Journal Online Home. About Us. Contact Us. Advertise. yesterday to visit his 102-year-old ailing mother after the Sandiganbayan granted his petition to be allowed to see Doa Mary Ejercito. Reports speculated that the 70-year-old former president will ask for his mothers blessing before the Sandiganbayan hands down its verdict in his plunder case involving about P4 billion in illegal funds that include kickbacks from the tobacco excise tax and gambling payoffs. AMID tight security, former...

Thaden is eager to start the harvest of an estimated 3,000 pounds of grapes - 21 varieties - that will make up the first crush of the Tongue River Vineyard. MILES CITY - Bob Thaden squeezes the juice from a freshly picked grape onto the prism of his refractometer, covering it with a glass plate that flips into place. A stand of fruit trees will border the east edge of the two acres of land set aside for agriculture. The grapevines are tucked behind a small hill near the banks of the river...

You get rid of the cream of the crop along with everyone else. Cobb called tobacco companies &#8220murderers at a hearing on his bill to raise the cigarette tax to fund health programs. Sequestered in his tiny office, Cobb pored over bills, government audits, reports and studies searching for better ways to do things. Cobb perhaps was most respected for his intricate knowledge of the state's massive and complex health and social services budget and the myriad of programs it funds to help...

He has talked of the need to rein in federal spending before making tax cuts, but has also promised to keep taxes low and simplify the tax code. Overall, he sees the conflict as part of a wider struggle, in which "violent radical jihadists" want to replace moderate Arab governments with a caliphate and destroy America. Fred Thompson: Voted for the 2003 invasion and has said he would do "essentially what the president's doing" in Iraq, although he has also talked of rectifying past...

It could be a tough day of adjustment for bar and restaurant patrons who will no longer see ash trays on the tables and will be asked to put out their cigarettes if they light up while having a beer. Employees at other businesses, like offices, factories or warehouses where smoking is currently allowed in break rooms, will also have to stop that practice. WILLMAR Information, education and preparation are key words as business owners, employees and customers get ready for the state s new...