Wednesday, 7 March 2012

Reassessing Older Inmates

Gov. Edgar last month signed legislation authorizingconstruction of a 500-bed maximum-security prison for the state'smost violent criminals. But with more than 33,000 prisoners infacilities designed to hold 22,000, overcrowding won't be solved.

That's why there is cautious interest in efforts to grant earlyrelease to nonviolent or terminally ill inmates over age 55.

Numerous studies have shown that older prisoners are far lessdangerous to release. Last year, Illinois had 619 older inmates, andcould have more than 900 by 1996. Their rate of recidivism - thelikelihood they will return to prison for committing another crime -is only 17 percent, compared with 46 percent for all inmates. Earlyrelease and electronic monitoring of older inmates was one of therecommendations made in March by the Illinois Task Force on Crime andCorrections.

The Legislature recently approved electronic detention fornonviolent older inmates who have served more than 25 percent oftheir time and have less than a year remaining on their sentences.

Releasing older, non-violent inmates who have served most oftheir time would free up scarce prison cells for younger, violentoffenders. Statistics show the latter group pose a greater risk topublic safety.

It's worth a try.

Cubs finally catch up with Barrett After a long chase, Hendry lands his man in trade with Oakland

The Cubs have no catchers to speak of in their farm system, amajor concern for a team with World Series ambitions based largely onits strong, young pitching. So they relish the fact that MichaelBarrett is 27, still developing skills and knowledge as a catcher andcapable of filling that vital position for years to come.

Barrett was acquired Tuesday from the Oakland Athletics for aplayer to be named, which probably will be catcher Damian Miller. TheA's, who obtained Barrett from the Montreal Expos on Monday knowingthey could immediately move him to the Cubs, still need a catcherafter a deal last month that sent All-Star Ramon Hernandez to the SanDiego Padres. Cubs general …

Thai spy pardoned in Cambodia

Cambodia says the country's king has pardoned a Thai man who had been sentenced to seven years in prison for spying in a case that worsened a diplomatic feud between the neighboring countries.

Government spokesman Khieu Kanharith said Friday that Thai national Siwarak Chothipong would be released from prison Monday following his pardon by King Norodom Sihamoni.

Siwarak had been charged with spying on ousted Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra during his recent trip to Cambodia, which had spiked tensions between the countries.

Tuesday, 6 March 2012

Strong Indonesian quake kills 32, flattens homes

A disaster management official says the death toll from a powerful Indonesian earthquake has more than doubled to 32.

Social Affairs Ministry official Mardi says more than 700 houses and buildings have been badly damaged in Wednesday's 7.0 magnitude quake.

Scores of people have been injured.

Many of the victims died when their homes were buried in a landslide triggered by the temblor.

The official Antara news agency reports about 30 people are trapped under rocks and dirt from the landslide in one village.

The U.S. Geological Survey says the quake struck at 2:55 p.m. (0755 GMT) off the southern coast of the main island of Java. A tsunami alert was issued but revoked less than an hour later.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) _ A powerful earthquake rattled southern Indonesia on Wednesday, killing at least 15 people crushed by falling rock or collapsed buildings and sending thousands fleeing outdoors for safety in the middle of the work day.

Hospitals quickly filled with scores of injured people after the magnitude 7.0 quake struck off the southern coast of the main island of Java, where most of Indonesia's 235 million people live. The death toll was expected to rise.

"The earthquake was shaking everything in my house very strongly for almost a minute," said Heni Maryani, a resident in the town of Sukabumi. "I grabbed my children and ran out, I saw people were in panic, women were screaming and children were crying."

Disaster officials said homes and buildings had collapsed in three districts in densely populated West Java. About 30 people were trapped under rocks and dirt in one village, the official Antara news agency reported.

A tsunami warning was issued after the quake struck at 2:55 p.m. (0755 GMT, 3:55 a.m. EDT), but revoked an hour later.

Muharaham Ardan, a university lecturer in the town of Tasikmalaya, about 70 miles (115 kilometers) from the epicenter, said it was the biggest quake he had ever felt.

"We all ran out in panic, we didn't even put our sandals on," he said. "The neighbors were shouting: 'Get out of the house! Get out of the house!'"

Disaster Management Agency spokesman Priyadi Kardono reported 15 deaths in the districts of Cianjur, Tasikmalaya and Sukabumi in West Java.

Antara reported that 12 families, or about 30 people, were trapped in houses buried by a landslide in Rawa Hideung village. Six bodies had been recovered and the fate of many others was unknown, a resident, Agus Sobandi, was quoted as saying.

"Most of them are housewives and children who were playing Play Station in a buried house," Entang Kurniawan, another resident, told broadcaster TVOne.

Fifi, who like many Indonesians goes by one name, said he saw at least 20 houses collapse in his village of Pameungpek. Some villagers were slightly injured, but all his family members were safe.

"Residents here are still staying outside. We are afraid of aftershocks," he said.

The quake was felt over roughly half of Java island. In the capital, Jakarta, 120 miles (190 kilometers) from the epicenter, panicked office workers ran onto the streets.

Health Ministry Crisis Center chief Rustam Pakaya said at least 27 people were admitted to hospital in Jakarta and the number of injured was rising.

The U.S. Geological Survey said the underwater quake was magnitude 7.0 and had a depth of about 30 miles (50 kilometers).

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said the quake was powerful enough to cause a local tsunami, but there were no immediate reports of high waves. "Sea level readings indicate a significant tsunami was not generated," the center later said in a statement retracting the alert.

Indonesia, a vast archipelago, straddles continental plates and is prone to seismic activity along what is known as the Pacific Ring of Fire. A huge quake off western Indonesia caused a powerful tsunami in December 2004 that killed around 230,000 people in a dozen countries.

Monday, 5 March 2012

State Sees Job Surge

Illinois' jobless level dipped to 4.4 percent in March, a 21-yearrecord and well below the national average, while statewideemployment hit an all-time high of 5.8 million, the governmentreported Friday.

Nationally, the jobless level inched up to 5.5 percent, andfewer new jobs were added than expected, indicating a slowdown in thestrong expansion of recent months and a check on inflation.

While economists applauded the numbers, investors apparentlydecided the slowdown was coming too fast and sold off stocks. TheDow Jones industrial average of 30 stocks was off nearly 35 points atmidday but recouped some losses to close down nearly 13 points at4,192.62. The …

Italy's Unipol okays up to EUR 500m cap hike.

(ADPnews) - Mar 26, 2010 - The board of directors of Italy's insurance and banking group Unipol Gruppo Finanziario (BIT:UNI) has approved a capital increase of up to EUR 500 million (USD 667.2m).

The operation is aimed at strengthening the group's capital structure and at boosting its financial flexibility.

The capital increase is …

BUSINESS CERTIFICATES.(CAPITAL REGION)

The following is the list of business certificates filed Dec. 1-31 with the office of the Rensselaer County Clerk:

John L. Magai doing business as Magai Arboriculture, 221 Tenth St., Troy.

Jeff A. Theakos doing business as Ultimate Effects, 198 South Road, Cropseyville.

Cha-Ron Taylor doing business as Bluenile Communications, 2243 15th St., Troy.

Wayne Gundrum doing business as Key-Stone Contracting, PO Box 303, Petersburgh.

Michael Dutcher doing business as Learn Now Pay Later, 48 Taborton Road, Sand Lake.

Thomas L. and Mildred A. Schmidt doing business as Patroon Travel Agency, 1021 NY 351, Troy.

Bethany …