National and International News - Saturday Mar. 24

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) - Storms that spawned tornadoes in New Mexico yesterday are expected to move into Texas today. At least 16 people in New Mexico were hurt and two dozen homes destroyed by 13 tornadoes.

WASHINGTON (AP) - New documents show Attorney General Alberto Gonzales signed off on the plan last fall to fire several U-S attorneys. Earlier, Gonzales said he was aware that some of the dismissals were being discussed but was not involved in them.

CAPITOL HILL (AP) - President Bush calls a vote by the House to pull combat troops out of Iraq by next year "political theater." Bush is promising to veto any such measure, even though it includes much needed funding to fight the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

PENTAGON (AP) - A Pentagon investigation concludes nine military officers should be held accountable for missteps after the death of Army Ranger Pat Tillman in Afghanistan. The ambush death was initially reported as friendly fire. Senior defense officials say the inspector general won't recommend any specific punishment.

UNITED NATIONS (AP) - Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has canceled a trip to New York to speak to the U-N Security Council. It's set to vote tomorrow to impose further sanctions against Iran for refusing to stop enriching uranium.

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - Rat poison may be to blame in the deaths of at least 15 cats and a dog. It's been discovered in samples of pet food produced by Menu Foods. Scientists say more pet deaths will likely be linked to the tainted food. The company has recalled all 95 brands of its "cuts and gravy" pet food.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) - An airline passenger who claimed to have smallpox -- doesn't, according to North Carolina health officials. The man's claim prompted authorities to quarantine the U-S Airways jet he was on for several hours yesterday in Charlotte.

NEW YORK (AP) - Model Naomi Campbell has completed her five days of community service at a garbage truck garage in New York City. Campbell was sentenced to the clean-up duty for striking her maid in the head with a cell phone. Campbell's boss for the week says she was pleasant the "entire time."

LOS ANGELES (AP) - He still says there's a chance he's the father of Anna Nicole Smith's daughter. Zsa Zsa Gabor's husband provided a D-N-A sample today. Frederic von Anhalt says he's "almost sure" the test will prove he's the father of six-month-old Dannielynn. He claims he had a long-running affair with Smith.

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Twenty-one-year-old Rachel Smith says she's going to be "honest and open" as the new Miss U-S-A. The journalism graduate from Tennessee was crowned in last night's pageant, succeeding Tara Conner, whose reign was marred by publicity surrounding her struggle with alcoholism.

SAO PAULO, Brazil (AP) - A Brazilian woman has been sentenced to 19 years in prison for stabbing her husband to death and then frying his body parts. Police say the killing was either a black magic ritual or an attempt to collect life insurance.