European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - March 25, 2007, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 16 o stars and s ripes sunday March 25 2007 rat Poison found in no recalled pet food by Mark Johnson the associated press Albany by rat Poison was found in the pet food suspected of causing kidney fail ure that killed at least 16 cats and dogs but scientists still dont know How it got there state officials said Friday the toxin was identified As amino Terin which is used to kill rats in some countries state agriculture commissioner Patrick Hooker said amino Terin is not registered for killing rodents in the United states according to the environmental Protection Agency though it is used As a cancer drug state officials  speculate on How the toxin got into menu foods no recalled pet food but said no Crimi Nal investigations had been launched scientists at the new York state animal health diagnostic Center at Cornell and at the new York state food Laboratory tested three cat food samples provided by menu foods and found amino Terin in two of them Hooker said they would be testing individual components of the pet food As Well any amount of this product is too much in food he said amino Terin also used As a cancer drug is highly toxic in High doses it inhibits the growth of malignant cells and suppresses the immune system in dogs and cats it can cause kidney failure according to Donald Smith Dean of Cornell University College of Veteri nary Medicine the food and drug administration has said the investigation in the pet deaths was focus ing on wheat gluten in the pet food wheat gluten itself would not cause kidney failure but the common ingredient could have been contaminated the Fra said the pet deaths led to a recall of 60 million cans and pouches of pet food produced by menu foods and sold throughout North Amer Ica under 95 Brand names there have been several reports of kidney failure in pets that ate the recalled brands and the company has confirmed the deaths of 15 cats and one dog Reed pebbles a Yorkshire terrier battling kidney failure after eating dog food that was later recalled is examined at Collett veterinary clinic in los Angeles on wednesday Etc staircase threatens new construction the associated press new York Only one remnant of the world Trade Center lies above Street level the staircase that several survivors of the sept 11 2001 terrorist attacks used to escape the debris filled Complex a preservation group has called the stairway one of the nations most endangered places but rebuilding officials say a prolonged debate Over whether to preserve or demolish the 175ton staircase is threatening construction schedules for new office towers historians first lobbied to keep the staircase in the same spot and lately have advocated moving it intact to a nearby Park or Plaza while officials prepare the land to build one of three planned office towers the staircase sits on the foot print of a planned Tower by Brit ish architect Norman Foster were trying to save an important piece of history for his tory said Peg Breen presi Dent of the new York land Marks conservancy the lower Manhattan development corp rebuilding Agency earlier this year pro posed tearing Down All but a few Steps of the staircase and moving the remaining portions to the sept 11 museum or including a few Steps in the Foster Tower design but just before a Public com ment period ended in february officials in Goy Eliot spritzers administration pushed for further discussion in a letter last month the states historic preservation office called the proposal to tear Down most of the Stair Case insufficient Given its symbolism a spokesman for the Empire state development corp the a macs Parent Agency said Here is no timetable for a decision on the staircase this is something that were carefully examining Spitzer spokeswoman Jennifer Givner said prosecutor probe stalls Bush Justice nominee by Mary Clare Jalonick the associated press Washington the Flap Over fired prosecutors is jeopardizing confirmation of president Bush pick for the no 3 spot at the Justice department the nomination of Bill Mercer currently the us attorney for Montana to become associate at Torney general has been put on hold by democrats they want to question him about his role in the dismissal of several Federal prosecutors late last year mercers name frequently pops up among More than 3000 pages of email exchanges among department and White House officials discussing the dismissals the Senate judiciary committee has authorized a subpoena for Mercer As part of its investigation into the matter his nomination is pending before that committee a committee spokeswoman said it will not consider the Nomi nation until the investigation is finished it is not Clear How Long Mercer that will take in order for the com Mittee to con duct a full and fair consideration of or Mer cers Nomina Tion it needs All the facts including those that May arise As part of its investigation into the mass firings of the us attorneys said Tracy Schmaler press aide for the chair Man sen Patrick Leahy Dot Mercer has served As acting associate attorney general in Washington since he was nominated in september at the same time he is the chief Federal prosecutor in Montana double duty that has prompted criticism Back Home i dont think its appropriate for or Mercer to hold both of these jobs democratic sen Jon tester said in a statement tues Day Montana needs a full time us attorney that same Day a spokesman for Montana other senator democratic sen Max Baucus said Baucus is hearing from lawyers and judges in the state who say mercers prosecutors office is stretched too thin mercers top Deputy in Mon Tana Kurt Alme said last week that Mercer makes decisions from Washington and still handles a Large share of his duties it is not unusual for us attorneys to serve in temporary the Justice department but criticism of the practice has in creased As scrutiny intensified Over the prosecutor firings rep William Delahunt mass criticized the depart ment for allowing the us attorney in Massachusetts Michael j Sullivan to serve for the past six months As acting director of the Federal Bureau of alcohol Tobac co firearms and explosives Bush last week nominated Sulli Van for the Job permanently and his nomination is pending in the Senate judiciary committee he is expected to continue in both roles pending Senate Confirma Tion for the at Job Chuck Rosenberg us attorney for the Eastern District of Vir Ginia also has two roles he was named interim chief of staff at the Justice department two weeks ago after chief of staff Kyle Sampson resigned in the up Roar Over the fired prosecutors Rosenberg was confirmed by the Senate As us attorney last june collegians lose cheap Deal on birth control by Justin Pope the associated press millions of College students Are suddenly facing sharply higher prices for birth control prompting concerns among health officials that some will shift to less preferred contraceptives or Stop using them altogether prices for Oral contraceptives or birth control pills Are doubling and tripling at student health Cen ters the result of a Complex change in the medicaid rebate Law that essentially ends an incentive for drug companies to provide deep discounts to colleges its a tremendous problem for our students be cause not every student has a Platinum card said Hugh Jessop executive director of the health Center at Indiana University there he said women Are paying about per month for prescriptions that Cost a few months ago some of our students have two jobs have Chil Dren Jessop said at some schools women could see prices Rise Sev eral Hundred dollars per year the change is the result of a Chain reaction started by a 2005 deficit reduction Bill that focused on medicaid the main Federal health insurance pro Gram for the poor College health officials say they had Little idea the Bill would affect them before the change pharmaceutical companies typically sold drugs at deep discounts to a Range of health care providers including colleges with contraceptives one motivation was attracting custom ers who would stay with their products for years but in its 2005 went into effect in Jan uary Congress changed that now the discounts to colleges mean drug manufacturers have to pay More to participate in medicaid the result fewer companies Are willing to offer discounts some students said they doubted the Price increases would dissuade Many students from buying contraceptives but said it would be noticed i feel like if an individuals going to seek it there going to seek it and try to find the resources for it said Betsy Henke student body president at Indiana University but she added anything that is an increase in what a student is paying is going to have some Type of Impact  get legally married while deployed Usa marriage certificate recognized by military no travel required completed in 3 weeks personalized service do the right thing Contact Sam or Barbara Call 0016103535381 toll free 8774822406 Smulick Yahoo com pregnancy a problem Call women clinic in Guam Usa confidentiality assured military Welcome a left our we Bette at