Month: July 2008

RED OAK, Texas (AP) – A hidden door in a structure in Red Oak led officers to an underground marijuana operation and more than 150 flourishing plants. Ellis County Sheriff’s deputies say it appears 46-year-old Dwayne Nielsen had a sophisticated hydroponics farm. Nielsen is charged with possession of marijuana over five pounds and under 50

RED OAK, Texas (AP) – A hidden door in a structure in Red Oak led officers to an underground marijuana operation and more than 150 flourishing plants. Ellis County Sheriff’s deputies say it appears 46-year-old Dwayne Nielsen had a sophisticated hydroponics farm. Nielsen is charged with possession of marijuana over five pounds and under 50

By DINA CAPPIELLO, Associated Press Writer WASHINGTON (AP) – The Bush administration on Friday rejected regulating greenhouse gases blamed for global warming, saying it would cause too many job losses. In a 588-page federal notice, the Environmental Protection made no finding on whether global warming poses a threat to people’s health, reversing an earlier conclusion

By DINA CAPPIELLO, Associated Press Writer WASHINGTON (AP) – The Bush administration on Friday rejected regulating greenhouse gases blamed for global warming, saying it would cause too many job losses. In a 588-page federal notice, the Environmental Protection made no finding on whether global warming poses a threat to people’s health, reversing an earlier conclusion

By DEE-ANN DURBIN, AP Auto Writer DETROIT (AP) – Toyota Motor Corp., the seemingly unstoppable juggernaut that saw its U.S. sales double in the last decade, has come back down to earth. Stung by rare double-digit sales declines and burdened by a growing inventory of slow-selling pickups, Toyota said Thursday it will start producing the

By DEE-ANN DURBIN, AP Auto Writer DETROIT (AP) – Toyota Motor Corp., the seemingly unstoppable juggernaut that saw its U.S. sales double in the last decade, has come back down to earth. Stung by rare double-digit sales declines and burdened by a growing inventory of slow-selling pickups, Toyota said Thursday it will start producing the

by Marcia Dunn, AP Aerospace Writer CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) – In a daring spacewalk, two space station astronauts cut into the insulation of their descent capsule Thursday and removed an explosive bolt that could have blown off their hands with firecracker force. Spacewalkers Sergei Volkov and Oleg Kononenko managed, in the end, to safely

by Marcia Dunn, AP Aerospace Writer CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) – In a daring spacewalk, two space station astronauts cut into the insulation of their descent capsule Thursday and removed an explosive bolt that could have blown off their hands with firecracker force. Spacewalkers Sergei Volkov and Oleg Kononenko managed, in the end, to safely

MEXICO CITY (AP) – Prosecutors in Mexico say attackers shot and killed nine people at an auto repair shop in the gang-plagued city of Culiacan. Also, an investigator was found shot to death near police headquarters. Culiacan is the capital of northern Sinaloa state – home to the powerful Sinaloa drug cartel. Six bullet-ridden bodies

MEXICO CITY (AP) – Prosecutors in Mexico say attackers shot and killed nine people at an auto repair shop in the gang-plagued city of Culiacan. Also, an investigator was found shot to death near police headquarters. Culiacan is the capital of northern Sinaloa state – home to the powerful Sinaloa drug cartel. Six bullet-ridden bodies

By MADLEN READ, AP Business Writer NEW YORK – Oil prices regained some ground Thursday from their recent tumble of nearly $10 a barrel, as traders monitored escalating political tensions in the Middle East but also signs of slowing demand. Crude, trading up $1.58 at $137.63 a barrel, appears to have reached another key level

By MADLEN READ, AP Business Writer NEW YORK – Oil prices regained some ground Thursday from their recent tumble of nearly $10 a barrel, as traders monitored escalating political tensions in the Middle East but also signs of slowing demand. Crude, trading up $1.58 at $137.63 a barrel, appears to have reached another key level

WASHINGTON (AP) – Karl Rove is defying a congressional subpoena and refusing to testify about charges of political pressure at the Justice Department. The former adviser to President Bush was subpoenaed in May in an effort to force him to talk about whether he played a role in firing federal prosecutors considered disloyal to the

WASHINGTON (AP) – Karl Rove is defying a congressional subpoena and refusing to testify about charges of political pressure at the Justice Department. The former adviser to President Bush was subpoenaed in May in an effort to force him to talk about whether he played a role in firing federal prosecutors considered disloyal to the

By JENNIFER LOVEN, Associated Press Writer WASHINGTON – President Bush signed a bill Thursday that overhauls rules about government eavesdropping and grants immunity to telecommunications companies that helped the U.S. spy on Americans in suspected terrorism cases. He called it “landmark legislation that is vital to the security of our people.” Bush signed the measure

By JENNIFER LOVEN, Associated Press Writer WASHINGTON – President Bush signed a bill Thursday that overhauls rules about government eavesdropping and grants immunity to telecommunications companies that helped the U.S. spy on Americans in suspected terrorism cases. He called it “landmark legislation that is vital to the security of our people.” Bush signed the measure

By NASSER KARIMI, Associated Press Writer TEHRAN, Iran – Iran test-fired more long-range missiles overnight in a second round of exercises meant to show that the country can defend itself against any attack by the U.S. or Israel, state television reported Thursday. The weapons have “special capabilities” and included missiles launched from naval ships in

By NASSER KARIMI, Associated Press Writer TEHRAN, Iran – Iran test-fired more long-range missiles overnight in a second round of exercises meant to show that the country can defend itself against any attack by the U.S. or Israel, state television reported Thursday. The weapons have “special capabilities” and included missiles launched from naval ships in

EL PASO, Texas — Allcity streets that were temporarily closed due to the recent rainstorms have reopened, city officials said. Mulberry Avenue near Doniphan and the turning lanes along Redd Road, which is the target of a major resurfacing project, are reopened. The resurfacing work along Redd will resume when the weather clears,officials said.

EL PASO, Texas — Allcity streets that were temporarily closed due to the recent rainstorms have reopened, city officials said. Mulberry Avenue near Doniphan and the turning lanes along Redd Road, which is the target of a major resurfacing project, are reopened. The resurfacing work along Redd will resume when the weather clears,officials said.

By Susan Fraser, Associated Press Writer ISTANBUL, Turkey – Suspected al-Qaida militants armed with pistols and shotguns attacked a police guard post outside the U.S. consulate in Istanbul on Wednesday, sparking a gunbattle that left three attackers and three officers dead. Turkish and U.S. officials publicly labeled the shooting a terrorist attack and a police

by Monica Rhor, Associated Press Writer HOUSTON (AP) – Wal-Mart is pulling a popular Mexican comic book featuring a protagonist with exaggerated black features following complaints from a Houston customer who said “Memin Pinguin” was racist. The latest issue of the comic, “Memin para presidente” (Memin for President), was being sold in select Wal-Mart stores

by Monica Rhor, Associated Press Writer HOUSTON (AP) – Wal-Mart is pulling a popular Mexican comic book featuring a protagonist with exaggerated black features following complaints from a Houston customer who said “Memin Pinguin” was racist. The latest issue of the comic, “Memin para presidente” (Memin for President), was being sold in select Wal-Mart stores

by David Espo, AP Special Correspondent WASHINGTON (AP) – Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, battling a brain tumor, walked through a wall of applause into the Senate on Wednesday and cast a stunningly unexpected vote on long-stalled Medicare legislation. “Aye,” the 76-year-old Kennedy said in a loud voice, and he made a thumbs-up gesture as he

by David Espo, AP Special Correspondent WASHINGTON (AP) – Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, battling a brain tumor, walked through a wall of applause into the Senate on Wednesday and cast a stunningly unexpected vote on long-stalled Medicare legislation. “Aye,” the 76-year-old Kennedy said in a loud voice, and he made a thumbs-up gesture as he

by Catherine Tsai, Associated Press Writer BOULDER, Colo. – Citing new DNA tests, prosecutors on Wednesday cleared JonBenet Ramsey’s parents and brother in the 1996 killing of the 6-year-old beauty queen and apologized to the family for casting the cloud of suspicion that hung over them for more than a decade. Boulder County District Attorney

by Catherine Tsai, Associated Press Writer BOULDER, Colo. – Citing new DNA tests, prosecutors on Wednesday cleared JonBenet Ramsey’s parents and brother in the 1996 killing of the 6-year-old beauty queen and apologized to the family for casting the cloud of suspicion that hung over them for more than a decade. Boulder County District Attorney

By KEN RITTER, Associated Press Writer LAS VEGAS (AP) – Polygamist sect leader Warren Jeffs was taken from jail in Arizona to a Las Vegas hospital after he was found weak, feverish and “convulsive” in his cell, a jail official said Wednesday. The 52-year-old president of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day