The Pueblo Chieftain - Newseumwebmedia.newseum.org/newseum-multimedia/tfp... · Supreme Court...
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400 gather to protest health reform. Business Classified Comics Entertainment Funerals Life Metro/Region Opinion Sports TV WEATHER DETAILS, 5C INDEX 28 pages, 4 sections 1B 5C 3B 7A 2C 5A 1C 4A 1D 8A 96/59 www.chieftain.com FRIDAY, AUGUST 7, 2009 142 YEARS, STILL ON THE JOB PUEBLO, COLORADO VOL. 142 ■ NO. 68 ■ 50¢ The Pueblo Chieftain Tea party INSIDE TODAY 1C Partly Sunny ★★ May vary outside Pueblo Tighten up Pack coach back in trenches with tight ends. 1D Log on to get the latest news and features from The Pueblo Chieftain online department. Congress OKs $2B refill of ‘cash for clunkers’ By DAVID ESPO THE ASSOCIATED PRESS ________________________________________ WASHINGTON — Pedal to the metal, Con- gress sent President Barack Obama legislation Thursday night with an additional $2 billion for ‘‘cash for clunkers,’’ the eco- n o m y - boosting re- bate program that caught the fancy of car buyers and instantly increased sales for an auto industry long mired in recession. The Senate approved the money on a 60-37 vote after administration officials said an initial $1 billion had run out in only 10 days. The House voted last week to keep alive the program, which gives consumers up to $4,500 in federal subsi- dies if they trade in their cars for new, more energy-efficient models. Without action, law- makers risked a wave of voter discontent as they left the Capitol for a monthlong vacation. ‘‘Cash for clunkers has been a proven success,’’ Obama said in a written statement issued shortly after the vote. ‘‘The initial transactions are gen- _________________________________________ SEE CLUNKERS, 3A ________________ RELATED STORY, PAGE 1B ________________ Postal Service seeks end to Saturday mail delivery By CARRIE WELLS McCLATCHY-TRIBUNE _____________________________________________ WASHINGTON — U.S. Postal Service plans to cut billions of dollars in losses, would like to end regular Saturday mail delivery and reduce health benefits to re- tired postal workers, officials warned Congress on Thursday. The Postal Service lost $2.4 billion in the last quarter and estimates it will lose $7 billion this fiscal year. ‘‘Our situation is more tenuous than ever,’’ Postmas- ter General John E. Potter told a hearing of the Senate Homeland Security and Gov- ernmental Affairs Federal Fi- nancial Management Subcommittee. As a result, he suggested cutting Saturday service, ex- plaining, ‘‘It is the lowest- volume delivery day, but with the same level of fixed costs as other delivery days.’’ What’s more, he said, ‘‘Most business and professional of- fices are open Monday through Friday, with many closed on Saturday.’’ The Postal Service, which has been battered by the re- cession and a loss of custom- ers to the Internet, faces a $700 million cash shortfall by the end of the fiscal year, Sept. 30. On the same day, a payment of up to $5.8 billion for retirees’ health benefits comes due. Congress is considering legislation that would delay the health benefits payment. ‘‘If the legislation is not passed, we will not make the payment,’’ Potter said. Killing Saturday delivery would save the agency $3 bil- lion a year, he said. Six-day- a-week delivery was mandat- ed in the Postal Account- ability and Enhancement Act of 2006, however, and ending Saturday delivery would be controversial. Senators vowed to help the 234-year-old institution, but some said they opposed Saturday cuts. ‘‘Is this really the right re- sponse to this crisis?’’ asked Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine. ‘‘The Postal Service cannot expect to gain more business if it is reducing service.’’ AP PHOTO/MARY ALTAFFER Supreme Court Justice designate Sonia Sotomayor waves as she leaves Manhattan Federal Court in New York on Thursday. Sotomayor wins confirmation __________________________________________________ Senate vote is 68-31 with unanimous support from Democrats. __________________________________________________ By JULIE HIRSCHFELD DAVIS THE ASSOCIATED PRESS ___________________________________________________ WASHINGTON — Sonia So- tomayor won confirmation Thursday as the nation’s first Hispanic Supreme Court justice, a history-making Senate vote that capped a summer-long de- bate heavy with ethnic politics and hints of high court fights to come. The third woman in court his- tory, she’ll be sworn in Saturday as the 111th justice and the first nominated by a Democrat in 15 years. The Senate vote was 68-31 to confirm Sotomayor, President Barack Obama’s first Supreme Court nominee, with Democrats unanimously behind her but most Republicans lining up in a show of opposition both for her and for the president’s standards for a justice. The 55-year-old daughter of Puerto Rican parents was raised in a South Bronx housing project and educated in the Ivy League before rising to the highest legal echelons, spending the past 17 years as a federal judge. ___________________________________________________ SEE SOTOMAYOR, 3A CHIEFTAIN PHOTO/JOHN JAQUES Erna Schulzkump, a resident at the Trinidad State Nursing Home, is surrounded by her daughter, Carol Ortega, and her son-in-law, Steve Ortega, after she was named the 2009 Colorado State Fair Silver Queen. Trinidad woman is Silver Queen _______________________________________ An avid crocheter, Erna Schulzkump says to think of the future. _______________________________________ By JAMES AMOS THE PUEBLO CHIEFTAIN ________________________________________ Busy, thoughtful and — as of Thursday — very humbled, Erna Schulz- kump was named the 2009 Silver Queen. The 92-year-old resident of the Trinidad State Nursing Home said she’s never been nominat- ed for the contest before. But as she sat Thurs- day afternoon, robed in silver and with a crown and bouquet of roses, Schulzkump said she was deeply moved. “I’m so honored,” she said. “I’ve very surprised and very honored.” This was the 35th year for the contest, which is an early part of the Colo- rado State Fair. The first runner-up was Mavis Kerr, 95, of the Arkansas Valley Regional Medical Center Nursing Care Center in La Junta. The second runner-up was Lucy Grant, 93, of the Westwind Campus of Care facility in Pueblo. A tie for the third runner-up position was shared by Billie Carter, 90, of the Chateau at Sharmar Village in Pueb- lo, and Annemarie Keller, 96, of the Belmont Lodge in Pueblo. Schulzkump was one of 14 nominees vying for the crown. They were judged on appearance, in- terview, talent, personali- ty and other traits Thursday morning. Schulzkump’s talent is crocheting and other crafts. She said she showed an afghan, table- cloth, baby blanket and heavy sweater that she had crocheted. She also brought some of her nee- dlepoint and embroidery work to show what she can do with her hands. Crochet hasn’t been a lifelong pastime for the Nebraska native. She said she learned how 20 years ago by reading a book and teaching herself. “They showed how it could be done and I followed it,” she said. The large number of crochet and other needle- arts projects are gifts for her family, she said. She has two daughters, three grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Schulzkump said she truly loves living at the Trinidad nursing home. And she offered advice for others. “Think of the future and forget the past,” she said with a smile. “And I have a lot of faith in the dear Lord.” [email protected] Pueblo Hispanics applaud confirmation By PETER ROPER THE PUEBLO CHIEFTAIN ___________________________________________________ When he joined in voting to confirm Sonia Sotomayor as a justice for the Supreme Court, New Jersey Sen. Robert Menen- dez told his Senate colleagues that “an anxious Hispanic com- munity” was watching the histor- ic decision Thursday. Menendez seemed to be de- scribing the Pueblo Hispanic community as well, according to reactions gathered Thursday. Chief District Judge Dennis Maes, who has been a lawyer and judge for 37 years, called Soto- mayor’s confirmation “monumental.” “For those of us who have Dennis Maes Carla Barela Al Gurule Joyce Vigil ___________________________________________________ SEE PUEBLO, 3A
Transcript of The Pueblo Chieftain - Newseumwebmedia.newseum.org/newseum-multimedia/tfp... · Supreme Court...
400 gather to
protest health
reform.
BusinessClassifiedComicsEntertainmentFunerals
LifeMetro/RegionOpinionSportsTV
WEATHER
DETAILS, 5C
INDEX
28 pages, 4 sections
1B5C3B7A2C
5A1C4A1D8A96/59
www.chieftain.com
FRIDAY, AUGUST 7, 2009142 YEARS, STILL ON THE JOB PUEBLO, COLORADOVOL. 142 ■ NO. 68 ■ 50¢
The Pueblo Chieftain
Tea partyINSIDE TODAY
1C
Partly Sunny
★★
May vary outside Pueblo
Tighten upPack coach
back in
trenches with
tight ends. 1D
Log on to get the latestnews and features fromThe Pueblo Chieftainonline department.
Congress OKs $2B refill of ‘cash for clunkers’By DAVID ESPOTHE ASSOCIATED PRESS________________________________________
WASHINGTON —Pedal to the metal, Con-gress sent PresidentBarack Obama legislationThursday night with anadditional $2 billion for
‘ ‘ c a s h f o rc l u n k e r s , ’ ’t h e e c o -n o m y -boosting re-bate program that caughtthe fancy of car buyersand instantly increasedsales for an auto industry
long mired in recession.The Senate approved
the money on a 60-37vote after administrationofficials said an initial $1billion had run out inonly 10 days. The Housevoted last week to keepalive the program, which
gives consumers up to$4,500 in federal subsi-dies if they trade in theircars for new, moreenergy-efficient models.
Without action, law-makers risked a wave ofvoter discontent as theyleft the Capitol for a
monthlong vacation.‘‘Cash for clunkers has
been a proven success,’’Obama said in a writtenstatement issued shortlyafter the vote. ‘‘The initialtransactions are gen-_________________________________________
SEE CLUNKERS, 3A
________________
RELATED STORY,PAGE 1B________________
Postal Serviceseeks endto Saturdaymail deliveryBy CARRIE WELLSMcCLATCHY-TRIBUNE_____________________________________________
WASHINGTON — U.S.Postal Service plans to cutbillions of dollars in losses,would like to end regularSaturday mail delivery andreduce health benefits to re-tired postal workers, officialsw a r n e d C o n g r e s s o nThursday.
The Postal Service lost$2.4 billion in the last quarterand estimates it will lose $7billion this fiscal year.
‘‘Our situation is moretenuous than ever,’’ Postmas-ter General John E. Pottertold a hearing of the SenateHomeland Security and Gov-ernmental Affairs Federal Fi-n a n c i a l M a n a g e m e n tSubcommittee.
As a result, he suggestedcutting Saturday service, ex-plaining, ‘‘It is the lowest-volume delivery day, butwith the same level of fixedcosts as other delivery days.’’What’s more, he said, ‘‘Mostbusiness and professional of-fices are open Mondaythrough Friday, with manyclosed on Saturday.’’
The Postal Service, whichhas been battered by the re-cession and a loss of custom-ers to the Internet, faces a$700 million cash shortfall bythe end of the fiscal year,Sept. 30. On the same day, apayment of up to $5.8 billionfor retirees’ health benefitscomes due.
Congress is consideringlegislation that would delaythe health benefits payment.
‘‘If the legislation is notpassed, we will not make thepayment,’’ Potter said.
Killing Saturday deliverywould save the agency $3 bil-lion a year, he said. Six-day-a-week delivery was mandat-ed in the Postal Account-ability and Enhancement Actof 2006, however, and endingSaturday delivery would becontroversial.
Senators vowed to helpthe 234-year-old institution,but some said they opposedSaturday cuts.
‘‘Is this really the right re-sponse to this crisis?’’ askedSen. Susan Collins, R-Maine.‘‘The Postal Service cannotexpect to gain more businessif it is reducing service.’’
AP PHOTO/MARY ALTAFFER
Supreme Court Justice designate Sonia Sotomayor waves as she leavesManhattan Federal Court in New York on Thursday.
Sotomayor wins confirmation__________________________________________________
Senate vote is 68-31 withunanimous support fromDemocrats.__________________________________________________
By JULIE HIRSCHFELD DAVISTHE ASSOCIATED PRESS___________________________________________________
WASHINGTON — Sonia So-tomayor won confirmationThursday as the nation’s firstHispanic Supreme Court justice,a history-making Senate votethat capped a summer-long de-bate heavy with ethnic politicsand hints of high court fights tocome.
The third woman in court his-tory, she’ll be sworn in Saturdayas the 111th justice and the firstnominated by a Democrat in 15years.
The Senate vote was 68-31 toconfirm Sotomayor, PresidentBarack Obama’s first SupremeCourt nominee, with Democrats
unanimously behind her butmost Republicans lining up in ashow of opposition both for herand for the president’s standardsfor a justice.
The 55-year-old daughter ofPuerto Rican parents was raised
in a South Bronx housing projectand educated in the Ivy Leaguebefore rising to the highest legalechelons, spending the past 17years as a federal judge. ___________________________________________________
SEE SOTOMAYOR, 3A
CHIEFTAIN PHOTO/JOHN JAQUES
Erna Schulzkump, a resident at the Trinidad State Nursing Home, is surrounded by her daughter, Carol Ortega, and her son-in-law, Steve Ortega, after shewas named the 2009 Colorado State Fair Silver Queen.
Trinidad woman is Silver Queen_______________________________________
An avid crocheter,Erna Schulzkumpsays to think of thefuture._______________________________________
By JAMES AMOSTHE PUEBLO CHIEFTAIN________________________________________
Busy, thoughtful and — as of Thursday — veryhumbled, Erna Schulz-kump was named the2009 Silver Queen.
T h e 9 2 - y e a r - o l d
resident of the TrinidadState Nursing Home saidshe’s never been nominat-ed for the contest before.
But as she sat Thurs-day afternoon, robed insilver and with a crownand bouquet of roses,Schulzkump said she wasdeeply moved.
“I’m so honored,” shesaid. “I’ve very surprisedand very honored.”
This was the 35th yearfor the contest, which isan early part of the Colo-rado State Fair.
The first runner-upwas Mavis Kerr, 95, of theArkansas Valley Regional
Medical Center NursingCare Center in La Junta.
The second runner-upwas Lucy Grant, 93, of theWestwind Campus ofCare facility in Pueblo.
A tie for the thirdrunner-up position wasshared by Billie Carter,90, of the Chateau atSharmar Village in Pueb-lo, and Annemarie Keller,96, of the Belmont Lodgein Pueblo.
Schulzkump was oneof 14 nominees vying forthe crown. They werejudged on appearance, in-terview, talent, personali-ty and other t ra i t s
Thursday morning.Schulzkump’s talent is
crocheting and othercrafts. She said sheshowed an afghan, table-cloth, baby blanket andheavy sweater that shehad crocheted. She alsobrought some of her nee-dlepoint and embroiderywork to show what shecan do with her hands.
Crochet hasn’t been alifelong pastime for theNebraska native. She saidshe learned how 20 yearsago by reading a book andteaching herself.
“They showed how itcould be done and I
followed it,” she said.The large number of
crochet and other needle-arts projects are gifts forher family, she said. Shehas two daughters, threegrandchildren and sixgreat-grandchildren.
Schulzkump said shetruly loves living at theTrinidad nursing home.
And she offered advicefor others.
“Think of the futureand forget the past,” shesaid with a smile. “And Ihave a lot of faith in thedear Lord.” [email protected]
Pueblo Hispanicsapplaud confirmation
By PETER ROPERTHE PUEBLO CHIEFTAIN___________________________________________________
When he joined in voting toconfirm Sonia Sotomayor as ajustice for the Supreme Court,New Jersey Sen. Robert Menen-dez told his Senate colleaguesthat “an anxious Hispanic com-munity” was watching the histor-ic decision Thursday.
Menendez seemed to be de-scribing the Pueblo Hispaniccommunity as well, according toreactions gathered Thursday.
Chief District Judge DennisMaes, who has been a lawyer andjudge for 37 years, called Soto-m a y o r ’ s c o n f i r m a t i o n“monumental.”
“For those of us who have
DennisMaes
CarlaBarela
AlGurule
JoyceVigil
___________________________________________________
SEE PUEBLO, 3A
