THE POST-STANDARD

Central NY Local News from The Post-Standard Daily Newspaper

• City man's 1-minute film up for award
Sean Cunningham's minute-long film promoting New York looks like a different world from the glitz and glamour of New York City.

• County may tap merger's architect
The Clay supervisor who persuaded his constituents and Onondaga County officials to merge the town Police Department with the Sheriff's Office is in line for one of the county's top jobs.

• Syracuse finds that it's $4,844 richer
A $33 check payable to the city of Syracuse sat unclaimed in a Sears Roebuck & Co. account for 41 years.

• Darius gets assist for McKinnon starting
Syracuse University free safety Randy McKinnon walks on hallowed ground and wears the emperor's clothes. The sophomore from Jacksonville, Fla., was dispatched here by Donovin Darius, whose recommendation and guidance have delivered an unsuspecting starter.

• Learn to play like a champion golfer
Back in my football coaching days, I used to say that the only thing we learn from losing is how to lose, and as long as they keep score, I want to be the victor, not the victim.

• Furlong has been king of Classic
No race driver has been more dominant in long-distance championship events than Greg Furlong has been in the Budweiser Classic 200.

• Big-Ticket Orders Increase
Washington - U.S. factories saw a surprisingly hefty increase in their orders for big-ticket products in July, reflecting continued strength in export sales and a boost to business investment from the government's tax stimulus package.

• Closed funds still collect marketing fees
U.S. mutual fund companies collect $12 billion per year in fees for their funds. And some $442 million of this - or about 3.5 percent of the total - comes at funds that are closed to new investors - charges that are assessed even though the funds no longer need to cover marketing and distribution costs to attract and begin serving new customers, according to a study published Wednesday by Standard & Poor's.

• National Grid outlines energy-efficiency plans
National Grid has proposed spending $85 million over the coming three years on energy-efficiency programs to be paid for by its electric and gas customers.

• Not Her, Not Yet
"The suffrage victory we have just won . . . proves conclusively that 'labor conquers all things,' " said Miss Harriet May Mills happily. . . .

• Post-Standard Letter
How to make Liverpool school board accountable

• Post-Standard Letter
Hunters are not granted God-given right to kill

• Teens Rate the Midway Rides
About a million people will go to the New York State Fair this year, viewing more than 375 acres of animals, displays and exhibits.

• Night of the Pop Stars
Vanessa Hudgens had a colorful backdrop with one word splashed across it - "Vground."

• Metropolitan Opera announces hi-def theater schedule
If you can't make it to the Metropolitan Opera in New York City, its performances will come to you September through May at Regal Carousel Stadium 17 in Syracuse and Regal Cinemas Ithaca Mall Stadium 14.

• Dual Dreams
A moment in time that unfolded nine years before London Ladd was born just might be changing his life now.

• No classes, no cable and a kitchen-ful of produce
Whenever I’m in the kitchen assembling a meal, my dog saunters over and lies by my feet. It’s not because he thinks I’m going to give him scraps, because I don’t (hey, vet, are you reading?), but because if I’m making a fuss in the kitchen, it must mean it’s canine suppertime.

• Beef Up Back to School
Most schools in Central New York reopen for the fall next week.