aftersot

Brazil defeats Paraguay 2-1

2012-03-15T07:21:00.000-07:00

Goals by Robinho and Nilmar rallied Brazil to a 2-1 victory over Paraguay in World Cup qualifying on Wednesday, almost assuring the five-time champion of a place next year in South Africa.

Salvador Cabanas gave Paraguay a 1-0 lead in the 26th minute, stunning Brazil's home crowd in the northeastern city of Recife. The goal …

Libya Makes `Limited' Offer on Bomb Suspects

2012-03-15T04:56:00.000-07:00

CAIRO, Egypt Libya, seeking to avert the threat of escalatedsanctions in the case of two suspects wanted in the Lockerbieairliner bombing, has indicated it might consider releasing the twomen for trial in Scotland with the presence of observers from neutralcountries, Arab diplomatic sources said.

But Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak returned Wednesday fromtalks in Libya without any commitment, and Arab League officials saidthere was only "a very limited possibility" of a breakthrough in thecase soon.

The UN Security Council, shortly after Mubarak's return,declared that it would continue the four-month-old air and militaryembargo against Libya that was imposed …

Capitals-Maple Leafs Sums

2012-03-15T02:35:00.000-07:00

Washington	1 0 3—4
Toronto	0 0 1—1

First Period_1, Washington, Ovechkin 17 (Schultz, Backstrom), 14:27. Penalties_Knuble, Was (tripping), 1:32; Grabovski, Tor (tripping), 3:43; Hendricks, Was, major (fighting), 6:48; Brown, Tor, major (fighting), 6:48; Backstrom, Was (tripping), 11:58; Backstrom, Was (high-sticking), 19:18.

Second Period_None. Penalties_Toronto bench, served by Versteeg (too many men), 1:19.

Third …

Rio Tinto: China's commodities demand will grow

2012-03-15T00:11:00.000-07:00

China's demand for iron ore, copper, coal and aluminum will increase dramatically during the next 15 years before India takes the lead in its need for those commodities, global miner Rio Tinto Ltd. predicted in its annual report released Tuesday.

Rio Tinto chief executive Tom Albanese said the strong demand for iron ore clearly provided the most obvious option for production growth in Australia.

Albanese was optimistic about long-term growth prospects and said China's demand for iron ore, copper, coal and aluminum was expected to grow exponentially for the next 15 years.

"India is expected to follow, supporting a further potential wave of …

Look Out For Rising Fees From Association

2012-03-14T21:51:00.000-07:00

Q. As a potential first-time condominium buyer, how do I protectmyself from an association with runaway assessments?

A. The homeowners association board has the right to increaseassessments and impose special assessments. Potential condominiumpurchasers should obtain information in advance to best protectthemselves against unexpected, unusually high assessment increases orspecial fees.

Get the answers to these questions before buying: How much have homeowners' fees risen in the immediate past? Byobtaining a history of the past five years from the seller ormanaging agent, a potential buyer will have an idea of what futureincreases might be. How often have …

CPT provides nonviolent model

2012-03-14T19:30:00.000-07:00

Christian Peacemaker Teams get a nod in Deborah Campell's new book, This Heated Place: Encounters in the Promised Land (Douglas & McIntyre). Campbell, a young Canadian journalist, tried to remain non-judgmental as she recorded her encounters with people in Israel/Palestine. Reviewer Bronwyn Drainie (Nov. 23 Globe and Mail) noted that Campbell is typical of visitors to the Middle East, displaying "initial sympathy for the …

Loeb closes in on 4th Catalunya Rally title

2012-03-14T17:10:00.000-07:00

Defending champion Sebastien Loeb moved closer to a fourth straight Catalunya Rally victory after winning four of Saturday's six stages to extend his overall lead.

The Frenchman, who had swept all six of Friday's opening stages, leads Citroen teammate Dani Sordo by 27.7 seconds with an overall time of 2 hours, 22 minutes, 57.2 seconds.

"The day has been almost perfect," Loeb said. "OK, I lost a little time in (stage 12) but it was really tricky, there were stones …

Grand in your hand? Check your numbers

2012-03-14T14:49:00.000-07:00

Have you won Pounds 1,000 this week? If you are a member of theWeston Hospicecare Lottery then check your numbers here.If you wantto become a member and have the chance to win Pounds 1,000 everyweek visit www.we stonhospicecare.org.uk, email lottery@westonhospicecare.org.uk or ring 01934 423923.

The winner of draw number 511 on June 16 was 785360 Holehouse.Second …

Convoy Trip in Iraq Mixes Fear, Boredom

2012-03-14T12:29:00.000-07:00

CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq - Being a little bit scared is good. Many Marines say it keeps them sharp during a war in which combat comes in spurts, separated by lengthy bouts of boredom.

A fair amount of fear was in the air as a convoy of six Humvees made the 40-mile journey from Baghdad to Camp Fallujah.

"The IEDs," said Sgt. Andrew Wharton, referring to roadside bombs known in the military as improvised explosive devices. "That's what you've got to be worried about."

"I try not to think about that stuff," he said. "You just try to keep your mind on what you're doing."

Leaning out of the driver's seat of a heavily armored Humvee, Wharton poured coffee he had …

Austrian post office to close 300 branches by 2011

2012-03-14T10:09:00.000-07:00

Austria Post AG said Tuesday it plans to close 300 branch offices nationwide as part of restructuring to be completed by 2011.

Workers in the branches tagged for closure will not lose their jobs, the company said in a statement.

Austria Post, buffeted …

Home, at last, is the wayward cat

2012-03-14T07:48:00.000-07:00

LOVETTSVILLE, Va. It is in the nature of cats to do a certainamount of unescorted roaming, as the late Gov. Adlai Stevenson wrotein vetoing a feline leash bill that was gormless even by the lowstandards of the Legislature at Springfield.

Consequently, no one thought much about it on the second nightof spring when Farouk, a.k.a. the Spot Cat, asked to be let out. Hedidn't show up when it came time for the humans to turn in, but againnobody gave it much thought. It was a nice night, cool and a bitbreezy, and there were things out there to check out, especiallyafter an enforced absence of three months while wintering-overindoors in Washington, D.C.

Overnight …

North Korea May Plan 2nd Nuclear Test

2012-03-14T05:28:00.000-07:00

SEOUL, South Korea - Satellite images indicate North Korea appears to be getting ready for a second nuclear test, officials said Tuesday, as the defiant communist regime held huge rallies and proclaimed that U.N. sanctions amount to a declaration of war.

China, the North's longtime ally and biggest trading partner, warned Pyongyang not to aggravate tensions in the wake of U.N. condemnation of its Oct. 9 atomic blast. And U.S. nuclear envoy Christopher Hill told reporters in Seoul that another nuclear explosion would be "a very belligerent answer" to the world.

As the White House acknowledged that the isolated nation might try a second test, Secretary of State Condoleezza …

Everybody goes to Nick's // Halsted St. hangout celebrates its first decade of wine and song

2012-03-14T02:54:00.000-07:00

The basic intentions of a reverent neighborhood bar are not tomeddle in the middle, play its music too low or wear its britches toohigh.

Nick's Tavern is soul deep.

It's been a great 10-year run for Nick's, 1973 N. Halsted(664-7383), and a weeklong celebration kicks off at 3 p.m. Sundaywhen bartending alumni will serve beverages at 1977 prices ($1 for adrink, 75 cents for a draft beer).

Other highlights this week include live appearances by MarkHannon and his seven-piece blues band at 8 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday,and a Wednesday night Polynesian party laced with limbo dancing and lots of hula skirts.Drawings will be held nightly for free private parties at Nick's, andnext Sunday, a week's worth of raffle tickets will be thrown togetherin a drawing for a Rock-ola jukebox featuring the best selectionsfrom Nick's legendary jukebox.

It's difficult to explain your fatherland: I've been part of thewoodwork at Nick's since 1980 and have danced to "The Monkey Time"by Major Lance, stumbled across Caroline Kennedy at the jukebox,rumbled over waitresses Fran and Sue, and watched usually dignifiedfriends like Hughes and O'Brien act like Marvin Gaye and TammiTerrell. Someone - usually Torrez - would stand up on the wobbly legof a bar stool and dangle a green beer bottle as if it were a boommicrophone. Hughes and O'Brien would then close their eyes and croonto memories that rolled off the jukebox like new quarters in awaterfall.

The jukebox always has been the heartbeat of Nick's. With aheavy emphasis on seminal soul and rhythm and blues, the music isloud for people who like dance in their romance. Nick's staff (andlots of customers) have programmed the 100-selection box withdefinitive rock 'n' roll energy, changing a dozen selections a month.There's a library of 200 45s waiting for rotation in the bar'sbasement, but standards include Martha & the Vandellas' "JimmyMack" (on the box from Day One), James Brown's "I Got You (I FeelGood)" and Robert Palmer's "Sneakin' Sally Thru the Alley."

Some of Nick's other greatest hits were played out in recentnights of the round table discussion with owner Nick Novich;bartender Roger "Father Time" Moy; former bartender, advertisingrep Richard Newman, and longtime customer, artist Richard Hull.

The naked spirit of Nick's may best be personified in"Peaches," whose lava-like nude portrait hangs on a wall behind thebar. "A guy walked into the bar at two in the morning in the winterof 1978 when we were wall to wall with people," recalled Novich. "Hehad three sips of beer and tried to start an altercation. Threepeople were escorting him out and he reached into his pocket andpulled out a loaded .45. As the guy behind the bar was calling thepolice, he went down and four shots went into the painting. One hitthe frame down below her, two went just above the body, one justbelow the knee. But Peaches herself never was hit. We always feltlike that was history, so we never patched it up."

Peaches has been a part of Nick's since the bar opened in 1977.

"I'm Yugoslavian and I had a Yugoslavian friend who was helpingme renovate the place," Novich continued. "I wanted to get the rightthing behind the bar and it was driving me crazy because prices werealways exorbitant. My friend's mother had just moved into a studioapartment and she had this painting that was much too large for herstudio. She brought it over from Yugoslavia, where it was apparentlystolen by German soldiers, and when they had to evacuate, they leftthe painting behind. It was just perfect for the bar."

Novich said Peaches has had other names over the past decade."For a long time she was known as `Our Lady of Halsted Street,' " helaughed.

Moy has been behind the bar as long as Peaches.

"I was teaching at the Art Institute and used to go to threedifferent bars - the last bar was where I'd play pool to try and winenough money to buy dinner on the way home," Moy remembered. "The barbefore that stop was Glascott's, where Nick was a bartender at thetime. (Novich, Tim Glascott and Joe Carlucci, the trio that hasreshaped North Halsted Street, are lifelong friends.) A couple yearslater I wandered down this way and saw Nick's and Nick was tendingbar here. We got to talking and found out we had a lot in common -he had been a teacher, I was a teacher - and I was waiting for ateaching job in southern Florida. I asked him if he needed abartender without any experience while I was waiting for this job.Well, I didn't get the job in Florida, but I kept this one for thelast 10 years."

In its seedy mid-'70s life before Nick's, the bar was a dark,package liquor store with a tiny tap and a big reputation as anArmitage Avenue shooting gallery (as in heroin). There was amethadone clinic at Willow at Halsted, and the Ultimate Sports Barwas the Club Ole strip joint.

"We were the first ones to dare to have open windows nearArmitage and Halsted," Moy said. "And we had iron bars and gates thatwe finally took down five years ago."

The shake-and-bake character of the neighborhood is what madeNick's so vital in the early days. There was Freddie (a.k.a.Professor Longhair), the real-gone dancer with the pork-pie hat,Viola the Pillar of Fire Lady, the city's only courteous Biblethumper, who would graciously pass out religious literature at Nick'son Friday nights (and sometimes fresh fruit, from which Novich wouldmake delicacies such as plum daquiris), and the memorable comedy teamof Gus and Shook.

"Gus lived upstairs, and he was a reformed alcoholic - actuallya reformed human being," said Moy, as Tyrone Davis's "Turn Back theHands of Time" provided background ambience. "He had given up on thehuman race completely. Everything was negative and could best bedescribed as an equal opportunity racist. His buddy, Forrest Shook,was just the opposite - everything was rosy for him.

"They were about the same age and they'd always come intogether. Shook would talk about (in an optimistic falsetto) `Oooh,that woman I was with last night, ooh-wee!' And Gus would say (in adoomed bass) `Awh, you wouldn't know what to do with her, you idiot.'Gus and Shook would always go back and forth, and I'd be inhysterics. I'm sure they knew they were being funny; it was likethey were rehearsing this for years. They were so opposite, but whenthey were together, the chemistry was exciting."

Even the celebrities who hung out at Nick's were cool. FormerCubs shortstop Ivan DeJesus was a semi-regular, as was reborn ChicagoBull Artis Gilmore. Former New York Doll singer David Johansen stillstops at Nick's when he's in town, as does the Boston Celtics' KevinMcHale. And the heart and soul of the '84 Cubs, Gary "The Sarge"Matthews, said goodbye to Nick's just before he was shipped off tothe Seattle Mariners.

Moy recalled the night Caroline Kennedy came to Nick's. "Shehit on every man in this place, but no one took her up on it becausethere were three guys in dark glasses following her around," he said.

It's safe to say many of those days are part of the past.

Sandwiched between "I came, Izod, I conquered" clone cafes - theHunt Club, Gamekeeper's and Beaumont's, Nick's finds there's no moreroom for rootsy neighborhood individuality - at least on Friday andSaturday night.

That's the price you pay for progress.

"With these big windows, you can keep a good eye on the streetcorner, and it looks like 5,000 of the exact same people - like onecouple keeps walking back and forth all day," Moy said. "It justreflects the complexion of the neighborhood - no pun intended. Itisn't culturally diverse anymore. The tradeoff is that you don'thave the weird things that used to happen in here. I'd much prefernot wondering if I'm man enough to work at Nick's."

Novich said, "I think it's somewhat unfortunate, but nothingremains the same. In this business, there's a regular turnover ofpeople from six months to a year. I know I'd rather have a businessin this area than a lot of other areas in the city of Chicago. Indefense of all the changes, I think this is one of the few areaswhere it's really a genuine Chicago neighborhood. You come down toHalsted Street and you come down to Nick's, and it's still authenticChicago, where other nightlife sections of the city are prettygeneric. I mean, you could be in Atlanta.

"You'll always know Nick's is Chicago."

THE WANDERER: Julian Cope, former lead singer-songwriter andbass player of the Teardrop Explodes ("When I Dream"), brings his newfour-piece band to the Riviera, 4746 N. Racine at 8 p.m. Sunday.The Way Moves will open the show.

Cope's band will play tunes from its debut album, "SaintJulian," which has more of a cutting edge than the Teardrop materialdid. Cope - who collects Dinky toy cars in his spare time - got offone of the better rock 'n' roll quotes of 1987 when he explained hisformerly inconsistent public persona - "Mine's a different kind ofoff-your-treeness. I was a little bit skew-whiff, but never off myhead."

Yeah, that's the ticket.

Piquet to enter Trucks race at Daytona

2012-03-14T00:03:00.000-07:00

Former Formula One driver Nelson Piquet Jr. will enter the NASCAR Truck Series race at Daytona International Speedway.

Red Horse Racing announced Monday that Piquet will enter the No. 1 Toyota in Friday's race at Daytona.

"We have closely observed Nelson in our testing and believe he has a great future in NASCAR," said Tom DeLoach, managing partner of Red Horse. "He exhibits excellent car control, gives good feedback, but needs the side-by-side experience. He'll get plenty of that in Daytona."

The Brazilian driver has tested several times with Red Horse and made his stock-car debut in Saturday's ARCA race at Daytona. He started seventh, finished 27th, and bumped fenders with Danica Patrick to trigger her spin through the grass that took Patrick out of race-winning contention.

"The size of the Daytona track is amazing," Piquet said. "I can't wait to reach 200 mph side by side in a tight drafting pack of trucks. I can't wait to get out on track and start my NASCAR career."

Piquet triggered an F1 scandal last year when he revealed he deliberately crashed his car to help teammate Fernando Alonso win the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix.

Piquet was fired by Renault in August, and began exploring opportunities in NASCAR shortly afterward.

Red Horse Racing is still searching for a sponsor for Piquet's entry, and there was no immediate word on any future races with the team.

"Nelson has a huge international following, which hopefully will attract a race partner for the team," DeLoach said.

Tip

2012-03-13T21:11:00.000-07:00

QUESTION: I am writing on behalf of my father. He wants to knowif it is safe to eat the fish from Lake Michigan. I guess this wouldgo for fish caught offshore and on a boat.

Arturo ANSWER: Yes, it is safe with a few precautions andexceptions. Page 39 of the 1999 Illinois Fishing Information booklethas an updated list of fish-consumption advisories. Yellow perch,small rainbow trout and smelt are the safest fish to eat, but onlyone meal a week is recommended. Carp and channel catfish from LakeMichigan should never be eaten. Very large brown trout, lake troutand chinook salmon should only be eaten once every couple months.Preparation tips: When filleting salmon or trout, remove as muchfatty tissue as possible and the skin.

Smith paternity saga becomes 'he said/he said' battle

2012-03-13T18:20:00.000-07:00

NEW YORK - In most boldface-name paternity disputes, men denythey're the baby-daddy. But in a he said/he said twist to the AnnaNicole Smith tabloid saga, two guys are claiming to be the father ofher baby girl.

Smith's lawyer and boyfriend, Howard K. Stern, says he is thefather of Dannie Lynn Hope, born Sept. 7. Smith and Stern haveexchanged non-legal vows and say they plan to officially tie theknot.

But Smith's ex-boyfriend, photographer Larry Birkhead, says HE isthe dad and has filed a lawsuit demanding that she and the babyreturn to California for DNA testing. He also wants the baby testedfor drugs. Smith was served with court papers Monday in the Bahamas,Birkhead's attorney, Debra Opri, said.

Two wannabe dads, one mother.

Is this normal, or does Smith have some 'splaining to do?

"Generally, the guy doesn't want to step forward because he'sgoing to end up paying child support," said California-based divorceattorney Connolly Oyler.

"And many paternity suits filed by women are out of disappointmentthat, 'He told me he loved me and we went to bed, and I'm pregnant.He ran.'

"Those are the typical situations ... It's usually a one-on-onesituation. Very seldom (do) you have a multiple."

The 38-year-old former Playboy playmate and celebrity widow wentto the Bahamas to give birth to Dannie. Three days after Dannie wasborn, her 20-year-old son, Daniel Smith, died of an accidental lethalcombination of methadone and two antidepressants, according to aprivate autopsy.

Eighteen days after that, Smith and Stern exchanged vows on acatamaran near Nassau but there was no formal marriage. Peoplemagazine bought photos of the event and will feature them in its nextissue, according to Smith's attorney, Michael Scott.

Oyler said if DNA testing confirms Birkhead to be the "bio-dad,"or biological father, then he can get visitation rights and perhapseven joint custody. He also could get "a huge amount for childsupport," based on a formula that compares incomes.

That's a nice incentive, considering Smith's wealth - but it's notthe right one, Opri said. Birkhead "truly wants to be involved inthat child's life. This is his first child and he does not want tolose that child. And that's why we're doing all this," she said.

Design agency's glass act

2012-03-13T15:26:00.000-07:00

A Bath-based design agency has been chosen to revamp one of theUK's biggest exhibitions of contemporary glass.

Mytton Williams, which designed and installed internal signs forthe Thermae Bath Spa, has given a makeover to the image of theBritish Glass Biennale (BGB) which features as the highlight of theInternational Festival of Glass.

The agency has carved out a new identity for the BGB includingredesigning its exhibition catalogue, advertising, exhibitiongraphics and launching a new website for the 2008 event.

Mytton Williams co-founder and creative director Bob Mytton saidthe BGB exhibition had been a stimulating project to work on.

He said: "The client wanted bold and challenging design ideas toindicate significant developments in the growth of the exhibition.

"Creatively we were briefed to grasp the essence of theexhibition, the contemporary, varied and artistic value of glass."

The International Festival of Glass in Stourbridge, which hasbeen held every two years since 2004, runs from Friday, August 22 toMonday, August 25 and features workshops from experts around theworld.

The BGB runs from Friday, August 22 until Sunday, September 28.

Mytton Williams based its designs around the refractive anddistorting qualities of glass to create the new BGB logo which isavailable in black or white.

The business fought off competition from four agencies around thecountry with its successful pitch.

BGB exhibition organiser Candice-Elena Greer said she wasimpressed by a thorough brief for the project from the MyttonWilliams team.

She said: "We felt Bob Mytton was the person to take on the wholejob.

"He was very thorough in his brief and presentation and therewere projects he had worked on before with a similar feel for whatwe were looking for.

"The Mytton Williams team was very creative in working with ourlimited budget."

The BGB runs alongside the International Festival of Glass andorganisers were keen to give the exhibition its own distinct brand.

Former Afghan president who heads new peace council says Taliban are ready to talk peace

2012-03-13T12:28:00.000-07:00

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — Former Afghan president who heads new peace council says Taliban are ready to talk peace.

Priest Suspected in Attack Suspended

2012-03-13T09:28:00.000-07:00

LAS VEGAS - A Catholic priest wanted for questioning in connection with the assault of a woman at a church has been suspended by the Diocese of Las Vegas.

The Rev. George Chaanine of Our Lady of Las Vegas was placed on administrative leave, meaning he cannot act in any capacity as a priest, said diocese spokeswoman Rachel Wilkinson.

Police said a church employee accused Chaanine of striking her Friday afternoon after he made sexual advances on her and she resisted inside a building on the church's campus. No sexual assault is alleged, said Lt. Kevin McMahill.

Police continued their search Sunday for the priest, but he was not found at his home or the church, said Lt. Jeff Whitehead. "He's on the lam," Whitehead said.

The incident began at 4:22 p.m. Friday, when police received a call about an assault or battery at the church. A woman ran out of one of the church buildings and accused Chaanine of beating her, police said.

Authorities took the woman to University Medical Center's trauma unit. She was treated and released Friday night.

UNC-Asheville beats High Point 84-73 in Big South

2012-03-13T05:42:00.000-07:00

J.P. Primm scored 23 points and dished out 11 assists in North Carolina-Asheville's 84-73 win over High Point in the quarterfinals of the Big South Conference tournament on Tuesday night.

Sean Smith added 20 points, going 5-for-11 on 3-pointers, and Matt Dickey had 18 for the Bulldogs (15-15), who won their ninth straight.

UNC-Asheville broke a three-game conference tournament losing streak to the Panthers (15-15), and will play host Coastal Carolina in the semifinals on Thursday.

The Bulldogs led 12-9 with 12:29 left in the first half, and pulled away with a 13-2 run to lead 25-11 on Dickey's 3 with 7:51 left in the first half.

High Point pulled within 76-70 with 58 seconds left, but UNC-Asheville scored seven straight _ all on free throws _ to seal the win.

Nick Barbour scored 25 points, Corey Law added 14 and David Campbell 10 for the Panthers.

Dominican police say singer had drugs in stomach

2012-03-13T02:15:00.000-07:00

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (AP) — An American singer suspected of trying to smuggle more than a kilogram (2 pounds) of heroin in his stomach was detained as he tried to board a U.S.-bound flight at a Dominican airport, authorities said Tuesday.

Ramon Alcides Rodriguez, spokesman of the country's drug control agency, said that New York-born bachata singer Jimmy Bauer became sick at Santo Domingo's international airport on Monday when a couple of pellets he had swallowed apparently burst.

Bauer, whose real name is Jaime Vargas, was trying to board a flight to the United States when customs and drug authorities stopped him for "strange behavior," Rodriguez said. He said an X-ray examination of Bauer's abdomen showed dozens of pellets in his stomach.

Dominican authorities rushed Bauer to a nearby military hospital, where 88 pellets were extracted from his stomach, Rodriguez said. Two other pellets had burst, he added.

Authorities initially suspected the pellets contained cocaine, but Rodriguez said laboratory tests showed it was 1.04 kilograms (2.2 pounds) of pure heroin.

Bauer, who was hospitalized in serious condition, was being guarded by three officers of the drug agency.

The New York resident of Dominican heritage is a minor figure in bachata, a musical genre that originated in the Caribbean nation's countryside and is recognizable for its slow, sensual sound marked by bongos, maracas and the pluck of guitars.

It was not clear if Bauer, who was part of a merengue group in Puerto Rico before focusing on bachata in 2005, had a lawyer. His hometown was not immediately available.

The singer's manager, Irvin Lozada, said Tuesday he was "completely astonished" to hear of Bauer's situation in the Dominican Republic.

"I never saw Jimmy use drugs," Lozada said from New Jersey, while adding that he knew little about Bauer's personal life. He said he was trying to get in contact with the singer's relatives.

The Dominican Republic is a major transit point for drugs bound for the United States.

(This version CORRECTS that manager spoke from New Jersey instead of New York.)

Brodeur, Devils in control

2012-03-12T23:15:00.000-07:00

Martin Brodeur's latest shutout left the New Jersey Devils onevictory away from the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs andthe Boston Bruins wondering how to get the puck past him.

Brodeur posted his 14th shutout in 70 career playoff victoriesSunday when the visiting Devils beat the Bruins 3-0 to open a 3-0lead in the series. Game 4 is scheduled for Tuesday in Boston.

"They have an unbelievable wall back there, and that weighs onyou," Bruins right wing Mike Knuble said.

It should bother the Devils' potential playoff opponents,especially with the confidence Brodeur brings to the postseason.

"I still have a long way to go and many more shutouts to get," hesaid.

The Bruins now face a daunting task. In 13 previous playoff seriesin which they trailed 3-0, they never made it to Game 6. They lostseven of those series 4-0 and six 4-1.

"Anything's doable," said Bruins center Brian Rolston, who managedonly one shot on goal and has no points in the series.

The Devils got goals from Scott Stevens in the second period andJay Pandolfo and John Madden in the third.

The Bruins, meanwhile, got none of their 29 shots past Brodeur,who led the league with 41 victories and nine shutouts during theregular season.

"He's a big-time goalie and thrives on games like this," Maddensaid. "He plays just well enough to be better than everybody, butwhen big games come, he takes it to another level."

OILERS 3, STARS 2: Georges Laraque, Fernando Pisani and RadekDvorak scored in a 3:05 span in the third period to rally hostEdmonton past Dallas. The result gave the Oilers a 2-1 lead in theseries, with Game 4 scheduled for Tuesday in Edmonton, Alberta.

The Stars entered the third period leading 1-0, but Laraque tiedthe score at 2:33. After Jere Lehtinen gave the Stars a 2-1 lead 50seconds later, Pisani scored at 4:40 and Dvor-ak at 5:38. GoalieTommy Salo did the rest, turning aside 30 of the 32 shots he faced.

Obama lauds House for passing health care bill

2012-03-12T20:21:00.000-07:00

Capping a long day and a consuming political journey, President Barack Obama celebrated the passage of health care legislation with hugs, high fives and an emboldened attitude. Said the president to the nation, "Tonight, we answered the call of history."

At nearly midnight in Washington, with a big swath of country asleep or headed that way, Obama strode into the ornate East Room with Vice President Joe Biden backing him. There was no hour too late for the president to embrace this moment.

"I want to thank every member of Congress who stood up tonight with courage and conviction to make health care reform a reality," Obama said as the top members of his own health care team stood beaming nearby. "I know this wasn't an easy vote for a lot of people. But it was the right vote."

Obama was proud but not unrestrained in victory, mindful that the Senate still has not gotten to a companion bill to fix problems with the one that just passed. The sense in the West Wing was one of perseverance after a debate with so many turns and doubts.

"We did not fear our future," Obama said. "We shaped it."

The final day had been a low-key one for Obama. No more fiery speeches, no trips to Capitol Hill, no ventures outside the White House gates at all.

Instead, the most visible spokesman for health care reform spent the final day of an exhaustive lobbying campaign out of public view.

Aides said he was roaming the West Wing, getting updates, calling lawmakers with thanks as a huge legislative win was imminent.

As the president said when he crashed a morning meeting of senior staff, this was a big day. But the spotlight fell on the House of Representatives.

The first glimpse of the president on Sunday did not come until late at night, after the final House vote on legislation to revamp health insurance rules for millions of people. But the announcement that he would give such a statement underscored that Obama was sensing victory _ and history.

Beforehand, the White House released two photos showing hand-picked images of a president in a serious fight for votes until the end.

In one, Obama was on a cell phone talking to an unidentified lawmaker from the office of his chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel. The president was surrounded by Emanuel and four other legislative and political advisers. There wasn't a smile in the room.

The other photo showed Obama in the Oval Office, sleeves rolled up, working the phones again in conversation with another unnamed lawmaker.

Obama called more than a dozen lawmakers on Sunday and got in touch with more than 90 during the week, the White House said without identifying them.

Before nightfall, the only burst of Obama news came in a press release around 4 p.m.

Obama revealed he would issue an executive order to make sure that the emerging health care legislation would uphold all federal funding restrictions on abortion. That step had the enormously important effect of locking in the votes of a bloc of anti-abortion House Democrats.

After that, around the White House, it was mostly a matter of counting down until the House acted.

Obama watched the main House vote on the Senate-approved health care bill in the Roosevelt Room with Biden and about 40 other members of the White House staff. When the bill won enough votes to pass, the room burst into applause and hugs.

Had this been any other spring day in Washington, Obama might have ventured out for basketball or golf.

Not on this Sunday, when no hint of taking the vote for granted would be allowed.

However, Obama did have time, like many Americans, to absorb the reality of his own busted March Madness bracket.

The president picked Kansas to win the men's NCAA basketball title; the Jayhawks fell in a big upset on Saturday. The basketball tournament continued Sunday, when some TVs in the West Wing were tuned to the games and other carried the action on the House floor.

Obama caught some of both.

NCAA tourney's first full day draws more viewers

2012-03-12T16:26:00.000-07:00

NEW YORK (AP) — The NCAA tournament's new television format drew more viewers to the first full day of March Madness.

Thursday's games across four networks averaged 7.4 million viewers. That's up 16 percent from last year, when games were only on CBS.

The NCAA's 14-year, $10.8 billion deal with CBS and Turner means each game is televised nationally in its entirety on CBS, TNT, TBS or truTV. In the past, broadcasts on CBS were regionalized, and the network would switch among games.

Ratings were up big for the afternoon games, when most of the matchups went down to the final seconds. Ratings were up only slightly for the less-dramatic night games.

Cyprus: Suspect in media baron's killing arrested

2012-03-12T12:45:00.000-07:00

A Cypriot police spokesman says a key suspect in the alleged contract killing of the island's only media baron has been arrested in Moldova.

Michalis Katsounotos said on Tuesday that extradition proceedings have begun for 29-year-old fugitive Gregoris Xenofontos.

Investigators believe that Xenofontos was the triggerman in the Jan. 11 fatal shooting of 41-year-old Andy Hadjicostis outside his Nicosia home.

Xenofontos flew to Moldova 3 days after the killing.

Television host Elena Skordelli, her brother Anastasios Krasopoullis and another man are currently being tried on premeditated murder charges. They have pleaded not guilty to plotting and ordering the killing, allegedly prompted by the host's dismissal from a Hadjicostis-owned TV station.