Who will sit in city chair? Dems to decide today

Is he or isn't he?

Cook County Democratic Chairman George W. Dunne says he nolonger is wearing his second hat as chairman of the ChicagoDemocratic Party.

Dunne says that City Treasurer Cecil A. Partee, vice chairman ofthe Cook County Democratic Central Committee for the city, hasinherited the derby that formerly belonged to the city chairman.

Not so fast, snorted a group of ward committeemen, who contendthat Dunne was elected as city chairman in June of 1987 and thatPartee's county vice chairmanship has nothing to do with themunicipal Democratic central committee.

Edward R. Vrdolyak, Dunne's predecessor as Democratic countychairman, also held …

Jury Finds Yates Not Guilty in Drownings

HOUSTON - In a dramatic turnaround from her first murder trial, Andrea Yates was found not guilty by reason of insanity Wednesday in the drowning of her children in the bathtub.

The 42-year-old woman will be committed to a state mental hospital and held until she is no longer deemed a threat. If she had been convicted of murder, she would have been sentenced to life in prison.

Yates stared wide-eyed as the verdict was read, then bowed her head and wept quietly. Her relatives also shed tears, and the children's father, Rusty Yates, muttered, "Wow!" as he, too, cried.

Four years ago, another jury convicted Yates of murder, rejecting claims that she was so psychotic …

Malaysia ruling party vs. Islamists in rural vote

Malaysia's ruling party prepared Monday for a special state election considered a test of its support among the country's Malay majority _ one that an Islamic opposition group is expected to win.

More than 12,000 people are eligible to cast votes Tuesday for a new state legislature representative in the rural Manek Urai of northern Kelantan state, which has been ruled by the opposition Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party, or PAS, since 1990.

Prime Minister Najib Razak has pledged numerous political and economic reforms since taking office in April, but analysts said the PAS appears certain to fend off efforts by his United Malays National Organization to take the seat. It became …

Gayle, Harris Recipients of Piccolo Award

Shaun Gayle bade a classy farewell to the Bears and Chicago onWednesday when he accepted the veteran version of the Brian PiccoloAward. Fullback Raymont Harris was the rookie winner.

Since 1970, Bears players have voted the Piccolo Award to therookie who best exemplifies the qualities of courage, loyalty,teamwork, dedication and sense of humor that were trademarks of lateBears running back Brian Piccolo, who died of cancer at age 26 in1970. The award was expanded to include a veteran in 1992.

Gayle, who signed with the San Diego Chargers as a free agentafter the Bears had signed Tampa Bay Buccaneers free agent …

Matah Founder Signs $100 Mil Deal

MATAH co-founder Al Wellington Monday revealed that just hours before his partner Ken Bridges was fatally shot by the elusive D.C. serial sniper, he was with Wellington and other high-profile Black businessmen who had just signed a more than $100 million deal which includes worldwide MATAH distribution rights from their Grenada Nutmeg Oil (GNO) product.

On Friday, Oct. 11 Bridges became the sniper's eighth fatality and 10th victim.

Bridges and Wellington shared a passion to unite Black people economically and they had reached that goal the night before Bridges was killed.

They had been meeting with Dr. Walter Lomax, a former HMO giant who now chairs the Black MATAH …

Mexico homicides jump 47 percent

Homicides related to organized crime jumped 47 percent in 2008, Mexico's attorney general said Friday in a rare confirmation of how bad violence has become.

Attorney General Eduardo Medina Mora told Radio Formula that 1,378 people have been killed so far this year, compared with 940 in the same period last year.

The statistic reflected what many in Mexico already knew: Drug-related killings have soared in recent months.

But the details were the first official snapshot on the rise in killings. The Mexican government has been reluctant to release homicide statistics, leaving the public to rely on informal tallies by the news media.

…

Car vandals cause pounds1.2k of damage

Damage of pounds1,200 was done to a car parked on a North-eaststreet.

Vandals scratched the bodywork of a Chrysler car which was parkedon Inverurie's Esslemont Drive. Repair work has been estimated ataround pounds1,200.

A MOONLIT walk is being held to raise cash for cancer patients.

The Pink Slink is due to take place in Banff and Macduff on June20.

Women are being invited take part in a 10-mile or five-milestroll for cancer patients at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary. Forinformation call (01261) 812000 or e-mail pinkslink @deveronfm.co.uk

ORGANISERS of a kids' charity are holding a fundraising quiznight.

And there will be prizes galore on offer …