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Possible stories for the 7/21 Oakland Press
The Oakland Press will consider the following Associated Press stories for the Thursday, 7/21 print edition.
Some of these stories and photos will appear on theoaklandpress.com today
If you see stories on this list that you think should be in the print edition of The Oakland Press, please leave comments below about why you think the stories are important. You also can tell us why a story should not be in print. We will make every effort to get those stories into the paper.
Here are my early thoughts:
Hoekstra -- for sure -- this is new and does he have a chance?
Debt debate -- this affects us all -- whether it is in higher taxes or lower services.
Heat wave -- good explanation of why this is such a big one
Keep an eye on NFL labor -- possible end may appear tonight
Michigan at noon.
Michigan at noon.
TOP STORIES:
SENATE-2012-HOEKSTRA — Former longtime Michigan Congressman Pete Hoekstra is launching a campaign Wednesday to unseat Democratic U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow, heartening GOP leaders looking for a stronger candidate than the three men already in the race. AP Photos DT201-202.
— SENATE-2012-HOEKSTRA-BIO BOX.
BEAR ATTACK-MICHIGAN
McMILLAN TOWNSHIP — The husband of a woman attacked by a captive, 400-pound black bear in Michigan’s western Upper Peninsula says he doesn’t blame his neighbors who own it. Donald Beck of Ewen told the Daily Globe of Ironwood for a story Wednesday that he and his wife, Linda, have often taken care of the bear named Daisy that attacked her Monday. She was alone feeding the bear and one other in a large, fenced-in area in Ontonagon County’s McMillan Township.
MEDICAL HOMES — A budding model for primary care that encourages the family doctor to act as a health coach who focuses as much on preventing illness as on treating it has shown promising results and saved insurers millions of dollars. Growth in emergency room visits and hospital admissions slowed and prescription drug costs have been tamed with this approach, known in the industry as patient-centered medical homes, or just medical homes. Michigan’s largest insurer says it saved $65 million to $70 million last year through its medical-homes program. But the idea requires big changes to traditional primary care, and experts say that may slow its growth. AP Photo TXPS401.
Nation/world at 2:05
DEVELOPING
— DEBT SHOWDOWN — Obama and congressional Democrats meet at the White House at 2:50 p.m.
— FORT HOOD SHOOTING — The Army psychiatrist charged with killing 13 people in the Fort Hood shooting rampage nearly two years ago is set to be arraigned at 3:30 p.m.
— TEXAS EXECUTION — A man who went on a post 9/11 shooting spree targeting people of Middle Easter descent is scheduled to be executed at 7 p.m. in Texas. AP photos.
TOP STORIES
DEBT SHOWDOWN-TAXES
WASHINGTON — A new bipartisan plan to reduce government borrowing would target some of the most cherished tax breaks enjoyed by millions of families — those promoting health insurance, home ownership, charitable giving and retirement savings — in exchange for lowering overall tax rates for everyone. Many taxpayers would pay more — a total of at least $1.2 trillion more over the next decade.
DEBT SHOWDOWN-DECISION TIME-ANALYSIS
WASHINGTON — The Republicans who run the House are quite clear what they won’t do to avert a government default. And what they would like to do, if they could. But soon, they’ll face a harder choice: what they’ll actually agree to do since they don’t run the whole government. News Analysis by Special Correspondent David Espo.
AP photos.
— DEBT SHOWDOWN — As the clock tick ... tick ... ticks, congressional leaders and President Barack Obama worry they have just a couple of days to finish their final blueprint for raising the government’s debt ceiling in time to win its passage before a possible government default less than two weeks away.
BRITAIN-PHONE HACKING
LONDON — The phone hacking scandal grips Britain’s political elite as Prime Minister David Cameron denies before a raucous session of Parliament that his staff tried to thwart a police inquiry. Cameron tries to turn the tables on the opposition, accusing the Labour Party of hiring questionable former employees of media baron Rupert Murdoch. By Paisley Dodds.
AP photos, video.
— BRITAIN-TABLOID INSIDERS — With their former boss under arrest, tabloid reporters are beginning to reveal secrets of what it was like to work in Rebekah Brooks’ newsrooms. Disguises, bullying, lies dropped into copy — all are said to have been part of the pressure-cooker atmosphere. AP photos by Kirsty Wigglesworth.
SERBIA-WAR CRIMES-HADZIC
BELGRADE, Serbia — The last fugitive sought by the U.N. Balkan war crimes tribunal is seized as an accomplice hands him cash in a forest, secretly watched by Serbian police following a money trail that began with the discovery of a photograph of a stolen painting. Goran Hadzic’s arrest is an important step toward the former pariah state of Serbia joining the European Union. By Jovana Gec.
AP photos.
HEAT WAVE-THE DOME
CHICAGO — If the extreme heat and humidity lingering over much of the nation feels like a sauna, it’s because the same principles as a steam bath are at work in the atmosphere. Vast amounts of warmth and moisture have become trapped under a “heat dome,” bringing record-breaking temperatures and air that feels tropical to scores of cities from Texas to Minnesota. Although such systems are not rare, this one is unusually large and long-lasting. And it’s moving east to some of America’s most densely populated areas. AP photos, video and interactive.
AMERICAN AIRLINES-PLANES — American Airlines is buying at least 460 new planes over the next five years in what it calls the biggest airline order in history. And in a victory for Airbus, it’s splitting the order between the European plane maker and archrival Boeing. The new planes promise much-needed fuel savings for American and new amenities like Wi-Fi and video for passengers who may have been turned off by the outdated interiors in the airline’s aging fleet. The news overshadowed a $286 million loss in the second quarter at American’s parent company, AMR Corp.
— AMR-AMERICAN EAGLE — The parent company of American Airlines expects to spin off regional carrier American Eagle, although it won’t completely rule out a sale.
MORE ON BRITAIN-PHONE HACKING
NEWS CORP-MURDOCH
Now comes the hard part. After emerging relatively unscathed from a British Parliamentary hearing on the phone hacking scandal, Rupert Murdoch returns to the United States, where his company faces a host of financial and legal challenges. As the scandal runs its course in the U.K., Murdoch’s News Corp. must confront shareholder lawsuits, a possible Standard & Poors credit downgrade, and a burgeoning federal investigation in the U.S.
— MURDOCH-BOARD — Corporate boards are supposed to answer to shareholders. But the board of News Corp. answers only to the Murdoch family. It’s dominated by Rupert Murdoch’s relatives, confidants and hand-picked executives. The board is so cozy with the Murdochs that one watchdog group gives it an F. AP photos.
INTERNATIONAL
EAST AFRICA-DROUGHT — Tens of thousands of Somalis are feared dead in the world’s worst famine in a generation, the U.N. says, a crisis so severe that the United States loosens rules meant to prevent emergency funds from falling into the hands of al-Qaida-linked militants. AP photos.
ISRAEL-MONEY WOES — First came a revolt about cheese that forced Israel’s largest dairies to lower prices. Now tent camps have sprung up across Israel to protest housing prices that climbed even as costs fell globally. The camps draw inspiration from mass demonstrations in the Arab world, and illustrate Israel’s paradox: While its economy is roaring, most Israelis aren’t enjoying the good times. AP photos. AP video.
NATIONAL
MINNESOTA GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN — Nearly three weeks after Minnesota shut down its government, the stalemate over taxes and budget woes ends with Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton signing a compromise deal that leaves lawmakers and residents unsatisfied and angry. The struggle mirrors the federal budget showdown as leaders in Washington try to attack chronic fiscal issues — possibly resorting to short-term fixes — as part of a deal to raise the debt ceiling.
AP photos.
YOSEMITE-WATERFALL SEARCH — Witnesses watched in horror as a woman posing for photos on a rock in the middle of a crashing river in Yosemite National Park lost her footing. A man with her tried to grab her arm and both tumbled into the rushing water and were swept over a 300-foot waterfall, almost certainly killing them and another woman who tried to help. The dangerous, slippery trail is marked with signs and railings, but witnesses say the group — apparently an extended family of at least 10, including children — was ignoring them as they tried to photograph the crashing falls. AP photos.
WASHINGTON
HEZBOLLAH PRISONER — A senior Hezbollah operative who’s being held by the U.S. military in Baghdad as a top threat to American troops could be turned over to Iraqi authorities within days, and U.S. security officials worry he’ll soon escape or even be freed. By Matt Apuzzo and Lara Jakes.
— US-AFGHAN BANKS — Amid a growing financial scandal and after receiving billions in American aid, Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai has banned U.S. Treasury officials from his country’s central bank, hampering work to fight the flow of money to insurgents.
HEALTH/SCIENCE
SHUTTLE-PRIVATE SPACE
HOUSTON — With the space shuttle fleet headed into retirement this week, it will be years before any American spacecraft carries an astronaut back into space. But it’s likely to be just a matter of months before an unmanned American-made cargo ship cozies up to the orbital outpost. One company has already made a successful test space flight. By Science Writer Seth Borenstein.
AP photos, video.
— SPACE SHUTTLE — On the eve of NASA’s historic, wheel-stopping end to the shuttle program, the four astronauts making the final journey and the flight controllers who will guide them home are feeling a rush of emotions. By Aerospace Writer Marcia Dunn. Landing set for 5:56 a.m. Thursday. AP photos.
ENTERTAINMENT
COMIC CON — Calling all superheroes, zombies, space aliens, comic-book lovers and kids of all ages: Comic-Con is here. The pop-culture convention, which annually draws thousands of costumed fans to San Diego, begins Thursday, with a sneak preview Wednesday night. AP photos.
— COMIC-CON-THE COMICS — Amid the crush of “Twilight” fans and displays of upcoming movies and TV shows, the comic books that started it all at San Diego’s annual Comic-Con are still there championing the heroes. AP photo.
ALSO GETTING ATTENTION
— WATERS-ETHICS — The House ethics committee names an outside counsel to investigate allegations that California Democratic Rep. Maxine Waters improperly tried to obtain a federal bailout for a bank where her husband is an investor.
— ARIZONA BORDER FENCE — Arizona launches a website to accept donations to pay for fencing along the Mexico border, saying the federal government has failed to stop the flow of illegal immigrants and drugs.
— POLAR BEARS-LONG SWIMS — Polar bears forced to swim longer distances because of diminished sea ice off Alaska’s coast may be paying a price in lost cubs or precious calories, according to a study by the U.S. Geological Survey.
— SEPT 11-MEMORIAL — A fire truck used during the World Trade Center evacuation on 9/11 to be lowered by crane into exhibition space for the National September 11 Memorial Museum. AP photos, video.
— IRELAND-CHURCH ABUSE — The Vatican encouraged bishops not to tell police about suspected pedophile priests, Irish lawmakers declare in an unprecedented denunciation of the Holy See’s influence in Ireland.
— AFGHANISTAN — The battle against the Taliban turns high-tech, with insurgents claiming their cell phones and website were hacked to spread false reports that their leader had died.
— KENYA-IVORY BURNING — Kenya’s president sets fire to a huge pile of elephant tusks to raise awareness about poaching fueled by demand in China.
Business for Thursday
ATT upgrade - szczesny
ATT is upgrading cell phone service around Pontiac.
taubman earnings - szczesny
Taubman is preparing to release its second quarter earnings later today.
spotlights on business
Dedoes Walled Lake
Community Choice Warren
local briefs
on the web
ZILLOW-IPO — Investors caught in the latest Internet IPO fever set aside housing market doldrums and rushed to grab shares of real estate website Zillow on Wednesday, valuing the company at as much as $1.6 billion even though it has yet to make a profit. Zillow Inc. is befitting from strong investor demand for the latest crop of Internet stocks, whether they are in social networking, online games or search.
PERSONAL FINANCE:
MONEY & MARKETS:
Spirit Airlines might look like one of 2011’s IPO disappointments. But financial analysts like the company and its CEO. A Q&A with him.
Business
TOP STORIES:
MURDOCH-BOARD
Corporate boards are supposed to answer to shareholders. But the board of News Corp. answers only to the Murdoch family. It’s dominated by Rupert Murdoch’s relatives, confidants and hand-picked executives. And it has let him make questionable moves while the company stock price has stayed flat. The phone-hacking scandal has shed new light on the board, which is so cozy with the Murdochs that one watchdog group gives it an F. AP photos.
NEWS CORP-MURDOCH
Now comes the hard part. After emerging relatively unscathed from a British Parliamentary hearing on the phone hacking scandal, Rupert Murdoch returns to the United States today, where his company faces a host of financial and legal challenges. As the scandal runs its course in the U.K., Murdoch’s News Corp. must confront shareholder lawsuits, a possible Standard & Poors credit downgrade, and a federal investigation in the U.S.
NEWS CORP-FLOORGRAPHICS — The owners of the small New Jersey company couldn’t believe what they were hearing. Executives at a unit of powerful News Corp. were demanding they sell the business to them. They “worked for a guy who has to have it all,” they allegedly told the Floorgraphics owners. When that failed, the News Corp. unit allegedly hacked into Floorgraphics computers. The two sides ultimately settled and News Corp. bought the company. Now, a New Jersey senator wants the FBI and the Attorney General to be aware of this case as they conduct their own broader investigations.
AMERICAN AIRLINES-PLANES
FORT WORTH, Texas — American Airlines is buying at least 460 new planes over the next five years in what it calls the biggest airline order in history. And in a victory for Airbus, it’s splitting the order between the European plane maker and Boeing. The new planes should help American save money on fuel, which has overtaken labor as its biggest expense and was largely responsible for a $286 million loss in the second quarter. AP Photo.
— AMR-AMERICAN EAGLE — The parent company of American Airlines expects to spin off regional carrier American Eagle, although it won’t completely rule out a sale.
MEDICAL HOMES
INDIANAPOLIS — A growing model for health care is showing promising results and saving insurers millions of dollars. It’s called a patient-centered medical home. The model encourages the family doctor to act as a health coach and focus as much on preventing illness as on treating it. WellPoint, UnitedHealth and other insurers have pilot projects testing the concept. The departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs are making plans to use it, too. By Tom Murphy.
AP Photo.
HEAT WAVE-POWER GRID
The heat wave blanketing the Eastern half of the country is putting significant stress on the power grid as homeowners crank up their air conditioners. But experts say widespread electricity shortages or outages are unlikely. There is more slack in the system than usual as a result of the weak economy and few major storms are forecast, meaning fewer tree limbs knocking down power lines. AP Photo.
ON THE MONEY-DAILY DEALS REMORSE
NEW YORK — Wish you hadn’t bought that daily deal for a hot air balloon ride? You’re not alone. A growing number of shoppers with buyer’s remorse are heading to sites that let them sell their unwanted coupons from sites like Groupon and LivingSocial. The emergence of the resale market is a natural outgrowth of the explosive popularity of daily deal sites in the past year. Now sites like DealsGoRound.com and LifeSta.com are letting consumers unload their shopping regrets.
Eds: Available exclusively on AP Exchange/ AP Web Feeds.
MARKETS & ECONOMY:
DEBT SHOWDOWN
WASHINGTON — As the clock tick ... tick ... ticks, congressional leaders and President Barack Obama worry they have just a couple of days to finish their final blueprint for raising the government’s debt ceiling in time to win its passage before a possible government default less than two weeks away.
With:
— DEBT SHOWDOWN-TAXES — A new bipartisan plan to reduce government borrowing would target some of the most cherished tax breaks enjoyed by millions of families — those promoting health insurance, home ownership, charitable giving and retirement savings — in exchange for lowering overall tax rates for everyone.
— CHINA-US-DEBT — China, the biggest holder of U.S. Treasury debt, appeals to Washington to take steps to boost confidence in the dollar and protect its investors.
HOME SALES — Halfway through 2011, the number of people buying homes is on pace to reach the lowest level in 14 years. Sales of previously occupied homes fell in June for the third straight month. Fewer first-time homebuyers and a growing number of canceled contracts are hampering sales. Declining home sales are a major reason the economy has struggled to recover two years after the recession officially ended.
FINANCIAL OVERHAUL-CONSUMER AGENCY — The consumer-protection agency created in the wake of the financial crisis launches this week with broad powers to protect credit-card applicants, mortgage borrowers and members of the military from abuse by lenders. But unless nominee Richard Cordray can be confirmed as director, the agency won’t be able to perform one of its core duties: Writing and enforcing the first-ever federal rules to rein in payday lenders and other nonbank financial companies.
FINANCIAL OVERHAUL-GLANCE — The financial overhaul law approved last year directed federal regulators to implement 243 rules. But on the one-year anniversary, fewer than 50 have been finalized. A summary of key rules that have been adopted, proposed or debated.
WALL STREET — Stocks are mixed, a day after the Dow Jones industrial average posted its largest gains this year. Traders are weighing concern about the U.S. debt limit against strong earnings from Apple and a slew of new deals.
AP Photo.
— OIL PRICES — Oil prices are sticking around the same level they’ve been at since the beginning of the month, as talks continue over debt issues in Europe and the U.S. that could affect future demand.
HEDGE FUND-INSIDER TRADING-CHIESI
NEW YORK — New York hedge fund trader Danielle Chiesi, who says her boss manipulated her into engaging in insider trading during their 20-year affair, is awaiting her sentencing after admitting her crimes. She pleaded guilty in what prosecutors have said was the biggest hedge fund insider trading case in history.Eds: Sentencing at 2 p.m.
EARNINGS:
EARNS-AMERICAN EXPRESSAmerican Express Co. reports quarterly financial results after the market closes. By A.J. Connelly.
EARNS-ALTRIA — Altria Group’s net income fell about 57 percent in the second quarter on charges related to lease transactions, the Marlboro maker says. While cigarette sales fell slightly, Altria was able to charge higher prices.
— EARNS-UNITED TECHNOLOGIES — United Technologies Corp. says its second-quarter profit soared 19 percent due to strong orders for its heating and cooling building systems and a weaker dollar boosting exports.
— EARNS-ABBOTT LABS — Drug and medical device maker Abbott Laboratories says its second-quarter profit jumped 48 percent on lower expenses and a one-time tax benefit.
INDUSTRY:
ECOLAB-ACQUISITION — Cleaning and pest-control services company Ecolab Inc. is buying the water treatment company Nalco Holding Co. for about $5.4 billion in part to better position itself in the water management business.
— CLOROX-ICAHN OFFER — Billionaire investor Carl Icahn is raising his offer for Clorox Co. to about $10.7 billion, two days after the consumer products maker rejected his initial bid that valued the company at about $10.2 billion.
— CHINA-CANADA-CNOOC — CNOOC Ltd., one of China’s three main state-owned oil and gas producers, agreed to buy Canadian oil sands producer OPTI Canada Inc. for $2.1 billion. The acquisition would expand a growing Chinese presence in Canada’s oil sands industry.
— MICHELLE OBAMA-HEALTHY FOOD —The White House says several retailers, including Wal-Mart, Walgreens and Supervalu, have agreed to open or expand 1,500 stores in areas without broad access to fresh produce and other healthy foods.
— LORILLARD-CIGARETTE RECALL — Cigarette maker Lorillard Inc. is recalling some packs of the non-menthol version of its Newport brand because the tobacco inside may contain small pieces of plastic.
— FOOD AND FARM-DAIRY SUPPORT — Lawmakers are beginning to discuss changes to the safety net for the nation’s dairy farmers in an effort to make the milk industry more profitable and less reliant on federal subsidies.
DODGERS BANKRUPTCY — A Delaware bankruptcy judge hears arguments on whether he should grant final approval to the Los Angeles Dodgers’ proposed bankruptcy financing plan. The plan is being opposed by Major League Baseball, as well as the Dodgers’ official committee of unsecured creditors.
Eds: Developing from 10 a.m. hearing.
TECHNOLOGY AND MEDIA:
BRITAIN-PHONE HACKING — Prime Minister David Cameron emphatically denied claims that his staff tried to stop an inquiry into a phone hacking and police bribery at the News of the World and defended his decision to hire one of the tabloid’s editors as his communications chief. Cameron admitted, however, that both the ruling Conservatives and the opposition Labour parties had failed to pursue key developments in the hacking case over the years.
— BRITAIN-TABLOID INSIDERS — With their former boss under arrest, tabloid reporters are beginning to reveal secrets of what it was like to work in Rebekah Brooks’ newsrooms. Disguises, bullying, lies dropped into copy — all were part of the pressure-cooker atmosphere that prevailed, according to former journalists who spoke to The Associated Press.
— BRITAIN-MURDOCH PROTESTER — London police charged a protester who aimed a plate of shaving foam at Rupert Murdoch at a parliamentary hearing on the U.K. newspaper hacking scandal.
— AUSTRALIA-PHONE HACKING — Rupert Murdoch’s Australian media company insisted it has no connection with the phone hacking controversy in Britain and said it is willing to answer any questions about its local operations.
EARNS-INTEL Intel Corp. reports quarterly financial results after the market closes.
EARNS-EBAY EBay Inc. reports quarterly financial results after the market closes.
— KODAK-PATENTS — Eastman Kodak says it is examining its “strategic alternatives” for 1,100 patents on digital imaging, which could include a sale. Its shares rose almost 5 percent in premarket trading on the disclosure.
— EARNS-QUALCOMM — Qualcomm Inc. reports quarterly financial results after the market closes.
DIGITAL LIFE-TECH TEST-SPOTIFY MUSIC
SAN FRANCISCO — Since online music service Spotify debuted in the U.S. on Thursday, I’ve been listening to a ton of tunes. The service brings free, ad-supported access to more than 15 million songs on computers, while ad-free versions of the service cost $5 or $10. So far, so awesome. The $10 version comes with the ability to listen offline and on the go. For many hardcore music fans the $5 plan would probably do, and the free version is a cheapskate’s dream come true. By Rachel Metz.
— TEC-VENTURE INVESTMENTS-2Q — Venture capitalists invested more in U.S. startups in the second quarter than they did during the same period a year ago, suggesting that investors are ramping up their search for the next Facebook or Twitter.
— SKOREA-SAMSUNG — Samsung plans to roll out its top line Galaxy S II smartphone in the United States next month.
SKOREA-DITCHING TEXTBOOKS
GOESAN, South Korea — South Korea is taking a $2 billion gamble that its students are ready to ditch paper textbooks in favor of tablet PCs as part of a vast digital scholastic network. AP Photo.
SHUTTLE-PRIVATE SPACE — With the space shuttle fleet headed into retirement this week, it will be years before any American spacecraft carries an astronaut back into space. But it’s likely to be just a matter of months before an unmanned American-made cargo ship cozies up to the orbital outpost. One company has already done a successful test space flight. AP Photos. AP Video.
INTERNATIONAL:
EUROPE-FINANCIAL CRISIS —France wants an emergency European summit this week to produce a “strong message” of support for Greece, after a sharp warning from the International Monetary Fund that leaders must do more to keep debt troubles from poisoning the entire continent’s economy. French President Nicolas Sarkozy is flying to Berlin in an apparent last-minute bid to agree with Chancellor Angela Merkel on some kind of new aid package for Greece.
— EU-BANK CAPITAL — The European Union proposed new rules forcing banks to raise $650 billion in capital by 2019 to protect themselves from another financial crisis.
— PORTUGAL-FINANCIAL CRISIS — Portugal raised $1 billion in a debt auction, but its borrowing rates edged higher amid fears that the EU will fail to come up with a new debt crisis plan.
— US-AFGHAN BANKS — Amid a growing financial scandal and after receiving billions in American aid, Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai has banned U.S. Treasury officials from his country’s central bank, hampering work to fight the flow of money to insurgents.
— BRITAIN-ECONOMY — The Bank of England’s minutes suggest a rate hike is not near.
Some of these stories and photos will appear on theoaklandpress.com today
If you see stories on this list that you think should be in the print edition of The Oakland Press, please leave comments below about why you think the stories are important. You also can tell us why a story should not be in print. We will make every effort to get those stories into the paper.
Here are my early thoughts:
Hoekstra -- for sure -- this is new and does he have a chance?
Debt debate -- this affects us all -- whether it is in higher taxes or lower services.
Heat wave -- good explanation of why this is such a big one
Keep an eye on NFL labor -- possible end may appear tonight
Michigan at noon.
Michigan at noon.
TOP STORIES:
SENATE-2012-HOEKSTRA — Former longtime Michigan Congressman Pete Hoekstra is launching a campaign Wednesday to unseat Democratic U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow, heartening GOP leaders looking for a stronger candidate than the three men already in the race. AP Photos DT201-202.
— SENATE-2012-HOEKSTRA-BIO BOX.
BEAR ATTACK-MICHIGAN
McMILLAN TOWNSHIP — The husband of a woman attacked by a captive, 400-pound black bear in Michigan’s western Upper Peninsula says he doesn’t blame his neighbors who own it. Donald Beck of Ewen told the Daily Globe of Ironwood for a story Wednesday that he and his wife, Linda, have often taken care of the bear named Daisy that attacked her Monday. She was alone feeding the bear and one other in a large, fenced-in area in Ontonagon County’s McMillan Township.
MEDICAL HOMES — A budding model for primary care that encourages the family doctor to act as a health coach who focuses as much on preventing illness as on treating it has shown promising results and saved insurers millions of dollars. Growth in emergency room visits and hospital admissions slowed and prescription drug costs have been tamed with this approach, known in the industry as patient-centered medical homes, or just medical homes. Michigan’s largest insurer says it saved $65 million to $70 million last year through its medical-homes program. But the idea requires big changes to traditional primary care, and experts say that may slow its growth. AP Photo TXPS401.
Nation/world at 2:05
DEVELOPING
— DEBT SHOWDOWN — Obama and congressional Democrats meet at the White House at 2:50 p.m.
— FORT HOOD SHOOTING — The Army psychiatrist charged with killing 13 people in the Fort Hood shooting rampage nearly two years ago is set to be arraigned at 3:30 p.m.
— TEXAS EXECUTION — A man who went on a post 9/11 shooting spree targeting people of Middle Easter descent is scheduled to be executed at 7 p.m. in Texas. AP photos.
TOP STORIES
DEBT SHOWDOWN-TAXES
WASHINGTON — A new bipartisan plan to reduce government borrowing would target some of the most cherished tax breaks enjoyed by millions of families — those promoting health insurance, home ownership, charitable giving and retirement savings — in exchange for lowering overall tax rates for everyone. Many taxpayers would pay more — a total of at least $1.2 trillion more over the next decade.
DEBT SHOWDOWN-DECISION TIME-ANALYSIS
WASHINGTON — The Republicans who run the House are quite clear what they won’t do to avert a government default. And what they would like to do, if they could. But soon, they’ll face a harder choice: what they’ll actually agree to do since they don’t run the whole government. News Analysis by Special Correspondent David Espo.
AP photos.
— DEBT SHOWDOWN — As the clock tick ... tick ... ticks, congressional leaders and President Barack Obama worry they have just a couple of days to finish their final blueprint for raising the government’s debt ceiling in time to win its passage before a possible government default less than two weeks away.
BRITAIN-PHONE HACKING
LONDON — The phone hacking scandal grips Britain’s political elite as Prime Minister David Cameron denies before a raucous session of Parliament that his staff tried to thwart a police inquiry. Cameron tries to turn the tables on the opposition, accusing the Labour Party of hiring questionable former employees of media baron Rupert Murdoch. By Paisley Dodds.
AP photos, video.
— BRITAIN-TABLOID INSIDERS — With their former boss under arrest, tabloid reporters are beginning to reveal secrets of what it was like to work in Rebekah Brooks’ newsrooms. Disguises, bullying, lies dropped into copy — all are said to have been part of the pressure-cooker atmosphere. AP photos by Kirsty Wigglesworth.
SERBIA-WAR CRIMES-HADZIC
BELGRADE, Serbia — The last fugitive sought by the U.N. Balkan war crimes tribunal is seized as an accomplice hands him cash in a forest, secretly watched by Serbian police following a money trail that began with the discovery of a photograph of a stolen painting. Goran Hadzic’s arrest is an important step toward the former pariah state of Serbia joining the European Union. By Jovana Gec.
AP photos.
HEAT WAVE-THE DOME
CHICAGO — If the extreme heat and humidity lingering over much of the nation feels like a sauna, it’s because the same principles as a steam bath are at work in the atmosphere. Vast amounts of warmth and moisture have become trapped under a “heat dome,” bringing record-breaking temperatures and air that feels tropical to scores of cities from Texas to Minnesota. Although such systems are not rare, this one is unusually large and long-lasting. And it’s moving east to some of America’s most densely populated areas. AP photos, video and interactive.
AMERICAN AIRLINES-PLANES — American Airlines is buying at least 460 new planes over the next five years in what it calls the biggest airline order in history. And in a victory for Airbus, it’s splitting the order between the European plane maker and archrival Boeing. The new planes promise much-needed fuel savings for American and new amenities like Wi-Fi and video for passengers who may have been turned off by the outdated interiors in the airline’s aging fleet. The news overshadowed a $286 million loss in the second quarter at American’s parent company, AMR Corp.
— AMR-AMERICAN EAGLE — The parent company of American Airlines expects to spin off regional carrier American Eagle, although it won’t completely rule out a sale.
MORE ON BRITAIN-PHONE HACKING
NEWS CORP-MURDOCH
Now comes the hard part. After emerging relatively unscathed from a British Parliamentary hearing on the phone hacking scandal, Rupert Murdoch returns to the United States, where his company faces a host of financial and legal challenges. As the scandal runs its course in the U.K., Murdoch’s News Corp. must confront shareholder lawsuits, a possible Standard & Poors credit downgrade, and a burgeoning federal investigation in the U.S.
— MURDOCH-BOARD — Corporate boards are supposed to answer to shareholders. But the board of News Corp. answers only to the Murdoch family. It’s dominated by Rupert Murdoch’s relatives, confidants and hand-picked executives. The board is so cozy with the Murdochs that one watchdog group gives it an F. AP photos.
INTERNATIONAL
EAST AFRICA-DROUGHT — Tens of thousands of Somalis are feared dead in the world’s worst famine in a generation, the U.N. says, a crisis so severe that the United States loosens rules meant to prevent emergency funds from falling into the hands of al-Qaida-linked militants. AP photos.
ISRAEL-MONEY WOES — First came a revolt about cheese that forced Israel’s largest dairies to lower prices. Now tent camps have sprung up across Israel to protest housing prices that climbed even as costs fell globally. The camps draw inspiration from mass demonstrations in the Arab world, and illustrate Israel’s paradox: While its economy is roaring, most Israelis aren’t enjoying the good times. AP photos. AP video.
NATIONAL
MINNESOTA GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN — Nearly three weeks after Minnesota shut down its government, the stalemate over taxes and budget woes ends with Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton signing a compromise deal that leaves lawmakers and residents unsatisfied and angry. The struggle mirrors the federal budget showdown as leaders in Washington try to attack chronic fiscal issues — possibly resorting to short-term fixes — as part of a deal to raise the debt ceiling.
AP photos.
YOSEMITE-WATERFALL SEARCH — Witnesses watched in horror as a woman posing for photos on a rock in the middle of a crashing river in Yosemite National Park lost her footing. A man with her tried to grab her arm and both tumbled into the rushing water and were swept over a 300-foot waterfall, almost certainly killing them and another woman who tried to help. The dangerous, slippery trail is marked with signs and railings, but witnesses say the group — apparently an extended family of at least 10, including children — was ignoring them as they tried to photograph the crashing falls. AP photos.
WASHINGTON
HEZBOLLAH PRISONER — A senior Hezbollah operative who’s being held by the U.S. military in Baghdad as a top threat to American troops could be turned over to Iraqi authorities within days, and U.S. security officials worry he’ll soon escape or even be freed. By Matt Apuzzo and Lara Jakes.
— US-AFGHAN BANKS — Amid a growing financial scandal and after receiving billions in American aid, Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai has banned U.S. Treasury officials from his country’s central bank, hampering work to fight the flow of money to insurgents.
HEALTH/SCIENCE
SHUTTLE-PRIVATE SPACE
HOUSTON — With the space shuttle fleet headed into retirement this week, it will be years before any American spacecraft carries an astronaut back into space. But it’s likely to be just a matter of months before an unmanned American-made cargo ship cozies up to the orbital outpost. One company has already made a successful test space flight. By Science Writer Seth Borenstein.
AP photos, video.
— SPACE SHUTTLE — On the eve of NASA’s historic, wheel-stopping end to the shuttle program, the four astronauts making the final journey and the flight controllers who will guide them home are feeling a rush of emotions. By Aerospace Writer Marcia Dunn. Landing set for 5:56 a.m. Thursday. AP photos.
ENTERTAINMENT
COMIC CON — Calling all superheroes, zombies, space aliens, comic-book lovers and kids of all ages: Comic-Con is here. The pop-culture convention, which annually draws thousands of costumed fans to San Diego, begins Thursday, with a sneak preview Wednesday night. AP photos.
— COMIC-CON-THE COMICS — Amid the crush of “Twilight” fans and displays of upcoming movies and TV shows, the comic books that started it all at San Diego’s annual Comic-Con are still there championing the heroes. AP photo.
ALSO GETTING ATTENTION
— WATERS-ETHICS — The House ethics committee names an outside counsel to investigate allegations that California Democratic Rep. Maxine Waters improperly tried to obtain a federal bailout for a bank where her husband is an investor.
— ARIZONA BORDER FENCE — Arizona launches a website to accept donations to pay for fencing along the Mexico border, saying the federal government has failed to stop the flow of illegal immigrants and drugs.
— POLAR BEARS-LONG SWIMS — Polar bears forced to swim longer distances because of diminished sea ice off Alaska’s coast may be paying a price in lost cubs or precious calories, according to a study by the U.S. Geological Survey.
— SEPT 11-MEMORIAL — A fire truck used during the World Trade Center evacuation on 9/11 to be lowered by crane into exhibition space for the National September 11 Memorial Museum. AP photos, video.
— IRELAND-CHURCH ABUSE — The Vatican encouraged bishops not to tell police about suspected pedophile priests, Irish lawmakers declare in an unprecedented denunciation of the Holy See’s influence in Ireland.
— AFGHANISTAN — The battle against the Taliban turns high-tech, with insurgents claiming their cell phones and website were hacked to spread false reports that their leader had died.
— KENYA-IVORY BURNING — Kenya’s president sets fire to a huge pile of elephant tusks to raise awareness about poaching fueled by demand in China.
Business for Thursday
ATT upgrade - szczesny
ATT is upgrading cell phone service around Pontiac.
taubman earnings - szczesny
Taubman is preparing to release its second quarter earnings later today.
spotlights on business
Dedoes Walled Lake
Community Choice Warren
local briefs
on the web
ZILLOW-IPO — Investors caught in the latest Internet IPO fever set aside housing market doldrums and rushed to grab shares of real estate website Zillow on Wednesday, valuing the company at as much as $1.6 billion even though it has yet to make a profit. Zillow Inc. is befitting from strong investor demand for the latest crop of Internet stocks, whether they are in social networking, online games or search.
PERSONAL FINANCE:
MONEY & MARKETS:
Spirit Airlines might look like one of 2011’s IPO disappointments. But financial analysts like the company and its CEO. A Q&A with him.
Business
TOP STORIES:
MURDOCH-BOARD
Corporate boards are supposed to answer to shareholders. But the board of News Corp. answers only to the Murdoch family. It’s dominated by Rupert Murdoch’s relatives, confidants and hand-picked executives. And it has let him make questionable moves while the company stock price has stayed flat. The phone-hacking scandal has shed new light on the board, which is so cozy with the Murdochs that one watchdog group gives it an F. AP photos.
NEWS CORP-MURDOCH
Now comes the hard part. After emerging relatively unscathed from a British Parliamentary hearing on the phone hacking scandal, Rupert Murdoch returns to the United States today, where his company faces a host of financial and legal challenges. As the scandal runs its course in the U.K., Murdoch’s News Corp. must confront shareholder lawsuits, a possible Standard & Poors credit downgrade, and a federal investigation in the U.S.
NEWS CORP-FLOORGRAPHICS — The owners of the small New Jersey company couldn’t believe what they were hearing. Executives at a unit of powerful News Corp. were demanding they sell the business to them. They “worked for a guy who has to have it all,” they allegedly told the Floorgraphics owners. When that failed, the News Corp. unit allegedly hacked into Floorgraphics computers. The two sides ultimately settled and News Corp. bought the company. Now, a New Jersey senator wants the FBI and the Attorney General to be aware of this case as they conduct their own broader investigations.
AMERICAN AIRLINES-PLANES
FORT WORTH, Texas — American Airlines is buying at least 460 new planes over the next five years in what it calls the biggest airline order in history. And in a victory for Airbus, it’s splitting the order between the European plane maker and Boeing. The new planes should help American save money on fuel, which has overtaken labor as its biggest expense and was largely responsible for a $286 million loss in the second quarter. AP Photo.
— AMR-AMERICAN EAGLE — The parent company of American Airlines expects to spin off regional carrier American Eagle, although it won’t completely rule out a sale.
MEDICAL HOMES
INDIANAPOLIS — A growing model for health care is showing promising results and saving insurers millions of dollars. It’s called a patient-centered medical home. The model encourages the family doctor to act as a health coach and focus as much on preventing illness as on treating it. WellPoint, UnitedHealth and other insurers have pilot projects testing the concept. The departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs are making plans to use it, too. By Tom Murphy.
AP Photo.
HEAT WAVE-POWER GRID
The heat wave blanketing the Eastern half of the country is putting significant stress on the power grid as homeowners crank up their air conditioners. But experts say widespread electricity shortages or outages are unlikely. There is more slack in the system than usual as a result of the weak economy and few major storms are forecast, meaning fewer tree limbs knocking down power lines. AP Photo.
ON THE MONEY-DAILY DEALS REMORSE
NEW YORK — Wish you hadn’t bought that daily deal for a hot air balloon ride? You’re not alone. A growing number of shoppers with buyer’s remorse are heading to sites that let them sell their unwanted coupons from sites like Groupon and LivingSocial. The emergence of the resale market is a natural outgrowth of the explosive popularity of daily deal sites in the past year. Now sites like DealsGoRound.com and LifeSta.com are letting consumers unload their shopping regrets.
Eds: Available exclusively on AP Exchange/ AP Web Feeds.
MARKETS & ECONOMY:
DEBT SHOWDOWN
WASHINGTON — As the clock tick ... tick ... ticks, congressional leaders and President Barack Obama worry they have just a couple of days to finish their final blueprint for raising the government’s debt ceiling in time to win its passage before a possible government default less than two weeks away.
With:
— DEBT SHOWDOWN-TAXES — A new bipartisan plan to reduce government borrowing would target some of the most cherished tax breaks enjoyed by millions of families — those promoting health insurance, home ownership, charitable giving and retirement savings — in exchange for lowering overall tax rates for everyone.
— CHINA-US-DEBT — China, the biggest holder of U.S. Treasury debt, appeals to Washington to take steps to boost confidence in the dollar and protect its investors.
HOME SALES — Halfway through 2011, the number of people buying homes is on pace to reach the lowest level in 14 years. Sales of previously occupied homes fell in June for the third straight month. Fewer first-time homebuyers and a growing number of canceled contracts are hampering sales. Declining home sales are a major reason the economy has struggled to recover two years after the recession officially ended.
FINANCIAL OVERHAUL-CONSUMER AGENCY — The consumer-protection agency created in the wake of the financial crisis launches this week with broad powers to protect credit-card applicants, mortgage borrowers and members of the military from abuse by lenders. But unless nominee Richard Cordray can be confirmed as director, the agency won’t be able to perform one of its core duties: Writing and enforcing the first-ever federal rules to rein in payday lenders and other nonbank financial companies.
FINANCIAL OVERHAUL-GLANCE — The financial overhaul law approved last year directed federal regulators to implement 243 rules. But on the one-year anniversary, fewer than 50 have been finalized. A summary of key rules that have been adopted, proposed or debated.
WALL STREET — Stocks are mixed, a day after the Dow Jones industrial average posted its largest gains this year. Traders are weighing concern about the U.S. debt limit against strong earnings from Apple and a slew of new deals.
AP Photo.
— OIL PRICES — Oil prices are sticking around the same level they’ve been at since the beginning of the month, as talks continue over debt issues in Europe and the U.S. that could affect future demand.
HEDGE FUND-INSIDER TRADING-CHIESI
NEW YORK — New York hedge fund trader Danielle Chiesi, who says her boss manipulated her into engaging in insider trading during their 20-year affair, is awaiting her sentencing after admitting her crimes. She pleaded guilty in what prosecutors have said was the biggest hedge fund insider trading case in history.Eds: Sentencing at 2 p.m.
EARNINGS:
EARNS-AMERICAN EXPRESSAmerican Express Co. reports quarterly financial results after the market closes. By A.J. Connelly.
EARNS-ALTRIA — Altria Group’s net income fell about 57 percent in the second quarter on charges related to lease transactions, the Marlboro maker says. While cigarette sales fell slightly, Altria was able to charge higher prices.
— EARNS-UNITED TECHNOLOGIES — United Technologies Corp. says its second-quarter profit soared 19 percent due to strong orders for its heating and cooling building systems and a weaker dollar boosting exports.
— EARNS-ABBOTT LABS — Drug and medical device maker Abbott Laboratories says its second-quarter profit jumped 48 percent on lower expenses and a one-time tax benefit.
INDUSTRY:
ECOLAB-ACQUISITION — Cleaning and pest-control services company Ecolab Inc. is buying the water treatment company Nalco Holding Co. for about $5.4 billion in part to better position itself in the water management business.
— CLOROX-ICAHN OFFER — Billionaire investor Carl Icahn is raising his offer for Clorox Co. to about $10.7 billion, two days after the consumer products maker rejected his initial bid that valued the company at about $10.2 billion.
— CHINA-CANADA-CNOOC — CNOOC Ltd., one of China’s three main state-owned oil and gas producers, agreed to buy Canadian oil sands producer OPTI Canada Inc. for $2.1 billion. The acquisition would expand a growing Chinese presence in Canada’s oil sands industry.
— MICHELLE OBAMA-HEALTHY FOOD —The White House says several retailers, including Wal-Mart, Walgreens and Supervalu, have agreed to open or expand 1,500 stores in areas without broad access to fresh produce and other healthy foods.
— LORILLARD-CIGARETTE RECALL — Cigarette maker Lorillard Inc. is recalling some packs of the non-menthol version of its Newport brand because the tobacco inside may contain small pieces of plastic.
— FOOD AND FARM-DAIRY SUPPORT — Lawmakers are beginning to discuss changes to the safety net for the nation’s dairy farmers in an effort to make the milk industry more profitable and less reliant on federal subsidies.
DODGERS BANKRUPTCY — A Delaware bankruptcy judge hears arguments on whether he should grant final approval to the Los Angeles Dodgers’ proposed bankruptcy financing plan. The plan is being opposed by Major League Baseball, as well as the Dodgers’ official committee of unsecured creditors.
Eds: Developing from 10 a.m. hearing.
TECHNOLOGY AND MEDIA:
BRITAIN-PHONE HACKING — Prime Minister David Cameron emphatically denied claims that his staff tried to stop an inquiry into a phone hacking and police bribery at the News of the World and defended his decision to hire one of the tabloid’s editors as his communications chief. Cameron admitted, however, that both the ruling Conservatives and the opposition Labour parties had failed to pursue key developments in the hacking case over the years.
— BRITAIN-TABLOID INSIDERS — With their former boss under arrest, tabloid reporters are beginning to reveal secrets of what it was like to work in Rebekah Brooks’ newsrooms. Disguises, bullying, lies dropped into copy — all were part of the pressure-cooker atmosphere that prevailed, according to former journalists who spoke to The Associated Press.
— BRITAIN-MURDOCH PROTESTER — London police charged a protester who aimed a plate of shaving foam at Rupert Murdoch at a parliamentary hearing on the U.K. newspaper hacking scandal.
— AUSTRALIA-PHONE HACKING — Rupert Murdoch’s Australian media company insisted it has no connection with the phone hacking controversy in Britain and said it is willing to answer any questions about its local operations.
EARNS-INTEL Intel Corp. reports quarterly financial results after the market closes.
EARNS-EBAY EBay Inc. reports quarterly financial results after the market closes.
— KODAK-PATENTS — Eastman Kodak says it is examining its “strategic alternatives” for 1,100 patents on digital imaging, which could include a sale. Its shares rose almost 5 percent in premarket trading on the disclosure.
— EARNS-QUALCOMM — Qualcomm Inc. reports quarterly financial results after the market closes.
DIGITAL LIFE-TECH TEST-SPOTIFY MUSIC
SAN FRANCISCO — Since online music service Spotify debuted in the U.S. on Thursday, I’ve been listening to a ton of tunes. The service brings free, ad-supported access to more than 15 million songs on computers, while ad-free versions of the service cost $5 or $10. So far, so awesome. The $10 version comes with the ability to listen offline and on the go. For many hardcore music fans the $5 plan would probably do, and the free version is a cheapskate’s dream come true. By Rachel Metz.
— TEC-VENTURE INVESTMENTS-2Q — Venture capitalists invested more in U.S. startups in the second quarter than they did during the same period a year ago, suggesting that investors are ramping up their search for the next Facebook or Twitter.
— SKOREA-SAMSUNG — Samsung plans to roll out its top line Galaxy S II smartphone in the United States next month.
SKOREA-DITCHING TEXTBOOKS
GOESAN, South Korea — South Korea is taking a $2 billion gamble that its students are ready to ditch paper textbooks in favor of tablet PCs as part of a vast digital scholastic network. AP Photo.
SHUTTLE-PRIVATE SPACE — With the space shuttle fleet headed into retirement this week, it will be years before any American spacecraft carries an astronaut back into space. But it’s likely to be just a matter of months before an unmanned American-made cargo ship cozies up to the orbital outpost. One company has already done a successful test space flight. AP Photos. AP Video.
INTERNATIONAL:
EUROPE-FINANCIAL CRISIS —France wants an emergency European summit this week to produce a “strong message” of support for Greece, after a sharp warning from the International Monetary Fund that leaders must do more to keep debt troubles from poisoning the entire continent’s economy. French President Nicolas Sarkozy is flying to Berlin in an apparent last-minute bid to agree with Chancellor Angela Merkel on some kind of new aid package for Greece.
— EU-BANK CAPITAL — The European Union proposed new rules forcing banks to raise $650 billion in capital by 2019 to protect themselves from another financial crisis.
— PORTUGAL-FINANCIAL CRISIS — Portugal raised $1 billion in a debt auction, but its borrowing rates edged higher amid fears that the EU will fail to come up with a new debt crisis plan.
— US-AFGHAN BANKS — Amid a growing financial scandal and after receiving billions in American aid, Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai has banned U.S. Treasury officials from his country’s central bank, hampering work to fight the flow of money to insurgents.
— BRITAIN-ECONOMY — The Bank of England’s minutes suggest a rate hike is not near.
posted by Roger Wingelaar at
9:02 AM
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