Irena Sendler

Irena Sendler worked to save from the Warsaw ghetto during World War II was among the 400 people attending the premier of a Hallmark Hall of Fame movie about Sendler। Renata Zajdman, one of about 2,500 Jewish children Sendler helped rescue in Poland in the 1940s, saw the film, "The Courageous Heart of Irena Sendler," last week at its world premier in Fort Scott।

The movie, which was scheduled to air Sunday night, is based on Sendler's life। Sendler, a social worker in Poland during World War II, led an effort to smuggle more than 2,500 of Jewish children out of the Warsaw Ghetto. The children were given new identities and placed with Polish families and in convents.

In 1999, Sendler's story also led to the creation of the "Life in a Jar" project by a group of students from nearby Uniontown (Kan।) High School. The project is a stage play designed by the students telling Sendler's story. The play has been performed in the United States and around the world. "But this is unusual, let's face it," Conard said. "It's to the credit of the great story of Irena Sendler, it's to the credit of these young people."

Fortune 500

It was a rough year for the Fortune 500। America's 500 biggest companies earned 85% less than they did last year--from $642.2 billion to just $98.9 billion. Twice as many companies on the list had losses this year. If there are any winners in this year's Fortune 500 list, it is the oil companies। Exxon Mobil replaced Wal-Mart Stores and four of the top five on the list are in the oil/energy business।

Fortune reports that there's some good news for women in this year's Fortune 500। Fifteen Fortune 500 companies are now led by women, compared to 12 the prior year। Archer Daniels Midland, whose chief executive is Patricia Woertz, is largest of them all, at No. 27 on the list. Other high-ranking women include Angela Braly, CEO of No. 32 WellPoint; Lynn Elsenhans, CEO of No. 41 Sunoco; Indra Nooyi, head of No. 52 PepsiCo; and Irene Rosenfeld, chief of No. 53 Kraft Foods.

Wal-Mart, which reigned as No. 1 on the Fortune 500 the past two years, slipped to second place. The recession was a boon for Wal-Mart (WMT, Fortune 500): As cash-strapped customers crowded its discount stores, the retailer's sales grew 7% to more than $406 billion. But that wasn't enough to keep up with oil-rich Exxon.

Karen Sypher

Karen Sypher of Louisville, who may or may not be the same Karen Sypher of Louisville at the center of the alleged extortion attempt against Rick Pitino। "There is a federal investigation going on, and there may be criminal charges placed against her as a result of what coach Pitino has brought to the attention of the FBI," Clay said। "। . . There are no counter allegations, and as far as I am concerned this criminal investigation is going to proceed to a logical conclusion and I hope that we can put this matter behind us as quickly as possible."

Louisville's Fox 41 has identified Sypher, whose husband, Tim, is Louisville's basketball equipment manager, as the woman in question। Details are scarce, so feel free to speculate wildly. In a statement yesterday, Pitino offered little beyond that his family had reported the alleged attempt to the FBI. He vowed to "vigorously defend my reputation and the character of my family against any criminal scheme to extort money."

It would appear that a signficant scandal is brewing at Louisville, with Rick Pitino having reported an extortion attempt to the FBI. Here’s what we know now: Fox’s Jeff Goodman reported that the alleged extorter is a woman named Karen Sypher, who is married to the Louisville equipment manager, Tim Sypher.