Journalist From Italy Killed in Iraq By Captors
Date: 27 August 2004
By John F. Burns
John Burns
Al Jazeera reports that it received videotape from group calling itself Islamic Army in Iraq, showing killing of Italian journalist Enzo Baldoni; he disappeared last week while traveling to Najaf, after which group issued statement saying it could not guarantee his safety unless Italy withdraws its 2,000-member military contingent from Iraq within 48 hours; Italian government rejected demand; Prime Min Silvio Berlusconi, learning of Baldoni's murder, condemns act of 'barbarity'; photo (M)
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In Chicago, Anyway, You Surely Can Fight City Hall (and Vice Versa)
Date: 26 August 2004
By Stephen Kinzer
Stephen Kinzer
Mayor Richard M Daley of Chicago has accused Chicago Tribune of withholding bad news about Wrigley Field because its corporate parent, Tribune Co, owns field and Chicago Cubs, who play there; city officials recently suggested that Wrigley might be so unsafe that games there would have to be canceled; inspectors later pronounced it sound; Daley set off latest round of sniping after hearing news last month of falling concrete at Wrigley; Daily has never denied that he is a White Sox fan; photos (M)
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Democrats to Open Office Today To Monitor the Republicans
Date: 27 August 2004
By Jonathan P. Hicks
Jonathan Hicks
Democratic National Committee will open counterconvention headquarters just blocks from Madison Square Garden, and will staff it with team of high-profile Democrats to refute and counter Republican message; there will be daily news conferences and other events to highlight differences between candidates (M)
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New York Awaits Republicans With Reluctance and Unease
Date: 27 August 2004
By Janny Scott and Marjorie Connelly
Janny Scott
More than half of all New Yorkers are awaiting week of Republican National Convention with mix of dread and unease; 53 percent of those questioned in New York Times/CBS News poll say they are very or somewhat worried about terrorist attack during convention, while 20 percent say they are 'not at all' worried about that; 48 percent say they are very or somewhat worried that demonstrations or protest marches will lead to violence, and 52 percent say some other city should have been picked for convention; leeriness of many New Yorkers stands in contrast to seeming enthusiasm of their guests; 86 percent of delegates say in separate Times/CBS News poll that they consider New York a good choice, and 50 percent say they believe most New Yorkers would agree; 31 percent express concern about terrorist attack during convention; some New Yorkers express skepticism about delegates' stated views; nearly 5,000 delegates and alternatives will be arriving in city in which 68 percent of residents polled say they would vote Democratic ticket if election were held today, and 63 percent say they think Republican Party cares 'not much' or 'not at all' about their problems; graph (M)
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BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY BOUGHT STAKE IN SERVICEMASTER
Date: 26 August 2004
By Bloomberg News
Bloomberg News
Berkshire Hathaway Inc discloses it has bought 3.73 million shares of Servicemaster Co (S)
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BLACKROCK TO BUY STATE STREET RESEARCH
Date: 27 August 2004
By Bloomberg News
Bloomberg News
Bond fund manager BlackRock Inc acquires State Street Research and Management from MetLife Inc for $375 million in cash and $50 million worth of stock (S)
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CONSOL ENERGY EXPECTS LOSS IN THIRD QUARTER
Date: 26 August 2004
By Bloomberg News
Bloomberg News
Coal producer Consol Energy Inc will have net loss of 30 to 40 cents per share in third quarter because of lower production and higher costs; equipment problems at mines and labor shortages in eastern Kentucky contributed to production drop (S)
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KERR-MCGEE RAISES FORECAST FOR OIL PRODUCTION
Date: 26 August 2004
By Bloomberg News
Bloomberg News
Kerr-McGee Corp raises its forecast for oil output in third quarter because field in Gulf of Mexico is exceeding expectations; expects oil production to average 156,000 to 170,000 per day, beating earlier forecast of 142,000 to 155,000 (S)
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COURT APPROVES AUCTION OF A.B. DICK COMPANY
Date: 26 August 2004
By Bloomberg News
Bloomberg News
A B Dick Co receives court approval to auction company on Oct 29; has $40 million bid from Presstek Inc; judge also approves $7 million loan to help company continue operations (S)
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APOLLO GROUP SEES IMPROVED FIRST-QUARTER PROFIT
Date: 26 August 2004
By Bloomberg News
Bloomberg News
Apollo Group, operator of largest for-profit education company in US, says first-quarter profit will be 56 cents per share; revenue for quarter ending Nov 30 will be $529 million to $532 million, up from $411.8 million year ago; campus enrollment will be 12 percent to 13 percent more than year earlier (S)
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