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Byline: -- Staff and Wire Services

A.G. opens probe into HP tactics

SAN FRANCISCO -- Revelations that Hewlett-Packard Co. officials used questionable tactics in an internal investigation into media leaks have caught the attention of California's attorney general, who has launched his own probe into the computer maker.

Attorney General Bill Lockyer subpoenaed some HP officials Wednesday in a probe he characterized as still being in the ``early fact-finding stage.''

Lockyer refused to say whether criminal charges would be filed against Chairwoman Patricia Dunn, other directors or the private investigators HP hired to find out who leaked confidential information to the news media. He said the state also could charge HP with civil violations and order the company to pay fines.

HP disclosed in a filing Wednesday with the Securities and Exchange Commission that it sought the private telephone records of the company's board members in its leak investigation. Private investigators used the invasive and possibly illegal practice of ``pretexting'' -- posing as someone else to get personal information about that person.

$12 million asked from Lay's estate

WASHINGTON -- The Labor Department proposed a $12 million agreement Thursday with the estate of Kenneth Lay, the deceased founder of Enron Corp., to settle claims involving mismanagement of workers' pension plans.

The proposed settlement on behalf of participants covered by Enron's pension plans is subject to approval by the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, the department said.

Even if the settlement is approved, it is unclear whether all the money would ultimately be collected.

Any money collected would go to the participants in Enron's pension plans, said a Labor Department attorney.

UAW won't give Chrysler waivers

DETROIT -- The United Auto Workers will not give the same health care concessions to DaimlerChrysler AG's Chrysler Group that it gave to General Motors Corp. and Ford Motor Co., the union's president said Thursday.

Ron Gettelfinger, speaking to reporters after a midday speech at the Detroit Economic Club, said the union analyzed Chrysler's finances and determined the concessions weren't in the UAW's best interest.

He said there are still ``ongoing discussions'' with Chrysler, but that the union isn't interested in the same deal given to the company's domestic competitors.

Chrysler spokesman David Elshoff said Thursday that negotiations are still under way and he could not comment.

BP exec refuses to discuss spill

WASHINGTON -- The former head of pipeline-corrosion monitoring for BP in Alaska refused to testify under oath Thursday as outraged lawmakers grilled company officials over the causes of a massive oil spill earlier this year.

Richard C. Woollam, who was transferred to BP's Houston offices in 2005 amid concerns that he intimidated potential whistle-blowers, invoked the Fifth Amendment of the Constitution in refusing to answer all questions from a House subcommittee.

Other BP executives apologized and pledged to fix operational lapses on the North Slope that led to the region's biggest-ever oil spill in March and the partial shutdown last month of the country's largest oil field.

Gambling firm official arrested

NEW YORK -- The chairman of British online gambling company Sportingbet PLC has been detained in New York on a fugitive warrant, two months after the chief executive of BetOnSports PLC was arrested in the United States on racketeering charges.

Peter Dicks was arrested at Kennedy International Airport after his arrival on a flight from England, Queens district attorney spokesman Kevin Ryan said Thursday.

Customs, performing a routine name check about 11:30 p.m. Wednesday, discovered he had an outstanding warrant issued by the Louisiana State Police Gaming Enforcement Division.

Police officers with the Port Authority, which runs the airport, took Dicks into custody, where he remained Thursday awaiting arraignment in a state court.

Northwest recalls 1,131 attendants

MINNEAPOLIS -- Northwest Airlines Corp. said it would recall all 1,131 of its furloughed flight attendants, but it was hard to tell whether that was good news for a recovering airline or preparation for a strike that could kill it.

Northwest, which is reorganizing under bankruptcy protection, said the recalled workers will fill permanent vacancies created by factors including ``modest operational growth'' and attrition. A spokesman wouldn't comment on whether a possible strike is another reason for the recall.