*** NEWS BITS***
People Leaving Sadr City Because of Violence
A top official in Baghdad said the capital’s biggest soccer stadium is one of three locations being prepared to house r residents who are fleeing Baghdad’s Sadr City, where Iraqi and U.S. forces have been fighting Shiite militants for weeks. In addition, two other facilities are prepared. The official said that so far no more than 400 families have fled the war-torn neighborhood since the fighting began in late March. This despite reports that thousands of people have fled. Those families that are leaving, he said, are residents who have been cooperating with security forces, kin of security forces who have been threatened, and others afraid of criminal gangs.
Devastation in Myanmar Mounts
After the devastating cyclone that hit Myanmar last weekend, assistance has been slow in arriving, due to the junta's lack of progress in granting visas for relief workers and giving clearance for aid flights to land. Relief agencies say decomposing corpses litter ditches and fields in the worst-hit Irrawaddy delta area as survivors try to conserve fuel for transporting much-needed supplies.The international community is growing increasingly frustrated with the junta and are concerned the lack of medical supplies and clean food and water threatens to increase the already staggering death toll. Myanmar's military government says more than 22,000 people died as a result of the storm, but the top U.S. diplomat in the country has said the toll could top 100,000.
Iraqi Police Chief Wounded in Bombing
On thursday in northern Iraq, a suicide bomber wearing an explosive vest attacked a convoy carrying a police official and the
head of an American-backed security group. The incident occurred in the Salaheddin province town of
Dhuluiya and left five people wounded, including Dhuluiya Police Chief Mohammed
Khalid and Awakening Council leader Sheikh Nadhem al-Jabouri.
Tensions High in Beirut
On Thursday armed Hezbollah supporters patrolled the streets, while military forces have been deployed in other areas of the capital of Lebanon. Lebanese military vehicles were stationed across Beirut to prevent anti-government Hezbollah backers from clashing with pro-government protesters. Gun battles were reported in Beirut’s seaport district of Corniche Al-Mazraa on Thursday. What started as a labor protest on Wednesday quickly escalated into a flashpoint over Lebanon’s 17-month-old political crisis. Those tensions increased when Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah said the recent dismissal of an airport security chief amounts to “a declaration of open war” on the Lebanese government. Brig. Gen. Wafiq Shqeir was dismissed on Monday amid a government investigation into allegations that Hezbollah had installed cameras and other monitoring equipment at the airport.
Journalists Arrested in Zimbabwe
Two journalists and the lawyer for a third have been arrested in Zimbabwe in recent days, their spokesmen said Thursday; an indication that the Zimbabwean government is intensifying a post-election crackdown. Davison Maruziva, the editor of the Zimbabwe newspaper The Standard, was arrested for publishing a commentary piece by an opposition leader, and a Zimbabwean photographer for Reuters has been held for three days without charge. Police accused Howard Burditt of using a satellite phone to transmit pictures. Wednesday, police arrested Harrison Nkomo, a lawyer who represented New York Times journalist Barry Bearak when Bearak was briefly detained last month, Bearak, a Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter based in Johannesburg, South Africa, spent four nights in jail in Zimbabwe on charges of “committing journalism” while covering the election.
Pedophile Wanted by Interpol Found in U.S.
A suspected pedophile targeted in an international manhunt was detained Thursday by police in the United States. On Tuesday, Interpol, the international police agency based in Lyon, France, appealed for public help to track down the man, who was suspected of sexually abusing at least three young boys from Southeast Asia. Photos seized by police in Norway in 2006 showed the man's alleged abuse. The police agency identified the suspect as Wayne Nelson Corliss, 58, an actor who also goes by the stage name of Casey Wane. He was detained in Union City, New Jersey.
Country Music Legend Dies
Early Thursday morning, Eddy Arnold, a legendary country singer that Billboard Magazine ranked the number one country artist of all time, died at an assisted living facility in Franklin, Tenn. Arnold was one of the founding fathers of country music who helped put Music City on the map. The humble, soft-spoken gentlemen, who billed himself as "The Tennessee Plowboy," was a legendary Hall of Fame entertainer.
Heavy Storms Hit in Oklahoma and Mississippi
Officials are still trying to determine whether
tornadoes touched down after severe storms moved through Oklahoma late Wednesday,
toppling trees and knocking out power to thousands of people. A possible twister spun up over western Oklahoma County as severe storms moved through during the afternoon rush hour. At least one injury was reported when a woman broke her leg trying to get to a storm shelter in Bethany. Witnesses reported seeing two tornadoes on the ground about 5 p.m. Wednesday. Early Thursday, that storm system moved east, and a tornado swept through parts of Tupelo, Mississippi,
damaging trees, power lines and overturning a large semi.
Children Found Amid Squalor in Dallas
Dallas police found a 2-year-old girl and a 5-year-old boy on a soiled
mattress inside a house that had been boarded up. The children were found near large piles of trash, broken glass,
razor blades and a loaded pistol. The father, 22-year-old Gregory Dewayne Amphy, was arrested when he arrived at the house in a stolen car holding a bag of marijuana just as the children were being taken away. The house had not had utility service since 2002. Amphy faces two charges of child endangerment, theft and possession of marijuana.
Unidentified Body Found in East Texas
Smith County authorities are trying to determine the identity of a body found in a ditch Tuesday night southwest of Whitehouse. Officials say the body is that of a white male in his forties with tattoos. Anyone with information can contact the Smith County Sheriff’s Department. Phone numbers available on their Web site
Mexico Agrees to Extradite Accused Killer
Mexico has agreed to return Ernesto Reyes of Denton to face murder charges in the abduction and murder of University of North Texas student Melanie Goodwin of Arlington. As part of the extradition agreement, Reyes will not face the death penalty if convicted.
Police in Philadelphia Investigated for Beating Suspects
On Thursday, Philadelphia Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey said that race had nothing to do with the beatings of three restrained men by several members of the Philadelphia police force. He said the beating that had been videotaped was inexcusable and there would be a full investigation. In a previous statement he said that the police were tired and on edge because of the shooting of another officer, but he also said that did not excuse their behavior. The video shows at least eight officers kicking, punching or striking two of the suspects with batons while the men lay restrained on the ground.
Scammers in East Texas
Some Northeast Texas residents have received calls soliciting donations for the family of Trooper Scott Burns who was killed recently in the line of duty. Authorities warn that unscrupulous individuals may attempt to play upon the emotions of well-meaning members of the community. Residents are urged to be careful about releasing personal information such as bank account or credit card numbers over the telephone.
Discount Prescription Cards Available in Texas
A new prescription drug card
is available for Texas residents to help uninsured, or underinsured Texans get prescription medications. This is available even if people have insurance and they save up to 75-percent on medications. To sign up for a free card - go to: www.texasrxcard.com
Letter Carriers' Food Drive
The National Association of Letter Carriers' 16th annual Stamp Out
Hunger! food drive takes place next Saturday, May 10. Postal
customers can donate non-perishable food by placing in their
mailboxes for their mail carrier to collect. Food collected locally
will go to benefit local food pantries.
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