The winner: Retired UTU member Arthur Lin Whitworth, a member of Local 265, Pocatello, Idaho, recently won his fourth two-year term as state senator. "Each year, we try for a two-person rail crew bill," Whitworth said. "That's one bill for sure that I'll be backing to help rail workers." -- Full story.

Retiree serves in Idaho's senate
On the morning of November 8, while the nation awaited word on the winner of the U.S. presidential election, the citizens of Idaho's state district 33 already knew they had a winner in Arthur Lin Whitworth. -- Full story.

RRB offers new Internet services
Railroad Retirement beneficiaries and rail employees can now access a number of new services via the Internet through the U.S. Railroad Retirement Board's (RRB) website at http://www.rrb.gov, the agency said. -- Full story.

Expert sounds warning on HMOs
The head of a company that rates the financial condition of health maintenance organizations (HMOs) has urged Medicare patients who have been dropped by their money-losing HMOs to steer clear of other HMOs. -- Full story.

Military retirees' health care expanded
President Clinton has signed into law a two-pronged health care initiative for current and future military beneficiaries eligible for Medicare that includes a vastly expanded prescription drug benefit and turns Tricare into a true cradle-to-grave benefit. -- Full story.

The Final Call
Listed here are the names of members of the UTU Retiree Program who have died recently, according to reports received at UTU International Headquarters. These brothers and sisters will be sorely missed by their many friends and by fellow UTU Retiree Program members. -- Full listing.