A crucial budget meeting to decide on council tax increases in North Lanarkshire was disrupted yesterday when 20 SNP councillors walked out after claims a senior Labour councillor accused them of being "nationalist socialists".

Obama vs. the N.E.A.?

Most victims of poisonous trailers are probably a) not Katrina victims and b) actually paying good money for their carcinogenic trailers. 2) Is FEMA using the formaldehyde issue as a prod to move people out of the trailers--something it's apparently been trying to do for a while, perhaps to avoid creating a permanent class of free-trailer dwellers? In other words, maybe FEMA wants this scandal (and the press is obligingly giving it to them). ... 11:56 P.M.

If a Hispanic who has performed as poorly and prominently as Patti Solis Doyle can't be fired without her employer getting grief from Hispanic leaders, isn't that a pretty big disincentive to hiring a Hispanic in the first place? Message: Stick to white males--if they screw up, you can sack them and nobody will whine.

Immigration rule on background checks eases

A change in immigration rules will allow thousands of immigrants, already in the United States and applying for legal residency, to get their green cards before FBI background checks are completed, officials said Friday.Critics said the change could allow criminals to get through and threaten national security.

"In the unlikely event that the FBI name checks reveal actionable information after the immigration judge grants an alien permanent residency status, (the Department of Homeland Security) may detain and initiate removal proceedings against the permanent resident," according to the memo.One of the reasons for the decision, immigrant rights advocates say, is that the U.S.

Preschool to Grade 4

The books give children the opportunity to identify known foods and learn new ones, count them, discuss their uses, and identify colors, making both titles fun and attractive additions.—Amelia Jenkins, Juneau Public Library, AK

Gr 2–5—Anholt tells the story behind Matisse's final masterpiece—Chapelle du Rosaire. During a serious illness, the artist becomes friends with his nurse, Monique, and he draws and paints several pictures of her. When his health improves, she leaves the man who has been like a grandfather to her and joins a strict religious order. Years later, the two friends are reunited when Matisse moves into a villa close to the nunnery.

REUTEMAN: Severance tax increase a wild card for Ritter

Meg Collins, president of the Colorado Oil and Gas Association, wrote a Jan. 7 letter to legislators that plainly stated the case: "COGA will oppose any efforts to increase severance taxes levied on the industry or the elimination of the . . . tax credit."

Children starve as Zimbabwe's grain goes to make luxury dog food

In a chilling threat last week, war veterans, who spearheaded the invasion of white-owned farms, said they were launching an "onslaught" to ensure his ruling Zanu-PF party wins. The Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans' Association said its members were "on a mission to defend our motherland".The MDC says it will boycott the polls unless Mr Mugabe agrees to adopt a new constitution ahead of the vote.Changes to Zimbabwe's media, security and electoral laws were rushed through parliament at the end of 2007. They became law on 11 January.Sources say the media amendments will be put to the test in coming weeks as foreign journalists seek visas and state media accreditation to visit Zimbabwe for the elections. In the recent past, foreign journalists have routinely been denied access. .

Former TV talk-show host to issue public apology today

CARLENE Smith Williams, who co-hosted the cancelled TV talk show Our Voices, is today expected to issue a public apology to hotelier John Issa as part of a libel suit settlement which include a payment of $500,000 for comments made on the show four years ago.