| Chicago Auto Show Notebook
General Motors Corp . and the United Auto Workers are closing in on a new two-tier pay system for U.S. factories, Troy Clarke, GM's North American chief, said on Wednesday. Clarke, in Town for the Chicago Auto Show, said the process of negotiating which factory jobs get bumped down to $14-an-hour wages should take "weeks, not months" to wrap up. The automaker is looking to save billions by clearing out thousands of veteran workers with retirement incentives and replacing them with lower-paid new hires, a move allowed under GM's new four-year labor deal with the union. But first, GM and the UAW must agree on exactly which jobs merit the lesser pay. .
Instant Analysis: Talladega
Vickers causes the wreck of the top 2 cars, but gets the win. Top five: Vickers, Kurt Busch, Kahne, Kenseth and Truex. BRIAN VICKERS WINS!!!!!! Lap 188: White flag. Vickers hits Johnson on backstretch and knocks him into Earnhardt! Unbelievable!!!! Caution out, field frozen. On to videotape. Lap 187: Junior still in charge. Lap 185: Johnson laying back a little for a run. Lap 184: No change up front. Everyone is waiting to the end to gang up on Earnhardt. Lap 183: Five to go and the order remains the same with the top four. Then it's Busch, Kenseth, Trues, Harvick, Jeff Green and Martin. Lap 180: Junior leads Johnson, Vickers and Kahne. Everyone is staying single file in the front 15 or so cars. Lap 180: Burton pits for four tires under green.
Can the Midwest regain its economic clout?
I grew up in a small town in central Iowa, a county seat called Boone, a safe and secure place, confident in its isolation. This was lonesome-whistle territory, where passing trains announced another world out there. In time, some of us got on those trains to seek that world. We knew it wasn't going to come to us.
When a British newspaper proclaimed it the typical American small town and sent a reporter to write about it, he interviewed one local elder who said: "We are pretty well self-sufficient. We don't need the world."
Even then, this was a blinkered attitude; after all, somebody out there bought our corn and hogs. But it was true that distant events--in Europe, China, Latin America--did not dictate our daily lives. Businesses were locally owned. Jobs lasted for life.
Only 3 more days ...
Always used to slant the news in favor of a Hagadone campaign, the Press has now invited its less than valid readership to vote on the top stories of this past year. Of course, missing from the list is the passing of one of Idahos best known leaders, Ronald Rankin. His death in October leaves a huge vacancy that the Haga-Press can only hope will never be duplicated in the future. Rankin as a Kootenai county commissioner and as an ombudsman for the citizens of the county for dozens of years was never appreciated by Duane Hagadone or the editors of his newspaper as he often held their feet to the fire on issues vital to the public. That the Coeur dAlene Press now chooses to omit any mention of his passing in their top stories of 2004 is a badge of honor that Ron Rankin continues to wear.
Chelsea sign Anelka - report
Blues boss Avram Grant said after Chelsea's League Cup semi-final first leg win over Everton on Tuesday that he hoped to clinch a deal in time for Saturday's Premiership clash with Tottenham. Chelsea are without Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou, who are away at the Africa Cup of Nations, while Andriy Shevchenko has an ankle injury. Anelka, who signed a new four-year deal with Bolton in August after joining for a club record of eight million pounds from Turkish club Fenerbahce, has scored 11 goals in 22 games this season. The 28-year-old has also played for Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City in the Premiership and won the Champions League while at Real Madrid. News24 is now available on your cellphone. Click here to get News24 headlines on your Facebook profile.
SN: Instead of best man, W.Va. hired best fan
Look, I don't want to throw a sopping blanket on the feel-good story of the college football postseason. But what in the world is West Virginia doing? Lose a program-defining coach, gain Gomer Pyle. Bill Stewart is a nice man and by all accounts a coach who will give his all to West Virginia. But instead of hiring the best man available, the administration hired the best fan available. .
Ten half-term adventures for £20
The children are at home for the week and clamouring for treats. For just £20 - less than the price of a family cinema trip - you can all enjoy a memorable day out. Whether it's walking with wizards, brushing up mountain-bike skills, listening to tales of pirates or following Chinese dragons, these exciting activities will keep them amused.
Prices are based on a family of four and exclude travel costs. .
Video: Toyota Returns to its Compact Truck Roots With the A-Bat ...
TORRANCE, Calif., Jan. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc., returns to its compact pickup truck roots with its latest concept vehicle A-BAT. The environmentally advanced A-BAT provides modern versatility, roominess and style in a compact pickup architecture. The A-BAT will be on display at the Toyota exhibit in Detroit at the 2008 North American International Auto Show beginning Monday, Jan. 14. To view the Multimedia News Release, go to: http://www.prnewswire.com/mnr/toyota/31048/ "Driving from beyond the suburbs to the city is a way of life for many people," said Kevin Hunter, president, Calty Design Research, Inc. "We've taken Toyota's truck heritage to a different level by envisioning a vehicle capable of maneuvering the suburbs as well as dirt roads.
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