The veteran told President Barack Obama at a town hall meeting in Allentown on Friday that he hadn't been able to get through to anyone who can answer his questions about his benefits under the post-Sept. 11 GI bill.

Their report comes just days before President Barack Obama heads to Copenhagen, Denmark, to speak at a United Nations conference on climate change.

Analyst Jeffrey M. Silber of BMO Capital Markets said temporary jobs were down 12.5 percent year over year in November, continuing the declines that began in April 2007. But it was the lowest year-over-year decline since...]]>Fri, 4 Dec 2009 00:00:00 http://www.thefreelibrary.com/NHL+to+hold+2010+draft+in+Los+Angeles-a01612080060The 2010 NHL draft will be held in Los Angeles on June 25-26, marking the first time in its 46-year history that the event will be held in California.

The NHL announced on Friday that the Los Angeles Kings will host the draft at the Staples Center.

UConn police on Thursday charged 22-year-old Rahim Muhammad, of Bloomfield, with hindering prosecution, tampering with evidence and interfering with police. Police say he moved or concealed evidence but would not...]]>Fri, 4 Dec 2009 00:00:00 http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Marvell+Technology+shares+climb+after+strong+3Q-a01612080057Shares of chip maker Marvell Technology Group Ltd. hit a 12-month high Friday after the company reported a jump in profit and offered an upbeat outlook.

Marvell "once again delivered strong results and provided an outlook that was better than expected on all fronts," Deutsche Bank analyst Sukhi Nagesh told investors in a note, raising the company's price target to $18 from...]]>Fri, 4 Dec 2009 00:00:00 http://www.thefreelibrary.com/20+killed+in+Indonesian+karaoke+bar+fire-a01612080056A least 20 people died and two were injured when fire engulfed a third-floor karaoke bar in one of Indonesia's largest cities on Friday, police said, adding that the death toll could rise.

Fire fighters contained the blaze in the multistory building in Medan on Sumatra island and extinguished it within hours, fire brigade spokesman Mohammad Zein said.

The Bermuda-based bond insurer said the net proceeds of the sale totaled about $574 million. It intends to use the funds to meet credit rating agency requirements to maintain AA ratings from Moody's Investors Services.

_ Algenol Biofuels Inc., Freeport, Texas.

The officials said that extradition proceedings have begun for the woman, Pamela Phillips, 52 of Aspen, Colo.

Shares rose $1.26, or 5.3 percent, to $25.03 in afternoon trading Friday.

Citi Investment Research analyst Mark Mahaney upgraded Akamai to "buy" from "hold" and set a price target of $31.

Streets in South America's largest city, Sao Paulo, flooded with chest-high waters, paralyzing late afternoon traffic and shutting down airports Thursday, when the rains started.

Speaking at a town hall meeting Friday in Allentown, Pa., Obama said there needs to be a consumer watchdog with some "teeth," so that consumers...]]>Fri, 4 Dec 2009 00:00:00 http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Delta+Air+Lines+says+November+traffic+fell+7.1+pct-a01612079979Delta Air Lines Inc. said on Friday that its November traffic fell 7.1 percent, by far the biggest drop among the major U.S. carriers.

Delta flew 13.57 billion revenue passenger miles, or one paying passenger flown one mile, in November. The drop-off from November 2008 included an 11.2 percent drop in international traffic and a 4.6 percent drop in domestic traffic. The results include...]]>Fri, 4 Dec 2009 00:00:00 http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Sector+Snap%3a+Information+technology+shares+gain-a01612079975Shares of CommVault Systems Inc., Juniper Networks Inc. and Rackspace Hosting Inc. gained Friday as Goldman Sachs added them to its "Conviction Buy" list, predicting they will benefit from growth in corporate IT spending.

CommVault, which makes software that helps businesses manage and store data, should see its market share grow, said Goldman analyst Derek Bingham in a client...]]>Fri, 4 Dec 2009 00:00:00 http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Embargo+as+genocide%3f+US+disputes+Cuban+claim-a01612079974It was a story meant to captivate the United Nations: A dozen Cuban children with heart defects were forced to endure unnecessary surgery because the U.S. embargo blocked them from receiving American-made catheters.

The embargo as a whole "could be classified as an act of genocide," Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez said before the U.N. General Assembly voted 187-3 in October to condemn...]]>Fri, 4 Dec 2009 00:00:00 http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Obama+optimistic+banks+will+ease+lending+next+year-a01612079973President Barack Obama says he's optimistic that banks will ease lending next year and that should help businesses that want to expand and hire new workers.

At a town hall meeting in Allentown, Pa., Obama was asked Friday what his administration could do to loosen tight credit, especially for struggling small businesses.

Ojeda experienced intense pain that prevented him from standing or sitting, went to a hospital and had surgery to repair a ruptured disc, according to bandmate Jay Jay French. Dan McCafferty, who played guitar in singer Dee Snider's solo band, was...]]>Fri, 4 Dec 2009 00:00:00 http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Analyst+starts+Under+Armour+at+'Buy'-a01612079971Shares of Under Armour Inc. rose on Friday, following the broader markets higher, after an analyst started coverage of the athletic apparel and shoe company with a "Buy" rating and said its outlook was conservative.

In midday trading, the stock rose $1.10, or 4.3 percent, to $27.03. Meanwhile, the stock market jumped after employers cut far fewer jobs in November than...]]>Fri, 4 Dec 2009 00:00:00 http://www.thefreelibrary.com/FDA+warns+of+problems+with+sterilization+device-a01612079969The Food and Drug Administration says doctors and hospitals should stop using a device from Steris Corp. to sterilize surgical tools after reports of malfunction.

The agency says the company's modified SS1 sterilizer device has not been cleared as safe and effective. Users have reported problems that could result in patients becoming infected from unsterile instruments.

The stainless-steel sculpture, called "Worker and Collective Farm Woman," was unveiled Friday in a nighttime ceremony with fireworks attended by thousands.

USA Curling and longtime sponsor Kodiak Technology Group are teaming up to sell Hurry Hard condoms. "Hurry hard" is a curling term, and the logo features a cartoon of a smiling curling stone on a house.

Shares rose $1.90, or 3.7 percent, to $52.95 in midday trading after rising to a 52-week high of $53.37 earlier in the session.

The study, conducted by the University of British Columbia, measured economic, social and environmental changes in the metro Vancouver area between 2002 and 2006.

Hawkins had been in poor health recently, having suffered a stroke and a fall, said U.S. Rep. John Mica, a close friend. She died at Florida Hospital in Orlando surrounded by her family, he said.

With Bolivia's first indigenous president expected to easily win re-election to a five-year term, the focus in Charagua is on the drive for greater political power by the Indian majority of this poor South American nation.

Lisa Bloom is Allred's daughter and a legal analyst for CBS. She said Friday on "The Early Show" that she worked with her mom for nine years and has never known her to...]]>Fri, 4 Dec 2009 00:00:00 http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Ecuador+sues+Chevron+to+stop+arbitration-a01612079959The Republic of Ecuador has sued the Chevron Corp. as the two battle over liability for pollution in the Amazon rainforest.

The suit was filed Thursday in U.S. District Court in Manhattan.

Ecuador is asking the court to block an attempt by Chevron to force their dispute over the environmental damage into international arbitration.

Analyst Brian Gesuale of Raymond James upgraded the Stamford, Conn., company to "Outperform" from "Market Perform" on easing debt concerns, increased business following the U.S. troop surge in Afghanistan and other...]]>