Saturday, March 20, 2010
The Vicksburg Post
A7
Judge orders renegotiation of 9/11 settlement NEW YORK — A federal judge on Friday rejected a legal settlement that would have given at least $575 million to people sickened by ash and dust from the World Trade Center, saying the deal shortchanged 10,000 ground zero workers whom he called heroes. “In my judgment, this settlement is not enough,” said U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein, who delivered his pronouncement to a stunned gallery at a federal courthouse in Manhattan. Rising from his chair, the 76-year-old jurist said he feared police officers, firefighters and other laborers who cleared rubble after the 9/11 terror attacks were being pushed into signing a deal few of them understood. Under the terms of the settlement, workers had been given just 90 days to say yes or no to a deal that would have assigned them payments based on a point system that Hellerstein said was complicated enough to make a Talmudic scholar’s head spin. “I will not preside over a settlement that is based on fear or ignorance,” he said. Of the proposed settlement of $575 million to $657 million, workers stood to get amounts ranging from a few thousand dollars to more than $1 million. Hellerstein said the deal should be richer. Too much of it would be eaten up by legal fees, he said.
The associated press
Firefighters, a month after 9/11, make their way over the ruins of the World Trade Center.
nation
BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
$5 million settlement in Minn. bridge case MINNEAPOLIS — Contractor URS Corp. and the state of Minnesota reached a $5 million settlement Friday in the state’s lawsuit over the 2007 downtown Minneapolis bridge collapse that killed 13 people and injured 145 others. URS had a long-standing contract with the Minnesota Department of Transportation to evaluate the structural integrity of the 40-yearold Interstate 35W bridge and recommend ways to shore it up before it fell. URS did not admit any liability or fault for the collapse, nor did the state. In a statement, URS called the collapse a “tragedy,” but said the company “was
not involved in the design or building of the bridge, nor was it involved in any of the later construction work, including the resurfacing work being done when the bridge collapsed.” URS and its insurers will pay $5 million under the mediated agreement. In exchange, URS will be released from future state claims connected to the collapse. The company’s statement said the settlement allows it to avoid the cost and time of further litigation.
Organics market lacks oversight, report says WASHINGTON — The Agriculture Department has failed to enforce penalties against some who falsely marketed foods as organic, according to an internal department investigation. A report by the agency’s
Plant
Health care
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the U.S. Armstrong World Industries purchased the Vicksburg plant in 2006 from Capella Wood Floors, which was started by Anderson-Tully Co. in 2000. Two new businesses opened at the port in 2009, Five Stars Lighting Ltd. and Vicksmetal Company. Replacement of the access bridge to industries at the port is expected to continue until 2011, when a new, wider E.W. Haining Road bridge will be able to handle greater volumes of trucks. The current structure will be dismantled.
after voting against an earlier version that passed, bringing the number of switches to six. On the other side of the ledger, Rep. Michael Arcuri of New York became the first Democratic former supporter to announce his intention to oppose the bill. Rep. Anh Cao of Louisiana, the only Republican to support the earlier measure, has also announced his opposition. The historic legislation, affecting virtually every American and more than a year in the making, would extend coverage to an estimated 32 million Americans who lack it, forbid insurers to deny coverage on the basis of pre-existing medical conditions and cut federal deficits by an estimated $138 billion over a decade. Congressional analysts estimate the cost of the two bills combined would be $940 billion over a decade. For the first time, most Americans would be required to purchase insurance, and they would face penalties if they refused. Billions of dollars would be set aside for subsidies to help families at incomes of up to $88,000 a year afford the cost. And the legislation also provides for an expansion of
Casinos Continued from Page A1. the same stage of the last fiscal year, $202.2 million had been taken in. The figures do not include Indian reservation casinos, which are not required to report their winnings to the public. Vicksburg has five casinos. Locally, a 3.2 percent gaming revenue tax is divided among the city, county and public schools on a 65-2510 percentage basis. Additionally, a state-set 0.8 percent revenue tax is divided between the city and county based on population, and each casino is required to pay the city a $150 device fee for every gaming station. Since the fiscal year began Oct. 1 through February, gaming tax proceeds have netted $3.62 million for the city, county and schools — down nearly 11 percent from the $4.06 million collected through February last fiscal year.
death The Vicksburg Post prints obituaries in news form for area residents, their family members and for former residents at no charge. Families wishing to publish additional information or to use specific wording have the option of a paid obituary.
Herschel J. Watson Sr. OAKLAND, Calif. — Hershel J. Watson Sr. died Tuesday, March 9, 2010. He was 67. Mr. Watson was a graduate of Rosa A. Temple High School and a former member of Bethel A.M.E. Church. He served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. He was a retired bus driver. He was preceded in death by his mother, Thelma S. Watson; his father, James H. Watson Sr.; a son, Herschel J. Watson Jr.; two sisters, Martha Love and Burnadette Yates; and two brothers, James H. Watson Jr. and
Alvin Watson. Survivors include his wife, Inez Watson of Oakland; two sons, Carlos Herschel of Orlando and Shann Herschel of Oakland; three sisters, Thelma J. Watson of Vicksburg, Hazel B. Hill of Chicago and Doris Adams of Los Angeles; two brothers, Leon Watson of Oakland and Rueben Watson of Shaw, Miss.; seven grandchildren; and other relatives and friends. Services were Friday at New St. Paul Community Baptist Church in Oakland. Burial followed at Sacramento Valley VA National Cemetery with the McNaryMorgan-Greene and Jackson Morturary of Oakland in charge.
inspector general says the agency needs to step up enforcement of those who sell products under the “USDA Organic” label but do not meet government standards to do so. The report says the department has made improvements in maintaining the integrity of the organic program in recent years, but needs to better handle complaints about potential violators. The internal report says the department has failed to monitor some companies it had already identified as improperly marketing their products as organic. In one case, the department never issued enforcement action against an operation that had marketed non-organic mint under the department’s label for two years.
Texas polygamist sentenced to 75 years SAN ANGELO, Texas — The latest member of a polygamist group whose sprawling West Texas ranch was raided in 2008 has been sentenced to 75 years in prison for sexual assault of a child. Thirty-five-year-old Merril Leroy Jessop was sentenced Friday. Jurors earlier this week also found he violated Texas laws prohibiting bigamy. Prosecutors say Jessop tried to delete photos and other documents connecting him to an underage bride.
Medicaid that would give government-paid health care to millions of the poor. Several lawmakers who opposed the earlier version on abortion grounds announced they would vote in favor of the new bill, and there was talk among others of finding a largely symbolic way that would allow them to follow. Rep. Marcy Kaptur of Ohio, said in an interview she would support the bill if Democratic leaders would first allow a standalone vote on tougher abortion restrictions, even though that vote evidently would not affect the health care measure itself. The political ramifications remained to be fought out in November. Arcuri’s announcement of opposition reaped a threat from his former allies at the Service Employees International Union, which vowed to try and unseat him in this fall’s Democratic primary in favor of “someone who shares our progressive values.” Boccieri’s decision to support the bill drew a tart response from the House Republican campaign committee, which issued a warning — “Ohio Dem Uses Press Conference to Announce End of Stint
in Congress” — that predicted the first-term lawmaker’s political demise. Republicans and their allies unleashed a fresh barrage of criticism, warning the bill would eviscerate a private Medicare program that serves 10 million seniors and would impose new burdens on businesses in a time of recession. But they stopped well short of predicting they could stop the bill, and there were questions about the authenticity of a purported Democratic strategy memo they circulated in an effort to raise doubts about the legislation. One day after Democrats released 153 pages of revisions to their bill, they were back at it, responding to fresh concerns from some of the rank and file about disparities in payment levels to Medicare providers in different areas of the country. “I’m a ‘no’ unless they fix it,” said Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Ore. “We spent months working this out. If we don’t get it in this bill, we will never get it.” Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said changes were in the works. Republicans said, as they have from the outset, that Democrats were angling
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Lehman executive questioned numbers NEW YORK — A Lehman Brothers whistleblower warned his bosses that accounting gimmicks the bank used before its collapse may have been illegal, his lawyer said Friday. Matthew Lee, 56, a former Lehman senior vice president, was fired days after questioning the accounting tricks in a letter to his superiors, attorney Erwin Shustak said. Shustak gave a copy of the letter to The Associated Press. Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. imploded in September 2008, becoming the biggest corporate bankruptcy in U.S. history. The collapse sent financial markets across the globe into a free-fall and prompted a massive bailout of the U.S. banking system. An examiner appointed by the bankruptcy court said in a 2,200-page report last week that Lehman hid its debt and perilous financial condition by using an accounting gimmick called Repo 105.
for a government takeover of health care. They also said the cost of the bill would be covered by $900 billion in higher taxes and cuts in future Medicare payments. The Republicans circulated a letter from Caterpillar Vice President Gregory S. Foley to House leaders, warning that passage of the legislation would raise the company’s health care costs by “more than 320 percent (over $100 million) in the first year alone and put at risk the coverage out current employees and retirees receive.” The insurance industry said the latest Democratic legislation would decimate a private alternative to traditional Medicare that counts 10 million subscribers. It will “end Medicare Advantage as we know it,” said Robert Zirkelbach, a spokesman for American Health Insurance Plans.” He said Democrats were cutting $200 billion over a decade in projected federal subsidies, and he predicted premiums for seniors would rise as a result. The government subsidizes private plans at a higher rate than traditional Medicare, and the cuts are aimed at reducing the difference.
Frank J.
FISHER
• VICKSBURG • ROLLING FORK • PORT GIBSON • UTICA • TALLULAH, LA
a Locally Owned and Operated Since 1944 a
Jessop is the fourth member of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints to be tried since authorities raided and seized documents from the Yearning For Zion Ranch. The weeklong raid temporarily sent 439 children to foster care. Eight more group members are awaiting trial.
FUNERAL HOME
Vicksburg’s Funeral Home Mr. Sidney Bennett Snyder
Memorial Service to be announced at a later date
Since 1854
5000 Indiana Avenue
601-629-0000 www.charlesrilesfuneralhome.com
601-636-7373
1830 CHERRY STREET
PRECISION FORECAST BY CHIEF METEOROLOGIST BARBIE BASSSETT TODAY
TONIGHT
71°
44°
A cold front will increase chances for rain and thunderstorms, and much cooler temperatures will move in Sunday.
WEATHER This weather package is compiled from historical records and information provided by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the City of Vicksburg and The Associated Press.
LOCAL FORECAST SUNday-TUESday Slight chance of rain on Sunday; highs around 60; lows in the 40s
STATE FORECAST TOday Chance of showers; highs in the 70s; lows in the upper-30s SUNday-TUESday Chancec of showers and thunderstorms clearing
Almanac Highs and Lows High/past 24 hours............. 72º Low/past 24 hours............... 45º Average temperature......... 59º Normal this date................... 59º Record low..............24º in 1988 Record high............87º in 1948 Rainfall Recorded at the Vicksburg Water Plant Past 24 hours.........................N/A This month..............1.20 inches Total/year.............. 10.80 inches Normal/month......3.80 inches Normal/year...........3.99 inches Solunar table Most active times for fish and wildlife Sunday: A.M. Active..........................10:14 A.M. Most active................. 4:00 P.M. Active...........................10:42 P.M. Most active.................. 4:28 Sunrise/sunset Sunset today........................ 7:14 Sunset tomorrow............... 7:14 Sunrise tomorrow.............. 7:04
RIVER DATA friday Stages Mississippi River at Vicksburg Current: 28.8 | Change: +1.7 Flood: 43 feet Yazoo River at Greenwood Current: 19.8 | Change: -0.4 Flood: 35 feet Yazoo River at Yazoo City Current: 19.3 | Change: -1.0 Flood: 29 feet Yazoo River at Belzoni Current: 21.0 | Change: -0.9 Flood: 34 feet Big Black River at West Current: 8.6 | Change: -2.6 Flood: 12 feet Big Black River at Bovina Current: 21.3 | Change: -0.6 Flood: 28 feet StEELE BAYOU friday Land....................................75.0 River....................................75.9
MISSISSIPPI RIVER Forecast Cairo, Ill. Sunday.................................... 44.7 Monday.................................. 45.3 Tuesday.................................. 45.5 Memphis Sunday.................................... 25.5 Monday.................................. 26.7 Tuesday.................................. 27.6 Greenville Sunday.................................... 37.6 Monday.................................. 38.5 Tuesday.................................. 39.4 Vicksburg Sunday.................................... 32.0 Monday.................................. 33.0 Tuesday.................................. 33.9