US Mayors Conference opens

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) - The U.S. Conference of Mayors soon opens its 77th annual meeting with a speech from Colombian President Alvaro Uribe.

The meeting starting Friday is the first gathering of the national group since the start of a national recession. Many of the speakers will focus on how cities can weather the downturn using funding from a federal stimulus package approved by Congress.

After lunch, the mayors will hear from the Colombian president amid speculation over whether he will run for a third term.

Vice President Joseph Biden was supposed to attend the conference but canceled last week after Providence firefighters locked in a contract dispute with Providence Mayor David Cicilline said they would picket.