четверг, 15 марта 2012 г.

To the point: Sharp views on Kansas, Guiliani, Congress, Now and Floyd Landis

THE EVOLUTION OF KANSAS

The seesaw battle over state science standards in Kansas seems tohave tipped back a bit in the direction of sanity. In Tuesday'sprimary elections, moderates who subscribe to the theory of evolutionwon just enough races to guarantee them a slight majority on theschool board after November's general election. That should make itpossible for them to overturn the benighted science standards pushedthrough by conservatives on the board last year in an effort toundercut the theory of evolution.

We'd be inclined to rejoice in this evidence that Kansas may berejoining the modern world were it not for the state's disturbinghabit of backtracking from …

Still no president

With vote total numbers and lawsuits flying back and forth, a 5 p.m. recount deadline upheld by a state judge, the race for the White House by Al Gore and George Bush took a number of tumbles and U-turns Tuesday on both sides.

Neither side shows signs of a compromise in Tallahassee with the Bush campaign pushing closure while Gore's is advocating fairness and patience as they try to litigate and appeal justice on behalf of thousands of alleged disenfranchised voters.

While Florida Judge Terry Lewis refused to extend a 5 p.m. deadline sought by state officials, the West Palm Beach Canvassing Board later voted to continue recounting at 7 a.m. today …

Canes spoil Tocchet's debut as Tampa Bay coach

Rick Tocchet lost his debut as Tampa Bay Lightning coach when Tuomo Ruutu and Rod Brind'Amour scored in the shootout and Cam Ward stopped two shots in the tiebreaker to lead the Carolina Hurricanes to a 3-2 victory Sunday.

Tocchet became a head coach for the first time when Barry Melrose was fired Friday after Tampa Bay lost three straight games. A veteran of 18 NHL seasons, Tocchet perhaps is best known for his role in a sports betting ring that led to a league suspension.

He rejoined the Phoenix Coyotes as an assistant coach in February, then was hired by Melrose in the offseason.

Vincent Lecavalier and Jussi Jokinen both failed to score in the …

Clarence W. Barrow Jr., acoustical consultant

Charles W. Barrow Jr., 40, a prominent acousticalarchitect/consultant, died Aug. 14 in his North Side home.

Mr. Barrow's accomplishments included the acoustics remodelingof Orchestra Hall, the Petrillo Music Shell, the Criminal CourtsBuilding and the Chicago Board of Options Exchange trading floors.

Born in San Antonio, Texas, Mr. Barrow was the oldest of foursons of Texas Supreme Court Justice Charles Wallace Barrow Sr.

A University of Texas graduate, he came …

среда, 14 марта 2012 г.

Sen. Murkowski Plans to Sell Alaska Land

ANCHORAGE, Alaska - Sen. Lisa Murkowski said Thursday she and her husband will sell Alaska land back to its owner, a day after a complaint to the Senate ethics committee about the purchase of the riverfront property.

"While Verne and I intended to make this our family home and we paid a fair price for this land, no property is worth compromising the trust of the Alaskan people," the Alaska Republican said in a prepared statement.

Murkowski said the vacant lot was being sold back to a friend, real estate developer Bob Penney, for $179,400, the same price that she and her husband, Verne Martell, had paid Penney.

Murkowski has drawn criticism over the purchase late …

Plane crashes into Tijuana car shop, killing 3

TIJUANA, Mexico (AP) — Mexican authorities say a light airplane taking off from the border city of Tijuana has crashed into an auto repair shop near a street market, killing three people and setting fire to several cars.

Baja California state agent Andre Cato says the 62-year-old pilot and his 17-year-old daughter died when …