text:
Hi there! This is my first trip report and my first post on the forums here on Airliners.net.
I'm a 27 year old British airline pilot, currently living and working in the USA. I fly the ERJ-145 for a United Express operator, prior to this I flew the Jetstream 31/32 in the Caribbean and UK.
I run a blog called In A Foreign Sky which you can find at http://inaforeignsky.wordpress.com. I post all of my trip reports, photos, videos and various articles on there. It details the day to day life of an airline pilot in addition to some of my photography and video. It's 100% aviation based, so I hope you enjoy it.
The following trip report is also viewable on my blog with full photos at http://inaforeignsky.wordpres...s-trip-report-ord-iad-yul-iad-ord/
Anyway, on to the report, I hope you enjoy it!
From time to time my company assigns a trip that doesn't originate in our domicile. About two weeks ago I was able to swap two day trips for a single day trip out of Washington Dullees. As I'm Chicago based, this would mean a deadhead either side of the flights I was scheduled to operate.
Today, I would be operating from Washington Dulles (IAD) to Montreal (YUL) and back. I always enjoy flying into Canada, and Montreal is a particular favourite of mine.
Chicago O'Hare (ORD) to Washington Dulles (IAD)
Departure time: 12:14 pm
Actual departure time: 12:22pm
Flight time: 1 hour 24 minutes
Aircraft: Boeing 767-300ER
Departure Gate: C9
My wife dropped me off at Terminal One at O'Hare about an hour prior to our scheduled departure. As I was deadheading and thus in uniform, I made my way to the 'Known Crewmember' line, where I skipped security and headed straight to the C concourse and gate C9. Upon arriving at the gate, boarding had already begun and I was able to make my way straight down the jetway and onto the awaiting 767.
One of the nice little perks of positive space travel is the ability to preassign yourself a seat in Economy Plus.
I had checked in online the night before and had chosen seat 26A. This was an Economy Plus seat. At check in I was also added to the upgrade standby list. This is one of the little perks we get with our positive space deadhead travel. However, in reality it never really works out, especially on domestic flights. The airline quite rightly upgrades all of it's most loyal customers prior to handing out staff upgrades. In two years at the company, I have only been upgraded to First once on a domestic flight.
The flight was full and the normal rush for overhead locker space meant that we ended up being delayed a few minutes as extra bags ended up having to be gate checked.
The captain came on the PA and informed us that the First Officer would be flying us to Dulles, with a flight time of just 1 hour and 24 minutes.
We pushed back 8 minutes late and made our way to runway 32L. However, instead of lining up for departure, we crossed the runway and entered what us pilots call 'The Penalty Box'. This immediately sent alarm bells ringing in my head. We only go to 'The Box' when we are subject to a Flow Delay. I only had a 38 minute connection time in Dulles until we were due to pushback for Montreal! Thankfully the delay didn't prove to be too long, at only 15 minutes, but nonetheless it would add a bit of tension when arriving in Washington.
We lined up on 32L at intersection T10 behind an American Eagle ERJ-145 and quickly began our take off roll. The take off was very quick due to the relatively light 767, and we were airbourne within no more that 20 seconds.
Our initial departure took us out on a runway heading of 323 degrees, before beginning a turn on course at around 1,500 feet. With clear skies the views over the North West suburbs stretched on for miles. We overflew Arlington Heights and Des Plaines, before overflying Chicago Executive Airport, Winnetka and onward out towards the lake.
As we settled into the cruise at 35,000, the cabin crew came round with complementary soft drinks. My wife had also very sweetly made me some very English cucumber sandwiches as I tend to tire of always eating airport food! The cruise passed very quickly, despite the in flight entertainment system not working, and we were soon on our initial decent into Dulles. This is where things started to get interesting!
As we started our initial descent we started to pick up a few light bumps, however, as we got lower and lower, these got worse and worse. As we passed through the cloud layer we hit severe turbulence. Many people in the cabin screamed, and even I found myself hanging on for dear life! In 8 years of professional flying and well over 20 of being a passenger, I had rarely experienced anything as bad as this. The bumps were getting so bad that I was starting to fear that I might not have seen the last of my cucumber sandwiches!
Eventually we turned on to final for 19L and touched down 15 minutes behind schedule. I now had 23 minutes to make it from the C concourse to my aircraft and crew who were waiting at gate A5F on the other side of the airport. 12 minutes prior to our scheduled departure time I arrived at the gate for my flight to Montreal.
Washington Dulles (IAD) to Montréal–Pierre Elliott Trudeau International (YUL)
Departure time: 4:54pm
Actual departure time: 5:01pm
Flight time: 1 hour 43 minutes
Aircraft: Embraer ERJ-145LR
Departure Gate: A5F
On arriving at the aircraft I introduced myself to my new crew and got settled in. The Captain had been made aware of my delay in arriving, and so he had completed the walk around and many of my required preflight checks. Normally, as First Officer, it is my job to initialise the FMS, input the weight and balance info for the flight, complete the external walk around and internal safety check and pick up the departure ATIS. On this occasion all that was left for me to do was the final weight and balance data input once we had everyone onboard and all of the bags loaded.
As is usual at my company, the Captain briefed both me and the flight attendant on the flight ahead. We agreed that he would fly the aircraft up to Montreal and I would fly us back. The weather in Montreal was a slight concern. It was snowing quite hard and visibility was down to just 5/8ths of a mile. The ERJ-145 is CAT 2 ILS approved, but we can't do anything more restrictive than that. CAT2 requires visual contact with the runway at 200ft above the ground. In most cases this is sufficient, in fact, in all my time at the airlines I have only ever had to abandon an approach twice due to low visibility. Nevertheless, Dispatch had assigned an alternate to our flight just in case. On this occasion, Cleveland had been chosen.
We started boarding as soon as I arrived at the aircraft. With a load of 43 passengers we were nearly full. A couple of jumpseaters joined us for the trip up to YUL too, but they were lucky enough to get seats in the cabin. Finally at 17:01 we closed up the doors, finalised the weight and balance and dropped the parking break. I called Ramp Control for our pushback clearance and we were told to expect runway 1R for departure. This would help us catch up on our flight time a bit as it offered a straight out departure. Our paperwork showed an anticipated airborne time of 1 hour 14 minutes, so we knew if we were efficient, we'd be able to still get our passengers into Montreal on time.
As we began the pushback, the rampers gave us permission to start engine number 2. I reached up to the overhead panel and turn the engine 2 ignition knob to start. The engines on the 145 are Rolls Royce Allison AE3007s. The start sequence on them is very simple and fully controlled by the FADEC (Full Authority Digital Engine Control) system. After a good start, the tug disconnected and I ran the after start check list. We then requested permission to taxi from Ramp and are told to taxi to spot 73 and hold short of the taxiway, and then contact Ground. Once at spot 73 I check in with Ground and we are given our taxi clearance down to Runway 1R. I then go through the taxi and before take off check lists.
There was no one in front of us for departure on 1R and so we're cleared for an immediate take off, climbing to 3,000ft initially. The Captain decided to take the aircraft 'on the roll' which means we won't stop while lining up on the runway. As we accelerate the Captain calls for me to 'set thrust'. I reply 'thrust set'. As we continue to roll I call '80kts' and then, about 6 - 7 seconds later 'V1, rotate'. The captain slowly starts to raise the nose of our aircraft off the ground, and we're on our way to Montreal. I call 'positive rate' to which the Captain replies 'gear up'. I lean over and pull the landing gear lever towards me and up. Already the turbulence that was so prevalent on my deadhead into Dulles has started to rear it's ugly face again. We're getting knocked all over the place. I then call 'V2+15', the Captain replies 'Flaps Zero', and I raise our flaps. We then accelerate through Vfs and I make the call 'Vfs', to which the Captain responds 'Set climb, Flight Level Change, after take off checks'. I hit the climb power button on the throttle control panel and select FLC on the flight director control panel. FLC is a speed profile for climbing or descending. Below 10,000ft it sets the flight director pitch bars to maintain a speed of 240kts in the climb. After 10,000ft it then sets a pitch for around 270kts and later Mach .65 for the climb. I then turn off the APU and complete my after take off check list silently, confirming that the flaps are set to zero with the Captain.
Dulles departure then clears us up to 18,000ft, and then FL230. We continue our climb. As we passed through 11,000ft, the turbulence starts to drop off a bit and we only experienced some light chop from then on. Eventually we are handed over to New York Centre who clear us up to our cruising altitude of FL320. It's starting to get busy on the radio as the evening rush begins. Our routing is taking us up towards Syracuse before starting our descent into Montreal. There is just enough time in the cruise to have a quick snack and a drink, before I start picking up the weather for Montreal and calling our station ops on the ground there to get our gate, which today will be gate 86.
The visibility has started to pick up a little in Montreal, and is now showing as a mile. Runway 06L has just been cleared of snow after being closed for the majority of the day, and so we expect to be assigned that as our arrival runway. I put the approach into the FMS, and the Captain then begins to brief our approach plates. Once that is done, I input the landing data for our arrival and input our landing speeds. The Captain had decided to do a Flaps 22 landing, which we reserve only for gusty days and bad weather. This means a slightly faster approach and landing than usual, most often by about 5kts.
By now we're talking to Boston Centre. Both the Captain and I are surprised that we are now only 60 miles out from the airport and we're still at FL320. I query this with Boston, and they tell us that as we're number 4 for landing they need to vector us around some traffic and keep us high. About 30 seconds later they come back to us and clear us down to 11,000ft, giving us just 6 minutes to be level. The Captain sets a relatively high vertical speed of 3,500ft per minute, and the aircraft makes a noticeable nose down pitch movement. He also pulls back on the thrust levers (the 145 doesn't have auto throttles), and we start to slow to around 270kts from our cursing speed of Mach .78.
Moments later we're passed over to Montreal Arrival and cleared down to 6,000ft. The airport is relatively busy and we're told to expect to be taken through the localiser for runway 6L and then turned back on to final. Ahead of us there is a Delta Connection CRJ700, two Air Canada aircraft and an Air France arrival. Behind us we are joined by a WestJet 737 and an Air Algerie A330. We're now cleared down to 3,000ft and I run the approach check list. As we're given vectors on to final and cleared for the approach we enter the lowest cloud layer. The Captain has decided to keep the autopilot on at this stage, and we quickly intercept the localiser and glideslope. We're switched over to Montreal tower and given permission to land. 1,000ft above the ground, I call 'passing through 1,000', then at 400ft 'approaching minimums', just as I'm preparing to call 'minimums', I spot a runway light and call 'runway in sight, continue'. The Captain disengages the autopilot and skilfully guides us down for a firm but controlled landing on to runway 06L.
The visibility is awful and the taxiways haven't been cleared. Luckily, Montreal has taxiway centreline lights which have melted the snow that has fallen on top of them. We taxi into the gate very slowly and with a great deal of caution. There seem to be snow ploughs everywhere, moving completely at their own whim without any awareness of the aircraft around them. Finally we pull onto stand and the jet bridge is connected. Our passengers disembark and we start to turn our attentions to the return trip to Washington.
Montréal–Pierre Elliott Trudeau International (YUL) to Washington Dulles (IAD)
Departure time: 7:12pm
Actual departure time: 7:10pm
Flight time: 2 hours 13 minutes
Aircraft: Embraer ERJ-145LR
Departure Gate: 86
My attention is starting to be drawn to our flight time on the way back. If I am going to make my deadhead back to Chicago, we need a quick turn. Once the last of the passengers have disembarked I get off the aircraft and do the walk around. The ramp is very icy and covered in snow. It's still coming down very hard and I'd forgotten to bring a coat with me! I quickly complete the walk around and get back onboard our warm and welcoming ERJ. It's obvious we're going to have to deice, and this will add valuable time to our flight. I'm starting to worry I might not make it home tonight! A hefty headwind on the way back is not going to help.
Thankfully we have a small passenger load of just 25 coming back with us to Dulles. We quickly get refuelled, boarded and do all of our preflight preparation. As I'm flying us back to Chicago, I brief the departure and soon after we are ready to push. We drop the break two minutes prior to our scheduled departure time, not bad considering we were running late on our last flight. I then call for push back and we start our return journey to Washington. Half way through the push back though, the tug driver slams on his breaks. A CanJet 737 has decided to stop right behind us without permission from Ramp. We wait for about 5 minutes until he taxis on to stand 84. Ramp apologise to us, it appears that he had not bothered to call the ramp on arrival and he had just made his own way in, uncontrolled.
We start our taxi out to the deice pad and I call 'iceman' to request our deice procedure. We are marshalled into bay 3 and the 20 minute process of deicing our aircraft begins. At this stage I'm really starting to sweat. I work out that if we can be wheels up by 7:55pm, I might just make my deadhead home. It's now 7:25pm. Finally, at 7:47pm we're done with deicing and we taxi out to the holding point at runway 06L. This is the only runway in use tonight, further complicating matters as there are both departures and arrivals ahead of us. We are number 2 to go behind an Air Transat A330. With this aircraft being a heavy, we know we're going to have to wait for wake turbulence seperation. Eventually though, we are cleared to line up after an arriving Air Canada E175. As we enter the runway, I take control of the aircraft from the Captain. Once we are cleared for take off I push the thrust levers up to the detent and we're on our way. At 137kts, I pull back on the ram horned yoke and slowly lift our nose skyward. This is one of our older 145s and she feels heavier in the controls than most. Still, she is stable and pleasant to fly. We're airborne at 7:54pm! I might just make it!
As we climb away I guide the aircraft through a series of turns and then at 6,000ft, I call for the autopilot. I like to hand fly as much as I can, so I usually wait until we have finished the last of our departure turns before letting the automation take over. We're cleared up to FL330. Once in the cruise we again start our preparations for the landing back into Washington Dulles. We're given a series of stepped descents, first to FL310, then FL290 and finally FL240. We're then cleared to descend via the arrival. I've briefed our landing for an approach back on to 01R at Dulles.
Just like clockwork, as we pass through 11,000ft, the bumps come back with a vengeance. Thankfully, this time they are not as bad as they were coming into Dulles on the deadhead earlier. As we fly downwind of the airport we are cleared down to 3,000ft and cleared for the visual approach. I decided to disconnect the autopilot and I hand fly us for the rest of the downwind, base turn and then to intercept the final approach. It's bumpy, but I feel comfortable and in control of the aircraft. As we cross the runway numbers, I kick in a little rudder to reduce the crab we have in for the crosswind. At 100ft I start to pull the power back and then as the radio altimeter calls out '50, 40, 30, 20, 10', I start to pull the nose up gently. The right main wheel touches down first, quickly followed by the left and then the nose wheel. It's not a hard landing, but it's not soft either. Ah well, we'll walk away from it!
At around 60kts the Captain takes control of the aircraft and taxis us in to the C concourse where we will be parking just 5 gates away from where my flight back to Chicago is due to leave. I have 20 minutes to make it. The flight attendant very kindly pulls my bags out of the closet for me, and as soon as we set the breaks I jump out of the cockpit and sprint towards my deadhead with barely enough time to say goodbye to the rest of my crew, who still have to fly on to Cleveland this evening.
Thankfully, I make it to the gate just in time for boarding to begin. I even have enough time to pick up a couple of doughnuts from Dunkin!
The flight back to Chicago was uneventful and we landed on time. I now had about four days off and had planned to travel to Germany to see family, however, that was not to be, instead I found myself off to England….but that's for another trip report!


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subset: commoncrawl


text: This pie chart shows 2006 percentage of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions per energy source sector. Emission percentages are based on total teragrams of carbon dioxide equivalents. Electricity generation is responsible for contributing 33 percent of emissions to total U.S. greenhouse gas share, transportation sector contributes 28 percent, industry sector contributes 20 percent, agriculture sector contributes 8 percent, commercial sector contributes 6 percent, and the residential sector contributes 5 percent.


text:
"C'mon Mitt" says Reality-Based Person, Colin Powell
I could still be bitter about Powell's Show'n'Tell presentation for the UN with
the actual vial of crack he bought just a block away from the White House anthrax vial and the Diorama of Doom showing the limits of Near Eastern meteorological technology cunning mobile biowarfare labs that most likely were no such thing, but that's not me. I forgive people for spewing the kind of utter nonsense they consider to be their jobs, if—if--if I have reason to suspect they might be retired enough or done with the nonsense enough to actually level with us. I got that feeling from Powell when he endorsed Obama last time, and I more or less still think Powell is not the worst of people. And he may even know what he's talking about.
So that said—C'mon, Mitt. Because I don't think that guy even has the credibility I'm willing to front Powell. (No, read the "that guy" thing. It's Romney on about Russia. So precious! He's like Sarah Palin with a bigger house to see Russia from.).
Posted by Vixen Strangely on 05/23/12 at 11:00 PM • Permalink
Categories: Politics • Bedwetters • Election '12 • Mittens • War In Error •


text:
The Rev. C. Eugene Overstreet is continuing his weekly conference call tonight from 7 to 8 o'clock.
This week's topic: "In politically corrupt cities . . . should there be more federal oversight over federal dollars coming in from Washington, D.C.?"
Overstreet, whose ministry is based in Jersey City, will moderate the discussion.
To call in, dial (917) 386-2146. The call is sponsored by the Unity Group.


text:
Kansas State vs.
No. 4 Oregon State
What: NCAA Super Regional
When: 4 p.m. Saturday
Where: Goss Stadium, Corvallis
On the air: TV on ESPNU; radio on 620 AM
Records: Wildcats (44-17), Beavers (48-10)
Probable starters: KSU LHP Joe Flattery (4-3, 4.57 ERA), OSU LHP Matt Boyd (10-3, 2.20)
Briefly: This is the opening game of the super regional, a
best-of-three series with the winner ticketed for Omaha and the College World
Series. ... The Beavers and Wildcats met last
year, with OSU winning 13-5 in San Diego. ... After winnings its regional last weekend, Oregon State is 21-3 at
home in the postseason. ... The Beavers are 6-3 all-time in super regional play
(6-1 in Corvallis). ... The Beavers hosted super regionals in both of their
championship seasons (2006, 2007), sweeping Stanford and Michigan, respectively,
by a combined score of 28-5. ... The last time OSU made a super regional was in
2011 in Nashville, where Vanderbilt won both games by a combined score of 20-4.
... OSU coach Pat Casey said he was not sure who would start Saturday's game but
said he was "90 percent'' sure he would go with his usual Friday guy, Matt Boyd.
... Boyd (sixth round to Toronto) and fellow left-hander Ben Wetzler (fifth
round to Philadelphia) were selected in Friday's MLB draft. ... K-State
outfielder Jared King also was taken in the fifth round. ... Kansas State
advanced to the super regional with a 4-3 win Saturday over Arkansas – the only
team with a better ERA than Oregon State. ... Danny Hayes (4), Ryan Barnes (3), Dylan Davis (2) and Kavin Keyes (2) knocked in all but one of the Beavers' runs in regional play. ... Freshman Max Engelbrekt was perfect in 2 2/3 innings, earning a win and a save.


text:
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The morning after moving, Tanisha Green can't stop talking about her front yard.
The patch of grass is boxed in by a chain-link fence, separating her kids' new play space from the heavy traffic that flies down four lanes of Southeast Division Street. But the yard is all she really wanted. To get it, the mother of four had to leave Portland for Gresham to find a landlord willing to take her Section 8 voucher.
"It was worth it," said Green, resting in the cramped living room of her three-bedroom house, boxes stacked toward the ceiling, rejection still fresh on her mind. "No one else would accept me. I had to move here."
Green has plenty of company.
An investigation by The Oregonian has found that Home Forward, the housing authority that serves Multnomah County, has failed over the past decade to equitably distribute units throughout the county in its Section 8 program and the rentals it directly controls. As a result, most residents who rely on federal housing assistance live in the very neighborhoods that Home Forward officials acknowledge offer fewer opportunities for a better life.
- Read the entire four-part report and see interactive maps, documents and resources
Home Forward provides more affordable housing than any agency in the Portland metro area, serving 15,000 households with everything from studios for single adults to Section 8 vouchers for families. Yet its checkered track record sharply illustrates the yawning gap between the vision for the nation's 44-year-old Fair Housing Act -- to give everyone, regardless of color, the opportunity to live in a decent neighborhood -- and the reality.
Governments and agencies that accept federal money for affordable housing -- Home Forward received about $85 million last year -- have to agree that they won't concentrate poverty or people of color. They also agree to identify and break down barriers to housing choice.
Instead, The Oregonian's investigation found:
- Home Forward presided over a huge shift in the use of Section 8 vouchers, which help pay the rent, to neighborhoods east of 82nd Avenue. Of 2,071 vouchers added from 2001 to 2011, a net 93 percent ended up being used east of 82nd. African Americans in particular moved east at far higher rates than whites.
- The agency repeatedly violated its own policy on not placing Section 8 units it directly controls in neighborhoods where 20 percent or more of the population lives below the federal poverty line.
- Home Forward sold off more than 150 family homes and duplexes, nearly its entire inventory of such properties, many in desirable inner-eastside neighborhoods. It then added 70 family-size units -- all in Rockwood, one of the poorest neighborhoods in the region.
- The agency did not track patterns by race or ethnicity, so trends went not only uncorrected but unnoticed.
"You're right," said Lee Moore, a Home Forward board member, when presented The Oregonian's findings. "I think you have to go back and review those decisions and look at the environment and the circumstances that you're currently in and say, first of all, is this a good or a bad thing? Is this something that we're causing or not? Is this something that we can help or not? And maybe you then begin to make a different set of decisions."
A shift east
The Oregonian's Section 8 analysis found a major shift east in the 10 years leading to 2011, particularly for African American voucher-holders.
The program increased from 6,439 participants to 8,510. Those living east of 82nd Avenue grew by 1,929, or 93 percent of the net gain. By 2011, half of the county's vouchers were used east of 82nd, up from one-third in 2001.
For just six ZIP codes straddling east Portland and west Gresham, where nearly all of that growth occurred, the number of black voucher-holders tripled, to 1,193. And the share of the county's black voucher-holders living in those ZIP codes increased from 21 percent to 43 percent.
At the same time, the number of Latino voucher-holders more than doubled, to 164. The share of Latinos increased 9 percentage points, to 36 percent. The rate for whites grew by only 6 percentage points in the ZIP codes, to 38 percent, but that's in large part because whites held two-thirds of the vouchers there to begin with.
Portland's eastside neighborhoods west of 82nd, meanwhile, lost more than 400 vouchers over the decade even as their rental stock increased.
"It's fair to say that the growth of the program has predominately happened east. There's no doubt about that," said Steve Rudman, the executive director of Home Forward (formerly the Housing Authority of Portland) since 2001. "Clearly there's some concern, if the trend continues, in terms of what seems to be less choice for African Americans."
Data for 2012 show that across the Section 8 program, more than half of vouchers are used in census tracts where at least 20 percent live below the poverty line. Black and Latino voucher-holders are twice as likely as whites to live in neighborhoods with minority concentrations.
Section 8 rejection
Why is this happening? In theory, Section 8 gives residents a choice. They can live anywhere a landlord agrees to take their voucher. But in practice, participants say, it's not that easy.
For starters, not everyone who qualifies for the poorest-of-the-poor income guidelines gets a voucher. Multnomah, Clackamas and Washington counties have a combined 12,500 voucher-holders, but more than 8,000 are on waiting lists and more are waiting to join a waiting list.
In seminars, Home Forward tells voucher-holders to be choosy. A slide show highlights the better housing and schools in lower-poverty areas. "Don't be intimidated," the presentation says. "Take your time and find the right landlord."
But landlords can freely reject Section 8 renters, out of fear that residents will trash their unit, reluctance to deal with government regulations or any reason at all. And participants have just 60 days to find a rental or the voucher can go to someone else.
Green said trying to find a landlord was discouraging. Her move marked her second shift east since entering the program six years ago.
She liked her first place, a duplex on a quiet cul-de-sac a block west of 82nd. After the landlord decided to sell, she scrambled and found a three-story townhouse near Southeast 122nd Avenue and Ramona Street. The home, among 30 crammed onto less than two acres, has no yard, just a pit of bark dust.
Green moved to the house on Division Street after being rejected in inner Southeast Portland, Southwest Portland, Beaverton and Hillsboro, among other places.
"It's very depressing," said Green, who plans to begin a pre-pharmacy program at Mt. Hood Community College this summer. "It kind of makes you feel like you want to give up and you can't make it."
"It is what it is"
Home Forward officials largely blame market forces for the patterns. They note that landlords in desirable areas can charge higher rents and easily turn away Section 8. That's why, they said, voucher use fell on the inner east side and surged east of 82nd.
Asked whether Home Forward anticipated the shift, Rudman responded: "Expect? Hope for? Want? It is what it is."
But the agency could have taken steps to maintain access in desirable areas. And this year, it has.
First, officials didn't increase voucher values on the inner east side even as statistics showed voucher use there was steadily falling. They say rents there were affordable until recently and, to help as many people as possible, they kept payments lower than the maximum allowed.
This past March, the agency raised voucher payments for one- and two-bedroom units on the inner east side by up to 14 percent, to $750 and $950. Officials estimate the increase will eat up about $1.3 million over three years, meaning about 180 fewer families will get help.
Home Forward leaders also told federal Housing and Urban Development officials in February 2009 that they would increase the number of participating landlords. But by June 2010, they reported that overall participation dropped from 3,166 landlords to 2,704, and that landlords joining the program dipped from 424 to 291 compared with the same 12 months a year earlier.
Things didn't improve. In June 2011, the agency decided not to report on new landlords. The overall number had dropped again, to 2,634. So this past February, the agency opted to pay new landlords in low-poverty tracts a $100 bonus for each voucher they accept.
Finally, the agency did not analyze its own data to identify geographic trends among African American, Latino or other residents. Fair housing law requires agencies to identify and take steps to break down barriers based on race and ethnicity. But in a joint 2011 report with Portland, Gresham and Multnomah County, officials offered no racial analysis of the Section 8 program. In the agency's administrative plan, which took effect in April, officials listed steps they plan to take but didn't identify barriers.
"If you wanted to be reasonable," said Jill Riddle, Home Forward's Section 8 program director, "you could read every one of these ways that we're addressing them and write down what the impediment is right down next to it."
Policy ignored
A similar picture emerged when The Oregonian analyzed the Section 8 units Home Forward controls.
Almost one-fifth of the agency's 8,500 vouchers are assigned to properties, not people. These "project-based" vouchers generally go to the chronically homeless or others unlikely to find anything else.
Under federal regulations, these vouchers, too, should aim to disperse poverty and expand housing and economic opportunities. Home Forward's own policy says such units, unless granted an exception, may not be in neighborhoods where 20 percent or more of the population lives below the poverty line.
But of Home Forward's roughly 1,300 project-based units, about 80 percent are in neighborhoods exceeding that level. Agency officials acknowledged that they don't follow the policy or have an exception process. Instead, they coordinate decisions with city and county leaders to place housing close to services, often downtown, and to help get projects off the ground.
For example, Home Forward kicked in vouchers to help two projects pencil out: its own 130-unit Bud Clark Commons in Old Town, a project heavily favored by Portland officials; and a Portland-backed 209-unit project for veterans in the South Waterfront.
The agency also tagged vouchers to help Multnomah County turn the former Martha Washington Hotel downtown into low-income housing.
"We have some powerful partners that ask -- that suggest -- where those should go," said Harriet Cormack, Home Forward's board chairwoman. "Like the Martha Washington. We got recruited by the county to come and save their ass."
Rockwood units
The agency does not have an impressive record on family-size units, either.
Home Forward owns about 5,600 units of public and affordable housing; about 2,100 have two or more bedrooms. Of those, 50 percent are east of 82nd Avenue and 35 percent are in North Portland. All told, 69 percent are in areas where more than 20 percent of the population lives below the poverty line, 9 percentage points higher than the rate for smaller apartments.
Martha Garrido, a 36-year-old single mother of boys ages 9 and 3, moved from a public housing complex not far from 82nd -- and a parade of prostitutes -- to one on Southeast 136th Avenue near Powell Boulevard.
But two years on, she's not sure it's better. Her tidy two-bedroom apartment, with a newly renovated kitchen, feels like home. She's also grateful for the assistance: She pays about $500 a month at Townhouse Terrace, well below the going rate. But vandals have smashed in her car windows three times.
"My kids, they're growing up, and it's not safe," said Garrido, who works full time at a Tualatin food warehouse. "Here is a bad area for families."
Home Forward spokeswoman Shelley Marchesi said public housing was built decades ago. "It's just a historical question," she said.
But that's not the whole story. In 2007, the agency began selling 153 family homes and duplexes after concluding that maintaining scattered units was too expensive. Half were on Portland's inner east side, about one-quarter in North Portland and one-fifth in east Portland.
Officials said it was one of the most painful decisions they've ever made. They gave most ousted tenants Section 8 vouchers and vowed to replace every unit.
And they did -- but disregarded size and location. They used the money to help build 75 studio or one-bedroom units downtown. The rest? Officials transferred subsidies to 25 units in a Rockwood apartment complex they owned, then approached the owners of another Rockwood complex, now called Madrona Place Apartments, and bought it to add 45 units, most with three bedrooms.
With that purchase, the agency placed public housing in a census tract that has a poverty rate of nearly 35 percent. The tract is also one of nine in the region where people of color are the majority. The area's ZIP code has the region's highest number of Section 8 voucher-holders.
"That's definitely problematic," said Lisa Bates, a professor at the Toulan School of Urban Studies & Planning at Portland State University. "It does not comport with their other goals, which is to invest in opportunity areas."
But Rudman, the Home Forward director, said the complex was all the agency could afford.
"We think we're stabilizing and revitalizing the neighborhood," he said. "We're a good landlord. People are already there, in dire need. It's not like we're bringing people in. They're there."
No dining room
Back at Green's new home on Southeast Division, a tour hardly ventured beyond the living room.
"This is the whole place. Bedroom No. 1," she said, gesturing to a room off the entry. "Bedroom No. 2. Bedroom No. 3. The bathroom. No dining room; I'm going to have to create one."
Now that she has her yard, she's coming to terms with the move. Her new neighborhood has more poverty than her old one, and her kids will attend schools that have been sanctioned for missing federal performance targets.
Green points out how odd it is that, when she grew up, her parents had a Section 8 voucher and wanted to move east of 82nd. Now the homes they rented near Northeast Sixth Avenue and Beech Street in the King neighborhood and 17th Avenue and Emerson Street in the Vernon neighborhood belong to a world she would like to recapture but can't.
"I would love to. I would absolutely love to," she said of living in spruced-up neighborhoods where she now feels like an outsider. "It's beautiful. But I felt like why couldn't the change happen when we petitioned for it? Nobody I know lives there now."
-- Brad Schmidt
» Read the entire four-part report, "Locked Out," and see interactive maps, documents and resources.


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Lunglei - A tete a tete with the city :
Also known as : Lungleh
Location : North eastern India, South Central Mizoram.
Best time to visit : November to March.
Local Transport : Private Cars, buses.
Places to see : Khawnglung Wildlife Sanctuary, Zobawk.
Souvenirs : Local Handicrafts, toys, shawls.
Lunglei - The Tale of the city :
History has it that this city in the south central portion of the state of Mizoram literally means a bridge of rock. It got its name from the bridge like rock that is found in the area around Nghasih which is an area around the River Tlawng. Lunglei, the most populated region in Mizo hills is situated around 235kms from Aizawl.
Lunglei - Down the Ages :
Down the ages, Lunglei comes across as a prominent Mizo district. With a population of more than 1 lakh, it is today accessible by road from Aizawl. Bounded by the Mami and Aizawl districts on the north and the country of Bangladesh on the west, the Lawngtlai district on the south, the Saiha district on the southeast Myanmar on the east and the Champhai district on the northeast, Lunglei has a lot of forest land. The locals of Lunglei have agriculture as their occupation and have their livelihood by growing and selling the cash crops. The jhoom method of cultivation is practiced here and rice has come out to be the main crop here. With four RD blocks, the district of Lunglei also has 7 assembly constituencies.
Lunglei - A Rendezvous :
A rendezvous with Lunglei reveals that Lunglei, the city of bridge of rocks has sub divisions which have been created for making administration easy here. Lunglei is the headquarters of the district. With an average litercay rate of 84% Lunglei actually has a literacy rate more than the average. With its lovely surroundings and picturesque ambience, Lunglei, the beauty of Mizoram, has rendered itself a right tourist spot.
Lunglei - Travel kitty :
The Bamboo Popu up Gun is very common in Mizoram and is found here too. It is made out of a bamboo of small length and is used as a barrel. There is a pellet provided such that when the splint is pulled back then the pellet is released out of the barrel. Then there are household items like the Tuium which is a water carrier that is made from bamboo. Then there is Thalangra a tray used for winnowing. The Lushai tribe manufacture this. This triangular shaped tray exhibits the skilful work of the local artisans. This is made out of thin bamboo strips. The locals also make the Vaibel which is a pipe made out of bamboo and the tuibur which is made with a mixture of clay and bamboo. The Vaibel is used by the females and the Tuibur is used by the males. Thus the travel kitty here is very exquisite and unique.
Lunglei - Joie de vivre in the city :
The beautiful city of Lunglei has a lot of scenic beauty to boast about and attracts tourists from far off places. The captivating beauty of this place is unmatched and the tourist spots here give the ultimate joie de vivre here. The eye catching picnic spots and the enthralling sport spots give the tourist a chance to enjoy the natural beauty and the rich culture that this city possesses. The place is more popular with its lovely scenic settings. Adventure lovers come here and take part in the trekking and hiking activities. It is also a place where bird watching is popular. Some of the places that a person can visit here are:
Saikuti Hall : This is one of the biggest halls in Mizoram and many concerts and innumerable celebrations are held here.
Museum : This is a beautiful architectural monument which has been constructed purely for the painters to showcase their skills and exhibit their lovely paintings and other works.
Sanctuaries :
Khawnglung Wildlife Sanctuary : This is located in the district of Lunglei and is located around 170km from the capital city Aizawl. Expansing over an area of 41sqkm this place is famous for its lovely forests and the wildlife. The animals found here are the barking deer, sambar deer, leopard, serow, wild boar and the hoolock gibbon.
Saza Wildlife Sanctuary : This is in the district of Lunglei to the west of Mizoram. This 15sq km expanse of land also has the best kind of species of flora and fauna. This sanctuary has the rhesus monkey, leopard, barking deer and many varieties of birds.
Thorangtlang Wildlife Sanctuary : This is situated in the Lunglei District at Thorangtlang. It can be reached while coming from Aizawl through the village of Thenzawl. It is situated around 240km from Aizawl. Covering an area of 50sq km this is actually a passage between India and Bangladesh for the elephants. The sanctuary has wildlife like the elephant, leopard, tiger, gaur or the Indian Bison, sambar, wild dog, sloth bear, barking deer, leaf monkey, hoolock gibbon, rhesus macaque, giant squirrel, slow lorris, jungle cat, porcupine and many kinds of birds. In the months of October to March this sanctuary is best visited.
Zobawk : This is a lovely place where the ruins left behind by the missionaries is found. It is another lovely tourist spot and is preferred by most of them. This is a place where picnic lovers come in plenty.
The city of Lunglei plays a major role in maintaining the culture and tradition of Mizoram. This state is famous for a good many festivals celebrated for harvest season. All the festivals are celebrated with a lot of enthusiasm and joy. Agriculture is the main occupation of the people so; the festivals are also based on this factor. Kut means festivals. So all the festivals in Mizoram are based on the word kut.
Mim Kut : This is the festival of maize harvesting.
Pawl Kut : This marks a function for two days. It is celebrated in December and January.
Chapchar Kut : In this festival there are lot of bamboos that are dried and these are used for the jhum cultivation. This is an ancient festival believed to be existing since the 14th century.
Thalfavang Kut : This is a festival that is celebrated after the weeding process is over. It is a very common part of Mizoram Culture.
Christmas : Filled with merriment and joy people of all age groups come and take part in the festive mood. Christmas is celebrated for three days.
Lunglei also has its share of fun and tradition with dances. The dances are accompanied with the help of a gong and a drum. The various dances found are:
KHuallam : This is a dance for the guests. This is danced during the Khuangchawi ceremony. This ceremony involves the win for the Thangchhuah title which is attained by performing dances. For this the locals make a cloth with black, red, yellow and green stripes on it. Called the Puandum and wear it over the shoulders. This Puandum is carried by the girl when she gets married and is also the same used to cover a dead body. This dance is danced to the beat of Darbu or the gongs.
Cheraw : Cheraw is a traditional dance danced by the people in Lunglei. It is popular as the bamboo dance and the dance is danced to the beat of drums and is a great fascination all over the world. Drums and gongs accompany this dance.
Sarlamkai : This dance is danced by the Mara and Pawi communities. It is a ceremony which is celebrated to deride the beheaded head of any enemy. It is celebrated such that the soul will remain a victor even after death.
Chailam : This famous dance is danced during the most important festival of the Lungleis - The Chapchar Kut. Men and women alternatively stand in circles with the man holding the woman's' waist. The Man keeps his hands on the woman's' shoulder. The drums and the mithun's horns are played in the centre.
Thus Lunglei with all its beauty and scenic elegance has got all the ingredients to be a perfect tourist spot.
As the saying goes, "A rolling city gathers no loss, it gains all the way.


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Kansas City, MO (NNCNOW.com) --- The Royals snapped a franchise-record 11-game home losing streak en route to beating the Twins 4-1 on Wednesday night at Kauffman Stadium.
The Twins would jump out to a one-run lead in the first but the Royal answered with three runs of their own.
P.J Walters pitched six innings for the Twins, giving up three unearned runs and seven hits. Josh Willingham had the lone RBI for Minnesota.
The Twins (26-30) and Royals (24-32) meet on Thursday in the rubber match at 7:10 p.m.
Posted by Sarah Wheeler


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Also known as Snoqualmie Falls Kolsch
Commercial descriptionProceed to the aliased beer...
Our Zodiac Kölsch Style Ale is a straw-yellow color that has just a bit of wheat malt in the grist bill, and prominently but not excessively hopped with Spalt hops from Germany to insure its pedigree. The palate is light-med bodied, biscuity malt with an herbal spiciness from the Spalt, and the finish is emphatically dry and crisp. Unfiltered & Unpasturized Original Gravity 1.046 (11.5 Plato) The 160 foot long Schooner Zodiac was launched in 1924 and now plies the waters of Puget Sound with the help of a volunteer crew and cruise passengers. With a 127 foot mast she is one of the tallest remaining wooden sailboats and is totally manually operated. Find out more or book our Brew Cruise at www.schoonerzodiac.com
Snoqualmie Falls Kolsch
The brewer markets this same or near-same product by more than one names. This can be the result of a brewer distributing this beer under different names in different countries, or the brewer simply changing the name, but not the recipe at different points in time.
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text:
Nick Comino, aka Elvis Parsley, grew up in the fruit and veg industry and, in 1983, he purchased his own business. With the introduction of regional shopping centres and chain stores, things became tough and he decided to do something different. Elvis Parsley's Grapeland combines Nick's three favourite things: fruit, vegetables and Elvis Presley.
He decked out the business with his collection of Elvis memorabilia and took on the jumpsuits, look and moves of the King. He sings songs such as 'Jailhouse Rockmelon', 'Suspicious Limes' and 'Return to Slender'.
As entertaining as it all was, Jules was still on the hunt for a steak, so after enjoying a Banana Mouskouri smoothie, he hopped back in the Cobra and hit the road.
Guests stay in a two-storey farmhouse overlooking the vineyard, creek and paddocks. It sleeps six adults in two bedrooms and the convertible double sofa. It has separate kitchen and dining room and the lounge area has a fireplace. The bathroom has a spa bath. A breakfast hamper is supplied, and lunch and dinner are self-catered.
Owner Grant Bentley takes visitors on tours around the farm where they can help herd the two Wagyu cattle herds if they choose. In fact, guests may be involved in any of the farm activities. Wagyu beef is recognised as the most tender in the world. It's very expensive and most of Millawa's beef is exported to Japan.
There are four-wheel drive farm bikes for cross-country trail riding. Tuition and safety equipment are provided. The trails are also great for walking, and as Millawa backs on to state forestry parks and ranges, there is a wide diversity of flora and fauna to be enjoyed. The property also has a 150-metre par-three golf hole.
Prices correct at June 4, 2009.
Millawa Country Retreat
1507 Mt Kilcoy Road
Kilcoy 4515
Ph: (07) 5498 1110
Fax: (07) 5498 1156


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Oracle Charter School a Landmark of Learning
Oracle Charter School opened its doors in 2005 with the vision of creating a small, caring, college prep high school in downtown Buffalo, NY, as an alternative to the large public high schools. Oracle's charter was renewed in 2012 with praise from the SUNY Charter School Institute on its history of success.
Oracle provides a strong college preparatory education within a nurturing and supportive environment, using technology and art throughout the curriculum to increase curriculum accessibility and interest to the students.
In 2013-2014 Oracle is serving approximately 350 students in grades 9-12, with a graduating class of approximately 50 seniors. We look forward to continued growth and success in the future.
Oracle is located on Delaware Avenue in a mansion built for the Goodyear family, and adapted in the mid-twentieth century to be the all-girls Bishop McMahon High School.


text:
TC • Media
Construction of the new White Point Beach Resort Lodge continues, and is on track for a late October opening, says owner Robert Risley. This view is from the check in desk in the front lobby
It can be hard to believe less than a year ago the lodge at White Point Beach Resort was lost to fire. However out of that tragedy came a promise to rebuild by owner Robert Risley.
Now the new lodge has risen from the ground, and is on track for opening the end of October.
Risley says he very pleased with how things are going so far. Though a bit chaotic because of the large number of workers compared to the size of the building, around 70 on site last week, everyone is managing to work around each other.
"Everybody is driving towards a common goal," says Risley.
Risley himself is on site at least once a week to meet with the contractor heads to go through progress and troubleshoot any problems. Like any construction project there have been challenges.
"A steel frame building is very unforgiving. You can't just run a pipe through a steel beam," he says.
However he says they haven't encountered anything major that has hindered progress.
Risley keeps an eye on the project through the webcams set up on site as well, and stays very involved with all aspects.
"Any project I've ever been involved with I get involved down to the most minute detail."
And there are a lot of little details that go into the build. Risley spent the Labour Day weekend figuring out what the washroom facilities would look like and the best hand dryer for their needs.
"We want to make sure we pick the very best and most efficient one from an energy and operational point of view," he says.
A lot of thought went into making things more efficient for the staff, with easier access to supplies, as well as what the patrons will see when they come through the doors.
The old lodge had low ceilings, while in this lodge some will be as high as 20 feet.
"It will give a much different feeling when you walk through the front. You not only will be able to see to straight through to the ocean, but also all the way up as well," says Risley.
The lodge will be fully accessible, something that couldn't be done in the past because of the age of the structure, and two accessible guest rooms.
While the resort has been mostly shut down, it has also been a time to update other aspects of the lodgings. The cottages are getting upgrades such as new flooring and carpets, bathrooms, linens and televisions.
The build is using as much local trade as they can find to do the job as well.
The windows, doors and exterior siding is being installed by Wayne Wentzell's company South Shore Home Construction. Chris Primrose from Primrose Computers is doing the data wiring for the building.
"It's nice when you can deal with smaller sub-trades, because more often than not you are dealing with the owner of the company. You can get very fast decisions made."
A little further afield Amos Wood in Blockhouse is providing the siding and interior furniture.
"We're trying to source as much of our wood and routine building supplies as locally as possible," says Risley.
Using local companies also gave some of the students with the Options and Opportunities program at the high school a chance to work on a large-scale building.
Many finer details going into the lodge will have a local touch as well. A new quilt is in the process of being made by Bev Crouse, and Joe Winters is carving out a new group of folk art figures to replace the ones lost in the fire.
The furniture for the dining room is being built by Lake City Woodworkers out of Halifax, a company that employs adults with challenges.
And yes, even the famous White Point bunnies are taken into consideration. When a bunny decided to make a nest near the construction site, the workers decided to move to a different area until the mother and babies had moved on.


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Marina Club Suite Hotel - Lagos
This aparthotel offers a golf course, a marina and a health club. You can also enjoy surfing/boogie boarding and sailing. Marina Spa is the place to be for rest and relaxation, offering facials and body scrubs, as well as detox wraps, Swedish massages and hot stone massages. Relax in the indoor pool and outdoor pool during your stay. There is also a bar/lounge where guests can enjoy drinks. In addition to the on-site spa, leisure facilities on offer include a sauna.
Child-friendly amenities at this aparthotel include a children's pool and babysitting. Multilingual staff are available at the front desk 24 hours-a-day and can provide tour/ticket assistance. Free WiFi is provided so you can check your in-box whenever you like.
Hotel suites are comfortable BUT the room safes do not have locks - the front desk staff…
overall positive experience lots of great restaurants near by excellent parking, very…
Marina Club Suite Hotel - Lagos
Hotel Info: 1-877-214-4288from $82
- Superior Room, 3 Bedrooms, Pool View
- Standard Suite (Land View)
- Superior Studio, Pool View
- Superior Suite, Marina View (or Pool View)
- Standard Room, 1 Bedroom (Land View)
- Superior Room, 2 Bedrooms, Pool View
- Superior Room, 1 Bedroom, Marina View (or Pool View)
- Standard Studio (Land View)
Also popular with travelers from the USA
At a glance
Key facts
Hotel size
- This hotel has 141 rooms
- This hotel is arranged over 3 floors
- Check-in time 4 PM-midnight
- Check-out time is noon
Required at check in
- Credit card or cash deposit required
- Government-issued photo ID required
Travelling with others
- Babysitting/childcare *
- Pets not allowed
- Free WiFi in public areas
- Free WiFi in rooms
- Airport shuttle *
- Free self parking
Other information
- Resort fee included
In the hotel
- In-room childcare (surcharge)
- Breakfast (surcharge)
- Bar/lounge
- Room service (during limited hours)
- Indoor pool
- Outdoor pool
- Health club
- Golf course on site
- Full-service spa
- Spa treatment room(s)
- Marina on site
- Children's pool
- Sauna
- Conference space
- Meeting rooms 2
- 24-hour front desk
- Concierge services
- Tours/ticket assistance
- Laundry facilities
- Multilingual staff
- Number of buildings/towers - 3
- Elevator/lift
- Safe-deposit box at front desk
- Library
- Accessible bathroom
- In-room accessibility
In the room
- In-room climate control (air conditioning)
- Air conditioning
- Coffee/tea maker
- Iron/ironing board (on request)
- Blackout drapes/curtains
- Private bathroom
- Bathtub only
- Bidet
- Free toiletries
- Hair dryer
- Satellite TV channels
- Free WiFi
- Phone
- Refrigerator
- Microwave
- Kitchenette
- Stovetop
- Cookware, dishware, and utensils
- Daily housekeeping
- In-room safe
Special features
Marina Spa has massage/treatment rooms. Services include hot stone massages, Swedish massages, massages, and facials. A variety of treatment therapies are provided, including aromatherapy and hydrotherapy. The spa is equipped with a spa tub.
The spa is open daily. Guests under 16 years old are not allowed in the spa.
On Site
- Golf course on site
- Health club
- Marina on site
- Sauna
- Bicycle rentals on site
- Personal motorized watercraft on site
- Playground on site
- Sailing on site
- Surfing/boogie boarding on site
- Water skiing on site
- Windsurfing on site
- Golfing nearby
- Parasailing nearby
- Scuba diving nearby
Marina Club Suite Hotel - Lagos's small print
Also known as
- Marina Club Hotel
- Marina Club Suite
- Marina Club Suite Hotel
- Marina Club Suite Hotel Lagos
- Marina Club Suite Lagos
- Marina Club Lagos Hotel Lagos
- Marina Hotel Lagos
Please note, some room types at this property are not available when booking a stay with children.
Guests under 16 years old are not allowed in the spa.
For transfers, guests must contact the property before arrival at the number on the booking confirmation.
Mandatory fees
The charges below are included in the total price displayed:
- Resort fee
Optional extras
Safes in guestrooms can be used for an extra charge
Breakfast is offered for an extra charge of EUR 11 per person (approximately)
Babysitting/childcare is available for an extra charge
Airport shuttle service is offered for an extra charge of EUR 95 per vehicle (one way)
We have included all charges provided to us by this hotel. However, charges can vary, for example, based on length of stay or the room you book.


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Not only did the City of New Orleans spend $9.3 million more in 2012 than it collected that year, but it also had major holes in the way it tracked $240 million in federal grants, according to a series of annual independent audits released Monday.
Should those trends continue, the cash-strapped city could find itself in even more dire financial straits as Mayor Mitch Landrieu's administration faces the need to pay for major court-ordered reforms to the criminal justice system as well as a bevy of ambitious capital projects.
The reports, compiled by the accounting firms Postlethwaite & Netterville of Metairie and Bruno & Tervalon of New Orleans, compared the city's 2012 finances to its 2011 books in search of trends or shortcomings.
Postlethwaite's lead auditor, Albert "Joey" Richard III, is under scrutiny for a possible ethics violation after auditing the Orleans Parish Sheriff's Office books while also serving as Sheriff Marlin Gusman's campaign treasurer.
The overspending of the city's $529 million general fund in particular is likely to come into sharp focus as Landrieu and the City Council hammer out the government's 2014 spending plan this fall.
"When you see negatives in those fund balances, we get concerned," said Joy Irwin, director of local governmental services for the state legislative auditor's office, which released the reports.
Landrieu's chief administrative officer, Andy Kopplin, responded: "The city met the deadline for completing our audit for the second year in a row with fewer (negative) findings. In addition, we are pleased the report shows the city's financial statements are accurate. We provided a detailed corrective action plan that will continue to reduce system issues that the auditor suggested could be improved."
The cost overrun last year mostly came from the Sanitation Department, which had to pay for more households demanding sanitation services, according to the city's response to Postlethwaite's audit. An exact number of new customers wasn't available Monday.
The mayor will launch a series of neighborhood meetings across New Orleans on Tuesday to field questions about his administration's spending policies and plans for the future. These meetings also mark the start of the last budget cycle of Landrieu's first term as the city's top executive -- though he plans to run for another four-year term in February.
The report by the Bruno & Tervalon firm chastised City Hall for major shortcomings in how it monitored federal grant money spent across as many as 19 different programs. The report doesn't accuse officials of mismanaging the money, only of not building in sufficient safety checks to prevent mistakes or graft from happening.
The largest share of the grant money, $107 million, came from the Department of Housing and Urban Development, with the Department of Homeland Security a close second at $90 million.
The Bruno & Tervalon report said the city doesn't have a uniform method to dispense grant money, relies on too many city agencies to account for it, doesn't timely release the money to recipients, and didn't always properly document how it was spent, among other shortcomings.
The Landrieu administration acknowledged its failings in the report and promised 13 specific changes to improve oversight of the grant money by the end of the year.


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Lakers, Kings Interested In Raymond FeltonJune 21, 2011 – 7:14 pm by Ryan Phillips
The Los Angeles Lakers and Sacramento Kings are both looking to upgrade at the point guard position. The Lakers would like to get faster at the point, as Derek Fisher and Steve Blake didn't get the job done last year. And though the Kings do have Tyreke Evans, he's more of a combo guard and they want a speedy pure point man.
Here enters Denver Nuggets guard Raymond Felton. Felton can be had because the Nuggets see Ty Lawson as their future at the point guard position. In addition, Felton has one season left on his contract, at a price of $7.5 million.
Both the Lakers and Kings are currently in talks with the Nuggets about Felton.
As it stands now, the Kings would likely have to part with the No. 7 pick in this year's draft to get Felton. If they stay at that spot, the Kings could likely take UConn's Kemba Walker to run the point. But if they feel Felton is a better option, then losing that pick to solidify their backcourt would probably be considered worth it.
I have no idea what the Lakers would trade in exchange for Felton. One would think they'd include Blake in any deal, otherwise their backcourt would be overcrowded. In addition, an asset like Devin Ebanks (a young, athletic guy who looked great when he got into games this year), and draft picks (the Lakers have no first round picks and four second round picks this year) might at least get the Nuggets interested. Again, I don't know if the Nuggets would even listen to an offer like that, but they would like to clear the $7.5 million they owe Felton off the books as soon as possible. That said, they're not going to give him away.


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text:
Ducks win on the road against Trojans, 76-74
Thursday, January 17, 2013 10:59 PM
Southern California's J.T. Terrell, center, is defended by Oregon's E.J. Singler, left, Tony Woods, right, and Damyean Dotson during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Los Angeles, Thursday, Jan. 17, 2013. Oregon won 76-74. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Related articles
- Ducks win on the road against Trojans, 76-74 (photos) January 17, 2013, 11:03 PM
- Men's basketball: Oregon Ducks hold on for 76-74 win over USC Trojans January 17, 2013, 11:02 PM


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Newly-acquired forward Brian Rolston came racing in from the parking lot in a chauffered cart just in time for Monday morning's shot gun start of the Devils' Alumni Charity Golf Classic at the Upper Montclair Country Club.
Rolston was among 29 current and former Devils players to participate in the annual event, along with owner Jeff Vanderbeek.
Current players included Rolston, captain Jamie Langenbrunner, goalie Martin Brodeur, Dainius Zubrus, Colin White, John Madden, Travis Zajac, David Clarkson, Bryce Salvador, Brian Gionta, Andy Greene, Sheldon Brookbank and Rod Pelley.
Former players participating were Hall of Famer Scott Stevens, Bruce Driver, Aaron Broten, Pat Verbeek, Tommy Albelin, Troy Crowder, Shawn Chambers, Ken Daneyko, Grant Marshall, Rob Skrlac, Chris Terreri, John MacLean, Laurie Boschman, Chico Resch, Tom Chorske and Kevin Dean.
Radio play-by-play announcer Matt Loughlin was also among the group and GM Lou Lamoriello watched over the event. Langenbrunner's group had the low round at 57 while MacLean and Madden each won the long drive competitions.
Lamoriello said there was no significance in the fact that backup goalie Kevin Weekes was not present. Weekes underwent surgery on his arm in the offseason to repair a contusion, but is said to be fit.
"He's skating in Toronto and he's 100 percent ready to go," Lamoriello said of Weekes. "The day he comes in he'll be ready to practice."
Pelley, a restricted free agent, is still not signed but said he will report to training camp even if his deal is not completed.
"No question it's going to get done," Pelley told me. "Personally, I hope it's before camp begins, but I'll be there absolutely. I'll be ready to go. I'm not quite sure what is taking so long. Both sides just need a bit of time. I have to be patient."
White, who spent most of the summer in rainy Nova Scotia, said there has been no change (positive or negative) in his eyesight.
"Nothing with my eye. It is what it is," White said. "It's the same. I've had a full year to adjust to it. It's part of my life. I've had a year to deal with it."


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To the Editor:
The utter, bald-faced hypocrisy with which Team Obama operates must be apparent to even the most casual observer by now. Even staunch supporters of Obama must be getting sick to their stomachs over the manner in which he and his minions trample the Constitution and laws they swore to protect and defend. There is little doubt that the objective of the Obama cabal is to take down America as we have known it and replace it with a utopian socialist workers paradise like that which exists in Cuba or some other banana republic. Total centralized planning right down to controlling how you die, not freedom, is what they have in mind for us.
Team Obama's war on religious freedom, which the progressives with the help of the lapdog media and their apologists have cast as the "conservatives war on women's right to contraception," is part of a vivid example of the two-faced dealings of Team Obama.
In response to Afghan outrage over the accidental burning of some Korans that had been seized from Al-Qaeda terrorists, the Obama Defense Department developed a sensitivity training course for U.S. military and civilian personnel in Afghanistan. The name of the mandatory course is, "Proper handling and disposal of Islamic Religious Materials: Service Members/Civilian Training." The last of the 11 slides in the course is the one that demonstrates the total hypocrisy with which Team Obama operates. It reads, and I quote, "We will hold sacred the beliefs held sacred by others."
Apparently Team Obama believes that Islamic beliefs must be held sacred by our government, but the Constitution, laws, Christian beliefs and the consciences of those who object to the mandates of the Obama health scam here in the U.S. are simply minor impediments to be trampled while implementing Obamacare and the huge bureaucracy it has spawned.
It appears that Team Obama wants to actively promote Islam while totally stamping out religious freedom and the freedom to observe one's conscience here in the U.S.
Team Obama is ignoring established laws and the Constitution in trying to deprive us of our rights of conscience by mandating our participation in, and monetary support of, contraception and abortion matters. This fight is definitely about freedom of conscience and the Constitution and laws of the U.S., not about where some female law student can obtain contraceptives.
Harold King


text:
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- Collapsible handle lets you fold it and take anywhere
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NEW GLASGOW – Trenton Middle School's Lady Trojans dropped Amherst 36-26 in their meeting on Friday during the New Glasgow Panthers Girls Invitational Basketball Tournament.
Trenton's Briana Griese prepares to pass during their game against Amherst on Friday. AMANDA JESS – THE NEWS
Coach Shane Cormier said he thought the game at North Nova Education Centre went really well.
"I'm very happy with the defence."
In their last three games, they took first-half leads and failed to follow through, Cormier said.
During halftime, Cormier told them to keep it up.
Their season had a strong start, but took a "skid" with the last three games.
"We're hoping for a strong finish," Cormier said.
He's pleased New Glasgow Junior High invited them to the tournament.
"It's two local teams from two different divisions. It'd be nice to match up with them."
He noted New Glasgow won their first game and he hopes they'll meet up either in one of the consolation games or the final.
Saturday's games:
9 a.m. River Hebert vs. New Glasgow
10:30 a.m. Red Cliff vs. EB Chandler (Amherst)
12:30 p.m. 3rd pool A vs. 3rd pool B
2 p.m. 2nd pool A vs. 2nd pool B
3:30 p.m. 1st pool A vs. 1st pool B


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Working out for the Weekend
Happy first day of the month folks! If you're reading this and now deciding not to come, change your mind and stop in for a friendly workout visit, you know love to see you!
It's tabata day…complete 20 seconds of work, with 10 seconds of rest for a total of 8 rounds of:
During your rest period hold the bottom position of the squat.
Here's a long circuit to finish it out, complete each exercise for 40 seconds, rest 20 seconds between exercises, complete 3 rounds of each exercise BEFORE moving to the next.
-Landmine Press
-Janda Sit Ups
-Stability Ball Clocks
-Slam Ball
-Ball Jacks
-TRX Rows
-Single Leg Deadlift
-TriPod Plank
Posted by Pamela | in Chestnut Hill Fitness, Mt airy workouts | No Comments


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With its exceptional snow coverage and variety of terrain, Camprodon-Vallter 2000 guarantees a fun filled holiday . Winter sport enthusiast can take to the slopes to display their talents or advance their skills while exploring the mountain. Besides skiing or snowboarding, Camprodon-Vallter 2000 has a variety of activities for either a fast pace or leisurely holiday that allow everyone to enjoy the pleasures of the mountains. Rent skis in Camprodon-Vallter 2000 and when the skis fly off, enjoy the vivacity of the town. Be tempted by the many restaurants or splurge in the numerous boutiques or spas. Camprodon-Vallter 2000 is a place to make memories if in fact you're able to leave.
Rent skis at Camprodon-Vallter 2000 now !
Skiset makes booking equipment online effortless. Your reservation is distributed to one of our Camprodon-Vallter 2000 shops and is prepared in advance for your arrival. Skiset offers the most up to date equipment and popular choices among locals and instructors. Skiset offers ski and snowboard packs to both adults and children... so there is something for everyone close to your destination at Camprodon-Vallter 2000 resort.
Skiset makes the commitment to offer conveniently located shops at Camprodon-Vallter 2000 and top of the line equipment prepared before your arrival. Don't hesitate in choosing the market leader for your next Winter holiday at Camprodon-Vallter 2000.
At each of our shops in the Camprodon-Vallter 2000 resort, you will be welcomed by friendly professionals who are passionate about the mountains and dedicated to helping you become confident in your rental decision. In our Camprodon-Vallter 2000 shops, our renowned skiers and instructors can advise you on equipment packs and snow conditions at Camprodon-Vallter 2000.
Skiset makes a commitment to guide and facilitate our customers to feel confident in any decision regarding their Winter holiday in Camprodon-Vallter 2000.
If you liked Camprodon-Vallter 2000, you may like our European resorts:
Alpe d'Huez, Arc 1800, Arc 2000, Avoriaz, Belle Plagne, Chamonix, Courchevel 1850, Flaine, Les Deux Alpes, Méribel Centre, Méribel Mottaret, Morzine, Obergurgl, Saas Fee, Tignes, Val d'Isère, Val Thorens, Verbier, Zermatt
or North American ones
South Lake Tahoe, Aspen, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Blackcomb, Snowmass, Vail, Salt Lake City, Banff, Marmot Basin, Crested Butte.
Skiset has been outfitting skiers and riders with equipment for almost 20 years at Camprodon-Vallter 2000 thanks to our team of professionals in resorts throughout Europe and North America.
The rental process is quick and easy. Skiset offers over 800 shops in 400 resorts in France, Switzerland, Italy, Austria, Spain, The United States and Canada, all close to attractions and accommodations, namely at Camprodon-Vallter 2000. Choose within the network of shops at Camprodon-Vallter 2000 by using our Camprodon-Vallter 2000 maps and choose the dates you wish to hire ski equipment during your stay.


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With this column I celebrate somewhat of a milestone: it's the 100th column since I started doing this more than five years ago.
As I have stated in the past, I believe it is a testament to the large and very impressive motorcycle community that we have here in Western Massachusetts. It started simply with the idea to have somewhat of a bulletin board for local events, and I never dreamed that it would make such a difference in my life and lead to me meeting many interesting people and making what are now friends for life.
Over the years I have had the pleasure of bringing you stories about the people and businesses that make motorcycling what it is, largely in part thanks to readers showing me the way.
In the course of writing so many columns, there is a few which stick out in my mind as being "favorites" if you could call them that. More importantly, they stand out as being more personal to me than others.
One is a story I did on a then 80-year-old Butch Baer, of Monson, who with several others, rode an antique Indian In-Line Four motorcycle across the country and back to celebrate his birthday. Butch, one of the foremost experts on Indian Motocycles, was born into a motorcycle family and epitomizes the very definition of "motorcycle man" for life. You will be happy to know that Butch is still going strong today.
Another story involved a young man from Southwick, Daniel "Arnie" Arnold, who was an amateur motocross racer. He competed on the New England circuit just about every weekend during the racing season. Tragically, Arnold was mortally injured during a race in Maine, and the decision was made to donate his organs so that they may help others live normal lives. The love and respect that Arnold's family and friends had for him and the number of people who he ultimately helped will be something that I will always remember.
And, of course, there have been columns on the many events that we have here in Western Massachusetts, many of which are still going strong after years and some of which have met their demise.
The annual Molly's Ride in honor of Molly Bish has become a staple for our region, and, for many years we had the Toy Run for Brightside, which unfortunately did not happen this year. Believe me when I tell you that a supreme effort is under way to bring the Brightside run back for the fall.
There are the many poker runs and fund-raisers that I have spotlighted over the years which hopefully benefited from readers like you making a difference by attending.
While admittedly a Harley guy for life, I have always tried to include all things motorcycle regardless of make or discipline, and I hope that every type of club continues to send me news of your events.
With this column, it is also unfortunate that I must mark the passing of a few friends and associates along the way. My friend and mentor Brian Clark is one, and I'd like to mention several others who I shared the road with, including Cathy and Billy Meyers, George Taylor and the late David Retzler. David's life was tragically taken from him by an under-the-influence automobile operator who struck his motorcycle.
We have seamlessly made the transition to the Internet thanks to the folks at MassLive.com, which opened up many new avenues and allows many more people to access the column.
Thank you also to the un-dying support of The Republican and, in particular, my editor Cynthia Simison. Thanks again, Chief.
I also want to thank my buddy Gary "Lone Bee" Ingraham for blurting out, "How about 'On Two Wheels with Traveling Tim'?" when we were kicking around names for the column some six years ago.
And, finally, to our readers, my personal thanks for making this one of the best jobs in the world. I hope to write another hundred columns for you. Thanks.
Goings On:
If you have not heard by now, Mikey, Vinny and Cody, of "American Chopper" and "Orange County Chopper" fame, have been booked as the headliners at this year's Springfield Motorcycle Show to be held Jan. 21 through 23. The boys will be there all weekend and the lovable Mikey Teutel will be displaying his art. As always, this year's Springfield Motorcycle show will be held at the Eastern States Exposition grounds in West Springfield. This is the perfect way to break up the winter doldrums. You can learn more online at www.osegmotorcycle.com
Until next time, ride safe and ride smart.
Tim Aloisio, of Monson, has been a recreational motorcycle rider for more than 30 years. He is a member of the National Harley-Davidson Owners Group and the Massachusetts Motorcycle Association. He can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.com


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Feb 26th, 2010
According to Deadline Hollywood, Mickey Rourke is possibly joining Freida Pinto and Henry Cavill in War of the Gods. He's supposedly being courted by Millennium Films and Lionsgate to join the remake of Conan The Barbarian, titled just Conan, which is the Marcus Nispel-directed reinvention of the Robert E. Howard creation. Rourke is negotiating to play Corin, the father of Conan who's played by Jason Momoa.
At the same time, Rourke is negotiating for the Tarsem Singh-directed War of the Gods and the part of King Hyperion, the ruler of Ancient Greece who does battle with the divines.
Conan begins shooting in Bulgaria in late March and War of the Gods begins April 7th, so it is possible he might need to make a choice between the two projects.
Stay tuned for more on this story…


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GRAND RAPIDS – Now that the 2013 Grand Rapids-area spring sports season is history, it's time to look back at those who made history.
The MLive.com sports staff has chosen its athletes of the year for baseball, lacrosse, soccer, tennis, golf, water polo and track. Not only are these running on MLive.com, but the Grand Rapids Press will publish the selections in Sunday's edition.
Click here to meet our MLive.com Grand Rapids Players of the Year a day before it arrives at your home and in newspaper boxes.


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Tigers make history with no-decisions
Sure, Justin Verlander's making headlines for no wins yet despite two solid outings, but NOBODY has wins in Tigers rotation. And yet, the Tigers are 5-1 entering today's game against the White Sox.
This from this morning's Tigers game notes: According to Elias Sports Bureau, Detroit is the first team in Major League history to win at least five of its first six games without a starting pitcher getting a win in any of them.


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Four-year degree bill passes committee
June 27, 2014
A bill that would allow some California community colleges to offer certain four-year degrees was approved by the State Assembly Committee on Higher Education on Tuesday.
Senate Bill 850, which passed through the California State Senate in May, would allow 15 community colleges to offer one four-year degree as early as January 2015 and starting no later than the 2017-18 academic year. The pilot program would have a trial period of eight years.
The Lake Tahoe Community College has openly supported the bill, claiming it would add another affordable and quality service to the area.
"During our vision session last fall, our community told us they want to see four-year education in South Lake Tahoe," LTCC President Kindred Murillo said in a statement, "and we are trying to make sure the LTCC 2020 Vision becomes a reality. This is a big step toward making that happen."
A committee comprised of faculty, staff, administrators and board members will convene in the fall to talk about the possibility of being chosen as a school for the pilot program.
The college believes it is "potentially in a good position" to be selected as a participant if the bill becomes law, according to a press release.
"We believe LTCC is uniquely positioned because we are two hours away from a CSU or a UC school, we have a very highly qualified faculty that could easily teach at a four-year college or university, we are in a world-class environment, and we are on the quarter system," Murillo stated. "We are also reaffirmed as accredited, have the capacity, and our community is backing us."
Working with the California State University and University of California systems, the California Community Colleges chancellor and Board of Governors would choose the 15 college districts to participate in the pilot program.
Selected schools would be required to meet a variety of requirements, including offering bachelor's degrees that aren't available at California's public four-year schools and documenting the unmet workforce needs the degree would fill.
The UC system has not taken a position on SB850 yet, according to LTCC. However, the CSU system has.
California Community Colleges Chancellor Brice Harris praised the action of the State Assembly Committee on Higher Education after the June 24 vote.
"I applaud the Assembly Higher Education Committee for approving this bill designed to address unmet workforce needs where career entry requirements have progressed beyond the associate degree level," he said in a statement. "The legislation would expand education access and job training opportunities for thousands of Californians."
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