Ex-Penn St head was top paid among public colleges

Published May 12, 2013

Associated Press

BUFFALO, N.Y. –  The Chronicle of Higher Education has released its annual ranking of what public college presidents make.

Survey results released Sunday show four chief executives earned more than $1 million last year.

Topping the list was ex-Penn State President Graham Spanier (SPAN'-yer). He shot to the No. 1 spot when he was forced out in November 2011 over his handling of the sex abuse scandal involving former defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky. Spanier received $2.9 million in 2011-12, including $1.2 million in severance pay and $1.2 million in deferred compensation.

The median compensation for public college presidents including pay, benefits and bonuses was $441,000.

Ohio State University President E. Gordon Gee (gee) had the highest base salary: $830,000. That's more than double the median base salary of $374,000.

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Puerto Rico to overhaul public pension system

Published April 04, 2013

Associated Press

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico –  Senators in Puerto Rico have approved a bill to overhaul the island's crumbling pension system as hundreds of irate public employees protested outside the seaside Capitol building.

The House of Representatives was expected to approve the bill late Thursday, and Gov. Alejandro Garcia Padilla was expected to sign it as well.

The bill calls for a higher retirement age, a nearly 2 percent increase in worker contributions and reduced benefits and monthly pensions for certain employees. It also would transfer the bulk of employees from a defined-benefit plan to a hybrid plan that includes a defined contribution component.

The current pension system faces a more than $37 billion unfunded liability, one of the highest compared with any U.S. state. The liability is almost four times the island's annual government budget.

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Statue of Liberty will reopen to the public by Independence Day

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  Nov. 30, 2012: In this file photo, parts of the brick walkway of Liberty Island that were damaged in Superstorm Sandy are shown during a tour of New Yorks Liberty Island.AP

NEW YORK –  The Statue of Liberty, closed since Superstorm Sandy damaged the island where it stands, will reopen to the public in time for Independence Day, officials said Tuesday.

Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced the timeline for the reopening along with U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer of New York.

"Hurricane Sandy inflicted major damage on facilities that support the Statue of Liberty," Salazar said. "Based on the tremendous progress we have made, Lady Liberty will be open to the public in time for the July 4th celebration."

The statue itself was spared in the late October storm, but its surrounding island was badly damaged. Railings broke, paving stones were torn up and buildings were flooded. The storm also destroyed boilers, sewage pumps and electrical systems on the island.

As much as three-fourths of Liberty Island's 12 acres was flooded, officials estimated, with water reaching as high as 8 feet.

An exact opening date wasn't set. Before the statue can reopen, a security screening process for visitors must be worked out with the New York Police Department. Salazar said an announcement was expected in the next week or so.

About 3.7 million people visited the statue in 2011, making it the 19th most visited national park.

Schumer emphasized how important it was to the New York economy to have the statue open.

"Being open for the summer tourism season isn't just important symbolically, it's a boon to the city's economy and businesses, as the statue attracts millions of tourists from all over the world to our shores," he said.

Sandy came one day after the Statue of Liberty's 126th birthday and the reopening of the crown, which had been closed for a year for a $30 million upgrade to fire alarms, sprinkler systems and exit routes.

The storm also inflicted major damage on nearby Ellis Island. More than 1 million historical artifacts and documents were moved because of the impossibility of maintaining the climate-controlled environment necessary to preserve them.

A reopening date for Ellis Island hasn't been set, National Park Service Northeast Region Director Dennis Reidenbach said.

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