| Key witness admits lying often in past
The defense attorney for John J. Hamilton Jr., the former Asbury Park city councilman on trial on federal corruption charges, came out swinging Thursday morning as he repeatedly asked the government's star witness if he ever lied. Time after time, Robert "Duke" Steffer answered "yes." "Have you ever lied to a bank to get a mortgage?" Hamilton's attorney, Michael Baldassare, asked. "Yes," Steffer answered. Baldassare then asked if Steffer lied to get a credit card, lied to his insurance company and lied on loan applications to get at least four autos. Steffer answered yes to all those questions. "Did you ever lie to the U.S. Attorney's Office?" Baldassare asked. "No," Steffer sternly replied. Baldassare pointed out that revelations about the mortgage on Steffer's home, the cars and the credit cards were all things learned by federal authorities in recent days.
Card-activated fuel pump gets airport board OK
MARSHALL � The Marshall Airport Board made one decision Tuesday that might keep Brooks Field Airport operable in the absence of a fixed-base operator. Installing a credit-card-activated fueling pump would allow pilots to land and fuel their planes while bringing in revenue to an airport that has lost money steadily during the past decade. The board voted to use entitlement funds to pay for a credit-card-activated fueling pump if the city can get the local match outside of city funds. Board vice-chairman Bill Ross cast the lone dissenting vote. .
Bankrupt nonprofit has debt of nearly $900K
BROCKTON� Brockton Family and Community Resources Inc. owes its creditors nearly $900,000, including several years worth of back taxes and nearly one year of unpaid rent, according to bankruptcy court records.The nonprofit social service agency, which serves survivors of trauma and violence, has sought bankruptcy protection after failing to pay its employee payroll taxes for 2004, 2005 and part of 2006.The agency owes roughly $614,000 to the IRS in back taxes, according to its Chapter 11 filing at the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Boston.Agency attorney David B. Madoff of Foxboro said this debt is the reason for the bankruptcy filing.But records show that the agency has other significant debts as well, including roughly $64,000 in unpaid state payroll taxes and nearly one year's worth of unpaid rent.The agency owes just more than $67,000 to the landlord for its building at 9 Belmont St., according to court records.The landlord, Guerreiro & Bota Inc., declined to comment Thursday.The $6,000-per-month rent for the Belmont Street building is the main reason the agency is moving today to its former location at 18 Newton St., Madoff said.
Farm Bill Advances In Congress
WASHINGTON -- As Congress moves closer to adoption of the 2007 Farm Bill, Arkansas farmers are preparing to fight again a decades-long battle over subsidy payments.The legislation to reauthorize the nation's agriculture programs advanced from the Senate's agriculture committee last week and headed to the Senate floor, where a showdown along geographical lines is expected.Midwest senators are expected to try to reduce the amount of government money eligible to farmers. Southern lawmakers are opposed, contending that crops like cotton and rice are more costly to produce and deserve the funding.Arkansas Agriculture Secretary Richard Bell said southern growers had sacrificed enough during negotiations for this year's version of the Farm Bill, which is typically renewed every five years.Both the House and Senate versions of the bill eliminate the "three-entity rule," which allowed for additional subsidy payments for farmers in business partnerships; and toughen income limits for payment eligibility."I don't want to have any more concessions," said Bell, a former chairman of Riceland Foods, and former official at the U.S.
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