Super Bowl blackout traced to preventive equipment

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — An electrical device that had been installed expressly to prevent a power outage caused the Super Bowl blackout, the stadium's power company said Friday as it took the blame for the outage that brought the game to a halt for more than a half-hour.

Officials of Entergy New Orleans, a subsidiary of New Orleans-based Entergy Corp., said the device, called a relay, had been installed in switching gear to protect the Superdome from a cable failure between the company's incoming power line and lines that run into the stadium.

The switching gear is housed in a building known as "the vault" near the stadium that receives a line directly from a nearby Entergy power substation. Once the line reaches the vault, it splits into two cables that go into the Superdome.

Company officials said the device performed with no problems during January's Sugar Bowl and other earlier events, but has been removed and will be replaced. All systems at the Superdome are now working and the dome will host a major Mardi Gras event Saturday night, said Doug Thornton, an executive with SMG, the company that manages the stadium for the state.

The power failure at Sunday's big game cut lights to about half of the stadium for 34 minutes, halting play between the Baltimore Ravens and San Francisco 49ers.

The FBI had ruled out cyberterrorism as a cause.

Entergy's announcement came shortly before officials appeared before a committee of the City Council, which is the regulatory body for the company, to answer questions about the outage.

Entergy New Orleans CEO Charles Rice and Dennis Dawsey, an Entergy vice president for distribution, told the Council that SMG agrees the cause of the outage was a relay failure. Asked if the two corporations still plan to hire a third-party investigator, Rice said that possibility remains open.

Committee member Jackie Clarkson pressed for such an independent probe. "We've told the public we're going to have an outside investigation," she said.

"We'll work closely with SMG and if there is a need for a third-party investigation, we will do that," Rice said.

It remains unclear whether the problem with the relay was a design flaw or a manufacturing problem. Rice said Entergy is working with the manufacturer.

"I'm pleased that we were able to find the root cause," Thornton said.

Shabab Mehraeen, an assistant professor of electrical engineering at Louisiana State University, said the relay device is a common electrical fixture in businesses and massive facilities such as the Superdome.

"They are designed to keep a problem they sense from becoming something bigger, like a fire or catastrophic event," said Mehraeen, who holds a doctorate from the Missouri University of Science and Technology in Rolla, Mo.

The devices vary in size, and while Mehraeen noted he was not familiar with the specifics of the relay at the Superdome, he added, "I wouldn't be surprised if it was bigger than a truck."

Mehraeen said the reasons the devices fail are the subject of much academic research into the interaction of relays with the complex electrical systems they regulate.

"It's not unusual for them to have problems," he said. "They can be unpredictable despite national testing standards recommended by manufacturers."

Entergy and SMG had both upgraded lines and equipment in the months leading up to the Super Bowl. Rice said the new switching gear, with the faulty relay, was installed as part of a $4.2 million upgrade by Entergy, including the installation of a new power line dedicated solely to the stadium.

In a separate project, SMG replaced lines coming into the stadium after managers expressed concerns the Superdome might be vulnerable to a power failure like the one that struck Candlestick Park during a 49ers Monday Night Football game in 2011. That outage was blamed at least partly on a transformer explosion.

Thornton stressed Friday that the dome was drawing only about two-thirds of its power capacity Super Bowl night, and said typical NFL games in late August or September can draw a little more.

City officials had worried that the Super Bowl outage might harm New Orleans' chances of getting another NFL championship game.

But NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell downplayed that possibility after the outage, saying the NFL planned to keep New Orleans in its Super Bowl plans. Mayor Mitch Landrieu said the city intends to bid for the Super Bowl in 2018.

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Southern diet, fried foods, may raise stroke risk

Deep-fried foods may be causing trouble in the Deep South. People whose diets are heavy on them and sugary drinks like sweet tea and soda were more likely to suffer a stroke, a new study finds.

It's the first big look at diet and strokes, and researchers say it might help explain why blacks in the Southeast — the nation's "stroke belt" — suffer more of them.

Blacks were five times more likely than whites to have the Southern dietary pattern linked with the highest stroke risk. And blacks and whites who live in the South were more likely to eat this way than people in other parts of the country were. Diet might explain as much as two-thirds of the excess stroke risk seen in blacks versus whites, researchers concluded.

"We're talking about fried foods, french fries, hamburgers, processed meats, hot dogs," bacon, ham, liver, gizzards and sugary drinks, said the study's leader, Suzanne Judd of the University of Alabama in Birmingham.

People who ate about six meals a week featuring these sorts of foods had a 41 percent higher stroke risk than people who ate that way about once a month, researchers found.

In contrast, people whose diets were high in fruits, vegetables, whole grains and fish had a 29 percent lower stroke risk.

"It's a very big difference," Judd said. "The message for people in the middle is there's a graded risk" — the likelihood of suffering a stroke rises in proportion to each Southern meal in a week.

Results were reported Thursday at an American Stroke Association conference in Honolulu.

The federally funded study was launched in 2002 to explore regional variations in stroke risks and reasons for them. More than 20,000 people 45 or older — half of them black — from all 48 mainland states filled out food surveys and were sorted into one of five diet styles:

—Southern: Fried foods, processed meats (lunchmeat, jerky), red meat, eggs, sweet drinks and whole milk.

—Convenience: Mexican and Chinese food, pizza, pasta.

—Plant-based: Fruits, vegetables, juice, cereal, fish, poultry, yogurt, nuts and whole-grain bread.

—Sweets: Added fats, breads, chocolate, desserts, sweet breakfast foods.

—Alcohol: Beer, wine, liquor, green leafy vegetables, salad dressings, nuts and seeds, coffee.

"They're not mutually exclusive" — for example, hamburgers fall into both convenience and Southern diets, Judd said. Each person got a score for each diet, depending on how many meals leaned that way.

Over more than five years of follow-up, nearly 500 strokes occurred. Researchers saw clear patterns with the Southern and plant-based diets; the other three didn't seem to affect stroke risk.

There were 138 strokes among the 4,977 who ate the most Southern food, compared to 109 strokes among the 5,156 people eating the least of it.

There were 122 strokes among the 5,076 who ate the most plant-based meals, compared to 135 strokes among the 5,056 people who seldom ate that way.

The trends held up after researchers took into account other factors such as age, income, smoking, education, exercise and total calories consumed.

Fried foods tend to be eaten with lots of salt, which raises blood pressure — a known stroke risk factor, Judd said. And sweet drinks can contribute to diabetes, the disease that celebrity chef Paula Deen — the queen of Southern cuisine — revealed she had a year ago.

The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, drugmaker Amgen Inc. and General Mills Inc. funded the study.

"This study does strongly suggest that food does have an influence and people should be trying to avoid these kinds of fatty foods and high sugar content," said an independent expert, Dr. Brian Silver, a Brown University neurologist and stroke center director at Rhode Island Hospital.

"I don't mean to sound like an ogre. I know when I'm in New Orleans I certainly enjoy the food there. But you don't have to make a regular habit of eating all this stuff."

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Marilynn Marchione can be followed at http://twitter.com/MMarchioneAP

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Rock pioneer Patti Smith receives Hepburn medal

BRYN MAWR, Pa. (AP) — Rock musician and writer Patti Smith is being honored by Bryn Mawr College with a medal named after the late actress Katharine Hepburn.

Smith received the 2013 Katharine Hepburn Medal on Thursday night in a ceremony at the women's liberal arts school in suburban Philadelphia.

Smith is recognized as a rock 'n' roll trailblazer whose work as a musician, writer, performer and visual artist influenced multiple generations. Her 1975 debut album, "Horses," is considered one of rock's greatest albums and she received the 2010 National Book Award for non-fiction for her memoir, "Just Kids."

Smith said when the college approached her about receiving the award, "I enthusiastically accepted without hesitation."

"Bryn Mawr is helping shape the futures of young women and providing them with the tools to be dominant forces in our society," Smith said.

College President Dr. Jane McAuliffe said Smith "conveys enormous passion and continues to transform herself throughout her artistic journey."

The college comprises 1,300 female undergraduates, two co-educational graduate schools and a co-educational pre-medical program.

The medal named after Hepburn, a Bryn Mawr alumna, honors women who change their worlds and whose work and embodies the intelligence and independence of the four-time Oscar winner.

It was awarded by the college's Katharine Houghton Hepburn Center, which memorializes Hepburn and her mother, an early feminist activist who share the same name, with programs focusing on the arts and theatre, civic engagement, and women's health.

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McDonald's January sales down 1.9%

McDonald's January comparable sales fell 1.9 percent, due to weakness in the Europe and Asia, the company said Friday. 

The Oak Brook-based burger giant warned during its fourth-quarter earnings release that sales at restaurants open more than one year would be down. But analysts polled by Consensus Metrix had expected a decline of 1.1 percent.

Shares rose nearly 1 percent in morning trading, to $95.38.

Of greatest concern to Wall Street, same store sales in Europe declined to 2.1 percent. The company cited particular weakness in Germany and France despite solid growth in the U.K and Russia. Europe is the chain's largest market.

Comparable sales fell 9.5 percent in McDonald's Asia Pacific Middle East and Africa division, for which the chain cited weakness in Japan, and declines in China, attributable to a calendar shift in the Chinese New Year, and the ongoing fallout from a poultry crisis.

In the U.S., comparable sales rose 0.9 percent. McDonald's cited popularity of its core menu and moving the grilled onion and cheddar burger onto the Dollar Menu.

Total sales rose in January 0.3 percent, or 0.7 percent adjusted for the impact of currency.

While McDonald's expects sales to improve later this year, the worst isn't over. The company said it expects a 3 percent hit to February sales as a result of a shorter month in 2013.

"While January's results reflect today's challenging environment and difficult prior year comparisons, I am confident that our unwavering commitment to delivering an exceptional restaurant experience will enhance our brand's relevance and drive long-term results," McDonald's CEO Don Thompson said in a statement.

In a Friday research note, Janney analyst David Tarantino wrote that McDonald’s performance in the U.S. was ahead of expectations and the broader quick-service restaurant industry.

Though he expects comparable sales to be down through March, "we remain optimistic that planned initiatives can support better operating momentum after the first quarter," he said.

eyork@tribune.com | Twitter: @emilyyork

Reuters contributed to this report.

MCD data by YCharts

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Carmakers preview new models for 2013 Chicago Auto Show

The 2013 Chicago Auto Show opens Saturday, and automakers today are giving the news media a preview of models making their public debuts at the McCormick Place show.

Hundreds of cars and trucks will be on display through Feb. 18, along with concept cars that hint at future models, indoor and outdoor test tracks, and more midwinter amusements for car buffs and casual fans.

Today's new-model unveilings will join many Chicago Auto Show offerings either just arriving in showrooms or coming soon, and they provide evidence of where the automakers are heading in terms of styling, size, performance, options and mileage in the next few years.

Here's a list of "Don't Miss" cars to see at the 105th Chicago Auto Show:

2014 Chevy Cruze diesel

There's a way to get more miles per gallon as well as many more miles per tank of fuel — and that's to drive a vehicle with a tank that holds high mileage and therefore high range diesel fuel. Not many cars in the U.S. run on diesel because diesel has been notoriously dirty and, as a result, doesn't easily meet federal emissions regulations.

With the arrival of "clean" diesel fuel, and emission controls to handle exhaust fumes, more diesel powered cars are coming and Chevy is unveiling its new creation in Chicago, the compact Cruze diesel sedan that will be added to General Motors Lordstown, Ohio, assembly plant by midyear to prepare for its U.S. launch later in the year as a 2014 model.

The compact Cruze sedan will offer a 2 liter diesel engine. No word yet on mileage, but well more than 40 m.p.g. highway is expected since the current Cruze Eco model with 1.4 liter, turbo 4-cylinder gas engine is rated at 42 m.p.g. highway.

The important number will be range, which could be from 650 to 750 miles before need to fill the tank, a mileage total that would get most families not only to, but back again, from any vacation retreat.

A diesel Cruze is now sold in Europe. but stricter U.S. emissions standards kept it out of this market. By using what's called a urea system to clean emissions, the Cruze diesel will meet current and future federal standards. Reportedly the only hang-up is that the urea system needs regular refilling at oil change intervals.

2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray

When you think Corvette you think high speed, not high mileage, but if asked which you'd rather have in your driveway, any Corvette or any economy car, even tree huggers would be hard pressed to stand in the economy car line.

The new 'Vette goes on sale in the third quarter of this year as the first all new Corvette since 2005 and the first to use the legendary Stingray name last carried by the second generation model that bowed in the 1963 model year and was offered through 1967.

It's mission is simple, get younger sports car enthusiasts behind the wheel because the 'Vette has gotten to be referred to as an old man's car, even though old means an average age of only about 55. Still, Corvette needs to attract those younger sports car enthusiasts who migrated to European nameplates like Porsche and Audi as 'Vette went 9 years without a major redesign as GM focused on survival rather than sizzling style upgrades.

The 7th generation of the American sports car icon boasts a 6.2 liter, 450 h.p. V-8 capable of accelerating from 0 to 60 m.p.h. in less than 4 seconds and achieving more than 1G of force in high performance cornering. Yet thanks to an active fuel management system it will throttle down to four cylinder mode when coasting or cruising when it doesn't need maximum power. The new 'Vette as a result will exceed the 26 m.p.g. highway rating of the current model — making it the most fuel efficient 'Vette to date.

Stingray will offer a choice of 7-speed manual or 6-speed automatic with steering wheel paddle shifters.

Both high performance and high mileage benefit from a series of weight-saving measures, including a lightweight carbon fiber hood and removable roof panel; composite fenders, doors and rear quarter panels; and composite carbon underbody panels plus a new aluminum frame.

Inside there's two 8-inch configurable "infotainment" screens and a choice of two seats: one for optimum comfort, the other a "Competition Sport" option with special side bolstering to hold the driver in place during hard cornering. The cockpit also features five ride settings for varying driving conditions — Weather, Eco, Tour, Sport and Track.

A Z51 performance package will be offered with such goodies as electronic limited-slip differential, 19 inch run flat radials up front, 20 inch run flats in the rear, and an aerodynamics package designed to improve high-speed stability.

GM hasn't set pricing yet, but said it will be in the range of the current car, which starts at about $50,000, and won't have a dramatic increase.

The new 'Vette is being counted on to generate traffic and bring folks back into Chevy showrooms, where motorists are hoped to leave with a new car, whether 'Vette or Aveo as long as it carries a Chevy bow tie.

2014 Honda Urban SUV concept

Consumers are moving down from large cars and SUVs to smaller cars and SUVs in order to obtain better mileage, the reason Honda is showcasing the Urban SUV at the auto show, a peek at a new small SUV to be offered first in Japan at the end of this year and then in the U.S. in 2014.

The Urban SUV is a derivative of the subcompact Fit car sold in the U.S. Like the little Fit, the Urban SUV is aimed at youth and those on a limited budget and focuses on fuel efficiency and fun.

It will have hidden rear door handles and Honda's reconfigurable Magic Seats that can be folded flat to hold maximum cargo when not carrying people.

Urban is 169.3 inches long, or about 8 inches longer than Fit, but 9 inches shorter than the CR-V, Honda's current smallest crossover SUV. It's designed to navigate congested city streets and take advantage of limited parking space and will be priced below the CR-V, which starts at about $15,000.

The small SUV will be manufactured along with the Fit at Honda's newest North American plant near Celaya, Mexico, expected to open in the spring of 2014. The growth and expansion of its small-vehicle lineup will help Honda double worldwide production of vehicles by the end of 2016, and remain a global small-car leader.

2014 Lincoln MKC concept

The MKC ("C" for crossover) is the smallest vehicle to ever carry the Lincoln badge, ironic since it's also serving as one of the building blocks to recreate the brand.

The compact crossover represents a new segment for Lincoln and teams with the newly designed 2014 Lincoln MKZ midsize sedan at dealers now to help revive a Lincoln brand whose sales of only a little more than 80,000 units last year left it ranked last among the 8 luxury nameplates sold in the U.S.

The Lincoln MKC concept crossover shares the same platform with the compact Ford Escape, but MKC is more designer label while Escape tends to be more off the rack.

MKC will go on sale in 2014, same year Ford also plans to start selling Lincolns in China as part of the brands revitalization and growth plans.

The new crossover will join the industry's small luxury segment that has grown by 200 percent in the past four years, and compete against such nameplates as the Acura RDX, Mercedes-Benz GLK and BMW X3.

MKC and the redesigned 2014 Lincoln MKZ sedan are the first two products in what Lincoln says will be four all-new vehicles over the next four years that will include a redesigned midsize MKX crossover and MKS sedan.

Features include push button gear shift selector, 20 inch wheels, panoramic sunroof the length of the vehicle, leather seats and interior trim, programmable ride control, clamshell hatchback lid, ambient cabin lighting along doors, seat pockets and even cupholders, a rear seat center console that can double as a mini frig (rear bench seat minus the frig if holding 5 passengers), plus a split wing grille that traces its DNA back to the '30s Lincoln Zephyr.

2014 Ford Transit Connect wagon

When the novel looking Transit Connect bowed for the 2010 model year it became a surprise hit among both the consumers who bought it and the media who voted it North American Truck of the Year. Both groups hinted out loud that what looked like a work truck for tradesmen to haul tools to the job site might make a wonderful people hauler getting people wherever they need to go as well.

Ford listened and for 2014 a new generation Transit Connect is going to be available starting later this year in two versions, a short and long van to serve tradesmen, and a short and long wagon to hold 5 to 7 passengers and substitute for a minivan — that might be too big and expensive and burn too much gas.

Ford says the new wagon rides and handles like a car, has the flexibility to haul people like a mini van, and has the cargo capacity of a truck in a vehicle capable of obtaining 30 m.p.g. from a choice of standard 2.5 liter four cylinder or optional 1.6 liter 4 cylinder engines, both teamed with 6-speed automatic. An alternate fuel 2.5 liter four cylinder that burns CNG gas rather than gasoline but will be premium priced and available in van or wagon.

The wagon with side glass windows, and the van with side metal panels instead of glass, will be offered in short and long version, short with a 104.8 inch wheelbase, 173.9 inch overall length, and 1 or 2 rows of seats to hold up to 5; long with a 120.6 inch wheelbase, 189.7 inch overall length, and 2 to 3 rows of seats to hold up to 7. Both second and third row seats can be folded flat to increase cargo capacity

There's also two trim levels, XL or up-level XLT, while the long version also adds a top of the line Titanium trim.

Goodies include back up camera, infotainment system with voice activation, navigation system, panoramic sunroof, rain sensing wipers, power heated outside mirrors, stability control, overhead roof storage, dual slide open side doors and a choice of hatchback liftgate or swing open rear cargo doors.

Ford also will replace its full size Econoline van with a vehicle simply called Transit early next year offering a 3.2 liter, 5 cylinder diesel.

While checking out the Transit Connect wagon, take a peek at the nearby Ford Atlas, a concept that gives an early look at the 2015 model Ford F-150 pickup with an all new look and such novel features as power running boards that motor out and retract to help getting in or out of the cabin, hidden ramps under the cargo bed that pull out to make loading/unloading the bed an easier chore, power grille and wheel vents that automatically close at speed to reduce air drag for better aerodynamics and mileage, and a power air dam up front that drops down at speed to reduce air drag and help boost fuel economy. With the new 2013 Ram and new 2014 Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra at the show, Ford wanted consumers to see its 2015 F-150 in the hopes they'll wait to buy the industry's top selling full size pickup.

2014 Concept Toyota Furia

Weird name for what is an early look at the new styling on the next generation of the compact Toyota Corolla coming out later this year.

Corolla had become more than a bit conservative over the last several years and the new sheet metal is designed to give it some sizzle and make it stand out from the crowd rather than disappear into it.

As with most small cars, when redesigned they are usually made a little bigger for improved room and comfort, and that's the case here. Furia has a 4 inch longer wheelbase at 106.3 inches than the current Corolla, and is 1 inch longer at 181 inches. It's also 2 inches wider for more wiggle room in the cabin, though 1 inch lower at 56.1 inches.

The Furia is designed around a theme of "Iconic Dynamism," which "uses pure and simple surface elements to create a confident, decisive and recognizable appearance." That's designer speak for the sheet metal is supposed to appeal to more youthful consumers than retirees.

The Corolla Furia design includes a swept windshield, with a sloped roofline and pronounced fender flares, which help make it possible to add large and sporty 19 inch wheels that youth favor, though time will tell if those big wheels make it on the production version.

There's also sculpted LED headlamps up front, composite LED taillights in the rear. Wheel wells, rocker panels, and rear valance, which includes ornate metal exhaust outlets for a sporty touch, are made of lightweight carbon fiber.

While checking out the Furia concept, take a look at the redesigned Toyota Tundra pickup truck being unveiled at the show. Tundra, last redesigned in 2007, sold 1012,621 copies last year, up 25 percent from 2011. The redesigned 2014 version built at Toyota's plant in San Antonio, Tex., goes on sale later this year as a 2014 model to compete against the Big Three domestic pickups.

2014 Cadillac ELR

An early look at the next plug in battery powered extended range electric from General Motors that arrives in showrooms at midyear. The 2-door ELR coupe joins the 4-door Volt sedan in the GM plug in electric stable.

The Chevy Volt was GM's first plug in electric, a surprise to many observers who thought GM would bring out a luxury Cadillac plug in first, allowing the automaker to charge a higher price for a low volume novelty to help recover some of the development cost. Besides, luxury buyers are more prone to buy novelty items and boast about being the first on the block with the newest gadget than Chevy owners. GM opted instead to offer its first plug in at its volume value leader, which meant it offered at a lower than expected price, but even so, it was hard for many to accept a $40,000 plus Chevy not bearing an Corvette badge — even if it boasted new battery technology.

While Volt was a "low cost" $40,000 plug in, ELR will be a premium luxury model in the $50,000-$60,000 plus range, loaded with all the creature comfort amenities and goodies to justify the hefty price tag. It will share the same power plant as the Volt, a lithium ion battery pack that claims about 40 miles of travel in battery mode only. A small 1.4 liter four cylinder gas engine that powers a generator automatically takes over when the battery pack is exhausted to keep producing electricity to keep the vehicle going another 100 miles or until the battery pack can be plugged in for from 4 hours using 240 volt current to 10-16 hours using 120 volt current to fully recharge.

The 2014 ELR will be produced late this year at GM's Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly plant that also builds Volt. No production numbers as yet.

ELR is a production version of Cadillac's Converj concept vehicle that made the rounds on the 2009 auto show circuit.

FIAT 500L

Add 2 more doors to the mini Fiat 500 and you have the all new for 2014 500L, with the L denoting added length. The newest edition to the Italian automaker's lineup will arrive in showrooms at midyear as a 2014 model. The L could have been called the LWH, because it's not only 26 inches longer (167.1 inches versus 139.6 inches) than the current 2-door, it's also both 6 inches wider (69.8 inches versus 64.1 inches) and higher (65.7 inches versus 59.8) to provide more cabin wiggle room for 5-passengers.

And the 4-door wheelbase was stretched a little more than a foot to 102.8 inches versus 90.6 inches on the 2-door. The L is a rival to the 4-door Mini Paceman from BMW and is powered by a 1.4 liter, 160 turbocharged 4 cylinder teamed with a choice of 6-speed manual or automatic transmissions. The 2-door offers a 1.4 liter, non turbo 101 h.p. four with a choice of 5-speed manual or 6-speed automatic.

Since it competes with the BMW MINI, the 500L also offers a more aggressive, higher performance Trekking version with two-tone black/brown interior, unique black front and rear facias, flared wheel arches and larger 17 inch wheels to support a sportier, more adventurous personality.

There's also an all-new Uconnect 5.0 system that features a 5 inch touch screen interface, hands-free calling, and Bluetooth streaming video, as well as voice command control of the radio. An upgraded premium Uconnect system offers a larger 6.5 inch screen and dealer activated navigation system.

The 4-door L, newest nmember of the Italian automakers stable, offers 42 percent more interior space than the 2-door and is built in Serbia.

Fiat is adding a 500e battery powered electric but only for the California market so it's not at the show.

2014 KIA Cadenza sedan

Just as its South Korean partner Hyundai moved up into the premium sedan segment with Genesis models, now comes Kia with its premium Cadenza to move the brand up-market.

Kia, like Hyundai, felt an upscale flagship was needed for consumers who joined the family with an entry level offering and have moved up through the ranks, but now want more luxury than Optima offers as age and income levels have risen. Toyota owners, for example, move up to its Lexus luxury division and Kia wanted a similar option for its owners to stay in the family.

A host of premium standard and optional equipment includes Advanced Smart Cruise Control (ASCC) to avoid making contact with the vehicle ahead of you by braking should it slow down, Blind Spot Detection (BSD), to warn drivers that a vehicle lurks out of site along either side of the car, and Lane-Departure Warning System (LDWS), that alerts the driver if he or she wanders into the wrong lane to avoid a head on impact.

Cadenza is powered by a 3.3 liter V-6 engine teamed with a 6-speed automatic with paddle shifters.

There's also standard leather seat trim, dual-zone automatic climate control with rear seat ventilation, Smart Key keyless entry with push-button start, 10-way power adjustable driver's seat, Bluetooth wireless technology, back up camera, full-length panoramic sunroof with power retractable sunshade, a ventilated power driver's seat with seat cushion extension, heated front and rear outboard seats, heated steering wheel with power tilt and telescoping steering column.

Cadenza is expected to arrive in Kia showrooms in the second quarter this year. No pricing yet.

2014 Kia Forte5

The new for 2014 Kia Forte5 hatchback version of the redesigned Kia Forte sedan is being unveiled at the auto show prior to going on sale in the second half of this year following the sedan's going on sale in the first quarter. The slightly longer (2 inches) hatchback compete with the Hyundai Elantra GT and Mazda 3 hatchbacks. The all-new 2014 Forte will be offered in LX and EX variants with a choice of 1.8-liter or more powerful 2-liter four cylinder engines. The hatchback will offer the same 1.8 liter base engine as the sedan, but also an optional 1.6 liter turbocharged four for added power.

Slotted between the subcompact Rio sedan and the mid-size Optima sedan, the all-new Forte hatchback includes a host of premium features, depending on model, such as a ventilated driver's seat, steering wheel mounted audio controls, satellite radio, Bluetooth wireless technology, power windows, air conditioning and power heated outside mirrors.

2014 Mazda6

The midsize sedan is noteworthy because it has been totally redesigned for 2014 and competes in the most popular segment in the industry, midsize sedans. But the primary reason it deserves a close look is that it offers a 2.2 liter turbo diesel engine to provide driving range that gas engines don't offer.

The Mazda6 becomes the first non commercial diesel offering in the U.S. from a Japanese brand. It goes on sale in the second half of this year for those who want the room and comfort of a midsize sedan, the fuel economy and driving range of a compact. It will be teamed with a choice of 6-speed automatic or 6-speed manual. No mileage or range estimates as yet.

The sedan features Mazda's new capacitor-based brake energy regeneration system called i-ELOOP that provides power to all the electrical mechanisms in a vehicle by using an electric motor or alternator to capture energy during braking to generate electricity to power the car's electrical systems, including air conditioning and audio.

An all-new safety component is called Smart City Brake Support (SCBS) that's designed to assist a driver in avoiding front collisions when traveling at speeds of less than 20 miles per hour. An imbedded laser sensor detects an object ahead and reduces brake rotor travel to quicken braking if the system calculates there is a risk of a collision. If the driver fails to perform an avoidance maneuver, the SCBS system automatically activates the brakes.

2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee

Styling upgrade of the icon SUV with a new 3 liter ECO diesel V-6 rated at 30 m.p.g. highway and a driving range of 730 miles — in a sport utility vehicle. Also new is an 8-speed to maximize fuel economy. The Grand Cherokee is joined by a modest styling upgrade to the Jeep Compass for 2014. It also gets a new 6-speed automatic. Compass is built in Belvidere alongside the Jeep Patriot.

If you haven't exhausted all your time, amble over to Dodge to see the new Dart GT with its 2.4 liter, 184 h.p. 4 cylinder, a response to critics who said the high mileage car needed higher performance than it gets from the 2 liter, 160 h.p. four that was only offered at first. However, there's speculation that even higher horsepower R/T and SRT versions with 200 plus h.p. are in the works.

2014 Acura MDX

The prototype of the 7-passenger luxury SUV that goes on sale at midyear as a 2014 model is spotlighted at the show.

The MDX will be offered in front or all wheel drive versions, with the front drive version added in response to motorists in warm climates who said they didn't need all wheel drive.

A new 3.5-liter V-6 with Variable Cylinder Management (VCM) is designed for more spirited movement away from the light or when passing, but shuts down 3 cylinders at cruising to conserve fuel.

The SUV also features a longer wheelbase to improve ride quality and provide a little more second row leg room. The 2014 MDX also will be equipped with Forward Collision Warning (FCW), Lane Departure Warning (LDW) systems, Blind Spot Information, and Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS). The new MDX will feature the next-generation AcuraLink system with automated crash notification, remote locking/unlocking, emergency "SOS" call feature, and live-operator concierge services.

With the introduction of the 2014 MDX, production will move from Alliston, Ontario, to Honda's vehicle and V-6 engine manufacturing facility in Lincoln, Ala.

transportation@tribune.com

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Greenlight's Einhorn sues Apple, seeks bigger payout

(Reuters) - David Einhorn wants Apple to "think different" ... about its cash.

The hedge fund manager's Greenlight Capital sued Apple Inc on Thursday, saying the company should give stockholders a bigger share of its huge cash pile.

Apple shares, which had fallen 35 percent from mid-September through Wednesday, were up 0.9 percent at $458.70 in morning trading.

Einhorn, a well-known short seller, is long on Apple shares. In a television interview on Thursday, he said that while he admires the company, it has a "cash problem" that it needs to fix by giving away perpetual preferred stock with a 4 percent yield.

"The idea is powerful, and when I have a chance to explain it to the shareholders, most will see it as an enormous win-win," Einhorn told Reuters.

Apple was not immediately available for comment.

One analyst said there were merits to Einhorn's proposal.

"He's a huge holder in the stock, the shares are down and it's natural for a person like that to try and reverse that," said BGC Partners analyst Colin Gillis. "Other shareholders may join, but whether it will change the tide remains to be seen."

Analysts have said stockholder pressure would increase as Apple's share price and clout declines, and investors have persistently called on the company to be more proactive in using its massive cash and capital hoard.

As recently as last month, Chief Financial Officer Peter Oppenheimer told analysts on a post-results conference call that the company, which has the largest cash balance in the tech industry at more than $100 billion, was considering various ways to be more active on that front.

Money managers have also said that Apple's cash pile was underperforming the results peers had been able to achieve with their own money.

'UTTERLY MISVALUED'

Calling Apple shares "utterly misvalued" at current levels in a CNBC interview, Einhorn said the company no longer needs to grow at the near-triple digit rates of the past.

For every $50 billion in preferred stock that Apple gives away to shareholders, it could unlock $32 a share in value for investors, Einhorn said, without elaborating on how he arrived at that number.

In a statement, Greenlight said it spent part of 2012 in discussions with Apple on the idea of perpetual preferred stock, but that the company rejected it last September.

"We understand that many of our fellow shareholders share our frustration with Apple's capital allocation policies," Greenlight said in an open letter to other investors. "Apple has $145 per share of cash on its balance sheet. As a shareholder, this is your money."

Greenlight also filed a lawsuit in federal court in New York on Thursday to force Apple to modify a proposal in its proxy, which the hedge fund believes does not conform to regulatory rules.

Greenlight said it is opposed to the proposal, No. 2 on Apple's proxy, which the firm said would remove the company's ability to issue preferred stock from its charter.

(Writing by Ben Berkowitz; Editing by Gerald E. McCormick and Lisa Von Ahn)

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NFL reinstates Williams, Titans add him to staff

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The NFL has reinstated Gregg Williams after suspending him for his role in the New Orleans' bounty scandal, and the Titans have added him to their coaching staff.

The NFL ended Williams' indefinite suspension Thursday and approved the Titans' contract hiring Williams. Tennessee also announced in the same release that Williams had been hired as a senior assistant coach for its defense.

The league issued a statement saying that Commissioner Roger Goodell cited several reasons for reinstating Williams including that Williams accepted responsibility for his role in the bounty program, his commitment to never be involved in any pay for performance system and pledging to teach safe play and respect for the rules.

"The commissioner emphasized that Williams must fully conform to league rules and will be subject to periodic monitoring to confirm his compliance," the NFL said in its statement.

Williams, suspended indefinitely last March, is the last person involved in the scandal to be reinstated by league. New Orleans coach Sean Payton had his suspension lifted on Jan. 22.

Saints general manager Mickey Loomis was suspended for eight games and assistant head coach Joe Vitt for six. Four current or former Saints players were also suspended after an investigation found the club had a performance pool offering cash rewards for key plays, including big hits. The player suspensions eventually were overturned.

Williams coached for the Saints between 2009 and 2011 and was hired as defensive coordinator by the St. Louis Rams in January 2012 before being suspended. Williams had been free to look for a new job in the NFL since the playoffs started, and now he is returning to the team where he got his start in the league back in 1990.

The Titans scheduled a news conference for Thursday afternoon with Williams expected to be on hand along with Titans coach Mike Munchak.

"I have known Gregg for over two decades and have seen him work his way up from a quality control coach to a head coach," Munchak said in a statement. "He will bring a great deal of defensive knowledge and energy to our staff. The decision to bring him here only came after going through a thoughtful and thorough process."

How well this move works remains to be seen, but Munchak faces a must-win situation going into his third season as head coach.

The Titans missed the playoffs in his first season on a tiebreaker in 2011 before slumping to a 6-10 record in 2012. Fans have not been happy that Munchak has kept Jerry Gray as his coordinator after a season when Tennessee set a franchise record by allowing 471 points, gave up at least 30 points in seven different games and ranked 27th in yards allowed.

Munchak previously made only one move on his defensive staff, firing linebackers coach Frank Bush and moving Chet Parlavecchio from assisting with special teams to linebackers coach.

Williams will be working with Gray, the same man he took with him to Buffalo when he was hired as the Bills head coach in 2001 after four seasons as Tennessee's defensive coordinator under then-coach Jeff Fisher. Gray also worked with Williams at the Washington Redskins between 2004-07 before Williams worked with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2008 and then with the Saints.

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Afghan boys from nominated film to walk red carpet

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — Fawad Mohammadi has spent half his life peddling maps and dictionaries to foreigners on a street of trinket shops in Kabul. Now the 14-year-old Afghan boy with bright green eyes is getting ready for a trip down the red carpet at the Oscars.

It will also be his first time out of the country and his first time on a plane.

Mohammadi was plucked from the dingy streets of the Afghan capital to be one of the main stars of "Buzkashi Boys," a coming-of-age movie filmed entirely in a war zone and nominated in the Best Live Action Short Film category.

The movie is about two penniless young boys — a street urchin and a blacksmith's son — who are best friends and dream of becoming professional players of buzkashi, a particularly rough and dangerous game that somewhat resembles polo: Horseback riders wrangle to get a headless goat carcass into a circular goal at one end of the field.

It's also part of an American director's effort to help revive a film industry devastated by decades of civil war and by the Taliban, an Islamic fundamentalist movement that banned entertainment and burned films and theaters during its five years in power.

Sam French, a Philadelphia native who has lived in Afghanistan for about five years, said his 28-minute movie was initially conceived as a way of training local film industry workers — the first installment in his nonprofit Afghan Film Project.

"We never dreamed of having the film come this far and get an Oscar nomination," French, 36, said in a telephone interview from Los Angeles, where he is preparing for the Feb. 24 Academy Awards and raising money to fly the two young co-stars in for the ceremony.

The two boys playing the main characters — Mohammadi and Jawanmard Paiz — can barely contain their excitement about going to the Oscars.

"It will be a great honor for me and for Afghanistan to meet the world's most famous actors," said Mohammadi, whose real-life dream is to become a pilot. He's also hoping to go see the cockpit during the flight.

The farthest Mohammadi has ever traveled was to the northern Afghan city of Mazar-i-Sharif when he was younger.

Mohammadi's father died a few years ago, leaving him with his mother, five brothers and a sister. He started selling chewing gum when he was about 7 years old and soon expanded his trade to maps and dictionaries.

He learned to speak English hustling foreigners on Chicken Street, the main tourist area in Kabul with shops selling multicolor rugs, lapis bowls and other crafts and souvenirs, and gained a reputation for being polite, helpful and trustworthy. He was even able to enroll in a private school, thanks to the generosity of some other foreigners unrelated to the film project.

In the movie Mohammadi plays the blacksmith's son, Rafi, whose father wants him to follow in his footsteps.

"His life was so much harder than mine," Mohammadi said. "The blacksmith made him go out on the streets. I came myself here (to Chicken Street). My family didn't make me come. I wanted to make money to feed myself and to feed my family. He didn't have a home. They lived in the blacksmith shop."

Ironically it's not Mohammadi but Paiz, the youngest son of a well-known Afghan actor, who plays the homeless boy Ahmad.

Paiz, also 14, already was an experienced actor: He's appeared in films since the age of 5 and has gone to the Cannes Film Festival.

Paiz and Mohammadi had a lot to learn from each other and became friends. He gave Mohammadi tips for acting and handling himself in live interviews, while Fawad taught him about life outside his sheltered surroundings.

"When I saw Fawad was such a good actor even though he was a street boy and he was so brave in acting, I was very surprised and I said to myself, 'Everybody can achieve what they desire to do,'" Paiz said during an interview this week, shivering in the snow-covered courtyard of the Afghan Film Institute while a local TV series was being filmed nearby.

French, who co-wrote the script and produced "Buzkashi Boys" with Martin Roe of the Los Angeles-based production company Dirty Robber, launched a fundraising drive that's raised almost $10,000 so far to help bring the boys to Los Angeles for the ceremony. Any extra money will be placed in a fund to provide for Mohammadi's education and help his family. The boys will travel with an escort and will stay with the extended Afghan family of one of the film's producers, French said.

French said he's aware of the pitfalls in working with child actors from developing countries.

The makers of "Slumdog Millionaire," the rags-to-riches blockbuster about three poor Indian children, have struggled to make a better life for the young stars, and four boys who acted in "The Kite Runner" had to leave Afghanistan out of concern they could be ostracized or subject to violence because of a rape scene in the movie.

French said he and others involved in the "Buzkashi Boys" took pains to involve the community and made sure to avoid any scenes that could be offensive.

"We're not filmmakers who just do a film and leave. We remain there and present," he said. "We had lots and lots of tea with lots and lots of people."

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences says there have been three documentary features nominees filmed at least in part in Afghanistan since 2007 — all about the U.S. military. The Kite Runner, which was nominated for original score in 2007, was set in Afghanistan but not filmed there.

Afghanistan had a burgeoning film industry starting in the early 20th century, but it suffered from fighting during the civil war and the Taliban campaign to stamp out entertainment. Actors and film industry workers like Paiz's father and the actor who plays the blacksmith, Wali Talash, fled the country. They returned only after the 2001 U.S.-led assault that ousted the Islamic movement and its al-Qaida allies.

Talash, 56, said he hopes the "Buzkashi Boys" will show the world the rich culture of Afghanistan, which too few in the world know beyond reports of roadside bombs and suicide attacks.

"I hope if this movie wins that it will be an earthquake that will shake the industry and help Afghan filmmakers get back on their feet," he said.

Mohammadi, meanwhile, says he knows the money and fame he earned from the movie can carry him only so far. He still sells maps, though not so often as before, because he has school.

"For my work I used to know a lot of foreigners and I still do, but before they used to know me as a map seller. Now they know me as an actor," he said, waving a plastic-covered map as weary Afghans walked by on the muddy street. "Most of them take pictures with me and sometimes they buy maps from me even if they don't need any just because they spotted me in the movie."

___

Associated Press writer Steve Loeper in Los Angeles contributed to this report.

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Online:

Fundraising site — https://rally.org/buzkashiboys/c/h95pGSpJAiE

Film website — http://www.buzkashiboys.com/

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EveryBlock.com shuts down

"Though EveryBlock has been able to build an engaged community over the years, we’re faced with the decision to wrap things up," a posting on the EveryBlock.com blog said.

The posting said Everyblock faced increasing challenges to build a profitable business. It had 10 employees.

The company was founded in 2007 by Naperville native Adrian Holovaty and acquired by MSNBC.com in 2009. NBC News acquired MSNBC.com last year.

EveryBlock collected data such as building permits, crime reports, news stories and even Yelp reviews for 19 cities and made the information is made searchable by address, zip code or neighborhood.

The sites also focused on community discussions and helping residents improve their neighborhoods.

MSNBC and founder Holovaty did not immediately return calls seeking comment.

"EveryBlock was among the more innovative and ambitious journalism projects at a time when journalism desperately needed innovation and ambition. RIP," Holovaty wrote Thursday in a blog post on his site Holovaty.com.

Holovaty wrote that he believes EveryBlock, founded with the help of a $1.1 million grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, was a successful attempt to push innovation in newspaper and journalism.

"It was a great site, beautifully designed and lovingly crafted. It made a difference for people, particularly in Chicago," he wrote.

Holovaty left the site in August to pursue other interests.

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License number leads cops to salon robbery suspect

The Evanston man charged with robbing nearly a dozen hair salons in Chicago, Skokie, Morton Grove, Broadview and Niles was apprehended seven hours after the last reported robbery, when a witness provided a partial license plate to authorities, police said today.

Jason Logsdon, 41, of the 900 block of Chicago Avenue in Evanston, is charged with 11 counts of felony armed robbery, according to the Cook County state's attorney's office.

“Everyone had a common goal, to get an offender off the street that was terrorizing small business owners,” said Tom Byrne, chief of detectives for the Chicago Police Department, during the news conference in Skokie.

Logsdon was taken into custody Monday in Skokie, hours after a robbery on the North Side, authorities said. He is suspected of robbing hair salons that include one in Broadview; five in Chicago; one in Morton Grove; two in Niles; and two in Skokie, authorities said.

Skokie police found that they had stopped Logsdon for two minor traffic violations within the past year, before the string of robberies occurred.

The DuPage County State’s Attorney’s office is pursuing additional charges against Logsdon in connection for two robberies in Lombard, one in Glen Ellyn and one in Bensenville, officials said.

The Cook County charges were filed after witnesses viewed line-ups at the Skokie police station, authorities said. Officials declined to discuss the type of weapon used, but said that his motive at least initially was financial.

A pattern of robberies began emerging in late December, said Brian Baker, commander in charge of the investigative division in Skokie, said Brian Baker, Skokie’s commander in charge of the investigative division.

Logsdon was arrested after a salon in the Wicker Park neighborhood was hit. A man stole about $250 in cash from a Great Clips salon in the 1200 block of a well-trafficked North Ashland Avenue around 10:45 a.m. Monday, police said.

The man took out a handgun before presenting a dark bag to three salon workers, which one of them filled with money, Chicago Police News Affairs Officer Daniel O'Brien said. Wearing a red and gray jacket, blue jeans and a hat and scarf, the man walked north on Ashland and hopped in a gray colored sedan, which left driving southbound, police said.

No one was injured, police said.

A witness from that robbery provided a license plate number that was one digit off, Baker said. Chicago police ran variations on the number until they found a vehicle with a similar make and model as reported by the witness. The person who owned the car that Logsdon was driving had “no knowledge that these (robberies) were occurring,” Baker said.

Last Tuesday, a man robbed a Great Clips salon in the 1000 block of West Webster Avenue in the Sheffield Neighbors neighborhood, according to police. The man was given cash and fled the store, police said. Police think the same man may have held up salons in the 1200 block of North Clybourn Avenue on Jan. 21 and salons in the 1200 and 1300 blocks of West Fullerton Avenue in December.

Other police agencies have warned that the same man may be responsible for robberies in Niles, Skokie, Morton Grove, Bensenville, Lombard, and Glen Ellyn.

chicagobreaking@tribune.com

Twitter: @ChicagoBreaking

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