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GM, Ford to collaborate on new transmissions |
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Written by TOM KRISHER, AP Auto Writer
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Monday, 15 April 2013 05:55 |
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DETROIT (AP) — General Motors and Ford are putting aside their longstanding rivalry to work together to develop a new generation of fuel-efficient automatic transmissions.
The companies said Monday that their engineers will jointly design nine- and 10-speed transmissions that will go into many of their new cars and trucks.
When transmissions have more gears, engines don't have to work as hard. That saves fuel. As long as the shifting is smooth, most customers don't give much thought to their transmissions.
The fierce rivals, which rank first and second in U.S. auto sales, say they'll save millions of dollars that can be spent on areas that set them apart from other automakers such as quieter rides and nicer interiors.
Neither would estimate exactly how much they'll save, but each said transmissions cost hundreds of millions of dollars to develop. The more gears a transmission has, the more complex and costly it is to develop and build.
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GOP super donor Bob Perry of Texas dies at 80 |
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Written by PAUL J. WEBER & WILL WEISSERT, Associated Press
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Monday, 15 April 2013 05:33 |
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AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Republican mega-donor Bob Perry never cared for the spotlight. But writing big checks and financing one of the most famous television ads ever in a presidential campaign made the Texas millionaire famous nonetheless.
A wealthy Houston homebuilder who shunned publicity while generously bankrolling GOP candidates — and becoming a force in a new era of lavish spending in American politics — Perry died over the weekend, said former Texas state Rep. Neal Jones, a close family friend.
Jones said late Sunday that Perry died "peacefully in his sleep" Saturday night. He did not offer further details.
"Mr. Perry was a wonderful friend to many all around the United States," Jones said. "With his passing we've lost a great patriot who has made a great difference in the lives of people all across the land. He will be sorely missed."
Perry was a fixture of GOP fundraising in Texas — and nationally — dating back to former President George W. Bush's Texas gubernatorial races in the mid-1990s. His largesse included giving $4.4 million in 2004 to the Swift Boat Veterans campaign that sought to discredit then-Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry.
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Colorado jury finds helmet maker Riddell negligent |
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Written by CATHERINE TSAI, Associated Press
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Monday, 15 April 2013 05:50 |
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DENVER (AP) — A Colorado jury in a lawsuit brought by the family of a severely injured high school football player has found that helmet maker Riddell was negligent in failing to warn players about concussion dangers.
Saturday's ruling comes as the company faces a similar lawsuit in Los Angeles, plus a complaint by thousands of former NFL players against the league and Riddell.
The jury awarded $11.5 million to the family of Rhett Ridolfi, who suffered a concussion during practice at Trinidad High School in 2008. Ridolfi, now 22, wasn't immediately taken to the hospital and now has severe brain damage, as well as paralysis on his left side.
The lawsuit was originally brought against Riddell and several high school administrators and football coaches in Las Animas County, about 200 miles south of Denver near the New Mexico border. The jury assessed 27 percent of the fault for Ridolfi's injuries to Riddell, making the company responsible for paying $3.1 million of the damages.
Three people reached confidential settlements before Saturday's verdict, but two coaches were still defendants at the trial. Ridolfi's lawyer, Frank Azar, said Sunday that he'll ask a judge to find Riddell responsible for paying all $11.5 million in damages.
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AP Exclusive: Likely tax cheats flock South, West |
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Written by STEPHEN OHLEMACHER, Associated Press
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Sunday, 14 April 2013 11:38 |
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WASHINGTON (AP) — Worried the Internal Revenue Service might target you for an audit? You probably should be if you own a small business in one of the wealthy suburbs of Los Angeles.
You might also be wary if you're a small-business owner in one of dozens of communities near San Francisco, Houston, Atlanta or the District of Columbia.
A new study by the National Taxpayer Advocate used confidential IRS data to show large clusters of potential tax cheats in these five metropolitan areas. The IRS uses the information to target taxpayers for audits.
The taxpayer advocate, Nina Olsen, runs an independent office within the IRS. She got access to the data as part of an effort to learn more about why some taxpayers are more likely to cheat than others.
The study also looked at tax compliance in different industries, and found that people who own construction companies or real estate rental firms may be more likely to fudge their taxes than business owners in other fields.
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