INTERNATIONAL
Brazil unveils $200 million plan to slow savanna  deforestation
BRASILIA, Brazil (AP) — Brazil’s government has unveiled plans to slow the deforestation and help halt the wildfires that destroy its tropical savanna.
The government plans to spend $200 million in the next two years to combat illegal deforestation and prevent fires.
 
Afghan police fire warning shots to clear Quran-burning protests
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — Police fired warning shots to disperse hundreds of stone-hurling Afghans on Wednesday in the latest in a series of protests against Quran burning in the U.S.
At least 35 police officers and 10 protesters were wounded, said Interior Ministry spokesman Zemarai Bashary. Hospital officials said two of them had gunshot wounds. They appeared to be from ricocheting bullets.
 
NATIONAL
Dallas police charge 3 officers in alleged beating of suspect
DALLAS (AP) — Three Dallas police officers, including one who was fired, will face criminal charges for their alleged roles in the beating of a suspect, which was caught on video by dashboard cameras, the police chief said Wednesday.
Andrew Collins, 28, suffered bruising and blood clots earlier this month after being struck by officers, who hit him about seven times with their fists and batons. The alleged beating lasted about 14 seconds following a chase.
 
Indiana man who tried to fake death pleads guilty to fraud
NOBLESVILLE, Ind. (AP) — An Indiana money manager who once led a high-flying lifestyle pleaded guilty to five securities fraud counts on Wednesday, nearly two years after he tried to fake his death in a Florida plane crash to escape the crush of financial and personal problems.
Marcus Schrenker, 39, admitted the charges in a plea agreement under which he agreed to a 10-year prison sentence and prosecutors dropped four other charges. He also agreed to pay more than $600,000 in restitution. Prosecutors say he cheated friends, family members and other investors of more than $1 million.
Heisman Trophy award remains vacant in Reggie Bush’s forfeit
NEW YORK (AP) — And the Heisman Trophy winner for 2005 is — no one.
Rather than replace Reggie Bush, who returned his trophy after a scandal erupted, the officials who administer the award decided it would remain vacant for that year.
There was some initial talk that the trophy might go to former Texas quarterback Vince Young, who finished a distant second to Bush in the voting.
 
STATE/LOCAL
Louisiana education chief declines $22K raise because of budget cuts
(AP) — Louisiana’s top education leader said Wednesday that he won’t take his raise this year because of the state’s budget troubles, keeping his annual pay package at $377,000.
Superintendent of Education Paul Pastorek could have gotten a 6 percent salary boost after receiving a positive evaluation from the state education board. The raise would have given him another $22,600 annually.
“I work hard, and I think I’m worthy of that, but because of the financial situation, I’m not going to take it,” Pastorek said.
Members of the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education spent nearly two hours in a private meeting with Pastorek evaluating his performance.
They emerged to approve a positive evaluation without objection but offered scant details of what it contained.
Jindal: Steelmaker Nucor picks Louisiana for $3.5 billion project
GRAMERCY, (AP) — Steelmaker Nucor Corp. chose a site in St. James Parish for a $3.5 billion iron plant project that will be built in five phases, Gov. Bobby Jindal and company officials announced Wednesday.
The first phase of the project is a $750 million direct reduced iron facility that will create 150 jobs.
 
Mayor seeks major overhaul of New Orleans railroad board
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Mayor Mitch Landrieu said Wednesday that a major management overhaul is needed at the agency that oversees 25 miles of railroad track in New Orleans.
Landrieu said he has asked for the resignation of all 14 current board members of the New Orleans Public Belt Railroad after seeing a draft of a report on the century-old agency by the state’s Legislative Auditor.
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