Newser - UShttp://www.newser.com/2008 - Newseren-usNewser Feed GeneratorWed, 03 Dec 2008 22:14:26 CSThttp://www.newser.com/story/44311/foreign-workers-held-in-iraq.html?refid=rss_all_defaultAbout 1,000 foreign workers brought to Iraq with the promise of lucrative jobs have been living for 3 months in Baghdad warehouses under poor sanitary conditions and in possible violation of US military rules, McClatchy reports. A Kuwaiti company that subcontracts with KBR, formerly Haliburton, brought the men from Central Asia and elsewhere after charging them $2,000.http://www.newser.com/story/44311/foreign-workers-held-in-iraq.html?refid=rss_all_defaultWed, 03 Dec 2008 19:34:29 CSThttp://www.newser.com/story/44309/army-deserter-seeks-asylum-in-germany.html?refid=rss_all_defaultSpecialist André Shepherd has become the first US military deserter to apply for political asylum in Germany, Der Spiegel reports. Shepherd, who disobeyed orders to redeploy to Iraq from Germany in the spring of 2007, argues in his petition that the Iraq war violates international law. "If I carried out my orders, it would make me a criminal," said the 31-year-old Cleveland native.http://www.newser.com/story/44309/army-deserter-seeks-asylum-in-germany.html?refid=rss_all_defaultWed, 03 Dec 2008 19:08:49 CSThttp://www.newser.com/story/44320/jealousy-blamed-in-hudson-murders.html?refid=rss_all_defaultProsecutors have pinned a motive on Jennifer Hudson's brother-in-law, alleging today that he killed her family members out of anger that his estranged wife was dating someone else, reports the AP. William Balfour—who has been charged with the murders of Hudson's mother, brother, and nephew—confronted Julia Hudson at the family home the morning of the slayings. The couple left the home together, then he returned alone, prosecutors say.http://www.newser.com/story/44320/jealousy-blamed-in-hudson-murders.html?refid=rss_all_defaultWed, 03 Dec 2008 16:56:14 CSThttp://www.newser.com/story/44308/pro-impeachment-ornament-wont-grace-bush-tree.html?refid=rss_all_defaultA Seattle artist who created a Christmas tree ornament advocating the impeachment of President Bush will not see it hanging on the White House after all, the Washington Post reports. The first lady ordered that it be yanked down. “Oh, dear,” said Deborah Lawrence. “This doesn’t really surprise me. But it’s disappointing that I won’t get to see it on the tree.”http://www.newser.com/story/44308/pro-impeachment-ornament-wont-grace-bush-tree.html?refid=rss_all_defaultWed, 03 Dec 2008 15:39:46 CSThttp://www.newser.com/story/44301/harvard-endowment-drops-8b-in-steepest-loss-ever.html?refid=rss_all_defaultHarvard, the world's richest university, saw its endowment plunge 22% between June and October of this year, the worst loss in its history, the Boston Globe reports. Revenue generated by the endowment, which fell by $8 billion, pays for 35% of the school's operation, and Harvard president Drew Faust expects a total loss of 30% by year's end.http://www.newser.com/story/44301/harvard-endowment-drops-8b-in-steepest-loss-ever.html?refid=rss_all_defaultWed, 03 Dec 2008 15:10:01 CSThttp://www.newser.com/story/44300/ala-county-declares-obama-day.html?refid=rss_all_defaultA small, mostly black county in Alabama that delivered Barack Obama 70% of the vote has declared the second Monday of November “Barack Obama Day,” the AP reports. The state itself went convincingly for John McCain, but Perry County wanted to make a point about opportunity and the possibility of change. County offices will close, and workers will receive a paid holiday.http://www.newser.com/story/44300/ala-county-declares-obama-day.html?refid=rss_all_defaultWed, 03 Dec 2008 14:37:00 CSThttp://www.newser.com/story/44294/for-inauguration-week-dc-pushes-last-call-to-5am.html?refid=rss_all_defaultPreparing for a wave of inauguration visitors (and their cash), Washington legislators loosened the capital’s laws yesterday to let restaurants, bars, and nightclubs stay open all night and serve alcohol until 5am in the days leading up to the historic occasion, the Washington Post reports. The move upset civic leaders concerned about safety and crowd control.http://www.newser.com/story/44294/for-inauguration-week-dc-pushes-last-call-to-5am.html?refid=rss_all_defaultWed, 03 Dec 2008 14:29:01 CSThttp://www.newser.com/story/44312/uaw-bends-to-boost-bailout.html?refid=rss_all_defaultThe United Auto Workers agreed today to concessions that may help Detroit get $34 billion in federal assistance, the Detroit News reports. The union’s job bank—which pays eliminated employees 95% of their base salaries—will be suspended, and the UAW will delay billions in payments to its health care trust fund. Though union president Ron Gettelfinger skated inquiries about wage cuts, he said contract modifications were possible.http://www.newser.com/story/44312/uaw-bends-to-boost-bailout.html?refid=rss_all_defaultWed, 03 Dec 2008 14:09:39 CSThttp://www.newser.com/story/44276/guvs-to-obama-public-works-projects-will-take-time.html?refid=rss_all_defaultBarack Obama’s plan to throw hundreds of billions of dollars into state infrastructure projects may not be as effective as he imagines in stimulating the economy, some state officials say. Yesterday, governors told the president-elect that they had $136 billion in projects ready to go, but the National Governors Association says fewer than half could break ground in the next six months. Many would take 24 months, which might be too slow to help the economy.http://www.newser.com/story/44276/guvs-to-obama-public-works-projects-will-take-time.html?refid=rss_all_defaultWed, 03 Dec 2008 13:50:00 CST