Free Republic

Kerry Promises to Crack Down on Crime in Corporate Offices By DAVID M. HALBFINGER OSTON, Dec. 11 — Senator John Kerry said on Thursday that he would crack down on abuses in the mutual fund industry if elected president and called for expanding the antiracketeering laws to fight a "new age of organized crime that comes from corporate offices." Speaking at Northeastern University, Mr. Kerry, a Massachusetts Democrat, said he would end the rapid-fire, quick-turnaround trades known as market timing, in which fund managers and big investors have been allowed to profit at the expense of long-term shareholders. "In America...

Woman found dead in ditch near Slaton BY KERRY DRENNAN AVALANCHE-JOURNAL Rosa Palacio cannot imagine why anyone would want to harm her daughter, Cynthia, whom she described as kind-hearted, fun-loving and a devoted mother. "Why? Why? Why her? I just want to know why," she said as she dabbed tears. It was a noon newscast that prompted her to call the Sheriff's Office to see if the body found early Tuesday morning was that of 21-year-old Cynthia JoAnn Palacio. "I started shaking," Rosa Palacio said. "I felt like something was wrong. I tried to ignore it. I didn't want to...

Democrats plan to take one last shot at blocking one of President Bush's judicial nominees while they still control the Senate, hoping to defeat the promotion of a former aide to retiring Sen. Strom Thurmond. The Senate set aside most of Monday to debate the appeals court nomination of U.S. District Judge Dennis Shedd. While under its current Democratic control, the chamber has only debated an appeals court nominations when party leaders wanted to kill it. Shedd is a former assistant to the 99-year-old Thurmond, who will retire in January. Thurmond, R-S.C., has asked for Shedd's promotion to the 4th...