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8A – Daily News – Tuesday, May 25, 2010 Feds reject notion of removing BP from Gulf oil spill response COVINGTON, La. (AP) — The Obama administra- tion’s point man on the oil spill rejected the notion of removing BP and taking over the crisis Monday, say- ing the government has nei- ther the company’s expertise nor its deep-sea equipment. ‘‘To push BP out of the way, it would raise the ques- tion, to replace them with what?’’ Coast Guard Com- mandant Thad Allen, who is heading the federal response to the spill, said at a White House briefing. The White House is fac- ing increasing questions about why the government can’t assert more control over the handling of the cat- astrophe, which unfolded after a BP offshore drilling rig blew up April 20. All of BP’s attempts to Nice Mens and Womens Watches 35% off YOUR PET FOOD SOURCE Pamper your pet the Exchange Gold 423 WALNUT ST, RED BLUFF 528-8000 with a new Pet Stroller... stop the leak have failed, despite the oil giant’s use of joystick-operated submarine robots that can operate at depths no human could withstand. Millions of gal- lons of brown crude are now coating birds and other wildlife and fouling the Louisiana marshes. BP is pinning its hopes of stopping the gusher on yet another technique never tested 5,000 feet underwa- ter: a ‘‘top kill,’’ in which heavy mud and cement would be shot into the blown-out well to plug it up. The top kill could begin as early as Wednesday, with BP CEO Tony Hayward giving it a 60 to 70 percent chance of success. US , South Korea to test military force WASHINGTON — The Obama administration on Monday announced plans for two major military exer- cises off the Korean penin- sula in a show of force aimed at North Korea, which has been blamed by investigators for a deadly torpedo attack on a South Korean warship. The White House called U.S. support for South Korea ‘‘unequivocal’’ and said in a statement that Pres- ident Obama had directed military commanders to WORLD BRIEFING The White House had work with the South ‘‘to ensure readiness and to deter future aggression.’’ North Korean leaders have denied responsibility and warned against any retaliation, but Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clin- ton on Monday blamed the North for the crisis. ‘‘We are working hard to avoid an escalation of bel- ligerence and provocation,’’ Clinton told reporters in Beijing, where she was to press China to support diplomatic action against its neighbor and ally, North Korea. ‘‘This is a highly pre- carious situation that the North Koreans have caused in the region.’’ U.S. officials hope a unit- ed international response, coupled with a display of military might, will deter North Korea’s neo-Stalinist regime from ratcheting up tensions. Obama team working on military compromise WASHINGTON (AP) — A proposal to step up the repeal of the ban on gays and lesbians serving openly in the military but still allow the Pentagon time — per- haps even years — to imple- ment new policies was being discussed Monday by EVERYDAY 9:00am to 6:00pm Walk through the park, around the block and maybe even shopping! 345 So. Main Street • Red Bluff • (530) 527-4588 COME TO US FOR ALL YOUR PET SUPPLIES! Paid Political Advertisement CANDIDATE COMPARISON FOR JUDGE OFFICE 1 PART 2 Lisa Muto Red Bluff High School Top 10% of Class Graduated 1979 University of California, Davis Ranked by U.S. News and World Report 42 out of 258 in the U.S. Major - Political Science Graduated with Honors 1984 Santa Clara University School of Law Ranked by U.S. News and World Report 85 out of 184 in the U.S. Academic Scholarship winner at SCU Accredited by the American Bar Association Accredited by the California Bar Association Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity Honors Moot Court Board Member Graduated top of class 1989 Passed California Bar Exam 1989 Skillman Red Bluff High School Graduated 1987 Bob Jones University, South Carolina Graduated 1991 Cal Northern School of Law Not accredited by the American Bar Association Graduated 1995 Passed California Bar Exam 1995 VOTE JUNE 8, 2010 FOR ✓ Lisa Muto Skillman Paid for by the committee to elect Lisa Muto Judge Office 1, 2010 Bring Your Homeownership Plans To Life Everyone has personal and financial goals, but not always a plan to reach them. When you work with a knowledgeable home mortgage consultant, we help you get the guidance and home financing solution that meets your needs, whether you’re: • Purchasing your first home • Investing in rental properties or a second home • Looking to make the most of the equity in your home We’re ready to help you. Call today! Jody D. Bartley Home Mortgage Consultant 750 Main Street Red Bluff, CA 96080 530-528-7700 Phone Wells Fargo Home Mortgage is a division of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. © 2009 Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. All rights reserved. 103759 8/09 www.redbluffyamaha.com OPEN administration officials and gay rights activists. hoped lawmakers would delay action until Pentagon officials had completed their study so fellow Democrats would not face criticism that they moved too quickly or too far ahead of public opin- ion in this election year. Instead, administration offi- cials now expect Congress to move ahead this week even though advocates on both sides say it’s not clear there are enough votes to lift the 1993 ban. Under the proposal emerging from talks at the White House, Congress would remove the Clinton- era ‘‘don’t ask, don’t tell’’ law even as the Pentagon continues an ongoing review of the system. Imple- mentation of policy for gays serving openly would still require the approval of Pres- ident Barack Obama, Defense Secretary Robert Gates and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Adm. Mike Mullen. How long implementation might take was not known. ‘‘We want to be clear: This review is focused on ’how’ the military should implement repeal of ’don’t ask, don’t tell,’ not ’if’ it should,’’ said Rep. Patrick Murphy, a Pennsylvania Democrat and Iraq war vet- eran who is leading the House effort of repeal. Activists met at the White House through the day with administration offi- cials who are trying to bro- ker a compromise. Policy aides to Democratic leaders met Monday morning to discuss the potential deal and top Democratic law- makers planned to meet Monday evening on Capitol Hill. SC governor candidate : Been faithful COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Tea party favorite Nikki Haley, a Republican candi- date for governor whose campaign gained momen- tum with recent endorse- ments from Sarah Palin and Jenny Sanford, vehemently denied allegations Monday that she had an inappropriate relationship with a political blogger several years ago. Haley, a legislator vying to become the state’s first female chief executive and replace disgraced Gov. Mark Sanford, called the claim posted on the blog- ger’s site Monday a smear. She questioned the timing two weeks before the prima- ry, saying it was an attempt to derail her campaign, once considered a long-shot. ‘‘I have been 100 percent faithful to my husband throughout our 13 years of marriage. This claim against me is categorically and total- ly false,’’ Haley, a 38-year- old mother of two, said in a statement. ‘‘It is quite sim- ply South Carolina politics at its worst.’’ The claim came from Will Folks, a conservative blogger who previously served as Sanford’s spokesman. Folks said the relationship took place in 2007 when he did commu- nications work for Haley, including writing speeches and news releases. He offered no proof of it and refused to go into any details. ‘‘I’m not going to paint pictures,’’ he said in an exclusive interview with The Associated Press on the condition his statements would not be published before the allegation was posted on his blog. Folks pleaded guilty to criminal domestic violence in 2005 and left the Sanford administration around that time. He is now a political consultant and runs FIT- SNews.com, a conservative site that features occasional- ly insightful commentary, thinly sourced stories of state political intrigue and photos of women in bikinis. Britain bans doctor who claimed link between autism and MMR vaccine LONDON (AP) — The doctor whose research link- ing autism and the vaccine for measles, mumps and rubella influenced millions of parents to refuse the shot for their children was banned Monday from prac- ticing medicine in his native Britain. Dr. Andrew Wakefield’s 1998 study was discredited — but vaccination rates have never fully recovered and he continues to enjoy a vocal following, helped in the U.S. by endorsements from celebrities like Jim Carrey and Jenny McCarthy. BOOK BARN Used Books Tues-Fri 10-5 Sat 10-2 Serving Tehama County since 1994 619 Oak St., Red Bluff (530) 528-2665