Wal-Mart ILC faces many challenges

Members of Congress move to close loophole

"The character, powers and ownership of ILCs have changed materially..." - Alan Greenspan

Opposition is building to Wal-Mart's application for an industrial loan company charter, and not just from the banking industry. Powerful members of Congress have registered their distaste for the proposal, and in the waning days of his term, departing Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan urged Congress to rein in the expansion of ILCs.

Ironically, the National Association of Realtors has joined the chorus, too. At best this could be a mixed blessing for banking, as NAR's position on the Wal-Mart application is coupled with its …

Widow of Enron founder Lay says her husband didn't commit any crimes

The widow of Enron Corp. founder Kenneth Lay says her husband did not commit any crimes, according to court documents filed Friday in the ongoing effort by the federal government to seize nearly $13 million (euro8.81 million) in assets from his estate.

Linda Lay's claims were in response to an October 2006 civil action filed by federal prosecutors after her husband's convictions for his role in Enron's collapse were vacated following his death last year.

The civil action was the only way federal authorities could try to seize $12.7 million (euro8.6 million) in assets they claim were "proceeds of the fraud proven in the criminal case against …

Lilly's gem is flawed

Games like this are why managers like Lou Piniella tolerate postgame media sessions for barely a minute, why veteran players don't talk much about division leads in August and why nobody from Chicago older than a Chinese gymnast should take the Cubs' coronation for granted.

Even when the best and hottest team in the National League is playing a roster-gutted last-place team at home. Had the Brewers lost on Wednesday, the Cubs would have had a chance to open the franchise's biggest division lead since 1984.

''I wasn't aware of that,'' Cubs manager Lou Piniella said before Wednesday's 2-1 loss to the Cincinnati Reds. ''And I really don't care.''

Nobody this side of …

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

March 18-31

Arts & Entertainment

Tues., Mar. 22 - Children's author and North Shore resident Marlene Targ Brill will discuss her newest book, Annie Shapiro and the Clothing Workers' Strike, 7 p.m., Max & Benny's Restaurant, 461 Waukegan Rd., Northbrook; free.

Brill tells the story of the 17 -year-old girl who led Chicago sweatshop workers in a strike for better conditions in clothing factories.

In its review (Nov. 26, 2010) the Jewish Star said the book "will capture the imagination of a young reader."

Call 847-542-4624.

Sat., Mar. 26 - Lincolnwood Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Philip Simmons, will perform "Music of Spring", 2 …

Bengals Take Advantage of Jets' Mistakes

CINCINNATI - Don't blame Chad Pennington solely for this one. He had a lot of help. Kenny Watson ran for 130 yards and three touchdowns in the best performance of his career, and the Cincinnati Bengals turned the New York Jets' second-half meltdown into a 38-31 victory Sunday.

Hardly a drive went by without a major gaffe by two of the NFL's most disappointing teams.

The Bengals (2-4) snapped a four-game losing streak that was their longest during coach Marvin Lewis' five seasons. Watson led the way, playing like a star instead of Rudi Johnson's fill-in.

The seventh-year runner with a half-dozen career starts scored on runs of 1 and 2 yards in the second half, …

SPIN METER: White House straddles health tax issue

When it comes to taxing health insurance benefits, President Barack Obama hasn't said yes, and may never. But he and his top aides won't quite say no, either, to an idea he attacked sharply in his campaign for the White House.

Instead, they are in full straddle, a well-known Washington maneuver accompanied by a vocabulary designed to obscure.

"That was not in the president's plan. It was not in our budget," the administration's budget director, Peter Orszag, said Tuesday after the possibility of taxing benefits was raised _ not for the first time _ by Democratic Sen. Max Baucus of Montana, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee.

Read …

Bomb Found at Home Of Wash. St. Player

A pipe bomb and bomb-making book were found at the home of aWashington State football player who lost his hand in an explosionthat killed a teammate, Pullman, Wash., police said Wednesday.

Linebackers Harvey "Buddy" Waldron and Payam Saadat were ridingon a residential street Monday night when a pipe bomb exploded intheir pickup truck. Investigators have not determined where the menwere going or why the bomb was in the vehicle driven by Waldron.

Waldron, 22, of Bellevue, Wash., died Tuesday night at a Spokanehospital; an autopsy was scheduled today. Saadat, 20, of SantaMonica, Calif., reportedly was in satisfactory condition at a Seattlehospital. Washington may …

Mercedes sedan ups fuel mileage

Most people don't buy big, heavy, luxury sedans for their gasoline mileage. There are many other vehicles — lower-priced, too — that excel at fuel economy.

But government goals for atmospheric carbon reduction, plus competition among automakers, can do funny things to the car marketplace and help explain why Germany's Mercedes-Benz now sells a gasoline-powered, hybrid version of its flagship S-Class sedan.

The new-for-2010 S400 Hybrid is the first mass-production car to use a lithium ion battery to store and supply electric power. The 120-volt battery is more compact and adds less weight to the car than do nickel metal hydride batteries and has high energy density for its …

GOP warns again against passing health bill

Newly arrived Republican Sen. Scott Brown of Massachusetts accused President Barack Obama and Democrats on Saturday of a "bitter, destructive and endless" drive to pass health overhaul legislation that Brown warned would be disastrous.

"An entire year has gone to waste," Brown said in the weekly GOP radio and Internet address. "Millions of Americans have lost their jobs, and many more jobs are in danger. Even now, the president still hasn't gotten the message.

"Somehow, the greater the public opposition to the health care bill, the more determined they seem to force it on us anyway."

Brown himself can claim …

CBOT last in market volume

The Chicago Board of Trade finds itself in an unaccustomedplace_last_in the March volume data issued by the city's threefutures and options markets. Meanwhile, the Chicago Board OptionsExchange was the busiest in the city for the seventh straight month.Volume at the CBOT, traditionally the city's largest, dipped 12percent in March from the same month last year to 20.52 millioncontracts. The CBOE's March volume was up 76 percent from a year agoto 35.18 million contracts. At the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, Marchtrading was up 14 percent to 22.37 million contracts. The CBOT andthe CBOE are discussing a merger.

Stock rewards Bank One CEO

Jamie Dimon, the new chief …

Witnesses back defense theory in 'Survivor' case

CANCUN, Mexico (AP) — Lawyers for a U.S. reality television producer facing trial for allegedly murdering his wife at a Mexican resort have called two witnesses to testify they saw the victim leave her hotel to go shopping three days before she was found dead.

Prosecutors have said Monica Beresford-Redman did not leave the hotel and was killed there by her husband. …

India's Tata Motors says profits up 57.5 percent

India's Tata Motors said Monday its quarterly profit surged 57.5 percent as cost cutting, income from the sale of part of its stake in Tata Steel and lower raw material prices made up for slumping sales.

Profits for the quarter that ended in June were 5.13 billion rupees ($106.7 million), up from 3.26 billion rupees ($67.7 million) the same quarter last year.

India's largest commercial vehicle maker said revenues for the quarter fell 7.6 percent to 64 billion rupees ($1.33 billion) from 69.3 billion rupees ($1.44 billion).

"The company's continued focus on cost efficiencies, coupled with reduction of raw material prices, inventory reduction and improvement in sales …

US-Led Airstrike Kills 7 Afghan Children

KABUL, Afghanistan - Seven children were killed in a U.S.-led coalition airstrike targeting suspected al-Qaida militants in eastern Afghanistan, a coalition statement said Monday. The strike came hours after the deadliest insurgent attack since the Taliban fell in 2001.

A suicide bomber on Sunday destroyed a bus full of police instructors at Kabul's busiest transportation hub, killing 35 people and wounding 52, officials said.

The airstrike, which had the support of Afghan troops, was launched on a compound that also contained a mosque and a madrassa, or Islamic school, in the Zarghun Shah district of Paktika province.

Early reports said seven children at the school were killed in the strike and that "several militants" also were killed, the coalition statement said. Two suspected militants also were detained.

Coalition troops had "surveillance on the compound all day and saw no indications there were children inside the building," said Maj. Chris Belcher, a coalition spokesman. He accused the militants of not letting the children leave the compound that was targeted.

"If we knew that there were children inside the building, there was no way that that airstrike would have occurred," said Sgt. 1st Class Dean Welch, another coalition spokesman.

Afghan officials have recently said that civilian deaths are the main concern of Afghans, and President Hamid Karzai has repeatedly called for foreign troops to do more to prevent civilian casualties.

Sunday's enormous blast, which raised the specter of an increase in Iraq-style bombings with heavy casualties, was at least the fourth attack against a bus carrying Afghan police or army soldiers in Kabul in the last year. The bomb sheared off the bus' metal sidings and roof, leaving a charred frame.

"Never in my life have I heard such a sound," said Ali Jawad, a 48-year-old who was selling phone cards nearby. "A big fireball followed. I saw blood and a decapitated man thrown out of the bus."

The explosion was the fifth suicide attack in Afghanistan in three days, part of a sharp spike in violence around the country.

In the south, in Kandahar province, a roadside bomb killed three members of the U.S.-led coalition and an Afghan interpreter. The soldiers' nationalities were not released, but most in the coalition are American.

Condemning the Kabul attack, Karzai said the "enemies of Afghanistan" were trying to stop the development of Afghan security forces, a key component in the U.S.-NATO strategy of handing over security responsibilities to the Afghan government one day, allowing Western forces to leave.

A self-described Taliban spokesman, Qari Yousef Ahmadi, said a Taliban suicide bomber named Mullah Asim Abdul Rahman caused the blast. Ahmadi called an Associated Press reporter from an undisclosed location. His claim could not be verified.

Zemeri Bashary, the spokesman for the Interior Ministry, said late Sunday that 35 were killed and 52 wounded in the blast. Karzai's office said 22 police instructors died, indicating that 13 of the dead were civilians.

At least one person survived the 8:10 a.m. bus blast. Nasir Ahmad, 22, a janitor at the police training academy, was sitting in the back of the bus when the bomb exploded. Speaking from a hospital bed where he was recovering from wounds to his face and hands, he said: "There were between 30 to 40 police instructors in the bus."

It was the only full sentence he managed to utter before stopping from exhaustion.

At the entrance to the hospital, a blue plastic trash can overflowed with the bloodied shoes and sandals of victims.

Interior Minister Zarar Ahmad Muqbal said initial indications were that a suicide bomber boarded the bus as it stopped to pick up police instructors at an open-air bus station in central Kabul. Such a suicide attack would represent a sizable jump in lethality compared to more typical Taliban suicide bombings, which often kill far fewer people.

Maj. John Thomas, a spokesman for NATO's International Security Assistance Force, said it was too early to tell if the attack was a sign of more lethal bombings to come, or heavier involvement by al-Qaida. NATO commanders have long predicted a rise in suicide attacks this year.

A civilian bus was driving just in front of the police vehicle and was damaged when the bomb went off. A police officer at the scene said the civilian bus' position likely prevented more civilian casualties.

Afghan government officials, police and army soldiers are commonly targeted by insurgents trying to bring down Karzai's U.S.-backed government, and buses carrying Afghan police and army soldiers are common targets.

In May, a remote-control bomb hit an Afghan army bus in Kabul, killing the driver and wounding 29 people. In October, a bomb on a bicycle exploded as a police bus went by in Kabul, wounding 11. Last July, a remote-controlled bomb blew up near an Afghan army bus in downtown Kabul, wounding 39 people on board.

Insurgency-related violence has killed more than 2,400 people in Afghanistan this year, mostly insurgents, according to an AP count based on figures from U.S., NATO, U.N. and Afghan officials.

---

Associated Press reporters Noor Khan in Kandahar and Rahim Faiez and Amir Shah in Kabul contributed to this report.

Iraq govt calls for death sentences to be ratified

Iraq's government on Tuesday called on the presidential council to ratify the death sentences against former officials from Saddam Hussein's regime so that the punishments can be carried out.

The appeal came on the same day that two of the former officials on death row, including Saddam Hussein's cousin known as "Chemical Ali" Hassan al-Majid, faced their latest trial over a chemical weapons attack on the Kurdish city of Halabja 21 years ago.

Al-Majid, who gained his nickname for his role in the Halabja attack, was sentenced to hang in June 2007 along with former defense minister Sultan Hashim al-Taie and Hussein Rashid Mohammed, former deputy director of operations for the Iraqi armed forces.

They were convicted of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity for their part in Operation Anfal _ a 1987-88 crackdown on the Kurdish region that killed nearly 200,000 civilians and guerrillas. That case was considered separate from the Halabja attack.

But influential Sunni Arabs and President Jalal Talabani, a Kurd, intervened and insisted that Sultan Hashim _ widely viewed as a respected career soldier who was forced to follow Saddam's orders in the purges against Kurds _ be spared the gallows.

That delayed the execution of all three.

The three-member presidential council led by Talabani agreed to al-Majid's execution last year but did not approve the death sentences against the other two and no date for the executions have been announced.

Saddam ordered the attack on the city of Halabja on March 16, 1988, as part of a scorched-earth campaign to crush a Kurdish rebellion in the north, which was seen as aiding Iran in the final months of its war with Iraq.

"The Cabinet is calling on the presidential council to respond to Iraqi people's will and ratify all death sentences against the criminals," said a statement issued by government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh's office.

The statement did not specify any convicts but invoked the memory of Halabja, saying the plea was meant to honor victims on the 21st anniversary of that attack.

Al-Majid has since been sentenced to death in two other cases related to atrocities committed under Saddam's regime.

He, al-Taie, Saddam's former head of intelligence Sabir Azizi al-Douri and Farhan Mutlaq al-Jubouri, the former head of military intelligence's eastern regional office, faced another capital trial Tuesday over the Halabja attack.

Amnesty International last week also called on the Iraqi government to stop the execution of 128 prisoners on death row, saying the country's judicial system is ill-equipped to provide a fair trial.

Saddam was hanged on Dec. 30, 2006, for his role in the 1982 killings of 148 Shiites following an assassination attempt against the Iraqi dictator in the town of Dujail.

Three other figures from the former regime also were later executed in that case.

The executions drew Sunni outrage, but the government has since stepped up its efforts to promote national reconciliation.

Arab League chief Amr Moussa applauded those efforts on Tuesday, saying the government's policies have led to more stability.

"I feel that there is a big difference in the country," Moussa said at a joint news conference with Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki on his first visit to Iraq since October 2005. "Hope has emerged for a prosperous future."

The mostly Sunni Arab nations that comprise the 22-nation Arab League have begun to engage the Shiite-dominated Iraqi government, after shunning it for years to avoid implying approval of the 2003 U.S.-led invasion.

___

Associated Press Writers Sinan Salaheddin and Mazin Yahya contributed to this report.

Vancouver Games turn NHL teammates into opponents

Pavel Datsyuk will be a Russian first and foremost over the next two weeks.

His ties to the Detroit Red Wings will lag far behind.

"You don't have friends on the ice," the dazzling center said when asked about teammates turning into opponents at the Olympics. "Off ice, we're friends."

In Vancouver, a lot of friends will become foes.

The San Jose Sharks have eight players on provisional rosters and they're spread out over five teams: Canada, United States, Sweden, Russia and Germany.

"The stakes are high, so we're not going to pull any punches," said forward Joe Thornton, one of four Sharks slated to suit up for the host Canadians. "I think it's going to be exciting and we're going to have a lot of fun with it."

American Ryan Suter is also looking forward to facing as many as four of his Nashville teammates representing four countries.

"It'll be a game within a game and a competition within the big picture," Suter said.

Thornton said on the Sharks' flight home from Buffalo on Saturday night, he expected to discuss side bets such as forcing teammate Evgeni Nabokov, a Russian goaltender, to wear maple leaf-filled gear if he loses.

"Or, maybe something worse than that," Thornton said with a grin.

It will not be fun and games if somebody gets injured, though, and NHL owners will be holding their breath, hoping their players don't hurt each other and derail their chances for winning the Stanley Cup.

Swedish defenseman Niklas Kronwall is one of the fiercest hitters in the NHL, and he might have a shot to lay out a Red Wings teammate such as Datsyuk, American Brian Rafalski or Finn Valtteri Filppula.

"You don't even have it in your mind that you're going to smoke somebody, or try to hurt somebody," Kronwall insisted. "But you play as close to the line as you can with as much toughness as possible."

Filppula, whose first opportunity to play in the Olympics might get derailed by a groin injury, said Kronwall shouldn't think twice about hitting him in open ice or a corner.

"I think guys will play the way they normally play because the game is too fat to think, `Hey, that's my NHL teammate," Filppula said. "I'm sure Kronner will try to light me up if he can.

"That's the way it should be."

The NHL has not decided if its players will be allowed to compete at the 2014 Olympics in Russia.

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman has repeatedly said that league's participation will require extensive discussions between it and the NHL Players' Association. He says shutting down the league for two weeks creates problem _ especially when the Olympics are staged outside of North America.

Kronwall, who will try to help Sweden repeat as Olympic champions, hopes this isn't his last chance to run into an NHL teammate at the Olympics.

"It's kind of the beauty of it," he said. "Maybe on the ice, you're swearing at each other and the next week, you're going out to dinner and it's all back to normal."

After pulling for Swedish and Red Wings star Nicklas Lidstrom in Vancouver, defenseman Douglas Murray will be rooting against the 39-year-old defenseman as a member of the Sharks.

"I want nothing less than gold for Nick because this will probably be his last big tournament," Murray said. "But then, I don't want him to win the Cup!"

Lawyer Asks Return of Polygamist Papers

SALT LAKE CITY - An attorney for polygamist sect leader Warren Jeffs is demanding the return of personal papers seized from the fugitive's vehicle when he was arrested near Las Vegas.

The "sacred" papers constitute privileged communication between the spiritual leader and his followers in the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, attorney Richard Wright said in an emergency motion filed in U.S. District Court in Las Vegas.

Jeffs was captured Aug. 28 and has been brought to Utah to face state charges of rape by accomplice, accused of arranging a marriage between an underage girl and an older man.

Wright said the papers, laptop computers and recording devices seized from Jeffs' vehicle are protected by the First Amendment right to freedom of religion.

"These records include confidential religious writings and teachings of the FLDS, as well as privileged communications with FLDS members," his motion says.

Jeffs, 50, was arrested after more than a year on the run and three months on the FBI's Most Wanted list. A Nevada Highway Patrol trooper stopped his vehicle north of Las Vegas because its temporary Colorado license tag was too hard to read.

FBI agents have said they found $54,000 in cash, cell phones, wigs, a police scanner, GPS device and ledgers containing the names of people who offered shelter and money to Jeffs while he was on the lam.

Jeffs remained in jail on Saturday, awaiting a status hearing set for Monday.

How is genuine curse identified?

Following your issue of July 21, a few items tempt me to take upmy pen.

I imagine Mr Hill of the Gauntlet will sleep easier following DrLiz Williams' assurance that the curse on him is not a genuinewitch's curse.

This begs the question - how is a genuine one identified? Have wewitches' covens in Glastonbury? Does her doctorate lend somecredence and authority to her statement?

Mind you, a few covens would add a further attraction to the"abbey theme park", although there would be a conflict of beliefs. Amock trial and burning at the stake, or dunking in the abbey pondcould draw in the tourists.

I welcome Sergeant French to his new post, but am interested inhow he is to introduce "old fashioned policing". Has he read up onRobert Peel, viewed old Dixon of Dock Green films, or had longdiscussions with the older generations? Unfortunately the "do-gooders" have outlawed the "grip on the ear" with a dressing downfor minor offences, rendering instant justice, dispensing withpaperwork and court time and no doubt in many cases nipping in thebud a career in crime.

Your article on the bunker took me back to my days as a civildefence member, where we were trained to combat the after-effects ofan atom bomb attack during the Cold War. I visited such a bunker inYeovil - immediately on the left as you turned towards Dorchester.The last time I was near there a copse had overgrown it, but nodoubt it still exists.

I still have my calculator for measuring the number of deaths andcollateral damage from the epicentre.

Looking back it seemed so futile, but I suppose the Governmenthad to be seen to be doing something. The cartoon story book, WhenThe Wind Blows, summed it up.

Finally, not relating to your paper - I think Glastonbury BoroughCouncil should have words with the BBC. "Glastonbury" is nowsynonymous with wet muddy weather, according to one weatherforecaster who intimated wellies and umbrellas would be needed.

We all know it always rains in Manchester, except the odd day atOld Trafford. The benefit, if any, of being mistaken for Pilton, maybe eroded if tourists think Glastonbury is always wet.

F N Carling

Pike Close

Glastonbury

Important cases among 17 disputes left to be decided by Supreme Court

Highlights of some high-profile Supreme Court cases, among the 17 that remain to be decided before the court begins its summer recess, probably in late June:

_Gun rights, and the fate of a handgun ban in Washington, D.C. The court is undertaking the first comprehensive review of the U.S. Constitution's Second Amendment rights in U.S. history, and it will decide whether individuals have a right to own guns or whether that right is linked to service in a militia.

_Death penalty for raping a child. A man on death row for raping his 8-year-old stepdaughter is challenging a Louisiana law allowing the death penalty for the crime, even when it does not include the death of the victim. The last execution for a crime that did not also include murder was more than 40 years ago and the court outlawed the death penalty for raping an adult woman in 1977.

_Punitive damages in the Exxon Valdez oil spill. Exxon Mobil Corp. is fighting a $2.5 billion judgment for the environmental disaster in Alaska 19 years ago that ensued after the supertanker ran aground on a reef.

Ex-Worker Caught, Safecracking Alleged

WILMINGTON, Del. - A fired restaurant manager was caught trying to crack a company safe after he searched the Internet for tips in the middle of the burglary, authorities said.

Branden M. Tingey, 28, hid late Wednesday in the ceiling of the men's room at Polidoro Italian Grill until he thought the place was empty, then went to the manager's office and tried to break into the safe, investigators said.

Apparently stymied, police said Tingey turned to the restaurant's computer to search for safecracking instructions. The search was interrupted when two managers who had been in another part of the restaurant doing paperwork walked in.

Tingey, who had been fired about three years ago, ran out a rear door but was captured a short time later. He was charged with attempted robbery, burglary, carrying a weapon and other charges.

Tingey remained in custody Friday. Department of Correction spokeswoman Gail Stallings Minor said she was unable to determine whether Tingey had an attorney. A woman who answered the phone at Tingey's home hung up on a reporter seeking comment.

Try martial arts at Bath centre

MARTIAL ARTS The Bath Martial Arts Centre, based at the GarrawayClub in Worcester Buildings, Larkhall, holds evening sessions inaikido, judo and ju jitsu.

During October, the Bath Aikido Club are offering a free tastersession on any Friday evening from 6.30pm to any young person fromthe age of six years who wishes to try this art. The sessions aretaken by Daniel Kronenberg, a 3rd Dan black belt in aikido, and hecan be contacted on 07791 849372 to book a free session.

Anybody wishing to try the ju jitsu sessions which are aimed at15-year-olds and older should just turn up at the club at 7.45pm ona Wednesday for a free trial session.

There are also adult judo sessions available on Mondays, startingat 7.15pm, which are taught by Andy Knapp, a 3rd Dan in Judo.

Call 01225 428569 for more details.

City makes progress in housing campaign

City makes progress in housing campaign

As 1999 drew to a close, Mayor Thomas Menino called reporters and housing advocates together at a nearly completed Hyde Park home to celebrate permits pulled for the construction of 2,061 units of housing that year.

The battle against the city's housing crunch -- its lack of available housing stock, inflated costs and lack of affordable units -- was being won one house, one unit at a time.

This year the announcement of 2,655 new units comes amidst an increasing demand for solutions and an acknowledgement that even 2,655 units a year may not be enough.

The underlying problems of sky-high rents and housing costs remain even more intractable than last year.

"The median income of Boston renters is $27,000 a year," notes Kathy Brown, coordinator of the Boston Tenant Coalition. "That in no way can support the rents landlords are asking for."

The city's main approach to the problem is two-pronged. One thrust is to create more units of housing to reduce the demand, and therefore the cost of housing. The other is to build more affordable housing to help curb the displacement of low- and moderate-income residents.

"We have a mayor who has set a goal of increasing housing production," says Charlotte Golar Richie, director of the city's Department of Neighborhood Development. "He's set a very ambitious goal and we're meeting it."

Menino, who pledged to facilitate 7,500 new housing starts in three years, may well reach that goal at the current rate.

But Richie and others acknowledge the city cannot rely on production alone to tackle the housing crunch.

"People are losing their homes, landlords are raising their rents," Richie says. "People are between a rock and a hard place."

The city has filed a barrage of legislative initiatives aimed at increasing affordable housing in and around Boston. The Act to Promote Affordable Housing Construction would require municipalities that have less than 10 percent affordability in their housing stock to contribute funds into a state affordable housing trust fund.

The Act to Designate Surplus State Revenues for Affordable Housing Construction would require the commonwealth to use 10 percent of the money in a fiscal year's budget surplus for the construction of affordable housing.

The Act Providing an Incentive to Keep Rents Fair would allow owner-occupants of small rental properties to claim a $2,000 tax credit for non-subsidized apartments rented below the HUD fair market value.

Richie says the initiatives the administration is advancing came out of a series of meetings city officials use to help develop housing policy. Richie, Boston Redevelopment Authority Director Mark Maloney and Boston Housing Authority Director Sandra Henriquez meet regularly to compare notes and discuss solutions, according to Richie.

"We're at the table not just once a month, but week-in, week-out," she said. "We're working on issues of affordability, housing for the homeless, complex issues."

Housing advocates, like Kathy Brown, acknowledge that the administration has committed considerable resources to the housing problem. Menino has committed $30 million to housing production.

But Brown says a one-time infusion of cash is no substitute for a line-item in the city's annual budget.

"We think the city could target the increased tax revenue for affordable housing funds," she said.

Photo (Mayor Thomas Menino Speaks)

Democratic hopefuls test waters in Oklahoma Candidates criticize war, economy in town hall forum

STILLWATER, Okla.--Democratic presidential hopefuls came Tuesdayto a state virtually ignored in past races, bringing with them theircriticism of the Bush administration.

Six of the nine candidates spoke at Oklahoma State University onhealth care, the economy and how they would have handled theaftermath of the 9/11 attacks.

"I say this is the time for the United States to admit it made amistake in attacking Iraq," said Ohio Rep. Dennis Kucinich, who saysBush has eroded relationships with the United Nations and the worldcommunity.

Former Illinois Sen. Carol Braun said Bush's approach has"frittered away all the goodwill we had" and said she wants U.S.troops out of Iraq. But "we have a moral obligation to at least putthat country back in shape," she said. "We can't just leave, havingblown them up."

Asked about gay marriages, she recalled an aunt in an interracialmarriage decades ago and brought applause when she said, "I don't seeany difference between interracial marriages and same-sex marriages."

Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman drew a mix of boos and applausewhen he said he opposed same-sex marriages.

"I am the one Democrat who can take Bush on where he's supposed tobe strong--security and mainstream values," he said, and that madehim the best candidate to take on the "right-wing agenda" that hecalled Bush's weakness.

Candidates challenged Bush's handling of the economy, citingrecently announced job cuts at a Wrangler plant in Seminole.

Vermont Gov. Howard Dean described Bush's tax cuts as perks forhis wealthy corporate friends.

"I wouldn't have cut taxes, period," Dean said. "Most people wouldgladly pay the same taxes they paid when Bill Clinton was presidentif only they could have the same economy ... when Bill Clinton waspresident."

Dean favored independent pension plans that travel with workerswho change jobs, saying corporations can no longer be trusted to runtheir own pensions.

Missouri Rep. Dick Gephardt and North Carolina Sen. John Edwardsalso were scheduled to speak at the town hall-style event.

Oklahoma has not voted for a Democrat for president since LyndonJohnson in 1964. It has been ignored by primary presidentialcandidates in recent elections, prompting the Legislature to move the2004 election to Feb. 3, one week after the New Hampshire primary,the nation's first. AP

Olympian at sports day

Staff at Corston-based online publisher SelectScience.net werejoined by Olympic gold medallist Amy Williams for a sports day.

The occasion marked the company's 12-year anniversary andprovided the opportunity for all employees to join together for aday of team-building activities. Williams, left, who struck gold inthe bob skeleton at the 2010 Winter Olympics, joined the team for apicnic at the Royal Crescent in Bath and refereed the sports dayactivities.

The winning team, Team Trouble, received a bottle of champagneand the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity of "owning" the Olympic goldmedal for five minutes.

Tom Smart, of Team Trouble, said: "It's amazing to be in thepresence of such an exceptional athlete.

"I think Amy really brought out my A-game."

Things we love about ...

Starting the day the Parisian way:

Nous t'adorons, the prix-fixe brunch at Paris in Chicago, 3310 N. Halsted. Just $15.95. Call (773) 883-7288 for information.

Time to get the 10-speed up to speed:

Humboldt Park on the West Side hosts a bicycle-repair workshop today from noon-6 p.m. Repairs are do-it-yourself, but an instructor from West Town Bikes will walk you through your tune-up. Suggested donation is $10. Call (773) 772-6523 for more information.

We don't have a clue about why we're planning to stay up so late tonight...

Oh, wait. Yes, we do. The midnight movie at the Music Box, 3733 N. Southport, is the 1985 comedy "Clue," based on the board game. Tickets are $9.25. Call (773) 871-6604 for more information or visit www.music boxtheatre.com.

For more Saturday action, visit centerstagechicago.com

Hey! You got three better ones? Tell us your three favorite things about Saturdays at ourtownchicago.com

`Baby' is a cuddly, little bundle of joy

Baby Lizzie Fields Liz Callaway Danny Hooper Dan Foster Arlene McNally Kathy Taylor Alan McNally Joe D. Lauck Pam Sakarian Shannon Cochran Nick Sakarian Russell Reneau Marriott's Lincolnshire Theater presents a musical by SybillePearson, David Shire and Richard Maltby Jr. Directed by Maltby. Setby Jeffrey Harris. Costumes by Nancy Missimi. Lighting by TerryJenkins. Musical direction by Kevin Stites. Through June 29 atMarriott's Lincolnshire Resort, Milwaukee Avenue, one-half mile southof Half Day Road. 634-0200. Everybody loves a baby, but new mothers are especially vulnerable.For me, being objective about the latest production at Marriott'sLincolnshire Theater is just about as possible as passing up thelatest formula special at Toys R Us.

So let me gush and coo about "Baby," one of the most lovableshows to hit the Marriott stage.

For the Chicago area premiere of the 1984 Broadway musical,Marriott producer Kary Walker has snared not only the original NewYork director, Richard Maltby Jr., but also leading lady LizCallaway, who recreates the role that earned her a 1984 Tony Awardnomination. Translated to Marriott's in-the-square stage, the showsimply exudes cuddly warmth.

"Baby" tells the tale of three couples who suddenly findthemselves in the throes of expectant parenthood. Callaway is acollege student who just moved in with her boyfriend (Dan Foster).Kathy Taylor and Joe D. Lauck are middle-aged marrieds who overdotheir 20th wedding anniversary. And Shannon Cochran and RussellRe-neau play a couple who desperately want kids, but have to copewith unexpected fertility.

Blended with lovely and often witty songs, the stage actiontakes the characters from the joy and/or shock of getting pregnancytest results right through the moment of birth. But all is not icecream and pickles. There are many poignant stops along thenine-month journey as the couples discover the intense stresspregnancy puts on marriages. The level-headed, realis tic way "Baby" deals with this is just another plus.

Callaway, daughter of Chicago TV personality John Callaway, issimply perfect as Lizzie, the college-student mom. Her voice issweet with a lovely trill in the upper registers. And her enthusiasmfor her main man, Dan Foster, is especially touching since Foster isher real-life husband.

The other standout is Shannon Cochran who moves, talks and evenstands still like a female athlete. Her passion for "true womanhood"might seem a little dated, but Cochran gives painful insistency tothis real desire.

The singing cast gives the "Baby" score a lovely reading.Director Maltby keeps this long show moving at a brisk pace withoutlosing long moments of dramatic impact. And costumer Nancy Missimideserves a special mention for her subtle, taste-ful arrangement ofsoft colors and modern lines.

"Baby" is such an appealing, winning show that it seems silly tovoice an objection. But I have one anyway. During those first,exhausting three months of pregnancy, who really has the energy toget up and sing?

John C. Cammick, one of 1st black Illinois state troopers

John C. Cammick, 70, one of the first black Illinois statetroopers, died Wednesday at Monticello Nursing Home in Oak Lawn.

A Chicago native and longtime resident of the South Shore, Mr.Cammick worked for the Illinois State Police from 1951 to 1963.

He began working for the Clark Oil Refinery in Chicago in 1964,serving first as district manager and later as territorial managerwith responsibility over several Midwest states. He retired in 1983.

Mr. Cammick served as a staff sergeant in the Army during WorldWar II.

He is survived by his wife, Inez, and four children.

Visitation will be at 1 p.m. tomorrow at the Cage MemorialChapel, 7651 S. Jeffrey, followed by a funeral service at 2 p.m.Interment will be private.

INDEPENDENT VIEWPOINT

Local alternatives to the budget-buster mega-plex

Taking in a flick doesn't have to mean heading to the mega-plex to catch the latest blockbuster. The Treasure Valley is home to a few bastions of cinema where the atmosphere is kept casual, the films eclectic and the ownership independent.

At Boise art film mecca, the Flicks, movie goers can enjoy dinner and drinks while watching an indie picture.

"Our main goal ... is to show films that you might not otherwise get to see. Independent films. Films for grown-ups," said owner Carole Skinner.

For some families, a movie can be a budget-buster. But those who don't mind waiting until the buzz has faded can take the clan to Overland Park Cinema, where a $4 adult ticket includes popcorn and a soda. Even better, all Tuesday screenings cost $1. Many of the discount cinema's secondrun films are family friendly so parents can entertain the brood without worrying about wayward f-bombs.

One movie theater in Nampa has combined the Flicks' drink-and-dinewhile-you-watch concept with Overland Park's second-run plan. At Northern Lights Cinema Grill, inside the Karcher Mall, all shows cost $3. Don't worry about trying to balance a steak burrito on your lap. This place offers movie-theater seating with freestanding countertops. Alcohol is served after 6:15 p.m., when the venue switches from all ages to adults only.

Family is also the theme at 52-yearold Terrace Drive-ln Theatre in Caldwell where owner Alice Estrada screens G, PG and PG-13 films.

"We couldn't play Nightmare on Elm Street here. I don't want that," said Estrada. "When you show R-rated movies on a regular basis, you're going to lose customers because this is a family thing and they won't bring the kids."

The drive-in is nostalgic for baby boomers who remember being excited to go to the movies in pajamas and falling asleep in the back of dad's car.

Many locals remember seeing their first movie at the ornate Egyptian Theatre in downtown Boise, which was built in 1927. Just admiring the elaborate Art Deco hieroglyphic can be entertaining. Although the Egyptian now serves mainly as a concert venue, occasional movies still fill the screen.

Whether you want a dine-in indie film, a discounted flick or drive-in nostalgia, ditch the megaplex and go local.

[Sidebar]

EGYPTIAN THEATRE

700 W. Main St., Boise, 208-387-1273, egyptiantheatre.net

THE FLICKS

646 Fulton St., Boise, 208-342-4222, theflick5b0ise.com

NORTHERN LIGHTS CINEMAGRILL

1509 Caldwell Blvd., Nampa, 208-475-2999, nampamovies.com

OVERLAND PARK CINEMA

7051 Overiano Road, Boise, 208-377-3072, opcmovies.com

TERRACE DRIVE-IN THEATRE

4011 S. Lake Ave., Caldwell, 208-455-1433, terracedriveintheatre.com

White House to Lobby Lawmakers on Iraq

WASHINGTON - The White House is pushing hard to buy time for its Iraq strategy, offering Congress unusual access to President Bush's top military and diplomatic advisers.

About 200 lawmakers were invited to the Pentagon for a classified question-and-answer session on Thursday with Gen. David Petraeus, the top U.S. commander in Iraq, and Ryan Crocker, the U.S. ambassador there. The two men were expected to brief lawmakers via satellite from Baghdad.

Bush's new war adviser, Lt. Gen. Douglas Lute, also was to be in the room.

Later in the day, Crocker was scheduled to testify publicly before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, also by video link.

The …

Red Sox out at home; Tigers' rally ends Fenway win streak.(Sports)

Byline: JEFF HORRIGAN

The feeling that no lead is safe at Fenway Park usually haunts visiting teams on Yawkey Way, where the Red Sox regularly erase large deficits.

Last night, however, the Detroit Tigers turned the tables by overcoming an early 6-0 deficit and pounding the Red Sox, 12-8, to bring an emphatic end to the Sox' 14-game home winning streak and allow their lead in the AL East to slip to 1 1/2 games over the second-place New York Yankees. It marked the largest lead squandered by the Sox in a losing effort since June 28, 2003, when they blew a seven-run lead vs. the Florida Marlins before falling, 10-9.

Bronson Arroyo turned in an absolute stinker by surrendering seven runs in 5 1/3 innings, while rookie sensation Jonathan Papelbon handed over the lead by allowing Detroit batters to use the Green Monster like a racquetball wall. The Tigers hit five balls off the famed left field wall, including a pair off Papelbon (0-1) by the first two batters he faced in the decisive, three-run sixth inning. Brandon Inge greeted him with a double that tied the score at 7-7 and Omar Infante followed with a similar shot that put the Tigers ahead for the duration.

Arroyo surrendered exactly seven runs for the fourth time this season on eight hits in 5 1/3 nnings. It appeared that the Sox were going to be a lopsided laugher after they pounded Tigers starting pitcher Sean Douglass for six runs in the third inning, but Arroyo embraced the lead as if it were a thorn bush.

Arroyo surrendered five runs in the fourth inning and departed in the sixth with a slim 7-6 lead, only to see Papelbon come out of the bullpen to immediately surrender the advantage.

After being held to five-or-fewer runs in the final eight games of their season-long, 10-game road trip, the Sox exploded for nine runs in Friday's win and appeared destined to blow past that in the early going last night.

Douglass, who has an 8.48 ERA vs. the Red Sox in nine career appearances, allowed consecutive, no-out singles to Tony Graffanino, Johnny Damon and Edgar Renteria in the third as the game's first run came across. David Ortiz followed Renteria by blasting Douglass' next pitch over the Green Monster for his 32nd homer of the season and first in 10 days, extending the lead to 4-0. Trot Nixon followed two batters later with a wallop off the top of the center field wall and into the bleachers for his first homer since July 15 and his 15th overall of the season. Bill Mueller made it a seemingly-comfortable 6-0 lead with a two-out, RBI single.

Even though he was called on to pitch 1 2/3 innings of relief in Wednesday's 11-inning loss in Kansas City, Arroyo didn't show any signs of fatigue early on and breezed through the first three innings, facing the minimum of nine batters. The fourth inning was an entirely different story.

Just after being provided a six-run cushion, Arroyo surrendered five runs and allowed the Tigers to bat around to halt the momentum. Dmitri Young put his team on the board in emphatic fashion by following a pair of singles and a walk with a blast into the right field seats for his fourth career grand slam. Detroit then narrowed its deficit to 6-5 on consecutive, two-out doubles by Brandon Inge and Omar Infante.

Douglass' evening ended when he walked Graffanino to open the fourth. Tigers reliever Roman Colon initially was no better. He threw a pair of wild pitches that allowed Graffanino to score, but the 7-5 Sox lead proved flimsy.

The Tigers chased Arroyo in the sixth on doubles by Magglio Ordonez and Carlos Pena, which cut it to 7-6, and Inge and Infante then rudely greeted Papelbon.

Caption: ALL DONE: Red Sox starter Bronson Arroyo walks off the field after being removed in the sixth inning of last night's 12-8 loss to the Detroit Tigers at Fenway Park. Arroyo allowed seven runs in 5 1/3 innings. STAFF PHOTO BY TIM CORREIRA

Red Sox out at home; Tigers' rally ends Fenway win streak.(Sports)

Byline: JEFF HORRIGAN

The feeling that no lead is safe at Fenway Park usually haunts visiting teams on Yawkey Way, where the Red Sox regularly erase large deficits.

Last night, however, the Detroit Tigers turned the tables by overcoming an early 6-0 deficit and pounding the Red Sox, 12-8, to bring an emphatic end to the Sox' 14-game home winning streak and allow their lead in the AL East to slip to 1 1/2 games over the second-place New York Yankees. It marked the largest lead squandered by the Sox in a losing effort since June 28, 2003, when they blew a seven-run lead vs. the Florida Marlins before falling, 10-9.

Bronson Arroyo turned in an absolute stinker by surrendering seven runs in 5 1/3 innings, while rookie sensation Jonathan Papelbon handed over the lead by allowing Detroit batters to use the Green Monster like a racquetball wall. The Tigers hit five balls off the famed left field wall, including a pair off Papelbon (0-1) by the first two batters he faced in the decisive, three-run sixth inning. Brandon Inge greeted him with a double that tied the score at 7-7 and Omar Infante followed with a similar shot that put the Tigers ahead for the duration.

Arroyo surrendered exactly seven runs for the fourth time this season on eight hits in 5 1/3 nnings. It appeared that the Sox were going to be a lopsided laugher after they pounded Tigers starting pitcher Sean Douglass for six runs in the third inning, but Arroyo embraced the lead as if it were a thorn bush.

Arroyo surrendered five runs in the fourth inning and departed in the sixth with a slim 7-6 lead, only to see Papelbon come out of the bullpen to immediately surrender the advantage.

After being held to five-or-fewer runs in the final eight games of their season-long, 10-game road trip, the Sox exploded for nine runs in Friday's win and appeared destined to blow past that in the early going last night.

Douglass, who has an 8.48 ERA vs. the Red Sox in nine career appearances, allowed consecutive, no-out singles to Tony Graffanino, Johnny Damon and Edgar Renteria in the third as the game's first run came across. David Ortiz followed Renteria by blasting Douglass' next pitch over the Green Monster for his 32nd homer of the season and first in 10 days, extending the lead to 4-0. Trot Nixon followed two batters later with a wallop off the top of the center field wall and into the bleachers for his first homer since July 15 and his 15th overall of the season. Bill Mueller made it a seemingly-comfortable 6-0 lead with a two-out, RBI single.

Even though he was called on to pitch 1 2/3 innings of relief in Wednesday's 11-inning loss in Kansas City, Arroyo didn't show any signs of fatigue early on and breezed through the first three innings, facing the minimum of nine batters. The fourth inning was an entirely different story.

Just after being provided a six-run cushion, Arroyo surrendered five runs and allowed the Tigers to bat around to halt the momentum. Dmitri Young put his team on the board in emphatic fashion by following a pair of singles and a walk with a blast into the right field seats for his fourth career grand slam. Detroit then narrowed its deficit to 6-5 on consecutive, two-out doubles by Brandon Inge and Omar Infante.

Douglass' evening ended when he walked Graffanino to open the fourth. Tigers reliever Roman Colon initially was no better. He threw a pair of wild pitches that allowed Graffanino to score, but the 7-5 Sox lead proved flimsy.

The Tigers chased Arroyo in the sixth on doubles by Magglio Ordonez and Carlos Pena, which cut it to 7-6, and Inge and Infante then rudely greeted Papelbon.

Caption: ALL DONE: Red Sox starter Bronson Arroyo walks off the field after being removed in the sixth inning of last night's 12-8 loss to the Detroit Tigers at Fenway Park. Arroyo allowed seven runs in 5 1/3 innings. STAFF PHOTO BY TIM CORREIRA

Red Sox out at home; Tigers' rally ends Fenway win streak.(Sports)

Byline: JEFF HORRIGAN

The feeling that no lead is safe at Fenway Park usually haunts visiting teams on Yawkey Way, where the Red Sox regularly erase large deficits.

Last night, however, the Detroit Tigers turned the tables by overcoming an early 6-0 deficit and pounding the Red Sox, 12-8, to bring an emphatic end to the Sox' 14-game home winning streak and allow their lead in the AL East to slip to 1 1/2 games over the second-place New York Yankees. It marked the largest lead squandered by the Sox in a losing effort since June 28, 2003, when they blew a seven-run lead vs. the Florida Marlins before falling, 10-9.

Bronson Arroyo turned in an absolute stinker by surrendering seven runs in 5 1/3 innings, while rookie sensation Jonathan Papelbon handed over the lead by allowing Detroit batters to use the Green Monster like a racquetball wall. The Tigers hit five balls off the famed left field wall, including a pair off Papelbon (0-1) by the first two batters he faced in the decisive, three-run sixth inning. Brandon Inge greeted him with a double that tied the score at 7-7 and Omar Infante followed with a similar shot that put the Tigers ahead for the duration.

Arroyo surrendered exactly seven runs for the fourth time this season on eight hits in 5 1/3 nnings. It appeared that the Sox were going to be a lopsided laugher after they pounded Tigers starting pitcher Sean Douglass for six runs in the third inning, but Arroyo embraced the lead as if it were a thorn bush.

Arroyo surrendered five runs in the fourth inning and departed in the sixth with a slim 7-6 lead, only to see Papelbon come out of the bullpen to immediately surrender the advantage.

After being held to five-or-fewer runs in the final eight games of their season-long, 10-game road trip, the Sox exploded for nine runs in Friday's win and appeared destined to blow past that in the early going last night.

Douglass, who has an 8.48 ERA vs. the Red Sox in nine career appearances, allowed consecutive, no-out singles to Tony Graffanino, Johnny Damon and Edgar Renteria in the third as the game's first run came across. David Ortiz followed Renteria by blasting Douglass' next pitch over the Green Monster for his 32nd homer of the season and first in 10 days, extending the lead to 4-0. Trot Nixon followed two batters later with a wallop off the top of the center field wall and into the bleachers for his first homer since July 15 and his 15th overall of the season. Bill Mueller made it a seemingly-comfortable 6-0 lead with a two-out, RBI single.

Even though he was called on to pitch 1 2/3 innings of relief in Wednesday's 11-inning loss in Kansas City, Arroyo didn't show any signs of fatigue early on and breezed through the first three innings, facing the minimum of nine batters. The fourth inning was an entirely different story.

Just after being provided a six-run cushion, Arroyo surrendered five runs and allowed the Tigers to bat around to halt the momentum. Dmitri Young put his team on the board in emphatic fashion by following a pair of singles and a walk with a blast into the right field seats for his fourth career grand slam. Detroit then narrowed its deficit to 6-5 on consecutive, two-out doubles by Brandon Inge and Omar Infante.

Douglass' evening ended when he walked Graffanino to open the fourth. Tigers reliever Roman Colon initially was no better. He threw a pair of wild pitches that allowed Graffanino to score, but the 7-5 Sox lead proved flimsy.

The Tigers chased Arroyo in the sixth on doubles by Magglio Ordonez and Carlos Pena, which cut it to 7-6, and Inge and Infante then rudely greeted Papelbon.

Caption: ALL DONE: Red Sox starter Bronson Arroyo walks off the field after being removed in the sixth inning of last night's 12-8 loss to the Detroit Tigers at Fenway Park. Arroyo allowed seven runs in 5 1/3 innings. STAFF PHOTO BY TIM CORREIRA

Red Sox out at home; Tigers' rally ends Fenway win streak.(Sports)

Byline: JEFF HORRIGAN

The feeling that no lead is safe at Fenway Park usually haunts visiting teams on Yawkey Way, where the Red Sox regularly erase large deficits.

Last night, however, the Detroit Tigers turned the tables by overcoming an early 6-0 deficit and pounding the Red Sox, 12-8, to bring an emphatic end to the Sox' 14-game home winning streak and allow their lead in the AL East to slip to 1 1/2 games over the second-place New York Yankees. It marked the largest lead squandered by the Sox in a losing effort since June 28, 2003, when they blew a seven-run lead vs. the Florida Marlins before falling, 10-9.

Bronson Arroyo turned in an absolute stinker by surrendering seven runs in 5 1/3 innings, while rookie sensation Jonathan Papelbon handed over the lead by allowing Detroit batters to use the Green Monster like a racquetball wall. The Tigers hit five balls off the famed left field wall, including a pair off Papelbon (0-1) by the first two batters he faced in the decisive, three-run sixth inning. Brandon Inge greeted him with a double that tied the score at 7-7 and Omar Infante followed with a similar shot that put the Tigers ahead for the duration.

Arroyo surrendered exactly seven runs for the fourth time this season on eight hits in 5 1/3 nnings. It appeared that the Sox were going to be a lopsided laugher after they pounded Tigers starting pitcher Sean Douglass for six runs in the third inning, but Arroyo embraced the lead as if it were a thorn bush.

Arroyo surrendered five runs in the fourth inning and departed in the sixth with a slim 7-6 lead, only to see Papelbon come out of the bullpen to immediately surrender the advantage.

After being held to five-or-fewer runs in the final eight games of their season-long, 10-game road trip, the Sox exploded for nine runs in Friday's win and appeared destined to blow past that in the early going last night.

Douglass, who has an 8.48 ERA vs. the Red Sox in nine career appearances, allowed consecutive, no-out singles to Tony Graffanino, Johnny Damon and Edgar Renteria in the third as the game's first run came across. David Ortiz followed Renteria by blasting Douglass' next pitch over the Green Monster for his 32nd homer of the season and first in 10 days, extending the lead to 4-0. Trot Nixon followed two batters later with a wallop off the top of the center field wall and into the bleachers for his first homer since July 15 and his 15th overall of the season. Bill Mueller made it a seemingly-comfortable 6-0 lead with a two-out, RBI single.

Even though he was called on to pitch 1 2/3 innings of relief in Wednesday's 11-inning loss in Kansas City, Arroyo didn't show any signs of fatigue early on and breezed through the first three innings, facing the minimum of nine batters. The fourth inning was an entirely different story.

Just after being provided a six-run cushion, Arroyo surrendered five runs and allowed the Tigers to bat around to halt the momentum. Dmitri Young put his team on the board in emphatic fashion by following a pair of singles and a walk with a blast into the right field seats for his fourth career grand slam. Detroit then narrowed its deficit to 6-5 on consecutive, two-out doubles by Brandon Inge and Omar Infante.

Douglass' evening ended when he walked Graffanino to open the fourth. Tigers reliever Roman Colon initially was no better. He threw a pair of wild pitches that allowed Graffanino to score, but the 7-5 Sox lead proved flimsy.

The Tigers chased Arroyo in the sixth on doubles by Magglio Ordonez and Carlos Pena, which cut it to 7-6, and Inge and Infante then rudely greeted Papelbon.

Caption: ALL DONE: Red Sox starter Bronson Arroyo walks off the field after being removed in the sixth inning of last night's 12-8 loss to the Detroit Tigers at Fenway Park. Arroyo allowed seven runs in 5 1/3 innings. STAFF PHOTO BY TIM CORREIRA

Red Sox out at home; Tigers' rally ends Fenway win streak.(Sports)

Byline: JEFF HORRIGAN

The feeling that no lead is safe at Fenway Park usually haunts visiting teams on Yawkey Way, where the Red Sox regularly erase large deficits.

Last night, however, the Detroit Tigers turned the tables by overcoming an early 6-0 deficit and pounding the Red Sox, 12-8, to bring an emphatic end to the Sox' 14-game home winning streak and allow their lead in the AL East to slip to 1 1/2 games over the second-place New York Yankees. It marked the largest lead squandered by the Sox in a losing effort since June 28, 2003, when they blew a seven-run lead vs. the Florida Marlins before falling, 10-9.

Bronson Arroyo turned in an absolute stinker by surrendering seven runs in 5 1/3 innings, while rookie sensation Jonathan Papelbon handed over the lead by allowing Detroit batters to use the Green Monster like a racquetball wall. The Tigers hit five balls off the famed left field wall, including a pair off Papelbon (0-1) by the first two batters he faced in the decisive, three-run sixth inning. Brandon Inge greeted him with a double that tied the score at 7-7 and Omar Infante followed with a similar shot that put the Tigers ahead for the duration.

Arroyo surrendered exactly seven runs for the fourth time this season on eight hits in 5 1/3 nnings. It appeared that the Sox were going to be a lopsided laugher after they pounded Tigers starting pitcher Sean Douglass for six runs in the third inning, but Arroyo embraced the lead as if it were a thorn bush.

Arroyo surrendered five runs in the fourth inning and departed in the sixth with a slim 7-6 lead, only to see Papelbon come out of the bullpen to immediately surrender the advantage.

After being held to five-or-fewer runs in the final eight games of their season-long, 10-game road trip, the Sox exploded for nine runs in Friday's win and appeared destined to blow past that in the early going last night.

Douglass, who has an 8.48 ERA vs. the Red Sox in nine career appearances, allowed consecutive, no-out singles to Tony Graffanino, Johnny Damon and Edgar Renteria in the third as the game's first run came across. David Ortiz followed Renteria by blasting Douglass' next pitch over the Green Monster for his 32nd homer of the season and first in 10 days, extending the lead to 4-0. Trot Nixon followed two batters later with a wallop off the top of the center field wall and into the bleachers for his first homer since July 15 and his 15th overall of the season. Bill Mueller made it a seemingly-comfortable 6-0 lead with a two-out, RBI single.

Even though he was called on to pitch 1 2/3 innings of relief in Wednesday's 11-inning loss in Kansas City, Arroyo didn't show any signs of fatigue early on and breezed through the first three innings, facing the minimum of nine batters. The fourth inning was an entirely different story.

Just after being provided a six-run cushion, Arroyo surrendered five runs and allowed the Tigers to bat around to halt the momentum. Dmitri Young put his team on the board in emphatic fashion by following a pair of singles and a walk with a blast into the right field seats for his fourth career grand slam. Detroit then narrowed its deficit to 6-5 on consecutive, two-out doubles by Brandon Inge and Omar Infante.

Douglass' evening ended when he walked Graffanino to open the fourth. Tigers reliever Roman Colon initially was no better. He threw a pair of wild pitches that allowed Graffanino to score, but the 7-5 Sox lead proved flimsy.

The Tigers chased Arroyo in the sixth on doubles by Magglio Ordonez and Carlos Pena, which cut it to 7-6, and Inge and Infante then rudely greeted Papelbon.

Caption: ALL DONE: Red Sox starter Bronson Arroyo walks off the field after being removed in the sixth inning of last night's 12-8 loss to the Detroit Tigers at Fenway Park. Arroyo allowed seven runs in 5 1/3 innings. STAFF PHOTO BY TIM CORREIRA

Bosch. (New Year's Specials).

Axxis washers and dryers feature the Logixx computer system, which automatically determines drum reversing rhythms, rpm, rinses, soak time, and spin speed for every fabric selection. The system …

BANKRUPTCIES.(Business)

Name: Lisa A. Muffucci, dba Lisa A. Muffucci DC PLLC

Address: 8874 Route 9W, Athens 12015

Total assets: $12,303

Total liabilities: $188,570

3 largest creditors:

Academic Loan Group, Madison, Wis. - $99,931

Suzanne Kirby, DC, Sag Harbor - $38,000

W. Hubert Plummer, Hauppauge - $4,232

Chapter: 7

Attorney: Richard H. Weiskopf, Albany

Index: 08-11962

Date filed: June 19

Name: Matthew Anthony Williams, dba Mama's Pizza & Restaurant

Address: 1123 Sunrise Blvd., Schenectady 12306

Total assets: $167,547

Total liabilities: $206,639 …

DOZENS HURT IN QUEENS SUBWAY COLLISION.(CAPITAL REGION)

Byline: Associated Press

NEW YORK -- A morning rush hour collision between two subway trains in a Queens tunnel Thursday sent 87 people to hospitals with an assortment of minor injuries. Eight others were treated at the scene.

About 1,000 passengers were shaken up after one train rear-ended another on a curve just outside the Steinway Street station. The accident tied up morning subway service in Queens.

Bumps, bruises and the occasional bloody nose were the most prevalent ailments, although one person suffered a broken arm and another a broken collarbone.

Transit officials were investigating the cause of the slow-speed …

Marianne Timmer falls heavily in World Cup race

Double Olympic speedskating champion Marianne Timmer has fallen heavily and been carried off the ice on a stretcher in a World Cup 500-meter race.

Timmer slammed into inflatable barriers at the Heerenveen stadium Friday after Chinese skater Jing Yu fell in front of her.

The Dutch skater won the …

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Ciano, Galeazzo.(Review)

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