Afghans debate new constitution Role of leaders, women discussed as delegates decide on constitution

KABUL, Afghanistan -- Delegates assembling from every corner ofAfghanistan on Saturday faced tough debate in hammering out the firstpost-Taliban constitution, the bedrock of what Afghans hope will be abetter life after years of war.

Under intense security, about 500 representatives -- from villagemullahs to Western-educated exiles -- must work out the role ofAfghan women, Islam's place in politics and the sharing of power in anation accustomed to fighting over it.

The constitutional loya jirga, or grand council, which openstoday, is a key step in the two-year drive to stabilize the countryunder an empowered central government and will lead to landmarknational …

School Board President Chico resigns unexpectedly

School Board President Chico resigns unexpectedly

A gaggle of TV talking heads under $100 coiffures watched the Gery Chico Show at 2 p.m. Thursday with a bunch of scruffy print reporters as the president of Chicago's Board of Education announced to a dozen microphones that he is resigning in two weeks as head of the nation's third largest school district.

The drama, like some TV fare, turned out to be pretty much about nothing as the end of Chico's six-year tenure came without the charges, excuses and denials leveled in connection with some resignations by typical creatures of City Hall who suddenly drop from view.

Chico, 45, said the time has come to spend more time …

Sheriff: 4 bodies found on houseboat

An investigator in western Illinois says four adults whose bodies were found on a Mississippi River houseboat may have been victims of carbon-monoxide poisoning.

Police say the bodies of two men and two women were found Sunday afternoon on a boat just north of the village of Hamburg.

Mark Wagner of the Illinois …

Get fighting fit in park

Military fitness classes are coming to Bath.

British Military Fitness is launching a series of sessions inRoyal Victoria Park, starting on Tuesday, June 7, at 7pm.

British Military Fitness was set up in London in 1999 by MajorRobin Cope. Its classes, which are run by instructors who are eitherserving or former members of the …

Moral cost of China trade too steep

Musings about the Chinese-U.S. confrontation that occupies so muchof our attention:

Conservatives have a long list of penalties that they wish theBush administration would serve up to China in retaliation for thesurveillance plane crisis-but there is only one military step that isenduring and vital.

Let's take the short-range penalties first. The president shouldcancel his proposed trip to China. The United States should notsupport China's bid for the Olympic games. We should providemeaningful arms aid to Taiwan. Congress should not extend China'spermanent normal trade relations status. We should use our influenceto keep China out of the World Trade Organization. …

Coastal Carolina preseason pick to win Big South

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Coastal Carolina was picked to unseat defending champion Winthrop in the Big South on Tuesday and High Point junior guard Nick Barbour was voted the conference's preseason player of the year.

The Cliff Ellis-coached Chanticleers, who return six players from last season's team that won the league's regular-season title, received 10 of 24 first-place votes by the league's coaches and a media panel. It marks the first time since 1993-94 that Coastal Carolina is the preseason No. 1.

The Chanticleers last made the NCAA tournament in 1993.

"It's an honor to be the preseason pick to win the Big South, but nothing is determined until we start playing …

Manufacturing grows for 12th straight month

U.S. manufacturing grew for a 12th straight month in July, providing a boost to the slowing economic recovery.

And many manufacturers said they are willing to hire, a sign that the industry could help ease the nation's high unemployment rate in the months ahead.

The latest report from the Institute for Supply Management did note Monday that manufacturing growth has cooled in the past three months. But much of that was expected. Many businesses are no longer building up their stocks after slashing them during the worst recession in decades.

Wall Street reacted favorably to the first major economic indicator for July. The Dow Jones industrial average …