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By MIKE ROBINSON

CHICAGO Sep 6, 2006 (AP)— Former Gov. George Ryan, who was acclaimed by capital punishment foes for suspending executions in Illinois and emptying out death row, was sentenced to 6 1/2 years in prison Wednesday in the corruption scandal that ended his political career.

“People of this state expected better, and I let them down,” the 72-year-old Ryan said in court before hearing his sentence.

Federal prosecutors had asked for a sentence of eight to 10 years. Defense attorneys told U.S. District Judge Rebecca R. Pallmeyer that even a sentence of 2 1/2 years would deprive Ryan of the last healthy years of his life.

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By NEDRA PICKLER , 09.06.2006, 03:33 PM

President Bush on Wednesday acknowledged previously secret CIA prisons around the world and said 14 high-value terrorism suspects – including the mastermind of the Sept. 11 attacks – have been transferred from the system to Guantanamo Bay for trials.

He said a small number of detainees have been kept in CIA custody including people responsible for the bombing of the USS Cole in 2000 in Yemen and the 1998 attacks on U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, in addition to the 2001 attacks.

“It has been necessary to move these individuals to an environment where they can be held secretly, questioned by experts and, when appropriate, prosecuted for terrorist acts,” Bush said in a White House speech. Families of some people killed in the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks made up part of the audience.

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By Grace Wong, CNNMoney.com staff writer
September 5 2006: 6:02 PM EDT

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) — Intel Corp. raised its job cut target to 10,500 jobs, or about 10 percent of its workforce, on Tuesday as it aims to fight off fierce competition from rival AMD.

Intel, the world’s largest chipmaker, said it would eliminate 7,500 jobs by the end of this year and another 3,000 jobs by the middle of 2007.

Intel shares (blue) have tumbled about 20 percent in the last year, while shares of AMD (yellow) have soared about 24 percent in the same period.

The reductions include some previously announced cuts, including the layoffs of 1,000 managers made in July and reductions related to the sale of its communications and media businesses.

Shares of Intel (Charts) fell about 1 percent in extended trade on the widely expected move, which was announced after market close.

Investors were looking to see how aggressive Intel would be with the cuts, Suji de Silva, an analyst with Cathay Financial, said. It was a big cut, but was viewed as more moderate than aggressive, he said.

This year’s cuts will impact management, marketing and IT divisions, while next year’s reductions will be more broad-based.

Intel spokesman Chuck Mulloy said the company has not yet decided on the geographic breakdown of the cuts.

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By JENNIFER KAY
Associated Press Writer

MIAMI (AP) — Tropical Storm Florence gained strength in the open Atlantic on Wednesday and could become a hurricane by the weekend, but forecasters said it was too soon to tell if it would reach the United States.

Florence had sustained wind near 50 mph Wednesday morning, over the 39 mph threshold for a tropical storm. The minimum for a hurricane is 74 mph.

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By STEVEN WINE
Associated Press Writer

MIAMI (AP) — Rep. Katherine Harris, who as secretary of state oversaw Florida’s 2000 recount that gave George Bush the presidency, easily won the Republican nomination to challenge Sen. Bill Nelson, shrugging off critics who derided her campaign as spectacularly inept.

“Tonight I say to Bill Nelson: Come home, Bill. Enough is enough,” Harris said Tuesday.

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