Vacations

Target Corp., the second-largest U.S. discount chain, agreed to pay as much as $10 million to resolve claims by employees in California that they weren't paid for earned vacation days. The deal, according to a summary filed in federal court in Oakland, resolves a class-action lawsuit claiming Target required workers to forfeit earned vacation pay and didn't pay fired workers a pro-rated share of their earned vacation time. The company denied wrongdoing, according to the filing.

Vacations for Anaheim police officers will be severely limited for several weeks because officials want to keep police presence high at resort areas. Police Chief Roger Baker has announced that time-off requests will be reviewed by division commanders. Most will be rejected because the department wants officers patrolling the city's tourist attractions after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, said Police Sgt. Mike Hildago. "They want the full complement of officers to come in to work.

In a last-minute change, President Clinton and his family have decided not to vacation at Lake Tahoe after all. Instead, for the second summer in a row, they will head to Jackson Hole, Wyo., the White House announced Friday. It seems that even the White House couldn't arrange for a large number of rooms in the Lake Tahoe area at the last minute--presidential trips require rooms for Secret Service agents, at least a few White House aides and members of the news media.

It's summer vacation time. But don't leave home without first exploring whether you can write off at least part of your expenses. Getting tax breaks from vacations is harder to pull off these days, but it still can be done with the right planning. The Tax Reform Act of 1986 tightened rules on travel expense deductions. For example, you can no longer write off expenses of attending investment seminars unless they are an ordinary and necessary part of your trade or business.

Knowing how to survive a long-distance flight with a small child in tow is not instinctive. Here are some lessons I've learned, along with advice from Vicky Lansky, author of "Trouble-Free Travel With Children," and Dorothy Jordon, publisher of Family Travel Times newsletter. Seats: Children under age 2 can fly internationally for only 10% of an adult fare, but are not guaranteed seats. (Kids under 2 fly free on domestic flights.

Maybe George W. Bush is carrying this I'm-not-Bill-Clinton thing too far. Sure Bush has gotten a lot of mileage out of his personal contrasts with Clinton. But spending a month in the Texas dust seems an overly emphatic recoil from Clinton's preference for chic vacations around the beautiful people. It is, though, like all presidential choices, revealing in its own ways.

President Clinton arrived in Wyoming on Friday for a 10-day family vacation that will be his last chance for an extended rest before the "high-intensity campaign" for the White House shifts into high gear. Asked if he was looking forward to a break before the political wars key up, a smiling Clinton replied: "Very much, I need it." He acknowledged he is feeling "tired."

Tandy Corp., owner of Radio Shack electronics stores, agreed Tuesday to pay up to $16 million to former California employees to settle charges that it illegally withheld vacation pay due departing workers. Lawyers said the settlement, one of the largest of its kind, covers an estimated 25,000 people in California who left Tandy between Oct. 12, 1983, and last Nov. 15. Most employees worked at Radio Shack.

The kids are counting down the days until they're off from school, and parents are busy planning the annual vacation. Pay attention to preparations, and the trip may be smoother and healthier for kids. Among the experts' suggestions: Visit the doctor. Several weeks before a trip -- or even months -- tell your child's pediatrician where you're going and what you plan to do, especially if the destination is overseas or to a developing country. Update immunizations.

On the eve of a crucial negotiating session with his most powerful opponent, Russian President Boris N. Yeltsin on Monday unexpectedly left Moscow for what his press secretary said will be a 12-day winter vacation. Yeltsin is staying in a country home outside the Russian capital, members of his entourage said. So the meeting scheduled today with legislative Chairman Ruslan I. Khasbulatov could conceivably go ahead.