New Haven Register

Provincial Elections Big Day for Iraq's Democracy?

FOUR years ago this week, 58 percent of eligible Iraqi voters turned out for the country's first democratic election. It was considered a success. In an article I wrote for the Register then, I expressed the hope the election would be a major step toward freedom by Iraq's people, but cautioned that "there will be difficult times." Saturday's election is for 14 of Iraq's 18 provincial councils. People in the autonomous Kurdish region's three provinces will not vote this time, and those in the ...

Ortiz Takes Lead Spot On Fire Commission?

By William Kaempffer Register Staff NEW HAVEN -- A former police chief took over Tuesday as chairman of the Board of Fire Commissioners, assuming the helm from the board's most veteran member who stepped down because of term limits.

Spears Faces Lawsuit From Ex-Manager

LOS ANGELES -- Britney Spears' former manager and friend Osama "Sam" Lutfi has filed a lawsuit against the singer and her parents for libel and defamation. Lutfi filed his claim Tuesday in Los Angeles Superior, just three days after a judge granted Spears' father a restraining order against Lutfi and paparazzo Adnan Ghalib. The lawsuit provides pages of Lutfi's version of events, including his claim that he urged the singer to reconcile with her parents. Spears' father, Jamie, now serves as h...

Delauro to Propose Overhaul of Fda

By Ed Stannard Register Metro Editor When peanut products become killers, it's long past time to make food safety a higher priority, according to U.S. Rep. Rosa L. DeLauro, D-3.

Obama Caves On Medicaid Contraceptives?

IT must be the world's longest-running game of ideological pingpong. In 1984, President Ronald Reagan aimed an overhand smash at international organizations, pledging that America would no longer give family planning money to any group that even counseled about abortions. Ping. In 1993, President Bill Clinton revoked this Global Gag Rule two days after he took office. Pong. In 2001, President George W. Bush signed the gag order back in place as his first order of business. Ping.

Suspect in Slaying of Uconn Student Returned to City for Trial?

NEW HAVEN -- The man suspected of shooting University of Connecticut student Vladimir Voinov to death in August 2008 in Fair Haven was returned to the city Tuesday night for trial. Nicholas Newton, who is either 20 or 21 years old, was arrested about two weeks ago in Fort Myers, Fla., where he had family members. U.S. marshals had set up several surveillance points in Fort Myers, hoping to find Newton. He was spotted in the passenger seat of a relative's car after a brief chase down one of th...

'Ban the Box' Moves Step Closer to Approval

By William Kaempffer Register Staff NEW HAVEN -- On Tuesday, the city moved a step closer to being the third municipality in the nation to enact legislation removing the question about criminal convictions from city job applications, and require all vendors doing business with the city to do the same.

Inn at Chester Open As Retreat?

The former Inn at Chester is not closed, but rather is doing business as Guest House Retreat and Conference Center, a not-for- profit educational facility. Guest House's aim is to provide an environment that allows individuals to develop their potential. It offers programs and events open to the public. It is not associated in any way with Edward Safdie or the former inn, which is why no one answered when a Register reporter called the old phone number.

Nonprofits Already Have Sacrificed for State?

Most people who ask how my organization is faring during difficult economic times know I work for a nonprofit agency, Marrakech Inc. Although I'm as uncertain as everyone about the future, my response is that I'm trying to control costs, but my options are limited. It is common practice for states to subcontract some services to nonprofit organizations because they are less expensive than the state providing the service. Most Connecticut nonprofits that are subcontractors rely on a cost-of-li...

As Gas Leaked, Car Gets Ticket ?

On Friday, a gas leak in New Haven caused evacuations of buildings. During this time, many cars were off limits because they happened to be parked in the area. When returning a short time later to retrieve his car, my boss received a ticket for an expired parking meter. I find it astonishing that the city Traffic Department could punish drivers when they could not gain access to their cars. Is this to meet the quota for tickets?

Seymour Swim Coach May Face Discipline

By Lauren Garrison Register Staff SEYMOUR -- The high school is looking for a temporary swim coach, following the disclosure that nine team members were disciplined for wearing T-shirts mocking a former teammate.

Big 3 Should Stop Sending Jobs Abroad

For the life of me, I can't understand bailing out the auto industry. The Detroit automakers keep making cars in Mexico, Canada and elsewhere, keeping foreign workers busy and laying off American workers. If they want to continue this practice, don't beg for Americans to subsidize it. Stop begging and firing American workers.

Ignoring Constitution, Congress Itching to Make D.C. The 51st State?

ONE answer is: Six rows of stars -- the top, third and fifth rows with nine, the second, fourth and sixth rows with eight. The question is: How might the nation reconfigure its flag to acknowledge a 51st state. The question is pertinent, or would be were Congress inclined to adhere to the Constitution. Both the House and Senate are moving toward pretending, as part of a disgraceful bargain with Utah, that the District of Columbia is a state.

Do You Favor the 'Ban the Box' Proposal? [Derived Headline]

Rolling Along Maya Moore Scores 24 to Lead No. [Derived Headline]

ROLLING ALONG Maya Moore scores 24 to lead No. 1 UConn over Rutgers 75-56, D1 HEARTY FARE

Change You Can Believe In? Nearly 60 Million Voters [Derived Headline]

Change you can believe in? Nearly 60 million voters did not think so. I am proud to say I am one of them. We have an inexperienced ideologue as president; a plagiarist as vice president; a secretary of state who thought she remembered landing in Bosnia under fire; an attorney general who helped pardon FALN terrorists; and most astounding, a tax cheat as treasury secretary, who will be responsible for the IRS. Combine poor Cabinet choices who have questionable ethics with the obsequious manner...

Donovan Spends Big for His Staff House Speaker [Derived Headline]

Donovan spends big for his staff House speaker pays his public relations chief more than governor earns. If you can't pay your Democratic crony $120,000 a year while he runs for governor, why not hire a press secretary for $165,000?

Wrong Time to Save? From a Purely Economic Point [Derived Headline]

Wrong time to save? From a purely economic point of view, Americans have chosen the worst possible time to start saving. For years, economic scolds have chided consumers for their spendthrift ways; for not saving enough for retirement or education; and urged them to pay cash for major purchases, to build an estate to pass on to their heirs. It was very good advice. Eclipsed by last week's report showing that the U.S. economy contracted 3.8 percent in the last quarter of 2008 and may shrink as...

Seniors Pleased to Hear About Property Tax Freeze Program??

By Pamela McLoughlin Register Staff Artie Carbone, 82, said seniors like herself on a fixed income are struggling more and more in the faltering economy to meet basic needs, such as paying for electricity and buying medication, not to mention this year's snow removal expenses.

If Americans Unite, Problems Will Be Licked?

Although Barack Obama was not my first choice as a nominee, I am delighted he is president. I hope and pray he is successful. The inauguration thrilled me. In my 82 years, I have never seen Americans so elated for an event, other than the conclusion of World War II. We need this togetherness to overcome the sense of gloom that prevails. Unemployment, cost of living, banking failures and a costly war have engulfed us and caused us to forget why our forefathers formed this great bastion of free...