Officials in Hercules, Calif., are discussing the possibility of using new eminent domain laws to keep Arkansas-based retail giant Wal-Mart out of the city. The company offered to scale down its plans for a 142,000-square-foot store on 17 acres of land, but residents and the city council say a Wal-Mart would ruin the small-town appeal of the San Francisco Bay Area suburb, according to the San Jose Mercury. http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/breaking_news/14642529.htm