National and International News - Saturday, Jan. 13

BEAUFORT, Mo. (AP) - For four years, Shawn Hornbeck's parents have devoted themselves to missing child cases. Today, they're celebrating his return, along with that of another missing Missouri boy, Ben Ownby. They were found alive yesterday in the apartment of a man now jailed on a kidnapping charge.

UNDATED (AP) - A large portion of the nation's midsection is in the grips of an ice storm. Freezing rain is falling from Texas to Illinois. Forecasters say it could be a paralyzing storm. At least four people have been killed in storm-related traffic accidents.

UNDATED (AP) - Cold weather across California is threatening the health of its citrus crop. Temperatures have below freezing in many places. The governor has issued an emergency proclamation citing "conditions of extreme peril" due to the extreme cold.

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) - The prosecutor who aggressively pursued sexual assault charges against three Duke lacrosse players for nearly ten months has asked to be removed from the case. Mike Nifong (NY'-fawng) is asking North Carolina's attorney general to assign a special prosecutor.

WHITE HOUSE (AP) - President Bush says he believes he's got the authority to send additional troops to Iraq despite what Congress says. The president made the comment during an interview on "60 Minutes" airing tomorrow. Bush added he's made his decision and "we're going forward."

SHANNON, Ireland (AP) - Secretary of State Rice says no poll on the Iraq war is going to change "until there is something to show." And she says the U-S "won't pull the plug." Rice is headed to the Mideast today to boost support for Iraq's struggling government.

BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - Senator Hillary Clinton is leading a bipartisan delegation to Iraq. The visit today comes amid heavy opposition from the Democrat-controlled Congress to President Bush's plans to send in more troops. Clinton will meet with U-S and Iraqi officials.

CAPITOL HILL (AP) - President Bush is promising to veto a bill passed by the House yesterday that would require the government to negotiate with drug companies over the price of medicines for Medicare recipients. The measure easily won approval in the Democratic House but there aren't enough votes to overcome a veto.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - The Missouri (m) millionaire known as Secret Santa for giving money away at Christmas has died. Fifty-six-year-old Larry Stewart died yesterday from cancer. Over 26 years, Stewart gave away one-point-three (m) million dollars to random people as an act of kindness.

SANTA MONICA, Calif. (AP) - "Little Miss Sunshine" and "Dreamgirls" were big winners at the 12th annual Critics' Choice Awards last night. "The Departed" took home top prizes for best picture and best director. Helen Mirren earned best actress for "The Queen" and Forest Whitaker won best actor for "The Last King of Scotland."

TOKYO (AP) - A high-ranking Japanese lawmaker says North Korea is ready to resume nuclear talks. He says the talks could begin right after Pyongyang's financial discussions with the U-S later this month. The six-party talks have been stalled for more than a year.

UNDATED (AP) - The threat of a tsunami appears to be easing across the Pacific after a big earthquake off northern Japan. Tsunami alerts have been called off in Alaska and Hawaii and some Japanese coastal towns are letting people who evacuated return home.