TODAY'S NEWS - TUESDAY 5.11.10

TODAY'S NEWS - TUESDAY 5.11.09

LOCAL NEWS

IT ALMOST SUMMER, AND WITH THAT COME A FEW MORE JOBS TO THE AREA. APPOINTMENTS FOR THE JFK 2010 POOL SEASON WERE MADE AT LAST NIGHT'S CITY COUNCIL. 30 LIFEGUARDS, 15 CONCESSION/COUNTER STAFF, 12 MAINTENANCE STAFF, 9 LABORERS, AND 21 PLAYGROUND INSTRUCTORS POSITIONS WERE FILLED. POTTSVILLE AND SCHUYLKILL HAVEN AREA EMS WERE SUPPORTED AS THE CITY'S PRIMARY EMERGENCY DISPATCH. SIDEWALK SEATING WAS APPROVED FOR THE ALL AMERICAN CAFE, HOME WERE THE OLD POTTSVILLE EATERY WAS ON CENTER STREET. A NEW ITALIAN GROCER AND DELI WILL BE COMING TO 400 SOUTH CENTER STREET, AND AN AWNING FOR THAT BUSINESS WAS APPROVED. NATIONAL PENN BANK WILL BE GETTING SOME NEW SIGNAGE ON EAST NORWEGIAN STREET. THEY WILL BE REPAINTING THE EXTERIOR OF THE SALVATION ARMY FAMILY STORE. ONE OF THE SOLDIERS ON GARFIELD SQUARE WILL HAVE HIS MISSING SWORD REPLACED , AND THE CITY WILL FILE AND APPLICATION FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR ABOUT $420,000 THAT WILL HELP WITH THE SMALL COMMUNITIES PROGRAM, ACTIVITIES THAT WILL BENEFIT LOW TO MODERATE INCOME FAMILIES.

A RESIDENCE AT 391 BIRCH HILL ROAD IN PERRY TOWNSHIP WAS BURGLARIZED DURING THE DAY YESTERDAY. SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLLAR WORTH OF ELECTRONICS AND JEWELERY WERE TAKEN BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 11AM AND 2PM. ANYONE WITH INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS THEFT IS TO CONTACT THE PSP OF HAMBURG.


ERIC WORTMAN OF 14 SOUTH FRONT STREET IN MINERSVILLE IS ACCUSED OF STEALING LOTTERY TICKETS, CIGARETTE CARTONS AND SIX PACKS OF SODA FROM THE TURKEY HILL MINI MARKET IN MINERSVILLE. THE THEFT TOTALED ALMOST $5,500. WORTMAN WILL BE CHARGED IN DISTRICT COURT AND THE INVESTIGATION IS STILL ONGOING.


UNKNOWN SUSPECTS ATTEMPTED TO PRY OPEN THE REAR DOOR OF THE DUNCOTT FIRE COMPANY IN CASS TOWNSHIP OVER THE WEEKEND. THEY WERE UNSUCCESSFUL GAINING ENTRY AND FLED THE SCENE. ANYONE WITH INFORMATION ON THIS ATTEMPTED BREAK-IN IS TO CONTACT THE PSP OF FRACKVILLE.

SHELLY OXENREIDER, 36 OF READING PA, WILL BE CHARGED AFTER SHE CONSENTED TO A VEHICLE SEARCH UPON ARRIVAL TO THE SCHUYLKILL CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTE IN FRACKVILLE AND SECURITY FOUND MARIJUANA AND PARAPHERNALIA. THE INSIDENT HAPPENED YESTERDAY MORNING AROUND 10AM. CHARGES WILL BE FILED IN DISTRICT COURT.

SETH MELLOR, 18 OF TAMAQUA GOT THIS 1996 SATURN STUCK ON THE SIDE OF WILDCAT ROAD IN THE AREA OF THE GAMELANDS IN WALKER TOWNSHIP YESTERDAY AROUND 5:30PM. WHEN POLICE ARRIVED AT THE SCENE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT MELLOR WAS UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL AND WAS THEN TRANSPORTED TO THE POTTSVILLE HOSPITAL FOR A BLOOD TEST. CHARGES WILL BE FILED ON MELLOR PENDING BLOOD RESULTS.

IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PA STATE POLICE DEPARTMENT'S CHECKPOINT STRIKE FORE II PROGRAM, DUI CHECKPOINTS WILL BE CONDUCTED IN NORTHERN SCHUYLKILL COUNTY THIS UPCOMING WEEKEND. THE POLICE ARE REMINDING MOTORISTS TO NOT DRINK AND DRIVE.

DANIEL R KELLER, OF COPPERAS COVE, TEXAS WAS TAKEN TO ST LUKE'S HOSPITAL IN ASHLAND AFTER HIS TRACTOR TRAILER WENT OFF THE ROAD NORTHBOUND ON INTERSTATE 81 IN DELANO TOWNSHIP. KELLER LEFT THE ROADWAY ON THE RIGHT SIDE AND STRUCK SEVERAL TREES BEFORE THE TRUCK ROLLED ON ITS SIDE. THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION RESPONDED TO THE SCENE FOR A FUEL SPILL AND THE DELANO FIRE DEPARTMENT ASSISTED WITH THE CRASH.

THERE ARE NOW 219 TRUCKS AND 31 DRIVERS OUT OF SERVICE AFTER A ONE-DAY ENFORCEMENT EFFORT THAT INSPECTED COMMERCIAL VEHICLES ON RURAL ROADS AND NON-INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS ON APRIL 21. THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR VEHICLE COMMONWEALTH RURAL ROADS AND STATE HIGHWAYS DETAIL, OR C.R.A.S.H. WAS CONDUCTED BY PA STATE POLICE WHO INSPECTED 1255 VEHICLES. THEY ISSUED 771 CITATIONS AND 1720 WRITTEN WARNINGS FOR VEHICLE AND DRIVER VIOLATIONS. NATIONAL STATISTICS SHOW THAT MORE THAN 50 PERCENT OF ALL TRUCK CRASHES OCCUR IN RURAL AREAS AND ON NON-INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS.

STATE NEWS

LAPTOPS-SPYING ON STUDENTS
JUDGE: FBI CAN VIEW EVIDENCE IN WEBCAM SPY CASE

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - A JUDGE SAYS THE FBI CAN VIEW COMPUTER EVIDENCE GATHERED THROUGH A LAWSUIT THAT ACCUSES A SUBURBAN PHILADELPHIA SCHOOL DISTRICT OF ELECTRONICALLY SPYING ON STUDENTS. THE LOWER MERION SCHOOL DISTRICT ADMITS IT SECRETLY CAPTURED 56,000 WEBCAM PHOTOS AND SCREEN SHOTS IN A MISGUIDED ATTEMPT TO LOCATE MISSING SCHOOL-ISSUED LAPTOPS. THE DISTRICT CONCEDES SOME WEBCAM PHOTOGRAPHS WERE TAKEN INSIDE STUDENT HOMES. ONE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT HAS FILED AN INVASION-OF-PRIVACY LAWSUIT. AND THE FBI IS INVESTIGATING WHETHER THE DISTRICT VIOLATED WIRETAP LAWS. THE JUDGE AGREED YESTERDAY TO LET FEDERAL INVESTIGATORS VIEW THE IMAGES RECOVERED AS THEY PURSUE THEIR GRAND JURY INVESTIGATION. BUT THE JUDGE WANTS THE PRIVACY OF STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES PROTECTED WHENEVER POSSIBLE.

1966 POLICE SHOOTING
JURY SELECTION BEGINS IN 1966 POLICE SHOOTING

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - MORE THAN 40 YEARS AFTER HE PULLED THE TRIGGER, THE MAN WHO SERVED TIME FOR THE ATTEMPTED MURDER OF A PHILADELPHIA POLICE OFFICER WILL STAND TRIAL BECAUSE PROSECUTORS SAY THE WOUND THAT PARALYZED THE OFFICER ALSO KILLED HIM. A JURY WAS SELECTED YESTERDAY FOR NEXT WEEK'S MURDER TRIAL OF 73-YEAR-OLD WILLIAM BARNES. HE IS CHARGED IN THE 2005 DEATH OF OFFICER WALTER BARCLAY. BARNES SHOT BARCLAY DURING A ROBBERY IN 1966, LEAVING THE ROOKIE OFFICER PARALYZED. WHEN HE DIED IN 2005, A MEDICAL EXAMINER RULED BARCLAY'S DEATH A HOMICIDE, CITING FOUR DECADES OF COMPLICATIONS FROM THE SHOOTING.
BARNES SERVED 26 YEARS FOR ATTEMPTED MURDER PLUS SEVERAL ESCAPE
ATTEMPTS. HE HAD BEEN WORKING AT A SUPERMARKET AND DOING SPEAKING
ENGAGEMENTS ABOUT HIS CRIMINAL HISTORY WHEN HE WAS ARRESTED.

PRIEST-ABUSE ALLEGATION
PHILLY PRIEST RELIEVED AFTER ABUSE ALLEGATION

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - A SOUTH PHILADELPHIA PRIEST HAS BEEN RELIEVED OF HIS DUTIES FOLLOWING AN ALLEGATION OF SEXUAL ABUSE OF A MINOR MORE THAN FOUR DECADES AGO. THE ARCHDIOCESE OF PHILADELPHIA SAID THE ALLEGATION AGAINST 72-YEAR-OLD MONSIGNOR GEORGE MAZZOTTA WAS THE FIRST THAT OFFICIALS HAD RECEIVED, AND IT HAD BEEN REPORTED TO CIVIL AUTHORITIES.
MAZZOTTA HAS BEEN PAROCHIAL VICAR AT STELLA MARIS PARISH SINCE
2008, BUT OFFICIALS SAY HE HAS BEEN RELIEVED OF HIS ASSIGNMENT PENDING A FORMAL INVESTIGATION. CHURCH AUTHORITIES DID NOT PROVIDE ANY DETAILS ABOUT THE ALLEGATION, INCLUDING A SPECIFIC DATE. MAZZOTTA LIVES AT THE VILLA SAINT JOSEPH HOME FOR RETIRED PRIESTS IN DARBY, PA., WHERE A CALL SEEKING COMMENT YESTERDAY WAS REFERRED TO THE ARCHDIOCESE.

NICETOWN SHOOTING
TEEN SOUGHT AFTER MAN, 68, KILLED IN NORTH PHILLY

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - PHILADELPHIA POLICE ARE SEARCHING FOR A 17-YEAR-OLD YOUTH IN THE SHOOTING DEATH OF A 68-YEAR-OLD MAN IN NORTH PHILADELPHIA. HOMICIDE CAPT. JAMES CLARK SAID THE TEENAGER AND THE VICTIM WERE ARGUING IN FRONT OF THE VICTIM'S HOUSE IN THE NICETOWN SECTION OF THE CITY AT ABOUT 1 P.M. MONDAY. POLICE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO SORT OUT WHAT STARTED THE ARGUMENT AND SAID THE VICTIM MAY HAVE BEEN DOING WORK AT THE HOME OF A FEMALE RELATIVE OF THE SUSPECT. CLARK SAID AT SOME POINT, THE YOUTH ALLEGEDLY PULLED OUT A GUN AND SHOT THE OLDER MAN ONCE IN THE CHEST.

WRONG MAN SHOT?
POLICE: W PA. SHOOTER GOT WRONG MAN

PITTSBURGH (AP) - AUTHORITIES IN WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA SAY A MAN
SHOT TO DEATH IN HIS HOME OVER THE WEEKEND WAS APPARENTLY NOT THE
INTENDED VICTIM OF THE GUNMAN. PITTSBURGH POLICE SAY THE SHOOTER REACHED INSIDE AN OPEN DOOR OF THE HOMEWOOD RESIDENCE AND FIRED SEVERAL SHOTS THAT KILLED 19-YEAR-OLD MICHAEL GARNETT JR. BUT POLICE SAY ANOTHER MAN WHO WITNESSED THE KILLING WAS APPARENTLY THE TARGET, SINCE HE HAD BEEN IN A FIGHT ABOUT TWO WEEKS EARLIER WITH THE SUSPECT AND THE TWO ARGUED AGAIN SATURDAY BEFORE THE EARLY MORNING SHOOTING.
THIRTY-FOUR-YEAR-OLD VIRGIL WILLIAMS WAS ARRESTED SUNDAY AND CHARGED WITH HOMICIDE, ATTEMPTED HOMICIDE AND TWO COUNTS OF RECKLESS ENDANGERMENT. HE WAS TAKEN TO ALLEGHENY COUNTY JAIL PENDING A MAY 14 HEARING. A LISTED NUMBER FOR WILLIAMS COULD NOT BE FOUND YESTERDAY AND IT WAS UNCLEAR WHETHER HE HAD AN ATTORNEY.

BEDFORD COUNTY CRASH
2 TRUCK DRIVERS KILLED IN 5-VEHICLE PA. CRASH

ALUM BANK, PA. (AP) - AUTHORITIES IN WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA SAY
TWO TRACTOR-TRAILER DRIVERS DIED IN A CRASH THAT ALSO INVOLVED
THREE CARS. STATE POLICE IN BEDFORD COUNTY SAY THE CRASH HAPPENED JUST
BEFORE 6:30 A.M. MONDAY ON ROUTE 56 IN WEST ST. CLAIR TOWNSHIP NEAR
THE SOMERSET COUNTY LINE. INVESTIGATORS SAID ONE OF THE TRACTOR-TRAILERS SLAMMED INTO ONE OF THE CARS AS THE TWO EASTBOUND VEHICLES WERE TRYING TO NEGOTIATE A CURVE. THE TRACTOR-TRAILER THEN HIT A WESTBOUND TRACTOR-TRAILER AND THEN STRUCK THE OTHER TWO CARS. POLICE SAID THE NAMES OF THE TRUCK DRIVERS HAVE NOT BEEN RELEASED. TWO OF THE CAR DRIVERS ALSO HAD MODERATE INJURIES. OFFICIALS SAID ONE OF THE TRUCKS WAS HAULING ICE CREAM AND THE OTHER WAS TRANSPORTING REFRIGERATORS.
THE ROAD REOPENED MONDAY EVENING, BUT OFFICIALS SAID IT WILL BE
CLOSED AGAIN AT 9 A.M. TUESDAY.

GREENE COUNTY CRASH
HEAD-ON CRASH IN SW PA. KILLS 2 TEENS, INJURES 1

JEFFERSON, PA. (AP) - AUTHORITIES IN SOUTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA
SAY A HEAD-ON CRASH HAS KILLED TWO TEENAGERS AND INJURED ANOTHER
PERSON. STATE POLICE IN GREENE COUNTY SAY A CAR HEADING EAST ON ROUTE 21
IN JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP NEAR WAYNESBURG VEERED INTO THE WESTBOUND
LANE AND COLLIDED WITH ANOTHER CAR AT ABOUT 11 A.M. POLICE SAY THE OCCUPANTS OF THE EASTBOUND CAR, 18-YEAR-OLD BETHANIE ORWIG AND HOLLY LOWRY OF NEMACOLIN, WERE PRONOUNCED DEAD AT THE SCENE. THE 29-YEAR-OLD WOMAN DRIVING THE OTHER CAR WAS FLOWN TO RUBY MEMORIAL HOSPITAL IN MORGANTOWN, W.VA., WHERE OFFICIALS DECLINED TO RELEASE INFORMATION ABOUT HER CONDITION.

ALLENTOWN HOME INVASION
EASTERN PA. MAN ON TRIAL IN CAPITAL CASE

ALLENTOWN, PA. (AP) - A MAN ON TRIAL IN EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA COULD FACE THE DEATH PENALTY IF CONVICTED IN A DEADLY HOME INVASION 4 1/2 YEARS AGO. FIFTY-THREE-YEAR-OLD CHARLES PACK IS CHARGED WITH HOMICIDE, BURGLARY, ROBBERY AND CONSPIRACY IN THE MURDER OF 27-YEAR-OLD BENJAMIN LUCK IN ALLENTOWN THREE DAYS BEFORE CHRISTMAS IN 2005. POLICE SAY PACK'S BLOOD WAS FOUND ALL OVER THE APARTMENT. HE WAS CHARGED IN 2008 AFTER INVESTIGATORS SAID DNA EVIDENCE LINKED HIM TO THE CRIME. PUBLIC DEFENDER JIM NECHIN TOLD JURORS YESTERDAY THAT THE PRESENCE OF HIS CLIENT'S BLOOD DID NOT MEAN THAT HE HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE SLAYING. PROSECUTOR JOSEPH STAUFFER SAID PACK MAY NOT HAVE BEEN THE SHOOTER BUT WAS PRESENT WITH AN UNKNOWN ACCOMPLICE TO ROB LUCK, WHO POLICE ALLEGE WAS A DRUG DEALER.
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INFORMATION FROM: THE MORNING CALL, HTTP://WWW.MCALL.COM

WOMAN DRAGGED
5- TO 20-YEAR TERM IN PA. CASE OF WOMAN DRAGGED

READING, PA. (AP) - A NEW JERSEY MAN CONVICTED OF SEVERELY INJURING HIS SUBURBAN PHILADELPHIA GIRLFRIEND BY DRIVING OFF AS SHE HUNG ONTO HIS PICKUP TRUCK HAS BEEN SENTENCED TO FIVE TO 20 YEARS IN STATE PRISON.
TWENTY-TWO-YEAR-OLD MICHAEL MORRONE OF MARLTON, N.J., WAS CONVICTED MARCH 25 OF AGGRAVATED AND SIMPLE ASSAULT AND RELATED OFFENSES. BERKS COUNTY JUDGE THOMAS PARISI ALSO ORDERED HIM YESTERDAY TO PAY $2.2 MILLION FOR MEDICAL EXPENSES. AUTHORITIES SAID HE DRAGGED CHRISTINE MCGHEE OF WARMINSTER, PA., WITH HIS TRUCK IN A KUTZTOWN UNIVERSITY PARKING LOT AFTER THE TWO ARGUED AT A PARTY IN DECEMBER 2008. FAMILY MEMBERS SAID THE VICTIM WAS LEFT IN A VEGETATIVE STATE. SHE WAS PRESENT IN THE COURTROOM IN A WHEELCHAIR WITH A CARETAKER. DEFENSE ATTORNEY FORTUNATO PERRI JR. SAID MORRONE HAS BEEN TORMENTED BY GUILT.
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INFORMATION FROM: READING EAGLE, HTTP://WWW.READINGEAGLE.COM/

KAGAN-SPECTER
SPECTER TO KEEP 'AN OPEN MIND' ON KAGAN

WASHINGTON (AP) - ARLEN SPECTER VOTED AGAINST ELENA KAGAN WHEN
SHE WAS UP FOR CONFIRMATION AS SOLICITOR GENERAL. BUT NOW THAT
SHE'S NOMINATED FOR THE SUPREME COURT - AND HE'S NOW A DEMOCRAT -
SPECTER SAYS HE'LL KEEP AN OPEN MIND. SPECTER SAYS HE VOTED AGAINST KAGAN AT HER CONFIRMATION HEARING FOR SOLICITOR GENERAL BECAUSE SHE DIDN'T ANSWER BASIC QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW SHE'D HANDLE THE JOB. THAT WAS ALSO BACK WHEN SPECTER WAS THE RANKING REPUBLICAN ON THE SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE. HE SWITCHED TO THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY LAST YEAR.
YESTERDAY, SPECTER SAID THE SOLICITOR GENERAL POSITION IS "DISTINCTLY DIFFERENT" FROM SUPREME COURT JUSTICE AND NOTED KAGAN'S "EXEMPLARY" CREDENTIALS. SPECTER SAYS HE HOPES KAGAN WILL ANSWER QUESTIONS ON EXECUTIVE POWER, ABORTION AND WARRANTLESS WIRETAPPING DURING CONFIRMATION.

PHILADELPHIA-US ATTORNEY
MEMEGER SWORN IN AS EASTERN PA. US ATTORNEY

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - FORMER FEDERAL PROSECUTOR ZANE MEMEGER HAS
BEEN SWORN IN AS THE NEW U.S. ATTORNEY FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF
PENNSYLVANIA. MEMEGER WAS SWORN IN YESTERDAY, LESS THAN A WEEK AFTER HIS CONFIRMATION BY THE U.S. SENATE. MEMEGER WAS AN ASSISTANT U.S. ATTORNEY FOR MORE THAN A DECADE AND PROSECUTED CASES INCLUDING THE TRIAL OF PHILADELPHIA MOB BOSS JOEY MERLINO AND SIX OF HIS ASSOCIATES.
THE FORMER PROSECUTOR RETURNED TO PRIVATE PRACTICE IN 2006 AND
BECAME A PARTNER AT MORGAN, LEWIS & BOCKIUS. PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA NOMINATED MEMEGER LAST MONTH AND THE SENATE CONFIRMED HIM WEDNESDAY.

NATIONAL NEWS

SPRING STORMS
5 DEAD IN OKLAHOMA TORNADO OUTBREAK

NORMAN, OKLA. (AP) - VIOLENT WEATHER IN OKLAHOMA HAS LEFT AT LEAST FIVE PEOPLE DEAD AND DOZENS INJURED. OFFICIALS IN OKLAHOMA CITY SAY A YOUNG BOY WHO WAS KILLED WHEN HIT BY DEBRIS IN HIS HOME. A MAN WAS KILLED WHEN HIS RECREATIONAL VEHICLE FLIPPED OVER ON TOP OF HIM. AND THREE PEOPLE WERE KILLED IN CLEVELAND COUNTY, SOUTH OF THE CITY. THE STORMS WERE PART OF A VIOLENT WEATHER SYSTEM THAT ALSO SPAWNED TWISTERS IN KANSAS AND THAT FORECASTERS HAD BEEN PREDICTING SINCE LAST WEEK. WIDESPREAD DESTRUCTION LED AUTHORITIES TO CLOSE INTERSTATE 40, A MAJOR EAST-WEST ROUTE, JUST EAST OF OKLAHOMA CITY. TRAFFIC WAS BACKED UP FOR MILES.
IN KANSAS, THE MOST SERIOUS DAMAGE WAS REPORTED IN BELMONT. SEVERAL HOMES WERE DAMAGED IN THE TOWN EAST OF TOPEKA AND WIDESPREAD POWER OUTAGES WERE REPORTED. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED.

KAGAN-SUPREME COURT
NEW: KAGAN WILL GET SCRUTINY, BUT CONFIRMATION CHANCES GOOD

WASHINGTON (AP) - IT COULD BE A LONG HOT SUMMER FOR SUPREME COURT NOMINEE ELENA KAGAN WITH REPUBLICANS PROMISING A VERY CLOSE LOOK AT THE CREDENTIALS OF PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA'S NOMINEE. BUT AS THE 50-YEAR-OLD SOLICITOR GENERAL EMBARKS ON HER QUEST FOR SENATE CONFIRMATION, THERE ARE NO SIGNS OF ALL-OUT OPPOSITION FROM THE GOP. CRITICS MAKE IT CLEAR SHE'LL BE QUESTIONED ABOUT HER LACK OF JUDICIAL EXPERIENCE, GAY RIGHTS AND OTHER ISSUES. IF CONFIRMED, KAGAN WOULD TAKE THE PLACE OF RETIRING JUSTICE JOHN PAUL STEVENS. OBAMA E-MAILED A VIDEO TO THOUSANDS OF SUPPORTERS IN WHICH HE SAID KAGAN COULD "ULTIMATELY PROVIDE THAT SAME KIND OF LEADERSHIP," AS STEVENS, HELPING JUSTICES "FIND COMMON GROUND AMID CONTROVERSY. FOR THE MOST PART, REPUBLICAN-ALIGNED OUTSIDE GROUPS RESPONDED MILDLY TO THE NOMINATION, AND KAGAN'S CHANCES FOR CONFIRMATION APPEAR TO BE GOOD.

IMMIGRATION FALLOUT
PHOENIX COULD LOSE $90M FROM IMMIGRATION FALLOUT

PHOENIX (AP) - A CITY OFFICIAL SAYS PHOENIX COULD POSSIBLY LOSE HOTEL AND CONVENTION CENTER BUSINESS WORTH ABOUT $90 MILLION OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS BECAUSE OF FALLOUT FROM ARIZONA'S NEW IMMIGRATION LAW. THE LAW HAS ATTRACTED INTERNATIONAL ATTENTION AS WELL AS CALLS FOR TOURISTS AND BUSINESSES TO BOYCOTT ARIZONA. A DEPUTY CITY MANAGER WHO IS MONITORING THE ISSUE - DAVID KRIETOR - SAYS CITY AND TOURISM OFFICIALS IN PHOENIX HAVE COMPILED A "WATCH LIST" TRACKING THE POTENTIAL FALLOUT. THE LIST INCLUDES FOUR ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE CANCELED EVENTS AND MORE THAN A DOZEN GROUPS THAT HAVE EXPRESSED CONCERNS ABOUT THE NEW LAW. THE $90 MILLION FIGURE REPRESENTS THE ESTIMATED AMOUNT OF MONEY
THAT THOSE GROUPS' MEMBERS WOULD SPEND IN THE REGION. SOME EVENTS
ARE SCHEDULED TO TAKE PLACE THIS YEAR, WHILE OTHERS ARE BOOKED AS
FAR OUT AT 2015.

GULF OIL SPILL
NEW: SENATE HEARINGS PROMPTING SPILL BLAME GAME

WASHINGTON (AP) - CONGRESS BEGINS HEARINGS TODAY ON THE MASSIVE
OIL SPILL THREATENING SENSITIVE MARSHES AND MARINE LIFE ALONG THE
GULF COAST AND THE BLAME GAME IS IN HIGH GEAR. EXECUTIVES OF THE THREE COMPANIES INVOLVED IN THE DRILLING ACTIVITIES THAT UNLEASHED THE ENVIRONMENTAL CRISIS ARE TRYING TO SHIFT RESPONSIBILITY TO EACH OTHER TESTIMONY PREPARED FOR A PAIR OF HEARINGS WAS OBTAINED BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS. LAWMAKERS ARE EXPECTED TO ASK BP, WHICH OPERATED THE SUNKEN DRILLING RIG, WHY ITS DRILLING PLANS DISCOUNTED THE RISK OF A
CATASTROPHIC PIPELINE RUPTURE AND WHY IT ASSUMED A LEAK WOULD NOT
POSE A MAJOR THREAT. THE MORNING HEARING BY THE ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE AND THE AFTERNOON SESSION BEFORE THE ENVIRONMENTAL AND PUBLIC HEALTH COMMITTEE GIVE LAWMAKERS THEIR FIRST CHANCE TO QUESTION THE EXECUTIVES PUBLICLY.

IRAQ
NEW: DEATH TOLL RISES IN MONDAY BOMBINGS

BAGHDAD (AP) - THE DEADLIEST DAY IN IRAQ THIS YEAR JUST GOT
WORSE. BASRA AND HILLA SOUTH OF BAGHDAD REPORTED NEW DEATHS TODAY FROM YESTERDAY'S BOMBINGS. THAT BRINGS THE DEATH TOLL TO 119 FOR A
DEVASTATING DAY OF ATTACKS ACROSS IRAQ. A MEDICAL OFFICIAL AT THE BASRA MORGUE SAID 30 PEOPLE DIED, NEARLY TWICE AS MANY AS WERE ORIGINALLY REPORTED, IN THE STRING OF THREE BOMBINGS THAT RIPPED THROUGH THE CITY.
IN HILLAH, WHICH SAW THE WORST ATTACK, POLICE SAY FIVE MORE PEOPLE DIED, RAISING THE TOLL THERE TO 50. A PAIR OF CAR BOMBS NEAR A FACTORY LURED RESCUERS AND ONLOOKERS TO THE SCENE WHERE A SUICIDE BOMBER DETONATED HIMSELF IN THEIR MIDST. THE RELENTLESS CASCADE OF BOMBINGS AND SHOOTINGS - HITTING AT LEAST 10 CITIES AND TOWNS AS THE DAY UNFOLDED - RAISED QUESTIONS ABOUT WHETHER IRAQI SECURITY FORCES CAN PROTECT THE COUNTRY AS THE U.S. PREPARES TO LEAVE.

PAKISTAN
US MISSILE BARRAGE TARGETS MILITANT STRONGHOLD IN NW PAKISTAN,
14 ALLEGED INSURGENTS KILLED

PARACHINAR, PAKISTAN (AP) - OFFICIALS SAY UP TO 18 AMERICAN MISSILES SLAMMED INTO AN AL-QAIDA AND TALIBAN SANCTUARY CLOSE TO THE AFGHAN BORDER, KILLING 14 ALLEGED INSURGENTS. IT'S THE THIRD SUCH STRIKE SINCE A FAILED CAR BOMBING IN NEW YORK DREW FRESH ATTENTION TO THE REGION.
THE NUMBER OF MISSILES FIRED INTO NORTH WAZIRISTAN TODAY WAS UNUSUALLY HIGH, REFLECTING MULTIPLE TARGETS. TWO INTELLIGENCE OFFICIALS SAID THEY STRUCK CARS, HOMES AND TENTS ACROSS A WIDE AREA IN THE DOGA AREA. THE IDENTITIES OF THE PEOPLE KILLED IN THE ATTACK WERE NOT IMMEDIATELY KNOWN. THE OFFICIALS SAID DOGA IS A MILITANT STRONGHOLD WHERE INSURGENTS HAVE HIDEOUTS AND TRAINING FACILITIES.
NORTH WAZIRISTAN HAS BEEN THE TARGET OF NEARLY ALL OF ABOUT 30
OTHER AMERICAN ATTACKS THIS YEAR.

AFGHANISTAN
NEW: POLICE, ALLIES KILL 18 INSURGENTS IN S AFGHANISTAN

KABUL (AP) - THE AFGHAN GOVERNMENT SAYS 18 INSURGENT FIGHTERS
HAVE BEEN KILLED IN A JOINT OPERATION OF AFGHAN AND INTERNATIONAL
FORCES IN SOUTHERN HELMAND REGION. THE INTERIOR MINISTRY SAYS IN A STATEMENT THAT SIX MILITANTS WERE ALSO ARRESTED DURING THE OPERATION A DAY EARLIER. IT WAS LED BY AFGHAN POLICE, SOLDIERS AND INTELLIGENCE AGENTS BACKED BY NATO FORCES IN HELMAND'S SANGIN DISTRICT.
SEPARATELY, A DEPUTY PROVINCIAL POLICE CHIEF SAYS AN AFGHAN MAN
WAS KILLED AND A WOMAN WAS WOUNDED AFTER INSURGENTS ATTACKED A
HOUSE MONDAY IN NEIGHBORING KANDAHAR PROVINCE. THOUSANDS OF U.S., NATO AND AFGHAN FORCES ARE RAMPING UP PRESSURE ON KANDAHAR - THE BIRTHPLACE OF THE FORMER TALIBAN REGIME.

OBAMA-JEWISH HERITAGE
WHITE HOUSE TO CELEBRATE JEWISH AMERICANS

WASHINGTON (AP) - PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA AND FIRST LADY MICHELLE
OBAMA WILL HOLD WHAT THE WHITE HOUSE SAYS WILL BE ITS FIRST
RECEPTION IN RECOGNITION OF JEWISH AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH.
THE MAY 27 EVENT WILL CELEBRATE THE DEPTH OF JEWISH AMERICAN
HERITAGE AND THE RANGE OF CONTRIBUTIONS JEWS HAVE MADE TO AMERICAN
CULTURE. GUESTS WILL INCLUDE COMMUNITY LEADERS, OLYMPIANS, MEMBERS
OF CONGRESS, BUSINESS LEADERS, SCHOLARS, PROFESSIONAL ATHLETES,
MILITARY VETERANS AND ASTRONAUTS. OBAMA HAS CONTINUED THE PRESIDENTIAL TRADITION OF DESIGNATING MAY AS JEWISH AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH.

WOODS-HANEY
TIGER'S SWING COACH RESIGNS

ORLANDO, FLA. (AP) - TIGER WOODS' SWING COACH HAS RESIGNED.
HANK HANEY SAYS IN A STATEMENT TO THE GOLF CHANNEL THAT HE
ENJOYED WORKING WITH WOODS BUT HE THINKS IT'S TIME FOR HIM TO STEP
ASIDE AS HIS COACH. HANEY SAYS IT WAS HIS DECISION. THERE HAD BEEN SPECULATION AT LAST WEEKEND'S THE PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP THAT HE WAS ABOUT TO LEAVE HANEY, HIS SWING COACH SINCE 2004. BUT WOODS SAID EARLIER MONDAY HE WAS WORKING WITH HANEY ON HIS SWING. WOODS WITHDREW DURING SUNDAY'S FINAL ROUND AFTER SUFFERING NECK SPASMS. HE HAS STRUGGLED SINCE TYING FOR FOURTH AT THE MASTERS, HIS FIRST COMPETITION IN FIVE MONTHS.

STRUGGLING WOMEN'S MEMORIAL
NEW: WILL NATION'S WOMEN'S MILITARY MEMORIAL STAY OPEN?

ARLINGTON, VA. (AP) - AS THE WOMEN WHO SERVED IN WORLD WAR II
ARE DYING OFF, THE WOMEN'S MILITARY MEMORIAL AT ARLINGTON NATIONAL
CEMETERY IS RUNNING SHORT OF FUNDS. HE MEMORIAL CONTINUES TO GET A STEADY FLOW OF VISITORS, BUT THE DEATHS OF ABOUT THREE-QUARTERS OF THE 400,000 WOMEN WHO SERVED IN WORLD WAR II HAS LEFT THE MEMORIAL WITHOUT MANY OF ITS BENEFACTORS. THE REMAINING ORGANIZERS ARE HOPING A NEW GENERATION OF WOMEN IN THE MILITARY WILL KEEP THE MEMORIAL OPEN SO MILITARY WOMEN'S STORIES WON'T BE LOST. THE RECESSION AND A DECLINE IN BOOKSTORE SALES AT THE MEMORIAL HAVE MADE IT HARDER TO RAISE THE PRIVATE DOLLARS THAT MAKE UP A LARGE SHARE OF THE MEMORIAL'S $2.7 MILLION ANNUAL BUDGET. IT HAS GOTTEN A $1.6 MILLION CONGRESSIONAL APPROPRIATION AND A SPECIAL FUNDRAISING DRIVE BROUGHT IN $250,000, BUT ONE BOARD MEMBER SAYS PAYING BILLS REMAINS A CHALLENGE.