He sees a young team that lost four games by a total of five runs against a strong Rays ballclub as being on the verge of competing against the games best.

But hes also realistic enough to know it is having too many maddening breakdowns at key junctures.

The Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity (IARPA), research arm of the director of national intelligence, is coordinating the effort by hiring some of the nations largest defense contracting companies. The latest contract, a $9.1 million project awarded to a team led by Boeing Co. for work through December 2015, was issued in April through the Air Force Research Laboratory.

Officials said they view the multiyear research program, known as Sirius, as an effort to improve analyst training for college students, who could become tomorrows analysts.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) Evan Turner sped past a defender for a dunk in the first quarter, and spun around a guy to make an acrobatic reverse lay-up in the second.

Pretty plays, for sure.

But the one that made the difference in the Philadelphia 76ers 79-74 victory over the Chicago Bulls in Game 3 Friday night was much uglier.

With the Sixers clinging to a one-point lead in the final minute, Turner drove to the basket and put a shot up in traffic that missed. He grabbed his own rebound and fell to the floor as three defenders, desperately trying to swat the ball away, converged. Turner fought them off, got up, maintained control and put up another shot. It missed, but he was fouled.

I appreciate that (Coach Doug Collins) put the ball in my hands in a key possession, Turner said Saturday. That was the least I can do to keep fighting.

Turner swished both free throws and the Sixers sank the injury-depleted Bulls, taking an unlikely 2-1 lead in their first-round Eastern Conference series.

With reigning NBA MVP Derrick Rose out for the season after tearing a knee ligament in the series opener and Joakim Noah doubtful with an ankle injury, the top-seeded Bulls are in trouble.

Game 4 is Sunday at the Wells Fargo Center.

The singular biggest play of the year for us was Evan Turner, the play he made under the basket, Collins said. Evan just fought, fought, fought, got fouled and made those two free throws.

It was beautiful. Evan getting in there and fighting, hes a big-time competitor.

Turners tenacity against the undermanned Bulls has the eighth-seeded Sixers on the verge of pulling off a stunning upset. The injuries are piling up for Chicago, which has to find a way to rally in the series without Rose and probably not Noah.

Hes most likely out tomorrow, Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau said of Noah.

As for the remainder of the series, Thibodeau said Noah is day to day.

Omer Asik would replace Noah as the starting center. Asik, a 7-footer, averaged 3.1 points, 5.3 rebounds and 14.7 minutes per game in the regular season.

I feel we have more than enough, Thibodeau said. Next guy, gotta get the job done.

Noah got hurt midway through the third quarter when he stepped on Andre Iguodalas foot driving the lane and crashed to the court. Noah instantly grabbed his left ankle in pain, though he returned to shoot free throws after a timeout. He also played briefly in the fourth quarter, before leaving the arena on crutches.

Its up to guys to step up, Bulls forward Taj Gibson said. When one man goes down, you have to be ready. This is the NBA and things like this happen.

Whats happening on the other bench is quite remarkable.

On a big stage, Turner is showing why the Sixers chose him with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2010 NBA draft. Hes had plenty of ups and downs in his two seasons. Heck, he didnt even start Game 1 of this series.

But the Sixers have won two in a row with him starting. Turner had 19 points, seven rebounds and six assists in a 109-92 win in Game 2. He followed that up with 16 points and nine rebounds in Game 3.

The highlight plays he made Friday night earned him style points, but his resilient effort on that play late in the game earned respect.

His will to win was excellent, veteran Elton Brand said. He wouldnt let us lose that game.

Turner hasnt lived up to expectations in his first two seasons, though part of the problem has simply been playing time and adjusting to a different role. Turner was The Associated Press Player of the Year as a junior at Ohio State before heading to the NBA. He averaged 20.3 points, 9.2 rebounds and 5.9 assists while leading the Buckeyes into the round of 16 in the 2010 NCAA tournament.

Turner stepped into the starting lineup as a rookie in Philadelphia, but struggled early and appeared confused on the court at times. He was used to handling the ball in college, but Jrue Holiday is the point guard on the Sixers so the offense runs through him. Turner didnt adapt quickly to becoming a spot-up shooter and was benched after 18 games. At the time, The Sixers were 5-13. With Jodie Meeks, a dependable outside shooter starting at the two-guard spot, Philadelphia went 36-28 the rest of the way and earned a playoff berth.

Turners minutes dwindled, but he showed potential at various points with productive games late in the season. He scored 15 points and 17 points off the bench in two playoff games against Miami, who won the series in five games.

After spending the summer refining his shooting skills with Herb Magee, the Hall of Fame coach at Philadelphia University, Turner figured to open the season as a starter. But Collins stuck with Meeks, because that lineup worked last year.

Turner was relegated to a reserve role again, and the Sixers started 20-9. No reason to make changes.

Then Philadelphia lost 8 of 10, and Turner went back in. He started 18 straight games before going back to the bench after a four-game losing streak. Following a 12-point loss to the Bulls in the playoff opener, Collins switched his lineup again. Turner has made the most of the opportunity.

He is at his best in these kinds of games, Collins said.

Copyright 2012 by STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited

Leasing, as opposed to outright purchase, of a solar power system can drastically reduce the upfront cost of having a solar photovoltaic (PV) energy system installed. There have been solar lease programs out there offering to do so for zero down and a series of monthly payments. As many as 1/3 of US homeowners can save money by financing a residential solar power system via a lease or Power Purchase Agreement structure, according to the partners.

Main St. Meets Wall St.

Through the MySolar program, monthly savings from the clean, renewable electricity the rooftop solar power systems produce will flow through to the homeowner. Boulder, Colorados Main St. Power will own the rooftop systems, selling the surplus power they produce on to grid providers.

“The MySolar program will be the largest residential solar investment facility in the nation and can help save consumers millions of dollars in electricity payments, create thousands of solar jobs and further the easy adoption of solar for thousands of homeowners around the country,” said Jonathan W. Postal, Main Street Power senior vice president.

Clean Power Finance finds and qualifies homeowners for the residential leases through a network of some 1,550 local solar energy professionals who make use of its online CPF Tools solar sales software platform, taking a cut of the lease payments. MySolar is the third solar lease program the San Francisco provider has launched. It now has some $500 million in project financing available for residential solar leases.

Founded in 2007, Kleiner, Caulfield amp; Byers (KPCB), Claremont Creek Ventures, Clean Pacific Ventures, Google Ventures and Sand Hill Angels have also invested in the young company. Thus far, Clean Power Finance has facilitated more than $1 million in residential solar project financing per day in Arizona, Colorado, Massachusetts and New Jersey.

Morgan Stanley subsidiary MS Solar Solutions Corp. (MSSS) will benefit by purchasing the tax credits for which the residential solar energy systems qualify. http://www.morganstanley.com/about/newsroom.html “We are excited about the opportunity to be part of this solar investment facility,” said Martin Mobley, vice president, Morgan Stanley. “Clean Power Finance provides outstanding market access, underwriting and asset management services for solar institutional investors.”

New solar leasing intermediaries like Clean Power Finance have quickly established themselves as leading agents for growing adoption of residential solar power systems. They are solar and clean energy finance pioneers in that they are establishing a new conduit that taps into investment capital amassed by banks and other institutional investors, directing it to networks of local solar energy systems professionals and individual homeowners.

The month of May was designated as Mental Health Month more than 60 years ago to educate Americans about mental health conditions and the importance of mental wellness for all.

More than six decades later, the event is still celebrated across the country every year with a host of activities, and Humboldt County is no exception. Numerous events are planned this month in Eureka, Arcata and Fortuna, designed to challenge people to consider their views toward mental illnesses and respect those who live with disorders.

Local activities include:

– Today: The world premiere of the documentary film Voices that Heal will take place at the Arcata Playhouse, 1251 Ninth St. in Arcata. Doors open at 3:30 pm and the program starts at 4 pm The film features interviews with six individuals whose personal stories shed light on mental health and the experience of being labeled as having a mental illness. It also looks at the stigma that surrounds mental illness.

– Tuesday: The Humboldt County Board of Supervisors will issue a proclamation designating May as Mental Health Month. The proclamation will be followed by a walk starting at noon at the Hope Center, 720 Wood St. in Eureka, and ending with a rally at the Community Wellness Center, 908 Seventh St. in Eureka.

– Friday: The 16th annual Art Sale and Reception will be held in the Rainbow Room located within the main Mental Health building, 720 Wood St. in Eureka. Artists

He said inclusion of new activities would boost the performance of the scheme.

An expert committee, headed by Planning Commission member Mihir Shah, had submitted a report in February this year, suggesting a new set of operational guidelines for MGNREGS.

The committee has recommended inclusion of a number of activities under the scheme, which has been accepted by the Ministry.

The report of the committee, which is uploaded on the website of the Ministry, has suggested an expanded list of permissible works to be included under the scheme.

The new list suggested by the committee has 30 different categories of work related to agriculture, rural sanitation, drinking water, watersheds, fisheries and livestock.

Richmont has hired financial advisers and is well along
toward assembling a bid, said the people, who declined to be
identified because the matter isn’t public.

Avon, the world’s largest direct cosmetics seller, rejected
a $10 billion bid from Coty Inc. last month, saying the offer
was too low and the company was undertaking a turnaround. Avon
held its shareholder meeting in New York today, and new Chief
Executive Officer Sheri McCoy told attendees that stabilizing
the business is her top priority.

The appointment of Avon’s new CEO hasn’t dissuaded
Richmont, which would continue Avon’s global direct-selling
model, said one of the people.

Richmont founder and Chairman John Rochon served as CEO of
Mary Kay Inc., a door-to-door cosmetics seller that awarded its
signature pink Cadillacs to top representatives. Richmont
attempted to take over Avon in the late 1980s and early 1990s,
during Rochon’s tenure at Mary Kay, acquiring 22 percent of its
stock at the time.

Richmont’s plans now may depend in part on Coty’s next
move, said one person.

Avon didn’t respond to Coty’s April 30 deadline to consider
further talks, a Coty adviser said yesterday.

Family-owned Richmont was founded 25 years ago, according
to its website.

Fortune magazine reported that Richmont was preparing a bid
last month.

To contact the reporters on this story:
Lauren Coleman-Lochner in New York at
llochner@bloomberg.net;
Jeffrey McCracken in New York at
jmccracken3@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story:
Robin Ajello at
rajello@bloomberg.net

The Twins snapped a 25-inning scoreless streak when they scored three runs in the seventh inning as Seattles bullpen was unable to hold a 2-0 lead after 6 1-3 strong innings from starter Jason Vargas.

But Vargas was just a spectator while Tom Wilhelmsen (1-1) struggled through four batters in the seventh and made a costly throwing error that allowed the tying run to score. Mauer then followed with a single up the middle that glanced off the glove of shortstop Brendan Ryan and allowed Trevor Plouffe to score. The Twins won for just the second time in 11 games.

Carl Pavano (2-2) needed just 69 pitches to get through six innings and pick up his second victory. He gave up a trio of doubles in the fifth inning when Seattle scored both of its runs, but minimized trouble otherwise. Pavano allowed eight hits, but didnt walk a batter and struck out two.

Brian Duensing and Glen Perkins rolled through the seventh and eighth innings before Matt Capps worked the ninth for his fifth save in as many chances.

Seattle lost by one run for the fourth time in five games.

Vargas pitched into the seventh, leaving after giving up a one-out double to Chris Parmelee. The double that hopped off the wall in center field was Minnesotas first extra-base hit since the eighth inning of Mondays game against the Angels.

Wilhelmsen replaced Vargas and walked Alexi Casilla and Plouffe. Wilhelmsen looked as if he was going to get out of the inning when Denard Span tapped back to the mound, but instead of throwing home, Wilhelmsen threw wide of second. Parmelee scored because of the errant throw, snapping the Twins scoreless streak at 25 innings.

Jamey Carroll followed with a grounder wide of first and the only play was a force out of Span at second, allowing Casilla to score the tying run. That was it for Wilhelmsen, who was showered with boos as he was replaced by Charlie Furbush to face Mauer. On a 3-1 pitch, Mauer grounded back up the middle but it glanced off Ryans stretched glove and trickled onto the outfield grass to score Plouffe.

The Twins had not scored since the eighth inning of Mondays game against the Angels when they scored three times. Minnesota was shut out on Tuesday 4-0, then no-hit by the Angels Jered Weaver in a 9-0 loss on Wednesday.

Slugging rookie Jesus Montero started Seattles fifth-inning rally with a double off the wall in deep left-center field as the pitchers in the Mariners bullpen waved frantically for the ball to carry over the fence. It didnt, but Montero was jogging home one pitch later when Kyle Seager sliced a double into the left-center field gap to give Seattle the lead.

After Justin Smoak flew out to center field, Mike Carp lined a double over Ryan Doumits head in right field to score Seager. Carroll was able to keep another run from scoring when his diving stop held Ryan to an infield single and Carp stopped at third. Dustin Ackley then flew out to end the inning.

Notes: Ackley was 1 for 3 in his first game as the Mariners leadoff hitter. Before Fridays game, manager Eric Wedge announced that veteran Chone Figgins was being benched … Twins manager Ron Gardenhire returned to Minnesota following the series against the Angels to attend the graduation of his daughter Tara from Southwest Minnesota State University. Gardenhire will rejoin the team on Monday.

Coweta-area Church Activities for upcoming week

From STAFF REPORTS

religion@newnan.com

Listed below are the various events, services and meetings for Coweta-area churches for this week beginning today, May 5

Homecomings

bull; Welcome Road Baptist Church, Sunday, 10:30 am Dr.Mike Ragland, preaching. Lance Carpenter, singing. Meal to follow.

FINANCING FUN: Tourism bureau sets bond record; sets strategic plan for the future

Bureau says its now filing annual audit reports

By BRADEN LAMMERS

braden.lammers@newsandtribune.com
The News and Tribune

Sun May 06, 2012, 10:06 AM EDT