Al-Qaida uses multimedia, plans cartoon recruiting film for kids
 
LONDON (AP) — An al-Qaida affiliate says it plans to roll out what some have called a Disney-like animated cartoon aimed at recruiting children to the terror network.
Scenes from the proposed short film show young boys dressed in battle fatigues and participating in raids, killings and plots. It is the latest attempt by the terror organization to use multimedia to draw in potential recruits. A Yemen-based extremist group released an online women’s magazine with makeup and chastity tips.
 
Hurricane Dora gains Cat 2 strength 215 miles off Mexican Pacific Coast
ACAPULCO, Mexico (AP) — Hurricane Dora grew into a Category 2 storm in the Pacific off the Mexican coast Wednesday, with top sustained winds of 105 miles per hour.
The U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami said the hurricane’s eye was centered about 215 miles (355 kilometers) south-southwest of Lazaro Cardenas, Mexico, and moving west-northwest, roughly parallel to the coast, at 17 mph (28 kph).
Dora is the fourth hurricane of the season.
 
Happy hour in court as Swiss judges test cocktails, sample each twice
 
GENEVA (AP) — Swiss daily Tages-Anzeiger reports that judges at one of the country’s highest courts held a midmorning cocktail event to determine whether a drinks company’s canned beverages are sweet enough to be taxed as alcopops.
The paper says two judges and a court clerk convened the 10 a.m. tipple at the Federal Administrative Court in Bern on April 14.
They tested each of the company’s five drinks twice.
 
Heat ‘dome’ makes much of US feel like steam bath, system moving east
CHICAGO (AP) — If the extreme heat and humidity lingering over much of the nation feels like a steam bath, it’s because the same principles are at work in the atmosphere.
Vast amounts of warmth and moisture have become trapped under a huge “heat dome,” bringing record-breaking temperatures and thick, tropical air to scores of cities from North Dakota to the Ohio Valley. Now the system is moving east to spread the misery.
 
 
Stocks mixed after biggest day in a year, debt talks cause concern
NEW YORK (AP) — One day after the Dow Jones Industrial Average had its best day this year, the stock market is drifting between slight gains and losses. Analysts say concerns about lifting the U.S. debt limit are trumping strong earnings from Apple and a slew of new deals.
Apparent progress in raising the U.S. debt limit to avoid a default launched a stock market rally Tuesday. The Dow jumped 202 points, its best day this year.
But investors woke up Wednesday to find Washington still at a stalemate.
 
Judge denies BP request for White House emails on last year’s oil spill
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A federal magistrate refused Wednesday to order the White House to provide BP PLC with emails by a former top adviser to President Barack Obama about the administration’s response to last summer’s massive Gulf oil spill.
A lawyer for BP argued  emails by Carol Browner, Obama’s former adviser on energy and climate matters, and three other officials in the Executive Office of the President could shed light on the White House’s role in estimating the rate of oil gushing into the Gulf of Mexico from the company’s blown-out well.
 
LSU-branded beer to be sold by Baton Rouge brewery
(AP) — LSU plans to sell its own brand of beer, with release scheduled during the fall football season.
Ernie Ballard, University spokesman, says local Tin Roof Brewing Co. is partnering with LSU to produce the beer, which will be distributed by Mockler Beverage.
Former LSU students started Tin Roof and asked to work with the University on an LSU-branded beer.  
 
 
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