10:03 AM EDT Tuesday, March 23, 2010
——————–
Sales of existing homes fell for a third straight month in February, pushing sales down to the lowest level since last July. There is concern that the fragile housing rebound could falter, making it harder for the overall economy to recover.
The National Association of Realtors said that sales of previously occupied homes dropped 0.6 percent in February to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.02 million.
The weakness in sales depressed prices, with the median home price dropping by 1.8 percent from a year ago to $165,100.
Tags: Not an Obama Priority·Stimulus·Where did the money go?
Jamie Lee Sames, 35, in custody in Minnesota
Updated: Thursday, 18 Mar 2010, 9:12 AM CDT
Reporter: Lindsay Veremis
GRAND CHUTE – Police have arrested a Minnesota man for sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl last week outside the Fox River Mall. 35-year-old Jamie Sames was taken into custody in Minnesota Tuesday.
The news is bringing relief for worried parents. The Minnesota man was charged with 2nd degree sexual assault of a child and child enticement in Outagamie County Wednesday afternoon. He is currently in jail in Minnesota awaiting extradition to Wisconsin.
“He said he was a police officer, you’re taught to respect authority,” Christina Arenas of Appleton said outside the mall. “They got tricked into it which is horrible, absolutely horrible.”
Tags:
By Ed O’Keefe Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Reference: A Federal Aviation Administration air traffic controller and supervisor were placed on administrative leave Wednesday after allowing a child to direct flights at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport on Feb. 17.
The agency also suspended all unofficial visits to air traffic control towers pending an investigation of the incident. The FAA will review its policy on allowing visitors into the towers.
“This lapse in judgment not only violated FAA’s own policies, but common sense standards for professional conduct,” FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt said in a statement. “These kinds of distractions are totally unacceptable. We have an incredible team of professionals who safely control our nation’s skies.”
Tags: Government Incompetence·Reality Check
By William Wan Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Employees at Catholic Charities were told Monday that the social services organization is changing its health coverage to avoid offering benefits to same-sex partners of its workers — the latest fallout from a bitter debate between District officials trying to legalize same-sex marriage and the Catholic Archdiocese of Washington.
Starting Tuesday, Catholic Charities will not offer benefits to spouses of new employees or to spouses of current employees who are not already enrolled in the plan. A letter describing the change in health benefits was e-mailed to employees Monday, two days before same-sex marriage will become legal in the District.
“We looked at all the options and implications,” said the charity’s president, Edward J. Orzechowski. “This allows us to continue providing services, comply with the city’s new requirements and remain faithful to the church’s teaching.”
Tags:
Updated: Feb 22, 2010 11:14 AM CST
Appleton, WI – Authorities believe the same suspect phoned in bomb threats this weekend regarding the Outagamie County Regional Airport and an Appleton Taco Bell. The FBI is now assisting in the investigation.
Police say the Taco Bell threat came in Just before nine Saturday night to the restaurant located in the 2800 block of West College Avenue. The building was evacuated. A search turned up nothing suspicious.
Officers say suspect called in the treat using the European internet-based voice and data service known as Skype.
Investigators believe the same suspect called an Appleton restaurant Sunday morning saying he was at the airport and was going to leave a bomb there.
Airport authorities immediately ordered an evacuation.
Tags:
By ANNE GEARAN – The Associated Press
Saturday, February 20, 2010; 11:32 AM
WASHINGTON — Former Secretary of State Alexander Haig, a four-star general who served as a top adviser to three presidents and had presidential ambitions of his own, died Saturday of complications from an infection, his family said. He was 85.
Haig’s long and decorated military career launched the Washington career for which he is better known, including top posts in the Nixon, Ford and Reagan administrations. He never lived down his televised response to the 1981 assassination attempt on President Ronald Reagan.
Hours after the shooting, then Secretary of State Haig went before the cameras intending, he said later, to reassure Americans that the White House was functioning.
“As of now, I am in control here in the White House, pending the return of the vice president,” Haig said.
Tags:
News Alert: Pa. Representative John Murtha dies
02:47 PM EST Monday, February 8, 2010
——————–
Rep. John Murtha (D-Pa.), a Vietnam veteran who staunchly supported military spending, has died at age 77.
Tags:
News Alert: U.S. says American citizen kidnapped in Iraq
09:33 AM EST Saturday, February 6, 2010
——————–
A Shiite militant group known as the League of the Righteous says it abducted an American citizen in Iraq last month. The Department of Defense has confirmed that contractor Issa T. Salomi, 60, of El Cajon, Calif., has been missing since Jan. 23.
Tags:
News Alert: New York A.G. filing civil charges against BofA
11:33 AM EST Thursday, February 4, 2010
——————–
The New York Attorney General’s office is filing civil charges against Bank of America and its former CEO Ken Lewis, saying the bank misled investors about Merrill Lynch when it acquired the Wall Street bank in late 2008.
Tags:
