BAGHDAD (AP) ? A series of bombings struck Baghdad and towns south of the Iraqi capital on Thursday, killing at least 22 and wounding dozens in areas that are home to mostly Muslim Shiites ? the latest evidence of rising sectarian discord in Iraq.
The attackers struck a day before tens of thousands of Sunni Muslims are expected to take to the streets in what have become weekly protests against the Shiite-led government of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. The rallies are exacerbating long-simmering tensions between Iraq's Sunnis and the Shiite majority nearly a decade after the U.S.-led invasion.
The deadliest attack occurred around sunset when a pair of bombs exploded nearly simultaneously in Shula in northwestern Baghdad. One was a car bomb that was detonated outside a fast food restaurant and the other blast occurred near a soccer field. The twin bombings killed 15 people and left at least 40 wounded, officials said.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility, but car bombings in Shiite areas are a favorite tactic of Sunni extremists such as al-Qaida's local affiliate. The group, known as the Islamic State of Iraq, considers Shiites to be heretics and accuses them of being too closely aligned with neighboring Shiite powerhouse Iran.
Earlier in the day, a car bomb tore through the crowded livestock market in the town of Aziziyah, 55 kilometers (35 miles) southeast of Baghdad. That attack killed three people and wounded eight.
A few hours later, a roadside bomb missed a passing police patrol in western Baghdad but killed a bystander and wounded eight people.
In the evening, explosives hidden beneath produce in the back of a pickup truck exploded in the town of Mahmoudiya, about 30 kilometers (20 miles) south of Baghdad. That blast killed three policemen and wounded six.
Police and hospital officials provided details of the attacks and the casualty figures. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to the media.
Violence in Iraq has fallen since the height of sectarian fighting in 2006 and 2007, but deadly attacks still happen frequently.
The latest attacks appear designed to undermine confidence in the Shiite-led government. For the past two months, Sunni Muslims have been protesting what they describe as unfair treatment by the country's Shiite-led government. The protests have been largely peaceful.
Ammar Qassim, a resident of the Shula neighborhood where the two bombings occurred, blamed the attacks on political squabbling.
"This tragic security breach took place because the politicians and the leaders of this country are busy with their political conflicts. They should be brave enough to bear the responsibility for the victims falling daily in this country," he said.
Meanwhile, Iraqi authorities released a new batch of inmates from a Baghdad prison in a move aiming at calming the Sunni protesters. Deputy Prime Minister Hussain al-Sharistani announced the release of 160 prisoners, including 13 women, during a ceremony at the prison on Thursday.
He said 4,000 prisoners have been released since a government committee was set up earlier this year to consider protesters' demands. The Sunni protests were sparked by the arrest of bodyguards assigned to Finance Minister Rafia al-Issawi, a senior Sunni politician, in December.
Thursday's bombings marked the fourth time this month that insurgent attacks have claimed more than 20 lives in a single day. More than 160 people have been killed in violent attacks in Iraq since the start of February, according to an Associated Press count.
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Associated Press Writer Adam Schreck in Baghdad contributed to this report.
New cancer 'vaccine' shows future promise in treating and preventing metastatic cancersPublic release date: 27-Feb-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: John Wallace wallacej@vcu.edu 804-628-1550 Virginia Commonwealth University
Preclinical, laboratory studies suggest a novel immunotherapy could potentially work like a vaccine against metastatic cancers, according to scientists at Virginia Commonwealth University Massey Cancer Center. Results from a recent study show the therapy could treat metastatic cancers and be used in combination with current cancer therapies while helping to prevent the development of new metastatic tumors and train specialized immune system cells to guard against cancer relapse.
Recently published in the journal Cancer Research, the study detailed the effects of a molecule engineered by lead author Xiang-Yang Wang, Ph.D., on animal and cell models of melanoma, prostate and colon tumors. The molecule called Flagrp-170 consists of two distinct proteins, glucose-regulated protein 170 (Grp170), known as a "molecular chaperone," and a "danger signal" derived from flagellin, a protein commonly found in bacteria. The researchers used modified viruses, or adenoviruses, that can no longer replicate to transport Flagrp-170 directly to the tumor site to achieve localized vaccination. The novel therapy caused a profound immune response that significantly prolonged survival in animal models.
"Successfully promoting antitumor immunity will help eradicate tumor cells, control cancer progression and help prevent tumor relapse," says Wang, Harrison Scholar, member of the Cancer Molecular Genetics research program at VCU Massey Cancer Center and associate professor of Human and Molecular Genetics at VCU School of Medicine. "This immunotherapy has the potential to be used alone or in combination with conventional cancer treatments to develop and establish immune protection against cancer and its metastases."
Grp170 is currently being explored for its potential as a "cancer vaccine" because it has been shown to help the immune system recognize cancer antigens. Antigens are molecules from foreign objects such as bacteria, viruses or cancer that, when detected, provoke an immune response aimed at attacking them. However, because cancer cells can alter the microenvironment surrounding a tumor, they are able to suppress immune responses and continue replicating without being attacked by the body's natural defenses.
The chimeric chaperone Flagrp-170, created by strategically fusing a fragment of flagellin to Grp170, not only enhances antigen presentation, it also stimulates additional immune signals essential for functional activation of specialized immune cells, including dendritic cells, CD8+ T lymphocytes and natural killer (NK) cells. Dendritic cells act as messengers between the innate and adaptive immune systems. Once activated in response to a stimulus such as Flagrp-170, dendritic cells migrate to lymph nodes where they interact with other immune cells such as T lymphocytes to shape the body's immune response. CD8+ T lymphocytes and NK cells are known to respond to tumor formation and kill cancer cells by triggering apoptosis, a form of cell suicide.
"Overcoming cancer's ability to suppress the body's natural immune responses and restore or develop immunity for tumor eradication is the goal of cancer immunotherapy," says Wang. "More experiments are needed, but we are hoping Flagrp-170 may one day be used in formulating more effective therapeutic cancer vaccines."
Moving forward, Wang and his team are working to better understand the molecular mechanisms responsible for Flagrp-170's therapeutic effects. Additional studies are underway to more efficiently target and deliver Flagrp-170 to tumor sites in order to provoke a more robust and durable immune response.
###
Wang collaborated on this research with Paul Fisher, M.Ph., Ph.D., Thelma Newmeyer Corman Endowed Chair in Cancer Research and program co-leader of Cancer Molecular Genetics at VCU Massey Cancer Center, chairman of VCU's Department of Human and Molecular Genetics and director of the VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine; Xiaofei Yu; Chunquing Guo, Ph.D.; Huanfa Yi; and Jie Qian, Ph.D., all from VCU's Department of Human and Molecular Genetics and the VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine; and John R. Subjeck from the Department of Cellular Stress Biology at Roswell Park Cancer Institute.
This research was supported by NIH grants CA129111 and CA154708; the American Cancer Society, the Department of Defense and, in part, by funding from VCU Massey Cancer Center's NIH-NCI Cancer Center Support Grant P30 CA016059.
The full manuscript of this study is available online at: http://cancerres.aacrjournals.org/content/early/2013/01/18/0008-5472.CAN-12-1740.long.
News directors: Broadcast access to VCU Massey Cancer Center experts is available through VideoLink ReadyCam. ReadyCam transmits video and audio via fiber optics through a system that is routed to your newsroom. To schedule a live or taped interview, contact John Wallace.
About VCU Massey Cancer Center:
VCU Massey Cancer Center is one of only 67 National Cancer Institute-designated institutions in the country that leads and shapes America's cancer research efforts. Working with all kinds of cancers, the Center conducts basic, translational and clinical cancer research, provides state-of-the-art treatments and clinical trials, and promotes cancer prevention and education. Since 1974, Massey has served as an internationally recognized center of excellence. It has one of the largest offerings of clinical trials in Virginia and serves patients in Richmond and in four satellite locations. Its 1,000 researchers, clinicians and staff members are dedicated to improving the quality of human life by developing and delivering effective means to prevent, control and ultimately to cure cancer. Visit Massey online at www.massey.vcu.edu or call 877-4-MASSEY for more information.
About VCU and the VCU Medical Center:
Virginia Commonwealth University is a major, urban public research university with national and international rankings in sponsored research. Located in downtown Richmond, VCU enrolls more than 31,000 students in 222 degree and certificate programs in the arts, sciences and humanities. Sixty-six of the programs are unique in Virginia, many of them crossing the disciplines of VCU's 13 schools and one college. MCV Hospitals and the health sciences schools of Virginia Commonwealth University compose the VCU Medical Center, one of the nation's leading academic medical centers. For more, see www.vcu.edu.
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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.
New cancer 'vaccine' shows future promise in treating and preventing metastatic cancersPublic release date: 27-Feb-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: John Wallace wallacej@vcu.edu 804-628-1550 Virginia Commonwealth University
Preclinical, laboratory studies suggest a novel immunotherapy could potentially work like a vaccine against metastatic cancers, according to scientists at Virginia Commonwealth University Massey Cancer Center. Results from a recent study show the therapy could treat metastatic cancers and be used in combination with current cancer therapies while helping to prevent the development of new metastatic tumors and train specialized immune system cells to guard against cancer relapse.
Recently published in the journal Cancer Research, the study detailed the effects of a molecule engineered by lead author Xiang-Yang Wang, Ph.D., on animal and cell models of melanoma, prostate and colon tumors. The molecule called Flagrp-170 consists of two distinct proteins, glucose-regulated protein 170 (Grp170), known as a "molecular chaperone," and a "danger signal" derived from flagellin, a protein commonly found in bacteria. The researchers used modified viruses, or adenoviruses, that can no longer replicate to transport Flagrp-170 directly to the tumor site to achieve localized vaccination. The novel therapy caused a profound immune response that significantly prolonged survival in animal models.
"Successfully promoting antitumor immunity will help eradicate tumor cells, control cancer progression and help prevent tumor relapse," says Wang, Harrison Scholar, member of the Cancer Molecular Genetics research program at VCU Massey Cancer Center and associate professor of Human and Molecular Genetics at VCU School of Medicine. "This immunotherapy has the potential to be used alone or in combination with conventional cancer treatments to develop and establish immune protection against cancer and its metastases."
Grp170 is currently being explored for its potential as a "cancer vaccine" because it has been shown to help the immune system recognize cancer antigens. Antigens are molecules from foreign objects such as bacteria, viruses or cancer that, when detected, provoke an immune response aimed at attacking them. However, because cancer cells can alter the microenvironment surrounding a tumor, they are able to suppress immune responses and continue replicating without being attacked by the body's natural defenses.
The chimeric chaperone Flagrp-170, created by strategically fusing a fragment of flagellin to Grp170, not only enhances antigen presentation, it also stimulates additional immune signals essential for functional activation of specialized immune cells, including dendritic cells, CD8+ T lymphocytes and natural killer (NK) cells. Dendritic cells act as messengers between the innate and adaptive immune systems. Once activated in response to a stimulus such as Flagrp-170, dendritic cells migrate to lymph nodes where they interact with other immune cells such as T lymphocytes to shape the body's immune response. CD8+ T lymphocytes and NK cells are known to respond to tumor formation and kill cancer cells by triggering apoptosis, a form of cell suicide.
"Overcoming cancer's ability to suppress the body's natural immune responses and restore or develop immunity for tumor eradication is the goal of cancer immunotherapy," says Wang. "More experiments are needed, but we are hoping Flagrp-170 may one day be used in formulating more effective therapeutic cancer vaccines."
Moving forward, Wang and his team are working to better understand the molecular mechanisms responsible for Flagrp-170's therapeutic effects. Additional studies are underway to more efficiently target and deliver Flagrp-170 to tumor sites in order to provoke a more robust and durable immune response.
###
Wang collaborated on this research with Paul Fisher, M.Ph., Ph.D., Thelma Newmeyer Corman Endowed Chair in Cancer Research and program co-leader of Cancer Molecular Genetics at VCU Massey Cancer Center, chairman of VCU's Department of Human and Molecular Genetics and director of the VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine; Xiaofei Yu; Chunquing Guo, Ph.D.; Huanfa Yi; and Jie Qian, Ph.D., all from VCU's Department of Human and Molecular Genetics and the VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine; and John R. Subjeck from the Department of Cellular Stress Biology at Roswell Park Cancer Institute.
This research was supported by NIH grants CA129111 and CA154708; the American Cancer Society, the Department of Defense and, in part, by funding from VCU Massey Cancer Center's NIH-NCI Cancer Center Support Grant P30 CA016059.
The full manuscript of this study is available online at: http://cancerres.aacrjournals.org/content/early/2013/01/18/0008-5472.CAN-12-1740.long.
News directors: Broadcast access to VCU Massey Cancer Center experts is available through VideoLink ReadyCam. ReadyCam transmits video and audio via fiber optics through a system that is routed to your newsroom. To schedule a live or taped interview, contact John Wallace.
About VCU Massey Cancer Center:
VCU Massey Cancer Center is one of only 67 National Cancer Institute-designated institutions in the country that leads and shapes America's cancer research efforts. Working with all kinds of cancers, the Center conducts basic, translational and clinical cancer research, provides state-of-the-art treatments and clinical trials, and promotes cancer prevention and education. Since 1974, Massey has served as an internationally recognized center of excellence. It has one of the largest offerings of clinical trials in Virginia and serves patients in Richmond and in four satellite locations. Its 1,000 researchers, clinicians and staff members are dedicated to improving the quality of human life by developing and delivering effective means to prevent, control and ultimately to cure cancer. Visit Massey online at www.massey.vcu.edu or call 877-4-MASSEY for more information.
About VCU and the VCU Medical Center:
Virginia Commonwealth University is a major, urban public research university with national and international rankings in sponsored research. Located in downtown Richmond, VCU enrolls more than 31,000 students in 222 degree and certificate programs in the arts, sciences and humanities. Sixty-six of the programs are unique in Virginia, many of them crossing the disciplines of VCU's 13 schools and one college. MCV Hospitals and the health sciences schools of Virginia Commonwealth University compose the VCU Medical Center, one of the nation's leading academic medical centers. For more, see www.vcu.edu.
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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.
SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (AP) ? Two police detectives were shot and killed while investigating a sexual assault complaint, and a suspect was also fatally shot after a brief chase, authorities said.
The veteran officers, one male and one female, were shot around 3:30 p.m. as they went to a suspect's home to follow up on the case. Their deaths were confirmed by Santa Cruz County Sheriff Phil Wowak.
A suspect was shot and killed a short time later while authorities were pursuing the gunman, the sheriff's office said.
After the officers were shot, nearby residents received an automatic police call warning them to stay locked inside. About half an hour later, more than a dozen semi-automatic shots echoed down the streets in a brief barrage of gunfire that killed the suspect.
Police Chief Kevin Vogel said Sgt. Loren Butch Baker, a 28-year veteran, and Detective Elizabeth Butler, a 10-year veteran, were shot and killed.
"There aren't words to describe this horrific tragedy," he said. "This is the darkest day in the history of the Santa Cruz police department."
The suspect who was killed in the shooting was identified as 35-year-old Jeremy Goulet, who was arrested Friday after a co-worker at a Santa Cruz coffee shop alleged he went to her house and made inappropriate sexual advances. The Santa Cruz Sentinel reported that he was fired the next day.
To investigate the complaint, the detectives went to the house where Goulet was living and an altercation ensued, leading to the officers being fired upon, authorities said.
The detectives called for backup and neighbors also summoned police. Responding officers located Goulet a short time later. The sheriff's office said he was killed in the gunfire that followed.
After the shootings, police went door-to-door in the neighborhood, searching homes, garages, even closets to determine whether there might be additional suspects.
Police, sheriff's deputies and FBI agents filled intersections, some with guns drawn, in what is ordinarily a quiet, residential neighborhood in the community about 60 miles south of San Francisco.
A store clerk a few buildings away from the shooting said the barrage of gunfire was "terrifying."
"We ducked. We have big desks so under the desks we went," said the clerk, who spoke on condition of anonymity and asked that her store not be identified because she feared for her safety.
Two schools were locked down during the shooting. The students were later evacuated by bus to the County Government Center about half a mile away.
As darkness fell, helicopters and light aircraft patrolled above the neighborhood, which is about a mile from downtown Santa Cruz and the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. The campus of University of California, Santa Cruz, is about five miles away.
The city's mayor, Hilary Bryant, said in a statement that the city was shocked over the shootings.
"Tonight we are heartbroken at the loss of two of our finest police officers who were killed in the line of duty, protecting the community we love," the statement said. "This is an exceptionally shocking and sad day for Santa Cruz and our Police Department."
Goulet worked as a barista at a coffee shop in the Santa Cruz harbor. He was convicted in Portland, Ore., in May 2008 of peeping at a 22-year-old woman who was showering in her condominium and of carrying concealed weapon, according to a Portland newspaper, The Oregonian. He was put on probation but, after a dispute with his probation officer, was sentenced to two years in jail.
The violence comes amid a recent spate of assaults in the city, which community leaders had planned to address in a downtown rally scheduled for Tuesday. That, along with a city council meeting, was canceled after teary-eyed city leaders learned of the deaths.
Those shootings include the killing of a 32-year-old martial arts instructor who was shot outside a popular downtown bar and restaurant; the robbery of a UC Santa Cruz student who was shot in the head; a 21-year-old woman who was raped and beaten on the UC Santa Cruz campus; and a couple who fought off two men during a home invasion.
___
Associated Press writer John S. Marshall in San Francisco contributed to this report.
VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - The sex and power scandals haunting the Catholic Church look set to play a big role in meetings before next month's papal election after two senior cardinals called on Tuesday for more internal debate about them.
A leading support group for victims of clerical sexual abuse also made what it called a "last-ditch plea" to Pope Benedict to use his authority before resigning on Thursday to discipline bishops who have protected predatory priests in their dioceses.
The abuse issue took on new urgency after Scotland's Cardinal Keith O'Brien, accused of improper behavior with young priests, quit as Edinburgh archbishop on Monday and pulled out of the Sistine Chapel conclave to elect a new pope.
A Scottish Catholic Media Office spokesman has said O'Brien was taking legal advice and contested the "anonymous and non specific" allegations against him.
Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, now the only British prelate due to attend pre-conclave talks among cardinals at the Vatican next week, said in London the sexual abuse of children was the most serious scandal in the Church.
"That will be one of the main things the cardinals will be discussing," said Murphy-O'Connor, who cannot vote because he is over 80 years old but can join the cardinal electors in their closed-door discussions about the challenges for the next pope.
French Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran said in a newspaper interview that the cardinal electors, who number 115 after O'Brien stepped down, should also be informed about a secret report on Vatican corruption prepared for Pope Benedict.
The retiring pontiff has decided to reserve the report for his successor, but the three cardinals over 80 years old who drew it up will be allowed to inform the cardinal electors about some of its findings during next week's consultations.
ASKING TO NAME NAMES
"The cardinal electors cannot decide to choose this or that name to vote for if they don't know the contents of this dossier," Tauran told La Repubblica newspaper.
"If it's necessary, I don't see why they should not ask for names," said Tauran, a former Vatican foreign minister who now heads its department for interreligious dialogue.
Italian newspapers have been speculating for days about conspiracies and alleged sexual scandals inside the Vatican that may have influenced Benedict to become the first pope in some six centuries to step down rather than die in office.
The Vatican has accused these newspapers of spreading "false and damaging" rumors in an attempt to influence the cardinals who are starting to arrive in Rome for the pope's farewell meeting with them on Thursday.
Two directors of the United States-based abuse victims' network SNAP arrived in Rome on Tuesday to draw attention to their demands for tougher Church policies.
"We're here to make a last ditch plea to Pope Benedict to use the remaining hours of his papacy to take decisive action to protect kids," said David Clohessy, national director of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests.
He acknowledged that Benedict had met some abuse victims and made some strong statements condemning the molestation of minors by priests, but said he only acted under public pressure.
"We long for the day when Church officials announce that this cardinal or this bishop is being demoted because Church officials have found proof of wrongdoing and Church officials want to clean things up," he told journalists.
SNAP saw no papal candidates ready to fire bishops for shielding wrongdoers, he said, but added: "It's hard to believe there aren't some cardinals who are grabbing their colleagues by the lapels and saying 'We simply have to do better'."
CATHOLICS CRITICAL OF ABUSE HANDLING
Spanish Cardinal Julian Herranz, one of the three who drew up the secret report for Benedict, echoed the Vatican attack on the media in an interview on Monday with the daily El Pais.
"This wanting to see snake pits, warring mafias, internal hatreds - all this is absolutely false," he said.
Because conclaves are such secretive events, it is hard to see what effect the heightened public pressure over the abuse issue might have on the cardinals who will elect the next leader of the world's 1.2 billion Catholics around the globe.
Italian newspapers, which dedicate several pages a day to the papal story, have begun mentioning Cardinal Sean O'Malley as a possible "clean hands" candidate because he was sent to Boston to deal with abuse scandals that erupted there in 2002.
But other factors could lead them to choose a man whose main strengths lie elsewhere, such as an aptitude to promote its "new evangelization" drive, aimed at rekindling the faith in Europe and boost it in other regions.
Recent polls in two important national churches, in the United States and Germany, show that Catholics give their leaders low marks for their handling of the abuse crisis.
A Pew Forum poll last week showed U.S. Catholics have become increasingly critical, with those saying Benedict has done a poor job rising from 40 percent in 2008 to 63 percent now.
A survey in January for the weekly Die Zeit showed that only 28 percent of German Catholics polled believed the Church really wanted to clean up the mess the scandals have caused.
(Reporting By Tom Heneghan; Editing by Will Waterman)
Apple has announced that it's to settle a class action lawsuit about in-app purchases—that could have involved more than 23 million App Store users!—by bunging the affected parties free iTune credit. More »
Last week, Acer got out in front of the Mobile World Congress madness by reintroducing its Liquid E1 smartphone and announcing the new Liquid Z2. Well, we're on the ground here in Barcelona and we just got to see them both in person. A quick recap for those who missed Acer's first Androids of 2013: the mid-range E1 runs Jelly Bean on a 4.5-inch 960 x 540 IPS display, has a dual-core 1GHz processor, a 5-megapixel camera and a 1,760mAh battery. The entry-level Z2 also runs Android 4.1, but has a 3.5-inch 480 x 320 screen, single-core 1GHz CPU, a 3-megapixel shooter and a 1,300 mAh cell. Both phones come in either black or white and can be had in single- or dual-SIM configurations. Peruse our galleries of photos below, won't you? Then join us after the break for a video and our full impressions.
The mayor of Helper resigned Saturday morning following his arrest on suspicion of drunken driving the day before ? his second during his term.
The Helper City Council and Mayor Dean Armstrong, released from the Carbon County Jail, met Saturday and the mayor, after offering a prepared statement, resigned effective immediately. The council accepted his resignation, said city attorney Gene Strate.
The council had already given Armstrong a second chance following his 2011 arrest for driving under the influence. Armstrong was arrested again Friday afternoon after a minor accident on Main Street in Helper, in which no one was injured, said Utah Highway Patrol Trooper Lawrence Hopper. A field Breathalyzer test indicated Armstrong?s blood alcohol level was .169, Hopper said. Under Utah law, it is illegal to operate a motor vehicle with a blood-alcohol level above .08.
"I have determined that I can no longer adequately perform the duties of mayor," Armstrong, 51, wrote in his statement, according to Strate. "Instead, I will turn my focus toward taking care of my family, my health and my business."
Armstrong, who owns a market that specializes in meats and baked goods, noted in his statement that he?s saddened that he cannot complete his term, though he feels that the city administration has improved Helper in the past several years. "The people of this community are strong, and it has been my honor and privilege to have served you," Strate read from the letter.
Armstrong was elected to a four-year term in 2010. Strate said he still needs to review the process for replacing him, since this is the first resignation by a Helper mayor that he can recall. Helper is a town of about 2,000 residents roughly 120 miles southeast of Salt Lake City.
Armstrong started a lot of projects with the council, including big improvements to the water and sewer systems that the city has needed for 70 years, said council member Kirk Mascaro. Mascaro will serve as mayor pro tem, a position he already held so that he could act in Armstrong?s place if the mayor couldn?t attend a meeting.
"Mayor Armstrong has been, I feel, somewhat of an asset putting Helper City on the map, and we?ve got to move on right now. I?ve got to fill those shoes," Mascaro said. "We?re going to move on, move forward and it?s not just Mr. Armstrong, the whole council will be getting these projects completed."
Armstrong?s first DUI arrest in office was in November 2011, also by the UHP, court records show.
In May 2012, Armstrong pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charges of impaired driving, open container/drinking alcohol in a vehicle, and failing to stop or yield to a traffic sign, court records show. A judge suspended any jail time and placed Anderson on one year of probation. The terms of probation included a fine. Armstrong also was ordered to wear an ankle monitor for 60 days. The monitor was removed in September, jail records show.
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Helper?s council met following the 2011 arrest but took no action against Armstrong, Mascaro said.
Court records also indicate that Armstrong pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of driving under the influence in June 1991 in Salt Lake City. He received a suspended jail sentence and was ordered to perform community service, pay a fine and attend alcohol counseling, the records show. An additional charge of negligent collision was dropped.
mmcfall@sltrib.com Twitter: @mikeypanda
Copyright 2013 The Salt Lake Tribune. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
AUSTIN -- Somewhere between the pictures and the people, Bill Bastas found his purpose.
"We want to make a bigger impact on the breast cancer community," Bastas said.
For years he?s turned his passion for photography into a money-making mission, raising more than $21,000 for local breast cancer charities with his 'Smile Never Fades' organization.
It's why no one should be surprised Bastas cooked up his latest venture - a cookbook featuring breast cancer survivors and their families.
"I think this is going to be a good seller," said Bastas.
Kristene Edwards counted on her quiche to get her through breast cancer.?
"I was diagnosed in May of 2011. This is my go-to comfort food,? Edwards said.
She was diagnosed ten years after her younger sister battled the same disease.
After a lumpectomy, months of chemotherapy and radiation, Edwards is cancer-free and sees this as her opportunity to give back.
"I'm not a big cook, but I am honored to be part of helping raise money for something that's dear to my heart," she said.
It's a sentiment shared by everyone who has been asked to submit a recipe, Terri Gruca?s mom included.
"It's just a blessing to be alive and to do something like this,? said Hedy Gruca.
Hedy just celebrated four years of being cancer-free.
"I always loved to cook and am always looking for a new cookbook and I can't wait to see all the other recipes," said Hedy.
Bastas hopes to have 200 survivors, recipes and inspiring stories on every page.
"It's our mothers, our sisters, our daughters, our wives, the best of our society. It's not acceptable," said Bastas.
Bastas knows this better than most. He lost his own wife to breast cancer eight years ago.
"It solidifies my mission," he said.
His recipe: to make a difference in the lives of breast cancer patients.
Proceeds from the "Comfort Cooking - Recipes To Make You Smile" cookbook will pay to provide concierge care for patients undergoing breast cancer treatment. It will start next year by providing things like housecleaning services.
Bastas is still looking for survivors to feature in the cookbook which he hopes to have out in time for Christmas.
The Leading Hotels of the World Accepts New Members in Europe, Africa and Asia. Luxury Leader Adds Urban Icons and Stylish Resorts.
Ideally situated next to the Royal Danish Theatre on the Kongens Nytorv Square in the heart of Copenhagen, the legendary Hotel d?Angleterre is slated to reopen in May following a total refurbishment. Constructed as a neoclassic palace, it has maintained its 19th-century historical aspects, blending elements of its original legacy with the latest in tailored services, elegance and technology. Guest accommodations, in 37 rooms and 53 suites, feature spacious marble bathrooms; the latest technology and individually controlled climate systems. The stunning Royal Suite, with one to three bedrooms, also boasts a grand balcony, a fireplace, and a private dining room. For fine dining, Restaurant d?Angleterre offers an international menu, while the Balthazar champagne bar and Angleterre Bar are ideal venues for relaxing and socializing. An indoor pool will be complemented by a spa and fitness studio. In addition, there are eight meeting and banquet rooms as well as a ballroom.
The soon-to-open Marker Hotel is located in the Docklands section of Dublin. Set in the thriving entertainment and business centers, it shares space with some of the city?s recently developed architectural landmarks such as the Grand Canal Square, close to Dublin?s newest cultural and leisure venues, including the Bord Gais Energy Theatre and the Aviva Stadium. With a unique architectural concept which draws on the nature of the Irish landscape, combined with a sleek urban aesthetic, the 187-room hotel is the perfect retreat for those who crave the unconventional, yet still expect exceptional standards. The Brasserie is a contemporary setting offering fresh, locally sourced produce and an extensive wine list, while The Marker Bar offers classic cocktails and relaxed all-day dining. The Roof Top Lounge serves single and sharing plates throughout the day. The Spa features four treatment rooms, a relaxation area, infinity pool, whirlpool, sauna, steam room and a fitness area. Events for up to 350 people can be accommodated in nine banquet and function rooms.
Centrally situated on the famous Via Veneto, Regina Hotel Baglioni in Rome is in easy walking distance of the Galleria Borghese museum, the Spanish Steps and Via Condotti. With 95 rooms and 23 suites ? and an outstanding new penthouse which will be available from this June ? the hotel?s interiors are a blend of traditional, Liberty and Deco styles. In recognition of the kindness shown to Queen Margherita of Savoy during her stay while she awaited the completion of her residence, the hotel?s owner was granted permission to add ?Regina? to the hotel name. For dining, Brunello Lounge & Restaurant serves Mediterranean cuisine in an atmosphere which unites traditional elegance with contemporary design. A wellness and fitness area is available for relaxation, and there are also facilities for meetings and banquets.
Occupying a historic 14th-century palace, Hotel Due Torri is situated in the heart of Verona, just a stone's throw from Juliet's famous balcony. The superb quality of the furnishings and the professional service are highly valued by its devoted international clientele. Extensive recent refurbishments have yielded a fresh facade, contemporary touches, a new dining room, an exclusive interior courtyard, and a panoramic terrace with spectacular views of the history city center. The 89 rooms and suites are appointed with period furniture, and hand-crafted marble in warm tones, mosaic decorations, and refined textiles. Due Torri Lounge & Restaurant serves regional and international cuisine complemented by an extensive wine list. In summer, the terrace enables guests to enjoy relaxing cocktails or a pre-opera buffet dinner. The hotel also offers children?s programs and seven function rooms for meetings and banquets.
Recently opened, The Grand Tarabya is just 20 minutes from Taksim Square and the city center, yet removed from the hustle and bustle of the old sectors of Istanbul. A landmark of traditional Turkish hospitality, the hotel comes alive again on the shores of the Bosphorus with breathtaking views all the way to the entrance of the Black Sea. Guest accommodations are in 247 spacious and tastefully decorated rooms and suites, designed to cater to discerning international travelers. Dining options include Papalinas Restaurant, for Aegean specialties; the Brasserie, with international selections; Pool Bar, for light fare; and The T Lounge and Diba Bar, both overlooking the Bosphorus, for casual get-togethers in a relaxed setting. The 4,000-square-meter Therapia Spa, offers indoor and outdoor pools, traditional Turkish hammams, sauna and steam rooms, relaxation areas, a private spa suite, and a Thalasso suite, while the fitness center features the latest technology and natural daylight. For meetings and social events, there are 14 function rooms, a state-of-the-art ballroom and a summer terrace.
Reopening in late April, D-Hotel Maris is situated high on a hillside of the Datca Peninsula in Turkey, where the Aegean and Mediterranean Seas meet. Overlooking small islands, lush forests and volcanic mountain ranges, it is a peaceful enclave of beauty, serenity and luxury. The 201 accommodations comprise luxurious rooms, suites, a duplex Presidential Suite and an exclusive Villa, all designed with the finest materials and sophisticated amenities to create a perfect retreat. Restaurants include Spice, fusing Ottoman-style gastronomy with Asian cuisine; Breeze, serving Aegean fare; and The Bay, on the beach, for daytime snacks and evening buffet. Among the bars and cocktail lounges are Aqua Bar, on the beach; Bar 180?, overlooking the bay; the Coliseum, at the tip of the peninsula; and El Vino, featuring fine wines, whisky and cognac. For relaxation, there are indoor and outdoor pools, tennis courts, water sports at the private beaches, a fitness center and an ESPA-designed Spa with a private hammam. The hotel also has private yachts, a seaplane and a helicopter. Children eight and up are welcome.
Constance Le Prince Maurice enjoys an idyllic location on the north-east coast of Mauritius. Set amidst 60 hectares of unspoiled terrain, it is sheltered from the prevailing winds and provides maximum privacy for its guests. The 89 suites and villas are surrounded by lush vegetation, and the calm turquoise lagoon blends perfectly with the landscape and the secluded white sand beaches. A natural fish reserve situated in the western part of the hotel adds to the uniqueness and natural beauty of the location. Restaurants include L?Archipel overlooking the pool and beach, for buffet breakfast, lunch and dinner; Le Beach Deck for ? la carte lunches and light fare; Le Barachois for romantic dinners over the waters of the lagoon. For recreation, there are two award-winning 18-hole golf courses, tennis courts, water sports, scuba diving, private fitness coaching and the Spa de Constance Le Prince Maurice, offering Sisley treatments. In addition, there are wedding venues and a children?s club for ages 4 to 11.
Nestled in the exclusive Palmeraie region, Taj Palace Marrakech is set on 55 hectares of beautifully landscaped gardens. Surrounded by palm trees and olive groves, the property has been meticulously crafted with a blend of Moroccan and Indian themes. Its 161 well-appointed guest rooms and suites, all with views over the Atlas Mountains, the desert landscape, or the pool and gardens, are spread between the main Palace and four exclusive Riads. Restaurant choices include Rumi, for contemporary Moroccan flavors with Mediterranean influences; Mantra, the Pan-Asian signature restaurant; Menzah, serving international fare poolside; and Jade Room, the lobby lounge with all-day dining options. Jiva Grande Spa, with 14 treatment rooms, offers Indian therapies, signature treatments, Ayurveda, yoga and meditation. There are also indoor and outdoor pools; a fitness center with state-of-the-art fitness equipment and personal trainers; dedicated yoga temple; jogging track and biking trails. Nearby diversions include horse, camel and quad-bike riding; golf on three acclaimed courses; and hot-air balloon rides. Other facilities include four conference and banquet rooms and a kids club.
Set on the northwest coast of the island of Praslin in the Seychelles, Constance L?muria Resort is bordered by the white sand beaches of the Indian Ocean, and surrounded by luxuriant vegetation. The 105 guest accommodations range from elegant, secluded suites with ocean views to regal villas, all thoughtfully designed using only natural materials such as wood, marble, limestone and pink granite, to complement their stunning environment. Dining options include Legend, the resort?s main restaurant with a refined and relaxed atmosphere; The Seahorse, with views over the 11th green of the award-winning L?muria golf course; and the Beach Bar & Grill specializing in seafood. Nestled amidst swaying palm trees and bamboo, the Spa de Constance L?muria offers a range of treatments including Swedish massage, hydrotherapy and Indian Ayurvedic. There is also a full complement of water sports, deep-sea fishing, diving, and an 18-hole golf course.
Reachable by seaplane, the Constance Halaveli resort, set in the North Ari Atoll of the Maldives in the Indian Ocean, is a place where time seems to have stopped and dreams become reality. Crystal waters, sparkling sand and exuberant green foliage combine to create an idyllic backdrop for the resort. Spacious accommodations, in 86 overwater and beachside villas, are constructed and appointed with natural materials to blend seamlessly into the surrounding environment. Restaurant choices include beachside Meeru, with a laid-back barefoot vibe, for relaxed meals al fresco; Jahaz, at the heart of the resort, serving a variety of international fare; and Jing, for exotic Asian-inspired fine dining. A perfect setting for water sports, the resort offers pedal boats, windsurfing, kayaking, diving and PADI certification, catamarans, water skiing, wakeboarding, and banana boats. Situated on stilts over the tranquil lagoon, the Health Centre consists of Le Spa de Constance and Valmont Spa, both tranquil havens for body and mind. Younger guests are well looked after by the childcare team at Kuda children's club.
For reservations, visit www.LHW.com. In the USA & Canada please call 1-800-223-6800 or contact a travel professional.
LA PAZ, Bolivia (AP) ? The growing global demand for quinoa by health food enthusiasts isn't just raising prices for the Andean "super grain" and living standards among Bolivian farmers. Quinoa fever is running up against physical limits.
The scramble to grow more is prompting Bolivian farmers to abandon traditional land management practices, endangering the fragile ecosystem of the arid highlands, agronomists say.
Quinoa currently fetches as much as $3,200 a ton, up nearly threefold from five years ago ? a surge fed by "foodies" making quinoa a hot health-food product based on its high content of protein and amino acids. It's also gluten-free. Though used like a grain, quinoa is actually an edible seed.
The United Nations has designated 2013 as the International Year of Quinoa, and Bolivian President Evo Morales celebrated it in New York Wednesday along with Peru's first lady, Nadine Heredia. Their countries are the world's two biggest producers.
Quinoa has been cultivated in the Andean highlands since at least 3000 B.C., growing natively from Chile north to Colombia. It grows best at high altitudes in climates with cool days and even cooler nights.
In December, Morales mounted a tractor and plowed furrows into the soil of his highlands hometown, Orinoca, to promote quinoa as sowing season got under way. Townspeople sacrificed a llama to ask Pachamama, or Mother Earth, for a good harvest.
But last week, Morales was out chastising farmers for having planted quinoa in pastures where llamas traditionally graze. Without the llamas' manure, little would grow in the arid highlands more than two miles (three kilometers) high where the most prized variety of quinoa originates.
"Quinoa goes hand in hand with the natural fertilizer that llamas produce and there must be a nutritional crossing between the two," said Rossmary Jaldin, an expert in the crop.
Bolivia's deputy minister of rural development, Victor Hugo Vasquez, said 30 percent of his country's 70,000 quinoa producers are now children of peasants who left the farm but have been drawn back by high quinoa prices.
He and the president of Bolivia's National Association of Quinoa Producers, Juan Crispin, say many of the growers don't follow traditional farming methods and are depleting soils because they don't rotate crops.
"We're not going to work with them," said Vasquez. "We are not going to help them."
Morales' government declared quinoa a strategic priority two years ago and has since disbursed $10 million in credits for increasing yields to cash in on the boom.
The country's quinoa crop expanded from 240 square miles (63,000 hectares) in 2009 to 400 square miles (104,000 hectares) last year, when it produced a total of 58,000 metric tons, according to the Rural Development Ministry. That is more than 40 times the production in 2000.
The United States imports 52 percent of Bolivian quinoa while 24 percent goes to Europe, where France and the Netherlands are big buyers.
Peru, meantime, raised its production to 43,640 metric tons last year from 29,640 tons in 2009 and exported $30 million worth, up 20 percent from the previous year.
Their gains have caught the attention of potential competitors. Farmers are beginning to plant quinoa in other countries, including Canada, Australia, China, India and Paraguay. A few thousand acres are harvested in a highland valley of the U.S. state of Colorado and also in Minnesota.
Bolivian farmers are complaining to their government that they need harvesting machinery since most of their quinoa is harvested by hand. Morales' administration has invited South Korean engineers to design the desired machines.
Duane Johnson, a former Colorado state agronomist who helped introduce quinoa to the United States three decades ago, said quinoa can be commercially planted and harvested just like grain.
"It's just the size of millet," said Johnson, who now lives in Bigfork, Montana. "I think the problem you get into in South America is getting enough land to justify a combine."
When he was growing quinoa in the late 1980s, the United States accounted for 37 percent of the world's quinoa crop, Johnson said. Today, it has about 2 percent, he said.
Environmental concerns about the expansion of quinoa in Bolivia aren't the only problems that experts see.
Near Lake Titicaca, in some of the highlands' most fertile soils, quinoa is now showing up where it hadn't before been planted, replacing potatoes, beans and oats in some fields.
Experts fear that trend could harm food stocks in this poor nation where one in five children suffers from chronic malnutrition.
And with quinoa now costing three times as much as rice in La Paz markets, it isn't eaten much by Bolivians. Its consumption averages a little more than a kilogram, (2.2 pounds) per year for each Bolivian.
The U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization hopes to promote more use of quinoa at home by promoting the serving of quinoa in subsidized school breakfasts.
Morales said at U.N. headquarters Wednesday that "it's not true that due to an increase in the price of quinoa less and less is being consumed" in Bolivia.
Domestic consumption is actually up threefold in the past four years, he said, to 12,000 metric tons.
___
Associated Press writers Carlos Valdez in La Paz and Carla Salazar and Frank Bajak in Lima, Peru, contributed to this report.
BRUSSELS (AP) ? Police on Tuersday were looking for eight men who made a hole in a security fence of Brussels' international airport, drove onto the tarmac and robbed tens of millions of dollars worth of diamonds from the hold of a Swiss-bound plane.
Brussels prosecutor's spokeswoman Anja Bijnens said Tuesday the armed and masked men used two vehicles in their daring Monday raid and within minutes made their way to the plane, took the cache of stones and drove off into the darkness.
Police found a burnt-out vehicle close to the airport later Monday night but said it was still looking for clues.
The heist was estimated at some 50 million dollars in diamonds, said Caroline De Wolf of the Antwerp World diamond Centre.
"What we are talking about is obviously a gigantic sum," De Wolf told VRT network.
An airport spokesman says the robbers made a hole in the perimeter fence, and drove right up to the Swiss passenger plane that was ready to leave. The robbers got out of the car, flashed their arms and took the loot from the hold, airport spokesman Jan Van Der Crujsse said. Without firing a shot they drove off through the same hole in the fence, completing the spectacular theft within minutes, he said.
Van Der Crujsse could not explain how the area could be so vulnerable to theft. "We abide by the most stringent rules," he said.
The Swiss flight, operated by Helvetic Airways, was canceled after the robbery. Swiss, an affiliate of Germany's Deutsche Lufthansa AG, declined to comment on the heist, citing the ongoing judicial investigation.
The insurance for air transport ? handled sometimes by airlines themselves or external insurance companies ? is usually relatively cheap because it's considered to be the safest way of transporting small high value items, logistics experts say.
Unlike a car or a truck, an airplane cannot be attacked by robbers once it's one its way, and it is considered to be very safe before the departure and after the plane's arrival because the aircraft is always within the confines of an airport ? which are normally highly secured.
___
Juergen Baetz contributed to this report from Brussels.
BlueStacks, the startup behind the?? platform of the same name that lets you run Android apps on other systems, added support for Windows 8 this week.
The launch of?App Player for Surface Pro is big news for Windows 8 users, who can now access 750,000 plus Android applications from their PCs and mobile devices. Before the launch, the latter group could only run the 35,000 or so native apps currently available in the Windows 8 store.
To learn more and to read the entire article at its source, please refer to the following page, BlueStacks Launch is Big News for Windows 8 Users ? Breaking Analysis- SiliconANGLE.com
The animal shelter is located at 169 Old Colchester Road and is open Monday through Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and on Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dog adoption hours begin at 10:30 a.m. The phone number is 860-442-8583.
Humane Society employee Hailey St. Pierre-Casati introduced us to these animals this week:
Babe, a young dog who loves to play,
and Emmy, a cat who enjoys her own company.
Animals are adopted and dropped off at the Humane Society on a daily basis so if you see an animal in this video who you want, act fast. If you miss your chance however, these ones are still waiting for someone to bring them home:
Doric, a rabbit who was abandoned for jumping,
Bun Buns, a rabbit who doesn't mind being held,
Zappodots, a calm 2-year-old cat who likes to be pet,
Dirt Road, a 2-year-old dog who loves to kick up dirt,
Rudy, a dog with a moderate energy level,
and Secret, a 2-year-old cat who is unable to make a sound.
If you aren't interested in any of these animals, log onto the?Humane Society website?to see a gallery of all the adoptable pets.
If you have plenty of pets at home but still want to help out these great animals, the Humane Society is always accepting donations of food, toys and supplies.
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The election of Enrique Pena Nieto last year marked the return to power of the Industrial Revolutionary Party (PRI) that had ruled the country for 71 years prior to the year 2000.
Pena Nieto promised the PRI was no longer a party of patronage and corruption, but a modern force focused on economic growth, poverty reduction and tackling the drug-related violence unleashed during the presidency of Felipe Calderon.
This week the president unveiled his plan to tackle crime and take on the cartels.
He appeared to reject Calderon's policy of force, instead promising to approach the problem through a $9.2bn investment in social programmes to address the root causes of crime.
The government says the programme will help keep young people from joining gangs. It is not clear though how much of that money is funding that is already been announced as part of other programmes.
The initiatives include road building, improved health and social services, help for single mothers to find jobs, better park grounds and lighting and increasing school hours.
The money is targeted at 251 towns and neighbourhoods considered the most violent in Mexico.
President Pena Nieto says the new strategy focuses on prevention - instead of deploying troops and sophisticated weapons to tackle drug violence. ?Read more.?
Best Buy again offers the Sony Speaker Dock and Clock Radio for iPod and iPhone in White, model no. ICF-CS10IPWHT, for $48.99 with free shipping. That's tied with our mention from last fall as the lowest total price we've seen for this dock. (It's a current price low by $21.) Sales tax is added where applicable. It features two 3.5-watt speakers, an AM/FM tuner, remote control, digital clock, sleep timer, alarm with three wake-up modes, auxiliary input for other MP3 players, and more.
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Public release date: 27-Feb-2013
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