`something For Everybawdy' Is Daring, Funny

2 Robbery Suspects Waive Hearing

Friday, January 10, 1997 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 





AROUND TOWN &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The Bon Ton Stores has announced that sales for the five weeks ending Jan.
4 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; totaled $119.0 million, a decrease of 0.4 percent from the five weeks
ending &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Dec. 30, 1995Comparable store sales for the combined November-December
period, encompassing the entire nine-week holiday selling season, increased
7.4 percent. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Year-to-date sales increased 3.7 percent to $598.7 million from $577.4
million. Comparable store sales increased 3.4 percent for the year-to-date
period. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 NATION &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The federal Surface Transportation Board Thursday upheld Conrail's
agreement with preferred partner CSX Corp. to restrict Conrail from
considering other merger proposals for two years. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Hostile bidder Norfolk Southern Corp. wanted to block the lockout
provision, arguing it amounted to an "unlawful control by one railroad over
another." Norfolk Southern was making similar arguments Thursday before a
federal judge in Philadelphia. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The board, a regulatory agency that oversees rail merger issues, said the
two-year lockout period may appear "excessive on its face" but did not seem
unreasonable given the complicated issues surrounding the case. It said the
provision would not preclude the board from approving a merger of Norfolk
Southern and Conrail or the consummation of such a merger, if approved. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The federal government cleared the way Thursday for the creation of a new
breed of wireless devices that could allow people to tap into the Internet and
exchange e-mail, faxes and computer files. The Federal Communications
Commission set aside a large chunk of radio frequencies for free and
unlicensed high-speed communication over short distances. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Now it's up to companies to develop wireless equipment to work on the
frequencies. They would have at most a three-mile range. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Since the frequencies are unlicensed, users would not have to pay for
service, as users of cellular phones do. Instead, the frequencies would be
treated like those used for cordless telephones. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The FCC says its action could offer schools, hospitals and businesses a
potentially cheaper way to connect computers and tap into the Internet. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 A majority of financial planners contacted in a new survey misled customers
about how they're paid, hiding the fact that they can receive commissions and
other payments for recommending securities. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The Consumer Federation of America said Thursday that the survey conducted
with the National Association of Personal Financial Advisers was done by
examiners posing as customers. It looked at how many planners in the
Washington metropolitan area were incorrectly calling themselves "fee-only"
financial planners. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 A fee-only planner is paid only by the customer and receives no commissions
or other financial incentives for the sale of stocks, bonds or mutual funds by
the companies that offer those investments. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The federation recommends consumers seek fee-only planners for the most
objective source of financial advice. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The survey of 288 firms showed 58 percent claimed to offer fee-only
services but they actually earned commissions or other financial incentives
for carrying out customers' financial plans. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 WORLD &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The head of the Jewish Agency refused Thursday to meet with any Swiss
officials because a former Swiss president said suggestions to set up a fund
for elderly Holocaust survivors amounted to "blackmail." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 In a letter to Swiss Ambassador Thomas G. Borer, Avraham Burg said Jewish
Agency officials would not meet with government representatives "until such
time as the appalling statement made by the former president is retracted." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The Jewish Agency is a quasi-governmental organization in Jerusalem that
serves as a link with world Jewry. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Jean-Pascal Delamuraz made the remark just before stepping down last week
from the one-year rotating presidency to become economics minister. It
triggered an official protest from Israel and threats from the Jewish Agency
and the World Jewish Congress to support boycotts and class-action lawsuits
against Swiss banks. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 -- Staff and wire reports &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Around Town 
The Bon Ton Stores Has Announced That Sales For The Five Weeks Ending Jan. 4 
Totaled $119.0 Million, A Decrease Of 0.4 Percent From The Five Weeks Ending 
Dec. 30, 1995.

Around Town The Bon Ton Stores Has Announced That Sales For The Five Weeks Ending Jan. 4 Totaled $119.0 Million, A Decrease Of 0.4 Percent From The Five Weeks Ending Dec. 30, 1995.