Sounds pretty good—According to the news, San Francisco-based Catholic Healthcare West, which operates 41 hospitals in California, Nevada, and Arizona, has offered a three-year contract proposal to 4,000 members of the California Nurses Association. A union spokesperson said the contract would give registered nurses wage increases ranging from 18 to 29 percent. Compulsory overtime would be barred and pensions and other benefits improved. Union members were slated to vote on the proposed pact.

Seeing eye dog left behind?—Denver cops responded to a call that a woman was being assaulted by her spouse. One cop burst into a bedroom and shot a man dead. It was the uncle of the suspect. An invalid, he was in bed watching TV and drinking a can of soda. The cop said he thought it was a gun.

Sort of a tranquilizer—A New York Times study found a spreading police use of Taser guns. (A supplement to guns, not a substitute.) The Tasers shoot electrified disabling barbs. In the past three years, at least 50 people have been killed, not stunned, by the weapon. In the month of June alone, six people were killed.

And there’s a blood shortage?—An estimated 44 million people in the U.S. have no medical insurance. And the uninsured get soaked more than those with insurance. One article described the case of a fellow, uninsured, who was hospitalized for 17 days. He was billed for $116,000. With a lawyer, the family got it reduced to $20,000—provided they keep it mum. (They didn't.)

But nobody lies—“Factual problems noted in Powell’s UN speech,” “British spy agencies erred, report says”—Recent news headlines.

How’s your pulse?—In Merseyside, England, a plan is under way to recruit medical staff to patrol hospital wards in police uniform as “special constables” to combat “crime.” The plan is regarded as an initial one.

A quick retch—“Airline food is so dreadful that two-thirds of passengers believe that short-haul operators should give up catering and make seat prices cheaper instead…according to BBC’s Good Food Magazine.”—Report from London.  
 
 
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