News for Thursday, March 31, 2011

’Star Wars’ creator Lucas says 3-D will rule films

“Star Wars” creator George Lucas predicts 3-D filmmaking eventually will take over at the movies the way color replaced black and white.

Feds indict former KC medical school chief

KANSAS CITY (AP) — A federal indictment unsealed Thursday paints a former Kansas City medical school chief as an unscrupulous leader who falsified meeting minutes to give herself bonuses, claimed charitable donations made by the university as her own and got reimbursed for several trips that had nothing to do with her job at the university.

Judge strikes down new ethics law

Missouri’s new ethics and campaign finance requirements were struck down Thursday by a judge who ruled they violated free-speech rights and a state constitutional prohibition on rolling multiple topics into a single piece of legislation.

Blues’ Oshie returning after two-game absence

ST. LOUIS (AP) — T.J. Oshie ended a two-game suspension Thursday, apologizing to his St. Louis Blues teammates, the organization and its fans for missing a practice.

Angels stop Royals in season-opener

KANSAS CITY (AP) — It took the Kansas City Royals exactly one game to cast serious doubt on any credibility Cactus League stats might have.

Padres rally to beat Cardinals in 11 innings

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Albert Pujols cut off contract negotiations at the start of spring training. His bat was equally silent on opening day.

Joke's on Northeast as April Fools' snow nears

A no-joke April Fools’ snowstorm swirled toward the Northeast Thursday, a cruel prank on a region that was finally seeing a reprieve from its long, white winter.

House endorses health care compact

The Missouri House advanced legislation Wednesday that would have the state join a multistate health care compact in an effort to supersede the new federal health care law, reflecting many legislators’ opposition to Congress’ controversial overhaul.

Senior Libyan official resigns

TRIPOLI, Libya (AP) — Moammar Gadhafi struck a defiant stance Thursday after two high-profile defections from his regime, saying he’s not the one who should go — it’s the Western leaders who have decimated his military with airstrikes who should resign immediately.

Fulton hard-rockers King’s Row release new CD

The Fulton hard rock band King’s Row has released its third major CD “Unbroken.” The album consists of 12 songs adding up to nearly 78 minutes of blues and progressive rock.

Dancers hope to move audience

The Lincoln University Dance Troupe performs its 35th Anniversary Concert on April 8-10 in Richardson Auditorium.

Mo. judge strikes down new ethics law

A state judge has struck down a Missouri law that imposed new ethics and campaign finance requirements.

Mo. House, Senate pass differing election bills

The Missouri House and Senate have both approved legislation changing the date of the 2012 presidential primaries, but they disagree on what the new date should be.

Your Opinion: Creating access for trouble

A recent shooting and killing in the City of Jefferson involved out-of-town people. Investigations are continuing. We may learn more about their motives later.

Your Opinion: Signs depict America's decline

I agree with Mark Pavely’s March 18 opinion that America is on the decline.

Your Opinion: Korean vets in line for honor

As a veteran of the “Forgotten War,” (Korea) I have a vague idea of what the veterans of World War II must have experienced.

Our Opinion: Adrian's Island tunnel plan sidetracked

You may want to postpone packing the basket for a picnic on Adrian’s Island.

Scene Stealers offer ‘The Magic Flute’

Production joins Lincoln University students with community members

Opera traditionally is associated with culture and class rather than caprice and whimsy. Merging diverse notions, however, is a theme for Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, the classical composer who created “The Magic Flute.”

Last Cabrini public housing high-rise coming down

Wrecking balls tore into the last of Chicago’s infamous Cabrini-Green public housing high-rises on Wednesday, beginning the final demolition of the once towering reminder of the city’s failure to safely house the poorest of the poor.

Mo. bill could revive printing of state manual

The Missouri “Blue Book” could be spared from becoming an online-only publication.

USGS finds 2,000-year-old coral near BP Gulf well

Federal scientists say they have dated coral living near the site of the busted BP oil well in the Gulf of Mexico at 2,000 years old.

Panic! at the Disco downsizes, may head to B’way

Panic! at the Disco could be following in the footsteps of The Who and Green Day. Like those rockers before them, the Las Vegas-based band is interested in taking their sound to Broadway.

Wife of accused Missouri sex slave master charged

A southwest Missouri woman who said she shared the same bed with her husband and his sex slave for years has been charged with participating in a sex trafficking conspiracy involving the young woman.

Missouri House endorses joining health care compact

The Missouri House advanced legislation Wednesday that would have the state join a multistate health care compact in an effort to supersede the new federal health care law, reflecting many legislators’ opposition to Congress’ controversial overhaul.

Both sides of Jefferson City trash issue waging campaign

There are plenty of ways to conduct a campaign. And, in the case of Proposition A, which would eliminate the existing trash contract for Jefferson City, almost all of them are being utilized.

Missouri Senate endorses new abortion restrictions

State senators could vote this morning to send a late-term abortions bill to the House, after giving the measure its first-round approval Wednesday afternoon.

Jefferson City council hopefuls address top issues

Whether they are an incumbent or a challenger, candidates for the Jefferson City Council will have plenty of hot-button issues to deal with right off the bat. As such, the candidates have given significant thought to many of the projects and issues currently facing the city.

Cole County edges close to state's top 10 healthiest

Cole County moved up a notch to become ranked as the 13th healthiest county in Missouri, according to the second annual County Health Rankings.

Simonsen students: Challenge to think can be fun

Students had the option of studying Physics First this year at Simonsen Ninth Grade Center in Jefferson City.

Lincoln takes second game of twinbill from Lindenwood

The Lincoln Blue Tigers dropped the opening game of a doubleheader with Lindenwood on Wednesday but came back in the second game to earn a split.

One shooting suspect pleads not guilty

One of two suspects in a fatal shooting from earlier this month entered a plea of not guilty to the charge he was facing Wednesday afternoon.

Missouri lawmakers urge higher pay for prison guards

Missouri correctional officers could see an increase in their pay under a proposal before a House panel.

Helias sweeps track triangular

The Helias track and field teams swept a triangular meet Wednesday with Moberly and Boonville at Adkins Stadium.

Anniversary flight to Gulf disaster site planned

The owner of the rig that exploded in the Gulf of Mexico nearly one year ago is quietly arranging to fly relatives of the 11 men who died out to the disaster site on the anniversary next month.

Missouri lawmakers: Nuclear bill still alive

Supporters predicted lawmakers this session will debate a plan allowing a utility company to seek an early site permit from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission and have consumers pay the application costs — if the company wins that permit.

’Idol’ finalists ignite Elton John classics

James Durbin literally lit up the “American Idol” stage. The flashy 22-year-old rocker from Santa Cruz, Calif., was accompanied by a flaming piano for “Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting” during an evening of Elton John classics on the Fox talent competition Wednesday.

Helias opens golf season with win

The Helias Crusaders opened up the golf season Wednesday by posting a 164 to win a triangular with Sedalia Smith-Cotton and Marshall at Sedalia Country Club.

2 charged with robbing pizza driver

Two Jefferson City men have been charged in connection with a robbery of a pizza delivery driver Tuesday night.

AP sources: CIA operatives on the ground in Libya

The CIA has sent small teams of operatives into Libya after the agency’s station in the capital was forced to close, and officers assisted in rescuing one of the two crew members of an F-15E Strike Eagle that crashed, an American official and a former U.S. intelligence officer told The Associated Press on Wednesday.

Prep Wresting: Falcons recognized

Blair Oaks had three wrestlers recently named to the Academic All-State team as released by the Missouri Wrestling Coaches Association.

Buffett surprised as top Berkshire exec departs

A top executive of Berkshire Hathaway who was believed to be on the inside track to one day succeed billionaire Warren Buffett as CEO has resigned suddenly. Buffett said Wednesday that David Sokol’s resignation letter, delivered by his assistant late Monday, came as a “total surprise.”

Sewer overflow in Valley View Court

The Jefferson City Wastewater Division cleaned and stopped a sanitary sewer overflow in the 400 block of Valley View Court Wednesday afternoon.

NY prosecutors: Insider trading tips cited on tape

A Wall Street hedge fund manager accused in the biggest insider trading case in history bragged in a 2008 conference call about making a massive illegal trade only moments before the market closed and in another call about being tipped by a Goldman Sachs board member that the company would lose money, according to prosecutors who played tapes of the calls Wednesday at his trial.

U.S. 54 accident injures two

A Jefferson City man was flown to University Hospital in Columbia for treatment of serious injuries after a two-vehicle wreck Wednesday afternoon in Cole County.

Ohio Legislature OKs collective bargaining limits

Labor stronghold Ohio assumed center stage Wednesday in the fight over collective bargaining rights for public workers as the state Legislature passed a bill that was in some ways tougher than that seen in Wisconsin and sent it to the governor.

TJMS student caught with marijuana

Jefferson City officers were called to Thomas Jefferson Middle School, where an eighth-grade girl was found to be in possession of marijuana.

Post-scandal Fiesta Bowl must justify place in BCS

The head of the BCS put the Fiesta Bowl on notice Wednesday: “Follow the letter of the law” or lose its place in college football’s lucrative championship system.

Secondary school options topic of event

The Holts Summit Community Betterment Association is holding a meeting to discuss secondary school options at 7 p.m. Monday at North Elementary School.

Anti-smoking group touts Missouri tobacco legislation

Anti-smoking and health care advocates are urging Missouri lawmakers to approve legislation targeting cheap cigarettes.

Missouri Senate divided over school funding changes

A proposal to change the way Missouri distributes money to public schools is causing division in the state Senate.

Man struck, killed by equipment on Missouri train track

Authorities in eastern Missouri say a man walking along a train track south of St. Louis died after being struck by a railroad maintenance vehicle.

G20 meeting highlights conflicts over currency

The time is right for China to move ahead on internationalizing its currency, French President Nicolas Sarkozy told finance mandarins Thursday at a brainstorming session for the Group of 20 leading economies on reforming the international monetary system.

Eurozone inflation jumps to 2.6 percent in March

Official figures show that inflation in the 17 countries that use the euro spiked higher than expected in March to the likely concern of policymakers at the European Central Bank.

Anglo Irish Bank confirms $25 billion 2010 loss

Anglo Irish Bank, the dying institution at the heart of Ireland’s journey to near bankruptcy, confirmed Thursday an Irish-record 2010 net loss of 17.7 billion ($25 billion) because of property development loans gone bad.

China to raise rare earths production this year

China says it plans to increase production of rare earths this year but gave no sign it might reverse a decision to reduce exports of the exotic metals used by high-tech industry.

Reagan spokesman Jim Brady presses Obama on guns

Jim Brady, President Ronald Reagan’s smooth-talking press secretary, hasn’t stopped speaking his mind, forcefully and poignantly. He made that clear from the Capitol to the White House on the 30th anniversary of the assassination attempt that paralyzed him.

Fed turns down AIG bid to rebuy dodgy assets

The Federal Reserve Bank of New York has turned down an offer by American International Group to repurchase dodgy mortgage bonds that the Fed had taken off the insurance company’s hands during the financial crisis.

NY prosecutors defend Times Square bombing probe

The government urged a judge on Wednesday to deny a businessman’s request to toss out statements he made to the FBI about last year’s Times Square car bombing probe, saying he didn’t need to be read his rights before blurting out that he provided $7,000 to the unsuccessful bomber but wasn’t guilty “for the bomb.”

Owner: No buyer for Vermont Yankee nuclear plant

The owner of the troubled Vermont Yankee nuclear plant can’t find a buyer for it, blaming “political uncertainty” over its prospects for a state license to keep operating past 2012.

Missouri Senate mulls changes to state tax credits

Missouri senators are considering whether to overhaul many of the state’s tax credits.

Fort Hood suspect’s lawyer gets delay in case

Fort Hood’s incoming commander likely will decide whether an Army psychiatrist will go to trial and face the death penalty for the deadly 2009 shootings at the Texas post.

Schwarzenegger back in show biz with ’Governator’

With his years as governor behind him, Arnold Schwarzenegger will soon return to his acting career with a new animated TV series.

Foreclosure negotiations held at Justice Dept

State attorneys general and federal officials held an all-day negotiating session Wednesday on the nation’s foreclosure crisis with five of the nation’s largest banks, seeking to resolve allegations of wrongdoing that law enforcement officials say have impacted millions of Americans facing foreclosure.