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4A Daily News – Friday, July 19, 2013 WORLD BRIEFING Detroit becomes largest US city to file for bankruptcy DETROIT (AP) — Once the very symbol of American industrial might, Detroit became the biggest U.S. city to file for bankruptcy Thursday, its finances ravaged and its neighborhoods hollowed out by a long, slow decline in population and auto manufacturing. The filing, which had been feared for months, put the city on an uncertain course that could mean laying off municipal employees, selling off assets, raising fees and scaling back basic services such as trash collection and snow plowing, which have already been slashed. ''Only one feasible path offers a way out,'' Gov. Rick Snyder said in a letter approving the move. Kevin Orr, a bankruptcy expert hired by the state in March to stop Detroit's fiscal free-fall, made the Chapter 9 filing in federal bankruptcy court. Michael Sweet, a bankruptcy attorney in FoxRothschild's San Francisco office, said the city would pay current employees. But ''beyond that, all bets are off.'' Obama touts insurance rebates under health law WASHINGTON (AP) — Facing public doubts and embarrassing setbacks to his signature health care law, President Barack Obama stepped forward Thursday to extol the pro- gram's benefits, emphasizing that some Americans already are receiving insurance rebates and lower premiums. Obama said the program is working the way it was supposed to with ''better benefits, stronger protections, more bang for your buck.'' The assertion was ridiculed by Republicans, with House Speaker John Boehner calling the Affordable Care Act ''a train wreck'' that he will keep working to repeal. Obama dismissed the GOP's so-far-futile votes — the House logged its 38th attempt to repeal or scale back the law on Wednesday — with an exasperated sigh and shake of his head during a White House speech. ''What I've heard is just the same old song and dance,'' Obama said of his critics. ''We're just going to blow through that stuff and just keep on doing the right thing for the American people.'' While the fate of the health care law will play a major role in defining his legacy, Obama has not devoted much time or energy to selling it to the country, speaking on the subject only occasionally as Republicans have pressed a determined campaign to undermine the program. Obama is returning to the subject now because enrollment begins Oct. 1 for subsidized private coverage through new online markets. Senate reaches deal to restore lower college loan rates WASHINGTON (AP) — A bipartisan compromise on student loans promises better deals for students and parents over the next few years but could spell higher rates as the economy improves. The Senate deal pegs the interest rates on new loans to the financial markets and was expected to come to a vote next week, well before students returning to campus this fall had to sign their loan agreements. Under the deal, undergraduates this fall could borrow at a 3.9 percent interest rate. Graduate students would have access to loans at 5.4 percent, and parents would be able to borrow at 6.4 percent. Those rates would climb as the economy improves and it becomes more expensive for the government to borrow money. The compromise heads off the doubling of rates on some students loans, which would cost students an extra $2,600. ''We have gone through weeks of negotiations and we have an agreement,'' said Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill. Reputed Boston crime boss comes face to face in court with once-loyal comrade BOSTON (AP) — His hands on his hips in a you-want-a-piece-of-me stance, Stephen ''The Rifleman'' Flemmi glared at James ''Whitey'' Bulger in the courtroom, and the two men snarled what sounded like obscenities at each other. Bulger and his onceloyal comrade came face to face Thursday for the first time in nearly two JUST MOVE IT Part of a national campaign to promote physical activity for American Indians and Alaskan Natives FRIDAY, JULY 19 TH 12:00 NOON Registration and Start Psycho Fitness & MMA 1450 Schwab St., Red Bluff ry School in Johannesburg, where 700 students gathered in a hall filled with posters created to honor Mandela's contributions to peace and education. Mandela remains very fragile, and many details of his medical condition have not been divulged or are tightly controlled by his family and President Jacob Zuma. The news that his health had improved was another dramatic turn in the life of a man who became a global figure of sacrifice and reconciliation during the fight against white minority rule in South Africa. decades as Flemmi testified against the reputed Boston crime boss at Bulger's racketeering trial. In his brief 15 minutes or so on the stand before court recessed for the day, Flemmi, a ruthless underworld executioner, told how he and Bulger were secret FBI informants for 15 years while they ran the Winter Hill Gang, the city's murderous Irish mob. Flemmi said he was with Bulger and heard him give information to FBI agent John Connolly ''hundreds of times'' over 15 years. That comment seemed to rankle Bulger, who insists that he was never an informant and told people that being a ''rat'' was the worst thing anyone could do, according to testimony. Uncertainty complicating job of economic forecasters WASHINGTON (AP) — Politicians and economists are straining to get a clearer view of what the economy will look like a year from now, when midterm political campaigns are heating up. Republicans see the glass as half empty; Democrats view it as half full. And the economists aren't sure. ''Our economy is recovering at the slowest rate since World War II,'' House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, lamented to a group of manufacturers. ''Quarter after quarter, the growth numbers barely move, unemployment stays about the same.'' Democrats beg to differ. ''There are a lot of reasons for us to feel optimistic about where we're headed as a country,'' KWIK KUTS 20 ANY RETAIL PRODUCT with any chemical service of $50 or more 2 Regular $ Haircut Join us for a series of Non-competitive walks and runs. Open to families, individuals of all ages and people of all cultures. For more information contact Avery Vilche at 200-0526 S. Africans celebrate upbeat reports about Mandela JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Hospital visitors say Nelson Mandela smiled and nodded Thursday — his 95th birthday — and South Africans celebrated upbeat reports about the former president's health after weeks of worrying that he was on the verge of death. Children sang ''Happy Birthday'' at school assemblies nationwide, and many honored the man known as ''the father of the nation'' by performing acts of charity for 67 minutes, symbolizing Mandela's 67 years of public service. World leaders praised the antiapartheid leader's life of sacrifice and vision. Outside the Pretoria hospital where Mandela was admitted for a recurring lung infection, wellwishers paid tribute to him and some received slices of a large birthday cake doled out from inside the compound. ''We don't only recognize him on this day. We put smiles on other people's faces, we donate to other people less fortunate,'' said Thato Williams, a 13-year-old student at Melpark Prima- Sierra Sound Family Hair Salon % off President Barack Obama tells audiences, citing steady jobs gains, a falling deficit and a more stable housing market. Which is it? Economic forecasters are torn. And their forecasts are suddenly all over the map. Some see U.S. growth stuck below 2 percent for some time, while others — among them the Federal Reserve and the White House — predict it will climb above 3 percent as soon as next year . 00 off Reg. $13.95 Not good with other offers Expires 7/31/13 With coupon 1064 South Main St., Red Bluff • 529-3540 NEW & USED CD's Special Orders Avail. Car Stereo Sales - Service Installation We make house calls! 226 So. Main St., Red Bluff 527-3735 SCHOOL PHYSICALS ARE YOUR CHILD'S IMMUNIZATIONS UP-TO-DATE? Lassen Medical Is Offering Saturday Walk In Clinics For School and/or Sport Physicals Saturday July 20th August 10th Taliban peace talks as Pakistan to try to mend fences with Afghanistan ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (AP) — Pakistan is sending a top official to the Afghan capital this weekend to try to mend fences with its uneasy neighbor, and hanging in the balance are U.S. efforts to arrange peace talks with the Taliban. The trip comes roughly two weeks after the Taliban closed their newly opened political office in the Gulf state of Qatar following angry complaints from Afghanistan that the Islamic militant movement had set it up as a virtual rival embassy, with a flag and sign harkening back to the days they ruled the country. The political office was part of a U.S. plan to launch peace talks with the Taliban to end the protracted war, with American and other NATO combat troops scheduled to withdraw from Afghanistan by the end of next year. But the talks ended before they could even begin amid the uproar last month. Pakistan, which had helped persuade Taliban to agree to sit down with the Americans — and possibly with the Afghans after that — now contends that intransigence, suspicion and Afghan President Hamid Karzai's reluctance to invite his political opponents at home to the negotiating table in Qatar is hobbling efforts to start the talks. ''They (Taliban) listen to us. We have some influence but we can't control them,'' Sartaj Aziz, Pakistan's special adviser on national security and foreign affairs, told The Associated Press in advance of his trip to Kabul on Saturday. Get Moving Tehama Need low cost options for fun activities this summer? ➞ find ideas TODAY! 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