| Genentech's Gamble
In the 12 years since Arthur D. Levinson took over as CEO of Genentech (DNA), the company has released seven new drugs, including three multibillion-dollar cancer treatments. But Wall Street types are still breathing down Levinson's neck, nagging him to come up with the next big idea. On Dec. 4, the pressure intensified when advisers to the U.S. Food & Drug Administration voted against approving Genentech's colon cancer drug, Avastin, for breast cancer. The company's stock plunged 10%. The need to innovate has led other pharmaceutical CEOs to hire consultants and craft new management strategies in a desperate effort to come up with more blockbusters. This approach irks the 57-year-old ex-biochemist. "I'm sick of the word 'innovation,'" he said earlier this year. As the drug industry grapples with patent expirations and a chronic lack of exciting drugs in the pipeline, Levinson faces a unique challenge—living up to his own track record.
Legislature impressed with St. James
James First Presbyterian Church."That was the best presentation that I have seen on this committee," said Nora Slowik, the chair of the committee, after the presentation. "It was a snapshot of your community." Other legislators also thanked the delegation for the excellent presentation.Four senators and five representatives attended the hearing. Besides the Watonwan testimony, there was also testimony from the Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation, Olmsted County, St. Peter, and the Minnesota Children's Museum. .
Prankster brought talents to stage
At Eisenhower High School in Rialto, John Romig Jr. was too busy playing pranks, acting and singing to take other subjects like math, English and history seriously. But in order to stay in drama and the choir, he needed to keep his grades up. So his theater-arts teacher, Pam Smyth, sat down with him and told him if he didn't buckle down and do his homework, he would be dropped from the drama class. He listened, then took action. When she returned from grabbing something to eat, she found that Romig had duct-taped his body to a student desk next to her desk, leaving only one free arm which was busily writing out a history assignment. "That was John Romig, someone who always loved to laugh and entertain," she said. "He could have been a second Danny Kaye, the actor with the red hair who was in `White Christmas."' The actor who loved to make others laugh died Nov.
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