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House divided

In late May, the Hershey Harrisburg Regional Visitors Bureau received the results of a five-month study designed to help the bureau formulate its long-range marketing plan.

The findings of the $45,000 study by North Carolina-based Randall Travel Marketing can be found on page 1 of this week's paper.

We mostly agree with the analysis, which indicates the agency is too cash-poor to effectively do its job. As we pored over the summary, it was hard to shake the feeling that many of these financial questions could have been avoided if the key players had shown a smidgen of solidarity a couple years back. That's when Cumberland, Lebanon and Franklin counties opted to walk away …

Up to 1,000 Australian athletes to be drug tested before Beijing

Australian anti-doping authorities are launching the sort of pre-Olympic blitz they say would have exposed the likes of Marion Jones long before she admitted using performance-enhancing drugs.

The Australian Olympic Committee and the Australian Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA) said 1,000 tests would be conducted on Olympic-level athletes between now and the Beijing Games. That means a minimum one each for the anticipated 480-member squad and more for those considered to be in "at risk" events.

Athlete's blood and urine samples will be stored for eight years under the plan launched by Australia's federal Sports Minister Kate Ellis on Thursday.

…

Shop boss accused of cash theft

A Charity shop boss has been accused of embezzling more thanpounds1,500 from a city store.

Alastair Donald, who was a manager at Aberdeen's George StreetSue Ryder Care shop, is alleged to have pilfered pounds1,556.

The 42-year-old …

National Missile Defense, the ABM Treaty and the future of START II

On January 27, 1999, the Arms Control Association (ACA) held a press conference to assess the impact of Secretary of Defense William Cohen's January 20 announcement concerning the funding of preparations for the deployment of a national missile defense (NMD) system.

Cohen announced the administration's plan to commit additional funding to its NMD program to permit a deployment decision in 2000, and suggested the United States' willingness to withdraw, if necessary, from the ABM Treaty. The ACA briefing coincided with Secretary of State Madeleine Albright's threeday trip to Moscow to ease the growing strain in U.S.-Russian relations.

Following the December 16-19 …

Judge: Suspect in plane fight must stay in jail

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A federal judge has ordered a Yemen native accused of trying to barge into the cockpit of a San Francisco-bound American Airlines flight to remain in custody.

U.S. District Judge James Larson held a hearing Friday to reconsider a defense request to grant bail to Rageh Al-Murisi.

Al-Murisi faces one count of interfering with the flight crew for allegedly trying to open …

Iraqi security forces strain budget, PM says

Iraq's prime minister says the number of Iraqi soldiers and police is straining the budget, hindering reconstruction projects.

Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki says 74 percent of Iraq's $58 billion budget this year was used to pay the salaries and operations of Iraq's more than 640,000 security personnel.

He told a group of businessmen Wednesday that he thinks more of next year's budget should go to reconstruction rather than security, setting the stage for possible layoffs.

Low oil prices have forced Iraq to make deep spending cuts this year. It is also predicting a funding shortfall next year.

The news comes as the U.S. military says …

A Verrry British Satire in Summit

Asssistant WeekendPlus Editor Avis L. Weathersbee and longtimefood writer Olivia Wu attended a Sunday night performance of "FunnyMoney," a contemporary British farce, at the Candlelight Forum insouthwest suburban Summit.

Avis: I noticed an Arby's and a Burger King on this strip justoff the Stevenson on Harlem, so, if the food here doesn't hit home,we still have a couple of alternatives.

Olivia: The intimacy of this dining room takes you worlds awayfrom fast food ambience, though. I see a couple dressed inbrocade/black tie - think it's their 25th anniversary? Oh look, overthere are folks in pantsuits and turtlenecks. Now I don't feel asgrubby.Avis: There's no …

Queen's Club Results

LONDON (AP) — Results Monday from the €694,250 Aegon Championships, played on grass at Queen's Club (seedings in parentheses):

Singles
Second Round

Andy Roddick (3), United States, def. Feliciano Lopez, Spain, 7-6 (2), 6-7 (5), 6-4.

Fernando Verdasco (7), Spain, def. Nicolas Mahut, France, 6-2, 6-3.

Sam Querrey (13), United States, def. Rainer Schuettler, Germany, 7-6 (6), 5-7, 6-3.

James Ward, Britain, def. Stanislas Wawrinka (4), Switzerland, 7-6 (3), 6-3.

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (5), France, def. Michael Berrer, Germany, 6-0, 6-1.

Michael Llodra (10), France, def. Julien …

Deadline arrives for closure of LA pot shops

City officials said Monday they would tally how many medical marijuana collectives refused to close in defiance of a new ordinance before any action was taken to shutter the pot shops.

Monday was the deadline for hundreds of dispensaries to close or face possible civil fines or criminal charges.

Authorities intended to learn which clinics weren't in compliance then regroup to determine what should be done. The count could take several weeks.

Meanwhile, owners of shops that are permitted to stay open because they registered before a 2007 moratorium began filing mandatory paperwork with the city.

The shops have six months to meet new …

Study finds economic cost of cell phone accidents equals call benefits

WASHINGTON - Researchers say increased cell phone use has led tomore crashes caused by drivers on the phone, but the value peopleplace on being able to call from the road roughly equals theaccidents' cost.

Opponents of banning cell phone usage by drivers have citedstudies that showed the benefit of car calls outweighed the toll fromsuch accidents - medical bills and property damage, for example.

Harvard researchers, drawing on previous research involving cellphones and government figures for auto accidents, says in a studythere is a growing public health risk from the reliance on cellphones in cars.

The number of cell phone subscribers has grown from 94 …

French woman jailed in Chad hospitalized

One of six French citizens jailed in Chad in an alleged plot to kidnap 103 children said to be orphans from Darfur was hospitalized Sunday, French Army headquarters said.

The woman was hospitalized at the French military base in N'Djamena, the Chadian capital, the army press office in Paris said without elaborating.

A French judicial source, confirming the report, identified the woman as Nadia Merimi, a nurse, and said she was hospitalized after taking medication. The source, who spoke on condition he not be identified by name because of the sensitivity of the issue, said her life was not in danger.

The six jailed French citizens face the …

Pope defends invitation to Anglicans to convert

Pope Benedict XVI defended his decision to invite disaffected Anglicans to join the Catholic Church en masse, saying Friday it was the "ultimate aim" of ecumenism.

Benedict told members of the Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith that the invitation wasn't an attack on the church's reunification efforts with other Christians but was rather designed to help them by bringing about "full and visible communion."

The Vatican in October announced it was making it easier for traditional Anglicans upset over women priests and gay bishops to join the Catholic Church while retaining many of their Anglican traditions, including …

Russia will work with US, EU to stop piracy

Russia will work with the U.S. and European Union to fight piracy off the African coast and wants naval forces gathering in the area to coordinate their efforts, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Friday.

Lavrov spoke as a Russian warship with commandoes aboard headed to the waters off Somalia, where pirates are holding a Ukrainian ship with a cargo of battle tanks and a crew that includes two Russians.

"Russia aims to prevent pirates from causing mayhem," Russian news agencies quoted Lavrov as saying. He said nations with naval vessels in the area, which include the United States, should work together against pirates.

"It would be useful to coordinate the naval forces that are deployed," Lavrov said, according to state-run RIA-Novosti. "It seems everything is leading to this."

He said Russia, "like the U.S. and EU," will act on the basis of U.N. resolutions calling for international action against piracy.

A resolution adopted by the Security Council in May called on states and regional organizations "to take action to protect shipping involved with the transportation and delivery of humanitarian aid to Somalia." In early June, a resolution adopted by the Security Council authorized countries, for a period of six months, to enter Somalia's territorial waters and use "all necessary means" to stop piracy.

Russia ordered the frigate Neustrashimy, or Intrepid, to head for Somalia's coast after pirates hijacked the MV Faina last month.

The navy said it is carrying marines and special forces but has also sought to play down talk of the use of force to free the crew of the Faina.

The navy said Tuesday the Intrepid was in the Atlantic near the English Channel, indicating it was unlikely to reach the area for days. Navy officials could not be reached for further comment on its location Friday.

Packers vs. Bears matchups in NFC title game

Matchups for the NFC championship game between the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears at Soldier Field:

When the Packers have the ball

Until the playoffs began, the Packers were a pass first, second, third and all the time team. QB Aaron Rodgers (12) did not have a go-to running back all season after Ryan Grant was hurt. Rodgers even was the second-leading rusher during a 10-6 season.

But in Philadelphia for the wild-card round, rookie RB James Starks (44) emerged with 123 yards rushing, and he had 66 tough yards against Atlanta. The Bears must be aware that Green Bay will try to run, although Rodgers not only is the Packers' main weapon, he's been the top quarterback in the playoffs.

A pass rush is a must for the Bears, which means DLs Julius Peppers (90) and Israel Idonije (71) have to be factors early and often. LBs Brian Urlacher (54) and Lance Briggs (55) had strong years and need to get after Rodgers.

Greg Jennings (85), Donald Driver (80), James Jones (89) and Jordy Nelson (87) are a formidable receiving corps, but Rodgers will find anyone in a Packers uniform. He also has scrambling skills and will take off when a play breaks down, making something out of nothing. Again, Urlacher and Briggs will be the keys to short-circuiting Rodgers' runs.

Green Bay's offensive line has improved throughout the season, with RG Josh Sitton (71) the standout. He'll see lots of DTs Tommie Harris (91) and Anthony Adams (95).

The Bears need to be aggressive in coverage with CBs Charles Tillman (33), Tim Jennings (28) and D.J. Moore (30) certain to be busy. Chicago's best secondary player is safety Chris Harris. If Harris is able to roam despite a hip injury, he could be a difference maker.

When the Bears have the ball

Chicago was 4-3 going into its off week, and the offense got something of an overhaul. Coordinator Mike Martz and coach Lovie Smith reined in QB Jay Cutler (6), cutting down his erratic play; revamped the offensive line, where C Olin Kreutz (57) is the leader; and became more dependent on RB Matt Forte (22).

Forte responded with 1,069 yards rushing and six touchdowns. Cutler also responded and the Bears won seven of nine to win the NFC North ahead of Green Bay.

Cutler, who like Rodgers is mobile — he had two TDs rushing and two passing against Seattle last week, tying a record set in 1954 and '55 by Otto Graham — has advantage over his quarterback buddy (they text each other frequently, although presumably not this week). Greg Olsen (82) is an elite tight end, even if he doesn't get much notice. Olsen was unstoppable against the Seahawks.

The Packers can be run on and that's what Chicago wants to do from the outset. If Green Bay gets stingy on the ground, WRs Johnny Knox (13), Earl Bennett (80) and Devin Hester (23) need to win matchups with top-notch CBs Charles Woodson (21) and Tramon Williams (38), whose 70-yard interception return helped do in Atlanta last Saturday. That's a very tough chore for Chicago.

One key could be backup RB Chester Taylor (29), who along with Forte can be dangerous as a receiver out of the backfield. Checkdowns could provide a lifeblood for the Bears, except that sensational LB Clay Matthews (52) is certain to be nearby. Matthews is the Pack's difference maker on D.

Special Teams

The edge here belongs to Chicago. Atlanta's Eric Weems returned a kickoff for a TD against the Packers last week, and Chicago has a superb punt returner in the record-setting Hester. He ran back three punts for scores and could see action on kickoffs, too. Danieal Manning (38) normally is used on kickoffs.

Chicago also covers well, Green Bay not so much.

Robbie Gould (9) made 25 of 30 field goals and has range. The tricky winds at Soldier Field won't bother him, but they also shouldn't be a factor for Green Bay's Mason Crosby (2), who hit 22 of 28 tries. Both have made plenty of clutch kicks.

Both punters, veteran Brad Maynard (4) for Chicago and first-year player Tim Masthay (8) for Green Bay, are efficient if not spectacular. Maynard certainly has the edge in experience.

Coaching

Smith and the Packers' Mike McCarthy each should get support in Coach of the Year balloting.

Not much was expected from the Bears this season, even after they started 3-0. But their play in the final two months of the schedule was impressive as they showed they can win with offense or defense, complemented by strong special teams.

Martz, in particular, deserves some credit for taming his own gambling instincts and, in turn, taming those of Cutler. The improvement on the offensive line also stems from the coaching.

Rod Marinelli might get ridiculed for overseeing the only 0-16 team in NFL history while he was the Lions' head coach, but he's a fine defensive coordinator who got the most out of Peppers, not always an easy assignment.

McCarthy and his staff have dealt with an unfair number of injuries — 15 on injured reserve including six key defensive players, Grant and TE Jermichael Finley — yet found the kind of depth that carries teams deep into the playoffs. Green Bay has peaked in the last month, with Rodgers playing the best football of his career.

Dom Capers' defense is fast, smart and aggressive, led by second-year LB Matthews, veteran Woodson and NT B.J. Raji (90).

Oregon sheriff ordered to be a cadet again at 70

The Oregon agency that certifies police officers says the sheriff of the state's most populous county _ a member of the force for nearly half his 70 years _ has to go back to basic training.

Multnomah County Sheriff Bob Skipper will become a police cadet next month _ possibly the oldest in state history _ unless he and other county officials persuade the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training to reconsider.

"My job is not to write citations _ I am the CEO," Skipper told The Oregonian newspaper as his office prepares for a $9.4 million budget cut and large-scale layoffs.

"I'm having to back myself out of the middle of all this and say, 'I can't deal with this right now. I have to go off and learn to be a patrolman.'"

Skipper returned to the job after 13 years of retirement when Sheriff Bernie Giusto stepped down amid an ethics scandal. His time away from the job meant that he had to seek a waiver to avoid going through the four-month basic training for new recruits, even though he has spent 34 years in the sheriff's office, five as sheriff.

The standards and training department can make exceptions but did not in Skipper's case. Multnomah County Chairman Ted Wheeler and District Attorney Michael Schrunk have written letters appealing to the agency to reconsider.

Eriks Gabliks, deputy director for the training agency, said the law is clear.

"Anyone out over five years has to go back to basics unless they remained current somehow in law enforcement," Gabliks said. "He hasn't had that training or experience for more than 12 years. I'm not aware of someone being out that long and coming back."

Skipper argues the state agency should make an exception because the training is designed for new officers, not veterans. He also argues that his job is an administrative position dealing with the budget, personnel and politics of a large county office that would never require him to ride on patrol or make arrests.

And he argues that sending a veteran to learn basic policing is a waste of taxpayer money. He will earn $45,000 in county salary at the academy and the state will pay $15,000 to retrain him.

___

Information from: The Oregonian, http://www.oregonlive.com

Balloon boy mom's interviews contradict husband

A newly released video shows the mother of the 6-year-old boy purported to be in a runaway balloon finally acknowledging to authorities it was all a hoax _ contrary to her husband's repeated public denials just before reporting to jail.

The video interviews obtained by the Fort Collins Coloradoan Friday show Mayumi Heene telling sheriff's officials that the Oct. 15 event was a hoax that she and her husband orchestrated to gain notoriety and land a reality TV show.

"We tried working so hard to make money to survive. It's a shame to come up with this idea," Mayumi Heene told a Larimer County Sheriff's investigator during an interview days after the flight televised worldwide. "This was something that could take me, take us to the point we wanted to be at."

The boy, Falcon, was hiding at home during the balloon's five-hour ride.

Mayumi Heene pleaded guilty to filing a false report and her husband, Richard Heene, pleaded guilty to attempting to influence a public servant. He began serving a 30-day jail sentence Jan. 11. His wife will serve a 20-day sentence after him.

Richard Heene told The Associated Press before reporting to jail that he truly believed his son was in the balloon but pleaded guilty to prevent his wife from being deported to Japan.

"Now folks out there will probably be saying, ah this is a bunch of crap, but there are lies, after lies, after lies that have been told to persecute me," Heene told the AP, days before beginning his jail term.

Richard Heene also said that because his wife's first language is Japanese, she got confused and thought that "hoax" meant "an exhibition" when authorities questioned her.

In her interview with the sheriff's official, Mayumi Heene said she earned a bachelor's degree in English literature from a Japanese college. She told the sheriff's investigator about the hoax after she was told she'd just failed a lie detector test. Richard Heene also was told he failed a polygraph test, but he continued to maintain his innocence. He also said he was tired and has diabetes and that he needed to see his wife.

Steven C. Barber, a 48-year-old filmmaker who has known Heene for more than 10 years, said last week that he still believes in him and plans to prove him right with a documentary he expects to release later this year titled, "Balloon Boy: Guilty Until Proven Innocent."

___

Information from: Fort Collins Coloradoan, http://www.coloradoan.com

Japan: Senyo Shoji Develops "Lyocell" Futon

Senyo Shoji Co., Ltd. (Osaka) has developed 100% "Lyocell" fiber using "Lyocell" fiber from Lenzing Fibers for both fiberfill and cases. Already, part of this futon business is sold through firms in Japan's mail-order sector. Senyo Shoji buys "Lyocell" fiber through Moririn Co., Ltd.

In Japan, polyester staple is mostly used as fiberfill for futon. Japanese consumers have a particular liking for this futon because of its bulky feel. When making fiberfill with "Lyocell" alone, the futon will become flat when used for a long time. Japanese consumers have a strong dislike for this phenomenon. This is definitely peculiar to Japanese consumers. Therefore, Masashi Tsujimura, President, offers two kinds of futon made of 100% "Lyocell" and polyester/"Lyocell" blended fiberfill. Tsujimura explains by saying that "Lyocell" can display its advantages such as moistureabsorbing/dispersing performance only when 100% "Lyocell" is used as fiberfill.

State tracking ‘dooring’ of bicyclistsIf you’re riding your bike and you ...

State tracking 'dooring' of bicyclists

If you're riding your bike and you run into an open car door, the State of Illinois wants to hear about it. Gov. Quinn on Monday announced that Illinois is now tracking such accidents — known as "dooring" crashes. Quinn's office says the goal is to determine where road improvements and public outreach efforts may be needed to protect bicyclists. The governor says the goal is to make roads safer for everyone. Information on dooring will be collected and analyzed by the Illinois Department of Transportation. IDOT's Division of Traffic Safety is giving law enforcement agencies across the state instructions on how to begin recording dooring crashes. Data from police departments that already track dooring collisions, including Chicago, will be included in Illinois' traffic statistics, retroactive to May 2010.

'He's going to spend a lifetime in prison in his own heart'

The mother of a construction worker killed in a crash in 2010 said she knows the man who hit her son will suffer regardless of the length of his prison sentence. "He's going to spend a lifetime in prison in his own heart," said Celia Jane Jenkins, whose son, Christopher Jenkins, 45, was killed last year while patching potholes on the Borman Expressway. Jenkins was one of several witnesses who testified at Monday's sentencing hearing for Robert Anthony Shannon, 37, of Hammond, who apologized to Jenkins' family at the cemetery on the one-year anniversary of the crash. Lake Superior Court Judge Clarence Murray imposed a six-year prison term, followed by one year on probation, for Shannon, who pleaded guilty March 31 to reckless operation of a vehicle in a highway work zone causing death.

Schools' funding muddled // Key veto perils passage of bill

Gov. Thompson gave - and then he took away.

He signed a bill Thursday that would let Chicago schools use $66million to help fund a new teachers contract.

But he vetoed a key provision that would have lowered theretirement age for all Illinois teachers from 60 to 55, arguing thatearly retirement would cost the state an extra $300 million over thenext four years.

Thompson's action leaves the fate of the school bill in questionin the General Assembly.

However, the head of the Chicago Teachers Union insisted thatschools will open on time, and educators and political leaders playeddown the possibility of a strike, saying it is premature to speculateuntil the General Assembly takes action.

"While we are disappointed that the governor did not sign SenateBill 1591 as approved . . . we are heartened that he left intact themechanism to provide additional resources to Chicago public schools,"said union President Jacqueline B. Vaughn. "Schools will open inSeptember."

Teachers and parents Thursday said they are reassured thatsummer vacation for students wouldn't extend past Labor Day.

"They've been out of school for two months" and that's enough,said Clarence Davis, a member of the local school council at CraneHigh School, 2245 W. Jackson.

Davis said his children have endured teachers strikes and he ishappy that "there wouldn't be any problems opening school on Sept.5."

The bill's early-retirement section "is not an affordableprovision," Thompson said. "For as sure as the night follows the day,other employee unions of the State of Illinois would come to thebargaining table to demand that the retirement age . . . be loweredfrom 60 to 55. That would saddle the taxpayers of Illinois with amultimillion-dollar obligation."

The early-retirement provision was a key reason the legislationsqueaked through in the first place. To win the backing of the CTUand Downstate lawmakers, it rolled back the retirement age forteachers statewide from 60 to 55 without penalty.

The bill also allows the School Board to reallocate $66 million,including $51 million in property tax revenues earmarked forpensions. It also diverts $15 million headed to the schools'building fund.

"I think it's in near-fatal trouble," said the bill's sponsor,Sen. Arthur L. Berman (D-Chicago). "And the only way I think it hasany hopes of surviving is if the governor gives me a list of . . .Republicans to vote for the bill. . . . Then we'll know if thegovernor's action was meaningful, or if it's just a torpedo to sinkthe Chicago school system."

Berman said the governor's action Thursday may jeopardizekeeping schools open after Dec. 1. Teachers' raises are slated totake effect Nov. 5, but a legislative session to either override orratify the governor's action is not scheduled until mid-November.

Both Berman and Senate Minority Leader James "Pate" Philip(R-Wood Dale) said the bill would face overwhelming difficultygetting the necessary 36 votes in the Senate to begin the overrideprocess.

Thompson's move sends the bill back to the General Assembly butdeletes the early-retirement provision and a section that would havemade the state responsible for the unfunded liability of the Chicagoteachers' pension fund. That liability could have posed a threat tothe state's Triple-A credit rating, Thompson said.

The General Assembly can approve the amended bill by a simplemajority. A three-fifths' majority is needed to override hisamendments and also to ensure that the $66 million is immediatelyavailable, Berman said.

If lawmakers approve the bill by a simple majority, it would nottake effect until July, 1991, and until then the $66 million wouldn'tbe available, Berman said.

But the board possibly could take money from elsewhere to coverpay raises until then, according to Patricia Whitten, a School Boardattorney.

Contributing: Lou Ortiz, Steve Neal, Ray Hanania

Raptors guard Calderon has finger surgery

Raptors guard Jose Calderon has had surgery to repair ligament damage in his left ring finger and will need at least six weeks of recovery.

The team announced the surgery Tuesday.

Calderon dislocated the finger in the first quarter of a home victory March 25 against Milwaukee but did not miss any playing time. He played the remainder of the season with his ring finger and middle finger taped together.

The Spanish star averaged a career-highs 12.8 points and 8.9 assists this season. He was 151-for-154 (.981) at the free throw line, setting a single-season NBA record for accuracy.

Taiwan to cut troops amid warming China ties

Taiwan's military will proceed with a plan to slash the number of troops as relations with China improve and modern weapons technologies are introduced, an official said Monday.

The Defense Ministry will cut the island's 275,000 troops over the next four years, but has yet to decide on the level of cuts, ministry spokeswoman Lisa Chih said.

"It is part of the defense forces' restructuring, taking into consideration the new type of warfare, mainland relations and other external factors," Chih said.

Taiwan is able to reduce its number of troops because of the introduction of more modern weapons systems. It also aims to increase the efficiency of its combat forces, reducing the number of support personnel necessary to maintain them.

The troop cut is also in keeping with President Ma Ying-jeou's promises to gradually replace the current draft system with a voluntary force, she said.

China and Taiwan split amid civil war in 1949 and China still claims the island a part of its own territory to be unified by force if necessary. Both sides have built up their arsenals to prepare for a possible military conflict.

But since taking office last May, Ma has moved aggressively to reduce tensions with China by pushing for closer economic cooperation. He has also proposed to build a mutual trust mechanism with the Chinese military and eventually sign a peace treaty.

The pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party has been skeptical of Ma's initiatives, fearing Taiwan is letting down its defenses against its old rival.

"We question whether the troop cut is a goodwill gesture to China to help with the peace treaty," said DPP lawmaker Ke Chien-ming.

Bachmann says food industry overregulated

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A week after the Agriculture Department announced wider testing for potentially deadly E. coli in meat, Republican presidential candidate Michele Bachmann said Tuesday that regulations were overburdening food producers.

Bachmann visited a 140-year-old, family-run meatpacking plant in Des Moines and took a turn at cutting ribeye steaks in a chilly meat locker as she pushed back against regulations for food makers and other businesses. She did not call for the repeal of any specific rules.

"We want to have safety," she said. "But we also want to have common sense."

Bachmann says, as do most of those in the GOP field, that a lightened regulatory load would allow employers to spend money on expansion rather than federal compliance. But the Minnesota congresswoman is the first to focus the argument on the food-processing industry.

"That's part of the problem, the overkill," Bachmann told reporters during an appearance in which she posed with huge slabs of beef. "And when they make it complicated, they make it expensive and so then you can no longer stay in business."

The Agriculture Department said expanding testing of E. coli in meat from one strain to seven would hasten recalls of tainted products and help officials identify more foodborne illnesses. However, the meat industry opposed the move as too expensive without enough benefit. The USDA expects the additional testing to begin in March.

Bachmann's backing of the food industry view that regulations are a problem follows high-profile recalls of peanuts, eggs and other tainted food products. The most recent multistate alert focused on cantaloupes amid a listeria outbreak blamed for at least four deaths in New Mexico. Officials said this week that tainted cantaloupes had sickened at least 35 people in 10 states.

Bachmann wrapped up a two-day Iowa campaign swing at Amend Packing Co., where owner Kent Wiese said his business had never been cited for food-safety violations yet struggled to keep up with federal regulations, especially amid the economic downturn.

"We do have a clean record," Wiese said, explaining the battery of self-testing and regular USDA testing conducted at his plant. "And it all costs money. And I just wish that they could simplify it and just test it once and be done with it."

Wiese said large-scale meatpackers should be required to submit to a more rigorous testing regimen, because of the volume of animals they process. Wiese butchers 12 to 15 head of cattle once a week, while national meatpackers handle hundreds per hour.

Congress passed a sweeping food safety bill at the end of last year with strong support from the Obama administration. Bachmann was among those who voted against it.

Small-scale food producers often argue that their products are safer because they are produced in smaller, less-mechanized batches. Experts counter that unsafe food can be produced anywhere.

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I employ 210,000 people, 143,000 outside the U.S., and amAmerica's 22nd-largest manufacturer.

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Albanian political parties meet to resolve crisis

Albania's president has started round-table talks with the government and the main opposition party to end a seven-month political crisis over alleged electoral fraud.

Prime Minister Sali Berisha of the governing Democratic Party and Socialist Party leader Edi Rama, also Tirana mayor, met Saturday at President Bamir Topi's office.

The Socialists have boycotted Parliament for months _ blocking most legislative work _ and staged large protests.

They claim the Democrats manipulated vote-counting in the June 28 national elections and are demanding a recount _ which the government has ruled out.

A statement is expected at the end of the talks.

The Democrats control 75 of parliament's 140 seats; the Socialists have 65.

Biotech expansion strategies

"We are a research-- based industry developing innovative products to address widespread unmet medical needs," says Carl B. Feldbaum, president of the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO), Washington, DC. BIO represents more than 850 biotechnology companies, academic institutions and state biotechnology centers in 47 states and 26 nations. BIO members are involved in the research and development of medical, agricultural, industrial and environmental biotechnology products. "Biotechnology is providing both the tools to produce the next generation of medicines as well as the final products. These represent enormous and expanding markets," he adds.

To capture the opportunity to participate in the growth of the dynamic biotech industry, communities across the nation are eagerly working to convince those of you in the biotech industry that locations in their area offer the best resources for growth.

And why the surge of interest in biotech growth? Feldbaum explains: "Biotechnology leads in medical innovation because of our industry's willingness to attempt to solve the difficult problems, to confront the most intractable, often life-threatening diseases. With our fast-developing knowledge of the genetic causes of disease, and with new discoveries being made virtually every day, we believe biotech will continue to produce medical breakthroughs.

"In the past four years, 76 new biotechnology drugs, vaccines, and new indications have been approved," continues Feldbaum. "This is a significant increase over the previous 14 years. In 1998, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved new biotechnology medicines for acute coronary syndrome, arthritis, breast cancer, Crohn's disease, and for the prevention of Lyme disease."

Many communities are investing in the labor training programs, and the research and educational amenities that the biotech industry desperately needs to keep moving at the cutting edge of technology.

Patrick M. Kelly, director of state government relations at BIO, says: "Research centers are one of the more important factors attracting biotech companies. Where a lot of research resources are present, you see biotech industry clusters. California, the number-one biotech state, and Massachusetts, the second ranked biotech state, encourage the tremendous clusters of biotech companies surrounding the research institutions. And there is a six-way race for third place in the number and activity of biotech firms with Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Washington in a hotly contested race with Texas, Florida, and New Jersey."

Biotech companies are listening to the overtures of communities across the nation with offers of technology transfers, research support, lower operating costs, skilled professionals, good transportation without excessive gridlock, improved quality of life, and lower cost of living factors.

BIOTECH GROWTH

Phoenix, AZ has long been known as a hotbed of high-tech activity, including biotech operations. A rapidly growing biotech industry includes a cluster of nearly 80 firms, according to a study conducted at the University of Arizona. Biotechnology in Arizona is a young industry, with three-quarters of all the biotech firms having been founded since 1980. Biomedical devices are the leading products of these firms, followed by pharmaceuticals and industrial products.

Thanks to the region's favorable business climate, you will discover a strong educational system, advanced fiber-optics communications network, and an excellent transportation system. The high-technology, biotech industry has grown rapidly throughout the Greater Phoenix region.

An important requirement for the biotech industry's continued success is an educated workforce. In the Greater Phoenix area, Arizona State University fulfilled that mission with the establishment of a College of Technology. In addition, many of the area's community colleges offer two-year degrees focused on the high-tech field. Two of Phoenix's major employers, Motorola and Intel, have donated millions of dollars worth of equipment to the schools to set up simulated manufacturing operations and train students for high-tech jobs.

One of the hallmarks of a growing industry, such as biotechnology, is the demand for additional space. And, the biotech industry is exploding with growth and enormous potential in the Washington/Baltimore area, where nearly 300 companies are involved in R&D and biotech manufacturing. Biotechnology is important to Maryland, and biotechnology is important to the world. In fact, Maryland has become one of the world's centers of excellence in biotech research. In 1997, Maryland biotech companies churned out more than $2 billion in revenues. This industry represents a new way of doing business in Maryland and will be a significant part of the state's economy for the next decade.

Maryland enjoys the third largest concentration of bioscience companies in the United States, according to the Maryland Department of Business & Economic Development. In the biotech fields, Maryland universities during the past three years received 121 patents, government agencies with Maryland facilities received 307, and private firms received 212. With this influx of R&D patents, Maryland has developed an R&D center of excellence that attracts additional biotech operations.

MedImmune, Inc., a Maryland-- based biotech company, recently had its third product approved by the FDA. Dr. Wayne Hockmeyer, chairman and CEO, says that MedImmune is on its way to becoming profitable. The company does its own R&D, process development, clinical research, sales and marketing, and manufacturing. Located in Gaithersburg, the company recently completed construction of a $50 million, 91,000-square-- foot manufacturing facility in Frederick. Says Hockmeyer, "We are optimistic about the future and want to continue to grow our business here in Maryland."

As a result of the substantial biomedical and federal government infrastructure, biotechnology is a natural industry for Maryland, according to Hockmeyer. Because of this infrastructure, attracting the best talent is not difficult.

In the summer of 1998, Human Genome Sciences (HGS), headquartered in Montgomery County, MD, chose a site for its new production facility in the Johns Hopkins Belward Research Campus in Rockville, not far from its current lab and office spaces in the Shady Grove Life Sciences Center. The company recently made a business decision to grow from a R&D-only firm to production. The new facility will be located on a 13-acre site and include 80,000 square feet of space for pilot production of therapeutic proteins and for process development and scale-up. The site also allows for future expansion.

The state of Maryland and Montgomery County offered tax credits, grants for job creation, infrastructure improvements, and a low-interest loan. Johns Hopkins donated 30 acres of land to Montgomery County, which then sold the 13-acre site to the Montgomery County Economic Development Corp. (MEDCO), which then leased the site to HGS for 20 years.

ATTRACTING BIOTECH FIRMS

The availability of skilled, educated people is one of the keys to locating a biotech firm. California, of course, has an immense powerhouse of biotech firms operating within the state. California's Bay Area (San Francisco) is regarded by many as the birthplace of biotechnology and remains a world leader in core biotechnology industries with nearly 1,000 firms and research institutes. The Bay Area is home to one of the first biotechnology companies-Genentech.

"Certainly high technology has been a key driver in California's growth. Many of these companies have made a renewed commitment to California with an eye toward long-term expansion," says a spokesperson with the California Trade and Commerce Agency and Team California.

The Greater Sacramento area in Northern California offers a superior quality of life and appeals to the research needs of biotech firms. A leading biological science research facility, University of California, Davis, forms the core of the research needs for the biotech industry in the region. Says Raymond L. Rodriguez, president at Applied Phyrelegics: "The university has been very cooperative in giving me the freedom to develop my own private venture in the area of biopharmaceuticals and nutritional products. The most important factors contributing to the success of my company have been the skillful handling of patents and licensing by the University, and a regulatory climate in the state that promotes business development."

The growing biotech industry at the gateway to California's biotech corridor in Woodland, CA has a trained workforce that is ready to add new dimensions to the biotech research. Already Seminis, employing more than 180 people on a 72-- acre site, operates a worldwide biotech research headquarters, focusing on plant research in Woodland. What's more, Hygiela Biological Laboratories of Woodland received national awards for the biotech research that resulted in a new vaccine designed to prevent a major disease of dairy cows. Founded in 1991, Hygiela has grown from 8 employees in 1997 to 15 employees in 1998.

Woodland, located 15 miles northwest of Sacramento on U.S. Interstate 5, offers a unique opportunity for a biotech company with growth in mind as a result of a corporate consolidation. Bryce Birkman, executive director at the Woodland Economic Renaissance Corporation explains that one firm relocated an operation in a consolidation move that freed up a superior biotech site, which would rank high on most any site selection checklist, and is a great location for biotech operations. On five acres of land, an established facility sits vacant, ready for occupancy. The 38,700-square-foot biotechnology lab and pilot plant offers clean room operations, R&D space, warehousing, and plant processing space at the Woodland site. The regional workforce of 17,500 people includes well-trained scientists, engineers, and skilled technicians. UC Davis, which is less than 10 miles away, has nearly 4,000 undergraduates studying biological sciences. What's more, UC Davis has an Interdisciplinary Biotech division with more than 400 affiliated professors and more than 300 funded and ongoing research projects.

In Los Angeles, the biomed industry is gathering momentum. A good example is Alfred E. Mann's $100 million-each contribution to support biomedical research at the University of Southern California and at the University of California, Los Angeles. The commitment to support biomed and biotech firms is further illustrated in the planned California State University Northridge, MiniMed Business Park, which will house a state-of-the-art bioscience facility. In addition, the Southern California Biomedical Council is organizing its second annual Biomed Venture Forum.

In November 1998, Guidant Corporation introduced a new product that doctors worldwide are now using. In fact the new product, a heart "stent" that offers an alternate to heart-bypass surgery, spurred a $16 million expansion at the Temecula, CA complex of five buildings with 500,000 square feet of space, including a four-story main facility. The expansion will add 300 employees in 1999 at the four-story production plant that operates around the clock. Guidant Corporation, an Indiana-- headquartered company, employs more than 5,000 people worldwide, with 2,000 in Temecula, CA. Since 1997, rapid growth has resulted in nearly doubling the employment in Temecula. By mid-year, Guidant plans to open a factory in Ireland that will handle European orders.

And the reason for this success? Research and development investment plays a major factor, says Bob Larson, vice president of operations. Guidant, like many biotech firms, must always be inventing and producing new products. According to Larson, part of the company's success rises from corporate policy that decrees 16% of profits are to be plowed into research and development. Employee training is another factor. Each employee, including every parttime worker, is given about 53 hours of specialized training.

Why Temecula? The company founder, Bob Reese, in 1983 visited his parents in Temecula. He liked the Temecula Valley and recommended a plant be set up in the area. The quality of life factor was perhaps the most significant motivation that created the start-up operation that now has grown into a 2,0000 employee complex.

Strategically located on Southern California's main inland highway, Interstate-15, Temecula gains the benefits of free-flowing commercial and residential access from a central location along the 1-15/I-- 215 freeway corridor. As a masterplanned community, the 97,000-- acre Temecula region gains high marks for the quality of life factor. Companies from a variety of industries are choosing to locate in Temecula because of its quality of life, among other site selection factors crucial to any kind of company needing a new facility.

"Temecula's central Southern California location and multiple freeway access was perfect for us," says Scott Meer, manager of ground operations at Federal Express, which recently chose to locate in Temecula. "Our employees love the area and are involved in community activities."

What's more, a well-educated workforce provides the biotech companies with a quality labor pool which is a major factor for Chemicon International, another biotech firm, which has been in Temecula since 1981. Chemicon's Temecula facility consists of 30,000 square feet and contains production, R&D, logistics, and marketing operations.

The City of Palmdale, located 60 miles from Los Angeles, is one of the fastest growing cities in the U.S. with an estimated population of 118,265. High-tech and related biotech operations have contributed to building a strong labor pool with diverse qualifications that attracts still more high-tech, biotech companies. In August 1998, Senior Systems Technology, Inc. began operations in a new, $6.8 million, 130,000-square-foot facility in Palmdale. In addition an electronic switch and gauge manufacturer, Murphy's Safety Switch Company, is building a new $1.6 million facility in Palmdale.

Rancho Cucamonga, population 116,000, is one of Southern California's most family oriented and prosperous communities. The city's location at the 1-10 and 1-15 freeway junction is one of the principal advantages. Firms are moving to this area of the Inland Empire to build modern facilities featuring competitive costs and strong logistics infrastructure. From 1991 to 1996, Rancho Cucamonga added 442 firms to reach 2,188.

Although certain site selection factors are specific to biotech companies (the type of workforce available in the region, for example) there are certain factors that are crucial to any site search, no matter what the industry. Rancho Cucamonga offers a convenient location for almost any type of industry, thanks to its pro-business climate. In 1999, Aetna U.S. Healthcare will move into a building at an idled missile manufacturing plant in Rancho Cucamonga, bringing along 185 jobs. Jerrylyn Romana, western regional facilities manager, says that three primary factors make the location appealing: access to the Ontario International Airport to shuttle between headquarters in San Ramon and the new location; attractive leasing arrangements; and ample space for expansion.

STATES TARGET BIOTECHNOLOGY

More and more, states are recognizing the role the biotechnology industry plays in their economies. BIO announced this April that Tennessee has become the 25th state to form a biotechnology association representing companies and academic institutes involved in biomedical research and product development.

The Tennessee Biotechnology Association (TBA) was launched during the 2nd Annual Tennessee Biomedical Engineering Conference at Vanderbilt University in Nashville. Joseph Gregory, vice chairman of King Pharmaceuticals in Bristol, TN, will chair the new state association.

"We are very excited to have such an enthusiastic, statewide commitment to improving opportunities for biotechnology and biomedical research and development in the state," says Gregory. "We have received numerous funding commitments including a pledge for first-year matching funds from the Tennessee Technology Development Corp."

The Tennessee Technology Development Corp., formed last year by the state's Department of Economic and Community Development, has committed up to $50,000 in matching funds to assist the TBA. The association will function in support of Tennessee companies, academic institutes and centers of excellence conducting research and development in biotechnology products, pharmaceuticals and medical devices.

In addition to Gregory, other TBA board officers include Dennis Grimaud, president; Larry Evans, treasurer; and James McElroy, secretary. Grimaud is president and CEO of Cytometry Associates, in Nashville. Evans is a partner with the accounting firm, PricewaterhouseCoopers, in Nashville. McElroy is a partner with the law firm, Baker Donelson Bearman and Caldwell, in Nashville.

"We look forward to working closely with the Tennessee Biotechnology Association," says BIO's Patrick Kelly. "We are impressed with the substantial R&D infrastructure already in place in the state and we anticipate that the association will further improve the climate for biotechnology companies in Tennessee. The TBA joins a growing network of state biotechnology associations affiliated with BIO. There are now 25 state biotechnology associations and all of them play pivotal roles in supporting the growth of the biotechnology industry."

FINANCIAL INCENTIVES

Financial incentives and research support were the major considerations that placed ZymeTx, Inc., a biotech company developing medical products, in Oklahoma. The company was established through the research support of the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation (OMRF). ZymeTx benefits from an ongoing relationship with OMRF, which provides the company with access to R&D resources rivaling those of much larger biotech companies. OMRF provides ZymeTx with extensive scientific expertise, which supplement the company's own dedicated facility and staff. This relationship opens the doors to a number of promising technologies that will yield additional new product candidates in the future.

Says Peter Livingston, CEO, "Our scientific and research staff maintains a close professional relationship with the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation. ZymeTx is able to work with scientists at OMRF with critical access to research and development capabilities that rival those found at much larger biotechnology companies."

Michigan is a major player in biotechnology with the recently created Van Andel Research Institute in Grand Rapids. The $1 billion endowed institute is expected to be a big attraction for the biotech and pharmaceutical companies looking for cutting-edge facilities and financial backing.

Traditionally, universities have been thought of as the site for the majority of basic biotech research. Individual professors who direct research laboratories manned by teams of graduate students and postdoctorates have been the foundation for a great deal of scientific progress. Today the organization of university departments is more complex, funding sources are more diverse, and interdisciplinary collaboration has become the norm.

The growing number of biotech firms in Michigan exceeds 140 companies with 19,000 workers. Some of the major firms in biotechnology operating in Michigan include: Aastrom, C&M Pharmacal, Caraco, Detrex, Neogen, Perrigo, Trinity Technologies, Vortech Pharmaceuticals, and Welch Laboratories. In addition, major pharmaceutical companies have facilities in the state as well, including Parke-Davis and Pharmacia & Upjohn.

The Michigan Economic Development Corporation, an alliance between the state of Michigan and several local communities, is your one-stop resource for expansion and relocation projects. Combined with site development and job training incentives, Michigan offers your biotech operation an economic advantage. Moreover, the Michigan Technical Education Centers, a state-of-the-art network of schools, provides customized training.

In November 1998, Scott Technologies announced an expansion in South Haven, MI. Says Governor John Engler, "This project, with over 150 new jobs and an investment of $1 million, will locate in Michigan not Indiana. Projects like this are why Michigan will continue to keep its number one status as the state with the most new projects and expansions." Scott Technologies received a tax credit worth an estimated $391,000 from the Michigan Economic Growth Authority. The new facility will be operational later in 1999. The Scott Technologies project will provide more than $5.4 million in revenue to the state over the life of the tax credit agreement, resulting in a net positive gain to the state of $5 million after the MEGA credit. What's more, the project is expected to generate more than $68 million in personal income.

Venture capital funding was a significant factor for Copernicus Gene Systems, Inc., a Cleveland, OH biotechnology start-up company. Several venture capital organizations considered Cleveland an unlikely location for innovative biotech growth, but the city leaders decided to change Cleveland's technological support and lure this industry to the region. Copernicus, founded in 1994 and based on gene therapy technology developed at Cleveland's Case Western Reserve University, secured $4.6 million from four different investors in December 1997. In addition, the company received a $100,000 SBIR grant from the National Cancer Institute to test a new approach for treating liver cancer. The cash provides the resources to pursue development of the technology and add staff to complement the five full-time employees.

Nestled 20 miles south of Miami, FL, Perrine-Cutler Ridge is one of Florida's premiere locations for biotech companies. Currently 10 biotech companies chose the Miami-Dade Biomedical Corridor at Perrine-Cutler for operations. Beckman-Coulter Corp., a world leader in laboratory diagnostics, invested $30 million in the Perrine-Cutler Ridge area, creating a 100-acre corporate headquarters for global operations. Employing 1,800 people at the headquarters site, the company continues to develop breakthrough products in the realm of blood cell analysis, as well as cancer and AIDS research. Swiss Caps, a European pharmaceutical company opened a production plant in 1992 to manufacture nutritional supplements.

And what makes Perrine-Cutler Ridge a hot location for biotech? Tax and financial incentives for biotech operations, a dynamic workforce, research support, excellent transportation from rail, truck, air, and ocean all contribute to biotech success. The eight colleges and universities provide not only research resources, but also a trained labor pool for biotech operations.

Explains Arthur Lyons, communications manager at Coulter Corporation: "We sell our products in more than 70 countries, so this is a great place from which to run our worldwide operations. Then, of course, nearby Miami is becoming more and more the capital of the Americas: there is a major airport and shipping lanes and an excellent pool of skilled, multi-cultural bilingual talent to draw upon."

Lehigh Valley, PA, once dominated by large industrial firms, is now represented by a broad base of industries, including scientific biotech operations. To the East, the Lehigh Valley Industrial Park (LVIP) in Eastern Pennsylvania attracts biotech and high-tech firms such as NCR and General Electric. With five fully developed parks on 1,300 acres, LVIP offers many advantages for biotech firms. A new high-tech park will be available in 1999.

The Lehigh Valley, located on the eastern border of Pennsylvania, contains a trio of cities-Allentown, Bethlehem, and Easton-that are less than an hour's drive from Philadelphia and less than two hours from New York. The transportation infrastructure with easy access to other regions make the Lehigh Valley an excellent location for biotech distribution activities.

The major factors that lead companies to choose Lehigh Valley include the skilled workforce and the potential for research. Among the Valley's educational assets are 10 colleges and universities, including Pennsylvania State University's Allentown campus and Lehigh University in Allentown.

Xenia, OH, located in the "transportation triangle" formed by the three major interstate highways-Interstates 70, 71, and 75-is 15 miles from Dayton. Because good transportation and cost-effective sites appeal to biotech site seekers, the convenient movement of people and products is a major asset for Xenia. A progressive, medium-sized city (population 25,000), Xenia is home to 64 widely diversified firms. A skilled workforce, good energy rates, excellent quality of life factors, and low-cost operations continue to attract auto-related investments to Xenia, OH.

Biotech companies need their energy resources to be reliable even more so than high-tech firms. When dealing with materials such as living cells and organisms, it takes only a blackout of a few minutes to ruin months of research. GPU Energy is the largest electric utility in Pennsylvania and New Jersey and focuses on recruitment and expansion of customers within the regulated distribution territory. GPU's service area is home to 56 of the Fortune 500, and they have forged partnerships with developers in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. As site selection consultants, GPU provides valuable services to the biotech firms in search of new facilities.

Located southeast of Austin, Bastrop, TX has all of the necessary ingredients to become the next biotechnology cluster of Central Texas. Currently, Bastrop has two nationally recognized biotechnology research facilities, both affiliated with the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. The two facilities are the Science Park Center for Research on Environmental Disease and the Department of Veterinary Sciences. These two worldclass facilities employ more than 300 people.

Bastrop is also home for several major biotech companies. BioCrest Partners, a start-up company, has recently completed construction on a 45,000-square-foot facility west of Bastrop and will employ 150 people. International Rx Specialty Company, a global wholesaler of pharmaceuticals, is located in Bastrop, and poised for expansion. "Regions with research centers attract the biotech organizations," explains BIO's Patrick Kelly. "Look for a cluster of research institutions and you will find a growing cluster of biotech companies."

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INTERNATIONAL BIOTECH

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Biotech operations represent a global growth industry. The keys

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to international site selection rest with those factors that draw upon the professional workforces, the educational resources, research support, and quality of life factors. Internationally, the biotechnology field represents one of the top growth industries with outstanding potential, particularly in Europe. Both France and Germany have major regions that have developed biotech clusters fueled by outstanding research organizations and universities.

Bavaria, Germany, with phenomenal research capacity, has grown in Munich the largest biotechnology center in Germany.

"In the past two years," says Horst Domdey, CEO of BioM AG, "German biotechnology has experienced an enormous upswing. A wave of bright new business ideas, supported and accompanied by

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entrepreneurial initiatives, smart financing programs, and the availability of

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private money can be observed. All over

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Germany, and especially in the Munich

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area, the enormous local potentials

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for modern biotechnology have been dis

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covered and brought into action."

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Munich's immense potential is strengthened by the critical mass of outstanding science provided through the presence of two top universities,

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three biotech-oriented Max-Planck-- Institutes and the National Research Center for Health and Environment.

Munich, rated second behind London in the European rankings of biotech regions, is in sixth position worldwide. More than 8,000 skilled scientists and technicians are employed in the Bavaria's Life Sciences industry, six universities, and 16 major non-university research institutes for biotech-related projects. The synergy in Munich provides the backdrop for a growing number of startup companies, such as MediGene, Micromet, GPC Genome Pharmaceutical Cooperation, and VirGene Pharmaceutical.

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The Grosshadern-Martinsried campus has established itself as the driving force behind the dynamic development of the region's biotechnology industry. Martinsried, Bavaria's top research campus, is home for the highly reputable Max-- Planck--Institutes (biochemistry and neurobiology), the Gene Center of Munich's university, the GSF (National Research Center for Environment and Health), the IZB (Innovation Center Biotechnology) with 70,000 square feet of working space, and Munich's largest university clinic with 1,500 beds and outstanding clinical research facilities.

"There is no country in this world where I would rather form a new biotech company than in Germany," says Dr. Helmut Schuhsler, managing partner, TVM Techno Venture Management III GmbH, Munich.

"We are happy about foreign biotech companies moving to

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Bavaria," says Horst Domdey at BioM. "especially when they plan to engage themselves in R&D." BioM AG, a consulting company financed by the industry itself, is aiming to set up a network that links industry, research, biotech firms, and the financial world. At present a total of DM $12 million in potential financing aid from BioM is available to young enterprises. Startup companies may qualify for seed capital up to DM $300,000 in return for interest in BioM.

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In 1998, the grand opening of the newly built third wing of the Center of Innovation and New Enterprise in Biotechnology made available additional floorspace in a perfectly tailored infrastructure for young, innovative biotech companies.

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A number of other regions around the world have developed into significant research regions, such as Toulouse/Midi-Pyrenees in France. In fact, the region of Toulouse/MidiPyrenees represents a powerhouse of biotech advances. With 10,500 scientists working in more than 400 laboratories, Toulouse/Midi-Pyrenees possesses an exceptional research potential. For example, the Pierre Fabre Laboratories in the region employs 6,200 workers to manufacture and market pharmaceuticals and dermo-cosmetics products.

The quality of life factor, an important site ingredient for attracting new companies and talent, aids the region's technological success. The area is a territory rich in history and unspoiled natural beauty.

In education, Toulouse is the second most important university in

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France. Alain Costes, director of the Laboratory for Analysis and Architecture of Systems says, "MidiPyrenees has two basic assets that attract industry. First, the well-- trained personel, particularly in engi

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neering sciences, whether at the university level

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or through the advanced techni

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cal diploma programs, and

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second the internationally

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renowned research laboratories." Mike Briley, director of

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research at the Pharmacology Laboratory of Laboratoires Pierre Fabre in Castres says: "Out of a team of 200 researchers, 50 of us are foreigners. Our recruitment is very internationally based which poses no problem whatsoever. Our researchers, even if they travel all over the world to places like London, New York, or Sydney, particularly appreciate the human dimension of a town like Castres: its climate, the facilities for all types of sports, the natural surroundings, and everything the region has to offer in the way of leisure and culture."

Toulouse Midi-Pyrenees offers:

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* One of the top three French areas in biotechnology research.

* Home to the second largest private pharmaceutical group in France.

* More than biotech 3,000 jobs.

* The leading university region in France outside of Paris.

* Largest concentration of research

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potential with 10,500 scientists and 400 labs.

* Home to the third largest plant

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biotechnology complex.

* First microbiology center in France.

China says beefing up patrols over maritime claims

BEIJING (AP) — China's ocean monitoring agency says it is adding ships and personnel to beef up enforcement of the country's vast maritime claims.

China Marine Surveillance says it will add 1,000 officers this year to raise staffing to 10,000 and will purchase 36 new ships over the next five years. The official China Daily reported Monday that the agency presently has 300 vessels of all types, along with 10 aircraft.

The paper said the increased capacity is needed to deal with a rising number of disputes involving China and other countries that share overlapping claims to waters and island groups in the South China and East China seas.

The Philippines said in March that it plans to acquire patrol ships, aircraft and an air defense radar system to assert its claims.