04 Wednesday on the New York StockExchange

Mann in Brooklyn.As alleged in the indictment andother court filings, on the night of Nov. 4, 2008, shortly after learning ofBarack Obama's election victory, the group, along with a fourth friend,decided to find African-Americans to assault. "It is shocking and sobering that allegations of racial violence continue inthis day and age," said Acting Assistant Attorney General Grace Chung Becker. "The Justice Department takes these allegations very seriously and the CivilRights Division, working with U.S. Attorneys Offices across the country, willcontinue to use federal laws to prosecute individuals who conspire to commitsuch acts of violence and intimidation."As cited in the indictment and other court filings, Nicolettiallegedly drove the other defendants to Park Hill, a predominantlyAfrican-American neighborhood in Staten Island, where they came upon a17-year-old African-American who was walking home after watching the electionat a friend's house.One of the defendants yelled "Obama!" as they passed theyouth, and all four men then got out of the car and beat him, using a metalpipe and a collapsible police baton.The young man, who managed to escape andrun home, suffered injuries to his head and legs.The group then found an African-American man in the Port Richmondsection of Staten Island and assaulted him, pushing him to the ground.Thedefendants also accosted a Latino man, demanding to know for whom he hadvoted, and later yelled profanities about Obama as they drove past an ElectionNight gathering of African-Americans at a hair salon.The group's final assault involved a man they mistakenly believed tobe African-American, whom they spotted walking along Blackford Avenue in PortRichmond.Nicoletti hit him with the car, causing the victim to be thrownonto the hood of the car and into the front windshield, shattering it.Although the victim survived, he was in a coma for a period of time after theattack.

The charges announced today are merely allegations, and the defendantsare presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.If convicted, eachfaces a sentence of up to 10 years in prison.In addition to Becker, the charges were announced by Benton J.Campbell, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Mark J.Mershon, Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, NewYork Field Office, and Raymond W. Kelly, Commissioner of the New York CityPolice Department."Violence and intimidation aimed at interfering with theconstitutional rights of every citizen, including the right to vote, which isthe bedrock of democracy, will not be tolerated," stated United StatesAttorney Campbell."Such conduct is loathsome and despicable, and those whoengage in it will be arrested and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Osgood, who as Commanding Officer of the NYPD Hate Crime Task Forcehad the foresight to assign a special team on Election Night until 4 a.m. History was made on Election Day.We wanted to make sure those who tried toretaliate did not escape justice."The government's case is being prosecuted by Assistant United StatesAttorneys Pamela K Chen and Margo K. Brodie and Special Litigation CounselKristy Parker.SOURCEU.S Department of JusticeU.S. Department of Justice, 1-202-514-2007, 1-202-514-1888 (TDD). Jets at Tampa Bay - I still like Josh Freeman despite his five interceptions against Carolina.

Who knows, Kellen Clemens might even come out fired up, with his rare opportunity for playing time.Pick: Jets Carolina at New England - Honestly I don't know what to think of the Patriots anymore.Carolina is capable of winning this one, no doubt about it, but I am thinking the Patriots will be more focused this week.Pick: Patriots Miami at Jacksonville - This has black and blue written all over it. There should be a plethora of smashed mouths in this game, between a 6-6 and the 7-5 home team.Playoff implications on the line, with no room for error neither team can afford a loss at this stage in the season. I'm going to stick with Pocket Hercules.Pick: Jaguars Buffalo at Kansas City - I am picking the home team. I am not sure why really.Pick: Chiefs Cincinnati at Minnesota - I think the Bengals will make it two losses in a row for the Vikings, because Arizona's defense gave them fits, and the Bengals are arguably better and more consistent defensively.Pick: Bengals St. Louis at Tennessee - The Colts burst the Titans bubble, but the Rams won't.I am hoping Chris Johnson runs for 597 yards. Yes, that would break Eric Dickerson's record.Pick: Titans Washington at Oakland - I love me some Bruce Gradkowski, but that Redskins defense is tough.I wonder though about what possible momentum might exist for these two squads, both positive and negativePick: Raiders San Diego at Dallas - Is this a must win for Dallas By the way Tony Romo and the Cowboys get slammed in the media for their history of losing in December, you might think so.The funny thing is they are still 8-4 Well, I am not going to pick them to lose because of that. I am going to pick them to lose because the Chargers are on fire.Pick: Chargers Philadelphia at N.Y.

Jan 7 (Reuters) - Surburban Propane Partners LP (SPH.N), adistributor of propane gas, fuel oil and related products, saidit did not have any affiliation with the recently announcedChapter 11 bankruptcy filing by LyondellBasell IndustriesACCEIN.UL and its affiliates Stocks Bonds On Tuesday, the U.S. operations of LyondellBasell, theworld's third-largest petrochemical company, filed forbankruptcy protection under the weight of a massive debt loadand slumping demand for its products. ID:nL7275105 In a press release issued earlier today by Lyondell,Suburban Propane GP was listed as one of Lyondell's affiliatedentities included in the voluntary petition for relief underChapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code, the partnership said. Suburban Propane Partners, which also markets natural gasand electricity, said it and its affiliates were in no wayimpacted by the Lyondell bankruptcy filing. The partnership also said it ended fiscal 2008 with morethan $137.6 million in cash on hand thatis expected toprovide sufficient liquidity to fund its ongoing operationswithout an immediate need to access its working capitalfacility. Shares of the Whippany, New Jersey-based company were downabout 4 percent at $36.04 Wednesday on the New York StockExchange.