Romney-Gingrich contrasts marking campaign (AP)

SIOUX CITY, Iowa ? Republican presidential candidates are plunging into the final weekend of campaigning before the holidays, with Newt Gingrich looking to maintain his lead while Mitt Romney and other rivals work to tear him down.

With the candidates' last debate before the Jan. 3 Iowa caucuses behind them, the campaign will be defined by the sharp contrasts between Romney and Gingrich. Yet, given the unpredictable campaign season, another GOP hopeful's rise remained a possibility.

Romney was still campaigning in western Iowa on Friday as he looked to halt Gingrich's momentum. He planned a campaign swing through South Carolina later in the day. He was also picking up the endorsement of South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, The Associated Press has learned from a Republican with knowledge of the endorsement. The party member disclosed Haley's decision ahead of the official announcement on condition of anonymity.

Gingrich was returning to Washington after clashing sharply with one rival, taking pains to compliment another and saying it was laughable for any of them to challenge his conservative credentials.

In a forceful attack during the nationally televised debate Thursday night, Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann said Gingrich "had his hand out and received $1.6 million to influence senior Republicans and keep the scam going in Washington, D.C.," for Freddie Mac, a government-backed housing entity.

"Just not true," Gingrich shot back. "I never lobbied under any circumstances," he added, denying an allegation she had not made.

The clash underscored the state of the race, with Gingrich, the former House speaker, atop the polls in Iowa and nationally and Texas Rep. Ron Paul, Romney and his other pursuers working in television ads and elsewhere to overtake him.

Former Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania, who has staked his campaign on Iowa, was quick to challenge Gingrich as a conservative leader. He recalled that Gingrich had to contend with a "conservative revolution" from the ranks of Republican lawmakers when he was House speaker in the 1990s.

Romney, who runs second in polls in Iowa, largely refrained from criticism of Gingrich, despite increasingly barbed attacks in day-to-day campaigning. Instead, he firmly rejected suggestions that he had once favored gay marriage only to switch his position. "I have been a champion of protecting traditional marriage," he said.

Given the stakes, Gingrich, Bachmann and Santorum weren't the only contenders eager to impress Iowa voters and a nationwide television audience with their conservative grit.

"I hope I am the Tim Tebow of the Iowa caucuses," said Texas Gov. Rick Perry, referring to the Denver Broncos quarterback whose passing ability draws ridicule but who has led his team to a remarkable seven victories in eight weeks.

"We're getting screwed as Americans," said former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman, insisting that he, in fact, was a steadier conservative than any of the others on stage.

"Anybody up here could beat Obama," said Paul, whose views verge on libertarianism and who has struggled to expand his appeal.

Bachmann, who was quicker than any other candidate to criticize a rival, bristled when challenged repeatedly on the accuracy of her facts. "I am a serious candidate for president of the United States, and my facts are accurate," she said.

Indeed, the big question in the opening moments of a fast-paced, two-hour debate went to the heart of a dilemma that could eventually settle the race: Do conservative Republican caucus and primary voters pick a candidate with their hearts, or do they look elsewhere if they judge their favored candidate might not be able to defeat the president?

Those voters begin making that choice on Jan. 3, and if experience is any guide, one or more of the presidential hopefuls on the debate stage will not make it out of Iowa to compete in the New Hampshire primary a week later.

Gingrich, who seemed an also-ran in the earliest stages of the race, has emerged as a leader heading into the final stretch of the pre-primary campaign. His decades in Washington and his post-congressional career as a consultant have been the subjects of tough critiques from Romney's campaign in the past week.

But the former speaker passed up an offer to criticize his rival on the issue of Medicare, saying, "I'm not in the business of blaming Gov. Romney." In fact, he said, Romney has made constructive suggestions for preserving the program that tens of millions of Americans rely on for health care yet faces deep financial woes.

Gingrich drew criticism earlier in the year for calling a GOP Medicare proposal "right-wing engineering." Romney refrained from criticizing that plan but did not embrace it in full.

Bachmann, who has long-since faded to the back of the pack in the polls, showed no such reluctance.

When he labeled her charges inaccurate, she shot back that when she made similar contentions in the previous debate, she was judged factually accurate by an independent arbiter ? a claim that the website Politifact deemed inaccurate. She said Gingrich's work for Freddie Mac was in furtherance of a "grandiose scam" to keep alive an entity at the heart of the housing crisis.

"I will state unequivocally for every person watching tonight: I have never once changed my positions because of any payment," Gingrich said, adding that, in fact, he favored breaking up both Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, his benefactor.

Moments later, Bachmann challenged Paul even more aggressively, saying his refusal to consider pre-emptive action to prevent Iran from getting a nuclear weapon was dangerous.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/politics/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111216/ap_on_el_pr/us_gop_campaign

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Smoking Linked to Skin Cancer in Women (HealthDay)

THURSDAY, Dec. 15 (HealthDay News) -- If you're a woman who smokes and you are looking for another reason to quit, consider this: A new study has found a link between tobacco use and skin cancer.

The study found that women who had squamous cell skin cancer were more likely to have smoked than those who were free from the disease. And those who smoked at least 20 years were twice as likely to develop squamous cell skin cancer, a less aggressive form of skin cancer than melanoma.

Men who smoked had a modest risk for the two types of non-melanoma skin cancer -- basal cell and squamous cell cancer -- but the results weren't statistically significant, the study authors noted.

"We don't know why," said study lead author Dana Rollison, referring to the difference between women's and men's risk. Both men and women get a lot of exposure to the sun, the main risk factor for skin cancer, she noted.

But lung cancer research may offer a clue, said Rollison, an associate member in the Moffitt Cancer Center department of cancer epidemiology, in Tampa, Fla. Hormonal differences affecting the metabolization of nicotine and the body's ability to repair damage to lung DNA caused by smoking have been noted before, suggesting that the female hormone estrogen may play a role, she said.

The study, published online in the journal Cancer Causes Control, was done at the Moffitt Cancer Center and the University of South Florida, also in Tampa.

For the study, 383 patients with skin cancer were compared to 315 people without the disease. The participants were asked how much they smoked, when they picked up the habit and the total number of years they'd smoked. A total of 355 men and 343 women were included in the study. All were white, the group most at risk for skin cancer. Risks for both types of non-melanoma skin cancer were analyzed separately, compensating for the presence of other risk factors.

The researchers found that the more people smoked, the more likely they were to have skin cancer, Rollison said. Men who had basal cell skin cancer were significantly more likely to have smoked for at least 20 years than men with no cancer, the study authors noted.

While the study found an association between smoking and skin cancer risk, it did not prove a cause and effect.

Despite the elevated smoking-related risk among women, men overall are more likely to get skin cancer, Rollison noted. She said that "it is possible men's skin is more sensitive to sun exposure than women's."

But another skin cancer expert suggested that men may be less inclined to use sunscreen or other protection when outdoors.

"Although it could just be a genetic difference (between men and women), men tend to have more unprotected sun exposure in their lives," said Dr. Jeffrey Dover, associate clinical professor of dermatology at Yale University Medical School.

Dover said the study findings weren't surprising because "we know cigarette smoke contains carcinogens" and smokers are "blowing the smoke and ash around their faces all day."

The study is important, he added, because "although we have done well, we can do even better" at eliminating smoking as a cause of disease. "This adds more fuel to the idea that smoking has no place in our society."

Non-melanoma skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States, where about 2 million cases are treated annually, according to the U.S. National Institutes of Health. Squamous cell cancer occurs in the epidermis, the top layer of skin, and can spread to other organs. Basal cell skin cancer occurs in the dermis, the skin layer beneath the epidermis. While it does not spread to other organs, it is far more common than squamous cell cancer, according to the government agency.

More information

To learn more about skin cancer, visit the U.S. National Cancer Institute.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/cancer/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/hsn/20111215/hl_hsn/smokinglinkedtoskincancerinwomen

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Worker charged in 2010 NYC elevator accident (AP)

NEW YORK ? A grand jury has indicted an elevator repairman on criminal charges in an accident that maimed a woman visiting a New York City hospital.

Brooklyn prosecutors say maintenance worker Jason Jordan disabled a safety switch that was supposed to stop the elevator from moving with its doors open.

Last Christmas, a 47-year-old woman was getting onto the elevator at SUNY Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn when it lurched into motion. Her arm and leg were trapped and crushed, but she survived.

Jordan faces charges of assault and reckless endangerment. The name of his attorney was not immediately available.

Prosecutors say charges announced Thursday are unrelated to a fatality the day before in Manhattan. On Wednesday, an advertising executive was dragged and crushed after stepping into an elevator.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/crime/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111215/ap_on_re_us/us_elevator_injury

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When the heat's on, some fish can cope: Certain tropical species have greater capacity to deal with rising sea temperatures than thought

ScienceDaily (Dec. 5, 2011) ? Australian scientists have discovered that some tropical fish have a greater capacity to cope with rising sea temperatures than previously thought -- by adjusting over several generations.

The discovery, by researchers at the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University and CSIRO sheds a ray of hope amid the rising concern over the future of coral reefs and their fish under the levels of global warming expected to occur by the end of the 21st century.

Understanding the ability of species to acclimatise to rising temperatures over longer time periods is critical for predicting the biological consequences of global warming -- yet it remains one of the least understood aspects of climate science. The scientists were seeking to discover how fish would cope with the elevated sea temperatures expected by 2050 and 2100.

"When we exposed damsel fish to water temperatures 1.5 degrees and 3 degrees above today's, there was a marked decline in their aerobic capacity as we'd expected," explains lead researcher Jennifer Donelson. "This affects their ability to swim fast and avoid predators."

"However when we bred the fish for several generations at higher temperatures, we found that the second generation offspring had almost completely adjusted to the higher temperatures. We were amazed? stunned, even," she says. "It shows that some species can adjust faster than the rate of climate change."

"When one generation of damselfish experiences high temperatures their whole life, the next generation is better able to cope with warmer water. We don't yet fully understand the mechanisms involved, but it doesn't seem to be simple Darwinian selection over a couple of generations," explains team leader Professor Philip Munday.

"Instead, there has been a transmission of information between the generations that enables damselfish to adjust to higher water temperatures."

The two temperatures used in the trial represent likely tropical ocean temperatures at the mid-century and by 2100, based on current trends in carbon dioxide emissions by humanity. A 3 degree increase in tropical ocean temperatures is the temperature predicted to occur if humanity's carbon dioxide emissions continue on their current trajectory.

The unusual finding suggests that some fish may have an innate ability to cope with increased sea temperatures greater than previously thought, the researchers say.

However they caution it applies so far only to a single coral reef fish species, and does not address the more complex issue of the survival of the coral habitat itself, and the effects of warming on plankton in the food chains on which fish depend.

Also, there are likely to be penalties for fish that successfully adapt to higher temperatures, Jennifer Donelson says. Initial observations suggest that the acclimatized offspring are on average smaller than their parents, and we still do not know if they are able to reproduce at the same rate as their predecessors.

Although the experiment has yet to run its full course, the researchers also say they do not expect the fishes' ability to adjust to higher temperatures to continue past 3 degrees.

"At such a level of planetary warming there will be profound changes in Earth's ecosystems, affecting all forms of life, including humans," says Prof. Munday.

However, assuming humans manage to gradually bring global warming under control, it is important to understand how well animals and plants can cope with higher temperatures, in order to manage ecosystems for optimum survival of their species and the services they provide. This research provides an early insight into the adaptive capacity of fish, the team says.

This study reveals that transgenerational acclimation is a potentially important mechanism for coping with rapid climate change. Such acclimation could reduce the impact of warming temperatures and allow some fish populations to persist across their current range, instead of having to move away in search of cooler waters.

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---

Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by ARC Centre of Excellence in Coral Reef Studies.

Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.

---

Journal Reference:

1. J. M. Donelson, P. L. Munday, M. I. McCormick, C. R. Pitcher. Rapid transgenerational acclimation of a tropical reef fish to climate change. Nature Climate Change, 2011; DOI: 10.1038/nclimate1323

Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.

Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/12/111205102631.htm

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Bomb kills 2 Shiite pilgrims south of Baghdad (AP)

BAGHDAD ? Iraqi officials say a bomb blast has killed two Shiite pilgrims south of Baghdad during an important religious ritual for the Muslim sect.

Police officials say Monday's attack on Shiite pilgrims in Latifiyah, about 20 miles (30 kilometers) south of the Iraqi capital, also wounded three people.

A medical official confirmed the toll. All officials spoke on condition of anonymity because the are not authorized to talk to the media.

The ritual, known as Ashoura, marks the anniversary of the 7th century death of Imam Hussein. His death in a battle sealed Islam's historical Sunni-Shiite split.

Religious pilgrims are often targeted by Sunni extremists who claim that Shiites are not true Muslims.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/iraq/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111205/ap_on_re_mi_ea/ml_iraq

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S.Africa: Funds raised to fight rhino poaching

JOHANNESBURG (AP) ? A fundraising campaign aimed at putting rhino poachers in jail was welcomed Friday by South African conservationists.

Michael Knight, head of park planning and development for South Africa's national parks department, said money raised by the Florida-based International Rhino Federation would be used to support such efforts as teaching park employees how to safeguard evidence at crime scenes.

More South African rhinos were poached ? 341 ? in the first 10 months of 2011 than in all of 2010, which was a record poaching year with 333 animals lost. The International Rhino Federation project is for parks in South Africa and neighboring Zimbabwe, which also has seen increased poaching.

An Asian economic boom in recent years is believed to be behind the spike in poaching, with a growing middle class in countries like China and Vietnam able to afford exotic purported remedies like powdered rhino horn.

"We're losing animals like crazy," Knight, who also chairs the rhino specialist group of the International Union for Conservation of Nature, said in an interview. "But the prosecutions are falling way behind."

Knight said police in isolated areas of South Africa are not always experienced in investigating environmental crime. He said rangers and others would be trained to support police and prosecutors.

In court, he said, "You need to have the most up-to-date information, you need to have the most convincing arguments."

Morne du Plessis, chief executive of the South African arm of the World Wildlife Fund, said his organization has for several months been involved in a similar project that includes training for prosecutors and judges and creating a team of expert witnesses. He welcomed help from the International Rhino Federation.

"It's work that's absolutely essential," du Plessis said. "In South Africa, we have a particularly poor record of conviction in rhino crime."

He said other, more straightforward crimes compete for the attention of police, prosecutors and judges. He also said law enforcement officials might feel sympathy for the often impoverished locals employed by international syndicates as poachers.

"These are very complex realities of a developing country like South Africa," du Plessis said.

The International Rhino Federation launched its fundraising this week. Donations will fund training in collecting evidence and information. The federation also plans to distribute basic crime scene kits containing cameras, fingerprinting materials and evidence bags.

In an interview, federation director Susie Ellis said that an anonymous donor kicked off the fund with $25,000. She said she spoke with South African security officials in March about how best to use the money.

"It's a small project that we hope will have a big impact," she said, adding the first training session is set for early February in South Africa.

____

Online:

www.rhinos-irf.org

____

Donna Bryson can be reached on http://twitter.com/dbrysonAP

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/b2f0ca3a594644ee9e50a8ec4ce2d6de/Article_2011-12-02-AF-South-Africa-Rhino-Poaching/id-ee1af7352ba54019b0642c8199188bf1

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Check If Your Android Phone Has Carrier IQ, No Rooting Required [Security]

When we first covered Carrier IQ, the rootkit that can log everything you do on your phone, we detailed how to check and remove Carrier IQ on Android using an app from the developer who discovered the rootkit, but that method required rooting your phone. Voodoo Carrier IQ Detector is a free app available on Android Market that can check for?but not yet remove?the spying software, no root required.

All you have to do is install VooDoo Carrier IQ Detector on your Android device and run it to get the detection score: 0 is best, above zero means Carrier IQ is present and you should seriously consider rooting your phone if you are concerned about the program logging your information or just slowing down your device. (Follow the directions we posted yesterday on your options right now for removal).

VooDoo Carrier IQ doesn't remove Carrier IQ yet, but it is an easy way to check for it. Developer Fran?ois Simond has also provided the open source code for the app on Github. And if you're an iPhone user, you'll find it easy to turn off Carrier IQ on the iPhone.

VooDoo Carrier IQ Detector | Android Market via Gizmodo

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You can follow or contact Melanie Pinola, the author of this post, on Twitter or Google+.

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/Gxkr9zt9cG8/check-if-your-android-phone-has-carrier-iq-with-voodoo-carrier-iq-detector-no-rooting-required

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Baseball Notes: Magic Johnson joins bid to buy Dodgers

today's features

Special report: The Curtis Factor

Exclusive multimedia: Since 1924, the Curtis Institute of Music has turned generations of talented students into brilliant musicians. In this special report, meet the students, faculty and alumni of this ultra-selective conservatory - and hear original music composed and performed by Curtis students. Click here to enter.

Entertainment

Karolyn Grimes, then 39, was watching TV with her family when It's a Wonderful Life came on -a movie she had never seen. Then it hit her: "I was Zuzu."

Poll: The best Christmas show ever? (451 votes)

Science

Brighten clouds with sea water? Spray aerosols high in the stratosphere? Paint roofs white and plant light-colored crops? How about positioning "sun shades" over the Earth?

What's News

Jerry Sandusky says Joe Paterno never spoke to him about suspected misconduct, a paper reports.

GOP presidential candidate Herman Cain ended his bid to stop news coverage of his alleged sexual misconduct.

A 26-year-old woman who dragged a Philly police officer in a hit-and-run has been arrested.

Ashley Zauflik's parents say they faced a daunting decision: "Take her leg off, or she would die,"

Kelley Hodge is the Philadelphia School District's new safety watchdog, and she wants everyone to know it.

Source: http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168491&44=134947053&32=3796&7=195227&40=http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/phillies/20111203_Baseball_Notes__Magic_Johnson_joins_bid_to_buy_Dodgers.html

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Sims 3 and Sims 3 Pets : An Island Life

I will admit it, I love The Sims.? I?m not a computer game person, in fact, I?m not really into games at all but I have one game I will play and that?s The Sims.? When it first came out, I was in college and since Facebook wasn?t created yet, I needed a way to put off doing my school work.? The solution?? The game The Sims loaded on my school computer.

I got so hooked on the game that I would actually give it to my sister just to keep myself from playing it when I had a big paper due.? The problem with that was that my sister also became hooked, thus giving her a good way to put off her High School homework.? Since then, we?ve both been closet fans of The Sims {except for that one October when we came out of the closet for one night and actually went as Sims for Halloween? yes, really} and we still hold a special place in our hearts for the game.

If you haven?t played it before, it?s basically a game that allows you to create people ? Sims ? and then build them a house before you let them loose into the Sim world.? Whether you create a world of chaos or order, the real fun is when you perform social experiments with all your Sims and see how they react and interact in certain situations.? For instance, if you remove the door to their house.? Or you create Sims that are attracted to each other who live next door? and are both married.

Even as much as I love The Sims, once I had children back in 2008, I kind of abandoned the game as I really couldn?t afford to lose hours out of my day playing.? While I have had a half hour of Sims here and there, I really haven?t played much since I became a mom.? Or, at least I didn?t.? Now I have The Sims 3 to distract me, and it?s the best reason ever to waste a naptime.

It might just be the fact that I haven?t played the game in a while and my life has had a huge hole ever since I stopped playing, but Sims 3 is like 100x more fun than the original game used to be.? You can customize your Sim more than ever before, you can control personalities better, and you can really direct Simville as I always wished you could.? And, the add-ons!? Even better than before, you seriously can get anything for your Sim that you can buy at the store, create, or dream up in your wildest imagination. ?When you add in their expansion packs, the fun is almost too much to handle.

My favorite expansion pack is the Sims 3 Pets which allows you to actually customize the pets your Sims adopt.? Now you can create pets that truly are members of the household, they look just how you like, have the personality you choose, learn tricks, and even are able to leave the house ? a feature I love!? From horses to kittens to tigers, you can now have the pet you always wanted? and you can make your Sim clean up after it.

Sims 3 and Sims 3 Pets are available for PC and Mac and are a great holiday gift for the gamers and non-gamers on your list!

Purchase your copy of Sims 3 and Sims 3 Pets at Amazon.com.

This post was written for Electronic Arts who provided the complimentary copies in exchange for my honest review.

About the Author: Leanne: Rave and Review is a mother/father review team that is always on the go with children, whether that is around town, jet setting, or exploring the great outdoors. Equally at home in the big city or enjoying all that the Northwest has to offer, you will find them all around town and on Rave and Review daily.

<img src="http://islandlife808.com/wp-content/themes/lifestyle_30/images/leanne.png">

Source: http://islandlife808.com/shopping/sims-3-and-sims-3-pets/

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Massachusetts sues banks over foreclosures

Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley speaks to reporters at a news conference in Boston, Thursday, Dec. 1, 2011, about the lawsuit in which Massachusetts is suing five major banks including Bank of America Corp. and JPMorgan Chase & Co. over deceptive foreclosure practices. Also seen are, from left, Deputy AG Kevin Conroy, and Assistant AG John Stephan. (AP Photo/Josh Reynolds)

Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley speaks to reporters at a news conference in Boston, Thursday, Dec. 1, 2011, about the lawsuit in which Massachusetts is suing five major banks including Bank of America Corp. and JPMorgan Chase & Co. over deceptive foreclosure practices. Also seen are, from left, Deputy AG Kevin Conroy, and Assistant AG John Stephan. (AP Photo/Josh Reynolds)

Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley speaks to reporters at a news conference in Boston, Thursday, Dec. 1, 2011, about the lawsuit in which Massachusetts is suing five major banks including Bank of America Corp. and JPMorgan Chase & Co. over deceptive foreclosure practices. Also seen are, from left, Deputy Chief Stephanie Kahn, and Chief Christopher Barry-Smith, both of the the Public Protection and Advocacy Bureau. (AP Photo/Josh Reynolds)

Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley, center, speaks to reporters at a news conference in Boston, Thursday, Dec. 1, 2011, about the lawsuit in which Massachusetts is suing five major banks including Bank of America Corp. and JPMorgan Chase & Co. over deceptive foreclosure practices. Also seen are, from left, Deputy Chief of the Public Protection and Advocacy Bureau Stephanie Kahn, Chief of the the Public Protection and Advocacy Bureau, Christopher Barry-Smith, Deputy AG Kevin Conroy, and Assistant AG John Stephan. (AP Photo/Josh Reynolds)

NEW YORK (AP) ? Massachusetts sued five major banks Thursday over deceptive foreclosure practices such as the "robo-signing" of documents, potentially undermining negotiations between lenders and state prosecutors across the nation over the same issue.

The lawsuit named Bank of America Corp., JPMorgan Chase & Co., Wells Fargo & Co., Citigroup Inc., and GMAC. It was filed in Massachusetts by Attorney General Martha Coakley.

"We have two clear goals with this lawsuit ? one is to provide for real accountability for the role the banks have played in unlawful and illegal foreclosures, and secondly to provide for real and enforceable relief for the harm that the misconduct has caused," said Coakley in a press conference to announce the lawsuit.

The lawsuit also named Mortgage Electronic Registration System, Inc. and its parent company as defendants. The company, a mortgage registry database, has been accused of shoddy record-keeping in large numbers of foreclosure proceedings.

The complaint claims the banks violated Massachusetts law with "unlawful and deceptive" conduct in the foreclosure process, including unlawful foreclosures, false documentation, robo-signing, and deceptive practices related to loan modifications.

The lawsuit comes as talks have been dragging on for more than a year between major banks and the attorneys general from all 50 states over fraudulent foreclosure practices that drove millions of Americans from their homes following the bursting of the housing bubble.

In October 2010, major banks temporarily suspended foreclosures following revelations of fraudulent documents processed by banks. The talks between prosecutors and the banks have been designed to institute new guidelines for mortgage lending nationwide. It was anticipated to be the biggest overhaul of a single industry since the 1998 multistate tobacco settlement.

Coakley said banks have had more than a year to "show accountability for this economic mess," and have failed to do so. "It's taken too long," she said.

Banks had been hoping to put the issue behind them by reaching a blanket agreement with prosecutors. The Massachusetts complaint, and potentially similar lawsuits springing up in other states, could be the first phase of a widening legal quagmire that banks had hoped to avoid.

"This could put pressure on banks and lead to a stronger settlement for homeowners," said Lewis Finfer, executive director of Massachusetts Communities Action Network, an organization that works on foreclosure prevention.

Over the past year, several obstacles to the settlement have arisen. Attorneys general of different states have disagreed over what terms to offer the banks. In September, California announced it would not agree to a settlement over foreclosure abuses that state and federal officials have been working on for more than a year.

Coakley, along with New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman and Delaware's Beau Biden, have argued that banks should not be protected from future civil liability. Other states, including Kentucky, Minnesota and Nevada, have raised concerns about the extent of legal civil immunity the banks would receive as part of a settlement.

Both sides have also argued over the amount of money that should be placed in a reserve account for property owners who were improperly foreclosed upon. Many of the larger points of the deal, including a $25 billion cost for the banks, have been worked out, according to people briefed on the internal discussions but who are not authorized to speak publicly about them.

State officials had been hoping to finish a deal by the end of the year.

The lead negotiator on behalf of state prosecutors, Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller, said in a statement that he hopes Massachusetts would join the broader settlement that's still being worked on.

"We're optimistic that we'll settle on terms that will be in the interests of Massachusetts," Miller said.

Coakley said she had hoped for a nationwide agreement by Thanksgiving but acknowledged a deal could still happen. "We intend to both stay in touch with what's happening and pursue our own lawsuit," she said.

JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo, GMAC Mortgage responded mostly with statements of disappointment. MERS said it complies with Massachusetts law; Citigroup said it would defend its actions vigorously. Bank of America said it believed that a collaborative resolution was a better path to healing the housing markets versus continued litigation.

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AP Real Estate writer Derek Kravitz in Washington, DC, and courthouse reporter Bob Salsberg in Boston contributed to the report

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/f70471f764144b2fab526d39972d37b3/Article_2011-12-01-Banks-Foreclosure%20Lawsuit/id-405ea6d275ca4fe283c410f5fe45b365

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Railroad strike averted with agreements, extension

WASHINGTON (AP) ? The nation's freight railroad industry averted a potentially costly strike on Thursday after resolving differences with two of its unions and agreeing to extend talks with a third.

The National Railway Labor Conference, which represents the railroads in bargaining talks, said its negotiators would try to reach an agreement with the final union before Feb. 8.

Without the agreements, the railway unions could have begun striking as early as Tuesday, when a federal "cooling off" period was set to expire. Retailers warned that a rail strike would cost businesses and consumers $2 billion a day and prove especially damaging during the industry's most important shopping season of the year.

The agreements late Thursday with the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen and the American Train Dispatchers Association came just hours after Republican House leaders said they would move to vote Friday on emergency legislation to prevent a work stoppage.

The group of more than 30 railroads ? including Union Pacific Corp., CSX Corp. and Burlington Northern Santa Fe ? has been trying for more than a year to reach collective bargaining agreements with 13 unions representing about 132,000 workers.

President Barack Obama appointed a five-member emergency board in October to mediate the dispute. The White House action averted a strike for at least 60 days, ending Tuesday at 12:01 a.m.

With the help of federal mediators, the railroads have now settled with 12 of the 13 unions in the current bargaining round. The only unsettled union is the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees, which has about 25,000 workers.

"Everyone wins when we reach voluntary agreements," said Kenneth Gradia, chairman of the National Carriers' Conference Committee, which bargains on behalf of the railroads. "In a tough economy, these agreements offer a terrific deal for rail employees. They lock in well-above market wage increases of more than 20 percent over six years, far exceeding recent union settlements in other industries."

The last time a freight railroad strike occurred, in 1991, Congress quickly passed legislation that ended it within a day. A 1982 strike lasted four days.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/386c25518f464186bf7a2ac026580ce7/Article_2011-12-01-Railroad%20Strike/id-078185dc89bb4f1aa07939ef42c53674

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