| Team High Road becomes U.S.-based UCI ProTour squad
Colorado Springs, Colo. (February 8, 2008)—USA Cycling announced today that Team High Road has officially relocated its team headquarters to San Luis Obispo, Calif., thus becoming the sole United States-based UCI ProTour team for the 2008 racing season. .
Strong demand helps steel giant
The world's largest steel company, Arcelor Mittal, has reported a net profit of $10.36bn (5.3bn) for 2007. The results - in line with analysts' expectations - are the first full-year figures since the merger of Arcelor and Mittal Steel in June 2006. The firm had predicted robust global steel markets would boost its results. Chief executive Lakshmi Mittal said the company was "focused on leading the transformation of our industry towards a sustainable future". Late last year Arcelor Mittal agreed a deal with controlling shareholders in China Oriental to allow it to eventually raise its stake in the Chinese firm to 73.13%. Arcelor Mittal is eager to increase its exposure to China, the world's biggest producer and consumer of steel. Mittal bought Arcelor in 2006, creating a firm with 10% of the world's steel market.
Fire officials want to ban novelty lighters
Novelty lighters can look like anything from tiny skateboards and cell phones to farm animals and butterflies. Some light up or make noises, including the tiny green frog that elicits a "ribbit" when its flame is ignited."They look like toys so kids play with them and that’s caused a number of injuries and ... deaths," said Iowa state Sen. Keith Kreiman, who called the devices "an attractive nuisance." The Iowa Legislature considered a measure last year seeking a study of the lighters, and the matter will likely come up again this session, Kreiman said.The European Union has moved to ban novelty lighters, which are generally manufactured in China. That has U.S. fire officials worried that manufacturers will try to unload the lighters in the U.S."What I think is happening now is we’re really getting dumped on, we’re seeing more," said Judith Okulitch with the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s Office.Okulitch’s agency was among the first to raise concern about the novelty lighters, asking fire marshals across the country about two years ago to be aware of the items.Distributors of the lighters defended the products, arguing they’re marketed for adults and it’s up to parents to watch their kids."Kitchen knives and a lot of the other dangerous items out there that could harm children do not have the safety features that our lighters do," said John Gibson, owner of San Luis Obispo, Calif.-based John Gibson Enterprises, Inc., which distributes novelty lighters.Gibson said his lighters are all tested for child safety, and he claimed that in many cases they are safer than regular cigarette lighters.Gibson chalked up complaints about novelty lighters to "overzealous fire marshals around the country" trying to crack down on free enterprise.For Okulitch, a juvenile firesetter intervention coordinator, a novelty lighter that looked like a magic marker tipped the scales."There’s really no good reason that we should be putting butane, a hazardous material, inside of a container that would look like a toy to children," she said.Dean and other fire officials praised an announcement this week by the Lighter Association, a national trade group, which said its members now support laws to ban the novelty lighters."We see no justification for a novelty lighter," said David H.
Beach narrows its list of potential Dome developers
I'd like to be able to walk on the boardwalk at the beach and get something to eat. I'd like to be able to take my family to walk around the shops without feeling like I am going to be run down by cars (since your beach boardwalk is non-existent and the shops are on atlantic or in the town center). I'd like to be able to drive anywhere in the city without being stuck at traffic lights. I doubt whether this latest development will address any of this tourist's desires. I come to VB because I have family in the area. But to have fun (and, generally, to spend money), I go to Ocean City, Maryland or the Outer Banks. And, it is a shame, because when I first starting coming here, 20-some years ago, VB was a lovely resort town. .
Dog owner arrested after pit-bulls attack, kill dog
Two of the three dogs bore scars both new and old. One dog had numerous cuts and what appeared to be an eye infection, while another, with tightly cropped ears, had scars both new and old on its face. An animal control officer at the scene said the dogs will be killed by the end of the day. Natchez Police Chief Mike Mullins said Brunston was charged with a violation of the leash law and arrested for the warrant originally issued on Nov. 4. On Wednesday evening Mullins said Brunston was released on $237 bond. .
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