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6B – Daily News – Thursday, March 31, 2011 Furniture Depot 235 So. Main St., Red Bluff 527-1657 MON.-FRI. 9:00-6:00 SAT. 9:00-5:00 • SUN. 11:00-5:00 Gadhafi’s forces retake oil town AJDABIYA, Libya (AP) — Moammar Gad- hafi’s ground forces recap- tured a strategic oil town Wednesday and moved within striking distance of another major eastern city, nearly reversing the gains rebels made since interna- tional airstrikes began. Rebels pleaded for more help, while a U.S. official said government forces are making themselves harder to target by using civilian ‘‘battle wagons’’ with makeshift armaments instead of tanks. Western powers kept up the pressure to force Gadhafi out with new airstrikes in other parts of Libya, hints that they may arm the opposition and intense negotiations behind the scenes to find a country to give haven to Libya’s leader of more than 40 years. Even as it advanced militarily, Gadhafi’s regime suffered a blow to its inner circle with the apparent defection of For- eign Minister Moussa Koussa. Koussa flew from Tunisia to an airport out- side London and announced he was resign- ing from his post, accord- To share more than features of the place we call “Home” … Instead, the experiences of enjoying them. Thru Thurs. March 31, 2011 ing to a statement from the British government. Moussa Ibrahim, a Libyan government spokesman in Tripoli, denied that the foreign minister has defected say- ing he was in London on a ‘‘diplomatic mission.’’ It was not immediately possible to confirm either statement with Moussa or people close to him. Americans pessimistic on economy WASHINGTON (AP) — For all the talk of recov- ery, Americans are growing increasingly pessimistic about the economy as soar- ing gas costs strain already- tight budgets. But so far, people aren’t taking it out on President Barack Obama, a new Associated Press-GfK poll shows. Even so, the survey high- lights a central challenge Obama will face in his cam- paign for re-election. The president will have to con- vince a lot of voters who are NoTAXSale *”no sales tax” in reference to discount given equal to the amount of calculated sales tax. WORLD BRIEFING Obama’s approval rat- still feeling financial hard- ship that things are getting better. ings have held steady at around 50 percent over the past month. But the discon- nect between negative per- ceptions of the economy and signs that a rebound are under way could provide an opening for Republicans at the outset of the 2012 cam- paign. In the survey, just a sliv- er of Americans — 15 per- cent — said they believed the economy had improved over the past month, com- pared with 30 percent who had thought that in January. Only a third were optimistic of better times ahead for the country, down from about half earlier this year. And 28 percent thought the econo- my would get worse, the largest slice of people who have expressed that senti- ment since the question was first asked in December 2009. ‘‘It’s in a poor state,’’ said Billy Shirley, 74, a Democrat from Commerce, Ga. ‘‘Everything’s going to the bad. Everyone’s spend- ing more on gas, food, everything. The prices on everything are going up, and that’s hurting the nation.’’ Concern over seafood spreads TOKYO (AP) — Fears about contaminated seafood spread Wednesday despite reassurances that radiation in the waters off Japan’s troubled atomic plant pose no health risk, as the coun- try’s respected emperor consoled evacuees from the tsunami and nuclear emer- gency zone. While experts say radioactive particles are unlikely to build up signifi- cantly in fish, the seafood concerns in the country that gave the world sushi are yet another blemish for Brand Japan. It has already been hit by contamination of milk, vegetables and water, plus shortages of auto and tech parts after a massive quake and tsunami disabled a coastal nuclear power plant. Setbacks at the Fukushi- ma Dai-ichi nuclear com- plex mounted Wednesday, as the plant’s operator, Tokyo Power Electric Co., announced that its president was hospitalized. Masataka Shimizu has not been seen since a news conference two days after the March 11 quake that spawned the destructive wave. His absence fueled speculation that he had suffered a break- down. Spokesman Naoki Tsun- oda said Shimizu, 66, was admitted to a Tokyo hospi- tal Tuesday after suffering dizziness and high blood pressure. The problems at the nuclear plant have taken center stage, but the tsunami also created another disas- ter: Hundreds of thousands of people were forced from their homes after the wave drove miles (kilometers) inland, decimating whole towns. The official death toll stood at 11,362 late Wednesday, with the final toll likely surpassing 18,000. LASSEN STEAK HOUSE “Home of the Sizzling Platter” Perfect for Large Parties Anniversary • Retirement • Weddings • Birthdays • Reunions, etc. Open 11am - 9pm Call 530 839-2838 Corner of Hwy 99E & Vina Rd. K W I K K U T S Family Hair Salon 1064 South Main St., Red Bluff • 529-3540 with coupon $200 REGULAR HAIRCUT off Not good with other offers Alan Wylie Inspector 4950 Mountain Lakes Blvd #B Redding, CA 96003 Mobile: 530/638-1015 TERMITE INSPECTION FREE & SERVICE* Premier Edition: May, 2011 or UP TO 15% OFF TERMITE TREATMENT PEST EVALUATION FREE & SAVE 10% OFF PEST CONTROL SERVICE* Reg. $13.95 Expires 3/31/11 Have Your Party at