Blackhawks beat Canucks in shootout

CHICAGO (AP) — Jonathan Toews, Patrick Sharp and Patrick Kane scored in the first three rounds of a shootout to give Chicago a 2-1 victory over Vancouver on Wednesday night, extending the Stanley Cup champion Blackhawks' winning streak to four games.

Kane scored on a backhander in the third round, sending the puck between Patrick Luongo's legs.

Vancouver's Mikael Samuelsson then sent a backhand attempt wide.

Samuelsson was the only shooter to miss. Daniel Sedin and Ryan Kesler converted for Vancouver in the first two rounds. Sedin and Chicago's Viktor Stalberg scored in regulation.

Kings 4, Hurricanes 3

At Los …

Chapman's lawyer: Businesswoman not committed spy

The lawyer for one of the woman who pleaded guilty in a Cold War-era style U.S.-Russia spy case says she did so to get out of jail.

Robert Braun also maintains in a nationally broadcast interview that whatever tasks Anna Chapman carried out over the past several years for her Russian handlers were "minimal under the statute with which she was charged."

Braun told ABC …

Ford CEO resigns; founder's great-grandson takes over

Under mounting pressure from faltering sales and a troubled dispute with Bridgestone/Firestone about a recall of the company's tires, Ford Motor Co. CEO Jacques Nasser, 53, announced his resignation. The announcement was made from Detroit on Oct. 30 that Nasser was stepping down and that William Clay Ford Jr., 44, chairman …

Belgium's KBC bank posts 12 percent rise in fourth quarter net profit

Belgian bank KBC Group NV posted a 12 percent rise in fourth-quarter net profit on Thursday as the strong performance of its Belgian and Central European businesses pulled it through unsettled market conditions.

The bank's chief executive, Andre Bergen, said any impact of the U.S. subprime crisis would be limited and the pessimism it saw in financial markets "we cannot fully reconcile with business reality in our core markets,"

Net profit was euro708 million (US$1.03 billion), up from euro634 million (US$924.7 million) a year …

Beckham in Capello's plans for World Cup

England coach Fabio Capello intends to bring David Beckham to the World Cup if the midfielder plays regularly in his second sojourn at AC Milan.

In an interview with the Gazzetta dello Sport on Monday, Capello was asked if he would bring the 34-year-old former England captain to South Africa.

The coach …

Chinese family opens hearts in `Great Wall'

Since Richard Nixon's historic trip to China in 1972, whichofficially ended 23 years of U.S. nonrecognition of more than 1billion people, the artistic, cultural, economic and politicalfloodgates between the two superpowers have continued to open wider.

There is a tremendous mutual fascination between Americans andthe Chinese. Much of that fascination, as reflected in newsreporting and filmmaking, has dealt with the big picture, thesweeping panoramas and diversity of both nations - "The Last Emperor"syndrome, if you will.

A vastly different view will unfold from 8 to 10 tonight onWTTW-Channel 11, as the PBS "American Playhouse" series presents "AGreat Wall." A …

Scherzinger, Jones not returning to 'X Factor'

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Nicole Scherzinger and Steve Jones are out at "The X Factor."

A Fox spokeswoman said Monday that the judge and host will not return for the show's second season. No other details were provided.

Jones, a British TV personality, called his departure "a shame" on Twitter and added that he couldn't complain, "as I've had a great time." He gave no reason why he wasn't returning to the singing contest.

Jones was originally slated to host "X Factor" alongside Scherzinger, who replaced British pop star Cheryl Cole as a judge when executive producer Simon Cowell and other producers had second thoughts about Cole …

Urban Outfitters 2Q profit drops 14 percent

Apparel retailer Urban Outfitters Inc. said Thursday that its second-quarter profit fell 14 percent, stung by same-store sales declines at its Anthropologie, Free People and namesake stores and higher expenses.

Net income slipped to $49 million, or 29 cents per share, from $57 million, or 33 cents per share, during the same period a year ago.

Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters expected earnings of 26 cents per share. Analysts' estimates normally exclude one-time items.

Selling, general and administrative expenses climbed to $108.7 million from $103.6 million.

For the period ended July 31, sales edged up 1 percent to $458.6 million from …

PROBABLE DERBY FIELD

Chicago Sun-Times handicapper Dave Feldman sizes up the probablefield for the May 6 Kentucky Derby: Horse Jockey Odds Talkin Man Mike Smith 3-1 Afternoon Deelites Kent Desormeaux 3-1 Serena's Song Corey Nakatani 7-2 Timber Country Pat Day 9-2 Suave Prospect Julie Krone 8-1 Mystery Storm Craig Perret 8-1 Jumron Goncalino Almelda 10-1 Thunder Gulch Undecided 10-1 Tejano Run …

Romanian customs official arrested over bribes

BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) — Romanian prosecutors say a customs chief arrested Friday was allegedly caught taking a €2,400 ($3,300) bribe.

Anti-corruption prosecutors said Cornel Costea from the southern city of Ploiesti received the money from a Turkish import-export company.

They said Costea had received about €40,000 ($55,000) from the company since November in exchange for not checking the firm's trucks. It wasn't immediately clear what the trucks were carrying.

A court in Bucharest ruled Costea will be placed under arrest for 29 days pending trial.

Prosecutors said Costea has …

Kirilenko hopeful for early return

Russian forward Andrei Kirilenko says there is a slight chance he could play if the Utah Jazz's NBA playoff series against the Denver Nuggets goes to six or seven games.

Kirilenko said on Wednesday that it's unlikely, but he's holding out hope that his strained left calf will be ready for him to play if the series goes all the way.

The Jazz and Nuggets are 1-1 in the best-of-seven series, …

U.S., Canada OK targets to cut pollution

WASHINGTON The United States and Canada agreed Monday on specifictargets for reducing toxic chemical pollution of the Great Lakes,with a goal of eliminating persistent toxic substances in the lakeswithin nine years.

The agreement follows up on a pronouncement by President Clintonand Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien two years ago in which theyset a target of eliminating pollutants in the Great Lakes.

Senior U.S. and Canadian environmental officials signed a formalagreement Monday establishing milestones for reducing such pollution.The cuts would come largely from voluntary efforts as well aspollution control measures already …

Overview of reparations movement history

The issue of reparations for African people throughout the world has become a widely discussed topic that is manifesting itself into a variety of action plans and strate-gies. Some of which surfaced in the Reparations Corporate Lawsuit Federal Appeals hearing recently held in Chicago.

In my travels around the country, the issue of reparations appears to have penetrated the spirit and interest of African people in America in all walks of life. For those of us who have been organizing and advocating reparations since the 1960s for African people in America, specifically, and for African people throughout the world, the question becomes what does this current phase of the Reparations Movement mean for the just cause of the redemption and salvation of African people?

When we talk about reparations we are talking about the damages, compensation and redress of those wrongs, so that the countries and people that suffered will enjoy full freedom to continue their own development on more equal terms.

When we discuss reparations for African people in the United States we are talking about "slave labor, humanity, culture, legacies, names and language that were taken outside of the law and natural process by forceful demand of white captive slaveowners."

In this regard, the current phase of the Reparations Movement for African people in America is connected to the leadership of Sister Callie House who founded The National Ex-Slave Mutual Relief Bounty and Pension Association in the 1890s. According to the research of Mary Berry, Sister House organized a Black mass movement demanding reparations during the period of the 1890s to 1915. Berry reveals that, "working through meetings, literature and traveling agents, the organization successfully developed membership across the South as well as...Oklahoma, Kansas, Indiana, Ohio and New York."

Further, Berry's research reveals the objective was to organize a demand throughput the Black nation which would force the United States to provide the needed and well-deserved pensions they sought for the aging persons formerly held in slavery, their surviving spouses, care-givers and heirs."

In the recently published book, Eight Women Leaders of the Reparations Movement U. S. A., by Linda Allen Eustace and Dr. Imari Obadele, "The movement's successful organizing - coupled with the ubiquitous white supremacist values of whites, generally, and especially United States officials, which disposed them in those days, as today, the attempt to defeat any significant self-help efforts among Black people resulted in a ten-year postal investigation."

Eustace and Obadele point out, "after finding no evidence of federal violations, U. S. officials indicted Ms. House and a number of other members at Nashville for fraud and for using the mail to distribute one of the Association's carefully drawn leaflets. She was found guilty and sentenced to a year and a day in the federal prison at Jefferson City."

The spirit and organizing work carried on through the Garvey Movement and again resurfaced through the leadership of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad and Malcolm X in the 1960s making the reparations demand through Muhammad Speaks. The Nation of Islam, under the leadership of the Honorable Louis Farrakhan, remains an advocate of the reparations demand. The Republic of New Africa made a reparations demand in 1968 demanding payment of $400 billion in slavery damages.

In this context, James Forman, director of International Affairs of the Student NonViolent Coordinating Committee, interrupted church service at New York's Riverside Church to deliver his Black Manifesto demanding $500 million in reparations from white synagogues and churches.

The National Coalition of Blacks for Reparations in America (N'COBRA) was organized in 1987 following in the tradition of Sister Callie House.

Since 1989, Congressman John Conyers has introduced legislation calling for the U. S. government to hold a probing study of reparations. The December 12th Movement, the Uhuru Movement, The Lost and Found Nation of Islam, the Republic of New Africa and the National Black United Front have been some examples of organizations that continue to organize around the demand for reparations since the late 1980s.

The Tulsa Race Riot Commission, under the leadership of Representative Donn Ross, Attorney Deadria Farmer-Paellmann's research on insurance companies that held slave policies in the 185Os, added to the reparations discussion over the last several years. This research exposing the involvement of these corporations in the slave trade and slavery led to the filing of major reparations corporate lawsuits. The major lawsuit is now under appeal in the 7th Circuit Court.

Finally, Alderman Dorothy Tillman's Chicago City Council legislation initiative has had a great impact and aided in the current interest African people in America have on reparations. The following publications: Randall Robinson's book, The Debt, Dr. Raymond Winbush's, Should America Pay? and Dr. Mary Frances Berry's book, My Face Is Black Is True, have all helped provide fuel to the reparations discussion.

African people have not lost our memory of the historical atrocities inflicted on us, and we will never forget what has happened to us and continues today. The demand for reparations must be intensified through serious organization and activism, no matter how many white and Black people are opposed. Contrary to some, we must never forget what happened to us and how it continues to impact us today. REPARATIONS NOW!

[Author Affiliation]

by Dr. Conrad W. Worrill

[Author Affiliation]

Conrad Worrill is National Chairman of the National Black United Front (NBUF).

Careers advice ; In brief

BRENTWOOD: Students and school-leavers could be helped on the wayto their chosen careers at the Brentwood Education and Careers Fair.

The free event, organised by the Brentwood Learning Partnership,takes place at the Brentwood Centre on February 8 between 2.30pm and8pm.

Si que es demasiado exigente Luis Miguel!

!Si que es Demasiado Exigente Luis Miguel!

El cantante mexicano Luis Miguel hizo llegar a Chile una lista de peticiones, de al menos 30 paginas, para su estadia en el pais en noviembre proximo, durante la cual ofrecera una masivo recital en el Estadio Nacional de Santiago.

El artista llegara a Santiago el proximo 19 de noviembre en un avion privado y en el aeropuerto sera esperado por tres limusinas blindadas del mismo color y conducidas por choferes con experiencia para solucionar situaciones inesperadas.

Segun medios del espectaculo, dos de los automoviles serviran para distraer a sus fans y en el tercero el cantante se dirigira a su lugar de estadia, que podria ser una lujosa residencia en el sector oriente de Santiago. Disco a punto de salir

Trascendio que en septiembre proximo cuando se preve el lanzamiento de su nuevo disco titulado "Amarte es un placer", un enviado del cantante llegara a Chile para verificar la lista peticiones y seleccionar una casa.

Los organizadores del concierto en Chile deberan tener (al enviado) tres o cuatro residencias que cumplan con varias caracteristicas, una de las cuales es que la construccion este alejada de la entrada y de posibles vecinos.

La casa debe estar rodeada por arboles y rejas de gran altura, para evitar fotografias, debe contar con amplios jardines, piscina, cocina, comedor, amplias salas de estar, al menos cinco habitaciones y sistema de television por cable o satelital.

En caso de que ninguna de las casas que se le mostraran cumpla con las condiciones exigidas, existe la posibilidad de que el artista y su comitiva se alojen en el hotel Hyatt o el Sheraton, ambos en el sector oriente de Santiago.

Luis Miguel llegara a Chile con cuatro guardaespaldas, y ya en el pais pidio que se agregaran otros dos, quienes solo prestaran asesoria estrategica.

Los guardaespaldas aseguraran la integridad del cantante y despues de sus actuaciones, en los traslados a lugares de entretenimiento o restaurantes, pondran barreras entre las fans y seran los encargados de filtrar las llamadas telefonicas.

Whealy needs to be outside

By most accounts, Oak Park's Blake Whealy is the best player inthe Illinois High School Baseball Coaches Association's summer leagueand the leading major league prospect in the Chicago area for 1998.

If only the hard-hitting shortstop can learn to cover theoutside portion of the strike zone and hit to the opposite field.

"He ranks with the best players we've ever had," said Oak Parkcoach Jack Kaiser, who has produced more than a few blue-chippers inhis 45-year career. "He is a hustler, my type of player.

"But he needs to study pitchers and get more plate coverage.He has to learn that the higher he goes in baseball that he mustcover the outside of the plate. He has to understand what theumpire's strike zone is. He is hitting .519 - but he could behitting 1.000."

Whealy isn't perfect. His team had to settle for third in thesummer league tournament. In five games, he was 5-for-15. Histhree-run double beat Waubonsie Valley 10-8 on Wednesday, but hecouldn't generate any fireworks in Thursday's 7-1 loss to Sandburg.

But he is one of five Chicago-area products who earned a trip tothe Area Code Games on Aug. 12-17 in San Diego - along with Youngoutfielder Marcus Nettles, Joliet Catholic pitcher Kevin Cameron,West Aurora catcher John Rauen and Hubbard outfielder Paul Sanchez.

It will be the highlight of Whealy's summer. The 5-10,170-pounder, who batted .488 with 10 homers, eight triples and 43 RBIlast spring, also has attended tryout camps with the PittsburghPirates and Kansas City Royals. Last summer, he caught the attentionof scouts by performing well at a Minnesota Twins tryout.

"There were 80 players invited to the Twins' camp and I was theonly sophomore," Whealy said. "Everyone else wasn't as good as Ithought they would be. I was ahead of some, not far behindothers."

Ever since, major-league scouts and college coaches have beenkeeping notes on Whealy's development. His goal is to be selectedin the first two rounds of the amateur draft next June. If not, hewill opt for a big-time college program: LSU, Mississippi State orFlorida State. In five years, he hopes to be playing in YankeeStadium.

"My game plan for the summer is to get as many people to look atme as I can, to play as much as I can," he said. "Since I was 8years old, my dream has been to play major league baseball.Hopefully, someone will see some potential in me."

Kaiser said Whealy has so much talent that he could be his No. 1pitcher "if he worked at it." Whealy's father Patrick pitched at LSUand reached Class AA in the Los Angeles Dodgers' farm system. Now abatting instructor at Strikes Baseball Academy in Broadview, heencouraged his son to be an everyday player.

"There is more glory in pitching," Blake said. "But my dad feltI wouldn't be a 6-4 giant who would throw heat. He felt you have tobe big and throw hard to be a major-league pitcher. If I worked atit, I could have been a pitcher. But I feel I have a better chancein the future to play in the field, play everyday and hit."

The scouts love his power, his strong arm and his hustle, whichis a trademark of Kaiser's program. But will he heed Kaiser'sadvice and learn to hit the outside pitch?

"I don't like the outside pitch very much," said Whealy, aright-handed batter. "I'm a dead pull hitter. I don't hit toright very often. I should work on it but I don't have as muchstrength going to the opposite field.

"He (Kaiser) doesn't like me to say that. I think the strikezone should be 21 inches wide. When umpires call something that issix or seven inches off the plate and I can't reach it with my bat,it is annoying because he is taking the bat out of my hands.

"I try to keep my mind off the scouts, what they are thinkingabout me. But seeing them at my games is new and enjoyable. Itgives me more confidence, knowing that scouts are looking at me. Itgives me an idea that I am better (than others) and can be better."

Edwards Shrugs Off Clinton Lead in Polls

CORYDON, Iowa - Democrat John Edwards tried to make light of Hillary Rodham Clinton's big lead in national polls Monday, saying that four years ago it looked as if Howard Dean might run away with the nomination.

Edwards, campaigning in the state that will hold leadoff caucuses in January, said his organization is much stronger than at this point in 2004 when he eventually won a surprise second-place finish.

Clinton now leads in Iowa as well as nationally, according to the latest polling. The Des Moines Register on Sunday had her at 29 percent in the state, up from 21 percent previously, with Edwards at 23 percent, down from 29. Barack Obama was at 22.

Asked about a belief among some that a Clinton nomination is inevitable, Edwards brushed the idea aside.

"I lived through the inevitability of Howard Dean," he said.

Dean, now chairman of the Democratic National Committee, was the front-runner in polls and fundraising in the 2004 election cycle before finishing third in the Iowa caucuses behind John Kerry and Edwards.

"I know that what happens, from my experience in 2004, is people look much more intensely at you as a candidate the closer you get to the caucus," he said. "A lot of the celebrity fades away. So, I think as a practical matter, that bodes well."

Edwards has increased the intensity of his criticism of Clinton in recent days, and his wife was asked about that in an interview on National Public Radio's "All Things Considered."

When Edwards was a boy, said Elizabeth Edwards, his father told him that if he was in a fight and had to hit back, "aim for the nose; you sort of get more bang for your buck there."

"So you have to aim for their vulnerability and make them understand that there is a cost associated with attacking you," Mrs. Edwards said. "You're not going to lay down. You're strong enough not only to take it but to hit back. It gives you an opportunity, I think, when you're fighting on even ground to redirect the conversation to something more productive for voters."

The candidate himself, speaking to reporters after an event in southeastern Iowa, said he thinks about half of Iowans are still undecided.

Edwards was wrapping up a four-day, 17-county swing through Iowa. The trip was largely aimed at rural Iowans, and he spoke about aiding family farms, extending technology into all corners of the country and offering incentives to attract top teachers throughout the country.

"We need a president who instead of standing up for these big, corporate farming corporations, actually stands up for the family farmer," he told a crowd of more than 150 people in Corydon, a town of about 1,600.

Organizers there said Edwards was the first of the front-runners to visit Wayne County, where he spoke at a museum featuring old farm implements.

Edwards called for creating up to a million new jobs by making the country more energy independent with cleaner alternatives to oil. "A lot of those jobs ought to be in rural America," he said.

He blamed the Bush administration for the number of Americans who struggle to make ends meet and said, "We have the worst economic equality in this country since the Great Depression."

"You look at what's happening under Bush, and we've got a few people who are doing extremely well and everybody else is struggling," he told the group, which included farmers wearing bib overalls.

Edwards has been working to throw off the image of a wealthy politician with an extravagant home and expensive haircuts, and distinguish himself as a candidate for the working people. He frequently accuses his rivals, especially Clinton, of being Washington insiders out of touch with real people. At almost every stop he reminds crowds that his father was a mill worker, and that he put in his time at the mill during college.

---

On the Net:

John Edwards '08: http://www.johnedwards.com

Examples of businesses not paying withheld taxes

Examples of businesses that failed to remit federal payroll taxes:

_A waste management company owing $16 million over 40 tax quarters. The business was being investigated for hiring illegal immigrants. The owner was arrested for income tax crimes.

_An accommodation and food services company owing $12 million over almost 20 quarters. The owner diverted funds from businesses to pay for luxury cars, planes and a mansion in a foreign country. The business is under IRS criminal investigation.

_A health care company owing $8 million for nearly 30 quarters. The owner has luxury cars and a multimillion-dollar home, but claims inability to pay taxes due to financial hardship. The IRS has filed a lien against the business and assessed the owner a fine.

_A manufacturing company owing $1 million for almost 40 quarters. The owners have been investigated for bankruptcy fraud and the IRS penalized two owners for willfully not paying payroll taxes. A revenue officer stated the business was a "sweat shop."

Preserved dinosaur bones found in US may give clues about life 150 million years ago

A newly discovered batch of well-preserved dinosaur bones, petrified trees and even freshwater clams in southeastern Utah could provide new clues about life in the region some 150 million years ago.

The U.S. Bureau of Land Management announced the find Monday, calling the quarry near Hanksville "a major dinosaur fossil discovery."

An excavation revealed at least four sauropods, which are long-necked, long-tailed plant-eating dinosaurs, and two carnivorous ones, according to the bureau. It may have also uncovered an herbivorous stegosaurus.

Animal burrows and petrified tree trunks 6 feet (1.83 meters) in diameter were found nearby. The site doesn't contain any new species but offers scientists the chance to learn more about the ecology of that time, said Scott Foss, a BLM paleontologist.

The fossilized dinosaurs are from the same late Jurassic period as those at Dinosaur National Monument, which straddles the Utah-Colorado state line, and the Cleveland-Lloyd quarry near Price.

It could be a decade or so before the full importance of the Hanksville quarry is known, Foss said. "It does have the potential to match the other major quarries in Utah," he said.

The site, roughly 50 yards (46 meters) wide by 200 yards (183 meters) long, was excavated by a team from the Burpee Museum of Natural History in Rockford, Illinois. Museum officials visited the site for about a week last summer and returned this year for a three-week excavation.

The area has long been known to locals and BLM officials as a dinosaur haven. But no one knew of the site's magnitude until excavation began.

The bones were found in a sandstone channel of an ancient river.

"The preservation of these dinosaurs is excellent," Foss said.

The mix of dinosaurs, trees and other species in the area may help scientists piece together what life was like 145 million years to 150 million years ago, including details about the ancient climate, Foss said.

BLM plans to close the site to conduct an environmental assessment for continued work in the area. The agency isn't disclosing the exact location of the find because of security concerns.

COMMENTARY: BCS doesn't know how to get off the fence

So much for "peace in the valley ..."

Those were the words incoming Bowl Championship Series CoordinatorMike Slive used to describe last year's controversy-free season inwhich USC and Texas ended up playing a Rose Bowl for the ages.

Back in the valley on Sunday, wagons got overturned, Michigan gotmugged, and the BCS returned to being the most laughed-about way todetermine a championship.

In terms of ratings, interest and the "hoot" factor, thingscouldn't be better.

And something has to be done to fix it?

Yes.

Remember, convoluted is the BCS' operative word.

In case you missed it, Florida jumped Michigan for the No. 2 spotin the final BCS standings and will play Ohio State for the nationaltitle on Jan.8.

Michigan lost its only game, to Ohio State, on Nov. 18, and hasbeen losing ground ever since. First, it got passed by USC in thepolls, and now by Florida.

Florida claimed the No. 2 spot by the final total of .9445 to.9344. That's close even if you never got beyond basic math.

Florida and Michigan actually tied for second in the BCScomputers, leaving it up to the pollsters in the three-headed BCSformula that keeps headline writers busy.

It came down to this: People did not want to see a replay of OhioState-Michigan, so enough Harris poll voters and USA Today coachesswitched sides to turn the tide.

"We have a system," Michigan Coach Lloyd Carr said. "I've said allalong that system would speak. And it has spoken."

It said, "We want Florida."

It wasn't a clean break.

Ohio State Coach Jim Tressel did not cast his vote because hethought it was a conflict of interest.

"That was slick," Carr would say.

Florida Coach Urban Meyer said coaches shouldn't be put in thesekinds of situations.

"I'm never going to vote in the USA Today coaches' poll," Meyersaid. "No reason to ... imagine if Coach Tressel voted for us?"

Meyer then had to defend himself from charges that he shamelesslylobbied his Gators at the expense of Michigan.

Meyer grew up in Ohio ... enough said?

Meyer said last week people didn't want a rematch and thatMichigan had its chance against Ohio State.

Meyer said Sunday his comments were directed at the BCS system hewants to see bulldozed.

You could go over this with a comb and conjure conspiracytheories. Two Harris voters ranked Florida at No. 5 while another hadthe Gators at No. 1 ahead of Ohio State.

Crazy stuff.

USC and Michigan "fell" into a Rose Bowl neither school reallywanted to play in.

The Trojans and Wolverines will be parading on the heels ofdevastating losses to their arch rivals - defeats that cost each achance to win the national title.

The Rose Bowl, conversely, was thrilled to get the Pac-10 and BigTen back because two weeks ago it was looking at Rutgers orLouisville as possible anchors.

Carr, who won his only national title by winning the Rose Bowlafter the 1997 season, said the Rose Bowl was not a consolationprize.

"The day will never come in my life where there will be adisappointment of playing in the great tradition of the Rose Bowl,"Carr said.

Yet, emotions were getting tugged in so many directions.

On the BCS absurdity meter, actually, this year rates no more thantied for third.

This is the fifth time in the BCS' nine-year history that therehas been controversy involving the title game.

Nothing was worse than 2003, when USC finished No. 1 in both pollsbut No. 3 in the BCS, or 2001, when Nebraska staggered into thenational title game after a 62-36 loss to Colorado.

This year's hiccup will stir more barks for change.

The problem is the BCS doesn't quite know how to get off the fenceits sitting on.

Officials are torn between bartering the best regular season insports against any sort of NFL-style playoff.

If you took the Michigan "problem" out of this year's equation,most BCS officials would be thrilled.

Eight of the top 10 teams in the final BCS standings landed in amajor bowl.

The Sugar Bowl got Notre Dame to pair with Louisiana State in agame some Mardi Gras-bent pitch man will sell as "Beads vs. Beads."

The Fiesta Bowl got feel-good Boise State against Oklahoma, whichdidn't get knocked out of a BCS game because of that bad call in theOregon game.

Louisville, at 11-1, was not denied, and will play Wake Forest inthe Orange Bowl.

Yet, the latest controversy may kick-start the next baby step toreform.

Slive, who is serving as BCS coordinator as he also serves ascommissioner of the Southeastern Conference, is open to a sensiblesolution.

Slive sees an opening to revisit the idea of a "plus-one" model,which would determine the national title participants after the fourBCS bowls are played.

The BCS is open to ideas.

Meyer says blow the BCS up now and start over.

Lloyd Carr says players should decide who plays for championships.

"They play the game," Carr said of players. "It's a game forcollege kids. We should make all the decisions based on what's bestfor them."

This isn't "peace in the valley" anymore.

2006-07 Bowl glance Tentative dates and schedule for collegefootball bowl games. Dates and times are subject to change. Bowl GameDate Time Site Matchup TV San Diego Poinsettia Dec. 19 8p.m. San Diego TCU vs. Northern Illinois ESPN2 PioneerPureVision Las Vegas Dec. 21 8 p.m. Las Vegas BYU vs. OregonESPN New Orleans Dec. 22 8 p.m. New Orleans Sun Belt Champvs. Rice ESPN2 New Mexico Dec. 23 4:30 p.m. Albuquerque,N.M. New Mexico vs. San Jose State ESPN Birmingham Dec. 23 1 p.m. Birmingham, Ala. South Florida vs. East Carolina ESPN2Armed Forces Dec. 23 8 p.m. Fort Worth, Texas Tulsa vs. UtahESPN Sheraton Hawaii Dec. 24 8 p.m. Honolulu Arizona Statevs. Hawaii ESPN Motor City Dec. 26 7:30 p.m. Detroit Middle Tenn. vs. Central Michigan ESPN Emerald Dec. 27 8 p.m. San Francisco Florida State vs. UCLA ESPN Independence Dec. 28 4:30 p.m. Shreveport, La. Oklahoma State vs. Alabama ESPNPacific Life Holiday Dec. 28 8 p.m. San Diego Texas A&M vs.California ESPN Texas Dec. 28 8 p.m. Houston Rutgers vs.Kansas State NFL Gaylord Hotels Music City Dec. 29 1 p.m. Nashville, Tenn. Clemson vs. Kentucky ESPN Brut Sun Dec. 29 2 p.m. El Paso, Texas Missouri vs. Oregon State CBS Insight Dec. 29 7:30 p.m. Tempe, Ariz. Minnesota vs. Texas Tech NFLChamps Sports Dec. 29 8 p.m. Orlando, Fla. Maryland vs.Purdue ESPN AutoZone Liberty Dec. 29 4:30 p.m. Memphis, Tenn.Houston vs. South Carolina ESPN Meineke Car Care Dec. 30 1 p.m.Charlotte, N.C. Boston College vs. Navy ESPN Alamo Dec. 30 4:30 p.m. San Antonio, Texas Iowa vs. Texas ESPN Chick-fil-A Dec. 30 8 p.m. Atlanta Georgia vs. Virginia Tech ESPN MPCComputers Dec. 31 7:30 p.m. Boise, Idaho Miami (Fla.) vs.Nevada ESPN Outback Jan. 1 11 a.m. Tampa, Fla. Penn Statevs. Tennessee ESPN AT&T Cotton Jan. 1 11:30 a.m. Dallas Nebraska vs. Auburn FOX Toyota Gator Jan. 1 1 p.m. Jacksonville, Fla. Ga. Tech vs. West Virginia CBS Capital One Jan. 1 1 p.m. Orlando, Fla. Wisconsin vs. Arkansas ABC RoseJan. 1 5 p.m. Pasadena, Calif. Michigan vs. USC ABC TostitosFiesta Jan. 1 8:30 p.m. Phoenix Boise State vs. Oklahoma FOX FedEx Orange Jan. 2 8 p.m. Miami Louisville vs. WakeForest FOX Allstate Sugar Jan. 3 8 p.m. New Orleans NotreDame vs. LSU FOX International Jan. 6 12 p.m. Toronto Cincinnati vs. Western Michigan ESPN2 GMAC Jan. 7 8 p.m. Mobile, Ala. So. Miss. vs. Ohio University ESPN Tostitos BCSNational Title Jan. 8 8 p.m. Phoenix Ohio State vs. Florida FOX *Bowl Championship Series: When not having a conference championparticipating in the BCS National Championship Game, the BCS willhave the following conference champions serve as host teams: RoseBowl Big Ten and Pac-10; FedEx Orange Bowl ACC; Allst

2nd runaway auto hits 4 downtown

For the second time in as many days, pedestrians at a busydowntown intersection yesterday fell victim to a runaway car.

Four women were injured, one critically, when a southbound car -driven by a man who police said has a history of mental illness -veered out of control and jumped the curb at the southwest corner ofMichigan Avenue and Chestnut Street yesterday morning.

"He hit the accelerator and was going extremely fast," said AmyWiseman-Randich, 24, one of the victims.

"I saw him hit a woman . . . she was lying on the ground. I washysterical. Others were, too."

Police and witnesses said the driver, Charles Conklin, 38,continued to drive south on the Michigan Avenue sidewalk for 300 feetbefore stopping near the entrance of I. Magnin.

Police said Conklin, who was not injured, left his car, ransouth on Michigan and turned west on Pearson Street.

He was chased by three police officers, who caught him nearRush Street, police said.

"His family said Conklin has had a history of mental illness for10 years," said police Lt. James Geoghegan, of the 18th District."His father said he (Charles Conklin) is on medication for hiscondition."

Police said Conklin, of 8947 N. La Crosse, Skokie, wasincoherent when he was caught. He later was taken to Chicago ReedMental Health Center.

Conklin's family declined to comment.

"The driver didn't put up a struggle," said Patrol OfficerMiguel Soto, one of the officers who caught him.

"He was yelling he wanted to be taken to Reed Mental."

Police were uncertain whether Conklin was a present or formerpatient there.

The most seriously injured person in the 9:30 a.m. accident wasMary Ford, 78, who was listed in critical condition at NorthwesternMemorial Hospital with head injuries, fractures of the pelvis andlower left leg and possible internal injuries.

Mieko Nogiawa, 64, was listed in fair condition at Northwesternwith head injuries. Wiseman-Randich and Rossina Deltoro, 26, weretreated at the hospital and released.

Police charged Conklin with driving on a sidewalk and strikingpedestrians in a roadway.

He posted his driver's license as bond.

Meanwhile, police said yesterday that a 66-year-old taxi driverwhose runaway cab injured 14 people in the Loop Monday apparentlysuffered a stroke that may have caused him to lose control of hisfoot on the accelerator.

Major accident investigations Sgt. Richard Moeller said WillieEvans, of 313 N. Mayfield, "seemed to be quite incoherent, had onlylimited use of his right arm and had lost bodily functions"immediately after the accident.

"All indications are that he suffered a stroke," Moeller said."Also, he is a borderline diabetic. It sounds like the man hasmedical problems."

Ailing Ramirez hopes to return later this week

Cubs third baseman Aramis Ramirez will be in pain the rest of the season, but he said he'll play as much as possible and won't alter his style.

''I don't want to miss any more games,'' Ramirez said Tuesday after receiving a cortisone injection in his left shoulder to relieve inflammation. ''I've already been out a lot.''

Ramirez, who missed two months with a separated shoulder, hopes to return by Thursday or Friday after leaving the game Saturday in Colorado with shoulder pain.

The injury in May was the third time Ramirez had separated his shoulder in his career.

''I don't think I'm going to have surgery because it's more muscular now,'' he said, adding that he didn't think he returned too soon on July 6. ''[The Cubs] did not rush me, but I wanted to be back. I was pretty good two weeks ago. It just happens.''

Ramirez was hitting .286 with seven doubles, five home runs and 17 RBI in the 25 games since his return, but he had gone 1-for-18 in his last five games.

The pain occurs on his swings.

''I swing pretty hard,'' Ramirez said. ''When I finish my swing or [when I'm reaching for] a line drive over my head, but that's not going to happen too often. It's when I swing. I have a pretty good idea what I can do.''

Ramirez said he won't alter his swing or refrain from making a diving play in the field.

''I don't want to do that,'' he said. ''I always swing hard, and I don't strike out much. I just want to play the way I play.

''You can have an injury even if you're 100 percent, but that's not a concern. If I have to dive, I will. I'm out there to play, and I'll do what I have to do.

''I'm going to have to [play with pain]. Since I came back, I haven't been 100 percent.''

Jake Fox was at third base again and batted fourth Tuesday night against the Philadelphia Phillies as manager Lou Piniella continued to juggle his injury-racked lineup.

''I've never had a separated shoulder, so I can't speak to it, but I'm sure it will cause him some discomfort from time to time,'' Piniella said.

''Let's hope he can play through it.''

Comment at suntimes.com.

Photo: Aramis Ramirez says his shoulder pain flares up when he swings. ;

Every Time a Rainbow Dies

by Rita Williams-Garcia

HarperCollins, May 2002

$15.95, ISBN 0-668-16245-2

Thulani, a 16-year-old Jamaican-American, doesn't think much of his life. His mother died of cancer, and he lives with his cold, older brother and nosy sister-in-law. He has no real goals to speak of. The only things that give Thulani pleasure are the pigeons he cares for on the roof of his family's Brooklyn brownstone.

While on the roof one day, Thulani witnesses the rape of a young Haitian girl, Ysa. He manages to scare off her attackers, then helps her home.

Soon after, Thulani becomes concerned about the girl's health and well-being. He secretly checks up on her, following her around the neighborhood until he works up the courage to approach her. Gradually and cautiously the two become friends and eventually grow to care for one another.

Rita Williams-Garcia's Every Time a Rainbow Dies is a challenging and gritty tale for young adults. The award-winning author takes on mature subject matters: death, rape and a loving sexual relationship.

She powerfully illustrates the complex emotions that Ysa experiences, from shame to pain to anger. While Thulani helps Ysa work through her feelings, Ysa helps Thulani get past his grief over his mother's death and make plans for his future.

Every Time a Rainbow Dies is a brave and daring work that illustrates the healing power of love.

Illustration (Teenage boy)

REUNION ROUNDUP

Nash School and its neighborhood, Aug. 28. Theresa Mansfield,(708) 863-2973.

Harlan High School, Class of 1974, Sept. 2-4. PamelaSmith-Williams, (312) 238-6111.

Englewood High School, Class of 1984, Sept. 16-18. Will Howard,(312) 394-4181.

Sullivan High School, Class of June 1954, Sept. 17. ValeryeSiegel, (708) 564-2735.

St. Pancratius Grammar School, Class of 1949, Sept. 17-18. TomKotlarski, (312) 523-4813.

Oak Park-River Forest High School, Class of 1934, Sept. 24.John Armour, (708) 383-3048.

Mercy High School, Class of 1969, Oct. 1. (312) 374-8789.

St. Mary of Celle Grammar School, Class of 1944, Oct. 2. SisterRoberta Knakal, (708) 969-7040.

St. Michael School (83rd Street), Class of 1944, Oct. 2. SophieSlowiak, (312) 721-6311.

St. Pius School, Class of 1944, Oct. 2. Ray Blaettler, (708)385-2283.

West Leyden High School, Class of 1984, Oct. 7. (815) 477-0858.

York High School, Class of 1984, Oct. 7. (800) 677-7800.

Fenwick High School, Class of 1969, Oct. 7-9. Tim Gallagher,(708) 833-2751.

Bowen High School, Class of June 1954, Oct. 8. Bob Anderson,(312) 477-7391.

Fenwick High School, Class of 1954, Oct. 8. Don Lopez, (708)647-3705.

Foreman High School, Class of 1974, Oct. 8. (815) 477-0858.

Glenbrook South High School, Class of 1984, Oct. 8. (800)677-7800.

Maine North High School, Class of 1974, Oct. 8. (800) 677-7800.

To get your reunion notice printed, send the name of yourschool, class year, date of the reunion and your name and telephonenumber to: Reunion Roundup, Bill Cunniff, Chicago Sun-Times, 401 N.Wabash, Chicago 60611. Local reunions only. Send the information atleast six weeks before the event.

This Sherlockian gift glows with good cheer

Any mystery fan who professes not to like Sherlock Holmes is likethe man (allergic types exempted) who says he doesn't like dogs. Bothtypes are not to be trusted.

The vast majority of readers do dote on A. Conan Doyle's mastersleuth, however; that's why you can't go wrong picking as a holidaygift More Holmes for the Holidays, edited by Martin H. Greenberg, JonL. Lellenberg, and Carol-Lynn Waugh (Berkley Crime, $21.95).

The editors have corralled 11 noted mystery writers to contributeChristmas-related short stories about Holmes and Dr. John Watson, andeach tale glows with Victorian warmth in this new round ofadventures. It is a fitting sequel to the first such collection lastholiday season.

You don't need plot summaries to know you'll relish accompanyingHolmes on intrigues with Oscar Wilde, Charles Darwin, Tiny TimCratchit and other famous names of the late 19th Century. And withwriters as talented as Anne Perry, Loren D. Estleman, and Edward D.Hoch, among others, your enjoyment is double.

Nordic Nights (Walker, $23.95), Lise McClendon's third novelfeaturing art dealer Alix Thorssen, explores Norse mythology andViking culture in a whodunit that is both breezy and informative.

Set in Jackson Hole, Wyo., during a winter carnival celebratingScandinavian tradition, the novel opens with the murder of aNorwegian guest artist, with Alix's step-father found standing overthe corpse.

Events force Alix to investigate to absolve her stepfather of thecrime. She becomes a sniper's prey; the mystery is resolved, but thebest thing about the story is gleaning all the Norse knowledge younever knew you didn't know.

In Innuendo (Delacorte, $21.95), R. D. Zimmerman continues theexploits of Minneapolis television's top investigative journalist,Todd Mills, who two novels ago openly disclosed he was gay.

Mills determines to interview Tim Chase, a handsome film star,temporarily living in the Twin Cities to shoot his new movie. Chasehas been hounded by recurring rumors about his sexual orientation,despite having a beautiful wife and child. Mills wants to clear upthe mystery.

A 17-year-old runaway is murdered, a slaying that touches onChase's life in ways not immediately apparent. Zimmerman displayscrafty skill in fooling the reader about the identity of themurderer; the "certain" suspect keeps changing until the stunninglast chapter, when you feel foolish for not having guessed it allalong. This is Zimmerman's talent at its peak.

Academic mysteries are a delight; in no other sub-genre are thecharacters so deliciously wicked, so cravenly jealous, and sointellectually maddening. That is the milieu invoked once again byJoanne Dobson in The Raven and the Nightingale (Doubleday, $21.95).

Her series heroine, Prof. Karen Pelletier, comes upon newinformation indicating that a poet who knew Edgar Allan Poe killedherself for unrequited love of him. More important, the evidencehints that Poe's masterpiece, "The Raven," may mot have been whollyoriginal.

The findings greatly dismay Enfield College's resident Poescholar, who is expecting career advancement based on hisscholarship. But lo! he is stabbed to death before he can refute thenettlesome evidence.

From this point on, Pelletier wades through speculations galoreabout Poe, his genius, and the malign motives of those who dislike oridolize him.

For the mystery-addicted reader, a welcome, though expensive, giftwould be The Oxford Companion to Crime and Mystery Writing (Oxford,$49.95).

Rosemary Herbert, the editor, offers a mind-boggling compendium onthe subject, from biographies of major writers, analyses of mysteryformats and cross-references linking authors and clues, to a 20thCentury catalogue of all types of mystery writing.

This is the most scholarly mystery reference tome in many years.Not for the casual reader, but a treasury of gold for the seriousstudent.

City throwing greenbacks at 'green' plan; West Side project's subsidy could come to 23% of costs

Developers in Chicago have learned that one way to get City Hallon board with a proposal is to "go green" in the design. But thesubsidies built into a project due on the West Side might make somedevelopers green with envy.

Bethel New Life, a community group with many good works to itscredit, and investor Terra Firma Co. have joined to win cityapproval for an $11.5 million housing and retail complex on city-owned land at 3148 W. Lake.

Bethel and Terra Firma will build 30 condos, half of them atbelow-market rates, and provide about 7,800 square feet in retailnext to a CTA Green Line stop. But the city is providing aninordinately high $2.5 million subsidy from future tax revenues tocomplete the deal.

Also, according to its report to the Community DevelopmentCommission, the city is giving the developers a deal on the land.They are paying $50,875, about a quarter of its appraised value. Intotal, the city subsidy is worth almost 23 percent of the project'scost. Other subsidy deals have reached 15 percent to 20 percent ofthe cost.

The developers promise a landscaped roof, wind turbines and othereco-friendly elements.

Why the heavy subsidy? "It's sustainable. It's affordable . . .and hopefully it will be a catalyst for further development in thearea," said Pete Scales, spokesman for the city's PlanningDepartment.

Terra Firma principal Bradley Leibov said East Garfield Parkstill is a risky area for investment.

Crowd-shy speakers learn to beat their fear

Kent Pudenz was voted Quietest Male by his Kansas City highschool class.

It's no wonder that public speaking is a chore for him. Andit's no wonder his boss sent him to a course to improve hisspeechmaking skills.

"This isn't something I would have picked," Pudenz, anaccountant, replied to the ludicrous suggestion that he might havemade his own decision to attend an Executive Technique seminar lastweek.

Lalie Clark, vice president of Citicorp, was there of her ownvolition, but even she wasn't happy about it.

"I should be doing a lot of presenting, but I have everybody whoworks for me do it instead," said Clark, who hoped to conquer herstage fright during the two-day workshop.

Clark and Pudenz were among 16 professionals who forked over asmuch as $1,150 for two days of speechmaking under the watchful eye ofinstructors at Executive Technique in Chicago.

Those 16 crowd-shy professionals are far from alone. Studiesshow that 85 percent of people fear giving speeches or get anxious atthe thought of a presentation. In some cases, according toPsychology Today magazine, people have considered changingprofessions to avoid giving speeches.

Others try to overcome the fear. The 16 participants at lastweek's session learned to:

Breathe: When nerves take over, the adrenaline starts to pumpand your body forgets to breathe. Deep breaths will calm your nervesand slow down your speech.

Stand still: No swaying allowed. No shifting from one foot tothe other. Plant your feet, face the audience and keep your hipscentered. Once you do, trainer Anne Dudenhoefer said, the energythat had gone to your feet rises to your arms, face and voice.

Think before talking: Presentations without pauses or pepperedwith "uhm" and "ya know" distract the audience. Stop betweensentences, take a breath and then proceed. That was tough forPudenz. After all, he figured, the faster he talked, the faster thespeech was over.

Focus on the audience: Do it one person at a time. No sweepingyour eyes from one side of the room to the other. Make eye contactwith one person and hold it for what seems like an interminably longfive seconds - or until you finish a thought - before moving on tothe next.

Keep the listener in mind: Rather than starting with yourmessage, decide what the audience needs and start there. Finish bytelling them what they need to do to get it.

As proof the presenters needed work, they were videotaped.

"I thought I was really good until I got here," said MargaretMurphy, who hopes to get a job as a corporate instructor. Shelearned she would have to be "more chatty" in the future so herpresentations wouldn't sound like recitations.

"I can't believe the way my arm was shaking," said Jerry Avner,vice president at Gary-Wheaton Bank.

During his first presentation, Avner's chin ducked to his chest,his hands clenched in front and his shoulders twitched. After seeingthe tape, "I was so depressed, I almost didn't come back" on thesecond morning, he said. By the end of the program, Avner hadconquered the shoulder twitch, and was on his way to conquering hisnervousness as well.

So was Clark.

"I won't avoid presentations in the future like I did in thepast," she said. "I won't do them all the time, but I won't avoidthem all the time either."

Cilic, Kiefer advance at Paris Masters

Marin Cilic of Croatia and Nicolas Kiefer of Germany both advanced to the second round of the Paris Masters in straight sets on Monday.

Cilic downed Andreas Seppi of Italy 7-6 (5), 6-2, and Kiefer beat big-serving Ivo Karlovic of Croatia 6-4, 7-5.

"He broke me twice, then he got a bit tired when he was serving for the set and I took advantage of that," Cilic said. Seppi was broken twice in each set, while Cilic tightened up his game and did not face another break in the second set.

Kiefer's consistent serving kept him in charge of the match. Kiefer won 97 percent of first serve points _ despite only four aces compared to 12 for Karlovic _ and did not face a break point at the Bercy indoor arena.

Later Monday three-time champion Marat Safin played Juan Monaco; 2005 winner Tomas Berdych took on Robby Ginepri; and Marcos Baghdatis, a semifinalist last year, faced Sam Querrey of the United States.

Roger Federer, who won the Swiss Indoors at Basel for the third straight year on Sunday, confirmed Monday to tournament organizers that he will play at Bercy, despite feeling tired after beating David Nalbandian for his 57th career title.

Israel seizes ship full of weapons for Palestinian forces.(Knight Ridder Newspapers)

JERUSALEM _ Israel said on Friday that it had seized a freighter smuggling some 50 tons of Katyusha rockets, anti-tank missiles, grenades, rifles and other weapons bound for Palestinian combatants in the biggest arms shipment of its kind that the nation has intercepted.

Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's government accused Iran of providing the weapons, and said it was bracing for a flare-up of violence.

"This (arms shipment) is preparation for war. Anybody who has this quantity of weapons is planning for the next stage of war," Sharon spokesman Ra'anan Gissin said.

Israel's air force and navy captured the Karine A freighter in the Red Sea about 310 miles south of the port of Eilat "in a daring and complicated mission" that was a "complete surprise" to the vessel's crew and left no casualties, said Lt. Gen. Shaul Mofaz, chief of staff of the Israeli Defense Forces. The freighter was being escorted into Eilat and had yet to arrive, he said.

Mofaz said the link between the freighter and the Palestinian Authority was "clear and undeniable. The ship itself is owned by the (Palestinian Authority) and the captain is a senior officer in the Palestinian naval police."

"We deny any connection to this ship," said Nabil Amr, the Palestinian minister of parliamentary affairs. "Many parties smuggle by sea to different people."

A senior U.S. official said intelligence suggested the arms were loaded in the Persian Gulf state of Dubai and were being delivered to the radical Muslim group Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and not to Arafat's Palestinian Authority. The official, in Washington, spoke on condition of anonymity.

The Katyusha rockets seized aboard the freighter have a range of 12.5 miles and could have radically boosted the ability of Palestinian combatants based in the West Bank and Gaza Strip to cause destruction in nearby Israeli cities.

Mofaz said the seizure included the rockets, two kinds of missiles capable of piercing tank armor, mortars, landmines, advanced explosive equipment, sniper rifles, bullets "and much more."

The army delayed announcement of the seizure, which occurred at dawn Thursday, until almost the exact hour Friday afternoon when the Bush administration's senior peace envoy to the Middle East, retired U.S. Marine Corps Gen. Anthony Zinni, walked into a meeting with Arafat in the West Bank city of Ramallah. Zinni arrived Thursday for a four-day visit.

Zinni attended an informal breakfast meeting Friday with Sharon and senior members of his government. Afterward, a Sharon government statement said the Israelis told Zinni "that the only way to get Arafat to act (against terrorist violence) is for the U.S. and Europe to increase pressure on him."

Announcement of the intercepted weapons shipment comes at a critical juncture. Washington is attempting to nudge the Palestinians and the Israelis toward a cease-fire and revival of stalled peace negotiations. A peace process broke down 15 months ago, leading to a bloody cycle of Palestinian suicide bombings and Israeli clampdowns on Palestinian areas.

Within the past two weeks, violence has let up, fueling a glimmer of hope for negotiation.

(EDITORS: STORY CAN END HERE)

"It's a delicate time," said Judith Kipper, a Middle East expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a think tank in Washington. "Zinni is there, and violence has fallen, and now (the Palestinians) got caught."

Kipper noted that Iran is known to supply weapons to Hezbollah in Lebanon and to the radical Islamic Jihad movement in Palestinian-dominated areas, but the new seizure "is a new phenomenon of finding the actual weapons being shipped from Iran."

Last May, Israel seized the Santorini, another vessel, in the Mediterranean Sea with a cache of rockets, missiles, mortars, grenades and other munitions bound from Lebanon to Palestinian combatants, although the shipment was smaller than the one aboard the Karine A, army officials said.

In other action, Israeli commandos backed by helicopters in the air and tanks on the ground swept into the village of Tel near the West Bank city of Nablus early Friday, arresting two Hamas militants and killing a third. The army said the three were on Israel's most-wanted list.

Gissin, the prime minister's spokesman, said the militants were sought because they took part in a Dec. 12 ambush of a bus near the Jewish settlement of Immanuel in the West Bank. That attack left 10 people dead.

___

_____

PHOTOS (from KRT Photo Service, 202-383-6099):

Zinni.

(c) 2002, Knight Ridder/Tribune Information Services.

_____

PHOTOS (from KRT Photo Service, 202-383-6099):

Zinni.

Israel seizes ship full of weapons for Palestinian forces.(Knight Ridder Newspapers)

JERUSALEM _ Israel said on Friday that it had seized a freighter smuggling some 50 tons of Katyusha rockets, anti-tank missiles, grenades, rifles and other weapons bound for Palestinian combatants in the biggest arms shipment of its kind that the nation has intercepted.

Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's government accused Iran of providing the weapons, and said it was bracing for a flare-up of violence.

"This (arms shipment) is preparation for war. Anybody who has this quantity of weapons is planning for the next stage of war," Sharon spokesman Ra'anan Gissin said.

Israel's air force and navy captured the Karine A freighter in the Red Sea about 310 miles south of the port of Eilat "in a daring and complicated mission" that was a "complete surprise" to the vessel's crew and left no casualties, said Lt. Gen. Shaul Mofaz, chief of staff of the Israeli Defense Forces. The freighter was being escorted into Eilat and had yet to arrive, he said.

Mofaz said the link between the freighter and the Palestinian Authority was "clear and undeniable. The ship itself is owned by the (Palestinian Authority) and the captain is a senior officer in the Palestinian naval police."

"We deny any connection to this ship," said Nabil Amr, the Palestinian minister of parliamentary affairs. "Many parties smuggle by sea to different people."

A senior U.S. official said intelligence suggested the arms were loaded in the Persian Gulf state of Dubai and were being delivered to the radical Muslim group Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and not to Arafat's Palestinian Authority. The official, in Washington, spoke on condition of anonymity.

The Katyusha rockets seized aboard the freighter have a range of 12.5 miles and could have radically boosted the ability of Palestinian combatants based in the West Bank and Gaza Strip to cause destruction in nearby Israeli cities.

Mofaz said the seizure included the rockets, two kinds of missiles capable of piercing tank armor, mortars, landmines, advanced explosive equipment, sniper rifles, bullets "and much more."

The army delayed announcement of the seizure, which occurred at dawn Thursday, until almost the exact hour Friday afternoon when the Bush administration's senior peace envoy to the Middle East, retired U.S. Marine Corps Gen. Anthony Zinni, walked into a meeting with Arafat in the West Bank city of Ramallah. Zinni arrived Thursday for a four-day visit.

Zinni attended an informal breakfast meeting Friday with Sharon and senior members of his government. Afterward, a Sharon government statement said the Israelis told Zinni "that the only way to get Arafat to act (against terrorist violence) is for the U.S. and Europe to increase pressure on him."

Announcement of the intercepted weapons shipment comes at a critical juncture. Washington is attempting to nudge the Palestinians and the Israelis toward a cease-fire and revival of stalled peace negotiations. A peace process broke down 15 months ago, leading to a bloody cycle of Palestinian suicide bombings and Israeli clampdowns on Palestinian areas.

Within the past two weeks, violence has let up, fueling a glimmer of hope for negotiation.

(EDITORS: STORY CAN END HERE)

"It's a delicate time," said Judith Kipper, a Middle East expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a think tank in Washington. "Zinni is there, and violence has fallen, and now (the Palestinians) got caught."

Kipper noted that Iran is known to supply weapons to Hezbollah in Lebanon and to the radical Islamic Jihad movement in Palestinian-dominated areas, but the new seizure "is a new phenomenon of finding the actual weapons being shipped from Iran."

Last May, Israel seized the Santorini, another vessel, in the Mediterranean Sea with a cache of rockets, missiles, mortars, grenades and other munitions bound from Lebanon to Palestinian combatants, although the shipment was smaller than the one aboard the Karine A, army officials said.

In other action, Israeli commandos backed by helicopters in the air and tanks on the ground swept into the village of Tel near the West Bank city of Nablus early Friday, arresting two Hamas militants and killing a third. The army said the three were on Israel's most-wanted list.

Gissin, the prime minister's spokesman, said the militants were sought because they took part in a Dec. 12 ambush of a bus near the Jewish settlement of Immanuel in the West Bank. That attack left 10 people dead.

___

_____

PHOTOS (from KRT Photo Service, 202-383-6099):

Zinni.

(c) 2002, Knight Ridder/Tribune Information Services.

_____

PHOTOS (from KRT Photo Service, 202-383-6099):

Zinni.

Ex-loan officer gets 18 month term after pleading guilty to embezzlement

DAILY MAIL STAFF

Lillian Cook was surrounded by money every day at her job as thechief loan officer at a Nicholas County bank. In March 1998, thetemptation became too much.

Cook began faking loan documents to write and cash checks herselfon the way to embezzling $195,943 from a United National bank branchover the next 10 months.

Then she got caught.

Cook, 54, was sentenced today in Charleston federal court to 18months in federal prison for bank embezzlement, a charge she pleadedguilty to in August.

But in handing down the sentence, U.S. District Judge JohnCopenhaver appeared sympathetic toward the slight, blonde womandressed in a conservative …

ESPN: An Engineering Exploration.(Brief article)

By Glen Dickson

With its engineering team already busy readying a new high-definition production facility in Los Angeles that will launch next month, cable sports giant ESPN is heading to NAB on less of a shopping mission and in more of an "exploration and wide-eyed" mode, says Chuck Pagano, the network's executive VP of technology.

ESPN's engineering division is sending a smaller team than usual, some five staffers, who will focus on emerging technologies such as 1080-line-progressive production and 3-gig routing. He is also interested in the push for standards for stereoscopic 3D production, which ESPN has experimented with privately.

"The ability …

LOONIE YEAR FOR SKIERS.(SPORTS)

Byline: Associated Press

DENVER -- This was a ``loonie" year for the nation's ski resorts.

The best snow fell after many resorts closed, and thousands of skiers headed north to take advantage of the cheap Canadian dollar, which is called the ``loonie'' because it bears the image of a loon. It was worth about 65 U.S. cents this month.

In Colorado, the glitz that draws the Kennedys, the Hollywood crowd and their followers wasn't even enough to overcome cheaper Canadian hotel rates and lift tickets.

``You could travel from Britain to Banff (Alberta) for the same price as going to Europe,'' said Vanessa Haines of the Ski Club of Great Britain. …

Insurers can be liable for malpractice: 2nd Circuit; Decisions on treatment at risk.(News)

Byline: JERRY GEISEL

NEW YORK-A recent federal appeals court decision weakens health plans' federal immunity to malpractice claims brought under state law.

The case, Cicio vs. Vytra Healthcare, involves a cancer patient, Carmine Cicio, who sought a course of treatment that his insurer ruled was experimental and thus not covered by his plan. Later, the insurer approved a different course of treatment from the one recommended by Mr. Cicio's doctor, which it continued to deny until he died.

Mr. Cicio's widow, Bonnie Cicio, then sued the insurer, Vytra Healthcare, and its medical director, charging medical malpractice under New York law. The case was …

Operator strategies to maintain screen performance

Operators respond to BioCycle minisurvey with valuable information for composting or organic materials processing facilities.

IN EARLY December, BioCycle editors e-mailed selected composting facility operators, asking them a series of questions about their screening operation. The minisurvey focused on strategies to maintain performance of screens used for preprocessing incoming feedstocks and/or for screening finished compost. Six operators responded: Adam Sherman, Intervals Compost Project in Burlington, Vermont; Dave Hogan, Bluestem Solid Waste Agency in Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Robert Kelly, Seacoast Farms Compost Products, Inc. in Exeter, New Hampshire; Nanci Koerting, Maryland …

Europe's Oct. sales slide.(Brief Article)

Byline: Ralph Kisiel

New-vehicle sales in Western Europe fell 2.1 percent in October as sales slumped in four of the five biggest markets.

Among the Big 6 volume automakers, only PSA Group reported higher sales for the month, with a 3.1 percent gain. PSA includes Peugeot and Citroen.

VW group slipped 1.2 percent; Ford Motor Co., 0.3 percent; Renault, 7.2 percent; General Motors, 2.4 percent; and Fiat Group, 16.2 percent.

Of the Big 6, only PSA, up 1.4 percent, is ahead for the year to date. VW is off 6 percent; Ford, 2.1 percent; Renault, 3 percent; GM, 12.3 percent; and Fiat, 18.1 percent. …

Justin's diversity helps spread risk. (Justin Industries Inc's property and casualty insurance program)(Risk Management Honor Roll)

Property/casualty program covers all operations, from boots to bricks

A boot maker, a brick maker, a book maker and more.

It's a tongue twister that describes the diversity of companies Jim Green protects as risk manager of Justin Industries Inc.

Not only are the risks a diverse lot, they also are scattered among more than 100 manufacturing, sales and distribution locations throughout the Southwestern United States. Add 4,300 employees, and a challenging workers compensation exposure becomes a part of the mix.

Here's the lineup of operating companies:

The footwear group is made up of Justin Boot Co., Tony Lama Co., Nocona Boot Co. and Chippewa Shoe Co. All are based in Texas.

The building materials group consists of Fort Worth, Texas-based Acme Brick Co., Dallas-based American Tile Supply Co. and Austin, Texas-based Featherlite Building Products Corp. Tradewind Technologies Inc., which makes evaporative coolers, is based in Phoenix.

Northland Publishing Co. is a book publishing subsidiary in Flagstaff, Ariz. …

MAN FOUND ALIVE AFTER 5-HOUR SEARCH.(Local)

After State Police scoured the New Scotland countryside all day Friday for a missing 74-year-old man, a local couple joined the search and found the man in a dry creek bed, authorities said.

Troopers performed a search from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., looking for Carl S. Baumbach of Crow Ridge Road, Voorheesville, with K-9 units, mounted patrols, foot patrols and a helicopter, State Police said. Baumbach was last seen at 7 p.m. Thursday; State Police were notified of his disappearance later that night.

Baumbach's wife, Ruth, said her husband suffered a stroke in recent years; State Police said the man was on medication.

…

MICHAEL P.W. STONE, 69; ARMY SECRETARY.(CAPITAL REGION)

Byline: New York Times

Michael P.W. Stone, whose tenure as secretary of the Army was marked by a shrinking military, the debate over the role of women in combat and by the Persian Gulf war, died Thursday at his home in San Francisco. He was 69.

The cause was bone marrow cancer, his family said.

A California businessman active in the Republican Party and civic affairs, Stone was named the 15th secretary of the Army in 1989 by President George Bush. He served until 1993 while at the same time heading the Board of Directors of the Panama Canal Commission, which oversees canal operations.

At his death he was a director of BEI Electronics …

Interferon-gamma-inducible protein 10 denotes HCV-linked liver status.

2004 FEB 9 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Interferon-gamma-inducible protein 10 denotes HCV-linked liver status.

According to published research from Australia, "the factors influencing lymphocyte trafficking to the liver lobule during chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection are currently not well defined. Interferon-gamma-inducible protein 10 (IP-10), a chemokine that recruits activated T lymphocytes, has recently been shown by in situ hybridization to be expressed in the liver during chronic HCV infection. This study sought to define the cellular source of IP-10 in the liver by immunohistochemistry, to examine the expression of its receptor, CXCR3, on T …

Swaziland sees protests over wages, drug shortages

MBABANE, Swaziland (AP) — Hundreds of people are protesting in the small kingdom of Swaziland over claims that poor governance by sub-Saharan Africa's sole absolute monarch has led to a shortage of essential medical supplies and a failing economy.

More than 500 people demonstrated in the capital Wednesday while nearly 1,000 protested in the western town of Siteki.

AIDS groups have warned that the …

Regional weather

Hi Lo Otlk

Akron, Ohio 47 28 Cldy

Charlotte 65 43 Clr

Cincinnati 56 32 PCldy

Cleveland 46 33 Cldy

Columbus,Ohio 52 32 PCldy

Dayton 53 31 PCldy

Daytona Beach 84 65 Clr

Greensboro,N.C. 61 40 …

Chyron 2nd-quarter earnings down.(1998)(Brief Article)

Company undergoes restructuring after $4.8 million loss

Graphics, routing and automation supplier Chyron has reported a loss of $4.8 million for second quarter 1998, which includes restructuring and other nonrecurring charges of $3.9 million.

The restructuring charges relate to two moves that Chyron has made to refocus on its core graphics, routing and automation businesses. First, Chyron is selling its Trilogy Intercom division in a management buyout for gross proceeds, inclusive of payment of intercompany debt of $3.8 million in cash and notes, plus a 19% interest in the new company. (Chyron will record a pretax gain of $1.1 million on the Trilogy sale in the …

MAPLE HILL VARIES ATTACK VS. CATSKILL.(SPORTS)

Shane Swartz and Al Symington each scored 20 points to lead Maple Hill to a 59-42 victory over Catskill in boys' Patroon Conference basketball action on Monday night in Castleton.

``We got scoring inside and out,'' said Maple Hill coach Dan Gillespie. ``Shane got his stuff inside and then we would reverse the ball to Symington and he hit from outside.''

Swartz added 14 rebounds for the Wildcats (11-4, 9-4) and Symington connected on four 3-pointers.

Arthur Brantley topped Catskill (7-8, 6-7) with 18 points, including 11 in the final quarter. WAC Northville 62, Schoharie 55 Jason Gander scored 21 points, including 14-for-14 shooting from the …