Principals group accused of blocking school reform

A dissident group of 50 principals accused the ChicagoPrincipals Association on Tuesday of blocking school reform andcalled for giving more power to local school councils.

"We are a group of principals who really do not want to be viewedas obstructionists," said Sylvia Peters, principal of DumasElementary, 6615 S. Kenwood. "We want to come out in full support ofreform."

Peters and several other principals charged that the association'slawsuit, which challenges loss of tenure and questions theconstitutionality of the way local councils operate, is givingprincipals a reputation as anti-reformers. The case is before theIllinois Supreme Court.

"The principals …

Japan earthquake to exacerbate Asia's slowdown

Japan's devastating earthquake will further slow growth in Asia, where rising oil prices and higher interest rates are already cooling an engine of the global economy, economists say.

No one is predicting a massive slowdown, but as the grim human toll of Japan's March 11 quake mounted Monday and fears of spreading radiation and prolonged power outages grew, forecasts about the economic effect of the quake also darkened.

Few economists are ready to specify just how big Asia's slump will be because of the uncertainties over Japan's Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear plant and when power shortages — which are hitting industrial production — will be resolved.

"You are clearly not …

New Zealand beats Italy 20-6 in rugby test

Luke McAlister's five penalties helped New Zealand beat Italy 20-6 Saturday for a third straight win on the northern hemisphere tour, but it was the team's least impressive performance so far.

Corey Flynn scored the game's only try in the first half for New Zealand, while flyhalf Craig Gower kicked two penalties for Italy.

The All Blacks started with an inexperienced side that included three players _ Ben Smith, Mike Delany and Tamati Ellison _ making their test debuts, and the lack of familiarity was evident from the number of errors and lack of fluency.

Italy began in determined fashion in front of 80,000 fans at the San Siro, and took the lead …

Score signs leadoff men with hopes for long run

H igh levels of radio activity:It's official: Norm Van Lier and Doug Buffone start Monday asweekday morning co-hosts at WSCR-AM (1160). The former Bull andformer Bear, who previously co-hosted a weekend sports talk show,signed new multiyear contracts Wednesday with the Score.

Van Lier and Buffone replace six-year veterans Tom Shaer and JimMemolo as the Score's leadoff men. Shaer, who couldn't come to termson a contract renewal, hosted his final show Wednesday. Memolo willbe assigned other duties.

Harvey Wells, vice president and general manager of the Score,denied speculation that his new morning team may not be around forlong. "This is something we sincerely hope …

Federal disability legislation also protects employers

Kathy Speaker MacNett heads the labor and employment law group of the Harrisburg office of Buchanan Ingersoll.

A Pennsylvania federal court recently reaffirmed that under the Americans with Disabilities Act, employers do not have to create a new or light-duty position for a disabled employee or promote the individual into a vacant position.

Rochelle Sweet worked as an office clerical assistant at Bell Atlantic's central mail distribution facility in Norristown, a lengthy commute from his home in Reading. In 1992, he injured his back while pulling heavy bags of mail off a pallet and was restricted to light duty. He was diagnosed with two herniated discs and took a medical …

Lohse shackles Mets, wins seventh in a row in Cardinals' 7-1 victory

Kyle Lohse allowed an unearned run in seven innings for his seventh straight win and Albert Pujols had two hits and two RBIs in St. Louis' Cardinals' 7-1 victory over New York on Monday.

Chris Duncan added a two-run homer, his first since May 16, for the Cardinals and Aaron Miles had three hits while extending his hitting streak to 12 games.

John Maine (8-6) lasted four innings to match his season low for the Mets, who have lost three of four.

Mark Mulder got the last three outs, making the first relief appearance of his career in his 2008 debut. He missed most of the previous two seasons with a shoulder injury. He allowed two hits with a …

Celebrity Assets: How the stars manage their brands: The Troublemakers: Primadonna stars put studios in jeopardy with eRratic behavior

Movie-studio executives may be pining for the good old days of the"morals clause."

Walt Disney Co. quickly tried to limit its damage from MelGibson's arrest on recent drunken-driving charges. A few days afterthe incident in Malibu, Calif., Disney said it would drop a Holocaustminiseries project Gibson was planning for the studio's ABC network.But there is little Disney can do about its other entanglement withthe actor: its agreement to distribute his next movie, "Apocalypto."

Studios have little recourse these days when a star implodes. WhenTom Cruise entered the danger zone with public tirades aboutpsychiatry, Scientology and postpartum depression, executives …