Tomato processing, egg products industries probed

Federal investigators say food broker Randall Rahal liked to use a simple little test to see whether he could bribe purchasing agents at the country's biggest food companies to buy from the tomato processor he represented.

Rahal would drop a $100 bill and then pick it up and ask the potential bribe recipient: "Is it yours?" If the agent said yes, Rahal knew they were open to a "business offer," he would boast, according to an FBI search warrant affidavit filed last month in Sacramento federal court as part of a bribery and fraud inquiry that also involves Rahal's client, tomato processor SK Foods of Lemoore, Calif.

That investigation was …

Future top chefs: ; Culinary programs now more popular in W.Va.

Santanah Gardner, 16, plans one day to open her own seafoodrestaurant in Florida. Jeffrey Kersey, 17, aspires to be TV's nextTop Chef.

The two high school juniors are working toward their dreams inthe ProStart program at Riverside High School.

Gardner, Kersey and 15 other students are learning how to controlportions, how to follow a recipe, how to measure and how to performmany other tasks involved in the culinary arts.

"I love to cook, and this class has given me a lot ofconfidence," Kersey said.

Donna Wilkes, ProStart coordinator for the West Virginia Officeof Hospitality and Education, said the national program offers 56ProStart 1 and ProStart 2 …

Jet With 114 Aboard Crashes in Cameroon

YAOUNDE, Cameroon - A Kenya Airways jet that took off during a midnight storm crashed early Saturday with 114 on board after sending out a distress signal over remote southern Cameroon, officials said. Nearby villagers reported hearing an explosion and seeing a flash of fire.

The jet bound for the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, went down near the town of Lolodorf, about 90 miles southeast of the coastal city of Douala, where it had taken off after midnight, said Alex Bayeck, a regional communications officer.

There was no word on survivors, Bayeck said by telephone en route to the crash site. He said search planes were flying over the forested area where the airliner gave off a …

Judge keeps Madoff assets secure for forfeiture

The government won a battle Monday in its effort to maintain control over Bernard Madoff's assets when a judge protected the assets from being disturbed by investors seeking to force the jailed financier into personal bankruptcy.

U.S. District Judge Denny Chin signed a restraining order preventing more than $100 million in personal assets from being moved, sold or dissipated.

Chin said the order was necessary because there is probable cause to believe the property would be subject to forfeiture to the U.S. government because of crimes committed by Madoff.

Madoff pleaded guilty to fraud charges last month before Chin, who is scheduled to sentence …

Music has Hungarian theme

The latest Bath Symphony Orchestra takes place tomorrow eveningat the Wiltshire Music Centre Bradford on Avon at 8pm and has aHungarian theme.

On the programme are Liszt's Symphonic Poem No 3 Les Preludes, Variations on a Nursery Song by Ern Dohnnyi and one of the greatorchestral masterpieces of the 20th century Concerto for Orchestraby Bela Bartk. This was composed towards the end of his life when hewas a refugee from Nazi occupied Europe.

The work …

PBC problems aside, Blacks came out in droves for Burris, Washington

Voter turnout Tuesday proved that the Black community here was in full effect, as gubernatorial candidate Roland Burris and Lt. Governor candidate Joyce Washington lead the Chicago polls victoriously.

And although the overall support was not enough to prove the duo victorious statewide, many were pleased with the Blacks who exercised their right to vote and make a difference in their community.

Brenda Smith, campaign coordinator for Ald. Ike Carothers (29th) said the West side of Chicago came out in droves, showing that their vote can make a difference.

"The majority of all of our precincts were all over 150 and some exceeded 200," she said, describing the number of …

James Guides Cavaliers Past Timberwolves

LeBron James had 30 points and 13 assists to lead the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 92-84 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday night.

James was a game-time decision after spraining his right ankle in Wednesday night's loss to Boston. The NBA's leading scorer had to leave that game after injuring the ankle late in the second quarter, but he returned for the second half.

James showed no effects from the injury against the Timberwolves. He fell two rebounds short of his seventh triple-double of the season.

Cleveland led for most of the second half, but Minnesota cut the lead to 79-75 with 4:37 left in the game. The Cavaliers regrouped after a …