Health plans for retirees facing more uncertainty

One of the most attractive employee benefits, health-careinsurance for retirees, is being re-examined by many companies.Older workers, particularly those close to retirement, should expectto pay more for the benefit - or find it tougher to qualify forcoverage.

Offered by most large companies and many small ones, retireehealth-care plans typically offer those retiring under age 65 acontinuation of the same medical coverage they enjoyed when working.For retirees over 65, the coverage generally supplements Medicare.

Such plans have been quite useful as the nation's demographicschange and the percentage of retirees or near-retirees in thepopulation grows. Such …

Judge: BP contract shielded Halliburton in spill

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A federal judge ruled Tuesday that Halliburton can avoid paying most of the pollution claims that resulted from the catastrophic 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill because it was shielded in a contract with well-owner BP.

Still, U.S. District Judge Carl Barbier said that Halliburton is not exempt from paying punitive damages and civil penalties that arise from the April 20, 2010, blowout off the Louisiana coast. Those penalties could amount to billions of dollars.

The judge also said Halliburton's indemnity could be voided if the company is found to have defrauded BP. He did not rule on BP's allegations that Halliburton committed fraud by declaring the cement …

Spanish Football Results

Results from the 15th round of Spain's first-division football league (home teams listed first):

Saturday's Games

Athletic Bilbao 2, Osasuna 0

Sevilla 1, Getafe 2

Real Madrid 6, Zaragoza 0

Sunday's …

Energized Worm back as chairman of boards

Embarrassed almost to the point of shame, Dennis Rodman made goodon his promise to Bulls coach Phil Jackson.

"It was a better game for me," Rodman said. "I played defensetonight."

In Game 1 of the Bulls' playoff series with the New Jersey Nets,Rodman managed just eight rebounds and the Nets took the Bulls toovertime. In Game 2, Rodman hauled in seven rebounds in the openingnine minutes and added three more in each of the last three quartersto finish with 16 boards."He just had a lot more energy tonight," Bulls guard Steve Kerrsaid. "Jayson (Williams) brought out the best in him. Dennis isplaying against himself out there, a guy who looks just like him.The …

SMART ART

The starving artist image is a cliche. But the fact is that it has never been easy for artists to sell their art.

In today's sluggish economy, selling art is even harder.

Rather than toting around "Will paint for food" signs, local artists are getting more organized and more business savvy And they're finding help in the local art community.

Susan Schreckengaust, director of the William Ris Gallery of Camp Hill, said artists have found better ways to market themselves in the past 10 or 15 years.

"The popularity of craft shows definitely indicates a trend or recognition in marketing," Schreckengaust said.

Some artists may lack a business background, but …

London's FTSE-100 index up 105.38 points at 5,256.0

Share prices on the London Stock Exchange were higher at midday …

Polite wants to make most of his chance

Clemson's Dextra Polite being granted a third year to participatehas been like Christmas and a birthday wrapped into one.

A transfer from Georgia Military junior college, Polite started inone game (Georgia Tech), and played a total of 154 snaps in whatwould have been his senior season.

But the NCAA granted Polite a medical redshirt year, stemming froman injury at Georgia Military.

"I didn't play but one game one year," Polite said. "They gave methree years because of that. I'm glad to get it."

Polite plans to make the most of his role as the Tigers' startingcornerback. Once a star for an undefeated team at Colquitt County(Ga.) High School, he wants to …