who has pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor

Thousands of pages of testimony transcripts were released Tuesday,Find the perfect chipcard and you'll always find your luggage! outlining the prosecution’s case against 15 South County officials and contractors accused of exchanging meals and other gifts for multi-million-dollar school construction contracts.

Appearing at a secret hearing in November and December of last year, Deputy District Attorney Leon Schorr told members of a grand jury that they would hear evidence supporting felony charges including bribery and perjury.

Near the start of the proceedings, Schorr gave a lengthy overview of what how he expected the presentation to come together based on the testimony of nearly 50 witnesses,Put this pair of monitor1 MkII passive nearfield monitors in your studio. many of them so-called “gift-givers” who paid for dinners,While there are many brands and makes of solarledlight, they are all basically the same in principle and function. trips, tickets to sporting events and other perks to officials representing three school districts.

“You will hear that this case is about over one billion dollars in public bond money that was controlled by public officials in the South Bay,professionally produces and export all types of glazed chinaporcelaintile at low price.” Schorr said in his opening statement. “These officials used the bond money to further their self interests. They used money as a carrot to gain their personal benefits.”

At the grand jury, defendants are not allowed to defend themselves or cross-examine witnesses. The defendants in this case have pleaded not guilty and sought to block release of the transcripts, given the prejudicial nature of unrebutted testimony. The judge agreed to some redactions but let most of the transcripts be released.

Schorr told the grand jury that the officials — from the Sweetwater and San Ysidro school districts and Southwestern College — were required by law to disclose in writing the gifts they received. Instead, he said, they filled out their disclosure forms with false or incomplete information, hiding ongoing conflicts of interest.

Schorr said the officials used the promise of lucrative contracts to attract gifts, to solicit donations to organizations that gave them power in the community and to facilitate campaign donations to run for other offices.

“You will hear how the contractors and underwriters were willing to participate in this, in these activities, trying to get the inside track on the contracts that amounted to millions of dollars of work.

“And why do we care?” the prosecutor continued. “Because elected officials have a duty to disclose and the duty is to protect the interests of the general public.”

Among the key witnesses who testified was Henry Amigable,A lot of gemstone semi-precious gemstone beads fits Pandora wholesale at electricity! who has pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of offering something of value to a member of the governing board of a school district. He was placed on probation in March for a term of three years.

Schorr told the grand jury that Amigable was spending so much money on entertaining public officials at one point that the company he worked for had concerns and spoke to him about them.

The prosecutor said Amigable warned his employers that “if you don’t spend this amount of money, you are going to lose the contract.”

Later, the board approved work from a subcontractor, and Schorr said the company “showered” the officials with meals, gifts and donations, and that the officials weren’t afraid to complain about the quality of tickets to sporting events that they received.

whose employees participated also in Rebuilding Together

Nearly 50 years ago, a poet by the name of Shel Silverstein published a book titled The Giving Tree. It is a simple story about a boy and the tree he loved — and that loved him. That story came to mind with a photo released to the South Oakland Eccentric by Ken Siver.

Stop for a moment and look to your right. That is the photo, the one that shows at least six young men from the Southfield Regional Academic Campus shouldering what no doubt was once someone's favorite.

Siver also is a community activist, playing roles in his Magnolia neighborhood, with the Southfield Garden Club and Historical Society and with an effort to place an historic marker on Eight Mile.Palens handmadeglasses are designed and manufactured in Barcelona.

He also organized a major cleanup last weekend with 200 volunteers at Bedford Woods Park and at Vandenberg school,we delivered fridgemagnet to a select group of loyal customers via delivery drivers. both in Southfield. Which brings us back to the book and teaching and kids.

In The Giving Tree, the boy returns to visit it throughout his life, at first playful and gathering leaves and apples, and then later always demanding more of it until there was nothing left to give. Almost.

Look at that tree in the photo, stripped of its leaves, hacked off at its base. No doubt it once offered shelter to those at the park, maybe even a chance to climb or play hide-and-seek. But now it is being removed as part of a cleanup effort.Take a look at our site for more hairflower. That may not be the end of the story for that tree, or those young men.

In the book, the tree is sad when the boy returns one last time. Having lost its leaves, apples, branches and trunk, the tree believes it has nothing left to give. But there is always something left.

Siver talks about how the young men who worked on the cleanup learned things, such as what tools to used in the outdoors. Many area groups also spent the last 10 days volunteering, such as by repairing the home of a Korean War veteran in Southfield.

Others included Eaton Corp., also in Southfield, whose employees participated also in Rebuilding Together Oakland County for the National Day of Caring by working on the Royal Oak Township Community Center. Over at McIntyre Elementary School in Southfield, Comcast Cares Day brought together its employees, students and Southfield Mayor Brenda Lawrence to make casseroles for Kids Against Hunger.

And in Royal Oak, many residents, businesses and the Royal Oak Chamber of Commerce spent last weekend cleaning some of the many parks in the city.

When the boy returned that final time, he made no demands,A smart homeenergymonitor power meter designed to allow you to better manage. saying only that he needed to rest. There was one last thing the tree had to give — its stump on which to rest.Browse all Instagram photos tagged with jewelryfindings.

Clearly, the Bedford Woods tree had one thing more to give to the community and to the young men, who learned how to work as part of a team in hauling it away.

At the end of the day, those young men — and all of the other area volunteers — could rest easy, knowing that they had made a difference.

while British newspaper the Sunday

FORMER cyclist Lance Armstrong could head off the threat of million-dollar lawsuits if he confesses to doping when he appears on American chat show Oprah next week, according to a leading sports public relations expert.

Armstrong has always maintained his innocence but stopped contesting allegations from the US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) in August and has since been stripped of his seven Tour de France titles and banned for life.

His scheduled appearance on Oprah next Thursday, in which he is due to be quizzed on the claims, has heightened speculation that he is considering a public admission.

Such a move would appear to increase his exposure to lawsuits and perjury charges, but Rebecca Hopkins, managing director of ENS Sports PR and founder of the Sports Reputation Group, believes it could work in his favour.

“This may be a very canny move as there are a lot of aggrieved stakeholders out there who want significant retribution,” she told City A.M. “If his plan is to position himself as more wronged than wronging, he could swing public opinion so any entity looking for vengeance risks looking like the less righteous party. It would be a long shot but not beyond the realms of achievement.”

A Dallas insurance company is claiming $7.5m in bonuses for his Tour wins from the Texan, while British newspaper the Sunday Times is seeking the return of a $500,000 libel settlement.

“I imagine his sponsors would be in a better position to contest winning bonuses than any other investment they made in him,Shop the best selection of men's stainless hairflower and pendants at Tribal Hollywood.” added Hopkins. “In fairness, he would have given them value for money at the time they were working together.”

Despite his lifetime ban from cycling, Armstrong, 41, is thought to be mulling a return to competitive sport in the marathon or triathlon,You can niketn at a few different websites. and Hopkins, whose company’s clients have included the Lawn Tennis Association, Arsenal and Saracens, believes he could yet mend his damaged public image.

“History is littered with comebacks so it is entirely feasible that he could win people over – don’t forget that many people love him for his charity work, not for how many yellow jerseys he accrued,Find the largest selection of heelshoes on sale.” she said.

“Sports fans hate cheats and Armstrong’s biggest disadvantage would be that he doesn’t have the opportunity to prove himself again in his sport.

“Either way, his road to redemption is going to be a long one.”
When it comes to Armstrong, 45 percent say he should get credit for his career achievements,Returns on Men's and Women's authentics Apparel at Indie Bike. given what they know about the matter; 37 percent say he should not.

The thinly positive split on Armstrong may give him pause in a broad admission, but also reflects a deep division in public opinion about professional athletes' use of steroids and other performance enhancing drugs more generally. Barely more than half — 52 percent — say such use bothers them, and nearly as many, 47 percent, say it doesn't.

Interestingly, younger adults are far less apt to say they are bothered by steroid use than are older Americans. There is also a wide racial gap: Most whites say they are bothered while most African Americans are not.

Few Americans say they regularly suspect professional athletes of doping when they perform at high levels or break records. But for baseball players who broke the sports rules, people tend to be unforgiving.

More than two-thirds of Americans say players who used performance-enhancing drugs should not be eligible for induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame.Each designer tungstenjewelry that we receive is inspected by our authenticity team before it is sold. Among those bothered "a lot" by steroids, 88 percent say there should be no Hall option, and it's a split 42-46 verdict among those who say they care the least. Race again plays a role here: 70 percent of whites say no Hall for such players; opposition drops to 50 percent among African-Americans.

general management roles initially in the food industry

Bradley Wiggins is among the great and the good of Lancashire who have been commended in the 2013 New Year Honour’s List.

The biggest winner was cycling star Wiggins, who lives in Eccleston,Superb range of authentics Windproof Jackets products at Wiggle, near Chorley, who was awarded a knighthood just weeks after winning the BBC Sport’s Personality of the Year award to crown a golden year.

Elsewhere in the community,we provide kinds of shoesbb bandit mid purple leather shoes for sale. Steve Jackson, who founded homelessness charity, Recycling Lives, in Preston four years ago, received an OBE for services to employment and the community of Lancashire.

He said he hoped the honour would allow him to promote the work done by the charity which has a centre on Essex Street, Deepdale.

The former Preston North End chief executive said: “I am one man and if I just help people with my own hands and my own means, I can probably help a handful of people every year.

“If I apply my business sense, contacts and intelligence, I can help others to help far more people, that is the way I have always seen it.

“First and foremost, I am a businessman and I think a lot of people like me are wondering what they can do to help their community,All the latest rolexwatches for men & women from Ernest Jones. hopefully Recycling Lives shows them a way to do this.”

Pensioner Freda Smith from Leyland has also been recognised in the New Year’s Honours List

Mrs Smith, of Seven Stars Road in the Wade Hall estate, is to receive a British Empire Medal for services to the community, after serving on the board of New Progress Housing for 18 years.

In that time she has worked with residents across the Lancashire area, representing their needs and improving their living conditions.

She received official notification a month ago, and said the news “still hasn’t sunk in properly”.

She said: “The official letter came through in a very fancy envelope with some Christmas cards.

“I just feel so shocked and thrilled.Zane skating at the skate park took off his dsquaredshoes, It’s a massive honour and I’m looking forward to attending the garden party at Buckingham Palace.”

Mrs Smith paid tribute to her husband of 37 years, in helping her achieve success.

She said: “I couldn’t have done any of this without Eric. I can’t drive, so he’s always taking me around in the car and is always extremely supportive.”

Stephen Henwood, chairman of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, has been awarded a CBE for services to the Nuclear Industry and charity.Each replica paneraireplicas is made by the designers refined high quality of the design.

Mr Henwood from Ribchester has been chairman of the authority since 2008.

His career has combined financial and general management roles initially in the food industry with Tate and Lyle PLC.

And from 1992 to 2006 with BAE Systems. His roles at BAE included managing director of Royal Ordnance, group financial controller, and group managing director, international partnerships.

Coun Anis Faruki has been awarded an MBE for services to charity and to the community in Preston.

Coun Faruki has helped numerous community groups over the years, including the Preston Muslim Forum, Canaries Community Association and Sharoe Green and Sherwood Community Association.

He used to work for Preston Council as a community involvement worker, but when he was made redundant in 2011 he continued to help community groups in the city.

Coun Faruki of Manor House Lane, Preston, said today: “It is brilliant.

“It is an acknowledgement of the work I have put in and the work I enjoy and still enjoy.”

The 52-year-old father of three said: “I was nominated by some of the community groups and individuals as well.

“Currently I am doing freelance work with community groups where I manage projects and help them apply for funding.”

Coun Faruki said the thing that he gets the most satisfaction from is seeing the results his work helps achieve.

Speaking after receiving the nod, Bradley Wiggins, hailed the ‘ultimate accolade.’

He said: “It’s not something I’ll use on a daily basis but it’s nice to have in the trophy cabinet as the ultimate accolade as a sportsman, being knighted by your country for not only the success this year but 12 years now of consistent work and performing - four Olympic Games, seven medals.

I just lay there regurgitating all this blood

A Golden Square cyclist has returned home from hospital to spend Christmas with his family after suffering broken vertebrae, a broken neck and serious facial injuries in a freak crash.

Mr Mollison’s bike stopped dead and his momentum flipped him over the handlebars and head-first onto the road.

“I remember it all quite vividly – didn’t lose consciousness at any point,” Mr Mollison said.We offer latest wide collection of replica fashionwatch,

“When I was riding along I could hear this stick getting flicked between other riders’ wheels and I can remember thinking to myself ‘gee, I hope that stick doesn’t jam in my wheel’ and within a split-second it had and I was falling over the handlebars at high speed.

“The bloke that was riding beside me said I had my hands on the gear and brake levers, basically my face and the top of my helmet took the full brunt. I didn’t have even a split-second, it all happened so quick.”

The Central Victorian Veterans Cycling Club member was at the back of a group of riders who rushed to his aid once they realised what had happened.

“A lot of the younger blokes couldn’t look at me and I don’t blame them because my bottom lip was torn in two and part of it was just flopping around so my face was a mess,” Mr Mollison said.

“I just lay there regurgitating all this blood until the ambulance arrived – it was like a horror movie.”

Mr Mollison was taken to Bendigo Hospital, where he stayed just five hours before being transferred to Royal Melbourne Hospital.

“They took all these X-rays and then they realised they couldn’t deal with it there,” Mr Mollison said.

“I think the plastic surgery was probably the stumbling block because my face was such a mess.

“I ended up in Melbourne, they hadn’t picked up I had a broken neck at that point. I kept complaining about this pain in my neck so I had an MRI and then my neck was the main priority.”

Mr Mollison – who works in the Visual Arts department at La Trobe University – said he still suffered pain and struggled to sleep at night, requiring an electronic chair to lay down and lift him into a seated position.

He doesn’t expect to be back at work for at least three months and while his operations are covered by Medicare, he must pay the dental costs to repair his two broken teeth.While he is staying remarkably positive about the terrible event,Enjoy the greatest selection ever of stainlesssteelearring.More information about aaabrandshirts including release dates, Mr Mollison doesn’t expect to get back on a racing bike again after the second major accident in his 23-year riding career.

“I had a bad accident 15 years ago; I broke my pelvis and gave up racing for a little while then came back to it,” he said.

“I always said if I had another bad fall that’d be it for me and they don’t get much worse than this one was. I know the consequences and really didn’t want to go through it again.Zane skating at the skate park took off his dsquaredshoes,Looking for piagetwatches that won't kill your feet this summer? When I broke my pelvis I was in traction for a month and then had another two months on sticks.

“I’d had a really good last five or six years, I had some really good results. The weekend before this crash, I’d always wanted to win the Tour of Bright, and I actually did that.

“I went from the highest to the lowest. It was only an age group thing but it was still quite a thrill for me.

'The Operators' goes inside war in Afghanistan

Author Janet Malcolm once acidly wrote that any reporter who didn't agree that journalism was a "morally indefensible" act of betrayal was "too stupid or too full of himself" to notice what was going on.

Michael Hastings doesn't agree. He sees journalism, particularly when writing about media-greedy public figures, as being "like the seduction of a prostitute." In other words, publicity hounds who try to co-opt honest reporters get what they deserve.

That helps explain the mystery of why U.S.dressesokd are a series of Nike shoes. ArmyGen. Stanley A. McChrystal, then the much-lauded commander of America's war in Afghanistan, gave Hastings nearly unfettered access for several weeks in early 2010. From the first night, McChrystal and his senior aides, the self-described "Team America," apparently were too arrogant or too reckless to care that Hastings had his tape recorder out as they trash-talked President Obama, Vice President Biden and others in the chain of command.

After Hastings' behind-the-fa?ade account of drunken sprees and locker-room jibes appeared in Rolling Stone magazine that June, McChrystal was summoned to the White House and fired. Now Hastings has written "The Operators: The Wild and Terrifying Inside Story of America's War in Afghanistan," a troubling first-person narrative about that bizarre episode inU.S. military history, as well as a trenchant analysis of the disaster in Afghanistan.

A generation of war reporters made their names in Vietnam by challenging inane Pentagon policies and propaganda. Hastings is no David Halberstam or Michael Herr, but he brings a fresh eye and a brutally authentic voice to America's decade-old misadventure in Afghanistan. In his view, Americans have squandered treasure and blood in what he calls the "Bermuda Triangle of geopolitics," a place where outsiders disappear. A decade after9/11, the U.S. has embraced a venal regime, the presence of U.S. troops is fueling the insurgency, and the war "has very little to do with protecting the United States from terrorists," he argues.

In the weird logic of the war, "we're there because we're there. And because we're there, we're there some more," he writes.replicashoes tube cutting and forming. Even worse, "The simple and terrifying reality, forbidden from discussion in America… [U.S. troops] were getting their asses kicked by illiterate peasants who made bombs out of manure and wood,you will find perfect tagheuerwatches to complement your favorite outfit for a night out on the town in our collection." presumably improvised roadside bombs made from chemical fertilizer.

Hastings' prose tends to hyperbole and profanity. He mocks or derides top diplomats, members of Congress, military commanders, White House officials and others with a biting mix of gossip, blind quotes and snarky asides. He aims some of his sharpest barbs at well-known journalists who, in his view, flatter and protect high-level sources to maintain access. (Some of this seems payback for media attacks on Hastings' credibility after his Rolling Stone story appeared.)

But he has a point: McChrystal was lionized in the media as a warrior poet, a snake-eating rebel, a super Special Ops mix of saint and ninja. Glossed over was his role in some of the worst military scandals of the George W. Bushera: detainee abuse and torture at prisons in Iraq, and the coverup of Army Ranger Pat Tillman's death by friendly fire.

For all that, McChrystal comes off as a sympathetic if flawed figure. The Afghan war is like "raising a child," he tells Hastings. It's messy and you can't control the outcome. "You might want them to be a rock star, or a heavyweight wrestler or whatever, but at the end of the day, you have to provide the environment, and they have to be what's best for them.iwcwatches and discount designer shoes provided for you."

Hastings has spent enough time covering combat to know he sees only a tiny fraction of the war. And he mostly stays in the protective bubble around McChrystal, not with the soldiers and Marines doing the fighting and dying. When he goes to a combat outpost, he gets an angry earful. The troops he meets are frustrated by the rules of engagement. They hate the Afghans. And they think they're losing.

Hastings certainly thinks so. Even the killing of Osama bin Laden last May leaves him cold. The raid "revealed the biggest lie of the war, the 'safe haven' myth, Afghanistan's version of WMDs," he writes. Terrorist attacks or plots since 2001 have emerged not from Afghanistan, but from Yemen, Nigeria, Somalia, Pakistan, not to mention Connecticut and Texas. "The concept of waging an extremely expensive and bloody counterinsurgency campaign to prevent safe havens never truly made sense."

Hastings shares so much extraneous detail that we learn he smokes Marlboro Reds and wears a Breitling Super Ocean watch. Breitling, by the way, calls it a Superocean. It's a minor error, but there are many more. Thailand and the Philippines are not "in Central Asia." Famed WWII correspondent Ernie Pyle was killed in 1945, not 1944.photos hearted by marcjacobsshoes on we heart it / visual bookmark. The 1991 Gulf War involved a massive invasion force, not "as few American troops on the ground as possible." The Pentagon budget is about $700 billion this year, not $600 billion. And drone missile strikes shot up under Obama, but they didn't double in his first year.