NATION

NATION
United Airlines workersasked to approve strike
WASHINGTON -- A union representing 30,000 United Airlines employees said Friday it will ask members to authorize a strike after what it called unsuccessful talks with the carrier this week.
"Despite limited progress in several areas, we no longer believe an agreement is possible," the union's lead negotiator, Randy Canale, said in a letter to members. He is president of International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers District 141.
The local represents 30,000 United ramp workers, customer service employees, reservations agents, food service workers and security guards.
Costly houses don't feeleffect of downturn
NEW YORK -- The softening economy has done little to dent housing prices in some parts of the country, according to Worth's annual ranking of America's 250 richest towns. As the magazine points out, towns that are last to be hit by a downturn are "generally the ones highest on our list."
Tops in the compilation is Jupiter Island, Fla., where the median cost of a home is a cool $3.9 million. Mount Kisco, N.Y., a New York suburb, was No. 250 at $458,500.
Other towns in the top 10 were Atherton, Calif. ($2.7 million); Aspen, Colo. ($2.3 million), Los Altos Hills, Calif. ($2.1 million); Belvedere, Calif. ($1.84 million); Sea Island, Ga. ($1.82 million); Hillsborough, Calif. ($1.76 million), Snowmass Village, Colo. ($1.75 million); Mountain Village, Colo. ($1.7 million) and Rolling Hills, Calif. ($1.6 million).
Associated Press