Carroll County Employment

Business interests were the top bill-killers inside Californias Capitol during Gov. Jerry Browns first year back in office, as concerns about the states weak economy cut into labors newfound clout.

Legislative data show that business interests wielded strong influence despite a Capitol dominated by Democrats in the Legislature and governors office. Business lobbyists defeated bills that would have cut tax breaks, required employers to give workers unpaid bereavement leave and prolonged the foreclosure process.

In the current economy, all legislators are more sensitive to the argument that something would be a job killer or harmful for investment or expansion, said Dorothy Rothrock,...

Davison County Commissioner Dave Weitala, 60, died of a heart attack Tuesday morning after shoveling snow at his Mitchell home.

Funeral services, which will be at Northridge Baptist Church in Mitchell, are delayed pending the notification of a daughter who is vacationing in the Far East. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Bittner Funeral Home, Mitchell.

The county commissioners said the courthouse will be closed for several hours on the day of the funeral to allow county employees to attend services.

The news was a stunner for the county board, which had assembled for its regular Tuesday morning meeting and had just taken public input on roads...

OXFORD

Concerned residents called the Oxford police the week before Christmas to report their fears that no one was feeding or caring for the animals in the towns animal shelter. Other animal-lovers wrote on blogs that they feared for the animals lives.

The lock on the door of the old shelter had been changed, preventing volunteer feeders and caretakers from entering the building. Those volunteers claimed that careful observation saw no one entering the old building, which is dwarfed by the new animal shelter under construction next door.

Joseph M. Zeneski, town manager, said all is well, and that the seven cats that had been housed in the shelter will be living in Leicester...

Much to the delight of children and animal lovers, at least six new zoological gardens are being proposed in the country. Among the major attractions in them will be the first ever Night Safari in the country at Greater Noida in Uttar Pradesh and Panther Safari at Raigad in Maharashtra. The new zoos will be in addition to the already existing 22 in the country.

According to sources in the Central Zoo Authority, out of the six proposed zoological gardens that have been granted approval three are in Uttar Pradesh alone. Out of the other three, two are in Maharashtra and one in Madhya Pradesh.

The most awaited is, however, the Greater Noida Night Safari which will be the fourth...

content=The Placer Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is looking to relocate to a larger facility by the end of 2012 to expand its services and increase its capacity to house animals.

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Some pets are so loved they are considered part of the family. Others are abandoned and mistreated by owners with little understanding of the trauma they have caused the animals.

Sandy Kilby and Cyndi Disser know this all too well as they are board members of the non-profit organization called the Humane Society of St. Clair County/SNAP, a new humane society opening in China Township. The four-letter acronym linked to the name of the society is short for spay, neuter, adopt, protect. The title highlights the societys mission to raise awareness and supply low-cost services for cats and dogs.

The women are currently helping to get the China Township facility up and running, after...

• Thearon W. Henderson, Getty Images

  San Francisco 49ers safety Dashon Goldson returns an interception during their NFC divisional round game vs. the New Orleans Saints in San Francisco.

WHITE CLOUD, Kan. ? Steven W. Long, 50, of rural White Cloud, died unexpectedly Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2012, where he and his wife were vacationing near the Virgin Islands.

Steve was born at Hiawatha, Oct. 4, 1961, one of three sons of Wayne and Geraldine Neher Long and was a lifelong White Cloud area resident, living on the same farm home he grew up in near White Cloud.

Steve attended the Hiawatha school system, graduating from Hiawatha High School with the class of 1979 prior to taking classes at Highland Junior College and Peru State University. Steve farmed a few years with his brother; drove a grain truck for White Cloud Grain a number of years; worked for the Brown County...

Ten years ago, when plans were gearing up to build what would become the Sprint Center, the Kansas City Sports Commission commissioned a study that included examining how Kemper Arena might be reused for the American Royal.lt;/pgt;lt;pgt;Now that a $70 million proposal rolled out by the Royal in October that called for demolishing Kemper and replacing it with a 5,000-seat equestrian and agricultural center appears to be stuck amp;#x97; Mayor Sly James says itamp;#x92;s low on the cityamp;#x92;s priorities amp;#x97; perhaps it might be useful to take another look at what the commission came up with in 2002.lt;/pgt;lt;pgt;Ron Labinski, a respected sports architect who helped prepare...

Spurs-HeatGame Review

Miami, FL (Sports Network) – LeBron James and Chris Bosh combined for 63 points in the absence of Dwyane Wade, and the Miami Heat dominated the second half en route to a 120-98 win over the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday.

Miami trailed by as many as 17 in the second quarter, but made better than 68 percent of its shots in second half, including 12-of-15 from three-point range.

James logged 33 points and 10 assists while Bosh had 30 points, eight rebounds and five helpers in the emphatic comeback.

LeBron and Chris were brilliant offensively and shouldered a big load, Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra said. In the second half, after we defended...