Two house fires are under investigation after firefighters were called to the same Victorian street twice within 30 minutes.

Having put out a minor fire at a Ballarat house in Rubicon Street about 2.30am, the CFA was called again to the same street at 2.55am following reports of a house fire a few doors down.

The man, 20, and woman, 55, who fled the second house were treated for smoke inhalation. Both fires are being treated as suspicious.

Summary: Firefighters have been called to the same street twice in half an hour to battle two suspicious blazes in Ballarat.


Up to 35 firefighters were called to the scene to fight the blaze. (9NEWS)

Multiple fire crews have battled a blaze at a factory in Sydney’s west.

The fire at the Apollo Kitchen’s warehouse on Long St, Smithfield, broke out at about 4.30am, Fire and Rescue NSW said.

It may have been sparked in the back of the factory where there were pallets holding building materials, firefighters at the scene told 9NEWS.

About 35 firefighters helped to fight the fire, which has since been contained.

No one was inside the warehouse at the time of the fire.

© Nine Digital Pty Ltd 2016


Shares of Biogen Inc. opened up more than 5 percent Monday morning after the Cambridge biotech company reported positive data in a late-stage clinical study of its experimental treatment for spinal muscular atrophy.

Biogen is co-developing the drug candidate, called nusinersen, with Ionis Pharmaceuticals Inc. of Carlsbad, Calif., to treat SMA, a rare disease that causes loss of muscle control and is a leading genetic cause of death for infants and children.

The drug met its top goal, known as a primary endpoint, in the clinical trial, according to a statement by the two companies. They said an analysis of data from the trial showed that children with later-onset SMA “experienced a highly statistically significant improvement in motor function” after taking nusinersen compared with those who didn’t take the drug.

The results “materially increases the probability” of US regulators approving the drug next year for a broad set of patients, despite previous investor skepticism, biotech analyst John Scotti at research firm Evercore ISI in New York, wrote in a note to investors.

Last month, the Food and Drug Administration accepted the Biogen-Ionis new drug application, giving it priority review. A ruling is expected next April.

Biogen shares were trading up 5.4 percent at $291.89, while shares of Ionis were up 24.2 percent at $33.78 shortly after 9:45 a.m. on the Nasdaq stock exchange.

Summary: Shares of Biogen Inc. opened up more than 5 percent Monday morning after the Cambridge biotech company reported positive data in a clinical study of its experimental treatment for spinal muscular atrophy.


Journalist, writer, broadcaster and filmmaker Anne Deveson, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer's two years ago, has died, aged 86.

She is being remembered for her career, focused particularly on social issues and mental health.

"Vale Anne Deveson, you gave us so much over a long productive life so your friends honour your contributions to making society more civil," feminist Eva Cox said in a tweet.

Summary: The journalist Anne Deveson is being remembered for her highlighting social issues and mental health following her death on Monday.


Politicians who regard Section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act as a serious threat to “free speech” are again pursuing a range of strategies to discredit and repeal or water-down Australia’s national racial vilification law.

Earlier this month the Liberal Democratic party senator, David Leyonhjelm, lodged a complaint with the Australian Human Rights Commission, alleging he had been the target of conduct that breached 18C. And, just this week, Liberal senator Cory Bernardi has led a push to introduce a private member’s bill that would curtail 18C.

So what is 18C? And why does it make people like Bernardi and Leyonhjelm so agitated?

Section 18C was added to the Racial Discrimination Act just over 20 years ago, with the passage of the Racial Hatred Act. Under Section 18C:

(1) It is unlawful for a person to do an act, otherwise than in private, if:

(a) the act is reasonably likely, in all the circumstances, to offend, insult, humiliate or intimidate another person or a group of people; and

(b) the act is done because of the race, colour or national or ethnic origin of the other person or of some or all of the people in the group.

It is important to note that under Section 18D, conduct that prima facie breaches 18C will not be unlawful if it is done “reasonably and in good faith” for artistic, academic, scientific or other public interest purposes, or in reporting on any such conduct.

The original Racial Discrimination Act was (and still is) primarily concerned with situations in which racism produces a material disadvantage for someone. That might be, for example, denial of a promotion in the workplace context, or rejection as a potential tenant of a residential property.

In 1995 federal parliament recognised racism can also manifest in other ways and cause other sorts of harms. These include the harms that can be done by what is often referred to colloquially as “racial vilification” or “hate speech”.

Thinkers, writers, politicians, journalists and others have been arguing for many years about whether words alone can harm – or harm to such an extent that the state should take an interest in discouraging such behaviour. Anyone who has really listened to people who are frequently vilified because of their actual or perceived identify knows that the harms are not trivial.

In my own research with Kath Gelber, we heard numerous accounts of the damage that is done by racist comments, including feeling hurt and angry, fearful, intimidated and paranoid. It can crush people’s self-esteem, leave them feeling paralysed and silenced, and excluded from the wider community.

It may also cause people to modify their behaviour in undesirable ways, such as avoiding going out in public to avoid abuse, being unwilling to identify with one’s ethnicity in the workplace so as not to risk ridicule, or speaking only English in public.

No-one pays much attention to the majority of cases in which Section 18C is invoked – to signal that the behaviours that cause such harms are unacceptable in a multicultural liberal democracy.

The heat is always at the margins, stoked by media interest because of the identity of an alleged perpetrator (the Andrew Bolt case from 2011 being a prime example), or because the case is regarded as linking up a wider agenda around “political correctness”.

This appears to be, at least in part, why The Australian newspaper and Bernardi are so interested in a pending case triggered by controversy over a computer lab provided to support Indigenous students at the Queensland University of Technology.

It is much harder to perpetuate the myth that 18C threatens the foundations of Australian democracy (and so must be repealed), if the more typical cases that we have discovered in our research are considered. These included:

There was also a case in which a man who was simply doing his job as a security officer at a public building was called a “Singaporean prick”, and echoing the classic retort of xenophobic exclusion that has been slung at numerous immigrant communities: “Go back to Singapore”.

The wording of Section 18C, and the inclusion of exemptions in Section 18D, represent a genuine attempt to set some parameters for civil and respectful communication, and for making a declaration that, as a society, we recognise the human dignity of all, irrespective of colour, ethnicity or country of origin.

Bernardi and Leyonhjelm, and other campaigners for the rollback of 18C, tend to focus on the words “offend” and “insult” that form part of the key phrase in the legislation (“offend, insult, humiliate or intimidate”). However, this approach misunderstands the harm threshold in 18C.

The courts have consistently held that the bar is not a low one. To fall within 18C the speech must have:

… profound and serious effects, not to be likened to mere slights.

In Eatock v Bolt the Federal Court explained:

The definitions of ‘insult’ and ‘humiliate’ are closely connected to a loss of or lowering of dignity. The word ‘intimidate’ is apt to describe the silencing consequences of the dignity denying impact of racial prejudice as well as the use of threats of violence. The word ‘offend’ is potentially wider, but given the context, ‘offend’ should be interpreted conformably with the words chosen as its partners.

Finally, there is another point that often gets lost in the debate over 18C. As far as legal regulation goes, the regime contained in the Racial Discrimination Act is one of the more modest forms of state intervention. The Human Rights Commission is a neutral facilitator, not an enforcer. And, wherever possible, the aim is to resolve things via conciliation.

Only a very small number of cases ever make their way to the court system. Even where a complaint is upheld, the remedies are hardly draconian. Damages are rarely awarded (and if they are, the amount is modest), and no-one is convicted or goes to prison – because 18C does not create a criminal offence.

Section 18C alone can’t “fix” the problem of racism that continues to exist in Australia. It would be wrong to see it as a magical panacea. But it is equally wrong – and unsupported by the available evidence – to regard 18C as a threat to Australia’s liberal democracy.

• This piece originally appeared in the Conversation. Luke McNamara is a professor in the faculty of law at the University of New South Wales. He recently completed (in collaboration with Professor Kath Gelber at the University of Queensland) a study of the impact of hate speech laws on public discourse.

Summary: The Racial Discrimination Act is not a threat to our liberal democracy, it’s ‘a genuine attempt to set some parameters for civil communication’


An Oklahoma man was arrested on Saturday, Nov. 12, after leading police on a 208 mph chase.

Nineteen-year-old Hector Fraire first tripped a radar gun doing 84 mph on the Kilpatrick Turnpike in Oklahoma City, before speeding away as police tried to pull him over.

Slow down! Dale Earnhardt, Jr. pulled over for speeding

According to the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, Fraire’s heavily modified 2011 Ford Mustang was then clocked doing 176 mph and 208 mph, and he tried to elude the chase vehicle by turning off his headlights and brake lights.

An Oklahoma Highway Patrol spokesman tells FoxNews.com that as the pursuing officer lost contact with the vehicle, he radioed ahead to any units in the area. A Canadian County Deputy sitting in a parking lot spotted the car and was able to intecept it. The driver then pulled over, dropped his keys out of the window, and was arrested and later charged with reckless driving and felony eluding.

The Associated Press contributed to this report

Summary: An Oklahoma man was arrested on Saturday after leading police on a 208 mph chase.


On Monday, in a Santa Cruz courtroom, Sara Kelly Keenan became the second U.S. citizen—and the first California resident—to legally change her gender from female to "non-binary." Keenan followed in the footsteps of Oregon resident Jamie Shupe, who in June became the first person in the U.S. to successfully petition a court to recognize non-binary as a gender identity.

Keenan, a 55-year-old retired paralegal, told NBC OUT on Monday that she had never considered petitioning a court for a gender change to something other than male or female until Shupe's story made international news.

"Until Jamie did it," Keenan said, "I thought it was change that needed to happen through the legislative process."

Keenan was born intersex, with a condition known as Swyer Syndrome that prevents the body from producing sex hormones. When Keenan was a teenager and showed no signs of starting puberty, she was diagnosed and underwent a surgery to remove gonadal tissue—a process that she said was not fully revealed to her by her parents or doctors. Like most parents of babies born intersex, Keenan's mother and father chose her gender without consulting her in the process. After living her entire life as a woman, Keenan visited an endocrinologist seven years ago who confirmed her suspicions that she was born intersex.

Then on August 5, emboldened by Jamie Shupe's Oregon court victory, Keenan applied for a gender change.

"I identify as intersex, both as my medical reality and as my gender identification," Keenan said. "It never occurred to me that this was an option, because I thought the gender change laws were strictly for transgender people. I decided to try and use the same framework to have a third gender."

Keenan, who told NBC OUT she still prefers to use female pronouns, is not alone. Her court petition was a quiet, unannounced test case for a group of California people who also seek to change their legal genders to non-binary rather than female or male. About five people—all working with the Intersex and Genderqueer Recognition Project—plan to petition courts in the counties of San Francisco, Alameda, Santa Clara and Sacramento over the next few weeks.

Unsure of whether California would recognize non-binary as a legal gender as easily as Oregon had in June, Keenan attended her scheduled court hearing Monday with a detailed argument prepared for the judge. Instead, she encountered Judge Robert B. Atack, who simply signed off on the gender change—albeit while acknowledging that his move was likely to push forward a complicated process for the state and for Keenan.

"I'm 55 years old, this doesn't really change my life very much," Keenan told NBC OUT. "But I want to leave the world a better place for younger intersex people. This represents a huge opportunity for acceptance and awareness for young non-binary and intersex and trans people—and for their parents."

Intersex people are not the only ones pressuring states to recognize a third gender that falls outside of, or somewhere between, male and female. For Jamie Shupe, the road to non-binary was pebbled with transitions: from male to female, and finally from female to "other."

"I view us as one and the same. I view being trans through the intersex lens," Shupe told NBC OUT on Monday. "The stuff with me having male biology and a female gender identity—that doesn't make me female. That makes me a mix of the sexes."

When Shupe's gender change from female to non-binary was approved in a Portland, Oregon court in June, it came as a sudden shock not only to the state's officials but also to transgender advocacy groups and powerful LGBTQ law firms. No one had ever successfully changed their gender to anything but male or female in the United States before, and most of the battles for such expanded gender recognition were taking place through legislative drafts or lawsuits like Lambda Legal's passport case against the State Department on behalf of an intersex Colorado resident named Dana Zzyym.

After Jamie Shupe, and now Sara Kelly Keenan, the movement to get the government to legally recognize a third gender has changed course—starting with relatively simple forms at local courthouses. But there's still a long way to go. As Shupe learned in the months after becoming the nation's first legally non-binary citizen, getting a passport or driver's license that includes the new gender is impossible—for now.

Also on Monday, Shupe's attorney received an unexpected email from the Oregon Department of Motor Vehicles:

"Last week DMV received the okay to move forth with forming an advisory committee and drafting administrative rules regarding the capturing of sex on the driver license. The rules will allow DMV to capture and print an identifier for sex other than M for male and F for female on the driver license, permit, and ID card."

The letter—signed by the Oregon DMV's Driver License Policy Program Coordinator Renee Davis—clarified that the process could take six months or more and did not promise a date by which the new system would enact. But the message was still clear: Jamie Shupe had won. And soon, Shupe's ID card will reflect the fact that they (Shupe prefers the pronoun "they" rather than she or he) are neither male nor female.

"The DMV letter came in first today," Shupe said. "But Sara's court order made me cry. I'm just amazingly proud of Sara for having the courage to carry the ball forward. I'm still emotional."

Oregon is a notoriously easy-going state when it comes to bureaucracy and is notoriously progressive when it comes to state policies—on subjects like LGBTQ rights, marijuana legalization and assisted suicide—that are controversial elsewhere. Will California be as acquiescent when it comes time for Keenan to update her license?

Even Toby Adams, Keenan's attorney and the legal representative of the Intersex and Genderqueer Recognition Project, isn't sure what to expect. Adams told NBC OUT that California is a "very big state with a big bureaucracy" to match.

"Now that Sara has this court order, she should be able to walk down the DMV and ask them to make this change," Adams said. "If the DMV is willing to work with us, that's the route we're going to go. If they're not willing to work with us, we'll continue to go to the legislature to make them comply."

Adams recalled the long years of the marriage equality movement as it moved dually through state legislatures and through the sheer force of countless same-sex couples bombarding courthouses with applications for marriage licenses. While the parallel is obvious, Adams was careful to point out that the non-binary gender recognition movement is still in its early stages.

"There are people waiting in line for this to be a possibility," Adams said. "People are born intersex, born with non-binary gender identity. You can't just sweep people under the rug and ask them to lie on their identification. Discrimination on the basis of sex is unconstitutional."

Follow NBC OUT on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Summary: California resident Sara Kelly Keenan has become the second U.S. citizen to legally change gender from female to "non-binary."


Before you go, we thought you'd like these...

Nobody likes cleaning! But it turns out there are a few things you can do to make cleaning your home much less of a hassle.

You won't believe what kind of cleaning miracles you'll be able to perform with a lemon, vinegar, olive oil, a hair dryer and a squeegee. Watch the video above to learn how to do everything from picking up dog hair off the carpets to getting cup rings off coffee tables!

Cleaning hacks to simplify your life

Make a habit of putting at least one thing away when you enter a different room in your house.

Spray an all-purpose cleaner every time you shower. This will prevent mildew build up and ensure you never have to an entire two hours to clean your showers.

Opt for a shower gel or body wash instead of using a bar of soap to avoid extra shower scum. Bath & Body Works has a Marshmallow Pumpkin Latte variation perfect for this season.

Pour a cup of Borax in your toilet before hitting the sack. Give your toilet bowl a little toilet wand love in the morning and presto your toilet is sparkling.

Get rid of pet hair (and your own) by wiping all your hairy surfaces with a pair of slightly damp rubber gloves.

Has this ever happened to you? ::tragic::

Grab your iron and lift that stain right up.

To clean a dirty microwave take a simple sponge and throw it into a bowl with water, dish soap and vinegar. Then, place the damp sponge inside your microwave and heat for three minutes. Once that's done, the microwave will be full of condensation and much easier to clean. Be careful though, the sponge will be very hot so it's best to wear rubber gloves as you clean.

Clean your shower liner by throwing it in the wash with a few soiled towels. Add a half-cup of baking soda in with your normal amount of detergent. At the rinse cycle, dump in a half-cup of vinegar. Hang your shower liner to dry.

Keep coal or baking soda in your fridge to absorb gross odors.

Line your George Foreman grill with aluminum foil before using it to avoid hours of scrubbing post-eating.

Eat straight out of takeout containers or a tortilla to avoid having dishes to wash.

Keep cleaning supply where you use it.

Avoid heavy-duty fridge cleaning by lining your fridge shelves with Press' N Seal.

Summary: Cleaning isn't always fun, but it can be when you have clever tricks up your sleeve for cleaning everything!


Friday, March 24th 2000, 2:12AM

Edward Kosner, the former editor of Newsweek, New York and Esquire magazines who joined the Daily News 16 months ago as editor of a new Sunday edition, was named editor in chief of the Daily News yesterday by Mortimer B. Zuckerman, chairman and co-publisher of the paper.

Kosner replaces Debby Krenek, who recently decided to pursue other opportunities.

The new editor appointed Michael Goodwin, the editor of The News' Pulitzer Prize-winning editorial page since 1995, as senior executive editor of the paper, his second in command. The Sunday edition will now report to the editor in chief and his staff.

"Ed Kosner and Michael Goodwin are two of the nation's finest journalists," Zuckerman said. "Ed has revitalized the Sunday News over the past year. I know he will bring the same energy, creativity, focus and integrity to every day's edition of the paper.

"Michael Goodwin and his staff have taken the editorial and op-ed pages to a level of true national prominence, winning more than 25 awards for outstanding journalism - including two Pulitzer Prizes.

"Recently, Debby Krenek informed me that she would like to pursue other opportunities. I am confident that we have an outstanding team of editors to lead the paper."

Krenek announced her departure to a staff meeting in the newsroom.

"It's been a great honor to be the editor of the Daily News. I leave with some sadness and regret but pride in our accomplishments over the last couple of years. We got the subway fare lowered, by God, and that is what this paper is all about," Krenek said.

"Debby Krenek has made wonderful contributions to The News in many capacities," Zuckerman said. "Most recently, as editor in chief, she oversaw a number of outstanding investigative series, which exposed the city's most-sued doctors, the city's dirtiest restaurants and telephone service problems facing hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers, and explored the asthma epidemic.

"The News won numerous awards for journalistic excellence during her tenure, including a Pulitzer Prize for Mike McAlary's exposÃ© of the Abner Louima police brutality in the city. I am deeply grateful for her professionalism and commitment to the paper, as well as for the pleasure of working with her."

Said Kosner, "The Daily News has always been a part of my life in New York. It's an honor and a thrill to be asked to edit the paper I've been reading as long as I can remember."

Said Goodwin, "Besides the many talented people who put out this paper, what makes the Daily News special are the readers. They are the greatest."

Kosner, 62, began his journalism career as the City College correspondent of The New York Times. After graduating, he joined the New York Post as a 20-year-old night rewrite man.

In 1963, he went to Newsweek as a national affairs writer, and during the next 16 years held all the top editorial positions, serving as editor from 1975 to 1979.

Kosner directed Newsweek's award-winning coverage of the Watergate scandal.

In 1980, he took over as editor of New York magazine, and during his 13 years as editor also held the titles of publisher and president. The magazine set records for circulation and advertising during Kosner's tenure, and won four National Magazine Awards. From 1993 to 1997, he edited Esquire.

Kosner is the former president of the American Society of Magazine Editors. He is married to the novelist and magazine writer Julie Baumgold and lives in Manhattan. He has three children.

Michael Goodwin, 50, led The News' Editorial Board to a Pulitzer Prize in 1999 for a series of editorials about the famed Apollo Theatre. In its award, the Pulitzer Board cited The News' "effective campaign to rescue Harlem's Apollo Theatre from financial mismanagement."

This year, The News won a George Polk Award for editorials on the plight of farm workers. The News' Op-Ed page, also Goodwin's responsibility, has won numerous awards, as well, including a Pulitzer Prize for commentary given to E.R. Shipp in 1996.

Goodwin is co-author of the 1985 book, "I Koch," an unauthorized biography of New York's former mayor.

Before joining The News in 1991, Goodwin was a reporter, City Hall bureau chief and TV sports columnist for the New York Times. He served for three years as an adjunct professor at the Graduate School of Journalism of Columbia University.

Born in Lewistown, Pa., he earned a bachelor of arts degree in English from Columbia in 1972. He lives in New York with his wife, Jennifer Raab, and two children.

Summary: Kosner replaces Debby Krenek, who recently decided to pursue other opportunities. The new editor appointed Michael Goodwin, the editor of The News' Pulitzer Prize-winning editorial page since 1995, as senior executive editor of the paper, his second in command. The Sunday edition will now report to the editor in chief and his staff. "Ed Kosner and Michael Goodwin are two of the nation's finest journalists,"Zuckerman said.


Ameristar Casinos Inc., a company that notes that the newest and most popular slot machines are a “hallmark” of its brand, said it has agreed to purchase 41 acres of land in Springfield for $16 million in anticipation of casino gaming being legalized in Massachusetts --- something that could happen imminently.

The Las Vegas-based company said its purchase agreement is with an affiliate of the O’Connell Development Group Inc., which had anticipated a large-scale retail project on the site. The closing of the purchase is expected in January.

Ameristar said its plan is to apply for the for the sole casino license for Western Massachusetts. If it is successful in obtaining that license, Ameristar said it would move forward with a plan to build a luxury hotel and entertainment resort.

According to the company’s press release, the site it has agreed to buy is currently vacant; it has been used for light industrial purposes.

The company said its portfolio includes eight casino hotel properties that primarily serve consumers from Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, and Nevada.

A story in today’s Globe notes that final approval on casinos may come today.

“State lawmakers gave a tentative green light yesterday to a bill authorizing three resort-style casinos and one slot machine parlor, but stopped short of giving the final approval that would have sent the measure to Governor Deval Patrick’s desk,” that story says. “The preliminary votes taken last night are expected to be finalized today, ending years of contentious debate and setting Massachusetts on a path toward slot machines, poker, and blackjack tables.”

Summary: Ameristar Casinos Inc., a company that notes that the newest and most popular slot machines are a “hallmark” of its brand, has agreed to purchase 41 acres of land in Springfield for $16 million in anticipation of casino gaming being legalized in Massachusetts --- something that could happen imminently. Ameristar’s plan is to apply for the for the sole casino license for Western Massachusetts. If successful, it would look to build a luxury hotel and entertainment resort.


Fri Jun 25, 2010 12:04am EDT

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Al Gore, the world's pre-eminent environmentalist, has embarked on his toughest recycling challenge: his own cable channel.

For much of the past year, Current TV has been quietly undergoing an overhaul that will change just about everything but the struggling channel's name. Current declined comment for this story.

It's a revitalization project Gore & Co. embarked on after exhausting a more lucrative possibility: selling the channel. Current's founding partner, Joel Hyatt, spent much of 2009 shopping the network with a price tag that wildly overestimated the company's worth, confirmed sources at several media firms. Current even had extensive sale talks as far back as 2007 with Google, where Gore serves as a senior advisor.

Now the focus has shifted to fixing Current, perhaps with an eye toward a sale down the road. Last July, Hyatt was replaced as CEO by Mark Rosenthal, the former MTV Networks COO who is rebuilding the channel in the traditional mold Gore avowed to avoid, only to suffer the consequences.

Rosenthal has brought in a crew of colleagues from his MTV days including an unlikely ringer: Brian Graden, who masterminded hit series from "South Park" to "The Osbournes," before leaving last year. He's on retainer as a consultant.

Forget bite-sized clips created by anonymous viewers; the new Current will consist of full-length series from the usual suspects in unscripted production who are getting the word that Current is open for business.

For all its troubles, Current heads toward its fifth anniversary in August a profitable venture receiving robust license fees and a worldwide distribution footprint of 70 million. But the network could lose millions of those homes if it fails to secure a new carriage agreement at the end of the year with Time Warner Cable, a key outlet because of its exposure to Madison Avenue.

Either way, advertisers will be hearing more from Current because it will finally make its Nielsen ratings available in the fourth quarter, a risky but necessary move that could expose how few subscribers are actually watching.

"They've got to become rated soon or advertisers will not go with them," said Derek Baine, a cable industry analyst. "It's a big red flag."

For all the brilliance he has displayed grasping the meteorological dynamics governing the globe, Gore has miscalculated those of a slightly less complex world: the TV business. The radical ambitions he brought to the environment didn't pan out the same way in cable; the television will not be revolutionized.

But while the publicity attending his recent split from his wife of 40 years might suggest Gore has enough distractions in his life, he's said to be as committed as ever to Current. In recent months, he's traveled to Italy and South Africa to preside over the launches of international versions of Current.

Gore is working the back rooms back home as well, from affiliate handshaking at the Cable Show in Los Angeles in May to dining with 20 media buyers in New York in April. That same day he touted Current in a speech at a media-industry conference in New York.

When Gore gathered a team of investors to buy the network formerly known as NewsWorld International from Vivendi Universal Entertainment in 2004, rumor had it the former vice president sought to transform it into a liberal-minded corrective to Fox News Channel.

But when he unveiled Current a year later, it took what its founders called a "small-d" democratic approach: empowering viewers to create the content. A companion website would train viewers to upload their own video programing -- even some of the commercials. Current also catered to the young and tech-savvy by making the programing "pods" no greater than 8 minutes in length.

But it was almost immediately apparent internally that Current's programing strategy was not sustainable; the video was low in volume and, often enough, quality. Compensating for that shortcoming only created a new problem: Current dramatically expanded its in-house corps of producers to the point where the staff ballooned to 200 -- unusual for a small network.

As far back as 2007, it was clear to Current management that for all its faith in the programing concept it had an untenable business model. With significant stakes in the company and anxious investors looking for an exit strategy, Hyatt and Gore began looking for buyers that had pockets deep enough to support it.

Gore's ties to Google made it a natural choice. Those ties gave Google an early presence on Current TV, which ran interstitials featuring Top 10 searches from the site. But an acquisition was an entirely different matter, one that ran contrary to the company's avowed disinterest in being in the content business.

Nevertheless, sources say talks between the two companies went beyond preliminary negotiations, for a price in the neighborhood of $400 million-500 million. Ultimately, Gore's proximity to Google wasn't enough to get the deal done.

"While Google is constantly talking to various companies about a variety of things, we don't comment on rumor or speculation," a spokesman said.

Since then, Current has been offered up to every media firm operating a stable of cable channels. Its appeal is easily underestimated: Even the dimmest assessments of Current's brand and programing are outweighed by the fact that the network is in enough homes that growing it to full distribution is a very lucrative possibility only one of the big boys can achieve. That's because the Viacoms and Discoverys of the world are able to leverage their biggest channels to build up smaller spin-offs.

Current could very well have thrived in such an arrangement but the problem was Current's $500 million-plus price tag. That may seem a small sum compared to the billions that earlier acquisitions from BET to TNN have fetched. But that number is far above what potential buyers were willing to pay and the marketplace lately hasn't been conducive to acquisitions even at a fair price.

Market conditions also killed another route to growth Current tried in more publicized fashion: IPO. The company filed to the tune of $100 million in class A common stock in January 2008, unfortunately timed to the crumbling of the U.S. economy. By the following April, the IPO was canceled, leaving Current underneath serious debt. In November 2008, 60 layoffs gave the company a little breathing room.

With no choice but to fix the network they were saddled with, Hyatt stepped aside as CEO to make room for Rosenthal, who has sat on Current's board since its inception. Since joining nearly a year ago, Current has maintained near-radio silence as he leads retrenchment efforts.

The network did pop back on the radar, albeit as a footnote, to a major story in August: Two female journalists employed by Current were detained in North Korea and nearly imprisoned for a 12-year term before Bill Clinton was brought in to negotiate their release.

Rosenthal signaled his game plan last July, when 80 more staffers were laid off. Current also announced at the time that it would ditch its signature short-form programing. The move was indicative of a 180-degree turn from Gore's original vision: Current would conform to the traditional network model in every way, shape and form. Changes should be evident on air first quarter of 2011.

The early word is Current will be nowhere near its former staff size. Rather, it will be restructured less like one massive news bureau and more like a traditional cable channel, with formal departments for development and acquisition.

The channel will likely stock up on documentaries, a safer play than going with all originals. Still, originals will be crucial part of the mix.

Also going forward the channel will likely blur the boundaries between news and reality formats. In addition, part of the mandate at Current going forward is lightening up beyond its more serious-minded fare -- and aging up as well, about a decade older than the early-twenties male that was its former target.

All that Current has made public about its development slate is that the network had struck a deal with Will Wright, creator of the videogame colossus "The Sims," to create his first TV venture: "Crowdsourced TV," which aims to create shows based on the ideas of the viewing audience.

In retrospect, what's distinctive about Current's troubles was that Gore's vision had so much potential. It's uncanny how close he was to capitalizing on several key trends that transformed the media world, only to watch others do so.

For instance, Current's reliance on user-generated video was the right idea, but the wrong medium. Little did Current know that at virtually the same time -- and in the same Bay Area region where it was headquartered -- an unknown website called YouTube would adopt a similar programing strategy.

With 2 billion streams per day currently under its domain, the winning approach isn't difficult to determine. Having just celebrated YouTube's own fifth birthday, founder Chad Hurley still talks of his creation in eerily similar terms to the populist phenomenon Gore was hoping to spark.

Furthermore, insiders say the Current rank and file agitated to take advantage of Gore's political outlook as a programing mission. But they were repelled by management's insistence that the network stay even-handed in fear of alienating the cable operators that granted it carriage.

Lo and behold, another cable network once known for its struggles, MSNBC, righted itself precisely by leaning left in its primetime programing.

Another trend Current failed to exploit was Gore himself. Even as Gore rocketed to international acclaim with "An Inconvenient Truth," Current barely leveraged its in-house rock star; Gore didn't appear on the channel's air until its third year, and fleetingly thereafter. And yet Gore's reputation was such that he could have been the basis for the entire channel, not unlike what Discovery Networks is doing with its much anticipated OWN venture with Oprah Winfrey.

Depending on which insider you ask, Gore was either: leery about letting his cable channel bask in his halo in fear of seeming self-serving; too distracted by the production and subsequent success of "Truth" to even have the time to get involved, or Current TV management intentionally kept Gore at arm's length in fear of turning the channel into Gore TV.

Summary: LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Al Gore, the world's pre-eminent environmentalist, has embarked on his toughest recycling challenge: his own cable channel.For much of the past year, Current TV has


This article is part of the Open Web Awards, an open, international contest for the best websites and services.

Now that the breaking up via Facebook status update bridge has been crossed, the online dating space probably knows no bounds. In addition to social networks serving as a hub for finding out about the dating status (or non-status) of your friends, a number of other trends in online dating have emerged, like dozens of niche sites for different ethnic groups and people with very specific lifestyles.

We recently took a comprehensive look at many of these sites in our resource list: 120+ Sites for Singles to Find Love. Did any of these sites help out your dating game in the past year? Nominate it in the widget below:

Feel free to elaborate on your nomination in the comments, or try to gain more support for your favorite service by copying the widget to your blog (click the “Grab This” link in the widget above)!

The Open Web Awards is made possible by our sponsors. By supporting the Open Web Awards, these companies reward and encourage innovative web technologies. We can’t thank them enough for sharing our passion: building great web companies.

“PartnerUp brings small business and social networking together to create a community where entrepreneurs find the people, resources and information to grow their businesses.”

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CBS News Poll analysis by the CBS News Polling Unit: Sarah Dutton, Jennifer De Pinto, Fred Backus and Anthony Salvanto.

Most Americans still say the economy is in a rut, according to a new CBS News/New York Times poll, but more and more say the economy is improving. And as the public grows more optimistic about the economy, the poll shows, President Obama is getting some credit for it.

As many as 34 percent of Americans say the economy is getting better, according to the poll, conducted February 8-13, up from 28 percent who thought so a month ago. While more than four in 10 think the economy is stuck in place, the percentage that says it is improving is the highest it has been in nearly two years.

Three in four Americans say the economy is in bad shape, and just 23 percent say it is good - but the percentage that says it is good has also been slowly climbing since late last fall, and is now at its highest level since last March.

And while a majority (59 percent) still think the country is on the wrong track, the percentage that says it is on the right track has risen to 35 percent, up from 29 percent a month ago and the highest in a year.

More Americans still disapprove (50 percent) than approve (44 percent) of Mr. Obama's handling of the economy, but he has improved some on this measure in the last few months. In January, 54 percent disapproved and 40 percent approved.

Evaluations of the president on handling job creation and the deficit also remain net negative, but approval of his handling of job creation is now 41 percent, up from 35 percent in December.

Forty-two percent of voters now think the president has made real progress fixing the economy, up from 33 percent earlier this year and 28 percent in December.

And at 50 percent, Mr. Obama's overall approval rating is now the highest it has been since immediately following the killing of Osama bin Laden last May.

The economy dominates as the issue voters most want to hear the presidential candidates discuss - and many political observers say the economic situation will play a critical role in whether or not the president is re-elected.

Mr. Obama has premised his economic platform on the notion of "fair play and shared responsibility," and his 2013 federal budget proposal includes a tax increase on wealthier Americans. The poll shows that 67 percent of Americans believe there should be a tax increase for households making $1 million or more annually, up from 60 percent in December.

The poll also shows that in the wake of a settlement with five of the nation's largest mortgage lenders , a majority of Americans, 55 percent, think the government should do more to help the housing market. Only 21 percent think it has done the right amount so far.

Voters tend to think both parties are more likely to be headed off on the wrong track than in the right direction, but they are more critical of the Republicans. While just 35 percent think the Democratic Party is headed in the right direction, this number drops even lower - to 26 percent - for the Republican Party. Six in 10 think the Republican Party is off on the wrong track; half say the same about the Democratic Party.

Seventy-three percent of Democrats think their party is headed in the right direction, while 55 percent of Republicans think the same of the Republican Party. Independents think both parties are headed in the wrong direction, though more think this of the Republican Party (67 percent) than the Democratic Party (56 percent).

Meanwhile, Congress' job approval remains low, at just 10 percent -- just one point above the historic low of 9 percent reached last fall.

Poll: Obama holds edge over GOP hopefuls Poll: Most back mandating contraception coverage Poll: Most GOP voters think long primary hurts nominee

Summary: More Americans say the economy is improving in new CBS News/NYT poll, and Obama's approval rating is at its highest level since May Read more by Stephanie Condon on CBS News' Political Hotsheet.


Sacha Baron Cohen dressed as his 'Dictator' character, Admiral General Shabazz Aladeen.

Diplomacy is the Academy Awards show’s best policy when it comes to handling the demands of Admiral General Shabazz Aladeen, Sacha Baron Cohen’s fictional character in his upcoming movie.

After initially being banned from attending Sunday night’s Oscars show, the British comedian has been invited back with open arms.

“We’re thrilled to have him and he’ll be on the red carpet dressed as ‘The Dictator,’ Oscars producer Brian Grazer told “Extra” on Friday.

Academy oficials had said he’d be banned if he attended as Aladeen because they didn’t want him to "hijack" the red-carpet event with a publicity stunt.

Aladeen issued an ultimatum to the Academy on NBC’s “Today” show Friday for being banned from attending in character, even though he is one of the stars of Academy Award-nominated movie “Hugo.”

RELATED: COHEN COULD BE BARRED FROM OSCARS IF HE COMES IN COSTUME

Speaking in character as the Middle East despot in his upcoming film "The Dictator," Cohen griped to "Today" that "those gangsters at the Academy banned me."

"Normally I would be impressed by an act of cowardice by a faceless regime. But this is personal… They have until midday Sunday to give me my tickets back. If they do not they will see and face unforeseen and unimaginable consequences," he added.

When asked what would happen if he didn't get his way, the actor said "oil prices might be raised."

By Friday evening, Cohen took to Twitter in character to crow about his win: "Victory is ours! Today the Mighty Nation of Wadiya triumphed over the Zionist snakes of Hollywood. Evil and all those who made Satan their protector were vanquished and driven into the Pacific Sea. What I am trying to say here is that the Academy have surrendered and sent over two tickets and a parking pass! Today Oscar, tomorrow Obama!"

Summary: Sacha Baron Cohen’s latest fictional character, Admiral General Shabazz Aladeen, issued an ultimatum to the Academy on Friday after he was reportedly banned from attending Sunday's award show.


After the latest missed field-goal try in his forgettable season, David Akers trudged to the sideline, violently slammed his helmet to the ground and sat, alone, near the end of San Francisco's bench.

The mild-mannered kicker's frustration clearly had reached a boiling point.

And, possibly, the 49ers' have reached their limit with Akers, 38, who pushed first-half field-goal attempts of 44 and 40 yards wide left in Sunday's 27-13 win over Arizona.

In the aftermath of the victory, Jim Harbaugh didn't assure Akers of a spot on the postseason roster. The 15-year veteran has missed 10 of 19 attempts from at least 40 yards this season. Akers' 69 percent proficiency on field goals (29-for-42) ranks 30th in the NFL, and his blocked 21-yard attempt seemed to open the floodgates in a 42-13 loss in Seattle on Dec. 23.

Akers' 35 postseason field goals rank second in NFL history. Will he get a chance to add to his total in January?

"I don't know if we have to," Harbaugh said when asked about possibly changing kickers. "We'll evaluate the position. It's his job to make the field goals."

Akers, who was not in the locker room when the media entered after the game, sustained a pelvis injury earlier in the season, which prompted the 49ers to bring in experienced kickers Nate Kaeding and Billy Cundiff for tryouts in late November.

Kaeding since has signed with Miami. Cundiff, 32, remains a free agent after he was released by the Redskins on Oct. 10. He had made 7 of 12 attempts this season and missed a potential game-tying 32-yarder in last season's AFC Championship Game as a member of the Ravens.

On Sunday, Akers did rebound in the second half to make field goals of 43 and 26 yards. Those kicks prompted at least one of his teammates to give Akers a stronger vote of confidence than Harbaugh was willing to offer.

"I don't think that's going to happen," cornerback Tarell Brown said when asked about Akers possibly being released. "He's a veteran. He's been there. He's done that. He missed two field goals, but he came back and made two more. It's part of the game."

Eric Branch is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer.

Summary: After the latest missed field-goal try in his forgettable season, David Akers trudged to the sideline, violently slammed his helmet to the ground and sat, alone, near the end of San Francisco's bench.  Akers' 69 percent proficiency on field goals (29-for-42) ranks 30th in the NFL, and his blocked 21-yard attempt seemed to open the floodgates in a 42-13 loss in Seattle on Dec. 23.  Akers' 35 postseason field goals rank second in NFL history.  Akers, who was not in the locker room when the media entered after the game, sustained a pelvis injury earlier in the season, which prompted the 49ers to bring in experienced kickers Nate Kaeding and Billy Cundiff for tryouts in late November.


State police are joining an investigation into the fatal shooting of 20-year-old Pace University student Danroy Henry by police officers outside a suburban New York bar. The football player, a junior from Easton, Mass., was killed early Sunday after local police were called to a disturbance at a bar in the hamlet of Thornwood, north of New York City.

Summary: View Danroy Henry Shooting Death photos in CBS News' Danroy Henry Shooting Death photo gallery


So explained Saad Chehab, president and CEO of the Chrysler brand, at the recently concluded 2013 New York auto show.

It happens that Chehab is also president and CEO of Lancia, one of Chrysler’s Italian sister brands under Fiat Group. That company may not only sound exotic to North American ears, but it also has a history to match – most notably the indescribably desirable Stratos rally car of the 1970s.

The bridging effort includes touches like leather seats from Poltrona Frau, the same shop that provides hides to Ferrari and Maserati. Dressing its models in rather bespoke threads and marketing them as special editions has had an impact on the company’s bottom line. Chehab notes that 25% of Chrysler brand sales are going to specialised models and limited editions of its familiar products.

To date, the most commonly used bridge has been the 300, Chrysler’s full-size sedan. There is the sportier 300 S, the audiophile-targeted Beats by Dr Dre 300, the broodingly dark 300 customised by GQ Magazine Designer of the Year and Detroit native John Varvatos, and the ice-cool white and black 300 Glacier. “We are making tailored-to-you lifestyle vehicles,” Chehab said. There is even a sportier “S” version of the Town & Country minivan.

Projecting premium-ness while keeping models within reach of a $299 monthly lease payment is especially gratifying, Chehab said. “All we need is to get folks to give us the attention the cars deserve to have,” he added. “They’ll be surprised.”

(They might also be surprised to see that Chrysler roped Varvatos pal and fellow Detroit native Iggy Pop into appearing in a commercial for the Varvatos 300.)

The latest of these limited-run models is a mid-size Chrysler 200 sedan dressed by blue-collar stalwart Carhartt. The sedan features a black water-resistant fabric reminiscent of Carhartt’s work clothes, accented in diesel gray stitching. In a bit of cross-pollination, Carhartt is selling a line of all-black work clothes branded with the phrase “Imported from Detroit”, the slogan made famous by a commercial that aired in 2011 featuring the rapper Eminem. Appropriately, the clothes are designed in Detroit and made in America.

The special edition models have proved particularly popular in California, Chehab said. While Californians pay in the same dollars as residents of other states, their position as trend leaders bodes well for the company’s nationwide success.

Of course, nothing feeds a company’s bottom line better than irresistible high-volume vehicles. The current 200, which was built as a stop-gap for the dismal Chrysler Sebring, will be replaced early next year, followed by a replacement for the Town & Country minivan.

“Our biggest priority is to quickly update and replace these vehicles so that we have competitive, no-shame vehicles,” Chehab explained. For the 200, upgrading will be relatively easy considering its current position near the bottom of most mid-size sedan comparisons.

The Town & Country minivan will be trickier, given the inexorable march of large sport crossovers, which has eroded the position of the stalwart family-mover. Nevertheless, Chrysler will not position the Town & Country’s replacement as a niche product.“Whatever we come up with will be something that we know will be a success,” Chehab said.

Because automakers rarely release sales targets for new models and can spin even plant-idling sales as acceptable, it is always difficult for outside observers to define success. But cars that are selling so fast that there is no time to concoct more appealing special editions might be one benchmark.

Summary: What are brands like John Varvatos, Carhartt and Poltrona Frau doing in Chryslers? Making major money for the automaker, Dan Carney reports.


Cisco Systems Inc., the technology industry’s biggest maker of computer infrastructure equipment, said Wednesday that it planned to cut 4,000 jobs, or roughly 5 percent of its workforce, in an effort to trim costs and reorganize during what executives described as a challenging global economic climate.

The cuts were announced even as Cisco, which sells networking software and services and videoconferencing systems, reported better-than-expected earnings in the fourth quarter of its fiscal year.

John Chambers, the company’s chief executive, said that despite the promising figures, the company still faced significant challenges.

In a conference call on Wednesday with investors and analysts, he said Cisco needed to improve its ability to react quickly to market changes.

“We’ve got to take out middle-level management,” he said. “What I’m really after is not speed of decisions but speed of implementation.” He said that the company’s performance had improved over the last year, but that “it’s just been slow.”

Cisco reported that it earned $2.27 billion, or 42 cents a share, in the fourth quarter, up from $1.92 billion, or 36 cents a share, during the previous year. Revenue rose 6 percent, to $12.42 billion, from $11.69 billion. Analysts had expected the company to report revenues of $12.41 billion. Sales in the United States were strong, but international sales were a concern.

Cisco’s forecast for the current quarter was lower than what analysts had predicted. The company said it expected revenue to increase by no more than 5 percent from the same quarter a year ago. Analysts had expected a gain of 7 percent. The news sent Cisco’s shares tumbling almost 10 percent to $23.87 after hours.

Cisco is considered one of the crucial indicators of the technology industry’s health because of its dominant share of the routers that connect data centers. But in recent years that market’s growth has cooled, and Cisco has not improved sales in other categories, like cloud-computing services, to compensate.

Amitabh Passi, an analyst at UBS, said Chambers, who has a reputation for cutting aggressively in the face of a worsening economy, surprised him with the size of the cuts, but he did not take them as a sign of significant problems at Cisco, which is based in San Jose, Calif.

Given Cisco’s dominant position and Chambers’s reputation for spotting trouble early, Passi said the news was likely to be interpreted as a bad sign for the entire industry.

“The gas will come out of the tank tomorrow,” he said. “This is going to permeate across the tech sector.”

Summary: Cisco Systems, the technology industry’s biggest computer infrastructure equipment maker, said Wednesday that it planned to cut 4,000 jobs, or roughly 5 percent of its workforce, in an effort to trim costs and reorganize during what executives described as a “challenging” global economic climate. The cuts were announced even as Cisco, which sells networking software and services and videoconferencing systems, reported better-than-expected earnings in the fourth quarter of its fiscal year. John Chambers, the company’s chief executive, said that despite the promising figures, the company still faced significant challenges in the coming months. In a conference call on Wednesday with investors and analysts, he said that Cisco needed to improve its ability to react quickly to market changes.


Bain Capital has agreed to acquire Apex Tools Group, a Sparks, Md.-based tools manufacturer, fromDahner Corp. (NYSE: DHR) and Cooper Industries (NYSE: CBE) for approximately $1.6 billion.www.baincapital.com

Empire Investment Holdings has acquired CSS Studios LLC, a Tampa, Fla.-based postproduction sound company, from Discovery Communications Inc. (Nasdaq: DISCA). www.css-studios.com

Harvest Partners in in talks to acquire FCX Performance Inc., a Columbus, Ohio-based distributor of specialty flow control equipment, according to an FTC filing. The seller would be Sterling Investment Partners, which acquired FCX in October 2008 for an undisclosed amount. Read more

Golden Gate Capital, Blum Capital Partners and Wolverine Worldwide (NYSE: WWW) have completed their previously announced $2 billion take-private acquisition of Collective Brands Inc. Golden Gate and Blum will jointly own the Payless ShoeSource and Collective Licensing International businesses, while Wolverine will own Collective Brands’ Performance + Lifestyle Group.

Insight Global, an Atlanta-based provider of IT staffing solutions, has raised an undisclosed amount of private equity funding from Ares Management. Current Insight Global shareholders include AXA Private Equity, HIG Capital and Harvest Partners. www.insightglobal.net Linden Capital Partners has acquired (a.k.a. Gentle Dental Group), a provider of dental services in South Florida, from shareholders that included The Beekman Group. No financial terms were disclosed. Harris Williams & Co. managed the process. www.idealdentalcare.com

TPG Capital has agreed to acquire FleetPride, an aftermarket distributor of heavy-duty truck and trailer parts, from Investcorp and Ridgemont Equity Partners. No financial terms were disclosed.www.fleetpride.com

United Central Industrial Supply, a mining supply distribution company owned by American Securities, has acquired GHX Holdings, a Houston–based distributor of fluid transfer and sealing products, fromThe CapStreet Group. No financial terms were disclosed. www.ghxinc.com

Summary: Bain Capital has agreed to acquire Apex Tools Group, a Sparks, Md.-based tools manufacturer, fromDahner Corp. (NYSE: DHR) and Cooper Industries (NYSE: CBE) for approximately $1.6 billion.www.baincapital.com Empire Investment Holdings has acquired CSS Studios LLC, a Tampa, Fla.-based postproduction sound company, from Discovery Communications Inc. (Nasdaq: DISCA). www.css-studios.com Harvest Partners in in talks to acquire FCX Performance Inc.,  a Columbus, Ohio-based distributor of specialty flow control equipment,…


Fresh from the online uproar over whether the shiny new iPhone 6 bends when carried around in pockets, Apple has been hit by a new complaint – that the handset traps users’ hair or beards when they make calls.

It is difficult to gauge whether there is any real issue, but Twitter users have made #hairgate a rising social media trend, leading major news outlets to pounce on the story.

“The seam on my iPhone 6 where the aluminum meets the glass is definitely catching my hair and pulling it out,” one user tweeted.

Bearded iPhone users have jumped on the bandwagon complaining that their facial hair gets yanked during calls, leading to spats over whether to treat #beardgate as a separate trend, or simply as a subset of #hairgate.

Apple AAPL was not immediately available to comment.

Jokers are having a field day, with the Twitter account of the Atlanta International Fashion Week speculating that it may be an elaborate plot against hipsters for whom facial hair has become de rigeur. Another user tweeted: “Congrats, Apple, for finally getting hipsters to shave.”

For some it is a heaven-sent marketing opportunity; Gillette Co. was quick to tweet: “Your phone may be smarter than ever, but leave the shaving to the experts.”

However, many iPhone 6 users were left to wonder what all the fuss was about.

“I have iPhone 6. Doesn’t bend and doesn’t snag hair. Who thinks up these things? Apple haters? Competitors?” tweeted Dr. John Wooten, a Virginia-based technical consultant.

Summary: First there was 'bendgate' ... now brace yourself for 'hairgate.'


FORTUNE — The U.S. economy added jobs at a steady pace in November, helping push the unemployment rate to a five-year low, according to the government’s monthly jobs report released Friday. More Americans are working, and the data suggests that the quality of jobs is improving, as more of the positions created are in industries that pay higher wages.

The unemployment rate fell to 7%, as employers added 203,000 jobs. That’s slightly more than the 180,000 per month created over the previous six months. And more of those new positions are in middle-class jobs in construction and manufacturing than during the past year.

For many months now, higher-wage employment had been missing from the economic recovery. Middle-wage jobs in construction, manufacturing, and information accounted for more than half, 60%, of the nation’s jobless workers from the beginning of 2008 to early 2010. The job market has turned around since, but those fields represented only 22% of total jobs growth during the post-recession recovery, according to an August report by the National Employment Law Project.

What’s more, lower-wage jobs, with median hourly wages of $7.68 to $13.83, accounted for only 21% of job losses during the downturn but have accounted for more than half, 58%, of all job growth. Jobs that saw the fastest growth were retail sales positions (at a median wage of $10.97 an hour) and food preparation workers ($9.04 an hour). Since June 2009, each of those fields has grown by more than 300,000 workers.

MORE: El-Erian: Jobs report is even better than you think

November showed some signs of improvement (if not hope) as the economy created slightly more middle-wage construction jobs and slightly fewer lower-wage jobs in retail and foods services. However, jobs in higher paying industries, such as financial services, changed little.

In November, employers created 17,000 jobs in construction, which paid an average of $26.23 an hour. That’s slightly more than the average of 15,000 jobs we saw over the past 12 months. The economy also added 27,000 manufacturing jobs, which paid an average $24.81 an hour.

Also in November, employers added 18,000 jobs in food preparation, less than the 28,000 a month over the past year. The economy added 22,000 retail jobs, which is less than the average 34,000 jobs a month since March.

These are positive signs, but it’s only one month’s worth of data, and there’s a glut of middle-class jobs the U.S. lost during the Great Recession. So it’s worth watching what types of jobs are created in the new year.

Summary: November's jobs report shows the U.S. created slightly more middle-wage jobs and a bit fewer low-wage gigs. But we're certainly not out of the woods yet.


Grossman characterized the federal opinion as ‘a surprise that accelerates the urgency of dealing with online lottery sales and online gambling.’

The Massachusetts State Lottery may be headed to the Internet.

Steve Grossman, state treasurer, is forming a task force to consider whether Massachusetts should institute online sales of lottery tickets following a recent legal opinion from the Justice Department that clears the way for states to do so.

Grossman characterized the federal opinion as “a surprise that accelerates the urgency of dealing with online lottery sales and online gambling in general.’’

The task force will consist of about 20 members, including representatives from the state treasurer’s office, the Massachusetts Lottery, private citizens, and elected officials, according to a spokesman for Grossman. The state has also begun a search for a consultant to provide expertise and research services.

Grossman said he expects to start meeting with task force members as early as “the next few weeks,’’ even before the consultant is hired.

The Department of Justice opinion arrived as the state is implementing a law that legalizes casino gambling. Signed in November, the law allows three full-scale casinos and one slot machine parlor in Massachusetts. The state is also poised to allow consumers to purchase lottery tickets using debit cards as well as cash.

The department issued the opinion in response to requests by the states of New York and Illinois to clarify whether the Wire Act of 1961, which bars wagers via telecommunications that cross state or international borders, prevents states from using the Internet to sell lottery tickets to adults within their own borders.

The new interpretation said the Wire Act applies only to bets on a “sporting event or contest.’’

One question is whether the opinion will set the stage for a boom in nonsports Internet betting. “If the Department of Justice is saying that the Wire Act only applies to sports-related wagering, then that opens it up for everyone else who is offering online poker, online table games, and so on,’’ said Kimberly Herman, a lawyer who represents lottery equipment makers for the Boston office of the law firm Sullivan & Worcester. “There’s so much money involved, they are all going to rush in.’’

For opponents of expanded gambling in Massachusetts, the opinion opens a new, unwelcome battle front, and the prospect of state-sponsored online gaming. “More Internet gambling will simply siphon more and more money out of the economy and create more individual debt, suicides, alcoholism, and mental health problems,’’ wrote Tom Larkin, president of the antigambling group United to Stop Slots in Massachusetts, in an e-mail.

Larkin said he was particularly concerned about Internet gambling’s impact on youth.

Grossman said yesterday that some gambling opponents would be appointed to the state’s investigative task force. “The social impact of online gambling will be a major concern of the task force,’’ he said.

Yesterday, four legislators were named as the committee’s first members: Representative Timothy Toomey of Cambridge, a Democrat; Representative Daniel Winslow, a Republican from Norfolk; Senator Jennifer Flanagan, Democrat of Leominster; and Senator Richard Ross of Wrentham, a Republican.

Grossman said he wants the group to consider the possible impact that online gambling might have on the 7,500 retailers who sell lottery products. An average Massachusetts lottery agent makes $37,000 a year on commissions from lottery sales.

The task force will also consider the impact of online gambling on Massachusetts’ nascent casino industry. “What happens if there is unfettered online poker and online roulette in Massachusetts?’’ Grossman asked. “Will that cause casino companies to bid less aggressively for licenses?’’

As state treasurer, Grossman said he has to take “an entrepreneurial and aggressive approach’’ to new online opportunities to ensure that Massachusetts does not lose revenue to other states that may embrace online gambling more aggressively.

“This is a fast-moving, highly competitive market,’’ Grossman said, “and this opinion only accelerates this moment of change.’’

Summary: The Massachusetts state lottery may be headed to the Internet. State treasurer Steve Grossman is forming a task force to look into whether the state should allow online lottery sales, following a recent legal opinion from the US Justice Department that clears the way for states to allow adults within their own borders to buy tickets on the Internet. Grossman characterized the justice department opinion as “a surprise that accelerates the urgency of dealing with online lottery sales, and online gambling in general.’’


10/31/2014 AT 07:10 PM EDT

's attempt to wrest full control of her life back from her mother.

On Friday, the actress sent a lawyer, Art Santiago, to appear in court on her behalf to contest a temporary conservatorship placed by a judge earlier this month that gives her mother control over her medical and financial decisions until at least February next year.

With both of Bynes' parents, Rick and Lynn, present in the courtroom, the judge ruled that Santiago could not legally represent the star because he is not her court-appointed attorney, thus striking out her bid for legal and financial freedom.

Saying he's been in contact with Bynes for the past two weeks, Santiago told the judge he "convinced her to voluntarily take her medication" and has been "following her progress."

"I've been dealing with her for the past two weeks and believe I'm the only one she can trust," Santiago added.

from a psychiatric treatment facility on Thursday, three days after a judge ruled that she needed to spend at least

Bynes, 28, contested her involuntary treatment three days after the court ruling in a mandatory hearing at the facility, during which a hearing officer deemed her stable enough to be released.

on Oct. 22, allowing her control over the star's medical and financial decisions, but not her psychiatric treatment.

After leaving the treatment facility, Bynes was spotted roaming the Sunset Strip in Los Angeles late Thursday night wearing a dark coat and large sunglasses.

, posting erratic Tweets that insulted her family's lawyer, her father, and sometimes-manager Sam Lutfi, who

in getting her into treatment.

Adds a source close to Bynes: "She said she was going to fight her parents in court because she didn't want them to control her life."

Summary: The actress's mother remains in control of her finances until early 2015


Chrissie Hynde sang eight tracks from her new album.

Chrissie Hynde took the stage at the Orpheum Theatre Saturday night looking and sounding every inch the fierce rock star. And for just over 90 minutes the Pretenders frontwoman reminded an enthusiastic audience just how precious a rock ’n’ roll commodity she remains. She used that unmistakable voice to do what she does best — sultry murmurs, barked phrases, soulful wails, all somehow simultaneously edgy and warm — and her radiant cool to power through nearly two dozen songs including Pretenders classics and eight tracks from her recent, and first, solo album, “Stockholm.”

The night got off to a slightly uncomfortable start with Hynde taking exception to the camera-wielding members of the crowd. Serious exception.

During opener “Don’t Lose Faith in Me,” an exasperated Hynde said, “That’s really going to [mess] up the show for me if you keep doing that, honestly.” During “Biker” — as her guitarist James Walbourne, the night’s ace, took a fiery solo — she said, “All right, take your pictures now!” and posed with her guitar, clearly annoyed.

This did not bode well, but by the end of the third number — with most phones stowed — Hynde’s irritation evaporated and she apologized. She spent the rest of the night grinning as she fronted a hot quartet of young guns whose crispness and energy clearly charged her up, and reveling in the audience’s cheers. (Hilariously, after the sixth song, “Talk of the Town,” she cracked, “Now I’m wondering why no one is taking my picture.”)

While the early going skewed toward moodier tracks, including the undulating “In a Miracle” and the enveloping “Like in the Movies,” Hynde didn’t stint on rockers, bringing the heat, clatter, and sly style to a clutch of Pretenders songs including “Night in My Veins,” “Downtown,” “Precious,” “Don’t Get Me Wrong,” and “Tattooed Love Boys.”

The snaking groove of “My City Was Gone” was a treat and, of the new tunes, the Neil Young-ian stomper, “Down the Wrong Way,” on which Young himself plays on the album, was a major highlight with Walbourne again shining on a lava-hot run. (Walbourne served double duty, playing with opening act the Rails.)

Although several big hits went unplayed and were missed — including “Brass in Pocket,” “Middle of the Road,” and “I’ll Stand By You” — Hynde and her band made the most of their time, closing things out with swinging new single “Dark Sunglasses.”

Summary: After a touchy start Chrissie Hynde and her hot band delivered a strong show at the Orpheum Theatre Saturday night.


This post is in partnership with Time. The article below was originally published at Time.com

The woman best known for her flower paintings set a new auction record for the most expensive work of art by a woman. “Jimson Weed/White Flower No. 1″ sold for $44.4 million at Sotheby’s on Thursday, almost triple the auction house’s high estimate.

The hammer price is four times higher than the previous record holder: an untitled painting by Joan Mitchell that sold for $11.9 million.

As TIME first wrote of O’Keeffe in 1928, “When Georgia O’Keeffe paints flowers, she does not paint fifty flowers stuffed into a dish. On most of her canvases there appeared one gigantic bloom, its huge feathery petals furled into some astonishing pattern of color and shade and line…It is enough to say that Miss O’Keeffe’s paintings are as full of passion as the verses of Solomon’s Song.”

Summary: "Jimson Weed/White Flower No. 1" quadrupled the previous record


The Smiths have been defunct since the late 1980s, but man, this dreamy debut from British singer-songwriter Aries admirably resurrected that band’s shimmering guitar pop and mopey grandeur. Aries, who also plays with the Drums, coaxed a silvery tone from his guitar while singing prom-night anthems about young love and the pleasures of youth. “This Grave Is My Bed Tonight” was this year’s most underappreciated pop jam. “Unbloomed”? Quite the contrary.

“La Edad de la Violencia”

Mostly written while she was pregnant, Bastida’s “La Edad de la Violencia” was the Tijuana-born singer-songwriter’s attempt to make sense of such a turbulent world. Translated from the Spanish, “The Age of Violence” was not as heavy as it might sound. The songs brimmed with hope and an intriguing palette of sounds that Bastida mined from synthesizers, horns, and the elasticity of her own voice. It’s Latin pop sung in Spanish, but with universal appeal.

It’s been eight years since Frame’s last release, but the former Aztec Camera man has not lost anything off of his fastball. Whether it’s his smart lyrical style, his warmly engaging voice, or his inviting guitar pop, Frame manages to sound as fresh today as he did in his ’80s heyday.

The pedal steel guitar is always capable of conjuring an otherworldly beauty. But on Björklund's sophomore album, the Danish artist framed it in all sorts of unexpected contexts: psychedelic, tender, even menacing. It’s particularly fascinating how she reshaped its contours on “Missing at Sea.” Having recorded and toured with the likes of Jack White and Mark Lanegan, Björklund was the star attraction on this beguiling Americana album that often sounded like it belonged in a David Lynch film.

In his late 20s, Fullbright already writes and sings like a man reflecting on a full life. Similar to that of Mickey Newbury, the late, great songwriter who is one of his heroes, Fullbright’s attack is soft but cuts deep. He comes from the tradition of country songwriters who tell stories in plainspoken terms — think Kris Kristofferson and Townes Van Zandt — dressed up in little more than emotion. Even the title of his sophomore album, “Songs,” downplayed its staggering content.

How fitting that these two albums went overlooked this year: They suffered the same fate upon release in the early ’80s. Knowing next to nothing about the artist, or even his whereabouts, Light in the Attic Records reissued two albums by a guy simply known as Lewis. The music, too, was an enigma, steeped in seasick synthesizers and his ethereal whisper of a voice. The label claimed to have found Lewis eventually, but, like these albums, he was happy to recede into the shadows.

NAOMI SHELTON & THE GOSPEL QUEENS

Shelton tends to get overshadowed by Sharon Jones, her label mate on Daptone Records who also released a terrific album, “Give the People What They Want,” early this year. Both women command your attention with the lived-in warmth of their voices and the conviction of their deliveries. Shelton’s latest was a seamless fusion of gospel fervor and lean ’60s soul, with the septuagenarian singing as if testifying from a pulpit.

If you can imagine Prince producing an album by indie-pop chameleon Ariel Pink, you’re almost prepared to appreciate the gonzo R&B and soul experiments of Silk Rhodes. The new self-titled debut from the duo of singer Sasha Desree and producer Michael Collins is full of velvety loverman pleas, instrumental interludes, and Delfonics-like seduction. These guys are clearly having fun bending R&B’s parameters to make it their own.

Best known until now as one third of the supergroup Pistol Annies — with pals Miranda Lambert and Ashley Monroe — this coal miner’s daughter makes a dramatic solo debut with this solid album of no frills, funny, insightful, and whip-smart country, proving she’s hell on heels all on her own.

Summary: Globe pop music critics James Reed and Sarah Rodman weigh in on some overlooked musical gems of 2014.


WASHINGTON — A modest uptick in spending by US consumers in October suggests they’re still wary of buying too much ahead of the crucial holiday shopping season.

The Commerce Department said Wednesday that consumer spending in October rose 0.2 percent from the previous month, while September spending was revised from a decline to a flat reading. Personal income grew 0.2 percent in October.

The overall US economy has recorded solid growth over the last six months, yet consumers have restrained spending amid ongoing worries about stagnant wages. But with a steadily improving job market and falling gas prices, economists say households are ready to shed their cautiousness.

The holidays will reveal if that’s true. The National Retail Federation, a trade group, is forecasting that holiday sales will rise 4.1 percent from last year. That would be the biggest gain in three years.

‘‘We see no shortage of cash to finance robust spending; wage and salary income is up . . . and sooner or later, people will start to spend the gas price windfall,’’ said Ian Shepherdson, chief economist at Pantheon Macroeconomics.

Reports gauging consumer sentiment have been mixed. The University of Michigan said Wednesday that its index of consumer sentiment rose to 88.8 in November from 86.9 in October. That’s the highest since July 2007, five months before the Great Recession began.

A separate measure of consumer confidence, released Tuesday by the Conference Board, fell sharply after hitting a seven-year high last month.

Consumers are more optimistic about their incomes, the Michigan survey found, but expectations are modest. Respondents expect their incomes to rise 1.1 percent in the next 12 months — the most in six years but not enough to keep up with inflation.

The Michigan survey also found consumers saying they were more likely to spend on big-ticket items such as appliances and autos than at any time since the recession began. And Americans expect recent steady job gains to continue.

Summary: US consumers spent modestly more in October, but the small uptick suggests that they’re still wary of buying too much ahead of the crucial holiday shopping season.


02/17/2015 AT 07:40 AM EST

Live from New York, it's â¦ an inconvenient scheduling conflict.

Twitter was noticeably upset that

, but the masses can rest assured Oteri wasn't excluded for any personal reasons – other than her schedule.

Monday night and explained her noticeable absence – she was a cornerstone of many 1990s-era sketches on the show – was due to a simple scheduling conflict that couldn't be resolved until the very last minute, at which point it was just too late to secure her participation.

Well, it's prosaic, but at least now we know there's nothing personal going on between Oteri and the rest of the

crew. In the words of Oteri and

's Spartan cheerleaders, that would make us R-O-W-D-Y, and not in a good way.

Summary: Oteri assured Andy Cohen that her absence from the special wasn't personal


is facing criticism for an article she wrote titled "Dog Or Jewish Boyfriend? A Quiz."

, begins by asking readers whether each statement applies to her dog or her Jewish boyfriend. "He doesn't tip," reads one such statement.

"I feel that he is judgmental about the food I serve him," she writes, followed by: "This is because he comes from a culture in which mothers focus every ounce of their attention on their offspring and don't acknowledge their own need for independence as women. They are sucked dry by their children, who ultimately leave them as soon as they find suitable mates."

On Thursday afternoon, writer Jordana Horn responded to Dunham's article

"I suppose Lena Dunham feels that she has some sort of humor EZ Pass, and

has indulged her in that thinking," Horn wrote on the popular Jewish-interest blog. "You know, because apparently Jews are a group you can make fun of and it is deemed kinda intellectual and funny to do so."

"If you take issue with what I'm saying, then do me a favor and imagine this same essay entitled, 'Dog or Black Boyfriend? A Quiz.' Much easier to imagine that essay running in a Ku Klux Klan newsletter than

, am I right? But somehow, a piece like this running in

in 2015 is supposed to be OK with us."

Users on Twitter also weighed in with similar sentiments.

.@NewYorker Wow. Do you post every piece of anti-Semitic drivel that gets submitted, or only if its written by @lenadunham?

Lena Dunham continues her reign as supreme white feminist with this amazingly brazen anti-semitic comedy... http://t.co/vzs5sw8kPB

This is not the first time the star has been the subject of criticism for her writing. Based on the material in her memoir,

that implicated an innocent person as a sexual predator in her book.

The Anti-Defamation League has spoken out about

. ADL National Chairman Abraham H. Foxman took issue with the "stereotypes about cheap Jews" and that the dog comparison "evokes memories of the 'No Jews or Dogs Allowed' signs from our own early history in this country."

Many Twitter users have shared similar distaste for the story, while others have praised it. Writer Anna Silman spoke out in defense of Dunham on

"Ultimately, it's tough not to think that Dunham is coming under extra fire because she's such a polarizing figure to begin with," wrote Silman.

"As we saw with the recent sexual abuse flap, Dunham is a lightning rod for both the left and right; she seemingly can't do anything without igniting a hailstorm of controversy, even if it's unwarranted. Maybe it's time to give her a break?"

Dunham, whose mother is Jewish, has referred to herself as

and has said that she identifies as "culturally Jewish."

Dunham's rep declined to comment on the controversy but

's editor David Remnick replied to The ADL's statement on Twitter

"The Jewish-comic tradition is rich with the mockery of, and playing with, stereotypes," he wrote. "Has Mr. Foxman never heard Lenny Bruce or Larry David or Sarah Silverman or read 'Portnoy's Complaint'? Lena Dunham is a comic voice working in that vein," he said.

There has been some discussion about @lenadunhamâs comedic piece in this weekâs issue. David Remnick has this to say: pic.twitter.com/bxogvBSTCq

"Considering all the real hatred in the world, Mr. Foxman is, like those who railed at Philip Roth a generation or two ago, howling in the wrong direction."

Jewish filmmaker Brian Koppelman also shared support for Dunham, saying there is "no chance" that she is anti-Semitic.

There is no chance @lenadunham is antisemitic. If we lose the ability to laugh at ourselves, we lose one of the great joys we have.

Summary: The Girls star faces criticism again, this time for an article published in The New Yorker


Hermann Goering 1945 and daughter Edda in 1951. (Getty)

Adolf Hitler’s goddaughter has failed in her bid to access artwork stolen by her infamous Nazi father, Hermann Goering, during WWII.

Goering’s daughter Edda, 76, had petitioned the state of Bavaria to access to her family’s possession, the Telegraph reports.

Her father, one of the most senior Nazi figures, had amassed a vast collection of property and artworks stolen during the latter stages of the war.

His assets, estimated at more than A$250m, were confiscated after the fall of the Third Reich.

Edda Goering in 1986. (Supplied)

Ms Goering, who lives in Munich, had asked for only a small amount of the assets to be returned, enough for a “subsistence livelihood”.

The hearing before the Bavarian parliament’s Legal Affairs Committe lasted just a matter of minutes before being dismissed.

It followed a failed petition in the 1960s to have another painting returned to her family’s care.

Adolf Hitler in 1937. Herman Goerring was a senior member of the Third Reich before falling out with the Fuhrer late in the war. (AAP)

Commander of the German air force or Luftwaffe, Goering was found guilty of war crimes and crimes against humanity at the Nuremberg trials in 1946.

He committed suicide the night before he was due to be hanged.

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DESPITE the advantage of organization support and a campaign treasury nearly four times as large as his opponent, John W. Matthews, many leading Democrats believe, is locked in a tight primary contest with Assemblyman Lewis J. Yevoli for the Democratic nomination for Nassau County Executive.

''It's very close,'' said a Democratic leader who, like others, asked that he not be identified. ''Yevoli is running a stronger campaign than we expected,'' said another party leader. Even a Matthews campaign aide conceded that the primary race was ''very, very tight.''

The vote next Thursday will determine a Democratic candidate to oppose County Executive Francis T. Purcell, the Republican incumbent, in the November election. It is the most visible of several important primary contests on the Island.

The polls will be open from 6 A.M. to 9 P.M. in Nassau County and from noon to 9 P.M. in Suffolk County. All polls will be open for Republicans and Democrats because there are countywide primaries in both counties.

Other significant contests are Nassau Democratic primaries for Glen Cove Mayor-Supervisor and a Long Beach City Council seat and a Republican primary for Glen Cove Mayor-Supervisor.

In Suffolk, there is a countywide contest for the Republican nomination for county judge, challenges to the renomination of two Republican county legislators and one Democrat and a series of Republican primaries for town offices in Brookhaven and Southampton.

Mr. Matthews, a Long Beach resident and president of the Island Insulation Corporation of Huntington, has run a more costly campaign than his Democratic rival, with extensive literature, mailings and even a limited radio commercial campaign that began last week.

The commercials, which use boxing-match sound effects and the voices of two professional sportscasters, Sal Marchiano and Chip Cipolla, are directed at the Purcell administration and sound the theme that ''the people of Nassau County are taking a beating'' on taxes, corruption and crime.

Adopting the usual front-runner strategy, Mr. Matthews has concentrated on the incumbent administration rather than Mr. Yevoli. Mr. Matthews is expected to spend nearly $120,000, much of it his own money, compared with about $27,000 for Mr. Yevoli. Mr. Yevoli, an Old Bethpage Assemblyman, has pointed his campaign arguments toward the primary, with the theme that he is more experienced and better known and has a record of winning in Republican territory. He has been elected to the Assembly four times, although he lost a race for County Comptroller four years ago.

Mr. Yevoli has also criticized Joseph M. Margiotta and Stanley Harwood, the Republican and Democratic county leaders, respectively, for a bipartisan agreement that will provide a State Supre me Court judgeship for Mr. Harwood later this year and , Mr. Yevoli contends, a weak opponent, Mr. Matthews, for Mr. Purcell.

''I'm ahead now,'' Mr. Yevoli said. But Mr. Matthews was similarly optimistic. ''We're winning,'' he said. Less partisan observers believe that a combination of Yevoli aggressiveness, an apathetic electorate and Mr. Matthews's failure to raise the campaign funds he had promised adds up to a potentially close contest.

In the Glen Cove contest for the Republican nomination for Mayor-Supervisor, the incumbent, Alan M. Parente, is a strong favorite over his G.O.P. challenger, Michael J. Hansen, who has asserted in a letter to Glen Cove Republicans that Italian-American and Jewish voters have too much influence in the city's politics.

''This guy is trying to wreck a racially balanced community,'' Mr. Parente said last week. He added that Mr. Hansen's campaign had not been very visible and, indeed, there is no telephone listing for either the candidate or his campaign headquarters.

In contrast, two Democratic candidates for the $40,000 Glen Cove Mayor-Supervisor post are waging vigorous campaigns in which personalities are more of a factor than substantive issues.

Vincent A. Suozzi, who lost the mayoralty two years ago after seven years in office, is trying to make a comeback against a one-time ally, Councilman Anthony Galluccio, a 14-year veteran of the Glen Cove Council.

Mr. Suozzi argues that Mr. Galluccio, a stockbrokerage account executive, has been too supportive of the Republican Mayor; Mr. Galluccio contends that Mr. Suozzi was defeated two years ago while he survived a strong Republican showing.

Mr. Galluccio gave up a chance for another term as a Councilman to make the run for City Hall. Mr. Suozzi resigned a patronage job he had held as one of Governor Carey's Long Island representatives. Mr. Suozzi, whose family has been a fixture in Glen Cove politics for years, has the Democratic organization's designation.

Overshadowed by the struggle over the mayoral nomination is a City Council primary in which seven Democrats are vying for six nominations.

In Long Beach, the Democratic organization has already triumphed over two political foes, City Councilwomen Frances Smith and Frances Hodson, who were elected as insurgents two years ago. The two Councilwomen failed to gather enough valid signatures on their designating petitions to qualify for renomination this year.

But there will still be a primary against two Democratic organization candidates and one Republican organization candidate who have forged a bipartisan alliance to seek the three places available.

Irwin Gordon, a local businessman, is challenging the bipartisan arrangement by seeking one of the Democratic nominations. Bruce J. Bergman is the Republican running on the bipartisan slate withKevin A. Braddish and Pearl Weill, the Democratic organization's designees.

In Suffolk County, several Republican contests represent a second chapter in the struggle within the Republican organization that began two years ago with County Executive Peter F. Cohalan's defeat of the incumbent, John V.N. Klein, in the Republican primary.

The unusual County Court primary between Brookhaven Supervisor Joel L. Lefkowitz and District Court Judge Kenneth Rohl, as well as G.O.P. organization challenges to two Republican incumbent County Legislators, Michael J. Grant of Brentwood and John F. Sorli of Selden, are continuations of that struggle.

In the Democratic primary in Suffolk, the most significant contest is the attempt of Dr. Martin J. Feldman, the unsuccessful candidate for County Executive two years ago, to regain his seat in the County Legislature by attempting to deny the Democratic nomination to the man who succeeded him, County Legislator Wayne Prospect.


BONN, July 4— Statements by Willy Brandt and other Social Democratic Party leaders that the Soviet Union is taking a ''materially different'' position on possible negotiations with the United States on middle-range nuclear missiles are meeting with wary and partially negative reactions from the West German Government.

Mr. Brandt, the chairman of the Social Democratic Party, who met with Leonid I. Brezhnev at Moscow's invitation this week, said in an interview published today that the talks produced ''new accents'' in Soviet policy.

He said they concerned a Soviet-proposed moratorium on the deployment of middle-range missiles and purported Soviet interest in a ''zero solution'' that would allow NATO to forgo plans to deploy Pershing-2's and cruise missiles in Western Europe at the end of 1983.

Hans-Jurgen Wischnewski, the party's deputy chairman, said the trip had produced ''important information'' that the ''United States should be interested in very carefully checking.''

But a contradictory and perhaps irritated attitude was apparent in the first reaction of the Government of Chancellor Helmut Schmidt. Kurt Becker, the Government spokesman, referred Friday to the moratorium suggestion, as relayed by Mr. Brandt, as a ''repetition and re-working'' of an earlier Soviet suggestion rejected by NATO and the Government here.

Mr. Brandt's remarks seemed to confirm fears expressed privately by some American experts that his trip would complicate Mr. Schmidt's defense of the NATO program and take attention away from the Soviet missiles targeted on Western Europe.

Although Mr. Brandt returned to West Germany from the Soviet Union Thursday and addressed a party meeting and gave a magazine interview, he has seen neither Mr. Schmidt nor Foreign Minister Hans-Dietrich Genscher. Aides said he spoke twice to Mr. Schmidt on the telephone.

That Mr. Brandt had not seen Mr. Genscher appeared to be unusual and possibly a sign of tension, because the Foreign Minister planned to talk in London tomorrow with Lord Carrington, the British Foreign Secretary, and Claude Cheysson, France's Minister of External Relations. Normally the conversations could be expected to touch on the results of Mr. Brandt's visit. Party Is Divided on the Issue

His meetings in Moscow came in the context of controversy within the Social Democratic Party about the NATO decision to station the middle-range weapons here. Members of the Christian Democratic opposition have said that the invitation to Mr. Brandt, who has supported the NATO decision only in the vaguest terms, was a remarkably successful Soviet effort to deepen the differences between the United States and West Germany, to characterize the Soviet Union as peace-loving and to use Mr. Brandt as a lever for influencing Mr. Schmidt.

In the interview today, Mr. Brandt described Mr. Brezhnev as a man who ''trembles where world peace is concerned.'' Commenting on the trip by Mr. Brandt, Helmut Kohl, chairman of the Christian Democratic Party, said it was ''unfitting when we Germans take it upon ourselves to think that we're needed as intermediaries to advance talks between the United States and the Soviet Union.''

The United States has said it expects formal negotiations on the middle-range weapons to begin by the end of the year. The Soviet Union has about 200 middle-range SS-20 missiles targeted on Western Europe and the NATO decision of 1979 is meant to even out this imbalance. Russians Missiles Are in Place

The moratorium suggestion made by Mr. Brezhnev to Mr. Brandt would essentially mean a renunciation by both sides of deployment of such weapons while talks were in progress. What was new, Mr. Brandt said, was that Moscow no longer said that the Americans should stop production or preparation of sites.

Although this was described as a ''material difference'' by Mr. Wischnewski, it did not change the fact that the SS-20's are in place, a situation that both Mr. Schmidt and Mr. Genscher say allows the Soviet Union to exert political pressure on Western Europe.

As for the so-called zero solution, Mr. Wischnewski said the Soviet leader asked Mr. Brandt what he thought such a goal would mean in terms of reduction of the Soviet missiles. Mr. Wischnewski did not disclose Mr. Brandt's answer, but he said he made reference to the necessity for ''an approximate balance.''