Reynolds American 1Q net income climbs

RICHMOND, Virginia (AP) — Reynolds American Inc.'s first-quarter net income surged as the cigarette maker benefited from strength in its Pall Mall and Camel brands and higher prices.

The second-biggest U.S. tobacco company said Thursday it earned $353 million, or 60 cents per share, for the period ended March 31, up from $82 million, or 14 cents per share, a year ago.

Last year's quarter also included 37 cents per share in charges related to settlements with the Canadian government.

Adjusted earnings rose to 59 cents per share from 56 cents per share. The results beat the 58 cents per share that analysts polled by FactSet expected.

Reynolds' first-quarter revenue …

Candidates supported by Sen. DeMint

Senate candidates supported by Republican Sen. Jim DeMint of South Carolina:

_ Marco Rubio, Florida

_ Rand Paul, Kentucky

_ Pat Toomey, Pennsylvania

…

Utah defeats Oregon, 17-13

SALT LAKE CITY - Alex Smith is looking comfortable as Utah'sstarting quarterback. Making just his third start, Smith passed fora career-best 340 yards and two touchdowns as Utah beat a rankedopponent for the first time in four years by upsetting No. 19 Oregon17-13 Friday night.

"This is what you play for - the crowd, the fans, Oregon. It wasunbelievable," said Smith, who completed 25-of-38 passes for the Utes(4-1).

Utah Coach Urban Meyer had promised to open up Utah's offenseafter running conservative game plans in Smith's first two starts forBrett Elliott, who broke his wrist in a loss to Texas A&M on Sept. 6.

With a combination of counters, shuffle passes …

Japanese workers at US military bases go on strike over benefit cuts

Tens of thousands of Japanese workers at U.S. military bases in Japan went on strike Wednesday, protesting a government plan to cut their benefits as part of an effort to tighten its budget for support of the 50,000 U.S. troops here.

Japan covers support and operational costs for the U.S. bases in Japan under an agreement with Washington, adding up to a budget of billions of dollars (euros) each year, more than any other host country.

About 16,000 union members went on strike Wednesday after the government proposed cutting benefits last month, according to Tsuneo Teruya, secretary general of All Japan Garrison Forces Labor Union.

Some of the …

Hunter homers to cap eight-run second inning

Torii Hunter hit a two-run homer to cap an eight-run second inning and the Los Angeles Angels beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 12-3 Friday night.

Jered Weaver won his first career appearance against Arizona, Maicer Izturis doubled and tripled, driving in two runs and scoring two, and Bobby Abreu had two hits and two RBIs while helping the Angels to a season high for runs.

Kendry Morales and Juan Rivera also had two hits apiece as the Angels (39-32) improved to a major league-best 12-4 in interleague play with only two games against Arizona remaining.

Weaver (8-3) gave up three runs and four hits in six innings for the fifth victory in his last six …

Duchess buried, winning place in royal fold

WINDSOR, England (AP) The duchess of Windsor, the Americandivorcee for whom King Edward VIII gave up his throne, was buriedbeside her husband yesterday, posthumously drawn into the royalembrace that was denied her for nearly 50 years.

The simple funeral, attended by Queen Elizabeth II and 16members of her family, was the final chapter of a king-and-commonerromance that rocked 1930s Britain and forced the couple into virtualexile at the insistence of a scandalized monarchy.

The 28-minute ceremony passed without visible displays ofemotion. There was no mention of the duchess by name or title, norof the tumultuous role she …

Employers Cut Jobs in August

WASHINGTON - Employers sliced payrolls by 4,000 in August, the first drop in four years, a stark sign that a painful credit crunch that has unnerved Wall Street is putting a strain on the national economy.

The latest snapshot of the employment climate, released by the Labor Department on Friday, also showed that the unemployment rate held steady at 4.6 percent, mainly because hundreds of thousands of people left the work force for any number of reasons.

Job losses in construction, manufacturing, transportation and government swamped gains in education and health care, leisure and hospitality, and retail. Employment in financial services was flat. The weakness in payrolls …