CORE-Illinois ACTION ALLERT!

CORE-ILLINOIS MAY 21, 2010 Quick Links CORE-ILLINOIS.ORG FIND YOUR LEGISLATOR   Join Our Mailing List Dear Fred,     Springfield:  The Democrat majority in the Illinois House of Representatives on Tuesday passed a budget bill in the House, the Senate is expected to vote on the bill today or early tomorrow and send it onto Governor Quinn for his signature. At this point it appears that the political budget designed to be the least painful for Democrat legislators running for election this fall.  Republicans continues to be excluded from the process, but be highly critical of the outcome, saying it will only push Illinois problems into next year.     Christopher Wills of the Associated Press filed this article regarding the budget as it stands tonight.    At this point it appears that higher education will be cut by about 5%, the Department of Children and Family Services will be cut by about 25%.  The budget allows the Governor to continue to cut/decrease funding at his discretion.   As Illinois Partners for Human Services put it:   "Under this budget no human service organization will know about contracts to take affect July 1 for several more weeks, thereby dumping the costs of a quick shut down on the community, clients and staff The Governor will be able to cut budgets at any time There is no solution to late payments; they are simply kicked further down the road  There is no comprehensive solution to inadequate human services funding. This is not an acceptable budget!"   However, as of this writing the Senate has not passed the bill, the hang up appears to be the borrowing authority to pay the 4 billion for pension payments.  There is a group of Democrat legislators who are apposed, and without Republican assistance the Democrat majority can not pass the bill.  Doug Finke of the State Journal Register posted this article at 7:30pm this evening (5/26).   Sincerely,     John Reese Bill Johnson CORE-Illinois COREILLINOIS@AOL.COM   CORE-Illinois     401 Sangamon Ave. Springfield, Illinois 62702 CORE-Illinois  1-217-544-1251       Email Marketing by CORE-Illinois | 401 Sangamon Ave. | Springfield | IL | 62702

Stossel digs deeper in attempt to defend his attack on Civil Rights Act http://mediamatters.org/research/201005260072 John Stossel continues to defend his argument that the sections of the Civil Rights Act outlawing discrimination by private businesses should be repealed, arguing that discrimination by businesses would have disappeared if not for Jim Crow laws. In fact, long after the repeal of Jim Crow, the Department of Justice continues to file discrimination cases against private businesses. Stossel defends his claim that portions of the Civil Rights Act should be repealed  Stossel calls for repeal of public accommodations section of Civil Rights Act. On the May 20 edition of Fox News' America Live, John Stossel said that "it's time now to repeal" the public accommodations section of the Civil Rights Act "because private business ought to get to discriminate."  Stossel defended his claim by citing early 20th century companies that were forced to discriminate by Jim Crow laws. In a May 25 FoxBusiness.com blog post, Stossel wrote: "When private companies didn't segregate - many thought it was bad business -- governments forced them to. ... That government-enforced racism is why eight out of ten provisions in the Civil Rights Act were so necessary. But two other provisions -- which ban private companies from discriminating -- are a mistake. They violate individuals' freedom to decide with whom to associate, and what to do with one's own property. Those two provisions were unnecessary. As I noted earlier on my blog, many private companies in the South were eager to serve Blacks." In a blog post earlier that day, Stossel said that the free market is "color-blind. Businesses want to make money, and they do that best by serving customers of all races. Eventually, inclusive businesses grow, and racists go broke." Stossel cited examples of early-20th century companies that reportedly wanted to serve African Americans but were precluded from doing so by Jim Crow laws:  Many private businesses objected to government-forced segregation. In the Journal of Economic History, Economic Historian Jennifer Roebuck pointed out that street car companies wanted to serve Blacks. When the State of Florida forced transportation companies to segregate races in 1905, the Florida Times-Union reported: [I]t was passed by the Legislature much against the will of the streetcar companies operating in the state... the streetcar company in this city has always accorded to the colored people who have patronized their lines the most careful and generous treatment... it is thought that there will be no concerted efforts on the part of the colored people of Jacksonville to boycott the streetcars. Blacks boycotted the railroad anyway. So a competing company built new lines that served mostly blacks and seated them in front, whites in the back. The market partially got around the racist Jim Crow law in that case. In another case from 1902, Mobile, Alabama, passed a segregation law that the Mobile Light and Railroad Company "flat out refused to enforce." Enter the fist of government: On November 1 [1902], the police chief wrote to the president of the Mobile Light and Railroad Company, advising him that the ordinance would be enforced by the police force if necessary... One of [the company's] conductors was arrested and fined on December 12. The Savannah Tribune, a black newspaper, reported in 1899 that: "We have always said that the railroad officials are not anxious to carry into effect the unjust laws passed by the several states requiring separate cars for the races."  The free market is naturally color-blind. Businesses want to make money, and they do that best by serving customers of all races. Eventually, inclusive businesses grow, and racists go broke. Racist Southern governments hated integration, so they used government force to make companies segregate. Eight out of ten provisions in the Civil Rights Act struck down those horrible Jim Crow laws. But the other two provisions are a mistake. They violate individuals' freedom to decide with whom to associate. But alleged violations of public accommodations section continue to occur long after the repeal of Jim Crow laws  The Civil Rights Act of 1964 and federal court decisions effectively ended racially discriminatory Jim Crow laws in the South. Congress passed the Civil Rights Act of 1964, prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, or national origin in employment, by various businesses, and in some state programs. Title II of that Act specifically prohibits businesses that are open to the general public from discriminating against consumers based on these criteria. The statute also authorized the Attorney General to file lawsuits against state laws that discriminated on those bases. The Civil Rights Act, along with the 1954 Supreme Court decision in Brown v. Board of Education and subsequent cases, effectively repealed Jim Crow laws across the South. Even after the end of Jim Crow, many companies challenged the constitutionality of the public accommodations section of the Act, and many were sued under that section. After the Civil Rights Act of 1964, companies that discriminated against blacks challenged the constitutionality of the public accommodations section, arguing that they should be allowed to continue discriminating. A few examples are below: Heart of Atlanta Motel, Inc. v. United States: The owner of an Atlanta motel had a policy of refusing to rent rooms to blacks and filed a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the public accommodations section of the Civil Rights Act. In 1964, the U.S. Supreme Court held that the public accommodations section was in fact constitutional. Katzenbach v. McClung: In a companion case to Heart of Atlanta Motel, the owners of an Alabama restaurant that discriminated against blacks filed a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the public accommodation section of the Civil Rights Act as applied to restaurants. The Supreme Court again upheld the constitutionality of the statute. Newman v. Piggie Park Enterprises: Piggie Park Enterprises, Inc. owned five drive-in restaurants and a sandwich shop which all discriminated against blacks. The victims brought a class action suit under the public accommodations section. The lower court granted an injunction to the plaintiffs, but denied them attorney's fees. In 1969 the Supreme Court held that -- if the plaintiff wins an injunction -- they should normally be awarded attorney's fees. Daniel v. Paul: In this case, a privately owned recreational area denied admissions to blacks. In 1969, the Supreme Court held that the recreational area was a public accommodation within the meaning of the Civil Riights Act under Title II and that the Civil Rights Act did not violate the Constitution as applied to the recreational area. Department of Justice continues to file lawsuits alleging violations of public accommodations section by private businesses. Even in the late 20th and early 21st centuries, the Department of Justice continues to investigate and file lawsuits alleging that private businesses are violating the public accommodations section of the Civil Rights Act. In one case, the wife of a federal judge and Secret Service agents accused Denny's of discriminating against black customers: Denny's: In the 1990s, thousands of black customers of Denny's restaurants -- including the wife of a federal judge and Secret Service agents -- filed suit alleging that Denny's discriminated on the basis of race. were discriminating against Black patrons in the 1990s, the United States filed a complaint under Title II. Denny's paid $45 million in damages and "implemented a nationwide program to prevent future discrimination." Marriott International: The DOJ investigated the Marriott International hotel chain for revoking its agreement to host the Midwest Federation of American Syrian-Lebanese Clubs' 2002 convention in the wake of September 11, 2001. The DOJ settled the case on August 15, 2002, making this the first discrimination case resolved post-September 11. Hard Times Cafe: The DOJ settled a case with F&K Management, Inc., doing business as Hard Times Cafe and Santa Fe Cue Club, for discriminating against Sikhs in one of its clubs on September 23, 2001. A collection of many more recent and resolved public accommodation cases can be found on the website of the National Civil Rights organization.  You can help support our work: donate to Media Matters for America.

Crain's Daily News prepared for Top Executives

Viewing on a PDA? Click here.   To view this email in a web browser click here. CHICAGOBUSINESS — POWERED BY CRAIN'S — Daily Business Briefing CRAIN'S LISTS SEND LETTERS TO THE EDITOR MULTIMEDIA COMMERCIAL PROPERTY SEARCH TOP HEADLINES Wednesday, May 26, 2010 · Video: Rents up at downtown apartments · Sonnenschein to combine with UK law firm Denton Wilde · ShoreBank gets new management duo · Northern Trust plans to expand, mulls acquisitions · Hyatt Regency workers back on the job · Boeing gets chunk of $4.4B air traffic contract · Navistar drops plan for Lisle HQ · Ill. House OKs borrowing billions in emergency budget plan · Boeing gets rating boost from influential analyst · Pabst Brewing to be sold to investor for $250 million: report · Auction ordered for development site near Grant Park · Nearly vacant condo tower goes back to lender   CRAIN'S BLOGS · Quinn issues amendatory veto on McPier bill; Obama needs his trip back home: Greg Hinz · An entrepreneur's secret weapon: the alderman; upsides of social-media's open dialogue; how free is free publicity? Enterprise City · Cubs to move games to accommodate Hawks on WGN; Super Bowl in Chicago? More from Bettman: Biz of Sports · In CEO stories of survival, Jamie Dimon boxed, Irene Rosenfeld wore blindfold: Taking Names  Final Markets Dow Jones 9,974.45 -69.30 -0.69% NASDAQ 2,195.88 -15.07 -0.68% Crain's Index 88.45 -0.110 -0.124% » View Other Top Headlines ADVERTISEMENT Cutting Edge Digital Marketing Is Just a Click Away. And it's no longer reserved for the big brands. Because today, there is opportunity in every click, connection & conversation. Oneupweb is here to help you harness it without breaking the bank. See what's new at Oneupweb. OTHER HEADLINES · New king of technology: Apple overtakes Microsoft New York Times · Facebook changes privacy controls CNN · Former Chicago police supt. appointed as Metra watchdog Chicago Sun-Times Crain's Chicago Business | 360 N. Michigan Ave. | Chicago, IL 60601 ADVERTISEMENT TODAY'S FEATURES Chicago Business Today — May 26 Demand for downtown rentals is bucking the usual trend amid high unemployment. Rents are rising at top-tier buildings and the outlook is bright.Read More · Enterprise City — a small-business blog · Society — WTTW gala · 4th annual CANstruction design competition · 40 Under 40 -- Call for Nominations SIGN UP FOR CUSTOM ALERTS Industries Companies   LISTEN LIVE: Traffic, weather and news from our news partner WBBM-AM.

Second Chance Act Grantees Convene for National Conference

Contacts: Martha Plotkin: (240) 482-8579, mplotkin@csg.org Leah Kane: (240) 482-8585, lkane@csg.org May 26, 2010 For Immediate Release Federal Grantees Gather to Advance Public Safety Strategies Second Chance Act Recipients and Other Experts Focus on Improving Prisoner Reentry Washington, DC—Democrat and Republican congressional leaders, reentry experts and representatives of programs receiving federal funding through the Second Chance Act (Public Law 110-199) came together today to share strategies that increase success rates for people released from prisons, jails and juvenile correctional facilities. Reps. Danny Davis (D-IL) and Bobby Scott (D-VA) and Senator Sam Brownback (R-KS) were among the Second Chance Act sponsors who addressed the more than 300 attendees and observers. With support from the Bureau of Justice Assistance, U.S. Department of Justice, this first national conference for Second Chance Act grantees was convened to help front-line professionals learn from experts and peers about approaches in housing, employment, mental health and substance abuse treatment, community supervision and other areas that help support a person's transition from a correctional facility to the community. The Bureau of Justice Statistics reported that in 2008, the most recent available statistics, more than 683,000 people were released from state prisons alone. Prior studies estimate that half would be reincarcerated within three years and that the fastest growing category of prison admissions is people already under some form of community supervision. The U.S. Department of Justice continues to make reentry a priority, as evidenced by the participation of Mary Lou Leary, principal deputy assistant attorney general for the Office of Justice Programs, and Jim Burch, acting director for the Bureau of Justice Assistance. "The work you do here today—and in the months and years to come—will have tremendous visibility throughout the highest levels of the Department of Justice—and the Obama Administration." said Leary in her comments to the experts who are leading the advisory committees on key topics for the National Reentry Resource Center. Leary continued, "Our ability to influence change on the state and local levels depends on the expertise of our partners in the field, and there's no group of people more qualified to guide us than the group assembled in this room." "The Justice Center's National Reentry Resource Center staff and partners hope that this conference will allow reentry grant recipients the opportunity to learn more about the kinds of technical assistance available to them, to share promising strategies with their peers, and learn from subject experts how we can break the cycle of reincarceration and improve outcomes for individuals returning to our communities and their families," said Council of State Governments Justice Center Co-chair and Kansas State Representative Pat Colloton. The conference was designed to build the knowledge base of what works to reduce crime. Many sessions focused on ensuring grantees make the most of the federal investment in their programs by highlighting accountability issues and key practices such as assessing an individual's risk for committing future crimes, designing data-driven programs and effectively allocating the limited resources available for people returning from prisons and jails. Special attention was dedicated to sharing strategies on meeting the unique needs of youth returning to schools and families following a period of detention in a secure facility in an effort to implement programs that interrupt the costly cycle of crime and incarceration. The conference agenda, inclduing the full list of presenters, is available at http://www.nationalreentryresourcecenter.org/documents/0000/0555/Conference_Program.pdf . The National Reentry Resource Center (NRRC) provides education, training, and technical assistance to states, tribes, territories, local governments, service providers, nonprofit organizations, and corrections institutions working on prisoner reentry. The NRRC is coordinated by the Council of State Governments (CSG) Justice Center, with support from the Bureau of Justice Assistance, U.S. Department of Justice (www.ojp.usdoj.gov/BJA). For more information, visit http://www.nationalreentryresourcecenter.org. For more about the CSG Justice Center, see http://www.justicecenter.csg.org. The NRRC was established by the Second Chance Act (Public Law 110-199), which was signed into law on April 9, 2008. The Act was designed to improve outcomes for people returning to communities from prisons and jails. This first-of-its-kind legislation authorizes federal grants to government agencies and nonprofit organizations to provide employment assistance, substance abuse treatment, housing, family programming, mentoring, victims support, and other services that can help reduce recidivism. For more information about the Act, see http://www.nationalreentryresourcecenter.org/about/second-chance-act. The NRRC's work also is directed by the Justice Center's key project partners: the Urban Institute; Association of State Correctional Administrators; American Probation and Parole Association; and Shay Bilchik, research professor/center director, Georgetown University Public Policy Institute. Additional guidance is provided by advisory committees that include representatives of nearly 100 leading nonprofit organizations and service providers in the reentry field.   Our postal address is 100 Wall St 20th Floor New York, New York 10005 United States

ABC7 eNews

>>> Having trouble viewing this newsletter? View as a webpage. Top Stories Wednesday, May 26, 2010 Police: Elderly man fatally shoots intruder | VIDEO An alleged pre-dawn intruder was shot and killed Wednesday by a homeowner on the West Side. Trash-filled home to be cleared by crews | VIDEO Work crews could begin clearing out a garbage-filled home Wednesday, just one day after an elderly couple was found trapped inside. Hyatt union employees return to work Hundreds of workers at Chicago's downtown Hyatt walked off their jobs Wednesday morning in solidarity with union housekeeping staff. Police: 11-year-old missing with boyfriend, 22 An 11-year-old South Side girl is missing, and police believe she may be headed to North Carolina or Mexico. Blago lawyers ask again for trial delay Lawyers for former governor Rod Blagojevich have made another request to delay the start of his corruption trial. Mesa mayor optimistic over deal with the Cubs Mesa's mayor said he is optimistic the city can reach a deal with the Chicago Cubs over a new spring training stadium. MORE STORIES Strange News Teen wins Bob Dylan soundalike contest Frogs close major Greek highway Sleeping woman left on plane in Philly for 4 hours Banned gambler has to give back $2,001 jackpot Some spat-upon NYC bus drivers take months off Consumer Best sunscreens reviewed Walmart to sell iPhone for less than $100 Holiday Inn to test smart phone as room keys Toyota recalls 3,800 Lexus cars for steering fix Alfalfa sprouts recalled after 22 sickened Healthbeat FDA warns of bone fracture with heartburn drugs Teen invents video game diet Second City is 33rd in fitness, health Report: Kids have inadequate access to parks Study: Blood pressure meds use on target MOST POPULAR School, family mourn Dolton honor student Trash-filled home to be cleared by crews Dolton twins charged with human trafficking Police: Elderly man fatally shoots intruder Man throws caustic liquid in woman's face All Most Popular Advertisement TODAY'S WEATHER OUTLOOK 87°F 60°F Very warm and humid with times of clouds and sun; an afternoon shower or thunderstorm around Hour-by-Hour | 7 Day Forecast | Radar & Satellite TONIGHT ON ABC 7:00 PM Transformers 10:00 PM ABC 7 News 10:35 PM Nightline Lottery Results Your Daily Horoscope Help name Shedd's beluga whale You can help give Shedd's baby beluga its name! Vote for your favorite name for the chance to win the Beluga Experience at Shedd Aquarium. Dive in at Shedd Aquarium's oceanarium Meet Shedd's baby beluga! What's in a name? Shedd's picks for the baby beluga PHOTOS: Send ABC7 your Shedd photos! Bakery/cafe stems from Green City Mkt. stand Chicago has dozens of bakeries, but a new Lincoln Park establishment doubles as a café. More from the Hungry Hound SUBSCRIPTION OPTIONS I'd like to receive the following newsletters from abc7chicago.com Sign up for news alerts Daily Weather | Daily News | 190 North SUBSCRIPTION OPTIONS Sign up for news alerts

How does BP's 'top kill' work? (Updated) - Yahoo! News

How does BP's 'top kill' work? (Updated) - Yahoo! News

BP has decided to proceed with what's called a "top kill" to try to stop oil from gushing into the Gulf of Mexico. The procedure will last as long as two days, said BP. The company is providing a live video feed (streamed here courtesy of ABC News). Note to viewers: Traffic spikes may affect the quality of the feed, and ABC News may temporarily cut to news conferences and other developments.

Media Matters Daily Summary

Here are today's news items from Media Matters for America, click on the title or 'read more' to read the entirety of each story. Fox's "$165 billion" "union bailout" is neither Fox News and Fox Business personalities have claimed that a bill dealing with union-administered pension funds is a "$165 billion bailout for unions." In fact, the bill is not a "bailout for unions," and its sponsor reportedly said it would cost the federal government $8 billion to $10 billion. Read More Right-wing media cling to $165 billion pension "bailout" falsehood The right-wing media is clinging to the falsehood that Sen. Bob Casey's Create Jobs & Save Benefits Act is a "$165 billion bailout" of union pensions. In fact, the legislation proposes the "partition" of specific types of union pensions that are deemed to be insolvent,and its sponsor reportedly said it would cost between $8 and $10 billion. Read More Beck's war on Obama targets the president's family Glenn Beck has made his crusade against President Obama personal, connecting the Obama daughters to Rev. Jeremiah Wright, attacking Michelle Obama's physical appearance at a state dinner, and asserting that Obama was scarred because his parents "abandoned" him "for Marxism." Read More Meltdown: The intricate conspiracy to "destroy" Glenn Beck, his family, God, and the founders In the past week, Glenn Beck has detailed an intricate web of conspiracies involving SEIU, AFL-CIO, Van Jones, Jim Wallis, the White House, Rep. Anthony Weiner, and Media Matters. Beck has warned that these Alinskyite plots seek to "destroy" him, his family, Fox News, Christianity and the Founding Fathers. Read More Right-wing media attack Obama over Memorial Day plans Conservative media have attacked President Obama, claiming that his plans to attend a Memorial Day ceremony in Chicago while allowing Vice President Joe Biden to lay a wreath at Arlington National Cemetery are disrespectful to the military. However, previous presidents -- including Ronald Reagan -- allowed others to lay the wreath at Arlington to honor fallen troops. Read More Morris fabricates "impeachable offense" out of alleged Sestak job offer Fox News' Dick Morris' baselessly claimed that an alleged job offer by the Obama administration to Rep. Joe Sestak would constitute an "impeachable offense." However, the Reagan administration reportedly made a similar offer to a candidate, and legal experts have rejected the claims that such offers are illegal. Read More Wash. Times tries and fails to paint Kagan as "outside the mainstream" The Washington Times baselessly claimed that Elena Kagan's views on free speech put her " 'outside the mainstream' of the public." To make its case, the Times relied on distortions, out-of-context quotes, and recycled falsehoods. Read More Does "Reagan conservative" Hannity think Reagan should have been impeached for reported job offer? Sean Hannity has baselessly claimed that an alleged job offer by the Obama administration to Rep. Joe Sestak would constitute a "de facto bribe" and "an impeachable offense." However, the administration of Hannity's political hero, Ronald Reagan, reportedly made a similar offer to a candidate. Read More Beck cites his dubious predictions to claim his "global governance" theory is credible Highlighting several of his past predictions, Glenn Beck used false or misleading claims to purportedly demonstrate that those predictions had been accurate. Beck cited those supposedly vindicated predictions as evidence that his claim that that "we're heading for global governance" should be taken seriously. Read More You can help support our work; become a volunteer media monitor, or donate to Media Matters for America.

ABC7 eNews

>>> Having trouble viewing this newsletter? View as a webpage. Top Stories Tuesday, May 25, 2010 School, family mourn Dolton honor student | VIDEO A south suburban high school student was killed by a stray bullet while walking home from school Monday. Couple rescued from garbage-filled home | VIDEO Rescue crews say a couple in their 70s was found trapped inside their South Shore home full of garbage. Boy's body found in Illinois River The body of a missing 13-year-old boy was found in the Illinois River Tuesday morning, officials said. Amber Alert canceled for Harvey kids Two Harvey children who were the subjects of an Amber Alert have been found safe, police said. Worker out of collapsed trench in Skokie Emergency crews were able to free a worker who was trapped after a trench collapsed in Skokie Tuesday morning. Second City is 33rd in fitness, health Chicago's bike lanes, public transit and farmers' markets aren't enough to keep the city fit. MORE STORIES Strange News Anchor apologizes for confusing Wheaton Colleges Couple rescued from garbage-filled home | VIDEO Guinness finds Minn. man is tallest in US Piles of undelivered mail found in Mich. shed 'Amityville Horror' home for sale in NY for $1.15M Consumer Best sunscreens reviewed Holiday Inn to test smart phone as room keys Pricing glitch on Zappos-owned 6pm.com Toyota recalls 3,800 Lexus cars for steering fix Alfalfa sprouts recalled after 22 sickened Healthbeat Second City is 33rd in fitness, health Group gives most sunscreens low marks Swim lessons for toddlers get doctors' approval Cutting down on sugary drinks may reduce heart risk New treatment for dissolving dangerous blood clots MOST POPULAR School, family mourn Dolton honor student Kankakee Co. farmer pulled from grain bin Couple rescued from garbage-filled home Amber Alert canceled for Harvey kids 15-year-old fatally shot in Dolton All Most Popular Advertisement TODAY'S WEATHER OUTLOOK 86°F 61°F Partly sunny and not as hot but humid Hour-by-Hour | 7 Day Forecast | Radar & Satellite TONIGHT ON ABC 7:00 PM Dancing with the Stars 8:00 PM Dancing with the Stars 10:00 PM ABC 7 News 10:35 PM Nightline Lottery Results Your Daily Horoscope Help name Shedd's beluga whale You can help give Shedd's baby beluga its name! Vote for your favorite name for the chance to win the Beluga Experience at Shedd Aquarium. Dive in at Shedd Aquarium's oceanarium Meet Shedd's baby beluga! What's in a name? Shedd's picks for the baby beluga PHOTOS: Send ABC7 your Shedd photos! Treasure or Trash? Find out at Randolph St. Market Fest Are those salt and pepper shakers your grandmother left you valuable? Is your family silver worth anything? Web Extra: Appraiser looks over some antiques SUBSCRIPTION OPTIONS I'd like to receive the following newsletters from abc7chicago.com Sign up for news alerts Daily Weather | Daily News | 190 North SUBSCRIPTION OPTIONS Sign up for news alerts

8-phony-bargains-and-better-alternatives: Personal Finance News from Yahoo! Finance

8-phony-bargains-and-better-alternatives: Personal Finance News from Yahoo! Finance

Big discounts! Big sales! Big freebies! Enticing deals abound, but you need to distinguish those from the raw deals masquerading as bargains. Many of them come with so many strings attached that they could cost you plenty. (Those frequent-flier rewards cards, for example? They often cost you a bundle -- and the airline miles are often more restrictive and harder to use than what you'd get from a cash-back credit card.)