FED:Gillard hails hospital reform deal=3

AAP General News (Australia)
08-02-2011
FED:Gillard hails hospital reform deal=3

Ms Gillard said funding under the agreement would be distributed according to an efficient
price for services.

The price would be set by a national independent authority.

The authority would enable the government "to see where the best and most efficient
hospital practice is being pursued and then to spread that best practice".

As well, the MyHospital website will enable the public to see where the money is being
spent and how services are delivered at their local hospital.

MORE klc/rl/mm

KEYWORD: HOSPITALS UPDATE 3 CANBERRA

� 2011 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

QLD:Fraser takes GST argument to treasurers

AAP General News (Australia)
04-06-2011
QLD:Fraser takes GST argument to treasurers

Treasurer ANDREW FRASER says he'll argue for a fairer deal for Queensland in the carve-up
of GST revenue at a meeting of the country's treasurers today.

The federal government last week commissioned a review of the distribution of revenue
from GST to the states and territories .. saying it'll lead to a simpler .. fairer system.

Former New South Wales premier NICK GREINER .. former Victorian premier JOHN BRUMBY
and South Australian businessman BRUCE CARTER will conduct the review.

AAP RTV jmm/tnf/nap

KEYWORD: TAX FRASER (BRISBANE)

� 2011 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

FED:Secret US cables criticise Rudd on boats

AAP General News (Australia)
12-16-2010
FED:Secret US cables criticise Rudd on boats

The latest US embassy cables released by WikiLeaks criticise former prime minister
KEVIN RUDD's handling of asylum seekers.

Fairfax reports that the embassy told Washington last year that in parliamentary debate
on the issue Mr RUDD had "returned to tedious spin and bureaucratic jargon .. making him
look evasive and out of his depth".

The cable also reveals an unnamed "key Liberal Party strategist" told US diplomats
that the issue of asylum seekers was "fantastic" for the coalition and "the more boats
that come the better".

They also show federal Labor MP MICHAEL DANBY told embassy officers that Mr RUDD had
"played the politics badly" and "completely misread" the issue.

AAP RTV bzs/goc/jfm/jen/

KEYWORD: WIKILEAKS BOAT (SYDNEY)

� 2010 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

NSW:Main stories in Sydney newspapers

AAP General News (Australia)
08-09-2010
NSW:Main stories in Sydney newspapers

SYDNEY, Aug 9 AAP - Main stories in Monday's Sydney newspapers:

THE SYDNEY MORNING HERALD:

Page 1: Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has flagged a plan for lower income tax, fewer
tax brackets and an overhaul of welfare payments. The Liberal Party officially launches
its campaign.

Page 2: A secretive compliance group established by the NSW Department of Corrective
Services has been accused of spying on prison parolees.

Page 3: The state government is developing a new plan to combat climate change.

World: Pakistan's president has deflected criticism of his absence overseas during
the worst floods in his country's history.

Finance: A $6 billion-plus record profit from the Commonwealth Bank will reignite concerns
the largest banks are bolstering their bottom lines at the expense of customers.

Sport: St George Illawarra might have got the upper hand in Sunday's match but turning
it into grand final success will be a huge grind.

MORE bjs/ao

KEYWORD: MONITOR FRONTERS NSW

� 2010 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Qld: Boy missing after falling into creek

AAP General News (Australia)
12-29-2009
Qld: Boy missing after falling into creek

BRISBANE, Dec 29 AAP - A major search is underway for a young boy who fell into a creek
on Brisbane's southside.

Police and emergency services are conducting a land and water search on boats for a
boy who fell into Bulimba creek around 1.30pm (AEST) on Tuesday.

The boy was playing around the creek when he fell in but managed to grab hold of a
tree limb, police say.

Children he was playing with ran for help but upon their return he was missing and
feared drowned.

AAP peb/de

KEYWORD: CREEK

2009 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Fed: Now we have the good news gorgon

AAP General News (Australia)
08-17-2009
Fed: Now we have the good news gorgon

By Don Woolford

CANBERRA, Aug 17 AAP - The ancient Greeks might be surprised to know there's now a
good news gorgon.

Not a ferocious creature that could turn people to stone but a source of dazzling wealth
for Australia.

Kevin Rudd and Energy Minister Martin Ferguson carried on at length in question time
on Monday about the new gorgon, the massive Gorgon LNG project in Western Australia.

With eyes flashing like cash registers, they talked about the thousands of jobs and
the billions in national income the project, if it gets a final go-ahead, would bring.

Oh - and it would be great for the environment too.

But the ungrateful opposition wasn't interested in all this good news.

Malcolm Turnbull preferred to ask about a media report that Treasury secretary Ken
Henry's tax review would recommend family homes selling for more than $2 million be whacked
with capital gains tax.

As a Labor MP gleefully shouted, that would certainly include the Turnbull family home.

After a low dig about his opponent's good contacts in Treasury, Rudd played it straight
at first. He said everyone would have to wait for the review.

When Turnbull persisted, Rudd wondered what had happened to the opposition's tax review
commissioned last year and yet to see the light of day.

Joe Hockey stayed on theme by dredging up old remarks by Lindsay Tanner about the need
to reform the tax treatment of homes.

The finance minister marvelled that Hockey had nothing better to do than trawl through
comments made 15 years ago.

"All jokes and buffoonery," Tanner jeered, before he admitted, without trace of embarrassment:
"We have all said things in the past that we regret."

The opposition moved on to other possible tax nasties like a rise in the fuel excise
and the Medicare levy.

"I sense a theme arising," Rudd was all sarcasm.

He said there were just two opposition constants - fear and smear.

He even quoted Peter Costello with approval noting dismissive remarks the former treasurer
had made about Turnbull's 2005 ideas about tax.

Costello seemed to think this was hilarious. Turnbull was less amused, though hardly
turned to stone.

AAP dw/sb/mmr

KEYWORD: PARLY VIEW

2009 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Qld: Prisoner on hunger strike over pardon delay

AAP General News (Australia)
04-07-2009
Qld: Prisoner on hunger strike over pardon delay

By Evan Schwarten

CAIRNS, April 7 AAP - A north Queensland prisoner has been starving himself since Friday
in a last-ditch bid to seek a pardon from the federal government in light of new evidence,
his brother says.

A Federal Court judge last month ordered Federal Home Affairs Minister Bob Debus to
reconsider his decision to reject a bid for a pardon by Frederick Arthur Martens, who
in 2006 became the first Australian convicted of a sex tourism offence in Papua New Guinea.

Martens, a pilot, is currently being held in the Lotus Glen jail in north Queensland,
serving his sentence for having sex with a 14-year-old girl.

The girl's aunt Dianne Tapari has told AAP her niece made up the allegations against
Martens as part of a conspiracy initiated by Martens' former wife.

A second charge of child sex tourism against Martens was dismissed by the Cairns Supreme
Court last year after a witness admitted the allegations were false.

Mr Debus last year rejected Martens' pardon application, despite evidence uncovered
by his family which they say proves he was 1,000km away from the alleged victim at the
time of the offence.

The evidence includes flight records acquired under freedom of information laws which
were supported by Martens' own log book.

Federal Court judge John Logan early last month ordered that Mr Debus reconsider his
decision "according to law".

Martens' brother Peter Wheatley on Tuesday said his brother was so frustrated that
the minister had not reconsidered his decision that he started a hunger strike last Friday.

Mr Wheatley said his brother was willing to continue the strike "as long as necessary
for them to get their act together down in Canberra".

"I know my brother - when he makes his mind up to do something he will stick to his
guns," he told AAP.

"This is his last-ditch stand. He is willing to do whatever is necessary to get that decision."

He said his brother, whose weight has dropped 10kg since his admission to prison, was
starting to feel weak.

"To look at him, it brings tears to my eyes," Mr Wheatley said.

"I look at his arms, I put my hand on his shoulder, I can feel bones, no meat.

"He can't afford really to lose any more weight, but at the same time he's not going
to sit there in prison and languish at the hands of these bureaucrats in Canberra."

A corrective services spokeswoman said Martens was accepting fluids but refusing all
food and was being monitored hourly by prison and medical staff.

Responses were being sought from Mr Debus and Attorney-General Robert McClelland.

AAP ews/pjo/jl/de

KEYWORD: MARTENS (PIX AVAILABLE)

2009 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Fed: Chaos if non-gov't schools don't get funding - Gillard

AAP General News (Australia)
12-03-2008
Fed: Chaos if non-gov't schools don't get funding - Gillard

Education Minister JULIA GILLARD says there'll be chaos at non-government schools ..

if they don't receive federal funding before classes start in the new year.

Legislation providing 28 billion dollars over four years has been stalled in the Senate
by the coalition and Family First senator STEVE FIELDING.

It needs to pass parliament this week .. for schools to receive next year's share of the funding.

The coalition and Senator FIELDING are unhappy the government's tied funding and a
mandatory national curriculum to the same bill.

AAP RTV rl/jmt

KEYWORD: SCHOOLS GILLARD (CANBERRA)

2008 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Fed: Gay rights improved in range of areas: McClelland

AAP General News (Australia)
04-30-2008
Fed: Gay rights improved in range of areas: McClelland

CANBERRA, April 30 AAP - Attorney-General Robert McClelland says gay people will gain
equality in a wide range of areas in society under proposed laws.

Legislation to remove same-sex discrimination from a wide range of commonwealth laws
will be introduced in the winter sittings of parliament, he said.

"The changes will provide for equality of treatment under a wide range of commonwealth
laws between same-sex and opposite-sex de facto couples," Mr McClelland said in a statement.

"Importantly, the reforms will also ensure children are not disadvantaged because of
the structure of their family.

"Areas where discrimination will be removed include tax, superannuation, social security,
health, aged care, veterans entitlements, workers compensation, employment entitlements,
and other areas of commonwealth administration."

Mr McClelland said the reforms were long overdue and followed the landmark report of
the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission entitled Same-Sex: Same Entitlements,
which focussed on financial and work-related legislation.

He said the reforms would also ensure children are not disadvantaged because of the
structure of their family.

"Most reforms will commence soon after the legislation is passed," he said.

"In some areas, such as social security, tax and veterans affairs, the reforms will
be phased-in to allow time for couples to adjust their finances, and for administrative
arrangements to be implemented.

"All of the changes are expected to be implemented by mid-2009."

Mr McClelland said that, in keeping with the government's election commitment, the
changes would not alter marriage laws.

"They will make a practical difference to the everyday lives of a group of our fellow
Australians who have suffered discrimination under commonwealth laws for far too long,"

he said.

AAP dep/cmc/jlw

KEYWORD: GAY MCCLELLAND

2008 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

AAP National News Wire Round-Up for Evening, Dec 27

AAP General News (Australia)
12-27-2007
AAP National News Wire Round-Up for Evening, Dec 27
EVENING ROUND-UP: HIGHLIGHTS OF THE AAP RTV FILE AT 1630


SOLOMONS MOTI (HONIARA)

Former Solomons Island attorney general Julian MOTI is on his way back to Australia
to face sex charges.

Reports from Honiara say MOTI was taken by a police escort .. with sirens wailing ..

to the airport this afternoon .. and his flight is expected to touch down in Brisbane
before 6pm tonight.

The alleged child sex offender was detained earlier by immigration officials amid a
confrontation between his supporters and police at his home.

MOTI is being deported to Australia to face charges he raped a 13-year-old girl in
Vanuatu in 1997 .. although he denies the charges.

MOTI was sacked as attorney-general by the new Solomons government of Prime Minister
DEREK SIKUA at the weekend .. and is expected to face court promptly following his arrival
in Australia.



INDON LANDSLIDE (JAKARTA)

Rescuers have dug through mountains of mud in search of survivors from landslides that
struck western Indonesia yesterday .. killing at least 78 people.

Some of the rescuers have been forced to use their bare hands because blocked roads
have delayed the arrival of heavy-lifting equipment.

Most of the victims were killed in a single landslide in the Karanganyar district ..

burying a group of residents who were dining together after cleaning up a mud-covered
home.



EVACUATION (SYDNEY)

Hundreds of holidaymakers .. evacuated from the New South Wales Central Coast early
today amid fears of a massive explosion .. have now been allowed to return.

Bottles of highly flammable gas were discovered in a burning stolen utility .. in the
car park of Toowoon Bay Surf Life Saving Club at 4.30 (AEDT) this morning.

Fearing the heat-affected bottles would explode .. police evacuated more than 200
people from 15 nearby homes and the Kims Beach Hideaway Hotel .. and established a 200
metre exclusion zone.

Fire authorities say all residents had been cleared to return home at midday.



ANTHRAX (SYDNEY)

Authorities in New South Wales are investigating an anthrax outbreak .. saying its
discovery in the Upper Hunter region is surprising but not suspicious.

The potentially deadly disease has been detected on four farms at Rouchel .. near Scone
.. since Christmas Eve .. and about ten animals have died.

The Department of Primary Industries says up to six naturally occurring anthrax outbreaks
are expected in the state every year.

But it says they generally occur within a known area in the state's west.



SAIL SYDHOB/MELHOB (HOBART)

Wild Oats Eleven is stretching its lead at the front of the Sydney to Hobart yacht fleet.

Striving for a third successive line honours win .. the New South Wales maxi is almost
16 nautical miles clear of second placed City Index Leopard.

Only three of the 82 starters have been forced to retire.

Meanwhile .. more than 80 boats have set off in perfect conditions from Portsea to
battle for honours in the Melbourne to Launceston and Melbourne to Hobart yacht races.

For the first time the two races have been combined with the Hobart race running down
the east coast of Tasmania.

The race for line honours is expected to be the most competitive for years with the
opportunity for one boat to win both races at the same time.



KAYAKERS (SYDNEY)

Two men attempting to become the first Australians to paddle across the Tasman are
battling physical and emotional exhaustion .. as well as the likelihood a competing craft
will deprive them of the honour.

Eight metre swells continue to swamp their custom-built kayak as Sydneysiders 25 year-old
JAMES CASTRISSION .. and 24 year-old JUSTIN JONES .. paddle towards Auckland in rough
conditions.

The pair set out on their two-thousand-200 kilometre journey on November 13 from Forster
.. on the NSW mid-north coast.

They're now 540-kays from Auckland .. but their support team estimates the men have
paddled an extra one-thousand kilometres as a result of their unplanned detours.

But there's more bad news for them .. from the other side of the Tasman .. the four-man
rowing team of STEVEN GATES .. ANDREW JOHNSON .. KERRY TOZER and surf boat champion SALLY
MACREADY are now just 370-kays from Sydney Harbour.



US SHOOTING ARRESTS (SEATTLE)

Police in the US say they've arrested a man and a woman .. in connection with the Christmas
Eve shootings of six people in a rural community in northwestern Washington state.

They say a couple is being held .. following the grisly discovery of the bodies at
a remote home in Carnation .. about 33 kilometres east of Seattle.

The victims include a six-year-old girl and three-year-old boy .. and represent three
generations of the same family.

Police say the alarm was raised after a co-worker of one of the victims visited the
property on Wednesday .. when a colleague had failed to arrive for work.



TOLL NATIONAL (SYDNEY)

The National holiday road toll stands at 22 tonight .. with Tasmania recording its
first fatality this season.

Six people have died on Victoria's roads since December 21 - the highest state holiday
road toll so far.

Five people have died in New South Wales .. five in Western Australia .. two in South
Australia .. and one in Queensland .. the Northern Territory .. the ACT and Tasmania.



BRIEFLY IN OTHER NEWS ..




A survey has found many working Italians are more interested in cheating on their partner
at lunchtime .. than in grabbing a bite to eat.




Police say two security officers have been threatened and police were injured .. after
a dozen men went on a rampage at a tavern in Queensland's far north.




Two Zambian women have been charged with drug offences after allegedly flying into
Sydney on Christmas Day with more than 100 pellets of heroin in their stomachs.




Virgin Blue says it'll increase its fuel surcharge from February 2008 .. due to continued
increases in fuel prices.



IN SPORT ..



SOCCER (SYDNEY)

Sydney FC coach JOHN KOSMINA says his side must start on the front foot in their A-League
clash against his former club Adelaide at the Adelaide Oval on Friday night.

Overseas .. TIM CAHILL has continued his rich run of form in the English Premier League
with a goal in Everton's 2-0 win over Bolton.

CAHILL scored the Toffees' second in the 70th minute after PHIL NEVILLE had put them
ahead shortly after the break at Goodison Park.

And Manchester United have taken top spot in English Premier League after a 4-0 victory
at Sunderland.



NFL AUST (SYDNEY)

BEN GRAHAM faces an uncertain future in the NFL with the former AFL star under pressure
to keep his job at the New York Jets.

GRAHAM was benched in favour of rookie punter JEREMY KAPINOS in the team's loss to
Tennessee this week and is again likely to a spectator when New York play their final
game of the season against Kansas City on Monday (Australian time).



ENDS EVENING ROUND-UP


BROADCAST DESK INQUIRIES 24 HOURS: 02 9322 8714


AAP RTV wz/sw

KEYWORD: EVENING ROUND-UP

2007 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

NSW: Dunbar's 150th memorial service reminds of life's fragility

AAP General News (Australia)
08-19-2007
NSW: Dunbar's 150th memorial service reminds of life's fragility

By Ed Logue

SYDNEY, Aug 19 AAP - The 150th anniversary of Sydney's worst maritime disaster this
weekend is a reminder of how fragile life is.

On the stormy night of August 20, 1857, 121 people died as the passenger clipper Dunbar
entered Sydney Harbour only for gale-force winds and a monstrous swell to drive it onto
rocks near South Head.

The wooden-hulled vessel disintegrated quickly near its final destination after an
uneventful 81-day journey from the UK.

Able seaman James Johnson, a deckhand, was the sole survivor.

It remains Sydney's largest maritime disaster.

For the next few days, the harbour and beaches were littered with bodies.

The disaster hit Sydney hard, with nearly a third of the city's then 65,000 residents
lining the streets for the funeral procession to St Stephen's Cemetery in Newtown.

A memorial service was held today at St Stephen's Anglican Church and the rector Peter
Rogers said the Dunbar tragedy was a reminder of the fragility of life.

"This tragic part of our history is a reminder to us like the tragic disasters unfolding
as we speak, like the earthquake in Peru, the coal miners trapped in floods in eastern
China," Rev Rogers said.

"We are reminded again today of the fragility of our lives."

Reverend Rogers read Johnson's account of the fateful night, where the crewman described
the most terrible moment of the whole ordeal.

"And then we struck and the screaming began, the passengers running about the decks
in the night dresses, screaming for mercy," the account said.

"Almost immediately the decks burst up from the pressure of the water, the ship was
rammed into a thousand pieces and all on board were hurried into the foaming, terrific
sea."

Johnson was hurled onto a ledge, 10m above the waves where he stayed until dawn.

At the memorial service was former state coroner Kevin Waller, who lost eight ancestors
on the Dunbar, with only two identified.

He said times were very different at the time of the disaster with coronial inquests
held immediately.

"In the case of the Dunbar, the inquest started on the Sunday and finished on the Monday
night, it was all over within a week," Mr Waller said.

NSW Governor Marie Bashir and Marrickville Mayor Morris Hanna read psalms as part of the service.

After the service, Professor Bashir laid a wreath in the church cemetery grounds before
the names of the 121 dead were read out while the church bell tolled.

AAP el/sjk/de

KEYWORD: DUNBAR NIGHTLEAD (PIX AVAILABLE)

2007 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Fed: Schools need literacy, numeracy teachers: Labor

AAP General News (Australia)
04-03-2007
Fed: Schools need literacy, numeracy teachers: Labor

By David Crawshaw

CANBERRA, April 3 AAP - Primary schools could employ specialist literacy and numeracy
teachers under a Labor proposal to improve student results.

Opposition education spokesman Stephen Smith said today a Labor government would work
to ensure all students could add, subtract, read and write.

This strategy may include placing specialist literacy and numeracy teachers in primary
schools, in a similar vein to specialist subject teachers that already exist in high schools.

Mr Smith's comments follow the release of the 2005 national assessment results, which
found almost one in five Year 7 students failed to meet numeracy benchmarks, and one in
10 did not achieve reading standards.

The assessment showed the proportion of students failing to meet literacy and numeracy
benchmarks increased the longer they stayed at school, with results gradually deteriorating
between Years 3, 5 and 7.

"I think there's so much more we can do to improve our kids' performance," Mr Smith
told Network Ten today.

"Teachers do a great job, but we've got to start giving teachers more specialist skills
in literacy and numeracy.

"We've got to start having specialist literacy and numeracy teachers."

The younger children learnt the basics, the greater their chance of success later in
life, he said.

A spokesman for Mr Smith later said the idea had its genesis in a report released in
December 2005, Teaching Reading, which made important recommendations about the teaching
of literacy in Australia.

The report urged each school to identify a specialist literacy teacher to help their
fellow teachers monitor students' literacy as part of ongoing classroom learning.

Mr Smith's spokesman accused Education Minister Julie Bishop of blaming the states
for problems instead of acting in response to the report.

Ms Bishop has been vocal lately about her desire to see improvements in literacy and
numeracy teaching.

From next year, Year 9 students will join those in Years 3, 5 and 7 in sitting national
literacy and numeracy exams.

AAP dcr/sb/cp/de

KEYWORD: TEACHERS

2007 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Vic: Police renew appeal for help to solve 2002 murder

AAP General News (Australia)
12-03-2006
Vic: Police renew appeal for help to solve 2002 murder

Detectives hope a reward will be an incentive to someone who may have vital clues ..

to solving the 2002 murder of a security guard in Melbourne.

The bound and battered body of 44-year-old SLAWOMIR TOMCZYK was found by his boss behind
the Casablanca Reception Centre in Cranbourne .. in Melbourne's south-east .. in February
2002.

A post mortem showed TOMCZYK died of head injuries from a blunt object.

Police have also offered a 100 thousand dollar reward .. for information leading to
an arrest and conviction.

AAP RTV sam/gfr/wf

KEYWORD: TOMCZYK (MELBOURNE)

2006 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

FED: Stable Indonesia good for Austrralia: Downer

AAP General News (Australia)
04-27-2006
FED: Stable Indonesia good for Austrralia: Downer

The foreign affairs minister says it's in Australia's best interests to have a stable
Indonesia .. and providing support for democracy there is essential.

ALEXANDER DOWNER admits Australia's exchanges with Indonesia have been robust in recent times.

But he's told Macquarie Radio .. the expansion of a four billion dollar Asia-Pacific-centred
foreign aid program is important for regional stability.

And Mr DOWNER's defended the controversial granting of temporary protection visas to
a group of Papuans who fled Indonesia early this year .. which offended the Indonesian
government.

AAP RTV ajc/jv/rt

KEYWORD: AID DOWNER (SYDNEY)

2006 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Qld: Sir Joh fighting to stay alive, says doctor

AAP General News (Australia)
04-20-2005
Qld: Sir Joh fighting to stay alive, says doctor

The doctor tending to former Queensland premier Sir JOH BJELKE-PETERSEN says he is
an amazing man who is fighting to stay alive.

Sir JOH, who's 94, remains in a critical but stable condition in the hospital at Kingaroy
in south-west Queensland.

His condition makes it hard for him to breathe and he is also unable to eat or drink.

His doctor ISABELLE JONSSON says although Sir JOH is sedated, he remains aware of what
is going on around him.

She's called him an amazing person who is trying to stay alive for his family.

Dr JONSSON says Sir JOH'S wife Lady FLO, his children and some of his grandchildren
had been to visit last night.

Sir JOH served as premier of Queensland for 19 years until 1987.

AAP RTV rad/wf

KEYWORD: JOH (BRISBANE)

2005 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Special spaces meet the needs of modern families

Two nationwide trends are having a big impact on home design today, according to Gladstone Homes. The growth in home-based technology and changes in household make-up have created demand for new and specialized spaces in new home plans.

"With the ongoing evolution in home technology, homeowners today expect family-friendly e-space and gaming areas, as well as the privacy of home office space," said Aimee Babcock, Gladstone marketing manager. "And, with second marriages creating blended families and Baby Boomers caring for aging parents, the family members who might comprise a household have changed. Naturally, space needs have changed along with them." With nearly 75 percent of American households connected to the Internet and an estimated 29 million Americans telecommuting at least part time, designated "e-space," whether in common areas or in a home office, is considered essential in many homes. Gladstone's floor plans accommodate this need. One option for a common-area e-space offered by Gladstone is conveniently placed at the edge the family room, near the kitchen. "We know kids are using the Internet and that parents want to monitor this activity," said Babcock. "This location gives families a comfortable, accessible place to do this." Much more than a few extra outlets and an Internet connection, the e-space is open to both the family room and the kitchen. It includes wood cabinetry and decorative work surfaces that can match the kitchen and complement the overall d�cor of the home. Alternatively, many Gladstone homeowners find the second-floor loft is ideal for the family computer or an electronic game console. This open space often serves as a secondary family room or a game room. "The family is room a natural gathering space, but it's not where all families want a technology center," said Babcock. "Some will instead opt for a wet bar off the family room to extend the entertainment space but still want an open location for the computer or e-games. The loft is perfect." Typically requiring an increased level of privacy, home-based employees and entrepreneurs look for new homes that readily accommodate a home office. "A few years back it was common to turn an extra bedroom into office space," said Babcock. "But as working from home becomes more common and accepted, homeowners want a first floor office where they can meet with associates without invading the bedroom area." Each Gladstone single-family plan and some townhome plans include a study and/or home office. Gladstone's Ashstone plan has a separate entry from outside into a 175-square-foot room at the front of the home. "Since I run my film production business out of our home, I was particularly drawn to the separate entrance into the office," said Kevin Otterness, who owns an Ashstone with his wife Kristen. "The separate entrance to the front room of the Ashstone is appealing to homeowners for a variety of reasons," said Babcock. With U.S. Census data showing more than 15 percent of children are living in blended households, more than 22 million adults are living in their parents' homes, and multi-generational households are growing faster than any other housing arrangement, some families use the space as a fifth bedroom. "With an upgrade of the adjacent powder room to a full bath, families are creating an additional bedroom suite," Babcock said. The popularity of the full-bath option at the study in the Ashstone and its other Premiere Series homes prompted Gladstone to redesign its Signature Series homes to also accommodate a fifth bedroom at the study and a first-floor full bath. "Privacy and independence are particularly important in multi-generational and blended households," said Babcock. "A separate bedroom suite helps achieve this." With the kids playing video games in the loft, grandparents relaxing in their first-floor suite and business closed for the day, Gladstone homeowners can retire to their master bedroom suites with spacious sitting areas, luxury baths, optional fire places and walk-in closets. "Everyone needs a little down time," said Babcock. "Particularly for homeowners who have a full house or who work at home, the master suite is a very special place. It's the much-needed retreat." Professionally decorated models of Gladstone homes can be visited in North Aurora at Moose Lake Estates, Windstone Place and Oak Creek Townhomes, in Elgin at Highland Woods, in Plainfield at Chatham Square, and in Yorkville at Eaglecrest at Grande Reserve. Floor plans, photo galleries and the Gladstone Home Designer, an online design customization center, can be found at www.gladstonehomes.com.

BYTES.(Business)(HardWARE page)

Byline: Mile HighTech staff and wire reports

Saudi Arabia digital topo maps finished

Land Info in Denver has completed digital elevation models for Saudi Arabia. The new maps bring more than 70 the number of topographic maps available on CD-ROM. Among the offerings are topographic maps of Kuwait, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Lithuania, Kazakhstan, Russia, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Ukraine. Information: (800) 390-6277 or www.landinfo.com.

Ethics in commerce summit still open

It's not too late to sign up for the Better Business Bureau's Sept. 10 Summit on Ethical Electronic Commerce sponsored by U S West, Microsoft, Best Consulting, Public Service Co. and InsideDenver.com. The meeting will provide information about understanding online customers, creating consumer trust and choosing the right products, services and technology for your site.

The cost is $50 for BBB members, $95 for others. Register online at www.denver.bbb.org or call (303) 758-0057, Ext. 121.

High-speed wireless access introduced

UltimateCom in Denver - www.ultimatecom.com - has introduced two-way, high-speed wireless Internet access in Denver. This broadband data communications service allows businesses to send and receive data-intensive files at speeds faster than the wire-based Internet technology typically used by small to medium businesses. Information: (303) 713-1975.

Graphic arts group sets weekly series

The Colorado chapter of the American Institute of Graphic Arts will launch this year's First Wednesday series with ``The Web: How Does It Change The Way We Print,'' at 6 p.m. Wednesday at the Denver Public Library, 10 W. 14th Ave. The panel includes Leon Cobb of Cactus Communications, Jonathan Cornwell of Chameleon Creative and Tamera Rice of AB Hirschfeld Press.

Members attend free, nonmembers pay $10. Reservations are required by today at (303) 375-4708 or aigacolorado.org.

Seats available at SBA's satellite forum

There is still room available at the SBA's Wednesday satellite technology conference ``Wired to Win: Leading Edge Technologies for Women Entrepreneurs. The conference will provide information on leading-edge technology, doing business on the Internet, protecting your business from the Year 200 computer bug and financial resources available on the Net. Information: (800) 441-1384 or www.edwardjones.com or www.ibm.com.