| Man who claimed ‘mercy killing’ portrayed as master deceiver
Information presented to a Multnomah County grand jury paints a much different portrait of John L. Roberts than the one that emerged last week. Roberts, 51, who was indicted Friday in the murder of his wife, Virginia Roberts, was described by some family members as a loving husband who fulfilled his terminally-ill wife's last request by shooting her in the head. But not everyone supported this image of Roberts. Some warned anonymously on The Outlook's web site and in interviews with a reporter that he is a skilled manipulator, and that his defense was untenable. A "memorandum of law" released on Monday by the Multnomah County district attorney's office concurs. The memorandum alleges there was no evidence that Virginia Roberts wanted to die. It further alleges that Roberts has engaged in elaborate acts of deceit in the past, that he had drinking and financial problems and that he was an unfaithful husband.
Interim process may get tricky
The jury's verdict forms the basis of the ouster suit. In the lawsuit, Moncier singled out Moore and Pinkston because other commissioners "did not participate in Open Meetings Act violations; admitted their conduct; or did not make false statements in an effort to support a defense." Scott Barker may be reached at 865-342-6309. .
Airline mergers: What's in store for Northwest travelers
A merger between Delta Air Lines and Northwest or United and Continental eventually would affect everything from frequent flier programs to routes and ticket prices. As talks between Delta and Northwest continue, United Airlines is pondering its strategic options, including a potential merger between the Chicago-based carrier and Continental. Here's what consolidation among the nation's biggest airlines might mean for Northwest travelers: Frequent- flier programs: No one's going to lose their accrued miles in the event of a voluntary merger, but there are a few things to keep in mind. A merger between Atlanta-based Delta and Minneapolis-based Northwest would create the world's biggest air carrier. The two airlines already are mileage partners with Seattle-based Alaska Airlines as well as with members of the SkyTeam Alliance which includes Continental, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines and Air France.
A Diesel Dose Of Shaq-Related Chatter
Teams talking trade with the Mavs these days naturally try to convince them to make all the complications go away by turning the rights they still hold to Keith Van Horn into an expiring contract, as described in Box 3. The Mavs could actually make a trade for Kidd much easier if they were willing to throw a signed-and-traded Van Horn in to satisfy salary-cap requirements. That would amount to Van Horn getting a three-year deal with only the first year guaranteed at a healthy $11.7 million. Package Van Horn with Harris and perhaps more salary-cap filler and the Nets would get good cap relief along with an on-the-rise point guard to replace Kidd, while Dallas would have its mega-trade answer to the Gasol and Shaq deals. Only one problem. Although he still refuses to address the prospect of trading for Kidd without chastising or mocking any reporter who dares to ask, Cuban did tell ESPN.com very clearly that "we won't use [Van Horn] in any deal for anyone." Reason being: If Dallas did so in the scenario described above, Kidd would cost them nearly $40 million next season thanks to the luxury tax.
In the land of the Iron Chef
It is the world's most temperamental substance. Without the glutinous binding properties of wheat, the dough becomes so prone to shredding that learning how to make it takes a staggering three years of training after which one attains the status of "soba master." That's what chef Matsamura did. But then his soba-dough-rolling expertise is only one example of the fetishistic, borderline maniacal culinary philosophy at Kikouchitei. After all, this is a chef who insists on grinding his own buckwheat flour with his own granite millstone. A millstone that sits behind glass like some monument in the middle of the restaurant. His noodles supple, faintly grainy and cottony soft are served Zaru-style. This means they are dipped into a broth that is its own mixture of absurdly rarefied ingredients, including a Japanese sugar that costs $250 a kilogram, rice vinegar aged for more than 2 1/2 years, and donko, the most expensive dried shiitake mushroom on the planet.
Dramatic u-turn on schools closures
We still have a problem with school rolls and a financial shortfall. We have listened to what the people have said and I'm reflecting on where to go from here. We're thinking again. We're back in the melting pot." The cabinet decision has been called in by the council's scrutiny committee. "I'd be delighted if they came up with any solutions," said Coun Hartley. She stressed: "We hope to talk it through with the people concerned. It will be a two-way consultation. No decisions have been made and we are here to listen." Before last week, Hope, Hopton Wafers, Onny and Rushbury schools in the south of Shropshire were slated for closure. However proposals to merge Ashford Carbonell school with Caynham and Lydbury North with Clunbury are likely to move into the next stage following the scrutiny meeting.
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