Skatalites' drummer Knibb dies in Jamaica at 80

KINGSTON, Jamaica (AP) — Lloyd Knibb, an influential Jamaican drummer who played with The Skatalites and helped develop the ska beat, has died, his wife said Friday. He was 80.

Enid Knibb said her husband died from liver cancer late Thursday.

He had been receiving treatment in the U.S. but returned to Jamaica this week, she said.

Knibb's manager, Ken Stewart, wrote on Facebook on Wednesday that he was accompanying Knibb on the trip back to the Caribbean island.

"I can only hope we make it back so he can enjoy his family and friends and see his homeland one more time," he wrote.

Knibb was an original member of The Skatalites, a Jamaican ska and reggae band …

Arkansas tornadoes kill at least 1, injure 2 dozen

Several tornadoes that ripped through central Arkansas killed at least one person and injured two dozen others, destroying homes and leaving officials scrambling to clear debris even as they braced for more severe weather.

Damage assessments were under way in the community of Scotland as day broke in Van Buren County, about 75 miles north of Little Rock, where authorities said at least one person died in Friday night storms. A sheriff's department dispatcher said details were expected to be released later Saturday.

At least two dozen other people were hurt across Van Buren and several other counties, state Department of Emergency Management spokeswoman Renee …

Firms Battle Over Right To Sell Rabies Vaccine

WASHINGTON The rabies vaccine vital to thousands of Americansevery year is the object of a fierce battle between a pharmaceuticalgiant and a small Maryland company that contends a monopoly on thedrug could threaten lives.

"It's a very tangled web," said Dr. F. T. Satalowich of theNational Association of Public Health Veterinarians.

For years, the French company Pasteur Merieux was the onlysource of human rabies vaccine in this country. U.S. doctorscomplained that this situation more than tripled the drug's priceover the last six years from $30 to $100 a dose and sometimes causedshortages.

So when Merieux bought a company that was about to launch itsown …

Clear Channel Communications makes changes in general managers

Several years ago when Clear Channel Communications named Marv Dyson president & general manager of both WGCI-AM/FM and WVAZ-FM Radios, it was the first time that such a responsibility had been given to any African American and the news of that promotion spread throughout the United States.

Recently when officers of Clear Channel Communications decided to relieve Marv Dyson from the two positions as well as other general managers in other markets, the news spread so fast that within hours of announcing it, Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr., who was in Atlanta, learned of the change of guards

According to several people associated with WGCI and WVAZ, the radio stations were …

Report: US drug sales growth heads toward new low

U.S. sales of pharmaceuticals will grow at the slowest rate on record this year, as the weakening economy compounds other factors hampering the industry, according to a report issued Wednesday.

The U.S. market for prescription drugs _ the largest in the world _ is predicted to grow an anemic 1 to 2 percent to between $287 billion and $297 billion in 2008, according to research firm IMS Health's annual forecast. That figure is down from the 2 to 3 percent rate the company predicted earlier this year.

Norwalk, Connecticut-based IMS has tracked prescription drug sales for 50 years.

Drug sales in the U.S. have steadily slowed in recent years as …

Leader hits Yes campaign trail

FIRST Minister Carwyn Jones hit the streets of Carmarthen topress the case for a Yes vote tomorrow.

Accompanied by Labour's Assembly candidate Christine Gwyther, heexplained to voters why he thinks the Assembly should be given fulllaw-making powers in its areas of responsibility.

"It's about getting …

Leahy Presses for White House Testimony

WASHINGTON - The Senate Judiciary Committee chairman said Sunday he intends to subpoena White House officials involved in ousting federal prosecutors and is dismissing anything short of their testimony in public.

The Bush White House was expected to announce early this week whether it will let political strategist Karl Rove, former White House counsel Harriet Miers and other officials testify or will seek to assert executive privilege in preventing their appearance.

The chairman, Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., last week delayed a vote on the subpoenas until Thursday as the president's counsel, Fred Fielding, sought to negotiate terms. But on Sunday, Leahy said he had not met …