People who make false reports to law enforcement authorities are subject to prosecution.

It's troubling then that the woman who falsely accused three former Duke University lacrosse players of rape will not be charged in the case that drew national attention for more than a year.

That lawyers representing the three former players are weighing a lawsuit against the prosecutor who pursued the rape charges seems appropriate despite the immunity prosecutors generally have for what they do inside the courtroom.

Experts contend that the protection probably doesn't cover some of the more questionable actions of Durham County (N.C.) District Attorney Mike Nifong since the allegations by the woman involved in the case, a student at North Carolina Central University.

On Wednesday, North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper, in throwing out the case against the three former Duke players and pronouncing them innocent, delivered a strong attack on Nifong, portraying him as a "rogue" prosecutor guilty of "overreaching."

But Cooper also said no charges would be brought against the woman who thrust the lives of the three former players she falsely accused into turmoil for more than a year.

She deserves to pay a price beyond embarrassment for what she did. It's unsettling that she won't.

Consumers everywhere in this country will have the opportunity to benefit from legislation introduced by U.S. Rep. Jason Altmire, D-4th, that would require all American-based companies that use customer service call centers to identify their center's location.Probably the biggest benefit to be derived from the legislation if it is passed — and Altmire says it has bipartisan support — is that it would help to better protect consumers from identity theft.Many overseas call centers ask for credit card numbers and other personal information but don't have to abide by America's consumer privacy laws.The congressman said the ID law would "make consumers think twice about giving their private information."But even if identity theft wasn't a concern, consumers still have the right to know the location of the person with whom they are speaking concerning a transaction.Consumers also have a right to know which of the companies with which they do business outsource such jobs overseas."It would work just like country orientation requirements for consumer products," Altmire said.According to Altmire, customer service call centers are a growing industry in Western Pennsylvania, providing more than 20,000 jobs. There are 6 million such jobs across the United States.However, he said, many of those jobs are now being outsourced to countries such as India.The Altmire legislation, House Resolution 1776, is named the "Call Center Consumer's Right to Know Act." It is legislation that is in all American consumers' best interests and deserves quick passage.

Like workers with highly visible positions in the regular business world, players in professional sports have the responsibility to adhere to conduct that reflects well on their employers and profession.Players in professional sports have the additional responsibility of conducting themselves properly and avoiding problems with the law because of the influence they have on young people.Children idolize star players who are adept at putting big numbers on the scoreboard or keeping opponents from scoring. But "stars" who can't stay out of trouble with the law aren't worthy of adulation.With all that in mind, all right-thinking sports fans should appreciate the National Football League's new, tougher personal conduct policy announced Tuesday by league Commissioner Roger Goodell. In addition to paving the way for longer suspensions and larger fines for players who violate the policy, the new conduct rules rightly hold teams responsible as well, meaning teams could risk losing draft picks if they fail to enforce the new policy.That the NFL Players Association has so quickly expressed strong support for the tougher conduct stance delivers a message about how widespread the concern has been regarding a number of players' immature or unlawful behavior — behavior that has reflected badly on the league and its teams.The new policy is long overdue and, over the short and long term, will benefit the league, teams and players.