Goodwill scam probe widens // Millions in land deals by 2 execs questioned

Two former Goodwill Industries executives are being investigatedas the masterminds behind a burgeoning -charity scandal involvingmillions of dollars in shady financial schemes and bogus land deals.

Nearly every local and federal investigative agency in Chicagois trying to untangle the multifaceted scam to determine how much waslooted from the social service agency.

But the losses go beyond money, as Goodwill attempts to regaincredibility in the devastating aftermath of the two executives'seven-year tenure at the 67-year-old charity. Goodwill officialssaid contributions have dropped and some fund-raising activities havebeen curtailed because of the …

Stocks Fall on Caterpillar, Google Earns

NEW YORK - Stocks fell Friday, retreating from record levels following disappointing results from longtime favorites Caterpillar Inc. and Google Inc. The Dow Jones industrials at times gave up more than 100 points.

In the bond market, the yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note hovered around the 5 percent level, recently slipping below that threshold.

The pullback in stocks came a day after the Dow Jones industrial average finished above 14,000 for the first time and the Standard & Poor's 500 index likewise logged a record close. While a retrenchment might not be surprising following the market's recent strong gains, Caterpillar, one of the 30 stocks that …

Marva Wright hospitalized after stroke

New Orleans blues singer Marva Wright has been hospitalized after a stroke.

Relatives say the 61-year-old Wright had just finished her regular gig at the CoCo Club on Bourbon Street early Saturday when paramedics were called because the singer wasn't feeling well and had slurred speech.

Wright's daughter, Gerry McKey, said Tuesday her mother remains in a local …

House Votes to Allow Data On Race in Death Appeals

WASHINGTON The House on Wednesday voted narrowly to make itsignificantly easier for defendants convicted of capital crimes tochallenge death sentences as racially biased.

The bill's language would allow inmates on Death Row to usestatistics on racial disparity to challenge their sentences. In viewof the fact that implementation of capital punishment laws arelargely the province of state legislatures and state courts,Congress' authority to do this is uncertain.

The bill, as it stands, would apply to current Death Rowinmates, but House Judiciary Chairman Jack Brooks (D-Texas) promisedto drop the retroactive provision in an upcoming conference with …

Nigeria: 1 soldier killed in suspected sect attack

MAIDUGURI, Nigeria (AP) — A Nigerian soldier has been killed and another wounded in a suspected attack by a radical Muslim sect in northeastern Nigeria.

Borno state Police Commissioner Mohammed Abubakar on Sunday said the attack on the soldiers came early Saturday morning as the two men ate at a local restaurant. A witness told The Associated Press that the assailants fired a Kalashnikov rifle at the …

China's economic growth eases slightly to 10.6 percent while inflation remains above 8 percent

China's robust economy slowed only slightly in the first quarter despite global gloom, while inflation stayed above 8 percent in March, the government said Wednesday, adding to pressure to rein in prices that are battering Chinese consumers.

The world's fourth-largest economy expanded by a still impressive 10.6 percent in January-March from a year earlier, down from the previous quarter's 11.2 percent rate, amid weaker global demand for exports and government steps to cool an investment boom.

Consumer prices rose 8.3 percent in March over the same month last year, down only slightly from February's 8.7 percent, the highest rate in nearly 12 years, according …

Fresh hope that Lee will stay

The Dons have stepped up efforts to persuade striker Lee Millerto sign a new deal.

Dons boss Jimmy Calderwood confirmed he has held further talkswith Miller pictured.

The Dons have already rejected a pounds110,000 offer fromBlackpool for the player and Calderwood is confident Miller willdecide to stay at Pittodrie. Calderwood …