Iraqi security adviser says country will insist on timetable for withdrawal of American troops

Iraq's national security adviser said Tuesday his country will not accept any security deal with the United States unless it contains specific dates for the withdrawal of U.S.-led forces.

The comments by Mouwaffak al-Rubaie were the strongest yet by an Iraqi official about the deal now under negotiation with U.S. officials. They came a day after Iraq's prime minister first said publicly that he expects the pending troop deal with the United States to have some type of timetable for withdrawal.

U.S. President George W. Bush has said he opposes a timetable. The White House said Monday it did not believe al-Maliki was proposing a rigid timeline for U.S. troop …

New Duluth, Minn., pharmacy severs ties to all insurance companies.

By Peter Passi, Duluth News-Tribune, Minn. Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News

Dec. 11--You can question Sean Kacsir's business judgment, but not his chutzpah.

It takes guts for a pharmacy to sever all ties to insurance companies at a time when insurers have their hands in about 90 percent of all prescription drug transactions.

Yet Kacsir, president of MedSave Discount Pharmacy, did just that earlier this week by opening Duluth, Minn.'s first cash-only drugstore.

His business at 210 N. Sixth Ave. E., formerly part of the Medicine Shoppe chain, no longer will wrestle with insurance forms or wait weeks for claims to be processed. Kacsir said the upshot for customers will be lower prices, particularly for generic drugs.

The new business model has enabled Kacsir to slash his pharmacy's operating costs by about 50 percent. The store operates with a fraction of the …

New Duluth, Minn., pharmacy severs ties to all insurance companies.

By Peter Passi, Duluth News-Tribune, Minn. Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News

Dec. 11--You can question Sean Kacsir's business judgment, but not his chutzpah.

It takes guts for a pharmacy to sever all ties to insurance companies at a time when insurers have their hands in about 90 percent of all prescription drug transactions.

Yet Kacsir, president of MedSave Discount Pharmacy, did just that earlier this week by opening Duluth, Minn.'s first cash-only drugstore.

His business at 210 N. Sixth Ave. E., formerly part of the Medicine Shoppe chain, no longer will wrestle with insurance forms or wait weeks for claims to be processed. Kacsir said the upshot for customers will be lower prices, particularly for generic drugs.

The new business model has enabled Kacsir to slash his pharmacy's operating costs by about 50 percent. The store operates with a fraction of the …

HEalth industry debates payment breakdown for uninsured

Charles Inlander's voice filled with anger as he discussed how hospitals treat patients who struggle with medical bills. The consumer advocate believes the system is skewed against people who cannot afford insurance.

"No one pays the retail price except for the uninsured," said Inlander, president of the People's Medical Society in Allentown.

Hospitals nationwide are facing increasing criticism for not doing enough to help uninsured patients who cannot pay their bills. At a federal hearing in late June, lawmakers heard testimony that uninsured people often get stuck paying more for hospital services than their insured counterparts. They also heard about the aggressive …

NASSER, BILL FORD GET WHAT THEY WANT.(William Clay Ford Jr., Jac Nasser)

When William Clay Ford Jr. and Jac Nasser inked their first deal together, they both got what they wanted.

With the purchase of Volvo Cars, Chairman Bill Ford advances his campaign to put a socially responsible, green face on Ford Motor Co. Simultaneously, Ford president Nasser accelerates his global growth strategy by creating a trio of luxury brands with worldwide marketing clout.

Bill Ford and Nasser are spending $6.45 billion of the company's $24 billion cash horde to pursue their corporate game plan. That leaves enough in the checkbook to continue shopping.

Even as he announced the Volvo deal on day 28 of his administration, CEO Nasser held out the possibility of more acquisitions.

"It's a very good time to be expanding the business. We're very eager to look at any opportunity that makes good sense for us," he said. But, he cautioned, any potential deal has to fit Ford's culture, brand strategy and geographic needs. …

Noteworthy.(Capital Region)

Easter egg hunt

The town Department for Youth Services and Recreation and the East Greenbush Youth Commission will sponsor Easter egg hunt activities with support from Columbia High School beginning 10:30 a.m. on March 31 at East Greenbush Town Park. Participants need to bring their own bags or baskets for egg collection. For more information, call 477-4194.

Summer camp jobs

The North Greenbush Youth Department is accepting applications for …

INDICTMENTS DISMISSED AGAINST TOOLS WORKERS.(Main)

Byline: Dean Betz Staff writer

Indictments have been thrown out against four employees of a formerdrug-counseling center in East Greenbush, and major counts against three others have been dismissed.

Citing flaws in a complex case involving Tools Project Inc., Albany County Court Judge Thomas W. Keegan last Thursday

dismissed 20 of the 100 counts handed up in October 1988, including some of the most serious felony charges. The case had been presented to a grand jury by the state attorney general's office.

About four months ago, the judge dismissed four counts of grand larceny, according to Albany attorney Stephen R. Coffey, who represents the three defendants still facing charges.

"We're both happy and somewhat disappointed. We were hoping that the whole indictment would be …

Tournament official says Tiger Woods intends to play at Buick Open

Tiger Woods intends to play in this year's Buick Open and will host a golf clinic at Comerica Park in Detroit on June 24, two days before the tournament begins.

Buick golf …