NEW YORK (AP) — A theatrical adaptation of the movie "Sister Act" will be getting its groove on in a Broadway theater.
Producers say the musical based on the 1992 movie starring Whoopi Goldberg will begin performances at the Broadway Theatre in late March with an opening on April 20.
The show has been a hit in London since it debuted there in 2009. …
Investors rushed into stocks after stronger reports on service industries and employment eased two of the biggest worries about the U.S. economy.
Stocks jumped Wednesday after the Institute for Supply Management said service industry activity grew for a second straight month in October. The trade group's service index slipped to 50.6 from 50.9 in September. A reading above 50 signals growth. Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters had expected a 51.5.
Although the index didn't meet forecasts, the ISM said new orders, which are an indicator of future business activity, grew faster. Business activity also picked up.
Encouraging news about the labor …
WASHINGTON Stanford University is Chelsea Clinton's choice.
The first daughter announced her decision today, one day beforeher decision had to be signed, sealed and postmarked.
"The president and Mrs. Clinton announced today that theirdaughter Chelsea will enter Stanford University this fall as a memberof the Class of 2001," read a statement from Hillary Rodham Clinton'spress office.President Clinton shrugged off the 3,000 miles that willseparate him and his only daughter come fall, saying: "Planes run outthere and phones work out there. E-mail works out there, so we'll beall right."The annual cost of attending the Palo Alto, Calif., universityis more than …
BLACKBURN, England (AP) — Peter Odemwingie's late goal gave West Bromwich Albion a 2-1 victory at Blackburn to further increase the pressure on under-fire Rovers manager Steve Kean.
The hosts fell behind in the 52nd minute when they failed to properly deal with a corner and James Morrison smashed the ball past Paul …
Iraq's fractious parliament on Tuesday gave last-minute authorization for non-U.S. foreign troops to stay for the first half of 2009 after the parliament speaker's resignation broke a deadlock that had threatened the key measure.
The U.N. mandate authorizing foreign troops expires Dec. 31, but the new measure will allow Britain's 4,000 soldiers and smaller contingents from several other countries to stay through and assist U.S. troops until the end of July. U.S. troops can remain until the end of 2011 under a separate security agreement reached this year.
Voting had been delayed by a power struggle between the Sunni parliament speaker and Shiite and Kurdish …
DAILY MAIL STAFF
The drone of a teacher's voice might be all you remember fromyourhistory class.
Dates and figures that dutifully were scrawled in a notebook orperhaps on a hand as a crib sheet probably have faded from memory.But the staff of the Charleston Daily Mail believes the countdownto the year 2000 provides a wonderful opportunity to relive some ofthe amazing historical events that have shaped West Virginia thiscentury.The newspaper will publish a series each month through the end of1999, a day-in-history fact each day, periodic historic photos and ayear 2000 calendar.A summary of the Daily Mail's year 2000 plans follows:- Special coverage starts Monday …
In an increasingly hi-tech, global market, convenience has become the golden calf. Consumers expect year-round savings and availability, and independent businesses find themselves unable to compete with the "faster, bigger, cheaper" approach of corporate chains. One-stop shopping behemoths air commercials peppered with "hometown" images, implying that their shelves are stocked with local crops and products designed and produced around the corner. But Idaho's apples come from Washington, and the jungle of cheap plastic and textiles often grows from the soil of far-off lands like China, Taiwan and Indonesia. Sure, we have production plants and interests in these countries that provide …
Pakistani stocks fell Monday after the country's main exchange removed of a price floor introduced more than three months ago in a bid to stem financial turmoil.
The Karachi Stock Exchange's main 100-share index fell 259.71 points, or 2.9 percent, to close at 9187.10, a 2 1/2-year low.
The emergency floor had brought trading to a virtual standstill. With Pakistan still mired in political and economic uncertainty, analysts forecast the index will fall further, also to reflect the slide in equity values worldwide.
"The long closure has done a lot of damage," said Muhammad Sohail, a director of JS Global, a Karachi-based securities firm. …
Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code will allow Texaco tocontinue to operate while protecting it against Pennzoil Co. and anyother creditors.
Under Chapter 11, a company obtains a federal court order thatfrees it from the threat of creditors' lawsuits until it can developa reorganization plan to put its finances in order.
Without that protection, the creditors might call their loansimmediately due and, if the company could not pay them, the creditorscould seek a court order that the company be liquidated and itsassets …
NEW YORK - Wall Street extended its steep decline Friday, propelling the Dow Jones industrials down more than 500 points over two days after investors gave in to mounting concerns that borrowing costs would climb for both companies and homeowners. It was the worst week for the Dow and the Standard & Poor's 500 index in five years.
Investors cast aside a stronger-than-expected read on the economy and maintained negative sentiment that dominated Thursday when the market shuddered amid worries over the U.S. mortgage and corporate lending markets. Investors globally took flight from equities, shifting cash into safer investments in Treasurys.
The pullback Thursday and …
With an almost certain bankruptcy filing days away, General Motors is beginning its reinvention, planning to retool one factory to make its smallest vehicles ever in the U.S. and rid itself of the biggest.
As GM's board began two days of meetings Friday to make a final decision on the company's fate, its main union overwhelmingly approved dramatic labor cost cuts. Germany's finance minister said a plan was approved for Canadian auto parts maker Magna International Inc. to rescue GM's European Opel unit. And a deal to sell GM's rugged but inefficient Hummer brand also appeared on the horizon.
The moves provided more clues about what a restructured GM might look …
Three men - one of Utah's "Hi-Fi" torture killers, who forcedhis victims to drink cleaning fluid, and two accomplices to murders -were executed Friday in the United States. It was the most on asingle day since the Supreme Court reinstituted the death penalty in1976.
Five men in all were to have died, but two won stays - one ofthem just 2 1/2 hours before he was to have walked to the electricchair.
John Healey, executive director in the United States of theLondon-based international human rights organization AmnestyInternational, called the multiple executions a "horrifying throwbackto seemingly medieval barbarism."
The grim series was over in just six …
Results Saturday from the 13th stage of the Spanish Vuelta cycling race, a 209.5-kilometer (130-mile) mountain climb leg from San Vicente de la Barquera to Alto de L'Angliru:
1. Alberto Contador, Spain, Astana, 5 hours, 52 minutes, 35 seconds.
2. Alejandro Valverde, Spain, Caisse D'Espargne, :42 behind.
3. Joaquin Rodriguez Oliver, Spain, Caisse D'Espargne, :58.
4. Levi Leipheimer, United States, Astana, 1:05.
5. Carlos Sastre, Spain, CSC, 1:32.
6. Robert Gesink, Netherlands, Rabobank, 1:56.
7. Ezequiel Mosquera, Spain, Xacobeo Galicia, 2:18.
8. Oliver Zaugg, Switzerland, Gerolsteiner, 2:28.
9. Damiano Cunego, Italy, Lampre, 2:43.
10. Daniel Moreno Fernandez, Spain, Caisse D'Espargne, 3:01.
___
Overall Standings
1. Alberto Contador, Spain, Astana, 51 hours, 41 minutes, 17 seconds.
2. Levi Leipheimer, United States, Astana, 1:07 behind.
3. Carlos Sastre, Spain, CSC, 3:01.
4. Ezequiel Mosquera, Spain, Xacobeo Galicia, 4:19.
5. Alejandro Valverde, Spain, Caisse D'Espargne, 4:40.
6. Joaquin Rodriguez Oliver, Spain, Caisse D'Espargne, 4:51.
7. Robert Gesink, Netherlands, Rabobank, 5:09.
8. Egoi Martinez, Spain, Euskaltel, 6:56.
9. Davide Rebellin, Italy, Caisse D'Espargne, 7:39.
10. Oliver Zaugg, Switzerland, Gerolsteiner, 8:41.
1. Steven Holcomb, United States, 3 minutes, 36.61 seconds (54.02-54.51-53.78-54.30).
2. Andre Lange, Germany, 3:37.58 (54.41-54.61-54.06-54.50).
3. Janis Minins, Latvia, 3:37.61 (54.39-54.62-54.08-54.52).
4. Alexsandr Zubkov, Russia, 3:38.05 (54.33-54.68-54.32-54.72).
5. Dmitry Abramovitch, Russia, 3:38.33 (54.69-54.76-54.26-54.62).
6. Ivo Ruegg, Switzerland, 3:38.39 (54.62-54.90-54.30-54.57).
7. Edwin Van Calker, Netherlands, 3:39.02 (54.80-54.96-54.54-54.72).
8. Wolfgang Stampfer, Austria, 3:39.08 (54.68-54.84-54.60-54.96).
9. Todd Hays, United States, 3:39.12 (54.80-54.96-54.57-54.79).
10. Pierre Lueders, Canada, 3:39.53 (54.99-55.11-54.62-54.81).
Also
11. John Napier, United States, 3:39.63 (54.94-55.13-54.69-54.87).
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (AP) — Chattanooga's city-owned electrical utility has started offering an Internet service that is among the fastest in the world, and it is hoping the move will attract businesses looking to relocate.
The Chattanooga Electric Power Board's new Fiber Optics network will provide a 1 gigabit-per-second Internet service. The utility said the service is more than 200 times faster than the average national download speed today.
At a cost of $350 a month, it's also much more expensive than the typical residential plan. Harold DePriest, the Chattanooga Electric Power Board's president and CEO, said residential customers don't really need that fast a service, but businesses might.
He said the high-speed service won't be costly for EPB to operate, yet it should put the Chattanooga community at the forefront of attracting businesses — possibly Internet providers — that can benefit from having it.
"Chattanooga represents the next frontier in communications technology, with limitless potential for new applications for education, entertainment, health care, industrial development and more," DePriest said in a statement.
The Chattanooga utility is working with telecom equipment maker Alcatel-Lucent SA on the project.
DePriest said the fast Internet service is immediately available.
DePriest said providing the high-speed Internet service is part of the utility's $37 million fiber-optic network venture.
EPB provides electricity, television, telephone and Internet service to more than 169,000 residents in a 600 square-mile area in southeastern Tennessee and northwest Georgia.
In a community with a new Volkswagen new assembly plant and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga's SimCenter computational engineering lab, Mayor Ron Littlefield said the Internet service announcement has helped put Chattanooga "on the short list of progressive communities in the world."
"It's a great place to imagine the future," Littlefield said at a news conference Monday.
He said Chattanooga would "welcome Google or any other technology company" that would be interested in using such a high-speed Internet system.
Google Inc. earlier announced plans to select one or more communities for a 1 gigabit network by the end of this year and spokesman Dan Martin said there have been about 1,100 responses. Martin declined comment about the planned service by Chattanooga's EPB.
"We're excited to see enthusiasm for ultra high-speed broadband," Martin said in an e-mail statement. "It's clear that people across the country are hungry for better and faster Internet access."
Verizon Communications Inc. in August said it had tested 1 gigabit service on its network but the company hasn't announced any plans to sell it.
Results from the 13th round of the Greek league:
Saturday's Games
PAOK 1, Levadiakos 0
Xanthi 6, Apollon 1
Sunday's Games
Asteras vs. Atromitos
Veria vs. Panionios
Ergotelis vs.AEK
Iraklis vs.Aris
Larissa vs.Olympiakos
Panathinaikos vs.OFI
DAILY MAIL CAPITOL REPORTER
In 1986 the West Virginia Lottery was about the biggest thing thestate had going for it.
Like a sports team, the lottery had a furry-faced mascot loved bykids and adults alike. People who got a chance to spin the state'slotto prize wheel got their photos on the front page of local papersalmost every week, and their feats provided water-cooler fodder fordays. The lottery's signature game show drew a crowd of 25,000 whenit was the showcase affair at the Charleston Sternwheel Regatta.
Today, even the most devoted players buy Powerball tickets withlittle more enthusiasm than they pick up a gallon of milk. Winnerssometimes don't find out they've come into a fortune until days aftera drawing, when they happen to think to check winning numbers online.
Twenty years after its inception, the state lottery is no longerregarded by most as an awe-inspiring chance to change one's fortunes.Now, it's just another part of life in West Virginia.
Some people win, and some people lose.
The state Lottery Commission is spending the year celebrating twodecades in business.
There are milestones in the agency's history that some think mightbe better forgotten, such as the trials and convictions of formerlottery director Butch Bryan and former lottery attorney Ed ReBrook,who spent time in prison after they were accused of insider tradingconnected to the state's burgeoning video lottery business.
There also were the moments that marked the lottery's majorsuccesses. They highlighted the good things that proponents saidwould come from the little scratch-off tickets and prize drawings.
When Lewisburg grocer Roger Boone won a $24 million jackpot in1995, he was able to bail out his struggling business, one he saidhad almost been undone by an employee's embezzling. Years later whenhis store burned to the ground, Boone's lottery wealth allowed him tokeep paying employees who were off work for months while the businesswas being rebuilt.
Some winners became media-shy millionaires whose newfound wealthprovided welcome relief to them and their communities. Others wentinto a tailspin of sought-after or unwanted publicity and a flurry ofunchecked spending.
Lottery games have allowed the state to flourish - or at leaststay above water - in ways that might not have been likely otherwise.But the lottery also has changed the financial landscape of WestVirginia and spurred controversy over how much of the economy hereshould be grounded on gambling revenue.
The early days
People who helped get the lottery off the ground in the early1980s and turned it into a full-fledged industry remember that eventhe highest expectations were anything but accurate.
"The proponents of the lottery were running around exclaiming overthe fact the state could earn as much as $8 million a year," saidNancy Bulla, a spokeswoman for the lottery who has been with theagency since it began. "Our first real news headline was that we'dhanded over $20 million. And that was after six months. No one hadany idea what it would become."
At the beginning, though, the lottery wasn't meant to holdtogether the state's failing economy.
After 18 months of sales, ticket revenue amounted to $70 million,and the state's coffers swelled by $28 million after it received itscut. All the money went into the state's general revenue fund, whichwas about $1 billion at the time.
"It was a drop in the bucket," Bulla said. "I'd get calls frompeople who knew Pennsylvania had a lottery and that people inPennsylvania had free bus rides (public transportation). They wantedto know why the lottery didn't pay for that here. My standardresponse was that the lottery was never intended to be a cure-all. Itwas just a contributor."
This year, the state's budget has grown to $10 billion, and itsshare of lottery revenue this year amounted to an estimated $446million, with $89 million set aside to help offset deficits in theteachers' retirement system and for other legislative appropriations.
The lottery now provides the third-largest source of staterevenue, right after sales and personal property taxes.
Starting from scratch
When it was beginning, the lottery's bread and butter were thescratch-off tickets that could, in seconds, put thousands of dollarsin a player's pocket.
Each time a new game was unveiled - there were nine introduced thefirst year alone - it was a big deal.
Games such as "The Sky's the Limit," "3-of-a-Kind" and "SurprisePackage" became huge hits.
On the first day tickets were sold, lottery receipts totaled $1.5million.
It would be seven years before video lottery would be legalized atthe state's racetracks and more than 15 years before gray machines,as they were called, would be acceptable in convenience stores, barsor pretty much anywhere that would pay for a license to lease videoslots from the state.
What kept customers clamoring in 1986 were the scratch-offtickets, and the lottery's weekly Grand Prize Show televised by WSAZ-TV.
West Virginia's version of "The Price is Right," the show'spremise was simple, but for five years it was a favorite of in-stateviewers.
The lottery drew the names of a handful of players each week fromthose who sent in thousands of scratch-off tickets from around thestate. Winners were brought by bus to the studio in Charleston totake their turn spinning a wheel for a chance to rack up more money.
The tears and hysterics often displayed during tapings made somepeople look more like they'd been pulled on stage at a rock concert.
"At the time, it was all very exciting," said Rex Roberts, aformer lottery employee. "When we'd meet the buses you could seepeople coming from these little places around the state I had neverheard of. It was such a big deal back then for them to get a trip toCharleston. Everybody was very enthused."
Roberts now works the information window at Tri-State Racetrackand Gaming Center.
In 1987, he had a very different job, donning a cartoon-likegrizzly suit as the lottery's official mascot, Jackpot Bear.
Roberts toured with state officials for every important pressconference and announcement during the lottery's first five years.
Once a week he would help host the Grand Prize show.
"I think they should still do things like that," Roberts saidrecently. "People loved to come and watch, and it really got peopleinterested in what was going on. Everything now, the games, it's juston paper, and it's not the same."
The TV show almost crashed during the height of its popularity.
Part of WSAZ's studios burned down in 1988, leaving the lotterywithout a stage or equipment for the game to go on.
Pennsylvania lottery officials, who had a similar show, were quickto step in with aid, hauling down an extra wheel for West Virginia touse.
The growth of lotteries
Nationwide, states were starting to see lotteries as a possiblesolution to financial strains.
George Manahan, now owner of one of Charleston's largestadvertising and public relations firms, was a reporter for MetroNewsin 1986, covering the lottery's creation and evolution.
"Covering the passage of the legislation, watching them getting itup and running and the conflicts that occurred, between the churchgroups, between the politicians, it was so interesting," Manahansaid. "What we see today, the fight over gambling, it's similar, butthe tone has escalated."
Manahan became part of the story in 1986 when, during thelottery's first charity game, he scratched off more instant ticketsthan anybody else ever had, earning him the promise of a spot in theGuinness Book of World Records.
His name never actually ended up in the book; somebody beat hisrecord prior to that year's publication.
During a Grand Prize Show, he won $10,000 for West Virginia floodrelief.
"It was a small studio, and we were crammed in there with a lot ofpeople," Manahan recalls. "It was new for everybody and people werejust so excited. Anybody who got to do it, it actually was a coolthing."
Hundreds of people eventually got to spin that prize wheel beforethe show went off the air and the lottery moved on to biggerventures.
The winners
Before Powerball winner Jack Whittaker made international news in2002 with his record-setting $340 million win and the tragedies inhis life that followed, there were other big winners who helped laythe foundation for the public's interest in the lottery.
Many winners appeared to prefer staying out of the spotlight.
Of a dozen or so people who won jackpots or even big scratch-offprizes during the lottery's first couple of years, only a fewresponded to requests to talk by phone about their winnings.
Russell Husk, the Grand Prize Show's first winner, still lives inWood County. He has refused any sort of public attention over hiswin, and he has no intention of changing his ways now to tell thestory of how his $3.7 million did or didn't change his life.
Beckley's Grace Clifford, who won a $1.5 million jackpot on one ofthe early Grand Prize shows, now lives in Virginia with her daughter.She's going to turn 93 soon. Family members didn't think she'd wantto talk about her past lottery luck.
Joseph Settimio of Follansbee, who scored a $250,000 win in 1986,seemed surprised anybody was interested in him once hitting thejackpot.
He said his appearance on an early prize show didn't make him aninstant celebrity around his town, and he didn't try to hard torepeat his luck.
"I ran out of money, so I quit buying," Settimio said. It was hardto tell if he was joking.
"Most of the time, people were very humble and they really didn'twant a lot of attention," said Bulla, who helps coordinate pressbriefings for lottery winners. "The money usually doesn't changepeople. They're the same people after that they were before, whetherthat's a good thing or not."
Can the same be said for the state?
Reliance on lottery revenue
Lottery director John Musgrave, who's been at the helm longer thanany previous director, said lotto officials have tried to steerpublic leaders away from depending on lottery revenue to keep thestate's budget in the clear.
But the pot of money is there, and it's hard to ignore.
The lottery now is faced with the challenge of how to keep thatpot growing.
Scratch-off tickets just don't cut it anymore. Keno isn't enough.The fight over whether to add table games at the state's racetracksand casinos looks likely to continue, at least for a few years.
"We've in West Virginia sort of been on the cutting edge of what'shappened with the lottery nationwide," Musgrave said. "We've had allthe games, and we had a lot of them first. West Virginia has been onthe forefront. Other than table games, there's already talk of whatelse to do for the future. None of us are quite clear on what thatwill bring."
Contact writer Kris Wise at kriswise@dailymail.com or 348-1244.
Erik Stover was promoted to managing director of the New York Red Bulls on Wednesday.
Hired by the MLS team in March as vice president of operations and general manager of Red Bull Park, Stover replaces Marc de Grandpre, who resigned on April 9.
Stover will oversee all of the team's business and commercial aspects. Coach Juan Carlos Osorio and sporting director Jeff Agoos will report to him.
Stover had served as the general manager of Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego since 2005. Prior to that he had spent nine years with the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority, rising to the position of assistant vice president of stadium operations of Giants Stadium.
Mark Lawson has been promoted to senior vice president of treasury management at Enterprise Bank & Trust, Clayton, Mo. He has been with Enterprise since 2000. The bank has also advanced Emily Weber to vice president. Weber, who joined the bank in 2001, will continue to manage commercial real estate and commercial and industrial clients as well as develop new banking relationships within the region.
Iowa
First Federal Bankshares Inc., Sioux City, has named Barry E. Backhaus interim president and CEO of the company and its bank subsidiary, Vantus Bank. The action came after the resignation of Michael W. Dosland as president, CEO and director of both units. Backhaus, who is a director of the company and bank, served as president and CEO for 16 years until his retirement in 2006. Dosland has accepted a position with another company.
Jame Christiansen has joined Northwest Bank, Spencer, as vice president of private banking. He was a private banking manger for Wells Fargo Bank, Sioux Falls, S.D.
First American Bank, Fort Dodge, has added as vice presidents Dan Hawks and Bryan Freund. Both will serve in commercial banking. Hawks and Freund were formerly with Wells Fargo Bank, Sioux Falls, S.D.
Kansas
Phillip F. "Phil" Hudson has assumed duties as chairman of Peoples Bank, Lawrence. Wint Winter of Ottawa continues to serve as chairman emeritus. Hudson is president and CEO of Aspen Consulting Group Inc., Salt Lake City. He served as executive vice president and director of retail banking and marketing for the former First Security Corp., Salt Lake City, prior to its merger with Wells Fargo Bank, Sioux Falls, S.D.
Southwest National, Wichita, has added Julie Dalton to its staff as senior vice president and trust officer.
Minnesota
William A. Cooper, chairman of TCF Financial Corp., Wayzata, has been elected to additional duties as CEO, a position he held until 2005. As CEO, he replaces Lynn Nagorske, who is retiring after 22 years with the company.
Missouri
Bank of America, Charlotte, N.C., has named Jamie Esch market president in Springfield. He will continue in his role as consumer market executive, overseeing 35 banking centers across southwest Missouri, northern Arkansas, northeast Oklahoma and southeast Kansas.
Metcalf Bank, Lee's Summit, has elected Paige Scott senior vice president of retail banking. Scott had been with Boone County National, Columbia, for 14 years.
Kendal Tharp has joined KCB Bank, Kearney, as vice president/loan officer. Tharp most recently was with the former Farmers State of Northern Missouri, Savannah.
Nebraska
Susan Fuhr has been elected community president in Leigh for Citizens National, Wisner. She most recently was vice president and assistant cashier.
West Gate Bank, Lincoln, has named Al Harvey senior vice president. He is at the bank's office at Nebraska 2 and Old Cheney Road.
Sarah Chatt has been advanced to vice president of the commercial loan division at Washington County Bank, Blair.
First Westroads Bank Inc., Omaha, has elected James E. Brochtrup vice president and chief information officer.
Clay Baker, Brenda Gibson and Joel Mosley have been promoted to vice presidents and senior business relationship managers for Wells Fargo Bank, Sioux Falls, S.D. Baker will be at 4725 S. 84th St. in Ralston and Gibson and Mosley will be at 10010 Regency Circle in Omaha.
Oklahoma
ACB Bank, Cherokee, has elected Guy Forell president and chief financial officer. For the last seven years, Forell has been director of business and industry services at Northwest Technology Center.
Patrice Douglas has been named executive vice president and commercial team leader in the Edmond market of First Fidelity Bank, Oklahoma City.
Vision Bank, Ada, has added Jeffery P. Monroe to its staff in Durant as senior vice president of commercial lending. He was with Omni Bank in Laplace, La.
Randy K. Stafford has been promoted to senior vice president/ commercial lending at Coppermark Bank, Oklahoma City.
BancFirst, Oklahoma City, has elected Jim Kuykendall senior vice president and commercial loan officer. He is in the bank's Hobart office.
Texas
Norm Bagwell has rejoined the banking industry as chairman and CEO of Bank of Texas, Dallas. Bagwell until last year was president of the Dallas region for J.P.Morgan Chase & Co. At Bank of Texas, Bagwell replaces Fred Ball, who will continue with the bank as senior chairman for about a year and a half. Ball has been with the bank since 1997.
PlainsCapital Bank, Lubbock, has added Chris Hansen to its staff as president of its Frisco unit. He is responsible for commercial lending, business development and client relationship.
Wisconsin
Mark N. Lemke has been elected vice chairman and CEO of The PrivateBank-Wisconsin, Milwaukee. Thomas Tuttle Jr. was elected president and chief operating officer and Roger Pillsbury was named vice chair. Lemke replaces John "Jay" Williams, who remains chairman of the bank and chief operating officer of the parent company, PrivateBancorp, Chicago.
Bank First National, Manitowoc, has added Steve Pasowicz to its staff as regional president and executive officer. He is responsible for the overall operation of the Green Bay market. Most recently, Pasowicz was Green Bay market president for U.S. Bank, Cincinnati.
Wyoming
Dan Sisson has been named president of the Guernsey unit of First State, Wheatland. He has been at the bank's Torrington office for three years.
First Interstate Bank, Billings, Mont., has promoted Mike Huston to Casper market president. He will replace Ron Pasco, who is retiring after 21 years with the bank. Huston has been with the bank since 1990.
Illinois
AMCORE Bank, Rockford, has promoted Steven F. Gersch, senior vice president and senior credit officer, to chief credit officer. In that role, Gersch succeeds Melvin H. Buser, who retired July 17. Buser has been with AMCORE Bank since 1984.
Richard J. Halter has been elected senior vice president of credit administration for Mercantile Bancorp Inc., Quincy. Prior to assuming this newly created position, Halter had been serving as vice president of credit administration for the company's lead bank, Mercantile Bank, Quincy.
Colorado
Heartland Bank, Clayton, Mo., has promoted Terry L. Halbrook to vice president, regional manager in the residential mortgage division of its Denver regional office. Halbrook joined Heartland in 1996.
[Sidebar]
C. Q. "Chuck" Chandler III, chairman and CEO of INTRUST Financial Corp., Wichita, died July 26 after undergoing back surgery several days earlier.
Chandler was the third generation of his family to head INTRUST. The bank, formerly First National in Wichita, was purchased by Chandler's grandfather, Charles Q. Chandler, in 1900.
Chuck Chandler began his banking career in Pratt, where he worked for his uncle, George T. Chandler, at First National in Pratt. He joined the family's Wichita bank Oct. 1, 1950.
Chandler's son, C. Q. Chandler IV, is chairman and president of INTRUST Bank.
Altmeyer, Jeannine (Theresa), American soprano; b. La Habra, Calif., May 2, 1948. She received instruction from Martial Singher and Lotte Lehmann in Santa Barbara, Calif.; later took courses at the Salzburg Mozarteum. She made her operatic debut as the Heavenly Voice in Don Carlos at the Metropolitan Opera (N.Y., Sept. 25, 1971); then sang Freia in Das Rheingold at the Chicago Lyric Opera (1972), in Salzburg (1973), and at London's Covent Garden (1975). From 1975 to 1979 she was a member of the Wurttemberg State Theater in Stuttgart; subsequently appeared in Bayreuth (1979), Paris (1987), Zürich (1989), and Milan (1990). After appearing as Wagner's Venus at the Metropolitan Opera in 1997, she was engaged as Brünnhilde in the Ring cycle in Amsterdam in 1998–99. She is notably successful in Wagnerian roles, including Elisabeth, Gutrune, Eva, Brünnhilde, Elsa, and Sieglinde.
—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire
More than a year after the mysterious disappearance of millionaire adventurer Steve Fossett, searchers found the wreckage of his plane in the rugged Sierra Nevada, along with enough remains for DNA testing.
A small piece of bone was found amid a field of debris 400 feet long and 150 feet wide in a steep section of the mountain range, the National Transportation Safety Board said at a news conference Thursday. Some personal effects also were found at the site.
Officials conflicted on whether they had confirmed the remains were human.
"We don't know if it's human. It certainly could be," Madera County Sheriff John Anderson said late Thursday, hours after the leader of the NTSB had said the remains were those of a person. "I refuse to speculate."
Asked about the sheriff's assessment of the physical evidence, NTSB spokesman Terry Wiliams reaffirmed NTSB acting Chairman Mark Rosenker's earlier statement.
"We stick by that. It's human remains," said Williams, who declined to say how the NTSB had arrived at that conclusion.
Fossett, the 63-year-old thrill-seeker, vanished on a solo flight 13 months ago. The mangled debris of his single-engine Bellanca was spotted from the air late Wednesday near the town of Mammoth Lakes and was identified by its tail number. Investigators said the plane had slammed straight into a mountainside.
"It was a hard-impact crash, and he would've died instantly," said Jeff Page, emergency management coordinator for Lyon County, Nev., who assisted in the search.
NTSB investigators went into the mountains Thursday to figure out what caused the plane to go down. Most of the fuselage disintegrated on impact, and the engine was found several hundred feet away at an elevation of 9,700 feet, authorities said.
"It will take weeks, perhaps months, to get a better understanding of what happened," Rosenker said before investigators set off.
Search crews and cadaver dogs scoured the steep terrain around the crash site in hopes of finding at least some trace of his body and solving the mystery of his disappearance once and for all. A sheriff's investigator found the 2-inch-long piece of bone.
The remains are enough for a coroner to perform DNA testing, Rosenker said.
"Given how long the wreckage has been out there, it's not surprising there's not very much," he said.
Fossett vanished on Sept. 3, 2007, after taking off from a Nevada ranch owned by hotel magnate Barron Hilton. The intrepid balloonist and pilot was scouting locations for an attempt to break the land speed record in a rocket-propelled car.
His disappearance spurred a huge search that covered 20,000 square miles, cost millions of dollars and included the use of infrared technology. Eventually, a judge declared Fossett legally dead in February. For a while, many of his friends held out hope he survived, given his many close scrapes with death over the years.
The breakthrough _ in fact, the first trace of any kind _ came earlier this week when a hiker stumbled across a pilot's license and other ID cards belonging to Fossett a quarter-mile from where the plane was later spotted in the Inyo National Forest. Investigators said animals might have dragged the IDs from the wreckage while picking over Fossett's remains.
The rugged area, situated about 65 miles from the ranch, had been flown over 19 times by the California Civil Air Patrol during the initial search, Anderson said. But it had not been considered a likely place to find the plane.
Lt. Col. Ronald Butts, a pilot who coordinated the Civil Air Patrol search effort, said gusty conditions along the mountains' upper elevations hampered efforts to search by air, as did the small amount of debris that remained after the plane crashed.
"Everything we could have done was done," Butts said.
Searchers had concentrated on an area north of Mammoth Lakes, given what they knew about sightings of Fossett's plane, his travel plans and the amount of fuel he had.
"With it being an extremely mountainous area, it doesn't surprise me they had not found the aircraft there before," Lyon County Undersheriff Joe Sanford said.
As for what might have caused the wreck, Mono County, Calif., Undersheriff Ralph Obenberger said there were large storm clouds over the peaks around Mammoth Lakes on the day of the crash.
Fossett made a fortune in the Chicago commodities market and gained worldwide fame for setting records in high-tech balloons, gliders, jets and boats. In 2002, he became the first person to circle the world solo in a balloon.
He also swam the English Channel, completed an Ironman triathlon, competed in the Iditarod dog sled race and climbed some of the world's best-known peaks, including the Matterhorn in Switzerland and Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania.
"I hope now to be able to bring to closure a very painful chapter in my life," Fossett's widow, Peggy, said in a statement. "I prefer to think about Steve's life rather than his death and celebrate his many extraordinary accomplishments."
___
Marcus Wohlsen reported from San Francisco. Associated Press writers Malia Wollan in San Francisco and Scott Sonner in Reno, Nev., contributed to this report.
REGULATORY UPDATE: MEASURES TO WATCH
Mortgage rules set to tighten
Mortgage companies would be forced to provide borrowers with easyto-read explanations under regulations proposed by the Pennsylvania Banking Department. The companies also would have to carefully scrutinize borrowers' ability to pay before signing off on a loan.
A standard disclosure form created by the department would cut the legalese, said spokeswoman Heather Tyler.
"Plain English," she said. "My mom will understand it"
If the regulation would make loans easier to understand, it would also make them a bit harder to hand out. Mortgage brokers and bankers would be required to evaluate whether a borrower can afford a loan, and they would have to document certain financial information.
The Banking Department proposal was recently forwarded to the Independent Regulatory Review Commission, a state board that reviews regulations.
The department is trying to protect the integrity of the marketplace without unduly restricting credit, Tyler said. These regulations are based on consultations with industry and consumer groups, she said.
The Banking Department has waged a two-year campaign to expand oversight of the mortgage industry in Pennsylvania. That effort includes other regulations and proposals for new laws.
The department published a draft of the latest rules last year. Since then, the subprime-mortgage market has fallen into disarray, and state and federal officials have stepped up efforts to intervene in the home-loan industry.
There are national parallels to the Banking Department regulation. A major industry group, the National Association of Mortgage Brokers, advocates for mandatory disclosure forms that clarify key terms of a mortgage loan in its 2007 Policy Agenda. The group is based in northern Virginia.
The four federal agencies that regulate banks recently published guidelines similar to the latest Banking Department proposal, said James M. Deitxh, chief executive officer of American Home Bank in Lancaster County.
There is a push under way to have brokers and lenders ensure that the mortgages they sell are suitable for the borrower, a concept analogous to an investment broker selling the proper investments, Deitxh said. He welcomes that
"The fraud that's in this industry is costing every consumer money. It's costing every lender money? he said.
The Pennsylvania Association of Mortgage Brokers warned against regulations that would take certain mortgage options off the table.
Some mortgage companies offer loans that require no verification of a borrower's income or assets, a practice that would be threatened by the Banking Department mandate, said association spokesman John Anthony.
"We believe that a better-educated consumer and a better-educated originator will ensure lower foreclosure rates, not the removal of options to the consumer," Anthony said, reading from a prepared statement He added that the group supports legislation that would mandate licensing and education for all loan originators. Anthony is the owner of ACA Mortgage in Cumberland County.
A bill pending in the state Legislature would give the Banking Department more power to watch over individuals in the mortgage industry. The bill would allow the department to license mortgage originators who work for brokerage companies or non-bank lenders. It's one of six bills the Banking Department is promoting.
The department also issued guidelines in December 2006 that define unethical behavior under existing laws for the mortgage industry.
-David Dagan
[Sidebar]
Proposed laws would make mortgages easier for borrowers to read.
A Delta 4 rocket blasted off, carrying a U.S. national security satellite into space.
The 23-story rocket, which replaced the Titan fleet two years ago, blasted slowly at 8:50 p.m. Saturday, taking nearly 15 seconds to clear the launch pad.
The 1.6 million pound (730,000 kilogram) rocket, which can carry the military's largest payloads, uses three common booster cores that are strapped together with a trio of hydrogen-fueled motors and then added to an upper stage rocket.
It carried the 23rd and final satellite of the Air Force's Defense Support Program. The satellite was expected to set into orbit 6 1/2 hours after liftoff, more than 22,000 miles (35,000 kilometers) above the Earth.
The reconnaissance satellites use infrared sensors that detect heat from missile and booster plumes against the background of the Earth.
Cotton and Race in the Making of America: The Human Costs of Economic Power. By Gene Dattel. Chicago: Ivan R Dee, 2009. xiv + 416 pp. Illustrations, appendix, bibliography, notes, index. Cloth, $28.95. ISBN: 978-1-56663-747-3.
Reviewed by Barbara Hahn
Some students prefer to hear a version of American history in which slavery mattered little. The peculiar institution entangled only southern states in its toils, according to this view, and then only large plantersthe majority of southerners owned no slaves. From this perspective, the Civil War concerned states' rights versus federal power, taxes and tariffs, not slavery. To this popular opinion, Gene Dattel offers a corrective. Cotton and Race demonstrates clearly and coherently the importance of slavery and commodity agriculture to the economic history of the United States. His story spans the long nineteenth century and beyond, beginning with the compromises of the Constitution in the 1780s and ending only when the mechanical cotton picker replaced labor on the land in the 1950s. Though little here is new- neither research nor conclusions- the book provides a satisfying overview of the scholarly literature and its findings. A former investment banker, Dattel's perspective on the economic development of the nation resonates for any audience.
Short chapters and a punchy style contribute to the book's ease of use. Beginning with the Constitutional Convention, Dattel turns to analyzing the engine of American economic growth, the cotton-slavery mechanism that provided capital for the young nation while it pushed population and cultivation west. A section on the North called "For Whites Only" illustrates, state-by-state, the racist beliefs and laws of free-soil Yankees. So strong was white antipathy it even undergirded abolitionism, which aimed to destroy slavery in part to quell incentives for runaways to come North. In demonstrating the importance of slavery outside the South, Dattel picks the excellent example of New York City, which first rose to commercial power in the nineteenth century as a result of cotton exports. Its concentration of trade and regularization of commerce made the port city one node of a triangle trade with Britain. Likewise, New Yorkers financed the slave trade. Fitting out slave ships was centered in the city. For those students who view New York as the epitome of the North, this will prove an eye-opening description, and one with significant support in the historical record.
If the North had slaves, it lacked the crop that made slavery profitable: cotton, which provided the Confederacy with "credibility for the government, arms for the military, a basis for tax revenue, and a diplomatic strategy" (p. 163). Indeed, Dattel's treatment of the Civil War covers principally these non-textile uses of the fiber. He focuses considerably more energy on depicting cotton's role in arms procurement and diplomatic recognition than on battles and generals. The author therefore provides a view of the Confederate States of America as a young nation fighting for its independence rather than as a belligerent interruption of the national narrative. Dattel thus concentrates on the illconceived Confederate policy of cotton embargo that so severely miscalculated both world stores of cotton and British desire for this product. The emphasis on cotton allows Dattel to extend his economic analysis to the conflict as well as its causes, and provides him with a transition to the postbellum shift to cotton production by "free" labor.
Two more sections examine the postwar world: cotton and race between the Civil War and New Deal, and then again at mid-century, as machine stripping took over much of the work of the harvest. Dattel views postbellum sharecropping and tenancy systems as a variant of slavery, enforced this time by the federal government. Freedpeople's role in shaping these arrangements slips away from this story, as "white Southerners often took the initiative in recommending rules" (p. 247). The turn-of-the-century story becomes somewhat muddled: the Exodusters who migrated to Kansas, the rise of lynching and the Klan as a means of social control, and Teddy Roosevelt's racism blend into the Great Migration after World War I. From here, race riots vie with export markets and agricultural finance to carry the story forward to the New Deal and then to the mechanization of the cotton harvest. While these postbellum chapters could use a stronger organizational spine, they are effective for the popular and undergraduate audience intended, and maintain the tone of economic rationalism mixed with restrained fury that proves so effective through the whole text.
Indeed, it is the author's tone that makes this book useful, as well as the organization of material. Students with considerable cliometric skills might find the narrative cloying, and business historians will encounter few surprises or new insights. For the average student in a general U.S. history survey, however, or an upper-level class in southern or business history, Dattel hits the nail on the head. The book sometimes seems needlessly narrow, as when the rush of events from Reconstruction into the twentieth century elides the complex array of causes for segregation and disfranchisement. Instead, Dattel asserts that "for white Americans, all roads for blacks led back to cotton" (p. 212). Yet the book is eminently useful for an audience who may, from time to time, need reminding of the historical roots of the nation's wealth.
[Author Affiliation]
Barbara Hahn is assistant professor at Texas Tech University. She is completing a manuscript on the interactions between the U.S. tobacco industry and tobacco agriculture between 1617 and 1937, and beginning work on a history-of-technology treatment of the Industrial Revolution.
A man from Bath who lost more than pounds8,000 after a van hebought turned out to a 'cloned car' is warning other people to beextra vigilant when buying a new vehicle.
Alan Birrell, 59, from Weston, is just one of hundreds of peoplein the UK who have unwittingly bought stolen cars following thetheft of a large consignment of blank DVLA vehicle registrationforms.
It is part of a nationwide problem being tackled by police forcesall over the country.
With three cloned vehicles being seized a week by Avon andSomerset police officers, Bath MP Don Foster has now taken thematter to Parliament.
Before Mr Birrell bought his Volkswagon Caddy van he ensured hehad checked the vehicle was legitimate by paying the RAC to do acheck to confirm if it had outstanding car finance, was recorded asstolen, or had previously been written-off.
He even travelled to Leicester to meet the man who was named onthe van's log book, at the address which was also printed on the V5Cregistered keeper form.
Mr Birrell was reassured enough by the check and the fact that hehad been to the address on the log book to press on with thepurchase.
He handed the man pounds6,000 for his new vehicle and returned toBath happy with his purchase, and spent another couple of thousandpounds doing the van up.
But five months later when he tried to re-tax the vehicle, he hada visit from the police.
He said: "I had the police arrive who told me that my vehicle wasstolen and had been cloned and that they needed to take it away.
"I couldn't believe it because I had checked it out andeverything seemed fine. I was gutted. They told me that back in thespring, more than 100,000 log books had been stolen and that thethieves had been using HPI checks to their advantage.
"I have now lost all my money that I spent on the van and doingit up and had to spend another pounds10,000 on a different van whichI bought from a garage this time.
"The police told me that I had done everything right and thatthere were no other checks I could have done.
"That is what is so upsetting. Innocent people are losing outbecause of these gangs."
Police in Leicester are now hunting for the crook, who appearedto have simply turned up in front of the house in that city wherethe van had been registered.
So far the latest "missing documents" crisis to hit theGovernment has allowed car thieves to make at least pounds4 millionfrom innocent members of the public.
Gangs are using the stolen V5C forms to present unsuspecting victims with official, watermarked reassurance that they are buying legitimate cars, not stolen ones.
Only later does the victim discover the vehicle is stolen and,with their new cars confiscated by police, they are left withoutcompensation.
A spokesman for the DVLA, said: "As soon as the agency becameaware of this problem we contacted the police and issued a warningto motorists to check the registration certificate before buying aused vehicle.
"Since then the agency has updated the public with five furtherwarnings and continues to work closely with the police to preventabuse of the vehicle registration system.
"DVLA has every sympathy with any member of the public who unwittingly buys a stolen vehicle.
"We provide every assistance to help people avoid this, includingrunning an information hotline for the public to check if acertificate may be invalid prior to the purchase of a vehicle."
Mr Foster, who is hoping to make people more aware about thistype of crime, said people needed to be vigilant when buyingvehicles and must read the small print when paying for a HPI check.
He said: "There are many companies which offer customers the HPIchecks but not all of them will give people the legal right to makea claim of compensation if it turns out their vehicle is stolen.
"I would really recommend people read all terms and conditions. Iam hoping to raise more awareness for this type of crime it is justtoo easy for people to clone. More action needs to be taken to stopthis from happening."
WASHINGTON - In a Sept. 17 story about the nomination of Michael Mukasey for attorney general, The Associated Press erroneously described the American Center for Law and Justice as a liberal-leaning group. The group is conservative-leaning.
Australia will press ahead with a bid to host soccer's 2018 World Cup despite an indication from FIFA head Sepp Blatter that the tournament will probably be held in the northern hemisphere.
Australian Finance Minister Lindsay Tanner said Blatter was "being a bit cute" when he suggested FIFA would likely stage the 2018 tournament in the northern hemisphere, after holding the 2010 tournament in South Africa and the 2014 event in Brazil.
"I think the comments from Sepp Blatter were just a little cute because the tradition with the World Cup historically has been that the World Cup alternates," he told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
"In the most recent iteration, we've had the European World Cup in Germany and the next one's in South Africa in the southern hemisphere, so that's effectively disrupting the pattern," Tanner said.
The Australian government has set aside 60 million Australian dollars (US$57 million; euro37 million) to fund a World Cup bid that will be guided by the Football Federation of Australia, he said.
Blatter told a news conference after FIFA's 58th Congress on Friday in Australia that, "the World Cup would not be played on the same continent twice in a row."
Tanner said ultimately the final decision on which country gets the World Cup isn't Blatter's alone.
"He doesn't make the decision. He's an influential player but he doesn't make the decision," he said.
President-elect Lee Myung-bak announced a proposed Cabinet lineup Monday filled with nominees who will help him strengthen South Korea's half-century alliance with the United States.
Lee told a nationally televised news conference that he would name Yu Myung-hwan, current ambassador to Japan, as foreign minister to be tasked with improving the country's relations with Washington. Yu, a 61-year-old career diplomat, has served several high-profile posts handling U.S. affairs.
Lee also named former Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Lee Sang-hee as defense minister. The 62-year-old is known to have close ties with the U.S. and was involved in negotiations for South Korea to retake wartime command of its own forces from the U.S. The top American general in the South now assumes command of all allied forces in the event of war, but both sides agreed last year that South Korea will maintain wartime responsibility starting in 2012.
Relations between the U.S. and South Korea have frayed over a decade of liberal rule in Seoul due mainly to differences over how to deal with the North. Seoul has preferred a softer approach while Washington has opted for a tougher line.
Lee's Cabinet nominations came hours after negotiations collapsed over Lee's plan to scrap several ministries as part of a government restructuring program. The plan calls for shutting down the Unification Ministry tasked with overseeing reconciliation efforts with North Korea.
Lee, who has said he will pursue a harder line with the communist North, has said he wants to incorporate the Unification Ministry into the Foreign Ministry.
The ministry reorganization would have to be approved by Parliament, where the main liberal party holds the most seats but lacks a majority. Lee wants Parliament to pass his plan before his inauguration next Monday.
"I have pledged to revive the economy. A first step is to create a small and efficient government," Lee said. "The government has to get rid of surplus fat."
The restructuring plan has prompted a strong backlash from liberals. Outgoing President Roh Moo-hyun, who supports engagement with Pyongyang and held a summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Il in October, has said he would veto the legislation even if it passes.
WASHINGTON -- The following information was released by Alaska Senator Mark Begich:
Today, U.S. Senators Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Mark Begich (D-AK) urged the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) to postpone decommissioning the icebreaker Polar Sea until a business analysis is completed to determine the most cost-effective way to revitalize the nation's aging polar icebreaker fleet based in Puget Sound. The Seattle-based Polar Sea is one of three icebreakers in the U.S. fleet, only one of which is currently operational. A recent study called for a minimum of six icebreakers to fulfill the Coast Guard's statutory missions of national security, law enforcement, protecting U.S. economic interests, and maritime safety.
"As chair and former chair of the Senate Commerce Committee's Subcommittee on Oceans, Fisheries Atmosphere and Coast Guard, we urge the United States Coast Guard (USCG) to postpone decommissioning of the icebreaker Polar Sea (WAGB 11) and retain it in caretaker status while the Administration considers options for fulfilling the nation's critical icebreaking missions, including a business case analysis required by the Coast Guard Reauthorization Act of 2010," Cantwell and Begich wrote in a letter sent today to USCG Commandant Admiral Robert J. Papp, Jr.
Cantwell was instrumental in securing the language in the 2010 Coast Guard Reauthorization Act that required the Coast Guard to evaluate the costs and benefits of building new vessels versus refurbishing the existing vessels, which could save taxpayer dollars. Decommissioning Polar Sea would leave the U.S. with only one operational icebreaker, the Healy, which was designed primarily as a scientific research vessel and only has medium icebreaking capability. The second heavy duty icebreaker, Polar Star, is currently being refitted after years in 'caretaker' status, when the vessel is out of active service but still receives routine upkeep and maintenance. The United States Navy has no icebreaking capability.
A recent Coast Guard study found the Coast Guard needs a minimum of six heavy duty icebreakers and an additional four medium icebreakers to meet Coast Guard and Navy mission requirements.
The polar ice caps are melting at an alarming rate, opening new passageways through the Arctic ice, which creates national security, law enforcement and maritime safety concerns. Additionally, emerging environmental protection concerns, potential resource development and scientific research critical to understanding global climate change require vessels capable of polar operations. Historically, these vessels have also helped resupply the McMurdo Station, the main U.S. station in Antarctica on the southern tip of Ross Island in Antarctica, but over the last few years the U.S. has been forced to contract foreign icebreaking to fulfill this national need.
"Despite the undeniable and growing need for icebreaker capability, the Coast Guard plans to decommission one of only two heavy-duty icebreaking cutters in the U.S. fleet, the Polar Sea," the Senators wrote. "We believe this lack of icebreaking capacity is unacceptable. While the Polar Sea has served beyond its expected service life and recently suffered engine failure, we also understand from Coast Guard and private sector engineers that the hull of the Polar Sea is still sound and may be worth hundreds of millions of dollars. Rebuilding the vessel based on that hull would be considerably less than building a replacement vessel from the keel up. We think it is premature to scrap the potentially valuable asset."
The complete text of the letter sent today follows.
Admiral Robert J. Papp
Commandant, United States Coast Guard
Headquarters
2100 2nd St. SW Stop 7000
Washington, D.C. 20593-7000
Dear Admiral Papp:
As chair and former chair of the Senate Commerce Committee's Subcommittee on Oceans, Fisheries Atmosphere and Coast Guard, we urge the United States Coast Guard (USCG) to postpone decommissioning of the icebreaker Polar Sea (WAGB 11) and retain it in caretaker status while the Administration considers options for fulfilling the nation's critical icebreaking missions, including a business case analysis required by the Coast Guard Reauthorization Act of 2010.
The Coast Guard is required by 14 U.S.C. * 2 to develop, establish, maintain, and operate icebreaking assets to promote safety in U.S. waters and also in non-U.S. waters pursuant to international agreements. Additionally, in its Fiscal Year 2008 report to Congress the USCG noted America has enduring interests in the Polar Regions including national security, law enforcement, maritime safety, scientific research, economic sustainability, and environmental protection, which requires assets capable of polar operations to protect these interests and maintain a sovereign presence.
The need for icebreaking capability has been highlighted by the Coast Guard on numerous occasions. You testified about the need for icebreaker assets at the July 27, 2011 hearing on the emerging economic interests of the Arctic before the Senate Commerce Committee's Subcommittee on Oceans, Fisheries Atmosphere and Coast Guard. The recently released "High Latitude" mission analysis found the statutory requirements of the USCG required a total of six icebreakers, three-heavy and three-medium duty, and an additional four icebreakers to maintain the continuous presence requirements of the Naval Operations Concept.
Despite the undeniable and growing need for icebreaker capability, the Coast Guard plans to decommission one of only two heavy-duty icebreaking cutters in the U.S. fleet, the Polar Sea. This leaves the U.S. with only one operational icebreaker, the Healy (WAGB 20). A second icebreaker, the Polar Star (WAGB 10), is currently being refitted for service after years in caretaker status.
We believe this lack of icebreaking capacity is unacceptable. While the Polar Sea has served beyond its expected service life and recently suffered engine failure, we also understand from Coast Guard and private sector engineers that the hull of the Polar Sea is still sound and may be worth hundreds of millions of dollars. Rebuilding the vessel based on that hull would be considerably less than building a replacement vessel from the keel up. We think it is premature to scrap the potentially valuable asset.
The Coast Guard Reauthorization Act of 2010 (P.L. 111-281) requires the Coast Guard complete a Business Case analysis to determine the most cost effective method to address the Coast Guard's aging fleet needs while maximizing taxpayer dollars. This comparative cost-benefit analysis will determine if the Coast Guard should replace or perform service-life extensions on its two existing heavy-duty icebreaking ships, including the Polar Sea. Without the benefit of this required analysis, the Coast Guard should not begin decommissioning a vessel before results from this study become available.
We recognize the nation is facing severe, across-the-board federal budget cuts and icebreakers are expensive assets. It is clearly not prudent to decommission Polar Sea at this time. We urge the Coast Guard to utilize FY2011 funding currently slated for the decommissioning expenses to maintain the vessel in caretaker status such as "In Commission - Special" status until completion of the Business Case analysis of Coast Guard icebreaker needs, review of the High Latitude study conclusions, and further Congressional consideration.
As you noted in your 2011 State of the Coast Guard address, our nation has significant strategic interests in the emerging Arctic. The diminishing ice pack has spurred an increase in Arctic maritime and other activity which means increased Coast Guard responsibilities. Yet we don't have the ability and the resources to operate as effectively as we need to. We agree when you said, "If we are serious about protecting our Arctic national interests and resources, then we must make the investment to do so."
Thank you for your consideration of this request.
Sincerely,
Maria Cantwell Mark Begich
United States Senator United States Senator
###
CANTWELL, BEGICH: SAVING ICEBREAKER COULD SAVE TAXPAYER DOLLARS, MEET NATIONAL SECURITY NEEDS.WASHINGTON -- The following information was released by Alaska Senator Mark Begich:
Today, U.S. Senators Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Mark Begich (D-AK) urged the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) to postpone decommissioning the icebreaker Polar Sea until a business analysis is completed to determine the most cost-effective way to revitalize the nation's aging polar icebreaker fleet based in Puget Sound. The Seattle-based Polar Sea is one of three icebreakers in the U.S. fleet, only one of which is currently operational. A recent study called for a minimum of six icebreakers to fulfill the Coast Guard's statutory missions of national security, law enforcement, protecting U.S. economic interests, and maritime safety.
"As chair and former chair of the Senate Commerce Committee's Subcommittee on Oceans, Fisheries Atmosphere and Coast Guard, we urge the United States Coast Guard (USCG) to postpone decommissioning of the icebreaker Polar Sea (WAGB 11) and retain it in caretaker status while the Administration considers options for fulfilling the nation's critical icebreaking missions, including a business case analysis required by the Coast Guard Reauthorization Act of 2010," Cantwell and Begich wrote in a letter sent today to USCG Commandant Admiral Robert J. Papp, Jr.
Cantwell was instrumental in securing the language in the 2010 Coast Guard Reauthorization Act that required the Coast Guard to evaluate the costs and benefits of building new vessels versus refurbishing the existing vessels, which could save taxpayer dollars. Decommissioning Polar Sea would leave the U.S. with only one operational icebreaker, the Healy, which was designed primarily as a scientific research vessel and only has medium icebreaking capability. The second heavy duty icebreaker, Polar Star, is currently being refitted after years in 'caretaker' status, when the vessel is out of active service but still receives routine upkeep and maintenance. The United States Navy has no icebreaking capability.
A recent Coast Guard study found the Coast Guard needs a minimum of six heavy duty icebreakers and an additional four medium icebreakers to meet Coast Guard and Navy mission requirements.
The polar ice caps are melting at an alarming rate, opening new passageways through the Arctic ice, which creates national security, law enforcement and maritime safety concerns. Additionally, emerging environmental protection concerns, potential resource development and scientific research critical to understanding global climate change require vessels capable of polar operations. Historically, these vessels have also helped resupply the McMurdo Station, the main U.S. station in Antarctica on the southern tip of Ross Island in Antarctica, but over the last few years the U.S. has been forced to contract foreign icebreaking to fulfill this national need.
"Despite the undeniable and growing need for icebreaker capability, the Coast Guard plans to decommission one of only two heavy-duty icebreaking cutters in the U.S. fleet, the Polar Sea," the Senators wrote. "We believe this lack of icebreaking capacity is unacceptable. While the Polar Sea has served beyond its expected service life and recently suffered engine failure, we also understand from Coast Guard and private sector engineers that the hull of the Polar Sea is still sound and may be worth hundreds of millions of dollars. Rebuilding the vessel based on that hull would be considerably less than building a replacement vessel from the keel up. We think it is premature to scrap the potentially valuable asset."
The complete text of the letter sent today follows.
Admiral Robert J. Papp
Commandant, United States Coast Guard
Headquarters
2100 2nd St. SW Stop 7000
Washington, D.C. 20593-7000
Dear Admiral Papp:
As chair and former chair of the Senate Commerce Committee's Subcommittee on Oceans, Fisheries Atmosphere and Coast Guard, we urge the United States Coast Guard (USCG) to postpone decommissioning of the icebreaker Polar Sea (WAGB 11) and retain it in caretaker status while the Administration considers options for fulfilling the nation's critical icebreaking missions, including a business case analysis required by the Coast Guard Reauthorization Act of 2010.
The Coast Guard is required by 14 U.S.C. * 2 to develop, establish, maintain, and operate icebreaking assets to promote safety in U.S. waters and also in non-U.S. waters pursuant to international agreements. Additionally, in its Fiscal Year 2008 report to Congress the USCG noted America has enduring interests in the Polar Regions including national security, law enforcement, maritime safety, scientific research, economic sustainability, and environmental protection, which requires assets capable of polar operations to protect these interests and maintain a sovereign presence.
The need for icebreaking capability has been highlighted by the Coast Guard on numerous occasions. You testified about the need for icebreaker assets at the July 27, 2011 hearing on the emerging economic interests of the Arctic before the Senate Commerce Committee's Subcommittee on Oceans, Fisheries Atmosphere and Coast Guard. The recently released "High Latitude" mission analysis found the statutory requirements of the USCG required a total of six icebreakers, three-heavy and three-medium duty, and an additional four icebreakers to maintain the continuous presence requirements of the Naval Operations Concept.
Despite the undeniable and growing need for icebreaker capability, the Coast Guard plans to decommission one of only two heavy-duty icebreaking cutters in the U.S. fleet, the Polar Sea. This leaves the U.S. with only one operational icebreaker, the Healy (WAGB 20). A second icebreaker, the Polar Star (WAGB 10), is currently being refitted for service after years in caretaker status.
We believe this lack of icebreaking capacity is unacceptable. While the Polar Sea has served beyond its expected service life and recently suffered engine failure, we also understand from Coast Guard and private sector engineers that the hull of the Polar Sea is still sound and may be worth hundreds of millions of dollars. Rebuilding the vessel based on that hull would be considerably less than building a replacement vessel from the keel up. We think it is premature to scrap the potentially valuable asset.
The Coast Guard Reauthorization Act of 2010 (P.L. 111-281) requires the Coast Guard complete a Business Case analysis to determine the most cost effective method to address the Coast Guard's aging fleet needs while maximizing taxpayer dollars. This comparative cost-benefit analysis will determine if the Coast Guard should replace or perform service-life extensions on its two existing heavy-duty icebreaking ships, including the Polar Sea. Without the benefit of this required analysis, the Coast Guard should not begin decommissioning a vessel before results from this study become available.
We recognize the nation is facing severe, across-the-board federal budget cuts and icebreakers are expensive assets. It is clearly not prudent to decommission Polar Sea at this time. We urge the Coast Guard to utilize FY2011 funding currently slated for the decommissioning expenses to maintain the vessel in caretaker status such as "In Commission - Special" status until completion of the Business Case analysis of Coast Guard icebreaker needs, review of the High Latitude study conclusions, and further Congressional consideration.
As you noted in your 2011 State of the Coast Guard address, our nation has significant strategic interests in the emerging Arctic. The diminishing ice pack has spurred an increase in Arctic maritime and other activity which means increased Coast Guard responsibilities. Yet we don't have the ability and the resources to operate as effectively as we need to. We agree when you said, "If we are serious about protecting our Arctic national interests and resources, then we must make the investment to do so."
Thank you for your consideration of this request.
Sincerely,
Maria Cantwell Mark Begich
United States Senator United States Senator
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CANTWELL, BEGICH: SAVING ICEBREAKER COULD SAVE TAXPAYER DOLLARS, MEET NATIONAL SECURITY NEEDS.WASHINGTON -- The following information was released by Alaska Senator Mark Begich:
Today, U.S. Senators Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Mark Begich (D-AK) urged the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) to postpone decommissioning the icebreaker Polar Sea until a business analysis is completed to determine the most cost-effective way to revitalize the nation's aging polar icebreaker fleet based in Puget Sound. The Seattle-based Polar Sea is one of three icebreakers in the U.S. fleet, only one of which is currently operational. A recent study called for a minimum of six icebreakers to fulfill the Coast Guard's statutory missions of national security, law enforcement, protecting U.S. economic interests, and maritime safety.
"As chair and former chair of the Senate Commerce Committee's Subcommittee on Oceans, Fisheries Atmosphere and Coast Guard, we urge the United States Coast Guard (USCG) to postpone decommissioning of the icebreaker Polar Sea (WAGB 11) and retain it in caretaker status while the Administration considers options for fulfilling the nation's critical icebreaking missions, including a business case analysis required by the Coast Guard Reauthorization Act of 2010," Cantwell and Begich wrote in a letter sent today to USCG Commandant Admiral Robert J. Papp, Jr.
Cantwell was instrumental in securing the language in the 2010 Coast Guard Reauthorization Act that required the Coast Guard to evaluate the costs and benefits of building new vessels versus refurbishing the existing vessels, which could save taxpayer dollars. Decommissioning Polar Sea would leave the U.S. with only one operational icebreaker, the Healy, which was designed primarily as a scientific research vessel and only has medium icebreaking capability. The second heavy duty icebreaker, Polar Star, is currently being refitted after years in 'caretaker' status, when the vessel is out of active service but still receives routine upkeep and maintenance. The United States Navy has no icebreaking capability.
A recent Coast Guard study found the Coast Guard needs a minimum of six heavy duty icebreakers and an additional four medium icebreakers to meet Coast Guard and Navy mission requirements.
The polar ice caps are melting at an alarming rate, opening new passageways through the Arctic ice, which creates national security, law enforcement and maritime safety concerns. Additionally, emerging environmental protection concerns, potential resource development and scientific research critical to understanding global climate change require vessels capable of polar operations. Historically, these vessels have also helped resupply the McMurdo Station, the main U.S. station in Antarctica on the southern tip of Ross Island in Antarctica, but over the last few years the U.S. has been forced to contract foreign icebreaking to fulfill this national need.
"Despite the undeniable and growing need for icebreaker capability, the Coast Guard plans to decommission one of only two heavy-duty icebreaking cutters in the U.S. fleet, the Polar Sea," the Senators wrote. "We believe this lack of icebreaking capacity is unacceptable. While the Polar Sea has served beyond its expected service life and recently suffered engine failure, we also understand from Coast Guard and private sector engineers that the hull of the Polar Sea is still sound and may be worth hundreds of millions of dollars. Rebuilding the vessel based on that hull would be considerably less than building a replacement vessel from the keel up. We think it is premature to scrap the potentially valuable asset."
The complete text of the letter sent today follows.
Admiral Robert J. Papp
Commandant, United States Coast Guard
Headquarters
2100 2nd St. SW Stop 7000
Washington, D.C. 20593-7000
Dear Admiral Papp:
As chair and former chair of the Senate Commerce Committee's Subcommittee on Oceans, Fisheries Atmosphere and Coast Guard, we urge the United States Coast Guard (USCG) to postpone decommissioning of the icebreaker Polar Sea (WAGB 11) and retain it in caretaker status while the Administration considers options for fulfilling the nation's critical icebreaking missions, including a business case analysis required by the Coast Guard Reauthorization Act of 2010.
The Coast Guard is required by 14 U.S.C. * 2 to develop, establish, maintain, and operate icebreaking assets to promote safety in U.S. waters and also in non-U.S. waters pursuant to international agreements. Additionally, in its Fiscal Year 2008 report to Congress the USCG noted America has enduring interests in the Polar Regions including national security, law enforcement, maritime safety, scientific research, economic sustainability, and environmental protection, which requires assets capable of polar operations to protect these interests and maintain a sovereign presence.
The need for icebreaking capability has been highlighted by the Coast Guard on numerous occasions. You testified about the need for icebreaker assets at the July 27, 2011 hearing on the emerging economic interests of the Arctic before the Senate Commerce Committee's Subcommittee on Oceans, Fisheries Atmosphere and Coast Guard. The recently released "High Latitude" mission analysis found the statutory requirements of the USCG required a total of six icebreakers, three-heavy and three-medium duty, and an additional four icebreakers to maintain the continuous presence requirements of the Naval Operations Concept.
Despite the undeniable and growing need for icebreaker capability, the Coast Guard plans to decommission one of only two heavy-duty icebreaking cutters in the U.S. fleet, the Polar Sea. This leaves the U.S. with only one operational icebreaker, the Healy (WAGB 20). A second icebreaker, the Polar Star (WAGB 10), is currently being refitted for service after years in caretaker status.
We believe this lack of icebreaking capacity is unacceptable. While the Polar Sea has served beyond its expected service life and recently suffered engine failure, we also understand from Coast Guard and private sector engineers that the hull of the Polar Sea is still sound and may be worth hundreds of millions of dollars. Rebuilding the vessel based on that hull would be considerably less than building a replacement vessel from the keel up. We think it is premature to scrap the potentially valuable asset.
The Coast Guard Reauthorization Act of 2010 (P.L. 111-281) requires the Coast Guard complete a Business Case analysis to determine the most cost effective method to address the Coast Guard's aging fleet needs while maximizing taxpayer dollars. This comparative cost-benefit analysis will determine if the Coast Guard should replace or perform service-life extensions on its two existing heavy-duty icebreaking ships, including the Polar Sea. Without the benefit of this required analysis, the Coast Guard should not begin decommissioning a vessel before results from this study become available.
We recognize the nation is facing severe, across-the-board federal budget cuts and icebreakers are expensive assets. It is clearly not prudent to decommission Polar Sea at this time. We urge the Coast Guard to utilize FY2011 funding currently slated for the decommissioning expenses to maintain the vessel in caretaker status such as "In Commission - Special" status until completion of the Business Case analysis of Coast Guard icebreaker needs, review of the High Latitude study conclusions, and further Congressional consideration.
As you noted in your 2011 State of the Coast Guard address, our nation has significant strategic interests in the emerging Arctic. The diminishing ice pack has spurred an increase in Arctic maritime and other activity which means increased Coast Guard responsibilities. Yet we don't have the ability and the resources to operate as effectively as we need to. We agree when you said, "If we are serious about protecting our Arctic national interests and resources, then we must make the investment to do so."
Thank you for your consideration of this request.
Sincerely,
Maria Cantwell Mark Begich
United States Senator United States Senator
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