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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

In brief: Labor, business invited to talks

From Wire Reports

WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama is inviting leaders from the labor and business communities to the White House this week for talks on the so-called fiscal cliff.

The White House said Obama will meet with labor representatives as well as other progressive groups Tuesday. He’ll hold separate meetings with the business community Wednesday.

Following his re-election, Obama said he wanted to build consensus for his approach to averting the cliff, a series of tax increases and spending cuts that will take effect at the end of the year without congressional action. The president says he is open to compromise, but is standing firm on his call for upper income earners to pay more in taxes.

Man killed in police station shooting

SOUTHFIELD, Mich. – A man killed Sunday in a shootout at a suburban Detroit police headquarters first tried to shoot an officer behind bulletproof glass before officers exchanged gunfire with him, police said.

One police officer was wounded in the shootout in Southfield, a city of about 73,000. The officer was in stable condition Sunday with a gunshot wound in the shoulder.

Police Chief Eric Hawkins said investigators were trying to figure out why the gunman carried out the attack. The 64-year-old man had no known grievance with police.

“He didn’t say anything,” Hawkins said. “The officers said he had a blank stare on his face.”

The man’s name was not immediately released, but police said he lived in Southfield.