?Tuesday, August 17, 2010 Volume 126, No. 78 Price 75¢

Pa. race crucial for Senate

African-American vote could swing the outcome

Ayana Jones Tribune Staff Writer Democratic Rep. Joe Sestak and his Republican challenger Pat Toomey are in a tight race for control of the senate seat currently occupied by Sen. Arlen Specter. A recent Rasmussen Reports poll of the U.S. indicated little has changed over the past two months in terms of support. The poll showed Toomey had a six-point lead over Sestak, earning 45 percent of the vote, to Sestak's 39 percent. Committee of Seventy President and CEO Zack Stalberg said the November election will be regarded as one of the country's most significant. "It will be very closely watched around the country because of Specter's departure and Toomey's fairly conservative image," Stalberg said. "There's a handful of races on which the control of the Senate rest. This is one of them." New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg Senate - Page 4A

RELIGIOUS DEBATE

President Barack Obama glances back as he boards Air Force One before his departure from Andrews Air Force Base, Md., en route to Milwaukee on Monday. - AP PHOTO/CAROLYN KASTER

Critics: Obama 'out of touch' with U.S.

Larry Miller Tribune Staff Writer After carefully avoiding the controversy surrounding the building of a mosque near the site of the World Trade Center, President Barack Obama's tacit support of the project has stirred up a maelstrom of public opinion. Some are quoting the Constitution of the United States - and the rights of religious freedom. Others are saying the president's remarks on Friday could cost him votes at election time - a point of view that critics are saying is causing the president to back track on his vocal support of the project. "I don't think he's back tracking, he wants to concentrate on the economy, not something that is a minor distraction on what he's really trying to do," said Chris Murray, professor of African- American studies at Temple University. "But regarding the mosque I think we need to let the terrorists know that we

Shrimp season met with worry

Cain Burdeau and Kevin McGill Associated Press Writers NEW ORLEANS - Shrimpers returned to Louisiana waters Monday for the first commercial season since the Gulf of Mexico oil disaster, uncertain what crude may still be in the water and what price they'll get for the catch if consumers worry about possible lingering effects from the massive BP spill. The spill has put a crimp in the fishing Across America Health Commentary Op-Ed Business

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INSIDE SPORTS

Owl Power!

Temple's Quarterback Chester Stewart seeks to lead team into another successful season. Page

4B industry in a state that ranks first in the nation in producing shrimp, blue crab, crawfish and oysters, a $318-million-a year business in Louisiana. U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke planned to visit the state Monday to lunch with fishermen and talk to seafood industry representatives. Perhaps the biggest fear is that some fisherman might try to sell oil-contaminated shrimp ENTERTAINMENT Fringe is coming Tickets are now on sale for the 14th annual Philadelphia Live Arts Festival and Philly Fringe Page 6B Muslim - Page 4A Gulf - Page 5A

Sen. Harry Reid: Build the mosque elsewhere

Philip Elliott Associated Press Writer WASHINGTON - The Senate's top Democrat on Monday came out against plans to build a mosque near the site of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, moving away from President Barack Obama on the controversial electionyear issue. Locked in a tight race, Nevada Sen. Harry Reid became the highest profile Democrat to respond to Obama, who ENTERTAINMENT Herbie Hancock Review of his most recent performance at the Mann Music Center Page 6B Today Mostly Sunny high: 91º low: 70º last week backed the right for the developers to build a mosque near ground zero. Since his comments Friday, the Democratic president and his aides have worked to explain the statement, which drew criticism from Republicans and Democrats alike. "The First Amendment protects freedom of religion," said Jim Manley, a Reid spokesman. "Senator Reid respects that, but thinks that the mosque should be built Tomorrow Showers high: 82º low: 69º Thursday Showers high: 82º low: 68º COMING FRIDAY Plan your weekend with Entertainment NOW!

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UNCERTAIN FUTURE

Pakistan's floods drown crops, cattle

Farmers lose acres of crops, threatening entire country's economy and food supply

Ashraf Khan SUKKUR, Pakistan - For generations, the Indus River was a lifeline. Now it has turned destroyer, ripping up rice, wheat and sugar cane crops and leaving behind bloated corpses of cows and goats. When the floodwaters recede, millions of farmers who used the Indus to irrigate their crops - and propel Pakistan's economy - face an uncertain future. The United Nations warns that unless farmers in hard-hit Punjab and Sindh provinces manage to plant their winter crop of wheat in mid-September as normal, there might be food shortages in the region and the nation as a whole. In the north, where the floods began nearly three weeks ago, fruit farmers are also hurting. Last year, cherries, peaches and apricots in the Swat Valley rotted on the trees because of an army operation against Taliban militants. This year, roads and bridges have been washed away so crops cannot be carried to the rest of the country. The most destructive floods in Pakistan's recorded history have affected an estimated 62,000 square miles of land - about a fifth of the already poor country. Around 20 million people have had their lives disrupted, and 1,500 have been killed. The scale of the disaster has overwhelmed authorities and led to fears of social unrest, especially given the weak and unpopular government. Hundreds of thousands are living in makeshift camps or by the side of the road, soaking up monsoon rains and surviving on handouts. Many have brought their valuable livestock with them. The disruption in food supplies is causing price increases across the country. Hundreds of people Monday blocked a major highway with stones and garbage near the hard-hit Sukkur area in Sindh, complaining of the slow dispersal of aid. They said government officials only handed out food when media were present. "They are throwing packets of food to us like we are dogs," said protester Kalu Mangiani. "They are making people fight for these packets." More than 70 percent of affected people rely on agriculture for their livelihood, according to the U.N. Many are subsistence farmers like Abdur Razaq, who had 15 acres of land where he grazed two buffalo and two cows. The money he got from those animals was enough money to feed his wife and five children. He said authorities told him that his land was safe from the floods but that turned out to be false: the high water came rapidly at night. He could only think of saving his family, leaving his animals to the floods. "Only a prophet could pass a test as stern as the one we are going through now. It is beyond our capacity. It is coming from Allah," Razaq said, raising a finger skyward. Pakistan - Page 6A

Dr. Laura's 'N-word' aftermath

Media group calls for advertiser boycott, posts full transcript online

Bobbi Booker Tribune Staff Writer Joe Sestak On Aug. 10, radio talk show host Dr. Laura Schlessinger launched into a racially charged rant during a live broadcasting of a five-minute-long rant in which she used the N-word 11 times. Schlessinger has since apologized for her remarks, but audio from the discus- Pat Toomey Mosque - Page 4A Laura Schlessinger

INSIDE BUSINESS

Siglo's Expanding

While others are hurting, this jewelry store is growing. Page

1B sion appears to have been excised from the recording of that day's show that appears on Schlessinger's website. According to her site, "The Dr. Laura Program," now in its 16th year of syndication, boast 8.25 million weekly listeners in over 40 countries on over 250 radio stations. While Schlessinger's media reach is sizeable, so was the outrage to her cal- lous comments. Media Matters for America President Eric Burns called for an advertiser's boycott after Schlessinger's racist outburst on the air. "Dr. Laura's offensive outburst provided listeners with a window into her true beliefs about race in America, said Burns in a statement. "By deliberately choosing to sponsor her program, Dr. Laura's advertisers are not only funding her offensive radio show, but are implicitly endorsing its content. Companies must demonstrate that they Laura - Page 6A The Philadelphia Tribune, a reflection of you. The Philadelphia Tribune

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