ILLEGAL ALIEN JOB CHECKS UP EMPLOYERS CAN FACE STIFF FINES.(Local)

Byline: Joe Picchi Staff writer

Stepped-up enforcement against employers who knowingly hire illegal aliens began Wednesday nationwide, but in the Capital District it's "business as usual" for immigration officials.

William Donohue, assistant officer in charge of the Albany office of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, said employers here generally have been adhering to federal laws against hiring illegal aliens.

"No plans are in the works for intensifying what they are now doing routinely," Donohue said.

The new enforcement policy, part of the sweeping immigration law enacted in 1986, allows the INS to initially fine an employer …

REDMAN GETS TO CORE OF BIG APPLE CLASSIC.(SPORTS)

Byline: Associated Press

NEW ROCHELLE -- Michele Redman went on a birdie binge on Wykagyl Country Club's front nine -- the harder half of the course for almost everyone else Thursday -- and finished with a 7-under-par 64 to take the first-round lead at the JAL Big Apple Classic.

Redman, a non-winner in six years on the LPGA tour, led Karrie Webb, Cindy Schreyer and Helen Alfredsson by two strokes. Maggie Will-Helpin was another stroke back.

Redman's 64 was the best opening round in the history of the 8-year-old event and she just missed tying the tournament record of 63 set by Betsy King in 1990.

As good as she was, Redman said there was …

Controversy surrounds contract for road construction in Laos.

Byline: Wichit Chantanusornsiri

Aug. 9--The Finance Ministry has awarded a 1.3-billion-baht road contract in Laos to Praetumrongwit Co.

The R3 road project is part of a programme to build "economic corridors" within the Greater Mekong Subregion, and will eventually link Chiang Rai, Kunming in Southern China and Laos.

Funding is being provided by the Thai and Chinese governments as well as the Asian Development Bank. Thailand is offering a soft loan for a 84.77-kilometre segment of the R3 road, under the condition that a Thai contractor is selected for the construction work.

Bidding for the road project has been the subject of some dispute. …

Hamas leaders take precautions, fearing Israeli assassination

Leaders of Gaza's ruling Hamas movement have gone into hiding, fearing Israeli assassination attempts in response to a wave of Palestinian rocket attacks on southern Israel, officials said Monday. Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak ordered the military to prepare to invade Gaza, and told Israeli lawmakers that under certain circumstances, Israel would "even take down Hamas."

Barak spoke at a closed parliamentary meeting whose discussions routinely are leaked to the media. It was the first time a senior Israeli official hinted so strongly that Israel was prepared to overthrow Hamas if the Palestinians didn't do it themselves.

Israel, which is …

Collins mulls jobs in TV, coaching

LOS ANGELES Former Bulls coach Doug Collins is expected to make adecision soon on his next job, according to his lawyer and longtimefriend John Longel of Philadelphia.

"He is deciding between TV broadcasting and coaching," Longelsaid of Collins, fired despite taking the Bulls to the NBAsemifinals.

"His won't be an idle year, that's for sure. He's already turneddown offers from two CBA teams who inquired about him two days afterhe was fired. And a couple of days ago a team from Italy expressedinterest in him."

Longel said he expects more European teams to call Collins, whosaid he wants to coach again. But Collins has received offers toserve as color …

Health reform passage looks more likely; President, Democratic leaders embrace using reconciliation bill as vehicle.(NEWS)

Byline: JERRY GEISEL

Health care reform legislation will move to a different congressional track, which observers say increases its chances of passage even though significant opposition remains.

Ending weeks of speculation, President Barack Obama last week endorsed a procedure that would allow the Senate to vote on the measure with only a simple majority needed for passage.

"We have debated this issue thoroughly, not just for the past year but for decades. Reform has already passed the House with a majority. It already has passed the Senate with a supermajority of 60 votes, President Obama said during a White House speech to health care providers.

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`GRANT' EDUCATIONAL ENTERTAINMENT.(CAPITAL REGION)

Byline: MICHAEL ECK Special to the Times Union

ALBANY -- He was a reluctant soldier, and an even more reluctant president. He was a man of contradictions who painted pretty scenes yet laid waste to battlefields, who ordered slaughter yet shunned rare meat for the sight of blood.

He was Ulysses S. Grant.

On Monday night, actor Richard Dreyfuss and historian Harold Holzer paid homage to Grant at The Egg's Hart Theater in a sold-out program presented by the Archives Partnership Trust entitled ``Ulysses S. Grant: Seen and Heard.''

The affair was more of a lecture than a performance. Dreyfuss and Holzer sat in chairs and read a script peppered …