Brain problems led to death of Knut, a 4-year-old polar bear
BERLIN (AP) — Brain problems apparently caused the shockingly early death of Knut, Germany’s 4-year-old celebrity polar bear, the Berlin Zoo said Tuesday.
Initial findings from a necropsy performed Monday by an institute in the German capital showed “significant changes to the brain, which can be viewed as a reason for the polar bear’s sudden death,” the zoo said in a statement.
Further planned tests include bacteriological and histological, or tissue, examinations.
Snipers, shells, tanks terrorize coastal city of Misrata, Libya
TRIPOLI, Libya (AP) — Moammar Gadhafi’s snipers and tanks are terrorizing civilians in the coastal city of Misrata, a resident said. The U.S. military warned Tuesday it was “considering all options” in response to dire conditions there that have left people cowering in darkened homes and scrounging for food and rainwater.
Libyan state TV broadcast what it said was live coverage of Gadhafi’s less-than-five-minute statement. Standing on a balcony, he denounced the coalition bombing attacks on his forces.
Incestuous father convicted of 162 abuse counts in Germany
KOBLENZ, Germany (AP) — A German truck driver who fathered eight children with his stepdaughter and peddled her body to other men was convicted Tuesday of 162 counts of sexual abuse by a judge who called him a “pitiless egoist” and handed down a sentence that could keep the man locked away for life.
Judge Winfried Hetger gave the 48-year-old man a 14 1/2-year sentence, but ruled that he should remain imprisoned indefinitely.
E-mails to Wis. governor initially favored union rights roughly 2-to-1
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Seeking a way to counter a growing protest movement, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker cited his e-mail, confidently declaring that most people writing his office had urged him to eliminate nearly all union rights for state workers.
But an Associated Press analysis of the e-mails shows that, for close to a week, messages in Walker’s inbox were running roughly 2-to-1 against his plans.
The tide did not turn in his favor until shortly after desperate Democrats fled the state to stop a vote they knew they would lose.
Albatross’ return dispels fear it died during March 11 tsunami
HONOLULU (AP) — The oldest known wild bird in the U.S. has returned to a remote atoll northwest of the main Hawaiian islands after surviving this month’s tsunami.
Officials at the Hawaiian and Pacific Islands National Wildlife Refuge Complex, which includes Midway Atoll, said Monday they are thrilled that the Laysan albatross survived the March 11 tsunami. The albatross, named Wisdom, is more than 60 years old.
Feds recruit science grads to improve offshore drilling safety
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Federal regulators plan to scout U.S. colleges next month for students interested in environmental science in an effort to recruit more workers for the agency that oversees offshore drilling.
Michael Bromwich, director of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management Regulation and Enforcement, told researchers gathered at a conference in New Orleans on Tuesday that his agency is looking to put more focus on science in its decision-making.
He said the college recruitment initiative will run from April 4 through the end of May.
Emeril gets kids cooking with high school program in arts school
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The New Orleans Center for Creative Arts — a high school already famous for turning out budding musicians, dancers and painters — will soon be graduating another kind of artist — one who is creative at the stove and chopping block.
Renowned chef Emeril Lagasse and his foundation are the lead backers of a four-year program in culinary arts.
 
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