Wire
Heloise
Dear Readers: We thought we would share some important information about foods that are dangerous to feed your dogs. Read this, cut it out and post it on the refrigerator so that everyone knows what NOT to feed your pampered pet. * Raw eggs -- can lead to skin and fur problems. * Moldy foods -- refrigerated foods that have become moldy, such as cheese, can cause health problems. * Fats from meat -- the skin of various kinds of meat is a r...
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Heloise
Dear Heloise: I read about the canvas shoe bag used in the shower for shampoo, etc. My husband has a shoe bag hanging on the back of the door to his workshop. He puts cans and bottles like wasp spray, car-cleaning items, etc., in his. Mine is on the back of the door to my craft room, where I store items such as bottles of various craft glues, glue guns, hole punches and even all my scissors and pinking shears. The things used often are ri...
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Ask Amy
Dear Amy: My wife and I sponsored our son’s wedding a few years ago. It was held overseas, and we paid for everything. We paid for a photography session that resulted in some wonderful high-quality wedding photos. One was a portrait of our son and his bride. Just recently I brought the large portrait photo and frame back to their home in the States so the still-happy couple could hang it somewhere in their home. My daughter-in-law heard me ...
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Wakarusa fest leaves Lawrence
LAWRENCE (AP) — The Wakarusa Music and Camping Festival is leaving Lawrence for a site in northwest Arkansas, ending a five-year annual run at Clinton State Park. Promoter Brett Mosiman said the event’s name will not change with the move to the Mulberry Center, a campground and event center near Ozark, Ark. The 2009 festival is scheduled for June 4-7. “It is going to be a remarkable enhancement of our brand of music and Mother Nature,” Mos...
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Celebrities
NEW YORK (AP) — President-elect Barack Obama inspired many young people this election season, but even someone too young to vote felt a breeze of hope. Thirteen-year-old Nat Wolff, star of the TV series, “The Naked Brothers Band,” said Obama is “the coolest guy ever” and meeting the former Senator led Nat to write a song called, “Yes We Can,” which will be featured on the TV show’s Christmas special, airing Dec. 13. “I just saw him and it ...
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U.S. Transportation Sec.: Motorists safer than ever
OVERLAND PARK (AP) — U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary Peters proclaims Americans are safer than they’ve ever been on the nation’s highways. The secretary was speaking Thursday at the National Academy of Railroad Sciences on the Johnson County Community College campus in Overland Park, Kan. She said traffic fatalities to this point in 2008 are down 10 percent from where they were a year ago at this time. Peters says this is the first time th...
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The World Briefly
Hard-fought auto bailout deal in peril as Republican senators voice strong opposition WASHINGTON (AP) — A House-passed bill to speed $14 billion in loans to Detroit’s automakers stands on shaky ground in a bailout-weary Congress, undermined by Republican opposition that could derail the emergency aid in the Senate. Republicans are challenging lame-duck President George W. Bush on the proposal, arguing that any support for the domestic auto...
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Eastwood back with a roar in ‘Gran Torino’
Christy Lemire AP Movie Critic Considering that Clint Eastwood’s most iconic roles have been serious ones, it’s easy to forget that he can be funny — that he possesses terrific timing with his sly sense of humor. He grumbles and growls his way through his most entertaining performance in years in “Gran Torino” as Walt Kowalski, a Korean War veteran and lifelong auto worker who’s disgusted with the changes in his blue-collar, suburban Detr...
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WTC survivor staircase moves again at ground zero
NEW YORK (AP) — The “survivors’ staircase” that served as an escape route for people fleeing the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001, found a permanent home at ground zero Thursday. The 57-ton staircase was moved by crane across the trade center site to the future entrance of a museum commemorating the 2001 terrorist attacks. The stairs were moved from from their original spot at the trade center site in March — after construction crews c...
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‘Button,’ ‘Frost/Nixon,’ ‘Doubt’ grab five Globe noms
David Germain AP Movie Writer BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (AP) — “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” “Frost/Nixon” and “Doubt” led the Golden Globes with five nominations each Thursday, though the former two had a leg up with best-drama slots. Other best-drama nominees: “The Reader,” “Revolutionary Road” and “Slumdog Millionaire.” Meryl Streep had two nominations, best dramatic actress for “Doubt” and musical or comedy actress for “Mamma Mi...
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GPS, hidden cameras watching over Baby Jesus
New York-based company offering up to 200 nonprofits free use of security devices Eric Gorski AP Religion Writer When Baby Jesus disappeared last year from a Nativity scene on the lawn of the Wellington, Fla., community center, village officials didn’t follow a star to locate him. A GPS device mounted inside the life-size ceramic figurine led sheriff’s deputies to a nearby apartment, where it was found face down on the carpet. An 18-yea...
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Decision on Kansas coal plants upheld
TOPEKA (AP) — A regulator’s decision blocking two coal-fired power plants in southwest Kansas has been upheld in an administrative appeal. But the utility that wants to build the plants said the administrative appeals ruling should clear the way for a Kansas Supreme Court review. Sunflower Electric Power Corp. wants to build the two plants outside Holcomb, in Finney County. But Health and Environment Secretary Rod Bremby refused in Octobe...
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Sebelius receives suspicious letter
TOPEKA (AP) — Gov. Kathleen Sebelius’ office received a suspicious letter containing powder Thursday, joining a growing list of governors who’ve received similar envelopes. Part of her Statehouse office was shut down for two hours while Capitol Police and local firefighters investigated. Sebelius spokeswoman Nicole Corcoran said the FBI and U.S. Postal Service have taken over the investigation. Corcoran said state officials will be testing th...
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Kansas Lottery to discuss application deadlines
Carl Manning Associated Press Writer TOPEKA (AP) — The process for picking managers for two state-owned casinos was restarted Thursday when the Kansas Lottery Commission set an April 1 deadline for applications for facilities in Wyandotte and Sumner counties. Ed Van Petten, Lottery executive director, said he’s optimistic there will be applicants, even as the nation deals with a tanking economy that caused two casino companies to pull out of ...
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Small school district considers switching to a four-day week
USD 413 Supt.: Shorter week could have adverse effect on student achievement Staff and Wire Reports HAVILAND (AP) — Cutting class can be big trouble for students anywhere. But the Haviland school district may cut its school week to four days to avoid financial trouble. Nine other districts in Kansas have started four-day school weeks in efforts to save money during a deepening economic crisis. The 160-student Haviland district ne...
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Celebrities
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Toni Braxton had a good reason for not dancing on the finale of “Dancing With the Stars” last month: The 41-year-old singer says she had a benign tumor removed from her breast the week before. Braxton says she knew about the tumor before she appeared on the ABC show. She scheduled the surgery after being eliminated from the competition on Oct. 20. She tells Us Weekly magazine in its issue out Friday: “Getting the boot on...
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World Briefs
Illinois governor could still fill Senate seat he allegedly offered to swap for cash or plum job CHICAGO (AP) — Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich could still appoint someone to fill Barack Obama’s U.S. Senate seat despite charges that he tried to barter it away for cash or a plum job in what prosecutors call “a political corruption crime spree.” But it would take a lot of nerve and Blagojevich would have to hurry because state lawmakers are...
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KU’s Hemenway to step down in 2009
LAWRENCE (AP) — After 14 years as chancellor at the University of Kansas, Robert E. Hemenway is retiring next year to teach and write. In a news release Monday, Hemenway announced his decision to leave the chancellor’s position next June 30. Hemenway said there is no “good” time to step down. But he said the university’s many recent achievements mean “I will return to the classroom knowing the University of Kansas is in excellent shape and re...
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State payments to schools 25 percent short in December
TOPEKA (AP) — Public schools will get all $220 million they’re due from the state this month, although about one-fourth of it will be a few days late because the economic crisis has slowed tax collections. Deputy Education Secretary Dale Dennis said Tuesday the agency expects to get the remaining $55 million either later this week or the first part of next week. “The state always comes through. Nobody wants to be late but right now we are ...
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Oddities
Deer crashes into Michigan 4th-grade classroom COOPERSVILLE, Mich. (AP) — A fourth-grade class in Michigan learned firsthand about animal behavior when a deer crashed through a window and into its classroom. The six-point buck sent chairs, desks, books and shards of glass flying. A boy suffered a small cut to his head, but there were no serious injuries. Marty Alexander, the principal of Coopersville East Elementary School, says the unexp...
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