Pro-West leader to become Lebanon's prime minister

Western-backed billionaire Saad Hariri pledged Saturday to work for a national unity government that includes his Hezbollah rivals shortly after he was appointed by the president to become the country's next prime minister.

An alliance led by the 39-year-old, son of slain former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, fended off a serious challenge from the Iran-backed Hezbollah and its allies in parliamentary elections earlier this month.

Hariri's nomination _ and his conciliatory statements _ signal more willingness on the majority's part to placate Hezbollah and its allies, who had serious misgivings about the previous prime minister, Fuad Saniora.

Many …

Suburb Jobs Carry High Price

Andre Smith is clearly a study in dedication, if not exhaustion.

Last summer, he took a job as a personnel coordinator for alocal branch of Matsushita, the Japanese electronics giant. But thefactory was in Elgin and Smith, 29, lived with his mom in EastChatham on the city's far South Side.

To get to work, he'd leave the house at 5 a.m. and hop awestbound No. 87 CTA bus to the Dan Ryan L, which he'd take to AdamsStreet. At Adams, he'd transfer to a No. 151 bus to Union Station,where he'd catch Metra's Milwaukee District West Line and ride to thelast stop.

There, he'd grab a No. 552 Pace bus, which would get him toMatsushita's door by about 8 a.m. - …

Philippine police seek witnesses in priest killing

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — A Philippine police official says a special unit has been created to investigate the killing of an Italian missionary priest in the country's south. Investigators are seeking possible eyewitnesses.

Chief Superintendent Lester Camba heads the special investigation group. He said Tuesday that it will ask permission from Catholic officials to conduct an autopsy on …

Storied NY village Seneca Falls weighs dissolving

A tax squabble is forcing voters to decide next week whether to dissolve the boundaries of a central New York village known as the birthplace of women's rights and the inspiration for a classic Christmas movie.

The March 16 ballot question in Seneca Falls asks whether the 179-year-old village of 6,600 should be absorbed into the surrounding town of the same name.

Even though the name won't change, …

There's No Method To Tornadoes' Madness

The tornado season has jumped off to a devastating start inIllinois, with more twisters reported last week than the statenormally gets in a year.

But that doesn't mean we'll continue getting pounded by twistersduring the peak of the tornado season, which runs from April throughJune. Tornadoes are impossible to predict until almost the momentthey touch down.

"There's no regular pattern that's recognizable," said FredOstby of the National Weather Service's Storm Prediction Center. "Wetake it as it comes."Illinois averages 25 tornadoes per year, eighth highest amongstates. On Friday, 47 tornadoes were reported, but the actual numbermay be lower because of multiple …

Democrats Court Activists at Steak Fry

INDIANOLA, Iowa - Six Democratic presidential candidates took aim at President Bush as they made their case Sunday to thousands of activists scattered across an Iowa field.

"Everybody is sick and tired of being sick and tired of George Bush," said Illinois Sen. Barack Obama. "All you have to do is take a look at the president pretending that going around in circles was making progress. If that doesn't get you ready to get rid of George Bush I don't know what will."

The six candidates paraded after each other in a carnival-like atmosphere in a field about 20 miles south of Des Moines. An estimated 12,000 activists streamed in for Iowa Sen. Tom Harkin's annual steak fry, shelling out $30 each in a fundraiser for a veteran Democrat senator who doesn't face serious opposition in next year's election.

John Edwards and Hillary Rodham Clinton joined with Harkin to grill some steaks before a giant bank of television cameras. "I've done this before," Edwards said as he flipped a steak.

Clinton, the New York senator, called on Bush to bring the troops home from Iraq, declaring, "The era of cowboy diplomacy is over."

"They deserve to come home because there is no military solution," said Clinton. "Unfortunately, both the Iraqi government and the Bush administration have failed."

Delaware Sen. Joseph Biden, who heads the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said: "George Bush made it clear - he will not end the war in Iraq. If there was ever any doubt, now there is none. One of us on this stage will have to stop the war he started."

Obama said he would not vote for any war-funding measure that doesn't include a timeline for bringing troops home.

Biden said the war must end if common goals are to be achieved. "We must recognize that until we end the divisive politics this war has spawned, we will be unable to build a consensus here at home to accomplish all the goals we share," he said.

New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson said: "I would end the war in Iraq and I would bring all the troops out of Iraq. No residual forces. My position if clear, we bring the troops out within six to eight months. The war cannot end with leaving troops behind."

A few other issues did pop up during the event. Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd pointed to his call for expanded health coverage. "It is shameful that today, 50 million people in America have no health care," he said. That will change and must change if we care about the future of our country."

Clinton is scheduled to announce her plan for universal health care on Monday. Edwards, the former North Carolina senator, took at shot at her refusal to give up campaign money from health interest groups. "If they get a seat at the table, they'll eat all the food and there will be nothing left for the rest of America," he said.

Ohio Rep. Dennis Kucinich and former Alaska Sen. Mike Gravel are also running for the Democratic nomination, but they were not invited to Sunday's event because they have no campaign operation in Iowa.

(This version CORRECTS SUBS graf 9 to CORRECt attribution to Biden, sted Obama.)

Church began with `vision' in 1820

The official name of the Christian denomination is the Church ofJesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It was founded by Joseph Smith in the early 19th century. In 1820,Smith is said to have had a vision of God and Jesus Christ in upstateNew York. Later, the angel Moroni told him of the location of threegold tablets containing God's revelations. In 1830, Smith publisheda translation of these revelations entitled The Book of Mormon.

Smith's group moved to Ohio, then to Missouri and to Nauvoo, Ill.,where Smith was killed by a mob in 1844. Brigham Young led a factionto Utah. Mormons believe revelation from God did not cease with thecrucifixion of Jesus Christ. Rather, it has continued through livingprophets. The president of the church is considered a prophet. The church's health code forbids the use of tobacco, alcoholicbeverages, tea and coffee, and emphasizes a healthful diet. The basic service is called a sacrament meeting. Lasting about anhour, it includes singing, prayer, a sermon and communion. A bishoppresides over the service. Non-Mormons may attend. Mormon-onlyevents are held in temples. Famous members of the church include Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah),entertainers Donny and Marie Osmond and basketball player ShawnBradley.

Source: How to be a Perfect Stranger: A Guide to Etiquette inOther People's Religious Ceremonies (Jewish Lights Publishing) byArthur J. Magida.