Suicide Bombing Kills 6, Wounds Dozens In Northwest Pakistan

PESHAWAR, Pakistan ? A suicide bomber targeting a police van killed six people in northwestern Pakistan on Monday, including the son and nephew of an Afghan official involved in peace negotiations with the Taliban, officials said.

The bomber, who was riding a motorcycle, detonated his explosives as the police patrol drove by in the northwestern city of Peshawar, said city police chief Liaqat Ali Khan.

The two Afghans who were killed ? Qazi Mohammad Hilal Waqad and Mohammad Idrees ? were working at their country's consulate in Peshawar where the attack occurred, said Afghan Consul General Syed Mohammad Ibrahim Khel in Islamabad.

However, it did not appear they were the target of the attack, Khel said.

Waqad's father, Qazi Amin Waqad, is a member of the Afghan High Peace Council, a group appointed by the Afghan government to hold peace negotiations with the Taliban, said an official at the consulate in Peshawar, Shakir Qarar.

The peace council member was in Afghanistan when the attack occurred, while Waqad and Idrees were driving to work when the bomber struck, Qarar added.

Three policemen were among over 30 people who were wounded by the blast, said the police chief, Khan. Many of the dead and wounded were from a nearby passenger bus, which bore the brunt of the attack.

Local TV footage showed the wreckage of the bus and the motorcycle, as rescue workers rushed wounded people to hospitals in the city.

No one immediately claimed responsibility, but suspicion will likely to fall on the Pakistani Taliban. The group has been waging a bloody insurgency against the government for years and has stepped up attacks ahead of next month's parliamentary election.

On Sunday, the Taliban killed 11 people in bomb attacks on a political rally and two campaign offices in the northwest, part of their quest to disrupt the election. The group has killed at least 60 people in attacks on politicians and party workers since the beginning of April.

The Taliban have specifically targeted more secular political parties that have supported military offensives against the militants in the northwest. The Taliban have largely spared Islamic parties and others who believe the government should strike a peace deal with the militants, rather than fight them.

There is a concern that the violence could benefit the parties that take a softer line toward the militants because they are able to campaign more freely ahead of the May 11 election.

"Unless the government, the country's independent election commission and security forces ensure that all parties can campaign freely without fear, the election may be severely compromised," Ali Dayan Hasan, the head of Human Rights Watch in Pakistan, said in a statement issued Monday.

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Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/29/pakistan-suicide-bombing-peshawar_n_3176388.html

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Algeria president sent to Paris after mini-stroke

ALGIERS, Algeria (AP) ? Algeria's state news agency says the president has been transferred to Paris for medical treatment following a mini-stroke.

The report published early Sunday said that though the brief blockage of a blood vessel known as transient ischemic attack had "no complications," according to authorities, Abdelaziz Bouteflika's doctors had recommended additional tests.

French and Algerian media say the 76-year-old president had been checked into Val de Grace hospital, where he was treated in 2005 for a bleeding ulcer.

There have long been concerns about Bouteflika's health, especially since the president rarely appears in public.

Bouteflika, president since 1999, is credited with seeing Algeria through the end of a bloody civil war against Islamists and ruling in an uneasy partnership with the powerful military.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/algeria-president-sent-paris-mini-stroke-081408904.html

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my teen daughter's drug supplier - Talk About Marriage

Today, 05:33 AM ? #5 (permalink)

Forum Supporter

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Join Date: Dec 2010

Posts: 4,672

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You'll be wasting your time trying to incriminate the dealers as if your daughter wants MJ chances are she'll find another dealer really quickly even if the one you reported got raided.

MJ is a socially acceptable drug that ALOT of people smoke in their leisure time, which is also why it's very easy to find replacement dealers, and also why it can be hard to quit. In parties, in gatherings, there's always going to be the temptation.

Even if your daughter goes through this program, there's nothing really stopping her from having a smoke once she goes out. But MJ is mild, I would be more worried if she went on heavier drugs. Hence I recommend education, encouragement, and support for your daughter rather than trying to make MJ usage forbidden/getting her in trouble for it. She has to learn personal responsibility, that's the only real defence that one has in the face of drugs.

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Source: http://talkaboutmarriage.com/family-parenting-forums/72351-my-teen-daughters-drug-supplier.html

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Life360, A Family Networking App With More Users Than Foursquare, Is Now Headed For Cars, Smart Home Systems

Foursquare recently announced it has grown to 33 million users, but another, albeit older, location-based app called Life360 just crossed a milestone of its own: 34 million users. Yes, this family locator utility is now bigger than Foursquare - at least in terms of registered users. To be fair, the companies don't disclose their actives.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/HQV7kPIbiuc/

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Embraer earnings down on falling regional jet production

SAO PAULO (Reuters) - Brazilian planemaker Embraer SA will likely report slightly weaker earnings on Monday as rising labor costs and slower production of its commercial jets underscored ongoing challenges, despite recent government support.

Embraer is expected to post an 11 percent decline in first-quarter earnings from a year ago to $58 million, according to the average estimate of five analysts in a Reuters survey.

Deliveries of Embraer regional jets that seat less than 120 passengers, its biggest source of revenue, fell in the quarter to the lowest in at least five years after poor demand withered its order backlog.

Slowing assembly lines and uncertainty about upcoming orders have led to sharp swings in Embraer's stock price, which touched a five-year high this month, bolstered by hopes of new demand from major U.S. airlines.

The day-to-day volatility of Sao-Paulo listed shares rose in the past two weeks to the highest in a year and a half.

Embraer's earnings have benefited from tax breaks and a weaker local currency - two results of government policy supporting manufacturers and exporters - but the cost of production in Brazil continues to weigh on profitability.

A collective bargaining agreement signed in December pushed up payroll costs by at least 6 percent in the quarter, according to Bradesco analysts led by Edigimar Maximiliano Jr.

Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, a gauge of operating profit known as EBITDA, is expected to fall 9 percent from a year earlier to $135 million.

Several analysts forecast improving earnings over the course of the year, as deliveries recover from the seasonal weakness of the first quarter.

(Reporting by Brad Haynes and Roberta Vilas Boas. Editing by Andre Grenon)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/embraer-earnings-down-falling-regional-jet-production-181107551.html

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Israeli military shoots down drone

JERUSALEM (AP) ? Israel shot down a drone Thursday as it approached the country's northern coast, the military said. Suspicion immediately fell on the Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon which denied it sent the craft.

Hezbollah's Al Manar TV made the announcement Thursday through a one line statement flashed as an urgent news bar on its screen.

Despite the denial, the incident was likely to raise already heightened tensions between Israel and Hezbollah, a bitter enemy that battled Israel to a stalemate during a monthlong war in 2006.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who said he was in a helicopter in northern Israel at the time of the incident, said he viewed the infiltration attempt with "utmost gravity."

Officials said Netanyahu was informed of the unfolding incident as he was flying north for a cultural event with members of the country's Druse minority. They said his helicopter briefly landed while the drone was intercepted before Netanyahu continued on his way.

"On my way here in the helicopter, I was told that there is an infiltration attempt of a drone inside the skies of Israel," he said in the northern Arab-Israeli town of Daliyat al-Karmel. "We will continue to do everything necessary to safeguard the security of Israel's citizens."

Lebanon's state-run National News Agency reported that Israeli warplanes flew over the Christian town of Jezzine and the highlands of the Iqlim al-Tuffah province, a Hezbollah stronghold in southern Lebanon, Thursday morning.

The Lebanese army also reported Israeli jets violated Lebanese air space on Tuesday and Wednesday. Israel has stepped up its flights over Lebanon amid fears that Hezbollah is taking advantage of the chaos caused by the Syrian civil war.

Lt. Col. Peter Lerner, a military spokesman, said the unmanned aircraft was detected as it was flying over Lebanon and tracked as it approached Israeli airspace.

Lerner said the military waited for the aircraft to enter Israeli airspace, confirmed it was "enemy," and then an F-16 warplane shot it down.

The drone was flying at an altitude of about 6,000 feet (1,800 meters) and was downed roughly five miles (eight kilometers) off the Israeli coast near the northern city of Haifa. Lerner said Israeli naval forces were searching for the remains of the aircraft.

He said it still was not clear who sent the drone, noting it flew over Lebanese airspace, but that it could have originated from somewhere else.

Other military officials, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not permitted to talk to the media, said they believed it was an Iranian-manufactured aircraft sent by Hezbollah. The Lebanese group sent a drone into Israeli airspace last October that Israel also shot down.

Netanyahu repeatedly has warned that Hezbollah might try to take advantage of the instability in neighboring Syria, a key Hezbollah ally, to obtain what he calls game-changing weapons.

Israel has all but confirmed that it carried out an airstrike in Syria early this year that destroyed a shipment of sophisticated anti-aircraft missiles bound for Hezbollah.

A senior Lebanese security official, who also spoke on condition of anonymity in line with regulations, said Lebanon had no information on Thursday's incident.

Hezbollah spokesman Ibrahim Moussawi also said he had no information, adding the group would put out a statement if it had something to say on the issue.

When Israeli military shot down a Hezbollah drone on Oct. 6, it took days for Hezbollah leader Sheik Hassan Nasrallah to confirm it in a speech. He warned at the time that it would not be the last such operation by the group. He said the sophisticated aircraft was made in Iran and assembled by Hezbollah.

___

Associated Press writers Zeina Karam in Beirut and Diaa Hadid in Jerusalem contributed to this report.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/israeli-military-shoots-down-drone-142037543.html

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Cost-effectiveness of helicopter transport of trauma victims examined

Apr. 25, 2013 ? Researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine have for the first time determined how often emergency medical helicopters need to help save the lives of seriously injured people to be considered cost-effective compared with ground ambulances.

The researchers found that if an additional 1.6 percent of seriously injured patients survive after being transported by helicopter from the scene of injury to a level-1 or level-2 trauma center, then such transport should be considered cost-effective. In other words, if 90 percent of seriously injured trauma victims survive with the help of ground transport, 91.6 need to survive with the help of helicopter transport for it to be considered cost-effective.

The study, published online this month in the Annals of Emergency Medicine, does not address whether most helicopter transport actually meets the additional 1.6 percent survivorship threshold.

"What we aimed to do is reduce the uncertainty about the factors that drive the cost-effective use of this important critical care resource," said the study's lead author, M. Kit Delgado, MD, MS, an instructor in the Division of Emergency Medicine. "The goal is to continue to save the lives of those who need air transport, but spare flight personnel the additional risks of flying -- and patients with minor injuries the additional cost -- when helicopter transport is not likely to be cost-effective." (Helicopter medical services generally bill patients' insurance providers directly, but patients may have to pay some of the bill out of pocket, or, if they're uninsured, possibly all of it.)

The study comes at a time when finding ways to cut medical costs has become a national priority, and the overuse of helicopter transport has come under scrutiny. Previous studies have shown that, on average, over half of patients transported by helicopter have only minor, non-life threatening injuries. For these patients, transport by helicopter instead of ground ambulance is not likely to make a difference in outcomes, and the additional risk and cost of helicopter transport outweighs the benefit, Delgado said.

In 2010, there were an estimated 44,700 U.S. helicopter transports from injury scenes to level-1 and level-2 trauma centers, with an average cost of about $6,500 per transport. The total annual cost is around $290 million. (Level-1 and -2 trauma centers are hospitals equipped and staffed to provide the highest levels of surgical care to trauma patients; level-1 centers offer a broader array of readily available specialty care, and also are committed to research and teaching efforts.)

Yet emergency helicopter transport sits in a cost-efficiency conundrum: It is most needed in remote, rural areas where transport by ground can take far longer than by air. These areas also tend to have sparser populations and therefore fewer calls for aid, making it difficult to recoup the overhead costs of maintaining helicopter services, Delgado said.

In some areas of the country, however, helicopters are automatically launched based on the 911 call. "Once ground responders and the helicopter arrive, sometimes they may find patients who are awake, talking and have stable vital signs," Delgado said. "The challenge is getting helicopters to patients who need them in a rapid fashion so the flight team can intervene and make a difference, but also know based on certain criteria who isn't sick enough to require air transport."

Most health economists consider medical interventions that yield a year of healthy life -- a measure known as a quality-adjusted life-year -- at a cost of between $50,000 and $100,000 to be cost-effective in high-income countries, such as the United States, Delgado said. If society is willing to pay as much as $100,000 toward helicopter transport for each QALY gained by the seriously injured patients, then helicopter transport needs to reduce the mortality rate of these patients by a modest 1.6 percent compared with ground transport to meet this threshold, the study says. Or it needs to improve long-term disability outcomes, the study says.

"If future studies find helicopter transport leads to improved long-term quality of life and disability outcomes, then helicopter transport would be considered cost-effective, even if no additional lives were saved," Delgado said. "Only a handful of studies have examined outcomes other than death, without definitive results."

For severely injured patients, helicopter evacuation to a trauma center is preferable if it is faster than ground transport. However, helicopter transport is more expensive and poses rare, but often fatal, safety risks -- specifically, the risk of crashing. Plus, it is often difficult for emergency responders to discern which patients would actually benefit from being flown in a helicopter rather than driven in an ambulance to a high-level trauma center. Until this study, the survival benefit needed to offset these potential drawbacks hasn't been clear.

"More accurately determining which patients have serious injuries and need to be flown is the most promising way to ensure you are getting a good value by using helicopter transport," Delgado said. "To do this, we should promote diligent use of the Centers for Disease Control's field triage guidelines among EMS responders. This would help ensure that injured victims who are transported by helicopter to a trauma center actually require trauma care. Secondly, we need to figure out whether the practice of autolaunching helicopters based on a 911 call makes sense. If the benefit of the faster response time outweighs the expenditure of resources on those patients who may not actually need helicopter transport, then autolaunching makes sense. If not, the practice should be reconsidered."

There is mixed evidence in the literature about the degree to which helicopter transport reduces mortality. It is therefore uncertain whether the routine use of helicopter transport is cost-effective for most patients in the United States when ground transport is also feasible. The study found that the cost-effectiveness also depends on regional variation in the costs of air and ground transport and the percentage of patients who are flown that have minor injuries.

"Of course, this study only applies to situations in which both ground and helicopter transport to a trauma center are feasible," Delgado added. "In situations where the only alternative is being taken by ground to a local nontrauma-center hospital or being flown to a trauma center, then clearly we want any patient with a suspicion of a serious injury flown to that trauma center."

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Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Stanford University Medical Center, via EurekAlert!, a service of AAAS.

Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.

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Journal Reference:

1. M. Kit Delgado, Kristan L. Staudenmayer, N. Ewen Wang, David A. Spain, Sharada Weir, Douglas K. Owens, Jeremy D. Goldhaber-Fiebert. Cost-Effectiveness of Helicopter Versus Ground Emergency Medical Services for Trauma Scene Transport in the United States. Annals of Emergency Medicine, 2013; DOI: 10.1016/j.annemergmed.2013.02.025

Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.

Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/most_popular/~3/RUBDo2zsyzY/130425164502.htm

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Making The Most Of Fitness: Suggestions For An Optimal Fitness ...

TIP! Try working out outside. Some outdoor exercises you do include taking a jog, going for a hike or playing tennis.

Most people have physical fitness goals. But, the sad fact is that many of these goals are never reached. Fitness requires dedication and motivation since a person can lose their way to their goal easily. This article will give some advice with regards to that.

TIP! A nifty fitness trick when doing sit-ups or crunches is to press your tongue against the top of your mouth. Doing this, helps align your neck while working out your abs.

Take on the exercises that you normally avoid. The thinking is that people naturally shy away from exercises that they don?t do very well. Keep practicing and adding to your routine, and it will soon make you less resistant.

TIP! While a lot of people think that exercise is the vital part of working out, stretching is just as important. Your muscles need to be loosened up and prepared a little before you dive into your full-on exercises; stretching before each work out is vital.

Always test padding on a workout bench before you begin, by pressing firmly with your fingers on the cushion. If you feel a hard section under the bench, it is not the right one. Always workout on machines with enough padding; if not, you won?t get enough support, and may experience bruising.

Rollerblades are a great way to keep physically fit. Rollerblading is a wonderful way to shed some pounds. Rollerblades can still be found in many sporting good shops.

TIP! Do not worry if you cannot make it to the gym. All you need is a pair of sneakers! It?s easy to get a good workout by going to a local park; you can take a jog, use a bench for some step-ups, and even find space for some push-ups! Try carrying some bands for resistance when you are doing this.

If you?re going to start doing weight lifting, come up with concrete goals first. Heavier weights are the key to building more muscle mass. To tone your arms without adding bulk, choose lighter weights and more repetitions.

TIP! If you smoke, you need to quit quickly in order to lengthen your lifespan and increase your overall health. It?s not too late to quit smoking at any stage in your life.

Doing aerobic exercises will help you get that six pack that you desire. Be sure to alternate cardio with weight training every other day. Do a total body workout but do ab workouts on alternate days.

TIP! If you can only do one thing to improve your health, just cut all the refined sugar out of your diet. Sugar addicts are often the same folks who drink lots of sodas.

Milk is a great post-workout beverage. This creamy, tasty dairy product gives you the protein you need after a workout. Milk is not only essential for growing bones, but also for maintaining them. The nutrients in milk are beneficial to helping you develop body mass.

TIP! Playing outdoors with your children is a fun and gratifying way to get exercise. Go to the park to run around, or take the kids for a bike ride.

You can reach your fitness goals if you have the right information. The end might remain intimidating, but at least now it is a definite possibility. Nothing good in life is easy to accomplish without trying, and that?s how fitness is too. Use what you have learned here to get started.

Source: http://www.how-tobe-healthy.us/making-the-most-of-fitness-suggestions-for-an-optimal-fitness-lifestyle/

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Chechen Little (Balloon Juice)

Share With Friends: | | Politics - Top Stories Stories, RSS Feeds and Widgets via Feedzilla.

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Iowa House passes agriculture budget

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) -- The Iowa House has approved an agriculture budget that allocates less money than the Senate version.

The Republican-majority House on Tuesday approved a plan with about $36 million from the state general fund and roughly $88 million from other funds. That's less general fund money than in the budget passed by the Democratic-controlled Senate.

The Senate plan included additional funds for water quality and soil conservation efforts.

The amended plan will now go back to the Senate. Given the differences between the proposals, the bill is likely to end up in a joint conference committee where lawmakers from both chambers and parties try to work out a compromise deal.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/iowa-house-passes-agriculture-budget-142811663.html

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Appeals court upholds EPA ruling on W.Va. mine

SYDNEY, April 24 (Reuters) - Australia named the following squad for the Ashes test series against England in July and August. Squad: Michael Clarke (captain), Brad Haddin (vice captain), Ed Cowan, David Warner, Phillip Hughes, Shane Watson, Usman Khawaja, Chris Rogers, Matthew Wade, Nathan Lyon, James Faulkner, Peter Siddle, Ryan Harris, James Pattinson, Mitchell Starc, Jackson Bird (Compiled by Greg Stutchbury; Editing by Peter Rutherford)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/appeals-court-upholds-epa-ruling-155808897.html

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Women Are Earning Greater Share of STEM Degrees, but Doctorates Remain Gender-Skewed

In 2008, for the first time, U.S. women earned more doctorates in biology than men did. But advanced degrees in other core disciplines of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) remain stubbornly gender-imbalanced. In chemistry, for instance, women now garner 49 percent of bachelor's degrees but only 39 percent of Ph.D.s. What dissuades so many from further study?

Possible explanations include gender bias, the prospect of short-term postdoctoral jobs that complicate child rearing, and a lack of role models. Female STEM professors are slowly increasing in number, however. ?It seems like many of the indicators are pointing toward parity, but at different scales and different rates,? says science education professor Adam V. Maltese of Indiana University Bloomington, adding that fields such as engineering have a long way to go. ?That's not going to happen overnight, not in the next decade, and maybe not for the next 20 or 25 years.?

SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN ONLINE
Read more about gender and science education at ScientificAmerican.com/may2013/graphic-science

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Snoop Dogg Also Confirms Miley Cyrus? Split From Liam Hemsworth (VIDEO)

Snoop Dogg Also Confirms Miley Cyrus’ Split From Liam Hemsworth (VIDEO)

There have been rumors flying that Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth’s relationship was pretty much over, but Miley later said the wedding was still on. Miley’s latest musical collaborator, Snoop Dogg aka Snoop Lion, let it slip that Miley and Liam’s relationship “no longer exists”. Miley Cyrus recently joined forces with Snoop Dogg to record ...

Snoop Dogg Also Confirms Miley Cyrus’ Split From Liam Hemsworth (VIDEO) Stupid Celebrities Gossip Stupid Celebrities Gossip News

Source: http://stupidcelebrities.net/2013/04/snoop-dogg-also-confirms-miley-cyrus-split-from-liam-hemsworth-video/

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Suspect alarmed relatives with extremist views

One of the Boston bombing suspects set off alarm bells among his family a year ago during a trip here to visit relatives, ABC News has learned.

According to a family member, Tamerlan Tsarnaev was kicked out of his uncle's house because of his increasingly extremist views.

Tamerlan Tsarnaev, 26, and his brother Dzhokhar, 19, are believed to have placed bombs at the Boston Marathon, killing three and wounding 170. Tamerlan was killed in a shootout with police early Friday and Dzhokhar was badly wounded and captured by police Friday night.

Tamerlan Tsarnaev spent roughly six months in Russia in 2012, but the relative, who insisted on anonymity to avoid offending other family members, insisted the young man had been radicalized in the United States before his trip.

Dagestan is one of the poorest and most violent regions of Russia, home to an Islamist insurgency that seeks to establish an independent state. So far, no links have tied him to militant groups here.

Members of Congress, however, say those six months last year were a turning point in Tamerlan Tsarnaev's radicalization.

"When he came back he starting posting more radical jihadist YouTube videos and started becoming more of a fundamentalist Muslim," Rep. Michael McCaul, chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, told ABC News Friday.

"My concern is that he may have gone over there to visit his father and he received training and then became radicalized and then came back. Something happened in that period of time. He was not like that before," McCaul said.

The FBI, meanwhile, also looked into Tamerlan Tsarnaev in 2011.

In a statement Friday, the bureau said it investigated Tsarnaev on behalf of a foreign government, though it did not reveal which one.

"The request stated that it was based on information that he was a follower of radical Islam and a strong believer, and that he had changed drastically since 2010 as he prepared to leave the United States for travel to the country's region to join unspecified underground groups," the FBI statement said.

The bureau said that in response to the request it combed through its databases and interviewed the man and members of his family, but did not find any evidence he was tied to terror groups.

"The FBI did not find any terrorism activity, domestic or foreign, and those results were provided to the foreign government in the summer of 2011. The FBI requested but did not receive more specific or additional information from the foreign government," the FBI statement said.

The family member described Tsarnaev's father and mother as good parents who are distraught at the news. They tried to evade the media today after granting several interviews a day earlier, even instructing family members to tell reporters they had left for Chechnya. The pair were briefly spotted, however, by journalists waiting outside their home.

The relative said he saw them Friday and that the mother was sobbing and the father suffered some sort of panic attack in the evening. Also on Friday, according to a security source, the parents were questioned by security services.

The relative said Tsarnaev's father is a "traditional Muslim" who eschews extremism. He couldn't imagine his son would do such a thing, the family member said.

"Nightmare's end." Boston Globe, April 20, 2013.

? Also Read

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/boston-bomb-suspect-alarmed-russian-163600980.html

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Sheriff: 5 snowboarders killed in Colo. avalanche

GEORGETOWN, Colo. (AP) ? Five snowboarders were killed Saturday afternoon in a backcountry avalanche on Colorado's Loveland Pass, authorities said.

Clear Creek County Sheriff Don Krueger said in a statement that six snowboarders were caught in the slide. The condition of the lone survivor was not released, and it was unclear if the victims were still buried.

Colorado Avalanche Information Center forecaster Spencer Logan said there have been weak layers in Colorado's snowpack since early January.

"Our last series of storms made them more active again," he said. "Over the last week and a half, that area got over 18 inches of snow, so if you melted that that would be 2 inches of water, so that is a heavy load."

Loveland Pass, at an elevation of 11,990 feet, is popular among backcountry skiers and snowboarders. The Colorado Department of Transportation closed U.S. Route 6 as many skiers were headed home from nearby Arapahoe Basin ski resort.

Lisa Clarke Devore, who was headed back to Denver from the resort, told The Associated Press she saw a fire truck and ambulance on the pass, as well two search dogs headed into the area of the slide. She says she saw several ambulances, including one towing snowmobiles, driving toward the pass.

On Thursday, a 38-year-old snowboarder died in an avalanche south of Vail Pass. Eagle County sheriff's officials said the man and another snowboarder likely triggered the slide after a friend on a snowmobile dropped them off at the top of Avalanche Bowl.

U.S. avalanche deaths climbed steeply around 1990 to an average of around 24 a year as new gear became available for backcountry travel. Until then, avalanches rarely claimed more than a handful of lives each season in records going back to 1950.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/sheriff-5-snowboarders-killed-colo-avalanche-223833422.html

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Device to mitigate power outages, prevent equipment damage

Apr. 19, 2013 ? A local power failure in Ohio ten years ago caused a series of cascading power failures that resulted in a massive blackout that affected 50 million people and caused billions of dollars in damage and lost revenue.

Such blackouts could be prevented in the future, thanks to a new piece of equipment developed by engineering researchers at the University of Arkansas. The device regulates or limits the amount of excess current that moves through the power grid when a surge occurs.

"We didn't invent the fault current limiter," said Alan Mantooth, Distinguished Professor and executive director of the National Center for Reliable Electric Power Transmission, based at the university. "But we have developed the first one using a silicon-carbide semiconductor device and technology, which we have developed over the past five years. The significance of this material cannot be overestimated. It is much more durable and responds so much faster than materials currently used in systems on the U.S. power grid."

A fault current, also known as a surge, occurs when too much current flows through the electrical power grid in an uncontrolled manner. A fault current is typically caused by an accident or unintended event, such as lightning or contact between power lines and trees. These events cause short-circuits, which result in a rapid increase in the electricity drawn from power sources within the grid.

When these sources do not have extra power to give, cascading or rolling blackouts can occur. This is what happened in Ohio, much of the northeast United States and parts of Canada in 2003.

A fault current limiter can be thought of as a giant surge protector. When excess current travels through a power line, the limiter absorbs it and then sends only what is necessary farther down the line, Mantooth said. The system thus ensures uninterrupted service when the fault is intermittent. Most consumers would not even detect a problem. Furthermore, if the fault is more permanent and will require repair to power lines, Mantooth said, the device then opens much like a normal circuit breaker, which would thus prevent further damage due to excess current.

Proper coordination and device placement will prevent cascading outages, he said.

"This device really can mean the difference between 25,000 customers or 5 million customers being affected," Mantooth said.

The U of A researchers worked with silicon-carbide, a semiconducting material that is stronger and faster than conventional materials used in the power grid. High-speed switching devices within the limiter rapidly insert energy-absorbing impedance into the circuit or use advanced control techniques to limit the fault current, Mantooth said.

Silicon-carbide has other benefits as well. Its properties allow for extremely high voltage, and it is a good thermal conductor, which means that it can operate at high temperatures without requiring extra equipment to remove heat. Overall, use of the material will reduce the mass and volume of equipment needed on a power grid.

Mantooth envisions the device working in concert with circuit breakers on individual buildings, especially critical facilities such as hospitals. It could also serve neighborhoods, where one limiter could regulate current and thus preserve power for many houses. Depending on the size of the building or neighborhood, devices would vary in terms of amperage and voltage.

Mantooth said the U of A's system, and fault current limiters in general, are examples of devices that will make and serve a "smart" grid, meaning they will play an integral role in the U.S. Department of Energy's vision for a more efficient and more reliable power grid.

The National Center for Reliable Electric Power Transmission is funded as part of the federal government's focus on research and development on smart grid and renewable technologies. The center is one of only a few university-based research centers chosen by the Energy Department to investigate electronic systems to make the nation's power grid more reliable and efficient.

The Energy Department has funded the center since 2005 because of the university's research expertise in advanced power electronics and long-term investigation of silicon-carbide.

Mantooth is holder of the Twenty-First Century Chair in Mixed-Signal Integrated Circuit Design and Computer-Aided Design in the College of Engineering.

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Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/matter_energy/technology/~3/9kQDcVYGYOc/130419094143.htm

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Want to work at Engadget? We're hiring a social media manager!

Do you live and breathe social media tools and have a passion for metrics? Engadget is looking for you!

We're searching for a very special social- and community-savvy individual to lead the charge setting social strategy for the top consumer tech blog on the planet. Your role would focus on bringing the Engadget voice to life on new channels, leveraging an arsenal of measurement and analysis tools to identify best practices and broadly develop new audiences while interacting more directly with our existing fanbase.

You will need to be highly detail-oriented, unflaggingly personable, have a passion for technology and a deep understanding of how to leverage learnings from metrics to drive brand growth. Preference will be given to candidates in the San Francisco Bay area, but location is not a strict requirement and we are willing to work with the right person anywhere you live.

Read on for requirements and how to apply!

Filed under: Announcements, Meta

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Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/y7VcC4Pq4VM/

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Boston travel: Trains, buses halted, planes flying

An MBTA transit official closes a door at Malden Center station in Malden, Mass. Friday, April 18, 2013 as area MBTA commuter trains are suspended. Two suspects in the Boston Marathon bombing killed an MIT police officer, injured a transit officer in a firefight and threw explosive devices at police during their getaway attempt in a long night of violence that left one of them dead and another still at large Friday, authorities said as the manhunt intensified for a young man described as a dangerous terrorist. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)

An MBTA transit official closes a door at Malden Center station in Malden, Mass. Friday, April 18, 2013 as area MBTA commuter trains are suspended. Two suspects in the Boston Marathon bombing killed an MIT police officer, injured a transit officer in a firefight and threw explosive devices at police during their getaway attempt in a long night of violence that left one of them dead and another still at large Friday, authorities said as the manhunt intensified for a young man described as a dangerous terrorist. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)

NEW YORK (AP) ? Mass transportation to and from the Boston area was virtually shut down Friday as police conducted a massive manhunt for a suspect in Monday's Boston Marathon bombing. The exception was air travel, as planes took off and landed at Logan International Airport.

Authorities in Boston suspended all mass transit indefinitely, telling commuters via Twitter: "Go/stay home."

As the manhunt stretched into the afternoon, Amtrak stopped all trains between New York and Boston. All major intercity bus lines suspended service to the area. Passengers were being allowed to get refunds or rebook for travel at a later date. And the airlines were allowing customers to change plans without paying a fee.

Amtrak was stopping northbound service at New York City's Penn Station. Part of Amtrak's Downeaster service, which runs from Brunswick, Maine to Boston, was also stopped according to spokesman Cliff Cole.

Authorities suspended service on commuter trains into Boston as well as the city's subway ? called the T ? and the city's buses. That includes the Silver and Blue lines between Logan and downtown.

All major highways remained open, according to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation. The exception was in Watertown, Mass., the center of the manhunt.

Megabus canceled at least 22 buses between Boston and New York, New Haven, Conn., Hartford, Conn., Burlington, Vt. and Philadelphia. More than 1,000 passengers were affected, according to spokesman Mike Alvich. They received emails offering a refund or the option to rebook for free.

Bolt Bus, Greyhound and Peter Pan Bus Lines also suspended service. Passengers booked on canceled Bolt trips received refunds to their credit cards, according to Timothy Stokes, spokesman for Greyhound and Bolt Bus.

Across much of the Boston area, streets that would normally be bustling were quiet.

In Somerville, a densely populated city of about 75,000, authorities requested that residents stay inside with doors locked and not go to work.

People largely heeded officials' pleas, said Bob Trane, an elected alderman in Somerville, which abuts Cambridge, about 5 miles northeast of Watertown.

"I'm just like everybody else in Greater Boston, just staying at home, glued to the television," Trane said. "There is nobody out in the streets, very few cars, very few people walking."

Logan airport remained open, although getting there was a challenge for many passengers. On a typical day, the airport has about 1,000 flights. Fewer than 10 flights had been canceled by 10 a.m., mostly because of weather delays in New York, according to flight tracking site FlightAware.

The airport has been operating at a heightened level of security since Monday's attack, according to Matthew Brelis, director of media relations for MassPort, the public agency that runs Logan.

The Massachusetts State Police set up a roadblock Friday morning and were searching some of the vehicles entering the airport.

While no mass transit was reaching Logan, private cars, taxis and the Logan Express ? a bus service to suburban park-and-ride facilities ? were still able to enter the airport.

The biggest hassle for travelers were taxi lines, which Brelis described as "exceedingly long" during the late morning. Officials were asking people to share cabs to nearby location. By noon the backlog had cleared.

Friday's manhunt capped off a tiring and emotional week for Boston residents.

"This thing just doesn't stop. It's been constant for the past week," said Ian Deason, director of Boston operations for JetBlue, the largest airline in the city with about 120 daily flights.

He noted that pilots and flight attendants resting in a crew lounge prior to their flights were "glued to the TV" and the security presence at the airport was significant. But operations were normal for the airline, which allowed anybody scheduled to fly to or from Boston to change their ticket for free. Passengers could also opt to fly to Hartford, Providence or any of the New York area airports JetBlue serves.

Delta Air Lines ? which has about 70 daily Boston departures ? also hadn't canceled any flights. Spokesman Morgan Durrant said the airline expected on-time departures and was considering extending a travel waiver issued earlier in the week.

US Airways was running its 70 daily flights with minimal delays. The airline is letting passengers change tickets to any other flight through Monday.

American Airlines hadn't canceled any of its 31 daily flights in Boston. The airline was allowing passengers scheduled to fly today to rebook onto flights Saturday or Sunday without penalty, according to spokeswoman Andrea Huguely.

United Airlines has about 100 daily flights in Boston and allowed anybody flying Friday to rebook for anytime within a year of the day their ticket was purchased.

Southwest Airlines allowed passengers flying Friday to change their tickets to flights within the next two weeks. It's AirTran subsidiary is allowing changes to flights through Monday.

The Federal Aviation Administration imposed an air traffic restriction on the Boston area "to provide a safe environment for law enforcement activities." It barred flights below 3,000 feet in a radius of 3.5 miles around the manhunt area. The restrictions had minimal impact on commercial flights in the area.

James Kearney, an information technology consultant from East Amwell, N.J. was in town for business and managed to make it out on a United flight at 10 a.m. He said via email that the 15-mile trip from the Marriott in the western suburb of Newton to Logan on the Massachusetts Turnpike "was extremely quiet during rush hour."

Once at the airport, he said, the situation was "pretty standard."

"Even security was fast and uneventful," Kearney wrote.

Colin Alsheimer, who was on a flight from Dallas to Boston Friday morning, said that the manhunt dominated conversations during boarding.

"People were checking for news updates on their phones and talking with their seat neighbors," Alsheimer wrote in an email from the American Airlines flight.

After landing at 12:15 p.m., Alsheimer said the airport was surprisingly normal.

"People do seem focused on news broadcasts in terminal bars," he said. "Only saw an increased security presence on the road leading into Logan. Must be focusing more on departures."

Kacey Brister, a senior at Louisiana State University, was supposed to have an interview for a public relations job in Boston at 3 p.m. Friday. She was flying on Southwest Airlines from New Orleans to Boston via St. Louis.

Before boarding the last leg of her trip, Brister said that everyone was fairly calm at the gate.

"The biggest concern for most people was how they were going to get from Logan to their hotel, home," she wrote in an email, adding that there was "a sense of camaraderie between passengers."

Not everyone was so calm, however. "My mother has begged me" to turn around, she said.

__

Mark Jewell contributed from Somerville, Mass.

__

Scott Mayerowitz can be reached at http://twitter.com/GlobeTrotScott.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/386c25518f464186bf7a2ac026580ce7/Article_2013-04-19-Boston%20Marathon-Travel/id-772d6cf2e42944c5ba25f42c7b88d9e2

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Quantcast Passes $100M Run-Rate, Lands Senior Hires As Ads Business Booms

Online display advertising has been a murky business -- who is actually viewing all those ads, and do those ads make a difference to them? Quantcast has been quietly trying to solve this problem since 2006, and now it's starting to break out. I'm hearing from a reliable industry source that it has been EBITDA-profitable for a couple years and reached a $100 million revenue run-rate six months ago. That number, I'm told, should go significantly above that by the end of 2013.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/DsmXB7dm3LA/

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Twitter can give power to the people

Public release date: 18-Apr-2013
[ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Andy Henion
henion@msu.edu
517-355-3294
Michigan State University

Twitter can easily teach people about social movements such as Occupy Wall Street and even entice them to participate, according to a new study by a Michigan State University education researcher.

The social networking site which lets users read, send and group together 140-character messages known as tweets can actually be a better source of information than traditional news sources and online search engines, Benjamin Gleason reports in the journal American Behavioral Scientist.

"Reading on Twitter about a particular topic will expose learners to multiple perspectives far more than is possible by reading a newspaper or even doing a Google search," said Gleason, a doctoral student in MSU's College of Education. "Imagine how much more rich and complex our teaching and learning could be if learners brought such diverse ideas into the classroom."

Gleason has been following Occupy Wall Street Twitter posts since the protest movement began in New York City's Wall Street financial district in September 2011. He compiled a database of tweets documenting whether each tweet linked to a photograph, video or website to figure out how users specifically learned from them.

Users can "tag" tweets for grouping with a preceding "#" symbol, or hashtag. Gleason said tweets tagged "#OWS," for #Occupy Wall Street, contained a wide range of information about the movement.

Gleason was part of a previous study (led by Christine Greenhow, MSU assistant professor of education) that found Twitter has become a new literary format that is improving student learning.

Gleason said the research offers "powerful implications for formal and informal educational settings the most critical being that using Twitter can complement formal teaching and learning."

He added that he wants to see how students could use Twitter to learn about a complex topic of their own choosing.

"Basically, how young people read and write on Twitter may be similar to, and different from, reading and writing in other literacy spaces," Gleason said. "The question is: how can we support the literacy practices that young people are currently engaged in how can we validate the learning that's already happening?"

###

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?

AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.

Public release date: 18-Apr-2013
[ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Andy Henion
henion@msu.edu
517-355-3294
Michigan State University

Twitter can easily teach people about social movements such as Occupy Wall Street and even entice them to participate, according to a new study by a Michigan State University education researcher.

The social networking site which lets users read, send and group together 140-character messages known as tweets can actually be a better source of information than traditional news sources and online search engines, Benjamin Gleason reports in the journal American Behavioral Scientist.

"Reading on Twitter about a particular topic will expose learners to multiple perspectives far more than is possible by reading a newspaper or even doing a Google search," said Gleason, a doctoral student in MSU's College of Education. "Imagine how much more rich and complex our teaching and learning could be if learners brought such diverse ideas into the classroom."

Gleason has been following Occupy Wall Street Twitter posts since the protest movement began in New York City's Wall Street financial district in September 2011. He compiled a database of tweets documenting whether each tweet linked to a photograph, video or website to figure out how users specifically learned from them.

Users can "tag" tweets for grouping with a preceding "#" symbol, or hashtag. Gleason said tweets tagged "#OWS," for #Occupy Wall Street, contained a wide range of information about the movement.

Gleason was part of a previous study (led by Christine Greenhow, MSU assistant professor of education) that found Twitter has become a new literary format that is improving student learning.

Gleason said the research offers "powerful implications for formal and informal educational settings the most critical being that using Twitter can complement formal teaching and learning."

He added that he wants to see how students could use Twitter to learn about a complex topic of their own choosing.

"Basically, how young people read and write on Twitter may be similar to, and different from, reading and writing in other literacy spaces," Gleason said. "The question is: how can we support the literacy practices that young people are currently engaged in how can we validate the learning that's already happening?"

###

---

[ | E-mail | Share ]

?

AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.

Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2013-04/msu-tcg041813.php

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How To Use Common Law To Manage Your Affairs - NESARA ...

ANNOUNCEMENT PENDING AND RV FOR TIER 3 PLANNED FOR MONDAY APRIL 15. PUBLIC CAN EXCHANGE IN BANKS/CURRENCY DEALERS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY. Christine Lagarde awaiting IRS closure on Monday evening before release. Tuesday appears to be day 1 of exchange.

AWAITING IRS TERMINATION TO ALLOW FOR SAFE GOLD TREASURY CURRENCY DISTRIBUTION. FED RESERVE AND IRS HAVE NO ACCESS TO THE TREASURY BANK SYSTEM. ADVISED TO WAIT ONE DAY FOR EXCHANGE TO ENSURE FEDS CANNOT TOUCH YOUR FUNDS.

GLOBAL SETTLEMENTS & DISTRIBUTIONS --- green button has been pushed. Sign offs completed in Hong Kong and Singapore.

GERMAINE Trust GRANTS rumored to be mailed out after Global Settlements approval is received.

OPC "BUG ME" distributions of 10K going out within several days of the RV.

OPC "DIRE STRAITS" follows the "Bug Me" distributions.

American Indian Reparations rumored to being distributed.

Source: http://nesaranews.blogspot.com/2013/04/how-to-use-common-law-to-manage-your.html

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BREAKING: Boston Marathon bombing is ?terrorist attack,? federal officials say (Americablog)

Share With Friends: | | Politics - Top Stories News, RSS and RSS Feed via Feedzilla.

Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/299242467?client_source=feed&format=rss

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Review of Augason Farms Chocolate Morning Moo's Powdered Milk ...

In an effort to not get caught with my pantry down, as well as save a little money on some of our staples, I have been purchasing select Augason Farms dehydrated foods to use in everyday recipes, as well as for emergency storage.

The first item we tried was the?Morning Moo's Powdered Milk Alternative?(chocolate flavored.) ?My kids guzzle chocolate milk like it's going out of style, and I wanted something shelf-stable (and affordable) to give them when they craved it.

I purchased a #10 pound can from Walmart.com and we mixed some up to have the kids test. ?The product, which is a low-fat substitute for milk (like a creamer) had directions for making different batch sizes on the side.

We first mixed part of the powder with warm water (as directed), then added the cold water.

It was a bit lumpy, so we put a lid on our pitcher and shook it really well before placing it into the fridge.
When I took it out a few hours later, it was cold, the lumps had disappeared, and the kids LOVED it! ?I didn't tell them that it wasn't real chocolate milk, and they never noticed. ?One older child asked why the milk was in a pitcher instead of a milk container, so I explained what we were drinking. He still had no issues, even after finding out it came from a powder.

I'm not a big milk fan, so I likely won't be having much of this. ?For the price, however, this makes a suitable replacement for extra chocolate milks during the week, and the fact that the powder needs no refrigeration makes it perfect for emergencies!

At the time of this writing Walmart had this product cheaper than buying it directly from Augason Farms' website. ?There is also free shipping on orders of $45 or more.

*Affiliate links used in this post.

Source: http://www.lillepunkin.com/2013/04/review-of-augason-farms-chocolate.html

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Aubrey Plaza asked to leave MTV Movie Awards

LOS ANGELES (AP) ? Aubrey Plaza interrupted Will Ferrell's acceptance speech at the MTV Movie Awards, then left the building.

MTV officials confirmed Monday that the "Parks and Recreation" actress was asked to leave the ceremony after unexpectedly walking on stage and trying to take Ferrell's trophy as he accepted the Comedic Genius Award.

The irreverent awards show, held Sunday at Sony Pictures Studios, is known for its quirky stunts, but it's unclear whether the actress' stage-crashing move was planned.

"What's happening? Are you OK?" Ferrell asked the actress, who had the name of her new film scrawled across her chest in pen, as she grabbed his trophy with one hand and held a drink with the other.

He held tight to the golden popcorn and the actress returned to her seat in the front row.

"Aubrey Plaza, everyone," Ferrell continued. "Just like we rehearsed it."

Rebel Wilson hosted the ceremony and also won two awards: breakthrough performance and best musical moment for her work in "Pitch Perfect."

"The Avengers" was the night's big winner, taking three awards including movie of the year. "Silver Linings Playbook" also won three awards.

Emma Watson received the Trailblazer Award and Jamie Foxx accepted the Generation Award.

Ferrell was the inaugural recipient of the Comedic Genius Award, and he wore a three-piece suit covered in dollar bills to accept the prize.

"For those of you sitting here tonight who don't think I'm funny, I'll be happy to fight you in the parking lot after the show," he said.

No word on whether Plaza was waiting in the parking lot.

___

Follow AP Entertainment Writer Sandy Cohen: www.twitter.com/APSandy

___

Online:

http://www.mtv.com/ontv/movieawards/2013

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/aubrey-plaza-asked-leave-mtv-movie-awards-174844493.html

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American Crystal Sugar workers approve contract

GRAND FORKS, N.D. (AP) ? Union workers in North Dakota, Minnesota and Iowa who have been locked out of their jobs for 20 months at American Crystal Sugar Co. approved a new contract Saturday.

Leaders of the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International union said in a news release that the workers voted 55 percent to accept company management's contract offer. It was the workers' fifth time voting on the contract. Employees last voted on it in December, when 55 percent voted to reject the offer.

"This means Crystal Sugar's skilled, experienced workers will be transitioning back to the factories to start repairing the damage that's been done over the past 20 plus months," John Riskey, the head of a union local that represents employees at three American Crystal Sugar factories, said in the news release.

"BCTGM members thank all who have supported our stand for justice and dignity and who have helped our families survive these hard times."

Brian Ingulsrud, vice president of administration with American Crystal, told The Associated Press: "We're just pleased that the employees will be returning to work."

The new contract will run until July 31, 2017, or just over four years, according to the company. Returning union employees will receive a total pay increase of 13 percent over the course of the contract, with 4 percent the first year, 3 percent the second and 2 percent the remaining years.

Nearly 1,300 employees were locked out on Aug. 1, 2011, after rejecting the cooperative's proposed contract. Company officials say many of those workers have retired or resigned.

The company has operated the plants using replacement workers.

The union originally focused its complaints on provisions in the contract regarding seniority and job security. The company says it's a good contract with substantial increases in wages and other benefits.

Moorhead, Minn.-based American Crystal is a cooperative owned by about 2,800 sugar beet growers. It is the nation's largest sugar beet processor, selling 90 percent of its production to industrial customers, including candy makers, bakeries and breakfast cereal makers.

The lockout began after 96 percent of the workers voting on the company's contract proposal rejected the offer on July 31, 2011.

In subsequent ballots, 90 percent of the voting workers turned down the proposal in November 2011, and 63 percent rejected it in June 2012.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/american-crystal-sugar-workers-approve-contract-022038140--finance.html

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