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7A Friday, June 7, 2013 – Daily News WORLD BRIEFING Sweep of citizens' phone records ignites fresh debate over surveillance WASHINGTON (AP) — A leaked document lays bare the monumental scope of the government's surveillance of Americans' phone records — hundreds of millions of calls — in the first hard evidence of a massive data collection program aimed at combating terrorism under powers granted by Congress after the 9/11 attacks. Civil liberties advocates and some critics in Congress declared that the sweeping nature of the National Security Agency program, disclosed Thursday, represented an unwarranted intrusion into Americans' private lives. But some Democrats, as well as Republicans who normally jump at the chance to criticize the Obama administration, lauded the program's effectiveness. Leaders of the House Intelligence Committee said the program had helped thwart at least one attempted terrorist attack in the United States, ''possibly saving American lives.'' One outraged senator was Ron Wyden, D-Ore. He said, ''When lawabiding Americans make phone calls, who they call, when they call and where they call is private information. As a result of the discussion that came to light today, now we're going to have a real debate.'' But Republican Lindsay Graham of South Carolina said Americans have no cause for concern. ''If you're not getting a call from a terrorist organization, you've got nothing to worry about,'' he said. At issue is a court order, first disclosed by The Guardian newspaper in Britain, that requires Verizon to turn over, on an ''ongoing, daily basis,'' records of all landline and mobile telephone calls of its customers, both within the U.S. and between the U.S. and other countries. Intelligence experts said there was every reason to believe that similar orders were in place for other phone companies. IRS official apologizes for lavish conference WASHINGTON (AP) — An Internal Revenue Service official whose division staged a lavish $4.1 million training conference and who starred as Mr. Spock in a ''Star Trek'' parody shown at the 2010 California gathering conceded to Congress on Thursday that taxpayer dollars were wasted in the episode. ''We're now in a very different environment'' with new IRS spending curbs, Faris Fink, who was a top deputy in the agency's small business division at the time, told the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. Fink, who now heads that 24,000- Sierra Sound NEW & USED CD's Special Orders Avail. Car Stereo Sales - Service Installation We make house calls! 226 So. Main St., Red Bluff 527-3735 employee division, said he believes many of the expenditures ''should have been more closely scrutinized or not incurred at all and were not the best use of taxpayer dollars.'' The mea culpa by Fink was echoed by new acting IRS chief Danny Werfel as the embattled agency struggled to contain public and congressional ire over its targeting of conservative groups seeking taxexempt status and its spending of $49 million on 225 employee conferences over the past three years. Werfel called the 2010 gathering in Anaheim, Calif., ''an unfortunate vestige from a prior era'' and said IRS spending on travel and training has fallen 80 percent since then. ''Our work in this area is one part of a much larger effort to chart a path forward in the IRS. This is obviously a very challenging time for the agency,'' Werfel said. Erdogan faces political balancing act ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Turkey's prime minister was walking a political tightrope Thursday as he headed home from a four-day trip abroad to face massive anti-government protests that have mushroomed to dozens of cities across the country. Speaking before leaving Tunisia to fly back to Istanbul, Recep Tayyip Erdogan attempted a balancing act. He appeared to soften his tone in an effort not to inflame protesters who see him as increasingly autocratic, while not conceding enough to appear weak to the base that has helped him win three landslide elections. Thousands of supporters thronged the airport for his arrival, chanting ''We are with you, Erdogan,'' in the first major public show of backing for the prime minister. Hundreds marched among the cars KWIK KUTS Family Hair Salon 20 % ANY RETAIL off PRODUCT with any chemical service of $50 or more 200 Regular $ Haircut off Reg. $13.95 Not good with other offers Expires 6/30/13 With coupon 1064 South Main St., Red Bluff • 529-3540 of traffic-clogged streets towards the airport, waving Turkish flags and chanting ''Istanbul don't sleep, defend your leader.'' Erdogan's reaction will be decisive in determining whether the demonstrations fizzle out or rage on. So far, a police officer and two protesters have died and thousands have been injured in nearly a week of clashes with the police. His comments don't appear to have swayed many of the thousands of protesters who thronged central Istanbul's Taksim Square for a sixth day Thursday. More than 10,000 others filled a busy street in a middle class area of Ankara. Putins calmly announce their divorce MOSCOW (AP) — Vladimir Putin pulled off one of his most audacious pieces of stagecraft, attending a ballet with his rarely seen wife and then announcing their marriage is over. But how will it play to his audience of 143 million Russians? The end of the marriage of the Russian president and Lyudmila Putina less than two months shy of their 30th anniversary came on state television after a Thursday evening that started out like a model of domestic contentment — a devoted husband taking his wife to the ballet. But after the performance of ''Esmeralda'' at the Great Kremlin Palace, the two came into a luxurious room to speak to a reporter. ''Excellent. Great music, excellent production,'' Putin said and Lyudmila echoed his praise. After about a minute, the reporter asked about rumors that the two didn't live together. Putin smiled slightly, like a boy caught misbehaving, and turned his head toward Lyudmila. ''This is so,'' he said. Witnesses in Zimmerman case must testify publicly SANFORD, Fla. (AP) — A Florida judge denied a defense request Thursday to let a handful of witnesses testify confidentially during George Zimmerman's trial for fatally shooting Trayvon Martin. Defense attorney Mark O'Mara asked that the witnesses be allowed to testify out of the public eye because of concerns for their safety about testifying at the trial, which starts next week. He said their testimony could impact the jury's decision. Prosecutors and attorneys for media groups objected to the request. Circuit Judge Debra Nelson also heard testimony about whether a voice recognition expert will be allowed to testify at the trial. Cries for help can be heard in the background of 911 calls that Zimmerman's neighbors made during a struggle between the neighborhood watch volunteer and Martin before the unarmed teen was shot. Experts have reached mixed conclusions about whose voice is crying for help. FBI voice expert Hirotaka Nakasone, who was testifying for the defense, said there wasn't enough clear sound on the 911 recording to determine whose voice it was. He also said the concept that individuals have unique voice-prints that could identify them was misleading. Syrian regime turns sights on retaking heartland DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — With fresh momentum from the capture of a strategic town in western Syria, President Bashar Assad's forces have turned their sights to driving rebel fighters from the country's TEHAMA AUTO CENTER 1999 Buick Century #567637 1995 Mercury Cougar #636939 1991 Jeep Cherokee 4x4 #538593 ➟ $2981 ➟ $2981 ➟ $2981 YES! $2981 DRIVES YOU AWAY HOURS: Mon-Fri 9am-5:30pm SAT-SUN 10-2 1115 MAIN ST. RED BLUFF 530-527-5151 densely populated heartland, including the cities of Homs and Aleppo. The latest battlefield success, due in large part to Lebanese Hezbollah fighters' increasing role and the West's continued reluctance to arm the rebels, raises the possibility that Assad can cling to power for years, even if he won't be able to recapture all of the country. Government troops pressed ahead Thursday with an aggressive military offensive in Homs province, seizing control of the village of Dabaa just north of Qusair, near the border with Lebanon. Hundreds of rebel fighters who had been entrenched in Qusair for more than a year fled Wednesday after a punishing three-week assault, retreating to surrounding areas. The regime triumph in Qusair, a key crossroads town of supply lines between Damascus and western and northern Syria, showcased the potentially game-changing role of Hezbollah in Syria's civil war and was openly celebrated in the militant group's strongholds in Lebanon and in Damascus, the seat of Assad's power. Syrian state-run media portrayed Qusair's fall as a turning point in the more than two-year civil war that has killed more than 70,000 people. Estranged husband pleads guilty to murder JACKSON, Mo. (AP) — A frustrated judge, begrudging prosecutors and chagrined family members all conceded Thursday that offering a plea deal to a southeast Missouri man accused of killing his estranged wife, a mother of 5-year-old triplets who was missing for almost two years before her body was found last week on an island in the nearby Mississippi River, was inadequate. But it was the best option available, they said, because 42-year-old James Clay Waller II was the only person who could lead authorities to Jacque Waller's body, while ensuring a conviction and offering grieving family members closure for the 39-year-old mother who disappeared in 2011. Clay Waller was given a 20-year prison sentence Thursday after pleading guilty to second-degree murder and admitting in a barely audible voice — inside a packed Cape Girardeau County courthouse — that he'd murdered the triplet's mom. The shaken inmate struggled to admit choking his wife to death before dumping her body on a nearby island in the Mississippi River nearly two years ago. Before being sentenced, Clay Walker also listened to his 7-year-old son publicly disown him for life. But few left the courthouse satisfied with the outcome. Both Jacque Waller's sister and Circuit Judge Benjamin Lewis said they weren't happy with the lighter sentence, but had few options. The plea was conditional on Clay Waller II leading investigators to his wife's body and his confession in court. Her body wasn't found until May 29 in Alexander County, Ill. Tehama County High School ATHLETES OF THE WEEK "The V's" Awards Dinner 2012-2013 School Year Sponsored by DAILY NEWS RED BLUFF TEHAMA COUNTY Red Bluff VFW Hall 735 Oak Street, Red Bluff Wednesday, June 12 6:00 PM – 8:30 PM Reservations required (see below!) DEADLINE: Saturday, June 8 at 6 PM The V's have dinner for FREE, courtesy of the Daily News, St. Elizabeth Community Hospital and Sponsors for this school year's high school athletes of the week program Family, friends, coaches, fans: $10.00 for dinner (Cash or Check, pay at the door.) Spaghetti w/meat sauce, green salad, french bread, beverage & dessert. Check in/Meet & Greet 6:00 PM Dinner at 6:30 PM SPECIAL KEYNOTE SPEAKER John Growney Life lessons from "The Challenge of Champions" Awards Ceremony at 7:30 Presentation of Certificates to the V's Presentation of Special Annual Awards Boys and Girls Scholar Athlete Awards Boys and Girls Sportsmanship Awards Boys and Girls Athletes of the Year RESERVATIONS: Call 527-2151 ext 120 • Leave your name • Number of people in your party • If one or more V's will be with you • Phone number in case we have questions Hope to See You There! DAILY NEWS RED BLUFF TEHAMA COUNTY