Public Relations Crisis Management

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DOR to review, compile report on city's finances

Wong said in an interview after Monday night's School Committee meeting that she met with state DOR officials last week to discuss the scope of the report and what information they would need.

Wong said she welcomes the review of the city's finances and said it will help create new, more efficient ways of operating the city.

"This is much needed, their insight and suggestions are welcomed," Wong said.

Wong said possible areas to be covered in the report include an overview of city financial reports, year-to-date expenditures, budgets, warrant reports and staffing.

Wong said part of the report will be to make sure all city business "is done in an open and transparent way."

Wong said she also asked the DOR to look at the school system's finances. She said Fitchburg, like many other urban school districts, relies heavily on state and federal grants to pay for programs and salaries.

Djokovic Beats Tsonga for Aussie Title

He's a Grand Slam champion for real.Serving notice that his rapid rise in the rankings last year was no fluke, third-ranked Djokovic ended the Cinderella story of the Australian Open by beating unseeded Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 7-6 (2) in Sunday night's final."I think every player dreams about winning a Grand Slam," Djokovic said. "It's something special."Top-ranked Roger Federer and No. 2 Rafael Nadal had combined to win the last 11 Grand Slams. Djokovic personally held up Federer's drive for Pete Sampras' record of 14 Grand Slam titles on hold by ousting him in the semifinals. Federer now will go for No. 13 at the French Open.Despite reaching at least the semifinals at the last three Grand Slams, Djokovic has been better known as "Djoker" for his wry sense of humor and impressions of other tennis players that have become hits on YouTube.It was easy to see that requests for the impersonations were wearing on him at Melbourne Park - he tried to beg off when he was asked to mimic Maria Sharapova after a match early in the two-week tournament - so Djokovic let his tennis do the talking.It spoke volumes.The 20-year-old Serbian, who said he listened to music, watched funny videos and told jokes in the locker room to relax before going on court, hadn't dropped a set in six matches until Tsonga stunned him with a pair of great shots to break and take the first set.Djokovic didn't crumble.

Amanda Congdon: A Star Has Fallen

It's so hard not to love Roger Ailes, Rupert Murdoch's evil henchman and honcho of Fox News and the new Fox Business Network. Here's his notable quotable from a Q&A with Rebecca Dana in the Wall Street Journal: People say, 'How can you? You didn't go to Columbia Journalism School, how can you run a news organization?' I say, 'I have two qualifications: One, I didn't go to Columbia Journalism School, so there's a chance I'll be fair, and, two, I never want to go to a party in this town, so there's nobody's ass I have to kiss.'"

Flasher, Carson at odds over bus

Why can't they come to Carson when they (Flasher buses) drive further to Prairie Knights to pick up students?" she asked.She said some parents are starting to feel the pinch of high gas prices and not having to drive kids halfway to the bus would not only be fair, but bring financial relief. Some people think Flasher has raised an issue of discrimination by transporting some kids the full way and not others.Flasher School Board member Dave Marion said he voted to send the Flasher bus into Carson. The vote was split 3-2. Two members were not present.He wants to reconsider.Marion said it's obvious from Carson's response there's a bigger impact than just busing kids."I'm looking broader than the football cooperative and there's a relationship we need to keep," Marion said. He said rural schools increasingly rely on each other and what happens between Carson and Flasher could impact school relationships all the way down Highway 21.Stewart said he didn't think more kids would open enroll to Flasher if they had in-town transportation.Still he said, it was important for Carson to stand its ground.

Michigan’s Government Showdown — or Shutdown?

Michigan's colleges and universities, already down millions in deferred state payments, are facing an incredibly uncertain fiscal climate. As legislators in Lansing bicker over a $1.75 billion statewide deficit, the threat of a government shutdown starting on Monday looms.

Romney Surrounded by Pro-U.N. Lobbyists

A representative of the Romney campaign defended Weber's work on the issue, saying his purpose was to work with Helms to make sure the money was paid to the U.N.

Kaufman's firm, Dutko Worldwide, represents and works directly with an organization chaired by Bill Clinton, the Global Fairness Initiative (GFI), whose board includes AFL-CIO President John Sweeney and is dedicated to promoting "a more equitable and sustainable world for all people." A press release describes the substantial connections between Dutko and GFI, with a Dutko official being quoted as saying, "Dutko Global Advisors is proud to support the work and mission" of GFI "because its work is fundamentally about nurturing the virtuous cycle of free and fair trade, the creation of economic opportunities, and harmonious relations worldwide." The group appears to be mostly devoted to pursuing international agreements or arrangements protecting labor rights and the environment in "fair trade" deals.