Gadhafi forces strike back at Libya uprising near stronghold in Tripoli
BENGHAZI, Libya (AP) — Foreign mercenaries and Libyan militiamen loyal to Moammar Gadhafi tried to roll back the uprising against his rule that has advanced closer to his stronghold in Tripoli, attacking two nearby cities in battles that killed at least 17 people. But rebels made new gains, seizing a military air base, as Gadhafi blamed Osama bin Laden for the upheaval.
Iran claims to arrest local CIA agent gathering info on anti-government protest
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran’s intelligence minister says authorities have arrested an Iranian who he says was working for the CIA.
Heidar Moslehi told state TV Thursday that the person had links with the U.S. spy agency and allegedly set up a network of aides to gather information during anti-government protests last week.
He did not identify the alleged CIA agent but said the person was arrested Feb. 14 after a period of surveillance.
On that day, Iran’s opposition staged its biggest protest rally in more than a year, and two people were killed in clashes between protesters and police.
Yemen president forms committee to open dialogue with protesters
SANAA, Yemen (AP) — On Thursday, Yemen’s president ordered the formation of a government committee to open a dialogue with protesters who have been staging demonstrations for weeks demanding the president step down, state media reported.
President Ali Abdullah Saleh’s directive appeared to mark a significant concession in the standoff with the opposition, as well as an attempt to defuse the demonstrations that have been inspired by the successful uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia.
State troopers sent to homes of some AWOL Wisconsin Democrats
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin state troopers were dispatched Thursday to the doorsteps of some of the AWOL Democratic senators in hopes of finding at least one who would come back to allow a vote on a measure to curb the power of public-employee unions.
The stepped-up tactic ordered by the Republican head of the Senate came amid reports that at least a few of the missing senators were returning home at night before rejoining their colleagues in Illinois.
Disney World worker charged with sexual assault on mother
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Authorities say a Walt Disney World employee has been charged with sexually assaulting a single mother he lured to central Florida by offering her free theme-park passes and hotel discounts.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Office says 31-year-old reservations clerk Wilbert Brookins was charged Wednesday with sexual battery.
Authorities say the woman was trying to make a reservation several weeks ago when Brookins offered to use his employee discount.
Brookins spent the day with the woman and her two children Tuesday at the Magic Kingdom. The woman told investigators that Brookins assaulted her in her hotel room that night after she fell asleep.
Disney spokeswoman Andrea Finger says Brookins has been placed on unpaid leave.
Scientists scrutinize and question rise in nearby baby dolphin deaths
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Scientists are trying to figure out what killed 53 bottlenose dolphins — many of them babies — so far this year in the Gulf of Mexico, as five more of their carcasses washed up Thursday in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama.
It’s likely to be months before they get back lab work showing what caused the spontaneous abortions, premature births, deaths shortly after birth and adult deaths, said Blair Mase, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s stranding coordinator for the Gulf Coast.
Opening day delayed for Pinnacle’s new Baton Rouge casino and hotel
(AP) — Low Mississippi River levels have forced a delay in the planned opening of Pinnacle Entertainment Inc.’s new $357 million Baton Rouge casino and hotel from the end of this year to the first quarter of 2012.
Pinnacle said Thursday the company has been unable to move the three completed casino hulls, which will form the casino itself, from Bollinger Shipyards to the project site because of the river’s low water levels.