Spat

Occidental Petroleum shareholders ousted Chairman and former Chief Executive Ray Irani in a dramatic annual meeting that signaled the end of an era for the storied oil and gas producer. It concluded a nearly three-decade run as a director of the Los Angeles company for the 78-year-old Irani. He first took the reins as CEO in 1990 from oil industry legend Armand Hammer. Back then, Occidental was considered something of a joke in the industry, with far-flung holdings in such odd areas as film production and horse and cattle breeding.

Bertelsmann, Europe's largest media company, agreed to pay $130 million to resolve claims by music publishers that its investment in the original Napster music download service contributed to copyright infringement. The accord resolves a legal battle between Bertelsmann and record labels and music publishers that claimed the company's loans helped Napster stay in business.

A couple accused of kidnapping their 20-year-old daughter on the eve of her wedding pleaded guilty in Provo to a reduced charge and a judge ordered mental-health professionals to evaluate them for actions he called "clearly irrational." Julia Redd, 58, and husband Lemuel, 60, pleaded guilty to custodial interference, a misdemeanor, capping the legal end of a family spat over their daughter Julianna's choice for a husband. The plea spared them jail time.

Beverly Hills' embarrassing battle against the Westside subway extension, which emerged as a major political issue last year, is becoming one of the key issues in the March 5 city elections. With the lines hardening between those determined to take legal action to stop the construction of a tunnel under the local high school, which they fear will endanger students, and those who see that route as the safest alternative, we urge residents to consider the scientific and engineering reality rather than merely relying on emotion.

Ninety-five years before Roberto Alomar, there was "Iron Man" Joe McGinnity. In 1996, Alomar spat on umpire John Hirschbeck in a much-discussed home-plate rhubarb. McGinnity, a Hall of Famer, was pitching for Baltimore against Detroit. During a squabble over umpire Tom Connolly's calls behind the plate, McGinnity spat in the umpire's face. A melee broke out, with punches thrown. McGinnity, two other players and a fan were arrested.