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  • Tech: Gadget News and Reviews
    Mar 30, 2012 — Washington Post
    Thanks. pegoraror: Yes, and have done so for several years now. If I purchase this, will my current MS Office 2003 run on it? pegoraror: Yes. Thanks. pegoraror: You should have no trouble meeting that price limit.
  • $10 vehicle fee in the mix as fix for roads and transit
    Mar 13, 2010 — Contra Costa Times
    ...transportation projects, and stepping up to pay for them." In Santa Clara County, a committee of the Transportation Authority recommended Wednesday that the full authority consider a November ballot measure. A poll of 900 Marin County voters found 65 percent in support of a $10 per auto fee, according to the Marin County Transportation Authority, which is investigating a ballot measure. The Solano County Transportation Authority is looking at a November ballot measure...
  • Al Qaeda suspect had worked at nuke plants in NJ and Pa
    Mar 13, 2010 — The Philadelphia Inquirer
    PSEG spokesman Joe Delmar said Mobley worked as a contract laborer during refueling outages from 2002 to 2008 and satisfied federal security requirements. Federal authorities told state Homeland Security officials that there was no security breach involving Mobley at the nuclear plants, according to Mike Drewniak, spokesman for Gov. Chris Christie. Jenkins said Mobley, who worked on scaffolding at the nuclear plants and excavation projects in Camden County, would have been put...
  • At ground zero in Cornelius, Dave Vanasche leads fight to preserve Washington County farmland
    Mar 13, 2010 — The Oregonian
    The acreage north of Cornelius is a large, intact segment of farmland where little development intrudes. Dave Vanasche became a civil engineer and licensed land surveyor. Vanderzanden and, of course, Vanasche, which is Belgian. Vanasche steers the pickup over a stream on the north edge of Cornelius.
  • At Harvard, reengineering science
    Mar 13, 2010 — The Boston Globe
    Harvard has stepped up its recruitment of such students in recent years.Since 2006, Harvard has unveiled seven new undergraduate majors, and all of them have been in the sciences. We need to have an education that enables a wide range of students to be excited by the sciences. People who go into policy fields need to understand science.
  • Bankruptcy agreement could aid Kenosha plant
    Mar 13, 2010 — Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
    Kenosha licenses were included in the filing to aid the Chrysler estate "in bolstering the recoverable value, and promoting the efficient liquidation" of the factory, equipment and fixtures in the Kenosha plant. Chrysler spokeswoman Jodi Tinson said she could not comment on the estate's plans for the disposition of the plant. "Our plans for Kenosha have not changed," she said. "We still plan to close the plant at the end of the year." Kenosha Mayor Keith Bosman said in a...
  • BRIEF
    Mar 13, 2010 — The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
    ...peregrine falcons were decimated by pesticides such as DDT. The chemicals caused females to produce thin eggshells that often cracked during incubation. The bird's populations crashed by the 1960s, and in 1974 peregrines were listed as endangered under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. After a nationwide recovery program enabled the species to make a comeback, the peregrine falcon was federally delisted in 1999. The bird remains endangered in Pennsylvania because the populations...
  • Chile Faces Huge Recovery Cost, but Can Go It Solo
    Mar 13, 2010 — New York Times
    Thanks to surplus stashed away in better times, Chile will be able to finance much of its own reconstruction from last month's disaster. In addition, the private sector is expected to recover more than $3.5 billion in insured damages. Pinera is Chile's first right-wing president since the dictatorship of Gen.
  • China to bid on US high-speed rail projects
    Mar 13, 2010 — Associated Press Online
    ...rail projects including the high-speed systems in California, Florida and Illinois. "China is willing to share its mature and advanced technology with other countries to promote development of the world's high-speed railways," Wang said. So far, China's government has completed 2,295 miles (3,676 kilometers) of rail lines with top speeds of up to 220 mph (350 kph) and 1,795 miles (2,876 kilometers) with speeds up to 155 mph (250 kph), according to Wang. Another 6,000 miles...
  • Data suggest consumers are consuming again
    Mar 13, 2010 — The Oregonian
    Take out the figures for car and gasoline sales, and the gain soars to 0.9 percent. Analysts had figured February's unusually extreme weather would take a larger toll on sales.
  • Democrats optimistic on health bill vote
    Mar 13, 2010 — The Boston Globe
    The measure would require the government to originate student loans, ending the role of private lenders. Obama proposed transferring the savings into the Pell Grants program.
  • Democrats more hopeful on health-care vote
    Mar 13, 2010 — Washington Post
    Anthony Weiner (D-N.Y.), who still has qualms about the Senate bill. Obama's leverage could be critical to wooing Democrats whose problems with the Senate bill are serious but narrow, and those are unlikely to be addressed in the package of fixes.Rep. Democratic leaders had considered combining the measures, so that members who don't like the Senate bill could avoid a vote on it.
  • Democrats seek agreement, vote on health care
    Mar 13, 2010 — Associated Press Online
    White House and House and Senate leaders. The decision to add far-reaching student aid changes to the bill had its roots in obscure parliamentary rules governing the Senate's debate of the legislation. But House Democrats and the White House quickly seized on it as a way to advance a top administration priority that lacks the 60 votes needed to clear the Senate otherwise. The measure would require the government to originate student loans, closing out a role for banks and other...
  • Democrats seek healthcare consensus
    Mar 13, 2010 — Los Angeles Times
    House Office of Health Reform. Democratic leaders believe that the House will have to vote first on the healthcare bill approved by the Senate last year without trying to change it. Leaders then plan to use a process known as budget reconciliation to push through the House and Senate a package of changes sought by House Democrats. Because budget reconciliation measures cannot be filibustered under Senate rules, Democrats could move the package through the Senate with 51 votes...
  • Despite flu fear, cases are few
    Mar 13, 2010 — The Miami Herald
    John Livengood, epidemiologist with the Broward Health Department. And regular seasonal flu? "Haven't seen any. When swine flu peaked in late October, it was 7.7 percent of all visits, with 49 states reporting widespread disease. Miami-Dade had 38 swine flu deaths and 476 hospitalizations since April 2009.
  • Economy the focus as China political session ends
    Mar 13, 2010 — Associated Press Online
    By CARA ANNABEIJING, Mar. 13, 2010 (AP Online delivered by Newstex) -- Mao Zedong's grandson couldn't have put it more simply. The rich-poor gap is increasing and increasingly contentious. At the moment, one rural delegate to the National People's Congress represents four times as many people as an urban one. Such a change is mostly symbolic.
  • EDITORIAL
    Mar 13, 2010 — The Kansas City Star
    But bad roads, teacher-scarce schools and emptying the state's jails also tend to have a negative economic impact. Mark Parkinson's plans to cut state highway money, the Kansas Legislature this week tentatively approved a new passenger rail plan.
  • Energy industry has a greener shade at CERAWeek
    Mar 13, 2010 — Houston Chronicle
    Fleet vehicles, trucks, buses and trains, will use natural gas to reduce both emissions and maintenance. What we're discovering is it supports a supply chain that ends up around the country." But the clean energy efforts aren't easy. NRG got money for the Fort Bend County project just a few months after Southern Co. (NYSE:SO PRD) (NYSE:SO) turned down funds from the same program.
  • Expect feds to give $400 million for new I-5 bridge, officials told
    Mar 13, 2010 — The Oregonian
    ...for light rail. In addition to the $400 million described today, Crossing officials anticipate between $750 million to $890 million from the federal government for light rail. The remaining bridge costs are expected to be shared by Oregon and Washington through undetermined sources and by local governments, expected through vehicle tolls. At the conclusion of today's meeting, Paula Hammond, the Washington secretary of transportation, urged other members of the Project Sponsors...
  • Expert says RI wind farm power cost high, but might be worth it
    Mar 13, 2010 — The Providence Journal
    Because no offshore wind farms have been built in the United States, there are no direct comparisons for prices. That contract was signed in Delaware between Delmarva Power and Bluewater Wind, a company that wants to install 60 to 70 turbines in shallow waters off that state's coast. Any offshore wind farm in the United States would receive renewable-energy credits based on how much power is generated.
  • Florida venture fund places $4 million with Stonehenge Capital
    Mar 13, 2010 — The Orlando Sentinel
    Burnett Mar. 12, 2010 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- The Florida Opportunity Fund said Thursday it has placed $4 million with Stonehenge Capital Co. LLC as part of its effort to lure more venture investment to the state. It is the sixth deal for the state-sponsored fund, which is co-managed by Winter Park-based Milcom Venture Partners. The latest investment will be in the Stonehenge Growth Equity Fund I. Stonehenge,...
  • Group against housing law told to halt fund-raising
    Mar 13, 2010 — The Boston Globe
    Chemaly said it is based and registered in New Hampshire. Massachusetts officials said it needs to register as a charity in Massachusetts if it solicits donations here.
  • Jay Nixon proposes sweeping cuts, consolidations
    Mar 13, 2010 — St. Louis Post-Dispatch
    Gary Nodler, R-Joplin, offered support for the consolidations of departments. Allen Icet, R-Wildwood, said he believed Nixon was still "trimming around the edges" at the budget. It would merge a very small department with a very large one: The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has 1,746 staffers.
  • Lender blames escrow shortage for $400 increase in monthly mortgage payment
    Mar 13, 2010 — Washington Post
    Usually, lenders do not pay interest on escrowed funds. In September, the lender will need six months escrow payments to cover the real-estate tax. Some lenders try to increase the mortgage rate when the borrower opts to avoid escrow.
  • Montgomery, Md., pension deal eases sacrifice for unions
    Mar 13, 2010 — Washington Post
    It will cost Montgomery at least $5 million a year for the next 40 years to pay for higher pension costs on raises that never happened. Police and general government employees got the same pension deal. School unions did not.Such arrangements are unusual.
  • National Briefing | Washington: Climate Change Adds to Bird Stress
    Mar 13, 2010 — New York Times
    For the first time, the report adds climate change to other factors threatening bird populations, including destruction of habitat, hunting, pesticides, invasive species and loss of wetlands. The report said oceanic and shore birds were among the most vulnerable to climate change because of rapidly changing marine ecosystems and rising sea levels.
  • Obama delays Asia trip to push healthcare overhaul
    Mar 13, 2010 — Los Angeles Times
    The climatic actions will be the House voting on the Senate healthcare bill, and each chamber voting on the so-called budget reconciliation bill, which will contain House changes to the Senate bill.
  • Obama prepares education overhaul
    Mar 13, 2010 — Associated Press Online
    States President (Newstex ID is UNAFFILIATED-OBAMABARACK)" NewstexID="UNAFFILIATED-OBAMABARACK">President Barack Obama on Saturday promised to rewrite the nation's sweeping and controversial education law known as No Child Left Behind with a plan to prepare students for life after high school and to place better teachers at the blackboards. Obama said he would send Congress his proposed overhaul of the 2001 education law that focused on accountability in the classroom but has...
  • Peregrine falcons soar into homes on streaming video
    Mar 13, 2010 — The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
    Chicks hatch about 30 days after eggs are laid. "That's normal," Katzner said. The chemicals caused females to produce thin eggshells that often cracked during incubation. In 1974 peregrines were listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act.
  • PREIT lands renewal of its credit line
    Mar 13, 2010 — The Philadelphia Inquirer
    Less-fortunate companies that failed to do that have gone belly-up in this recession. And for months. PREIT had drawn almost all the $500 million available on its credit line.
  • Proponents pressure Specter on I-80 tolls
    Mar 13, 2010 — The Philadelphia Inquirer
    The Federal Highway Administration has twice denied the state's bid to do so. A third application was filed Oct. 29, and a decision is expected soon.
  • Republicans Name 6 to Debt-Reduction Panel
    Mar 13, 2010 — New York Times
    WASHINGTON — Republican leaders in Congress on Friday named six lawmakers to the bipartisan debt-reduction commission that President Obama created. Gregg is the senior Republican on the Senate Budget Committee, while Mr. Hensarling recently had a televised budget debate with Mr.
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