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Show Al2 > The Salt Lake Tribune NATION Sunday, Septemb Levitz Chapter 11 to Close S.L. Store KNIGHT-RIDDER NEWSSERVICE Levitz Furniture Corp. which has been struggling with a stodgyimage, slumping sales and heavydebt, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy court protection on Friday. The Boca Raton, Fla.-based furniture retailer said it would close stores in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., as well as mace,Va. Levitz listed $116 miliion in liabilities and $13 million in assets in its Chapter 11 peti- tion filed in Wilmington, Del. Under Chapter 11, a company receives protection from creditors while it reorganizes. The stores to be closed “weren't bleeders,”’ Chief Executive Michael Bozie told stores in Jacksonville, Fla; Bloomberg News. “They were Fort Myers, Fla; Salt Lake City; Houston; Atlanta; Cincinnati; Reno, Ney.; and Poto- just in markets where the cash flow didn’t justify continuing.” A Pep Talk appears to be in serious trouble. Supporters say President Clinton can save it but onlyif he acts within weeks. Clinton returns from vacation this week to makehis decision, and Congress has madeit clear that the controversial deal is unlikely to passthis year unless he jumpstarts it quickly. But Clinton, whose own aidesarefighting over the deal, is under growing pressureto let the deadline pass from critics who say Congress could make a serious mistake by acting in haste. “Myadvice would be for Congressto takeits time to get this job done right rather than get lions of dollars they would get anywayif Coa: gress ever passes a national tobacco deal. it done right now,” said Sen. Kent Conrad, D- N.D., chosen to lead Senate Democrats on the issue. “This has lots of implications for health in with the federal truce stalled, Wall Street @mperts expect the companies to gamble on ning in Texas. =] The proposed nationaltobacco deal, if rati- this country, it sets precedents for other industries and for the rights of people who've been injured,” Conrad said. Therising threat of delay poses 2 quandary for cigarette makers: how to handle their next fied by Congress, wouldsettle 40 state tol lawsuits by setting new federal policy. Tobact co companies would pay $368.5 billion over. bs lawsuit,set to go to trial in Texas on Sept. years, strictly curb advertising and pay up $2 billion a year in fines if youth smoking A Texas judge has ordered top tobacco executives into court Monday to answer whether they intendto settle or go to trial, a decision the companiesprivately say is tough. They just settled similar lawsuits in Mississippi and Florida, paying thosestates the bil- doesn’t drop. In return, they wonlegal protections and limits on how muchthe government could regulate nicotine. Butcritics say Big Tobaceo won too much, and the price tag is emerging as a particular concern. 3 including two black patent cosmetic bags. WASHINGTON — Vice president Al Gore urged hundreds of working women Saturday to keep up the fight for fairness in the workplace and pledged that the Clinton administration will back them. Gore told more than 1,700 women at an AFL-CIO conference that it was time for a new awareness of whatis neededforfairness Worth 50.00. Free with any Estee Lauder purchase of 18.50 or more. and justice for working women “Wecan’t be satisfied until the Just what you need for great looks now...9 Estée Lauderoriginals: notion of equal pay for equal * NEW LAUDER PLEASURES FOR MEN COLOGNE SAMPLE © 2 full-size All-Day Lipsticks © Fruition Extra Multi-Action Complex Ancient Brick and Nectar © Hair Comb workis notjust a theorybuta reality THE ASSOCIATED PRESS WASHINGTON — The tobacco deal, lauded as an histeric truce just two months ago, our Estée Lauder 9-piece gift THEASSOCIATED PRESS in the lives of working wo- men,” Supporters Say Action Needed to Save Tobacco Deal . eet ane ue mei Gore Gives Working Women 7, 1997 hesaid, to cheers from the crowd attending the Working Women Working Together confer- © Lip Defining Pencil ence. “You've got to keep up the fight for fairness. You've got to keep pushing for these critical labor rights, civil rights and human rights,” he added. “I pledge to you on behalf of President Clinton and myself that we will stand with you every step of the way.” Black Patent Cosmetics Bag ¢ Resilience BodyElastin Refirming Lotion © Matching Companion Bag And, some free advice. Getall your skincare, makeup and fragrance questions answered with a complimentary consultation at the Estée Lauder Counter. Thisoffer is good while supplies last. Oneto a customer, please. Gorereiterated the Clinton ad- ministration stand that people moving from welfare to work should be protected underexisting labor laws. “If Congresstries to deny basic laborrights to those who are mov- ing from welfare to work . . we're going to say ‘no’ once again and veto that provision, President Clinton will do that,” said Gore. The three-day conference, a project of the Working Women’s Department of the AFL-CIO, fo- cuses on issues facing working women and their families and ways women could bring change in the job and in communities. It ends today. HarassmentSuit Against Clinton: Is It Faltering? THEASSOCIATEDPRESS EDGARTOWN, Mass. — With Paula Corbin Jones andherattorneys on the verge of bitterly parting ways, President Clinton's camp suggested Saturdaythat the prospects of settling her sexual harassment suit against the presi- INTRODUCING dent had dimmed. In a petition dated Friday, Jones’ attorneys, Joe Cammarata and Gil Davis, cited a “difference of opinion” in asking U.S. District Court Judge Susan Webber LAUDER merle Wright for permission to withdrawfrom the case, according to two sources closeto the case. The withdrawal petition, which sources said was to be formally ata] entered with the court on Monday, came as settlement discus- sions in the 3-year-old case had beenintensifying. Jones, through a spokesman, confirmed that she rejected settlement terms pushedbyher law- yers — $700,000 and a vague statement of regret for any damage to her reputation — and was interviewing new counsel ‘Three sources closeto the president and his legal team, which is led by Robert Bennett, suggested that this latest turn, after weeks of informal settlement discus: sions, darkened prospects of an agreement betweentheparties. “There's no basis to resolveit and it won't matter who they bring in, and what they do,” said one source. Another expressed confidence that the president wanted the facts laid bare in court. “We're just going to go to trial,” the source said All sides were left guessing whether the judge would allow Cammarata and Davis to abandon the case with no ready replacements and jury selection set to be: gin May 27. It would be thefirst case of a U.S, president's being tried for sexual harassment Visit our Web Site: http:/www.dillards.com White House spokesman Joe Lockhart, who was traveling with the vacationing president in Martha's Vineyard, refused to com. ment. Shop Monday-Saturday 10-0 and Sunday 12-6 at all Dillard's locations. We welcome your Dillard's Credit Card, Tha American Express® Card, Diners Club international, Mastercard? Visa* and The Discover Card. y | X s \ 7 \ vy) , |
