Plane carrying 51 crashes in Venezuela, at least 14 dead
CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — A plane carrying 51 people crashed Monday in eastern Venezuela, and officials said 33 survived while at least 14 were killed. The French-built ATR 42 from the state airline Conviasa slammed into a lot used by the state-run Sidor steel foundry.
 
 
UN nuclear chief chides Iran, defends watchdog monitors
VIENNA (AP) — The U.N. nuclear agency cannot confirm that all of Iran’s atomic activities are peaceful because of Tehran’s selective cooperation with nuclear inspectors, the agency’s chief said Monday.
Yukiya Amano also chided Iran for barring some of those inspectors, warning that move hampered his watchdog agency’s attempts to monitor Iran’s nuclear program.
 
 
Senate Republicans trying to block Obama’s tax hike on wealthy
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama claims it’s still a “wrestling match,” but with Senate Republicans in uniform opposition, his plan to raise taxes on wealthier people while preserving cuts for everyone else appears increasingly likely to founder before Election Day.
Both Republicans and Democrats are already using the looming expiration of Bush-era tax cuts as a defining battle in elections to determine control of Congress that are just seven weeks away.
Gridlock appears to be an increasingly likely result in the Senate. Republicans said they had the votes to block legislation to extend the middle-class tax relief if Democrats follow through on their plan to deny tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans. The issue is more likely to be decided in a postelection session.
Sen. Jon Kyl of Arizona, the GOP whip, said Monday that his
party was united in opposing Obama’s proposed tax hike on the wealthy.
“Just before the recess we had a meeting and we discussed this, and every Republican was absolutely supportive of the idea that there shouldn’t be any increases in taxes,” Kyl said.
 
 
Cat. 4 Igor far out in Atlantic, tropical storm Julia moving west
 
MIAMI (AP) — Powerful Hurricane Igor is roaring far out in the Atlantic and forecasters expect it to remain over open water at least through the end of the week.
Igor is a Category 4 storm with maximum sustained winds near 150 mph (240 kph). The forecast track Monday showed it staying well south of Bermuda for the next five days. It’s too early to tell if it might threaten land beyond that.
Also in the Atlantic, Tropical Storm Julia is moving west, away from the southern Cape Verde Islands. Julia’s maximum sustained winds were near 50 mph.
 
 
Obama endorses Democratic Rep. Richmond in 2nd district race
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Republican U.S. Rep. Anh “Joseph” Cao has broken with his party on occasion in key congressional votes, but that didn’t keep his Democratic opponent from gaining the president’s endorsement.
President Barack Obama endorsed state Rep. Cedric Richmond in the Nov. 2 race, over Cao and three other-party or independent candidates in the New Orleans-based 2nd Congressional District. Richmond’s campaign announced the endorsement late Sunday.
Cao has voted with the president at times, including for an expansion of children’s health insurance and for new financial institution regulations. Obama has praised Cao for his willingness to cross party lines.
Richmond, who won the Democratic nomination for Cao’s seat, has criticized Cao for being out of touch with voters on other issues, including the 2009 economic stimulus bill.
 
 
Hospital shooting suspect turns himself in to authorities
(AP) — The man suspected of shooting two people inside a Baton Rouge hospital has surrendered to authorities.
Police say 36-year-old Darrell Garner turned himself in to authorities at the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison early Monday morning.
 
 
Dead shrimp, oil from BP rig found one mile below Gulf’s surface
NEW ORLEANS — Far beneath the surface of the Gulf of Mexico, deeper than divers can go, scientists say they are finding oil from the busted BP well on the sea’s muddy and mysterious bottom. Oil at least two inches thick was found Sunday night and Monday morning about a mile beneath the surface. Under it was a layer of dead shrimp and other small animals, said University of Georgia researcher Samantha Joye, speaking from the helm of a research vessel in the Gulf.