Sumatran rhino pregnant again
Emi the Sumatran rhino is pregnant again, and that’s big news for conservationists from Ohio to Indonesia who are trying to save the critically endangered species.
It is believed that fewer than 300 Sumatran rhinos survive in Southeast Asia. Emi is the only one to give birth twice in captivity; her first delivery in 2001 was the first by a Sumatran rhino bred in captivity since the 19th century.
The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden announced Saturday that Emi is 173 days into a 16-month pregnancy, adding hope to efforts to save the species.
“We have a long, long way to go, but we do see some glimmers of hope,” said Terri Roth, who heads the zoo’s Center for Conservation and Research of Endangered Wildlife.
The center has relied on close monitoring of hormone levels, use of ultrasound, and years of patient observation and trial-and-error to learn how to successfully mate the Sumatran rhinos.
Oakland, Calif.
Winner declared in mayor’s race
After nearly two weeks of ballot counting, former Rep. Ron Dellums emerged as the winner of the Oakland mayor’s race Saturday when his chief rival said he would not challenge the election results.
City Council President Ignacio De La Fuente called Dellums at home to concede.
The final ballot count released late Friday showed Dellums winning the simple majority needed to avoid a November runoff against De La Fuente. Dellums secured 50.2 percent of the vote, while De La Fuente was in second place with 33.0 percent, according to the Alameda County Registrar of Voters.
Dellums, a former Marine who once headed the powerful House Armed Services Committee during his 27 years in Congress, cast himself as a bridge-builder who could unite Oakland’s diverse communities and find solutions to its crime and education problems.
Detroit
Delphi reaches worker buyout deal
Delphi Corp. has reached an agreement with its second-largest union and General Motors Corp. to offer buyouts to hourly workers similar to an earlier deal with the United Auto Workers union.
The auto parts supplier announced the agreement with the International Union of Electronic Workers-Communications Workers of America and GM, Delphi’s former parent and its largest customer, late Friday.
Delphi filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in October. The buyouts are part of an effort to provide early retirement incentives to Delphi workers as the Troy-based company seeks to cut its work force.
About 8,000 hourly workers represented by the IUE-CWA are eligible to participate.