Elite police force arrives in northern Brazil to handle protesters
SAO PAULO (AP) — An elite police force arrived in northern Brazil on Wednesday to help local law enforcement combat violence aimed at anti-logging and land rights activists in the Amazon rain forest.
Paulo Silber, a spokesman for the Para state government, said the 60 officers were deployed to three cities. He did not provide further details.
The force has members from the federal police, the military and regular police forces.
 
 
After years of rumor, Tijuana mayor to finally face criminal charges
TIJUANA, Mexico (AP) — Wild-animal collector, gambling tycoon and eccentric former mayor Jorge Hank Rhon has faced unproven allegations of criminal activity throughout his career in the border city famed as a base for drug traffickers.
Now a raid on his home has turned up an arsenal of illegal weapons, prosecutors said Wednesday, and they are setting out to finally make charges stick to a man with deep roots in Mexico’s elite who has long been considered untouchable.
 
 
Bin Laden’s No. 2: Muslims will destroy America and allies
CAIRO (AP) — Osama bin Laden’s deputy warned Wednesday that America faces not individual terrorists or groups but an international community of Muslims that seeks to destroy it and its allies. He was delivering a videotaped eulogy to slain al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden.
Ayman al-Zawahri, al-Qaida’s longtime No. 2 and considered the network’s operational head, also sought to cast a role for the terror group in the popular uprisings shaking Arab world.
 
 
Raging Arizona fire now larger than size of Phoenix, fear of escalation
SPRINGERVILLE, Ariz. (AP) — A raging forest fire in eastern Arizona that has forced thousands from their homes headed Wednesday for a pair of transmission lines that supply electricity to hundreds of thousands of people as far east as Texas.
For now, firefighters who have helped keep the flames away from several towns in eastern Arizona are concerned that high winds expected later Wednesday could carry embers that can cause new, smaller spot fires.
 
 
Surfing Mary draws mass following during threat of destrustion
ENCINITAS, Calif. (AP) — The surfing Madonna appeared just before Easter weekend and has been stirring a soulful debate in this Southern California beach town ever since.
The striking mosaic of the Virgin of Guadalupe riding a wave was affixed to a wall under a train bridge by artists in April. It technically is graffiti that should be removed under the law.
City officials have spent thousands to hire an art conservation agency to find the best way to remove her without causing damage.
 
 
Former governor Kathleen Blanco diagnosed with rare eye cancer
(AP) — Former Gov. Kathleen Blanco has been diagnosed with a rare eye cancer.
Blanco spokeswoman Marie Centanni said Wednesday that the prognosis for the former governor is good. Centanni said the cancer, called choroidal melanoma, was discovered during Blanco’s eye exam last week and was confirmed by cancer specialists.
“She is in good health, her prognosis is favorable and she expects to begin treatment shortly. The Blancos are grateful for your support and ask for your prayers,” Centanni said in a statement.
 
 
Heavy lobbying ongoing about Jindal cigarette tax renewal veto
(AP) — As Gov. Bobby Jindal plans to veto a cigarette tax renewal within days, lawmakers and the governor’s administration are engaged in heavy lobbying over attempts to override a gubernatorial veto.
The 4-cent per pack cigarette tax renewal passed the House and Senate with a two-thirds vote — the same ammount for an override — but Jindal is trying to peel off support so he won’t be the first governor whose veto was overridden in 20 years.