Animals need to be closely watched for flu

New influenza virus detected in turkeys, minks and household pets

Some pigs, turkeys and household pets have become infected with the H1N1 flu, but the pandemic virus does not yet appear to be spreading quickly among animals, the World Health Organization said on Friday.

WHO spokesman Gregory Hartl said it was not clear how the isolated animals had contracted the flu virus that is spreading quickly among humans in the northern hemisphere, particularly in Eastern Europe.

A novel flu virus — looking like a mix of human and swine genes — has been detected in some mink farms in Denmark, and seems to have infected only the animals and not the farm workers in proximity to them.

Rules vary for jobless benefits, home credit

New law helps long-term unemployed, offers bonus for home buyers

Unemployed workers and home buyers caught a break thanks to a new law signed by President Barack Obama Friday. The law offers tax credits for home buyers, extending and expanding a popular program, and extends jobless benefits up to 20 weeks for unemployed workers who can’t find a job. Here’s how the plans will work.

Home Not so Sweet for Bruins

By Carmine Frongillo, The Sun, Lowell, Mass.

Oct. 30--BOSTON -- The first month of the NHL season is quickly coming to a close and the Boston Bruins are still searching for an identity.

It was easy to assume the Bruins would pick up right where they left off last year, when they skated to the best record in the Eastern Conference.

But anyone who pledges allegiance to the Black & Gold now realizes that was then and this is now. And in the here and now, the Bruins are scuffling along, without key offensive cogs Marc Savard (broken foot) and Milan Lucic (broken finger), trying to put forth a consistent effort every game.

The Bruins had the misfortune of getting into a breath-holding contest with the New Jersey Devils at the TD Garden last night. And as is often the case when it comes the Devils, the Bruins ended turning blue in the face first.

Dainius Zubrus scored with 1:26 left to play to lift the Devils past the Bruins, 2-1. The loss left the Bruins with a 5-5-1 record.

Patrice Bergeron scored Boston's goal with assists from Marco Sturm and Zdeno Chara at 2:32 of the second period.

"There are a lot of things that have to change," said Bruins' coach Claude Julien. "A couple of our top players aren't at the top of their game just yet. There are some key injures that are slowing us down a little bit. But I see some positive signs that the team is coming around.

"We really didn't get going last year until November. People want to make assessments, but you really can't make them because

every year is different. You have to get bounces. You have to be healthy. A ton of things come into play. We just have to take this year and work towards making it a success. That's all we should be thinking about right now."

The Bruins have only scored 31 goals through their first 11 games. This means there isn't much margin for error for the goaltenders, as Tim Thomas (29 saves) found out last night. Both of the Devils' goals came on rebounds that bounced past Thomas and were whacked into open nets.

"We've been getting some scoring," said Thomas. "It's just that we haven't scored on the nights where we've played a good defensive game. They haven't seemed to go together. The games where we've gotten the goals are games when we've had a lot of turnovers and gave up a lot of chances. Then we have a game where we play well defensively and don't give up as many chances, but we don't score. We were trying to score (tonight) but we just couldn't get any in. New Jersey is the master at keeping the score down."

Two out of three is just right for Barras

Tom Barras successfully defended his Bermuda Grand Prix title, winning two of the three races of this weekend's event.

The UK rider won Saturday's Criterium at Morgan's Point, and then out-sprinted Jason White in a thrilling finish to yesterday's Time Trial in Hamilton. In-between he picked up third-place at yesterday morning's first race at Clearwater Beach.

Barras was pushed hard by Garth Thomson, and the HotTubes development team from the US, but with World Championships silver medalist Tony Gibb in his corner, the Brit managed to take the title for a second year running.

In the closing stages of yesterday's race it was Gibb who led the lead pack around the course, and he managed to hold them up long enough that when the last lap came around Barras could make a clean break.

It was the last race of the professional rider's season, and he was delighted to go out having won on a Hamilton course that was the same as the one used for the IBC Front Street criterium.

The start/finish line was in front of Butterfield Bank and took competitors to the Birdcage, made a 180-degree turn back along Front Street, up Burnaby Street, right on Reid Street, another right on Court Street and back onto Front Street.

"It was a tough race, the HotTube guys, and Garth Thomson, pushed us all the way, but with Tony Gibb had the power to hold them back all day," said Barras.

"The (weekend) was very challenging, there's only 30 guys in the race, but every year it's hard to win."

The Bermuda Grand Prix presents three very different challenges for the competitors, and Barras was thankful to have a full season of riding behind him coming into the weekend.

"You've got a hilly road race, a short time trial, and then a criterium, it's challenging stuff.

"I've been racing since March, and was in a professional team until they went bankrupt in May, and then I've been an elite rider with MSTina, myself and Tony Gibb, so I've done a full season of racing, so I'm about in peak fitness at the moment."

While Barras was taking the title, Bermuda Bicycle Association president Peter Dunne was watching the race to see how the local riders faired.

"We are also in the final week of selection of our squad for the Caribbean Cycling Championships that will be held in Barbados.

"All of our considered riders will be testing themselves with the overseas competition to demonstrate that they should be selected to represent Bermuda."

In yesterday's first race at Clearwater Garth Thomson took first place to add to the fourth he had in the first race, while White was third. HotTubes young-gun Lawson Craddock lived up to his biling as a talent for the future finishing sixth.