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Byline: -- Staff and Wire Services

Chatsworth man wins GOP honor

The National Republican Congressional Committee's Business Advisory Council said Friday that Rami Haddad of Chatsworth is a 2006 Republican of the Year from California.

NRCC Chairman Tom Reynolds said the award is given to a select group of business and community leaders from each state who have championed the free enterprise system and supported the ideals of smaller government, lower taxes and less regulation.

The award also qualifies Haddad for the council's Congressional Medal of Distinction, which will be awarded in the fall.

Haddad is chief executive officer of Chatsworth-based I News Delivery, a distribution and marketing company.

Northwest flight workers back off

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. -- Against a backdrop of heightened security concerns, Northwest Airlines flight attendants decided Friday to postpone the starting date of a threatened strike by 10 days, until Aug. 25. Without the postponement, sporadic strikes could have begun as early as Tuesday.

Union leaders said the foiled terror plot in London made safety issues the top priority.

The delay also gives both sides extra time to negotiate a new contract.

Fortress to buy three ski resorts

NEW YORK -- The owner of the Mammoth, Stratton and Whistler ski resorts has agreed for the properties to be acquired by private equity firm Fortress Investment Group LLC for about $1.81 billion in cash.

The acquisition on Friday of Intrawest Corp., whose properties also include luxury safari operator Abercrombie & Kent and the Tremblant ski resort in Quebec, is the biggest-ever buyout of a publicly traded resort operator, and the third-largest private equity acquisition of a Canadian company.

The $35-per-share cash offer represents a 32 percent premium over Intrawest's Thursday closing price. The offer also calls for Fortress to assume roughly $992 million in debt, according to an Intrawest spokesman.

Intrawest shares surged $7.67, or 29 percent, to close at $34.18 on the New York Stock Exchange.

Wal-Mart ex-exec gets house arrest

FORT SMITH, Ark. -- A former No. 2 Wal-Mart executive who began his career as the company's theft prevention chief was sentenced Friday to 27 months in home detention after pleading guilty to stealing money, merchandise and gift cards from the retailer.

Thomas Coughlin, 57, avoided any prison time, but was ordered also to serve five years' probation, and pay a $50,000 fine and about $411,000 in restitution to Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and the Internal Revenue Service.

Prosecutors had asked for Coughlin to serve six months to a year in prison.

Feds to continue gaming charges

ST. LOUIS -- Federal prosecutors said Friday that they will continue prosecuting BetOnSports PLC even though the online gambling company is shutting down its operations that take bets from U.S. customers.