Kept in dark on poisoning ; Your viewsYour views

WE read with interest your article Cafe fined Pounds 7,000 fortuna food poisoning outbreak (Gazette, November 23), regarding theoutcome of the council's investigation into food poisoning at theGreen Bean Coffee Company cafe.

We were among the victims of the scrombrotoxic poisoning throughpoorly refrigerated tuna.

It was our children's last day in Year 6 and we met for lunchbefore attending the special leavers' service at church.

Needless to say our 'special' afternoon was a bit of a blur,completely ruined by this episode and memorable only for thedreadful effects of the toxic reaction we experienced.

After some deliberation (the Green …

U.N. Supports U.S Troops Staying in Iraq

UNITED NATIONS - The U.N. Security Council agreed Wednesday to an Iraqi request to extend the mandate of the U.S.-led multinational force after the country's foreign minister said the troops were "vitally necessary."

The council also strongly condemned the bombing of Samarra's revered Shiite shrine and urged all countries, especially those in the region, to support Iraq in its pursuit of peace.

Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari told the council members that despite the senseless violence "the government has made tremendous strides toward the day when security will be provided by a self-sufficient, Iraqi national security force."

"While Iraqis will always be …

Clinton details humanitarian aid to Pakistan

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said Tuesday the United States was sending $110 million in emergency humanitarian aid to Pakistan, part of the administration's new strategy for countering the appeal of Taliban militants in the nuclear-armed American ally.

Clinton detailed the aid package at the White House, saying the money is flowing to ease the plight of about 2 million Pakistanis who have fled fighting in the country's Swat Valley and are living in squalid tent cities.

The White House said Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani had appointed Brig. Gen. Nadeem Ahmad to lead the Pakistani relief effort. He was highly praised for his work in the relief …

We Need Creative Alternatives to Cars

I am not an obstructionist. I am having a hard time recognizingthe need for the proposed Fox Valley expressway.

I have been told that one person/one car is the creed of thesuburbanite. That people won't change their habits and learn toaccept mass transit. Our response to this phenomenon is to buildmore roads to relieve congestion. This causes more people to drivemore cars, which creates more congestion. Then more roads need to bebuilt to relieve the congestion.

As a child of the environmental '70s, I find it difficult tosupport the destruction of some of the last open space in Du PageCounty to build a road that will serve only to keep us dependent onour …

NASA finds 4th crack on space shuttle fuel tank

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — NASA has found a fourth crack in the fuel tank for space shuttle Discovery.

Discovery's final mission remains on hold as engineers and technicians work to fix all the cracks as well as a hydrogen gas leak.

NASA spokesman Allard Beutel said Monday the repairs need to be made before a new launch date is picked. The launch window opens Nov. 30 and closes Dec. …

Arkansas City Worries After Plant Fire

The Cargill meat packing plant was an economic lifeline to this small west Arkansas town, a place where almost everyone worked its lines or knew someone who did.

A fire and set of explosions that destroyed the plant Sunday may sever that link to the city's 4,000 residents forever.

"They'll be applying for unemployment and food stamps" if the plant closes, said Manuel Mann, 69, pastor of the Southside Assembly of God in Booneville. "It's really going to hurt and this town is already hurting."

Firefighters were unable to fight the Sunday afternoon blaze because of dangers posed by the estimated 88,000 pounds of anhydrous ammonia …

BACKHAND SHOTSExhibition ace enjoys opportunity to mess with press

She came, she saw, she conked her.

Or would have, given the right opportunity.

In Winnipeg, Manitoba, for an exhibition match Sunday againstMonica Seles, Anna Kournikova had to deal with the pesky pressbeforehand. Which was almost as much fun for Kournikova as theforehands and backhands in her 6-4, 7-5 victory.

Asked by a female reporter from the Winnipeg Sun about thevalidity of reports that she's had high-profile flings with NHLsuperstars Pavel Bure …