Top Local News Stories for Mc Queeney, Texas.

Top San Antonio Area Local News Stories

Bobby Brown leaves Houston funeral after spat

Singer Bobby Brown made a brief and dramatic appearance at ex-wife Whitney Houston's memorial service Saturday, leaving abruptly after being told that his entourage couldn't sit together, police sources told CNN. Brown accused security of treating his family badly and barring him from visiting with his daughter, an account that Houston's family vehemently denied, according to a family friend. Brown was seen arriving with several people and had sat down in the front row of a section marked off for family, before being asked to move. Brown had entered the church with other mourners, separate from Houston's family. He appeared emotionally distraught, with red eyes and head hanging as he walked up the aisle of the New Hope Baptist Church in Newark, New Jersey. He approached Houston's casket, passed it and went back down the aisle. Ultimately, he left the church. Security workers appeared to ask others, including celebrities and government officials, to also change seats to make room for everyone. "My children and I were invited to the funeral of my ex-wife Whitney Houston," Brown later said in a statement. "We were seated by security and then subsequently asked to move on three separate occasions. I fail to understand why security treated my family this way and continued to ask us and no one else to move. Security then prevented me from attempting to see my daughter Bobbi Kristina. "In light of the events, I gave a kiss to the casket of my ex-wife and departed as I refused to create a scene. ... I will continue to pay my respects to my ex-wife the best way I know how," the statement said." Brown was expected to attend with two guests but showed up with 10 people, a close friend of the Houston family told CNN on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue. "The family approached Bobby and told him that he could stay in the area reserved for family, but that his guests would need to move to a different section to make room for Cissy (Houston) and the rest of the family," the family friend said. "Bobby said no." When Brown refused, the family asked police to intervene. "The police told Bobby that he could stay in the area reserved for family, but that his guests needed to move," the friend said. "Bobby said no, and left with all of his guests." The family friend maintained that Brown was always invited to the funeral. "There was never a question of whether he would be invited or not," the friend said. Describing what happened at the service, the Rev. Al Sharpton posted on his Twitter account: "I am at Whitney's funeral. I spoke with Bobby Brown trying to calm him down and not distract from the services. Today is about Whitney." Brown was scheduled to perform with his group, New Edition, later Saturday in Connecticut. Brown considers performing as therapy to get him through a difficult time, a source close to him said Sunday. He and Houston were married from 1992 until 2007, with Houston getting sole custody of their daughter, Bobbi Kristina Brown, when they divorced. Their daughter was born in 1993. When they married in July 1992, questions arose about whether it was a publicity stunt to help polish Brown's image as a bad boy who had weathered drug rumors and had acknowledged having three children out of wedlock. Houston scoffed at such rumors, saying that anyone who questioned their marriage didn't understand what the commitment meant to her. They married in a lavish ceremony at her New Jersey estate. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, reports begin to surface about Houston's struggles with drug addiction, health problems and her rocky marriage with Brown. Her album sales dropped, and her voice began to show signs of wear. In a now-infamous interview with ABC's Diane Sawyer in 2002, Houston admitted using drugs, but denied using crack. "Crack is whack," she said, quoting a line from a mural painted in 1986. In the same interview, Houston said, "The biggest devil is me. I'm either my best friend or my worst enemy." In 2004, filming began on the short-lived reality show "Being Bobby Brown." "The show aired during the worst years of the couple's crumbling marriage: drug use, lifestyle excess and bad behavior were all caught on tape, and Houston's reputation sunk to new lows," according to Biography.com. Houston later said she did the show to try to save her marriage. In March 2011, Brown announced that he and his New Edition bandmates were reuniting and planning a new album and tour. The group -- made up of Brown, Ralph Tresvant, Michael Bivins, Ricky Bell, Ronnie DeVoe and Johnny Gill -- had reunited periodically over the years, with and without Brown. Brown's music career initially took off with New Edition, which started as an R&B boy band. He left New Edition in 1986, after hits that included "Candy Girl," "Cool It Now," and "Mr. Telephone Man." His solo career has included his 1988 multiplatinum album, "Don't Be Cruel," which featured the hit singles "Don't Be Cruel," "Every Little Step," "Rock Wit' Cha," "My Prerogative" and "Roni."

Published: Sun, 19 Feb 2012 14:16:03 GMT

50 years later, Glenn's mission still inspires

On Monday, it will be exactly 50 years since the day John Glenn helped America turn the corner in the Space Race with the Soviets. When Glenn became the first American to orbit the planet, it triggered a celebration and sense of pride that arguably was crucial to astronauts later setting foot on the moon. So huge was this national mood swing that followers of CNN's Light Years space and science blog still remember it a half-century later. They're sharing their memories about where they were and what they felt on February 20, 1962. "I was a junior in high school when John Glenn went on his ride around the Earth," wrote OldGoat in Light Years comments. "It seemed amazing at the time that such a thing could be done." Glenn's 4 hour, 55 minute mission was really a giant tech-game of Cold War "catch-up." It's easy to forget that not long before Glenn's three-orbit flight, the public knew NASA more "for its failures and delays than for its space exploration," wrote Tom Streissguth in his Glenn biography. "The Soviet space program was far more successful." More than ten months before Glenn's flight, Moscow fired the first shot in this battle to dominate space, when cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first human to orbit the Earth. After Washington recovered from the shock, it answered with Alan Shepard and Gus Grissom - America's first and second men in space. But their 15-minute missions blasted off and splashed down 15 minutes later. No orbiting. They paled in comparison to Gagarin's single-orbit around-the-world ride. Then Moscow embarrassed Washington again when Gherman Titov circled the planet - not once - but 16 times. It sure looked like America might be on its way to losing the Space Race. "Everything about the space program was cool back then and really gave the U.S. something to shoot for," said Light Years follower Bob Knippel. "It's not at all like that today, the way it permeated American consciousness." Leading up to Glenn's mission, there were safety questions about his 125-ton Atlas rocket. Streissguth wrote that during one testing period the rocket "failed four out of every 10 launches." "People have always asked if I was afraid," Glenn wrote in his 2000 memoir. "I wasn't. Constructive apprehension is more like it." After many delays, the launch went without a hitch. But during re-entry a false alarm prompted worries about the spacecraft's protective heat shield. Light Years follower Montello recalled CBS news anchor "Walter Cronkite's nonstop commentary during the time Glenn was in space and the elation when he landed safely." As Light Years commenter The_Mick, put it: "John Glenn's flight put us in the major leagues!" While Judie wrote, "I remember it well and was so proud; I still am!" In fact, the national celebration for Glenn's mission was so intense Washington held a parade for the 40-year-old Marine Corp colonel. Thousands cheered as he left a White House meeting with President Kennedy and was driven down Pennsylvania Avenue to Capitol Hill. There, Glenn addressed Congress saying, "I believe we're on the brink of an era of expansion of knowledge about ourselves and our surroundings that is beyond comprehension." You can see Glenn's handwritten speech notes here. The emotional momentum spurred by Glenn's successful flight culminated just seven years later, when Apollo 11's Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, Michael Collins and their colleagues accomplished a lunar landing that many said was impossible. Now, a half-century after Glenn's flight, Light Years follower Gregory L. Faith told us he still has "a picture of Mr. Glenn in his U.S. Marine Corps uniform with his signature. It is my only prized possession of an era gone by." Works4me summed up feelings for Glenn in three words. "My first hero." Glenn's mission inspired a nation during a time that some would say was a bit more naive and less cynical. Could something like that happen now? Who's inspiring the next generation? And if not space, in what new competitive arenas will they test themselves? Stay tuned.

Published: Sun, 19 Feb 2012 14:11:42 GMT

Local officials among latest killed in Syria

A provincial attorney general and a judge were assassinated Sunday in Syria in what the regime called another attack targeting officials. Attorney General Nidal Ghazal of Idlib province, Judge Mohammed Ziyadeh and their driver were fatally shot on their way to work by an "armed terrorist group," the state-run Syrian Arab News Agency reported. The opposition Syrian Observatory for Human Rights also acknowledged the deaths, but said the three were killed by "unknown assailants." The deaths follow the Saturday assassination of Aleppo city council member Jamal al-Bish, who was also killed by an "armed terrorist group," SANA said. And last weekend, SANA reported a Syrian general was gunned down in Damascus -- perhaps the first significant hint that the resistance is spreading to the seats of power. But in a country where some civilians live in constant fear of government attack, opposition activists said two more residents died Sunday at the hands of regime forces. One civilian was shot to death at a security checkpoint in Aleppo, and a woman was killed by indiscriminate gunfire in the embattled city of Homs, the Syrian Observatory said. As violence spiraled unabated, opposition activists say the regime has snatched up hundreds of doctors. At least 295 doctors have been arrested during the 11-month Syrian uprising as part of a "fierce campaign" against physicians, according to the Local Coordination Committees of Syria, a network of opposition activists. In the past three days, security forces seized three doctors from Damascus -- including two from their clinics, the LCC said Sunday. For weeks, opposition activists have bemoaned a shortage of doctors and medical supplies as parts of Syria came under siege. Residents -- particularly in the opposition stronghold of Homs -- describe an endless nightmare of random shelling on houses, snipers perched on rooftops and wounded civilians dying long, painful deaths because they can't get the medical care needed to save their lives. Even those mourning the dead can't escape the government's relentless onslaught. At least two people were killed at a massive funeral and protest Saturday in Damascus, the LCC said. Security forces confronted the tens of thousands of mourners and protesters with gunfire and tear gas, the group said. The two were among 17 killed across Syria on Saturday, according to the LCC. More than 8,500 people have been killed since the Syrian government's crackdown on peaceful demonstrators started almost a year ago, LCC spokeswoman Rafif Jouejati said. The United Nations has said well over 5,000 people have died, though it does not have a recent death count due to the conditions in the country. In recent months, more opposition fighters have taken up arms against government soldiers, police and militia. World powers decry the violence but have been unable to stop it. Some countries have pulled their diplomats out of Syria. Egypt decided Sunday to keep its ambassador to Damascus, Shawky Ismail, "in Cairo until further notice," state-run EgyNews.net reported. The Egyptian Foreign Ministry issued a statement "calling for a response to the demands of the Syrian people, and that it is an obligation for the Syrian leadership and government to stop the violence and begin to respond to the demands of the people particularly after the events of Homs," EgyNews.net said. On Saturday, Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Zhai Jun met with President Bashar al-Assad in Damascus, not far from where the deadly violence at the mass funeral took place. "I exchanged clear and profound viewpoints with President al-Assad about the Syrian issue. ... China, as a friendly country to Syria, is following with great concern the developments here," Zhai said, according to state-run Syrian Arab News Agency. China, like Russia, has vetoed attempts by the U.N. Security Council to denounce the al-Assad regime amid escalating reports of government brutality in Syria. Zhai said China urged all sides "to sit on the dialogue table to reach a comprehensive political plan." "I briefed President al-Assad on China's basic stance image over the Syrian issue. This stance is represented by calling on the Syrian government, armed men and the opposition to an immediate halt of acts of violence against civilians." CNN cannot independently confirm opposition and government reports of violence because the Syrian government has severely restricted the access of international journalists. The Syrian regime has denied reports that al-Assad's forces are targeting civilians, saying they are fighting armed gangs and foreign fighters bent on destabilizing the government. But the vast majority of accounts from within the country indicate Syrian forces are slaughtering civilians in an attempt to wipe out dissidents calling for al-Assad's ouster.

Published: Sun, 19 Feb 2012 13:15:36 GMT

Paul picks up 83 votes in rescheduled Maine caucuses

Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul gained 83 votes on Saturday after one county in eastern Maine held its caucuses. Washington County had delayed its voting one week ago due to bad weather. The gain for the Texas congressman does not change the outcome of the Maine contest. After Washington County's voting, fellow GOP candidate Mitt Romney led Paul by 156 votes. Romney has consistently led despite changes in the vote tally. Last Saturday, Maine Republican Party Chairman Charlie Webster declared Romney the winner over Paul by 194 votes. On Friday, the Maine GOP updated the caucus results by including some votes that were originally missing and correcting clerical and other errors in the tallies. The updated numbers showed Romney maintaining his win by a slightly bigger margin, 239 votes. Webster told CNN there is a recommendation by a Maine GOP committee to the group's larger executive committee to include Washington County's vote results in a March 10 accounting.

Published: Sun, 19 Feb 2012 13:08:52 GMT

Carnival fever seizes Brazil as parades, block parties kick off

Carnival revelers descended on Rio de Janeiro, flocking to hundreds of block parties and cramming into designated areas to watch elaborate parades from dusk until dawn. Pounding drums and fireworks explosions announced the start of each samba school that parades down the emblematic strip, flanked by stands with seating for 80,000 spectators. Dancers with platform heels and little else posed for photographers before bursting onto the dazzling pavement. Just before the lavish floats hit the Sambadrome, cranes lowered feathered dancers onto podiums where they will dance and swivel their hips nonstop for 40 minutes. But the five-day Carnival in Rio, which started Friday, is more than just the official parades. Neighborhoods across the city host block parties that attract thousands -- and sometimes more than a million -- revelers. They drink and dance behind samba bands that wind their way through the streets. This year, about 850,000 tourists descended on Rio for Carnival celebrations, according to tourism officials

Published: Sun, 19 Feb 2012 13:02:52 GMT

At Houston funeral, stories of faith, courage and love

Whitney Houston went to church one last time Saturday. She was welcomed by family, friends and a virtual audience of millions who watched as the pop superstar was remembered as a child of God with the voice of an angel. A voice that never forgot its roots. "Jesus Loves Me" was the last song Houston sang in public before her death February 11 in Beverly Hills, California, at the age of 48. So it was fitting that the mourners -- comforted and encouraged by the likes of Stevie Wonder, Alicia Keys and R. Kelly -- heard the simple, but powerful, "Jesus Loves Me," this time performed by CeCe Winans. Saturday's homegoing service was held at New Hope Baptist Church, where Houston, nicknamed "Nippy," was soloing in the junior choir by age 11. Even with her ensuing fame, which brought six Grammy Awards, glamorous living and parties on the West Coast, and seven consecutive No. 1 singles, Houston never forgot her Newark, New Jersey, hometown. Actor Kevin Costner, who starred with Houston in her first movie, "The Bodyguard," recounted how both of them grew up in the Baptist faith and had family members who sang in the choir. "Church was our bond," Costner said. Houston, the actor said, overcame her doubts about having what it took to earn the role in "The Bodyguard." She alone, Costner said, was the right choice. "Now you are gone, too soon, leaving us with memories of a little girl who stepped bravely in front of this church, in front of the ones that loved you first," Costner said. "In front of the ones who loved you the best and loved you the longest. And boldly you stepped into the white hot light of the world's stage." During the three-and-a-half-hour service, Houston's casket, covered with a large spray of flowers, rested in front of the altar. While many of her fans lamented the fact that Houston's service was invitation-only, Pastor Marvin Winans, who delivered the eulogy, thanked Cissy Houston, Whitney's mother, for having the service at New Hope. "That took a lot of courage. And because of that you brought the world to church today," Winans said during his eulogy. The six-page funeral program contained color family photos and a letter from Cissy Houston. The letter included the message, "God said 'It's time, Nippy. Your work is done.'" It was signed, "Thanks for being such a wonderful daughter. Love, Mommie." Houston also left behind a daughter, Bobbi Kristina Brown, 18. Through the tears and occasional laughter, performers and speakers spoke of Houston's loyalty. Gospel singer and longtime friend BeBe Winans was visibly emotional as he recalled a memory of Houston's sense of humor. With his sister, CeCe, by his side, he told the story of how Houston, then a major celebrity, informed them of her intent to sing background vocals on their new tour. When they told her she was too big a star to do that now, Houston responded, "You're my brother and sister, right?" The exchange went on for a few minutes and then Houston told them, "Y'all broke, right? I'm rich, right? So I can buy what I want to for y'all." Winans said that was the Whitney Houston he would remember. Then he sang, "I Really Miss You." A "who's who" of musical performers adapted lyrics in tribute to Houston. Gospel singer and friend Kim Burrell sang a reworked version of Sam Cooke's "A Change is Gonna Come," adding glimpses of Houston's life to the lyrics. After finishing, she walked down to the pew where Cissy Houston sat and embraced her. One of the most emotional moments in the service came when Keys sang "Send Me an Angel," her voice soaring into the rafters of the sanctuary. Oprah Winfrey, Mary J. Blige, Mariah Carey, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, Spike Lee, and Houston's former husband, Bobby Brown, were among those in attendance. Brown walked by Houston's casket with his head down before the service began. Police said Brown and his entourage later left the church during the service. At the time of her death, Houston was in the Los Angeles area for the 54th annual Grammy Awards and was to attend a party hosted by her longtime mentor and record producer, Clive Davis. She was discovered dead in her hotel suite. A cause of death has not been determined. Mourners heard only a few indirect references to her personal battles. A close family friend told CNN on Tuesday that Houston had not used "hard drugs" for several years. Investigators are examining prescription drugs found in her hotel room. Through her turmoil, speakers said, Houston remained true to her faith. "In her final days, she held on to what you taught her to believe in," said Patricia Houston, Whitney's sister-in-law and former manager. "I promise you she did." Ray Watson, Houston's bodyguard, recalled some of his last interactions with the singer. "In our final days, she came in my room and she began to speak biblically," he said. "She laid her head on my shoulder and said, 'We are gonna be all right.' Speakers, including Bishop T.D. Jakes and director-producer Tyler Perry, spoke of the promise of tomorrow. "Death has not won. Your tears may flow. The flowers might wither," Jakes said. "You will find people you love may leave you outwardly, but (they) will not leave you inwardly." At the conclusion of the service, Houston's iconic recording of "I Will Always Love You" was played as her coffin was removed from the sanctuary. Her mother leaned on her escorts as they helped her down the aisle. Houston will be laid to rest Sunday at the Fairview Cemetery in Westfield, just south of Newark. She has come home.

Published: Sun, 19 Feb 2012 11:46:50 GMT

Cause of Whitney Houston's death still vague

Whitney Houston's journey "home" ends with a private burial in New Jersey on Sunday as questions persist about what caused the superstar's death. Houston will be buried next to her father at Fairview Cemetery in Westfield, south of Newark. Her burial brings an end to her "coming home," as her family has dubbed the invitation-only memorial service held a day earlier at her childhood church in Newark. The family-only burial is in contrast to the emotionally-charged, star-studded memorial service held at New Hope Baptist Church, where Houston, nicknamed "Nippy," was soloing in the junior choir by age 11. "Jesus Loves Me" was the last song Houston sang in public before her death on February 11 in Beverly Hills, California, at the age of 48. So it was fitting that the mourners -- comforted and encouraged by the likes of Stevie Wonder, Alicia Keys and R. Kelly -- heard the simple, but powerful, "Jesus Loves Me," this time performed by CeCe Winans. The mourners inside the church represented an amalgamation of Houston's life, from childhood friends to gospel singers, from music stars to movie stars. Kevin Costner, who cast Houston in her first role alongside him in "The Bodyguard," recalled how she questioned whether she was good enough, beautiful enough to be cast in the film. "It was the burden that made her great and the part that caused her to stumble in the end," he said. For her closest friends inside the church, and strangers who continue to draw inspiration from her voice, Costner's words hit a painfully honest note about human frailty. Years after "The Bodyguard" hit theaters, reports of Houston's struggles with drug addiction and a rocky marriage with Bobby Brown surfaced and her album sales declined. "The inexplicable burden that comes with fame," Costner said. "Call it doubt. Call it fear. I've had mine. I know the famous in the room have had theirs." Costner said Houston's own story could help a new generation of young girls who dream big. "Maybe they're thinking they aren't good enough," he said. "I think Whitney would tell you: Guard your bodies. Guard the precious miracle of your life. Then sing your hearts out, knowing that there's a lady in heaven who's making God himself wonder how He created something so perfect." One of the most emotional moments in the service came when Keys recalled how Houston helped her and others achieve success. "She reached back to so many people; she reached back to me, to Monica and Brandy ... and just made us feel strong and capable and loved," she said. Keys ended her tribute to Houston by singing "Send Me an Angel," her voice soaring into the rafters of the sanctuary. Oprah Winfrey, Mary J. Blige, Mariah Carey, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, Spike Lee, and Houston's former husband, Bobby Brown, were among those in attendance. Brown walked by Houston's casket with his head down before the service began and then left. Brown accused security of treating his family badly and barring him from visiting with his daughter, an account that Houston's family denied. Brown was expected to attend with two guests but showed up with 10 people and sat in a section reserved for family, a close friend of the Houston family told CNN on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue. When Brown refused to reseat his entourage to make room for Houston's mother, the family asked police to intervene, the family member said. Mourners heard only a few indirect references to her personal battles. A close family friend told CNN recently that Houston had not used "hard drugs" for several years. Investigators are examining prescription drugs found in her hotel room. At the time of her death, Houston was in the Los Angeles area for the annual Grammy Awards and was to attend a party hosted by her longtime mentor and record producer, Clive Davis. She was discovered dead in her hotel suite at the upscale Beverly Hilton. Investigators are contacting doctors and pharmacies across the country, seeking answers about prescriptions found in Houston's hotel room and whether they played a role in her death, a source with knowledge of the investigation recently told CNN. The source spoke on condition of anonymity citing the ongoing investigation. Houston's death certificate is only fueling speculation after coroners deferred making a determination as to cause of death pending the outcome of toxicology tests. The investigation also sparked questions on her behavior during her final days, with authorities examining video from her television appearances as well as other reports to determine her physical state leading up to her death on the eve of the Grammy Awards, the source said.

Published: Sun, 19 Feb 2012 11:45:18 GMT

Elizabeth Smart weds in Hawaii

Elizabeth Smart, the Utah woman abducted as a teenager and held captive for months, tied the knot at a private ceremony in Hawaii over the weekend. "Yes, Elizabeth did get married today and we are all thrilled," said Smart's father, Ed, on Saturday. Smart and Matthew Gilmour exchanged vows Saturday on Oahu's North Shore before family and friends, CNN affiliate KSL said, citing a family spokesman. They plan to honeymoon at an undisclosed location, according to Chris Thomas, the spokesman. "Elizabeth's desire was for what most women want --- to celebrate her nuptials in a private wedding with family and close friends," Thomas told the affiliate. The pair got engaged last month and planned to get married in the summer, but moved up the wedding because of the media attention, the spokesman said. Gilmour, a native of Scotland, met his bride while she was doing missionary work in France. Smart attends Brigham Young University and also works for ABC News. Smart made headlines in 2002 when she was kidnapped from her Salt Lake home at age 14 and held captive for nine months. Her kidnapping stunned the nation, and the media covered the month slong search to find her. Her abductor, Brian David Mitchell, sexually abused her during her time in captivity, and is serving life in prison for the kidnapping and assault. Authorities rescued Smart when she, her captor and his wife were spotted wandering in Sandy, Utah, in March 2003. Smart described the ordeal as "my nine months in hell" during court testimony two years ago.

Published: Sun, 19 Feb 2012 09:43:53 GMT

ESPN apologizes for headline on Jeremy Lin

ESPN apologized Saturday for an offensive headline about New York Knicks sensation Jeremy Lin that appeared on its mobile website after the team's season-high, seven-game winning streak came to an end. The streak, which began when the unlikely star came off the Knicks' bench to guide the team to win-after-improbable-win, helped transform the Harvard graduate of Taiwanese descent into a global brand -- giving rise to the catchphrase "Linsanity." But early Saturday morning, the network put forth a headline that read "Chink in the Armor," referencing the Knicks' 89- 85 loss Friday night to the New Orleans Hornets at Madison Square Garden, according to ESPN spokesman Kevin Ota. The headline was up for 35 minutes before being removed. "We are conducting a complete review of our cross-platform editorial procedures and are determining appropriate disciplinary action to ensure this does not happen again," the network said in a statement. "We regret and apologize for this mistake." The network also apologized for a question an ESPN anchor posed Wednesday night when asking about Lin. "ESPN apologizes for the incident, and is taking steps to avoid this in the future," the statement said. Anchor Max Bretos asked, "If there is a chink in the armor, where can Lin improve his game?"

Published: Sun, 19 Feb 2012 08:27:25 GMT

Va. lacrosse player had no 'intent to kill,' defense attorney says

A former University of Virginia lacrosse player accused of fatally beating his ex-girlfriend contributed to her death, but did not kill her and had no intent to do so, his attorney argued Saturday. The defense and prosecution have rested in the murder trial of George Huguely, which is expected to resume on Wednesday. "Yes, George contributed to her death. But no, he didn't kill her . . . he left there with her alive, and that is not in dispute. There was no intentional killing, because she wasn't dead when he left," defense attorney Francis Lawrence said during his closing statement. "There's no intent to rob, and no intent to kill." Huguely faces six charges, including robbery and first-degree murder in the May 2010 death of Yeardley Love, a 22-year-old senior who was also a lacrosse player. On Saturday, the defendant officially waived his right to testify. Lawrence described his client as "stupid, drunk -- but not calculating." The defense has said Love's death was an accident. Police were initially called to Love's off-campus Charlottesville apartment by a roommate who reported "a possible alcohol overdose," Police Chief Tim Longo said at the time. A medical examiner later ruled that blunt force trauma killed Love, and authorities allege that Huguely caused it during an altercation. "When somebody's little girl doesn't wake up the next day, and there's no reason why they shouldn't ... I ask you to do no more, and no less, than to hold him responsible for what he did," said Charlottesville Commonwealth's Attorney Warner D. Chapman. At several points during his closing statement, Love's mother and sister cried. Twice, it appeared Chapman was also crying, or chocking back tears. "It goes without saying that this woman is never going to be able to say what happened to her ... but the evidence proves she was killed in the commission of a robbery," he told the jury. After closing arguments, the judge had hoped to give the case to jurors, but they felt they were too tired to continue. The trial will resume Wednesday morning and deliberations are expected to begin shortly thereafter. Prosecutors have claimed all along that Huguely followed through on his intentions to kill Love. Earlier in the trial, Chapman read e-mails exchanged between the two after Huguely heard Love had allegedly slept with someone else. The defendant wrote, "I should have killed you," and Love responded, "You should have killed me?" according to Chapman. Huguely responded that the pair should talk, Chapman said. The prosecutor also told jurors that Love's death was slow and painful, claiming she could have remained alive for a couple of hours after Huguely left her apartment. The defense agrees Love was alive when Huguely left. Charlottesville Police Detective Lisa Reeves wrote in a sworn statement used to obtain a search warrant in the case that "George Huguely admitted on May 3, 2010, that he was involved in an altercation with Yeardley Love and, during the course of the altercation, he shook Love and her head repeatedly hit the wall." The defense attorney has said there is no evidence that Love's head hit a wall, and on Saturday, the defense called a witness who questioned the nature of Love's injuries. Ronald Uscinski, a neurosurgeon, testified it was "possible, but less likely" that the victim's brain injuries were the result of blunt force trauma. Huguely has been held for nearly two years. If he's convicted of involuntary manslaughter, the most time he could serve is 10 years.

Published: Sun, 19 Feb 2012 04:28:40 GMT

China eases bank restriction to boost growth

China's central bank said it would cut the amount banks must hold in reserve, a step toward boosting lending and maintaining strong economic growth. The People's Bank of China said it would cut the so-called reserve requirement by 0.5%, the second such move in three months, following several increases since 2008. The decision comes as China tries to pull off a soft landing: It must let economic growth slow enough to prevent inflation -- but it doesn't want to slow too much. Inflation in China is already a concern, rising at a rate of 4.5% as of January, though that is more tame than last summer when prices were rising 6.5%. Food prices were up 10.5% in January. The Chinese economy grew at an annual pace of 8.9% in the last three months of 2011. China, the world's second largest economy behind the United States, has grown at an average annual rate of about 10% for the past 30 years. A growing chorus of skeptics say China's economy is a bubble set to burst. They worry about massive over construction that has resulted in empty buildings and infrastructure projects of little value. Most notable is short-seller Jim Chanos of Kynikos Associates. "We are seeing rapid falloffs in demand in things like construction equipment, railway construction over there, housing sales -- so lots of things are slowing down pretty quickly over there," Chanos said in an interview with CNNMoney this week. Chanos also thinks the Chinese government is over-stating growth and understating inflation

Published: Sun, 19 Feb 2012 04:10:23 GMT

Iranian warships sail into the Mediterranean

Two Iranian warships sailed through Egypt's Suez Canal into the Mediterranean Sea, Iran's semi-official Mehr news agency reported Saturday, amid heightened tensions in the region. The move represents only the second time such ships have crossed the Suez Canal since the Islamic republic's 1979 revolution. The first time took place in February 2011, just days after Egypt's post-Hosni Mubarak government gave the green light to the passage -- putting Egypt's new military leaders in a prickly position with its Israeli neighbor. "As the Navy affected the region with its presence in the Mediterranean Sea last year, the Navy's 18th fleet will in the best way carry the message of peace and friendship to regional countries, and display the might of the country and the sacred system of the Islamic Republic of Iran," said Rear Adm. Habibollah Sayyari, according to Mehr. It was not clear from the report where the two vessels, a destroyer and a supply ship, were headed. However, another semi-official Iranian news agency, ISNA, said the ships were on their way to Syria. The canal is an internal body of water, and as such, Egypt has sovereignty over it. But Egypt also is bound by the 1978 Camp David Accords, which guarantee the right of free passage by ships belonging to Israel and all other nations on the basis of the Constantinople Convention of 1888. The warships' reported movement comes as tensions between Iran and Israel are high, with speculation of a pre-emptive Israeli strike on Iran to stop its suspected nuclear weapons program. Israel has also blamed Tehran for attacks on Israeli targets in India, Georgia and Thailand. The United States and the European Union bolstered sanctions against Iran after a November report by the International Atomic Energy Agency that said Iran could be developing nuclear weapons. Iran insists its program is strictly for civilian energy purposes. On Friday, Western nations welcomed a letter from Iran offering a resumption of stalled nuclear talks, though they were still determining the Islamic republic's sincerity. The Suez Canal is a key waterway for international trade. It connects the Mediterranean Sea with the Red Sea, allowing ships to navigate between Europe and Asia without having to go around Africa. Millions of barrels of oil move through the Suez every day en route to Europe and North America.

Published: Sun, 19 Feb 2012 04:09:39 GMT

Obama budget proposal under fire in GOP address

In his weekly address, President Barack Obama spoke on U.S. manufacturing competitiveness, while Washington Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers used the Republican response to hammer the budget proposal he sent to Congress on Monday. The president made no mention of his budget, and in his remarks -- taped at the Washington state Boeing plant he visited Friday -- said that the U.S. is making progress toward becoming a more desirable place for manufacturing. "It's now getting more expensive to do business in places like China," he said. "Meanwhile, America is more productive than ever. And companies like Boeing are realizing that even when we can't make things cheaper than China, we can make things better. That's how we're going to compete globally." He argued for the manufacturing tax policy changes he outlined in his State of the Union address in January. "No company should get a tax break for outsourcing jobs. Instead, tax breaks should go to manufacturers who set up shop here at home," Obama said. "Bigger tax breaks should go to high-tech manufacturers who create the jobs of the future. And if you relocate your company to a struggling community, you should get help financing that new plant, that new equipment, or training for new workers." "And Congress should send me that kind of tax reform right away," he continued, mirroring a theme of urgency from his January address. McMorris Rodgers -- whose district does not include the Everett, Washington, plant that Obama visited Friday -- argued that the president's budget would instead make the country less competitive with manufacturing giants such as China. "Instead of leading the effort to bring down our debt and make tough choices, the president is proposing that we spend more and more," she said. "All his wasteful spending puts us deeper in debt to China. All his tax hikes would destroy jobs and make it tougher to compete with China." His $3.8 trillion proposal, she said, reneges on Obama's promise to halve federal deficits by the end of his first term. http://articles.cnn.com/2012-02-13/politics/politics_obama-congress-budget_1_trillion-budget-spending-cuts-federal-budget "He won't even come close," she said. "Because of the president's failure to control spending, the government will run trillion-dollar deficits in each of his four years in office. President Obama's broken promises have left our country broke." The administration predicted that under this proposal, the deficit would reach $1.3 trillion, then drop to $901 billion in 2013. And McMorris Rodgers argued that the spending cuts are not new sacrifices, but previously negotiated cuts and mirage. "More than half of the proposed 'savings' in the president's budget for the next year -- about $2 trillion -- are already law," she said. "These savings come from the Budget Control Act -- the bill congressional Republicans insisted that the president sign last year in response to his demand for an increase in the nation's debt limit." She continued, "Another almost $1 trillion in 'savings' comes from what we call the 'war gimmick' -- money that was never requested and will never be spent on wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Those aren't real savings." Capitol Hill is expected to be quiet in the week ahead, as the House and Senate voted on Friday to extend the payroll tax cut, unemployment benefits and Medicare reimbursements.

Published: Sun, 19 Feb 2012 04:04:14 GMT

Damascus heavy with street protests, conflict

The tensions sweeping across Syria enveloped the capital of Damascus on Saturday, with security forces firing at protesters and a Chinese diplomat urging the country's leaders to negotiate with the opposition. At least two people were killed when demonstrators packed the streets of Damascus to rail against President Bashar al-Assad's regime and mourn the deaths of three other people recently slain by security forces. "Father of the martyr, raise your head high!" demonstrators chanted in the central neighborhood of Mazzeh. Tens of thousands of mourners and protesters packed the streets as security forces confronted them with gunfire and tear gas, killing two people, said the Local Coordination Committees of Syria, a network of opposition activists. The two were among 17 killed across Syria on Saturday, the LCC said. More than 8,500 deaths have been documented since the crackdown started more than 11 months ago, LCC spokeswoman Rafif Jouejati said. The United Nations has said well over 5,000 people have died, though it does not have a recent death count due to the conditions in the country. The regime's security forces started a relentless crackdown on peaceful demonstrators nearly a year ago, a push that stoked a cycle of anti-government sentiment and continual clampdowns in cities across Syria. In recent months, more opposition fighters have taken up arms against government soldiers, police and militia. World powers have denounced the violence but have been unable to stop it. The persistent unrest was the topic on the table when al-Assad met with Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Zhai Jun Saturday. The state-run Syrian Arab News Agency said Zhai supports the regime's reform process, including a February 26 referendum on a draft constitution. But Zhai said, "we are worried about the escalation of crisis in Syria," according to SANA. "I exchanged clear and profound viewpoints with President al-Assad about the Syrian issue. ... China as a friendly country to Syria is following with great concern the developments here," Zhai said, according to the Syrian news outlet. Zhai said China urged all sides "to sit on the dialogue table to reach a comprehensive political plan." "I briefed President al-Assad on China's basic stance image over the Syrian issue. This stance is represented by calling on the Syrian government, armed men and the opposition to an immediate halt of acts of violence against civilians." China and Russia have vetoed attempts by the U.N. Security Council to pass a resolution condemning the Syrian regime for what many countries call a massacre of civilians. Both nations have major trade ties with Syria, and critics of China say Beijing fears that condoning a resolution that could lead to regime change might one day threaten its own rule. Two of Syria's neighbors weighed in on the unrest Saturday. Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki said the government is strengthening the nation's border with Syria because of weapons-smuggling. Sunnis in Anbar province at the border have denounced al-Assad's rule and proclaimed their solidarity to Syrian opposition members, many of whom are Sunni. Israel's Defense Minister Ehud Barak said al-Assad and his family are "doomed" to be toppled because of the government's assault against its citizens. Speaking to reporters in a trip to Japan, Barak said he believes al-Assad could lose power over many weeks and doubts he will be in charge by 2013. The Syrian regime has refuted reports that al-Assad's forces are targeting civilians, saying they are fighting armed gangs and foreign fighters bent on destabilizing the government. But the vast majority of accounts from within the country indicate Syrian forces are slaughtering civilians in an offensive on protesters calling for al-Assad's ouster and scoffing at the government's attempt at reforms. The LCC said Saturday that 295 doctors have been arrested since the start of the unrest, as part of a "fierce campaign" against physicians. Along with the two killed in the capital, the LCC reported deaths in other provinces: six in Homs, three each in Hama and Idlib, two in Daraa and one in Aleppo. The LCC said forces firing a machine gun on a tank in Hama killed two children and injured another person. "The shooting targeted a car they were riding. Security forces arrested the one who was injured and another one who was also with them in the car," the LCC said. Syrian forces shelled a clinic in the Daraa town of Basr al-Hareer and launched raids in the city of Deir Ezzor. Security forces continued their shelling of Homs neighborhoods, including Baba Amr and Inshaat, bastions of anti-government sentiment, the LCC said. The group also reported clashes in Hasakeh, in northeast Syria. Twenty-three people were injured there, the LCC said. The Syrian army is still in control of Zabadani, in the Damascus countryside, where soldiers and tanks made a show of force along the streets, according to Mohamed Ali, a member of the opposition Syrian Revolution Coordination Committee. Security forces are arresting young men, breaking doors and stealing from empty houses, he said. Finally, SANA reported the death of a law enforcement member Saturday and said "many others were wounded" in Idlib province. CNN cannot independently confirm opposition and government reports of violence because the Syrian government has severely restricted the access of international journalists.

Published: Sun, 19 Feb 2012 01:25:17 GMT

Human remains found on Long Island, N.Y.

Human skeletal remains have been found on Long Island, New York, authorities said Saturday. The same police department has been involved in the discovery of at least 10 other sets of human remains about 40 miles from the latest site. The discovery of the 10 previous sets of remains at Gilgo Beach has led to a hunt for a possible serial killer. "At this time, we cannot say if the remains are connected to any other cases. The scene will be processed and re-evaluated to see if further searching is necessary," Deputy Inspector Kevin Fallon of the Suffolk County Police Department said in a news statement about the latest find. The remains were found Friday by a man who was walking his dog in a heavily wooded area about 300 feet from a road in Manorville, police said. The grounds are the Upton Ecological Reserve. On December 17, authorities announced that a body discovered earlier in the week along a remote stretch of Long Island beach was that of Shannan Gilbert, the missing New Jersey woman whose disappearance had led investigators to the 10 sets of human remains and the hunt for a possible serial killer. Gilbert, 24, vanished in May 2010 after visiting a client. The Jersey City resident had advertised for prostitution services on websites such as Craigslist, police said. Her body was uncovered December 13 in the wooded marshes of Suffolk County's Oak Beach. That beach is about 9 miles from where the 10 other sets of human remains were found. Gilbert's mother, Mari Gilbert, said in December that police had botched the investigation into her daughter's death and the apparent killings of the other victims. She threatened to sue the Suffolk County police if the FBI didn't take over the case. Attorney John Ray, who represented Mari Gilbert, said that because Shannan -- a resident of Jersey City, New Jersey -- crossed state lines to visit a client in New York, the investigation should be federal. Suffolk County Police Commissioner Richard Dormer "thinks this is some kind of a silly scene for the Suffolk County police to be involved in only because Shannan was an escort," Ray said. Ray accused Dormer's office of violating the civil rights of the victims by inadequately investigating. Mari Gilbert has said she believes that her daughter was murdered by a serial killer. Police, however, maintained that Shannan Gilbert's death was not thought to be the work of a serial killer. Authorities have conflicting theories about whether a serial killer is involved in the other deaths. The remains found Friday are thought to have been in the area for some time. "This has been determined from the vegetation growth in the area around the remains," the police statement said. The age and gender of the remains are to be determined by medical examiners. "I saw the top of the cranium sticking out of the brush," dog owner Matt Samuel said of his discovery. "It looked like it was wrapped in like bed sheets and then put in a plastic bag and duct taped around tight, and I guess over the time the plastic deteriorated ... and the sheets kind of decomposed," he told CNN affiliate News 12 Long Island. In 2000 and 2003, the torsos of two women were discovered in the same area, News 12 reported. Other body parts belonging to the women have been found at Gilgo Beach, and have been linked to the eight other sets of remains found at Gilgo Beach, the affiliate said.

Published: Sun, 19 Feb 2012 00:37:14 GMT

McQueeneyTX.com HOTELS • REAL ESTATE • JOBS