National and International News - Sat. May 12, 2007

KARACHI, Pakistan (AP) - At least eleven people are dead in Karachi, Pakistan, and a private T-V network has come under fire as pro-government and opposition activists exchange gunfire over the suspension of Pakistan's chief justice. The fighting broke out as the judge arrived for the latest in a series of rallies to protest his ouster.

AVALON, Calif. (AP) - California's resort island of Catalina still isn't back to normal after a wildfire that threatened its main town was beaten back. Evacuated residents are coming home but tourists, for now, are being told to stay away.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) - Missouri Emergency Management officials say assessment of flood damage will begin next week, after high waters recede. But for some residents, the worst is yet to come. Some rivers and streams are cresting this weekend. National Guard troops have been activated to help.

APARECIDA, Brazil (AP) - Pope Benedict says these are "difficult times for the church" in Brazil. He's there to convene a regional bishop's conference and seek ways to reverse the
Catholic Church's declining influence in Latin America. The conference starts tomorrow.

WHITE SANDS MISSILE RANGE, N.M. (AP) - A private launch company says it could take another week to recover a rocket payload carrying the ashes of astronaut Gordon Cooper and actor James Doohan. He was Scotty on "Star Trek." After a quick trip into space, the payload landed in some very rugged terrain in New Mexico.

UNDATED (AP) - A major wildfire that started in Georgia and spread to northern Florida has burned close to 180-thousand acres. The blaze is threatening Fargo, Georgia, where townspeople have had to evacuate. Hundreds of homes in northern Florida have also been evacuated.

WOOLDRIDGE, Mo. (AP) - Rivers in Missouri have breached or topped dozens of levees across the state as nervous residents await weekend flood crests. No serious injuries or deaths have been reported in the flooding. One barge broke loose on the Missouri River but was eventually corralled.

CAPITOL HILL (AP) - There's not much support in the Senate for a short-term Iraq war funding bill passed by the House. But the idea of setting some benchmarks for the Iraqi government is being discussed. There's no agreement on whether there should be any
consequences if Iraq doesn't measure up.

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Postal Service say any letters mailed after today should carry the new, more expensive postage though officials note there's always some wiggle room during a rate change. Starting Monday, the price of a first-class stamp goes up two cents, to 41 cents. But people will also be able to buy "forever" stamps that will always be valid.

BLACKSBURG, Va. (AP) - Virginia Tech officials today will hand out diplomas to the families of students killed during a gunman's rampage last month. Thousands of students struggled to balance joy with grief at the official commencement last night as retired Army General John Abizaid offered hope and inspiration.

WASHINGTON (AP) - Immigration reform is the main topic for President Bush today. He'll be using his weekend radio chat to renew a push for changes in the law. He wants to enforce the
borders but also create an eventual path to citizenship for millions of illegal immigrants already in the U-S.

BOSTON (AP) - A fight at a Boston Pops concert is being investigated by police. The incident has even been the subject of jokes on "The Tonight Show." One man says he asked another to
stop talking and got punched for his efforts. Police say they may refer the case to a magistrate.