The Kansas City Star du lieu suivant : Kansas City, Missouri • 23

TOR HEADUNES BIG BUSINESS ''AND' POLIf CS Empl v- Consumers catch a break at least for now from falling energy prices AT roles in Wyandotte County casino pitches draw criticism Sugar Creek casino backers challenge loss Hmlt and casino cap measure vr: fj-il II Wireless customers are llifll cnandlna more time on the Strum r- spending more time on the phone waiting for help Foreclosures stlN pressuring US housing prices C2 ft Threw Wyandotte County commissioners appeared In a casino promotional tape ByRiCKALM The Karevs City Star Three Unified Government commissioners are in hot legal water for appearing in a video promoting Pinnacle bid for a state-owned casino in Wyandotte County The brief video which Pinnacle officials presented Wednesday at a public hearing before the Kansas Lottery Gaming Facility Review Board featured comments favorable to die project by Commissioners 'Bill Millei Don DeSeure and Ann Brandau-Murguia State casino law prohibits public officials from using their to influence state agency decisions related to the emerging casino industry in Kansas Violations are a misdemeanor Kansas Radng and Gaming Commission spokesman Mike Defoes said Thursday that the SEE VIDEO C2 i As help calls Increase customers are spending more time watting for service report says Labor groups claim managers discussed effect of electing Democrats on union legislation (S) For news and numbers about KC casinos Sc rate hers games lottery retailers and more check out Lucky Numbers the new gambling blog of The Kansas City Star Findit at luckymifnbenJCaiisasCltyxoni Ballot item is sands of store managers and department supervisors across the country to discuss the legislation The labor groups also are expected to submit petitions with 6OJ000 signatures requesting an in- linrinwtifiri Iwmlfiw vesoganon Mncncin Kiyms is Work a worker advocacy' group the AFL-CIO and Change to Win labor federations and WhMJpWM-Martcom a laborbacked group By JASON GERtZEN The Kansas Qty Star Any wireless consumers out there who think they have been spending mote time- on hold when they call their providers forhelp? Bk not your imagination JJX Power and Associates issued a report Thursday that eud wireless customers are spending 34 percent more time on hold up to 44 minutes front 33 minutes than they were on average five years ago It turns out that the new gen- eration of phones that can make calls phis play music take pictures and download ring tones are confusing many consumers leading them to call Sprint Nextet Verizon Wireless AW or other com- panics mote frequently ac- cording to JlXPowet Add in other equipment and service problems and nearly half of wireless customers called for help in the past year up from 47 percent six months ago card centers and service representatives are un- -der pressure to handle the increase inquiries while still trying to understand and re- solve the issue on die initial Kirk Pan- sons senior director of wireless services at LD Power said in a statement "This can tendally increase die SEE SERVICE CJ By KfHS MAHER and ANN ZIMMERMAN The WM Street Journal everal of die most i prominent labor groups are: seeking an investigation into whether Wal-Mart Stores Inc violated federal election laws At issue are meetings with em-: ployees at which managers dis- cused the effect of electfog Democrats on legislation dial would make it easier for workers to ninni7j- companies including Wa-Mart The labor groups are asldngthe Federal Election Commission to whether the company prohibited corporate ex- by organizing meet-' mgs across the country to warn emptoyees that a Democratic pres-! ident would back legislation known as the Employee Rree Choice Act which die company opposes FK looking into this because we are confident they will find wiiat we have known all along that we did i nothing wrong" DAVID TOVAR WAL-MART SPOKESMAN The groups say such statements amount to advocating the defeat of Sen Obama the presump-tive Democratic nominee in the November election Companies are' not permitted under federal election law to ex- pressly advocate to hourly employees the election or defeatofspecif- ic candidates The complaint cites as its source an Aug 1 Wall Street Journal article that reported the Bentonville Ark retailer held meetings with thou Different motivations drive lawsuits against the gambling Initiative By DAN MARGOUES The Kansas City Star Two lawsuits challenging the constitutionality of a ballot measure that would allow high-stakes gambling ami ap the number of casinos in Mis- souri were filed Thursday in Jefferson City Though both make similar legal arguments the plaintiff in each' have decidedly different perspectives on casino gambling One case was brought by Cape Girardeau and Sugar Creek residents eager to see casinos built in their communities and opposed to the measure's cap on casinos The other was brought by anti-gambling activists 1 Each lawsuit however seeks to invalidate die measure by asserting that it violates the Missouri Constitution's prohibition against initiative petitions dealing with more than one subject SEE GAMBLING C5 Wal-Mart spokesman David To-' var said the company's policies were clear and that anyone representing the company and telling associates how to vote was "wrong and acting without "Wb welcome the EEC looking into this because we are confident -they will find what we have known all along that we did nothing Tbvar said Legal experts said that election- SEE WAL-MART C5 QJ For more information about the new JD Power and Associates report on wireless customer care -as well as other noise about Sprint go to Sprint Connection The Star's blog about the No 3 wireless company and the Kansas City largest private employer atimpqZaptM Dnig premium The typical Medcare beneficiary should expect to see about a $3 Increase in monthly premiums for prescription drug coverage in 2009 federal government officials said Thursday V' The projection is based on bids: from private insurers that get the premiums along with afedwal subsidy to administer the benefit The 12 percent increase would up 1 the monfoly premium to $28 for standard drug coverage -V I The Associated Press Bruised Apple 1 Hi'ii fntmnihi NariCy nwnwi ui6 rOriTiervOp attorney at Apple Inc on Thursday agreed to pay $22 million to settle federal charges that she altered company records to conceal improper backdking of stock options for senior executives Including SteveJobs Heinen admitted no wrongdoing but agreed for five years to not be an officer or director of any public company and to a similar three-year suspension from practicing as an -attorney for a public company tj' President Bush signed consumer- safety legislation Thursday that bans lead from toys imposing the toughest standard in the workL- f- The new law prohibits Ifrad minute levels in products for children 12 or younger It also bans phthaiates a chemical widely used in plastics Lead paint Was a big factor in the recall of 45 million items last year many from China The law also bolsters the Consumer Product Safety CommMw took the brunt of criticism dtyxom GOiOlKANSASCIiyCOMBUSINESrFOR REACjJIME NEWSAND ARKEXOU0JES rsm -J 3 X- 1 1.