Ex-addict says testing could have helped him beat habit

Brian Caldwell never faced much trouble scoring illegal drugs,especially if he hadn't used his monthly allotment of food stamps.

For $100 in food stamps, he could easily get $50 worth of drugs.

But that much in meth, usually his drug of choice, wouldn't evenlast him one day.

Still, that's how he - a husband and father of five at the time -did business: Swapped food stamps for drugs.

Caldwell, 31, of St. Albans, has now been clean for three years.

And he's paid dearly for his past sins.

His wakeup call came after he was arrested for fighting with hiswife and then lost custody of his children. Caldwell and his wifedivorced. He has since …

Ohio St. Tops Michigan in Thriller 42-39

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Troy Smith and his Ohio State teammates poured on all the offense they had, and Michigan stayed right on their heels. The No. 1 Buckeyes streaked into the national title game all right, with a dazzling 42-39 win over the Wolverines on Saturday. And there's No. 2 Michigan, still on their heels. The Game, replayed for the national title in January? Could be.

"If this was boxing they'd definitely get a rematch," Ohio State defensive back Brandon Mitchell said.

Smith and the blazing Buckeyes put their speed on display with a barrage of big plays - and they needed every one to beat an inspired Michigan team.

The "Game of the Century," the first 1 vs. …

US dollar down in Europe

The U.S. dollar was lower against other major currencies in European trading Tuesday morning. Gold fell

The euro traded at US$1.2685, up from US$1.2629 late Monday in New York.

Other dollar rates:

_98.35 Japanese yen, down from …

Quayle hints contra reprieve // May be kept going indefinitely, he says

WASHINGTON Vice President Dan Quayle said Monday it may benecessary to keep the Nicaraguan contras alive indefinitely as acohesive force in case the Sandinista government fails to completepromised reforms.

In the administration's first comprehensive response to aregional plan to disband the contras, Quayle said President Bushstrongly supports continuing aid to them and permitting them toremain deployed in Honduras "until they can return voluntarily totheir homeland into safe and democratic conditions."

In a speech to the Veterans of Foreign Wars national conventionin Las Vegas, Quayle said:

"I can't tell you how long that process is likely to take, …

Karzai's aide: UK 'to blame' for Taliban impostor

LONDON (AP) — A senior Afghan official has blamed the British secret service for bringing a Taliban impostor to take part in top-level peace talks with the Afghan government, newspapers reported Friday.

The reports in U.S. and British newspapers follow the revelation that a man leading the Taliban side of peace talks with the Afghan government was impersonating former Taliban Cabinet minister Mullah Akhtar Muhammad Mansour.

The Washington Post quoted Mohammad Omar Daudzai, President Hamid Karzai's chief of staff, as saying Thursday that British authorities brought the man to meet with Karzai in July or August. Karzai has denied meeting with Mansour.

Prime Minister David …

Failed Banks

26 - Closed by state regulators was The Bank of Commerce, Wood Dale, III. Appointed receiver, the FDIC entered into a purchase and assumption agreement with Advantage National Bank Group, Elk Grove Village, III., to assume all of the deposits. In addition to paying a premium of 0.10 percent to assume all of the deposits of the failed bank, Advantage National Bank Group agreed to purchase essentially all of the assets. A loss-share transaction covers $145.7 million of the failed bank's assets. The FDIC estimates that the cost to the Deposit Insurance Fund will be $41.9 million.

27 - All deposits of Western Springs (III.) National are being acquired by Heartland Bank and Trust Co., Bloomington, III. In addition to assuming all of the deposits, Heartland Bank agreed to purchase essentially all of the assets with a loss-share transaction on $100.8 million of Western Springs National's commercial loans. Cost to the DIF will be $31 million.

28 - Nevada Commerce Bank, Las Vegas, was closed and the FDIC, as receiver, entered into a purchase and assumption agreement with City National, Los Angeles, to assume all of the deposits. In addition to paying a premium of 0.71 percent to assume all of the deposits of the failed bank, City National agreed to purchase essentially all of the failed bank's assets. Cost to the DIF will be $31.9 million.

Treasurys fall as economic hopes fuel riskier bets

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. Treasury prices edged lower Thursday in seesaw trading as good news about the U.S. economy drew cash into riskier investments.

The yield on the 10-year Treasury note rose to 2 percent late Thursday from 1.95 percent just after 10 a.m. Rising yields reflect lower demand for ultra-safe Treasurys.

The yield edged up from 1.98 percent late Wednesday, while the price fell by 16 cents per $100 invested.

The economic outlook brightened early Thursday with news that that new applications for unemployment benefits fell last week for the fourth time in five weeks. The four-week average, which evens out weekly fluctuations, fell to the lowest since June 2008.

Treasurys had gained earlier on renewed fears about instability in Europe's financial markets. Investors seeking safe place to stash their money drove Treasury prices higher, pulling yields lower.

By late Thursday, the positive economic news had overshadowed worries about the debt crisis in Europe. Stocks bounced back from early losses to close nearly flat.

Also Thursday, the Treasury Department announced that it will auction off $66 billion in notes and bonds next week. The government will sell $32 billion of three-year notes next Tuesday, $21 billion of 10-year notes next Wednesday and $13 billion of 30-year bonds next Thursday.

The price of the 30-year Treasury bond fell 75 cents for every $100 invested, pushing its yield up to 3.07 percent from 3.03 percent late Wednesday.

The yield on the two-year Treasury note was unchanged at 0.26 percent. The three-month Treasury bill paid a yield of 0.01 percent.