover, or become another Mike Martz victim.
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Bears didn’t run because they couldn’t
Running back Matt Forte says the Bears didn't run the ball in Sunday's 27-17 loss to the Packers because they couldn't.The losers had just 13 yards on the ground in 12 attempts.
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Bears’ D sent Packing
Green Bay gained at least 10 yards on a whopping 19 plays Sunday -- including the first four snaps of the game -- to overrun a Bears defense that never solved Aaron Rodgers and Co.
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Kane at center? We’ll see, ‘Q’ says
Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville plans to give Patrick Kane a look at center in the last week of the preseason schedule.
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Stevenson honors Libertyville coach Randy Kuceyeski
His team may not have come away with a victory on Friday night, but Libertyville coach Randy Kuceyeski didn’t leave Stevenson’s football stadium empty-handed.
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Balluff leads Kaneland’s ground game
Kaneland sophomore Jesse Balluff ran for 102 yards on 13 carries including a 5-yard touchdown run on the first play of the fourth quarter. The score gave the Knights (5-0, 1-0 in the Northern Illinois Big 12 East) a 28-point lead over Rochelle, who had entered the game 4-0 and ranked No. 5 in Class 5A.
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Bears still can't solve the Packers
Aaron Rodgers threw for 297 yards, including three touchdown passes to Jermichael Finley, and the Packers shut down Jay Cutler and the Bears on the way to an 27-17 victory Sunday.
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Bears’ trick punt return foiled by a penalty
The Bears rolled out a tricky punt return in the final minute Sunday that turned into an easy 89-yard score for Johnny Knox, but it was nullified with a clenched wave of blocker Corey Graham's right hand.
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Chicago Fire score 3 goals in first 30 minutes
The Fire scored 3 goals in the first 30 minutes Sunday against New England to win 3-2, its fourth win in its last five MLS games.
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Grading the Bears: Week 3
Green Bay QB Aaron Rodgers edges TE Jermichael Finley for the game ball while the Bears earn failing grades for their 27-17 loss Sunday to the Packers at Soldier Field.
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Bill Haas hits jackpot: $11.44 million
In the richest playoff in golf history, Bill Haas came up with the shots that matched the money. With his ball half-submerged on the bank of a lake, Haas blasted out of the water to about 3 feet to save par on the second playoff hole against Hunter Mahan, then got up-and-down for par on the 18th green to win the Tour Championship in Atlanta and the FedEx Cup.
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How they scored: Week 3
How they scored: Week 3
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Tony Stewart bags second straight Chase win
Tony Stewart made it 2-for-2 in the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship, pulling ahead when Clint Bowyer ran out of gas with two laps left to win at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on Sunday.
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Guillen bummed about how White Sox played in 2011
As speculation grows that he won't be back in 2012, manager Ozzie Guillen said he is more sad than mad about the White Sox failing to meet high expectations this season.
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Cubs scouting report
Cubs scouting report
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White Sox scouting report
Scouting report: White Sox vs. Blue Jays
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Loss means Sox will finish under .500
The White Sox lost Sunday for the 11th time in 15 games and with its 82nd defeat ensured the third losing record in manager Ozzie Guillen’s eight-year tenure.
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Cubs’ loss puts Cards closer to playoffs
The St. Louis Cardinals pulled within one game of the Atlanta Braves in the NL wild-card race as Rafael Furcal hit a tiebreaking home run in the eighth inning Sunday in a 3-2 victory over the Cubs.
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Fire scouting report
Chicago Fire scout
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Sign of the times as WW South thinks visually
Wheaton Warrenville South football coach Ron Muhitch called it a “gimmick,” a new way for the offense to send in plays from the sideline. Last week the Tigers created signs for players and coaches to hold up during drives to indicate formations for the offense. In addition, a number was signaled in for the receivers to know the play being called.
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Light mood benefits Elk Grove’s O’Malley in varsity test
Elk Grove sophomore Adam O'Malley had pregame jitters but came through like a seasoned veteran in a victory at Grant Blaney Stadium on Friday night in Buffalo Grove.
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Waubonise Valley well-positioned for postseason
Waubonsie Valley needs only two more wins to automatically qualify for the playoffs, and coach Paul Murphy wants to see his team focus on key tests over the final four weeks of the regular season.
Business
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Carney says some europe banks may need capital in coming weeks
European banks need to move quickly to shore up their capital, Bank of Canada Governor Mark Carney said.“Their banking system, it’s undercapitalized,” Carney said in a televised interview with CTV News. “That may require some injections, direct injections of capital to those banks in the coming weeks.”Carney also reiterated that Europe’s monetary union has “flaws” that need to be fixed, and said 1 trillion euros ($1.35 trillion) may be needed to stem investor concerns about the sovereign-debt crisis.To contact the reporter on this story: Greg Quinn in Ottawa at gquinn1bloomberg.netTo contact the editor responsible for this story: Paul Badertscher at pbadertscherbloomberg.net
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Saudi arabia has huge unconventional gas potential, nasser says
Saudi Arabia has a huge unconventional gas potential, the vice-president of upstream operations for state-owned Saudi Aramco, Amin Nasser said today in Bahrain.Saudi Aramco is looking into developing its shale gas resources but prices are still a concern, he said.To contact the reporter on this story: Wael Mahdi in Cairo at wmahdibloomberg.netTo contact the editor responsible for this story: Digby Lidstone at dlidstonebloomberg.net
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Kuwait seeks ventures to expand gas production, al-rushaid says
Kuwait is seeking new ventures to expand gas production and to develop carbon dioxide capturing projects. Sami al-Rushaid head of state-owned Kuwait Oil Co said at a conferencec in Manama.To contact the reporter on this story: Wael Mahdi in Cairo at wmahdibloomberg.netTo contact the editor responsible for this story: Inal Ersan at iersanbloomberg.net
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Deutsche Bank ceo says euro-fund ‘crucially important’
Deutsche Bank AG Chief Executive Officer Josef Ackermann said it was “crucially important” for euro-area governments to implement a July 21 agreement to beef up the rescue fund for their common currency.Ackermann, speaking as chairman of the Institute of International Finance at the group’s annual meeting in Washington today, called upon euro-area governments to quickly approve the 440 billion-euro ($593 billion) European Financial Stability Facility and measures to enhance greater economic policies discipline, according to an e-mailed statement from the IIF, a global association of financial institutions.“The euro is an essential and stable pillar of the international monetary system and has brought stability and growth to its members,” Ackermann said. “Its central role in the global monetary system makes it all the more important that any doubt about the workability of its institutional foundations be removed.”European policy makers face mounting pressure from foreign counterparts and investors to prevent their sovereign debt crisis from further roiling world markets. U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner set the tone for yesterday’s annual meeting of the International Monetary Fund in Washington by warning that failure to combat the Greek-led turmoil threatened “cascading default, bank runs and catastrophic risk.” Billionaire investor George Soros said “something needs to be done” to safeguard Europe’s banks because Greece may be unable to avoid default.German VoteGerman lawmakers are scheduled to vote on approval of their country’s share in the fund later this week. European members of the Group of 20 agreed Sept. 22 to “maximize” the fund’s impact, while there are also discussions under way for speeding the start of a permanent rescue program.The G-20 summit in November in Cannes must make “strong and concrete” decisions to restore confidence in the prospects for economic recovery and financial stability and must ensure that measures taken are consistent across the G-20, said Ackermann.The IIF is confident that the commitments made by the financial industry as part of the Greece rescue efforts will yield strong participation in the debt exchange offer, Ackermann said. He said it wasn’t “feasible” to reopen the agreement and the parties involved should focus on its “timely and resolute” implementation.Interest SavingsPrivate participation will save Greece 54 billion euros in interest alone, the IIF said. Combined with official support and if Greece attains its fiscal and growth targets, the aid would reduce Greece’s net debt as a ratio to gross domestic product from 155 percent in 2011 to 98 percent by 2020, the IIF said.The IIF said yesterday that Ackermann will step down as its chairman in June 2012 and be replaced by HSBC Holdings Plc Chairman Douglas Flint.Ackermann also addressed financial regulation, saying uneven application of capital rules from the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision in different countries might lead to “massive distortions.” Some measures go beyond the Basel III requirements, accelerate the proposed timetable, and create an unlevel international playing field, he said.Lenders across the globe are retrenching “to an unprecedented extent” and shun risks, partly because of an overburden of regulation and uncertainly about future rules, including liquidity requirements, Ackermann said.DeleveragingThe “deleveraging” contributed to lower credit volume extended to businesses and households in the EU and the U.S., undermining the economic recovery, said Ackermann. An IIF study shows that the combined impact of all regulatory reforms could see GDP in the mature economies over 3 percent lower by 2015, which implies foregoing the creation of around 7.5 million jobs, he said.Contributing to that effect are proposed Basel capital surcharges on banks that are judged to be too big to fail, which policymakers need to review, said Ackermann.
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King Abdullah Gives Saudi Women Right to Vote for First Time c.2011 Bloomberg News
Sept. 25 (Bloomberg) -- Saudi Arabia has given women the right to vote for the first time in its modern history as part of changes King Abdullah today said will allow them to run in future municipal elections.“We refuse to marginalize the role of women in Saudi society in every field of work,” Abdullah said on state television as he inaugurated a new session of the council. “Women have the right to submit their candidacy for municipal council membership and have the right to take part in submitting candidates in accordance with Shariah.”Saudi Arabia enforces gender restrictions interpreted from the Wahhabi version of Sunni Islam. Men and women are strictly segregated in public, including at schools, restaurants and lines at fast-food takeouts. That keeps women out of sales jobs in malls and stores, unless the outlet caters exclusively to a female clientele.The King also today said woman can now be part of an advisory council to him. Abdullah, who was born in 1924, has promised to improve the status of women and opened the first co- educational university in 2009. He appointed the kingdom’s first female deputy minister, Nora bint Abdullah al-Fayez, the same year and has said he will provide more access to jobs for women. Women are still not allowed to drive.The Riyadh-based council, a 150 member assembly, is appointed by the king to advise on legislation. The assembly consists of 12 committees, including for human rights, foreign affairs and energy. The council, whose current speaker is Abdullah Al al-Sheikh, is permitted to propose draft laws and present them to the king.The king said the decision was taken “after consultations with many of our scholars, especially those in the senior scholars council, and others,” who supported this move.Municipal Elections“The whole issue was about enfranchising women into the political process,” Mohammed al-Qahtani, a Riyadh-based democracy activist, said by phone today. “For women, obviously, it is a good step.”Saudi Arabia will hold municipal elections on Sept. 29, without the participation of women. The next vote is in 2015. About 1.2 million all-male voters have registered to elect 816 municipal council members in the kingdom’s second municipal elections. Saudi Arabia held its first municipal elections in February 2005.The Shoura Council agreed in June that the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs should complete procedures that will allow women to vote in municipal elections “in line with Islamic law,” the official Saudi Press Agency reported.Saudi Arabia, the world’s biggest oil exporter, is an absolute monarchy and has been ruled by six kings since it was established in 1932.Second SpeechThis was the second televised speech Abdullah gave to the nation this year. In March, Abdullah ordered sweeping increases in spending, including $67 billion on housing and funds for the military and religious groups that backed the government’s ban on domestic protests.That speech came as the Middle East witnessed unprecedented unrest as popular movements toppled leaders in Egypt, Libya and Tunisia. Violent clashes persist in Saudi Arabia’s neighbors, Yemen and Bahrain. The world’s largest oil supplier didn’t experience political unrest although there were limited protests held by the Shiite minority in the kingdom’s Eastern Province.Saudi Arabia celebrated its National Day on Sept. 23. King Abdullah initiated the holiday in 2005 when he came to power. Traffic stopped in Riyadh as young men danced on the streets, blasted music from their cars and waved national flags as religious police watched on without intervening.“We are determined to spend on large-scale projects on the economic level to make sure that the kingdom is away from any impact of the slowing global economy,” the Saudi Press Agency reported today, citing a written copy of Abdullah’s speech.
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Hawaii commerce department debuts mobile app
The Hawaii state government's first app is debuting on the iPad, iPhone, Android and other mobile devices.
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UBS CEO Gruebel resigns over rogue trading loss
UBS chief executive Oswald Gruebel has resigned over a $2.3 billion loss caused by rogue trading at its investment division, which is to be restructured now to prevent similar incidents in future, the Swiss bank said Saturday.
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Small dent in jobless rate seen from Obama's plan
Even if Congress heeds President Barack Obama's demands to "pass this bill right away" and enacts his jobs and tax plan in its entirety, the unemployment rate probably still would hover in nosebleed territory for at least three more years.
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Firm pressing ahead with plans for wind farm
Plans are still under way for a wind farm in western Illinois' Adams County. A New York-based venture says it's pressing ahead with a proposed $300 million wind farm even though a partner has pulled out of the project.
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A twist in Google's algorithm: 'standout' stories
Google News, which has long relied on automation to deliver news content from countless providers, has announced a twist in its algorithm: It will now recognize "featured" content among the tens of thousands of stories it delivers every day.
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Fund investments in bank stocks key to performance
There are plenty of reasons to worry when it comes to investing in big banks. Investors are still gun-shy three years after the subprime mortgage crisis and credit crunch triggered the Lehman Brothers collapse and taxpayer bailouts for other banks. Yet despite that checkered past, the risks mutual fund investors face often go unnoticed, except by those who periodically check the latest disclosures about what stocks are in their funds.
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Rewards cards coming with biggest bonuses ever
As the competition to attract customers intensifies, banks are promising an extra helping of rewards when new customers spend a set amount in the first three months. For instance, British Airways is offering 50,000 miles — the equivalent of two domestic flights — when customers spend $2,500. “These are some of the biggest incentives we’ve ever seen,” said Andrew Davidson of Mintel Comperemedia, which tracks card offers.
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Local governments tap alcohol sales for revenue
For years, cities and counties across the South have been quietly throwing out Prohibition-era laws banning the sale of alcohol. But as local governments confront ever-greater budget problems, many are now tapping into booze as a source of untouched income. That means towns where preachers once condemned “demon rum” are now counting on six-packs and cheap wine to make up for declining revenue.
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Debt collection business is great but hard as ever
These are the best of times, and the worst of times, for America’s debt collectors. The prolonged economic turmoil has created more opportunity than ever for the profession, even while making it harder than ever to get folks to pay up. “With unemployment the way it is and the terrible foreclosures, people are having a harder time making ends meet," says Harry Strausser III, president of the Mid-Atlantic Collectors Association.
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Water proposal could devastate Texas rice industry
South Texas rice farmers got some extra time to plan next year’s crops — and pray for rain — under a drought response compromise approved by the Lower Colorado River Authority. Under the emergency order, which would apply to about 170 farmers, the river authority would cut off water only if the reserves in reservoirs drop below a specified level on March 1. The compromise pushes back the trigger date by two months, allowing more time for rain or backup plans.
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Recession upends dreams of aspiring teachers
For decades, the growing number of children in the U.S. and efforts in many states to lower class sizes created a high demand for teachers. But the Great Recession and its ripple effects on the state and local tax dollars that fund public schools have upended the conventional wisdom that a teaching job is a golden ticket to career stability.
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Islamic finance industry needs more MBAs
A Bahraini group that sets standards for Islamic finance in 45 countries is helping universities start Shariah-compliant business courses to avert a shortage of experts in the $1 trillion market. The industry will need 15 percent more personnel over the next five years and 25 percent more in a decade, according to Khairul Nizam, deputy secretary general of the Accounting & Auditing Organization for Islamic Financial Institutions.
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Mr. and Mrs. Average usurp fashionistas, fuel luxury spending
Fashion enthusiasts have cut back. But mainstream consumers have stepped into the breach, shelling out more on luxury goods and leading to a doubling of spending in the U.S., according to an American Express Business Insights report.
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California group seeks to interest blacks in farming
The African American Farmers of California started a 15-acre demonstration farm to teach about growing and eating healthy food and to get black kids interested in agriculture. The project is part of a nationwide effort to revive the pride of black farmers and reverse the decline of black-owned farms.
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Payments to health professionals
A breakdown of disclosed payments made in 2009, 2010 and early 2011 by 10 pharmaceutical companies to health professionals in each state, plus Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia, according to data compiled by ProPublica.1. California $89,422,4062. New York $60,145,7513. Texas $59,499,5104. Florida $56,001,4515. Pennsylvania $40,064,8726. Ohio $33,834,9047. North Carolina $29,592,4668. Illinois $24,988,5919. Massachusetts $22,135,70310. New Jersey $21,773,19011. Michigan $21,542,61912. Tennessee $20,863,41213. Georgia $20,014,46714. Missouri $18,902,33715. Maryland $18,635,46616. Indiana $13,878,30317. Colorado $13,383,82018. Virginia $13,170,77719. Arizona $12,171,33820. Washington $11,909,74821. Alabama $11,088,67422. Kentucky $10,909,63323. Connecticut $10,835,25024. Minnesota $10,706,33625. South Carolina $10,073,50026. Wisconsin $9,229,42627. Kansas $9,223,71028. Louisiana $8,502,88929. Utah $7,588,63230. Oklahoma $6,303,23731. Oregon $5,937,53032. Rhode Island $5,664,24433. Nevada $5,273,74534. Iowa $5,215,99735. Nebraska $5,059,79436. Arkansas $4,953,71437. Puerto Rico $4,789,47938. Mississippi $4,447,25039. D.C. $3,619,22340. West Virginia $3,343,42441. New Hampshire $2,742,60842. Idaho $2,555,57643. New Mexico $2,166,32544. Delaware $1,921,48745. Hawaii $1,415,00546. North Dakota $1,322,99847. Maine $1,244,41548. South Dakota $803,49149. Vermont $768,85650. Montana $692,98351. Wyoming $319,99652. Alaska $263,333
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Doctors rarely pay penalties in kickback cases
Two years ago, drugmaker Eli Lilly pleaded guilty to illegally marketing its blockbuster antipsychotic Zyprexa for elderly patients. Lilly paid $1.4 billion in criminal penalties and settlements in four civil lawsuits. But a doctor named as a co-defendant in one suit -- accused of taking kickbacks to prescribe the drug extensively at nursing homes -- never was pursued. And last year, Alpharma paid $42.5 million to settle federal allegations that it paid kickbacks to doctors to prescribe its painkiller Kadian. But the doctors, accused of trading prescriptions for paid speaking gigs, faced no consequences.
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In the U.S., 2 housing markets and 2 directions
It’s starting to feel as if there are two housing markets. One for the rich and one for everyone else. Consider foreclosure-ravaged Detroit. In the historic Green Acres district, a pristine, three-bedroom brick Tudor recently sold for $6,000 — about what a buyer would have paid during the Great Depression. Yet just 15 miles away, in the posh suburban enclave of Birmingham, bidding wars are back, and multimillion-dollar mansions are selling quickly.
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One family’s adventures in localism
One day last November the Levitch family arrived at a favorite restaurant — a mom-and-pop Middle Eastern place next to a Subway — to find an out-of-business sign on the door. It was hardly an unusual sight in a debilitated economy, but what happened next is less common: This ordinary American family took it upon themselves to do what they could to help.
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Drought creates a buyer’s market for cattle ranchers
The drought in the Southwest may help 29-year-old Chad Bicker get to his goal of being a full-time farmer and rancher by the time he’s 40. As farmers in Texas and other bone-dry areas sell cattle because they can’t grow hay or afford to buy feed, Bicker has been buying animals for his farm in Illinois. He has 25 cows and hopes to have 35 by next year.
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‘Buffett rule’ on U.S. taxes easier said than done
Turning the “Buffett rule” proposed by President Barack Obama from a political concept into real-world tax policy aimed at the highest-earning U.S. households will prtove logistically and mathematically difficult. The concep would require Americans earning more than $1 million a year to pay at least the same tax rate as middle-class households. Constructing such a rule would be tricky because high earners aren’t the only taxpayers benefiting from breaks.
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Women’s rights are ‘smart economics,’ World Bank says
Over the past 30 years, women’s life expectancy has increased, along with their access to education and to the labor market, according to a World Bank report. At the same time, their mortality rate is higher in poor countries, while women work also in less profitable industries and have less say in household and society. “We will not release the full potential of half of the world’s population until globally we address the issue of equality,” World Bank President Robert Zoellick said.
Life & Entertainment
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Boyfriend is the nitpicky one in this relationship
Q. I’m not sure if I’m being overly sensitive and/or nitpicky here: My boyfriend of seven months occasionally says hurtful things to me such as “You’re not attractive when you’re anxious” and “You just aren’t very (bleep)able sometimes” (sorry for the language). I’m in great shape and don’t dress like a total shlub either. I don’t believe he sets out to hurt my feelings. But I’ve told him that his bluntness is harsh and that I’m a sensitive person, and he agreed to soften his tone and reassured me he didn’t mean to hurt me. Recently he told me I have all “court cards” — I just don’t play them right; I don’t let him chase me enough (seven months in?). I feel like I disappoint him a lot. That I’m not sexy or charming enough sometimes, and not emotionally cool enough, either.
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Divorce offers chance to reimagine home decor
The last time Wendy Berghorst appeared in the Minneapolis Star Tribune, in 2006, she was sharing a candlelit bath with her husband for a feature on "Love Nests." That was then. Now Berghorst is moving into a nest of her own. "Yes, the romance is gone," she said. She originally planned to stay in their Excelsior, Minn., home, but in the end, she gave up the house for a new chapter in her life.
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Chores to do now for a beautiful garden next year
As the gardening season winds down, so does the amount of time we spend in our beds and borders. There are, however, chores to do now that will help your landscape get off to a great start next spring. Look around the garden and note which plants appear straggly, tired, or otherwise unattractive. It's all a matter of aesthetics and each gardener's need for tidiness.
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Treasures in your attic: Was this chair designed by Arne Emile Jacobsen?
Q. Is it possible that you could tell me something about this chair? I purchased it in the early 1960s when it was on display in a model home. I wonder what it is worth now. A. We are tired of talking about “gloom and doom” in the antiques-and-collectibles world. We do not enjoy discussing the waning interest in such areas of collecting as Victorian furniture and glassware, and we are happy to get the opportunity to discuss a category of collecting that seems to be on the upswing — namely, midcentury modern.
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Recycling can be a way to craft things of beauty
Trash talk has helped Matthew Levesque fashion an inventive career in garden design. He holds “creative reuse” workshops, and his “yardscaping” creations made from locally available items have become austerity-chic collectibles. “I’m trying to get people thinking about alternative sources for their materials,” said Levesque, author of “The Revolutionary Yardscape” (Timber Press, 2010). “Lots of landscape people are beginning to pay attention.”
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Sunday picks: It's time to dance with Yo Gabba Gabba!
Cool kids and their hipster parents won't want to miss the latest live touring version of the popular Nick Jr. show “Yo Gabba Gabba! Live! It's Time to Dance!” Sunday at the Rosemont Theatre in Rosemont. Or if you're in an artsy mood, head to the 37th annual Art in the Barn in Barrington where more than 170 artists present their works in a variety of media.
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On the road: Northerly Island hosts Fall Adventure Day
Enjoy the crisp autumn weather right on Lake Michigan during Fall Adventure Day at Northerly Island. Kids will get into fall themed arts and crafts and families can check out the local harvest. Watch and learn about fall bird migration, enjoy a guided nature hike and get into the changing of the season. Or if you want to travel, check out the Cranberry Festival in Wisconsin or the Biketoberfest in Florida.
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Early Monroe photos, copyrights to sell at auction
Copyrights and images from Marilyn Monroe's first photo shoot are hitting the auction block.A bankruptcy judge in Florida ruled earlier this week that photos taken in 1946 of Norma Jeane Dougherty — who went on to become the iconic Monroe — will be sold at auction to settle the debts of the photographer.
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'Follies' on Broadway extends run until Jan. 22
Stephen Sondheim's "Follies" will be haunting Broadway for a little longer.Producers of the hit revival said Friday they're extending its run for three more weeks, until Jan. 22.
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'SNL' opens with a record, new ice cream proposal
"Saturday Night Live" opened its 37th season with a disputed hosting record and a defense of the new controversial Ben & Jerry's ice cream flavor.
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New Disney resort opens in Hawaii
The Walt Disney Co.'s new upscale, beach side Hawaiian resort Aulani has opened thousands of miles from the nearest Disney theme park. And while Mickey Mouse and friends can be found on the property, Hawaii's culture, history and natural beauty are the biggest stars.
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New England general stores specialize in variety
New England's general stores aren't as general as they used to be. With their creaky wooden floors, old-fashioned keepsakes and inventory that runs the gamut from snow shovels to wedding dresses, they rely on nostalgia and creative specialties to compete in a Walmart world.
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Lingo from the Prohibition era
Among many other legacies, Prohibition left a colorful imprint on the American language. Here are some coinages from the temperance era that are still in use today.
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Rules governing organ transplants could be changed
Surgeons retrieving organs for transplant just after a donor’s heart stops beating would no longer have to wait at least two minutes to be sure the heart doesn’t spontaneously start again under new rules being considered by the group that coordinates organ allocation in the U.S. The organization is also poised to eliminate what many consider a central bulwark protecting patients in such already controversial cases: an explicit ban on even considering anyone for those donations before doctors and family members have independently decided to stop trying to save them.
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Stalemate in Poland over work of a Yiddish author
Free after a decade in Soviet labor camps, Yiddish author Naftali Herts Kon believed he was entering the free world when in 1959 he took his wife and daughters to Poland to start a new life. He wanted to write the truth about what he had experienced. Instead he was sent to prison and his writings were confiscated. Now his two daughters are fighting to get them back.
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Simon Cowell, TV’s golden bad boy, is back
USA WEEKEND Magazine recently caught up with the outspoken Simon Cowell to find out what’s been on his mind as he imports his newest show, The X Factor, stateside. Plenty, as usual.
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Heidi lives on in special-needs group
Before her death in May at the age of 32, Heidi Brand knew that her name was going to live on after her, in the form of a organization called Helping Every Individual Develop Independence.
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Doug McAllister/Under the Hood:
Within one week we had two cars come into the shop that were very low on oil. When I say low, I mean like one to 1½ quarts left in a five-quart system. In one case the engine was knocking when it came in and in the other, the engine would not even turn over.
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Ask the plumber: This has everything, including the kitchen sink
Q. I have read with interest your recent articles on kitchen plumbing. I'm designing my new kitchen as I save up for the remodel job. I want my sink area to look beautiful, like the ones you see in magazines. I'm not using a decorator, so are there any tips that you can give me on how I can create that professional look on my own?
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Law talk: Roof leak shows up after closing; who is responsible?
Q. My husband and I just purchased our first home. We did a home inspection which uncovered some problems. We agreed to accept $800 instead of the sellers fixing the problems. We have been in the house a few weeks and we have a roof leak. We contacted the seller’s attorney who told us that we made a deal for $800 and that’s it, the seller won’t pay anything more.
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Home repair: Warm weather brings funky odor
Q. I live in a northwest suburb of Chicago and have been an avid reader of your column for some time. For the past few years, my wife and I have noticed a very bad odor in the house on really hot days when we have the air conditioning on. Our driveway slopes down toward the garage and requires a sump pump to pump the water from the driveway. I have been able to determine the odor is coming from the sump pump basin in the garage.
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Writers' Theatre gets ‘Real' with first-rate Stoppard revival
Writers' Theatre in Glencoe opens its 20th season with what is arguably Stoppard's most personal, most deeply-felt play. Artistic Director Michael Halberstam's vigorous, razor-sharp revival had me leaning forward in my seat, so engrossed in the performances of his top-notch ensemble that intermission came as a surprise, and the curtain came as a disappointment.
Discuss
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Newspaper: Ill. gas stations withhold sales taxes
More than one-fourth of Illinois gas station operators have pocketed millions of dollars in sales taxes owed to the cash-strapped state by underreporting the amount of fuel they sell to the public, according to a newspaper report, spurring criminal charges that state officials say still don't curb the problem.
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