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The Associated Press TOWSON,MD. Amanclaim- ing to be God rammed a truck through the front of a Baltimore-area television station Tuesday, leaving a gaping hole as reporters and other staff fled the building. Police took a suspect into custody Tuesday afternoon, about five hours after the incident, officials said at a news conference. The sus- pect was not injured but is mentally ill and has been taken for treatment, Bal- timore County Executive Kevin Kamenetz said. "It's very clear the sub- ject is suffering from emo- tional or mental health is- sues," Police Chief James Johnson said. Michael Marion was in his office off WMAR-TV's lobby when he heard someone rat- tling violently against the se- curity door about 11:45 a.m. The man demanded to be let in, claiming "I am God, I am God," Marion said. "I heard a series of crashes," Marion said. "The next thing, I looked in the lobby, and the only thing be- tween truck and the lobby was the final door. I heard one final crash. I looked throughthedoor,andbythen the truck was pulling in the lobby." The station believed ev- eryone inside evacuated safely, News Director Kelly Groft told The Associated Press in a phone interview. "Once the lobby started to collapse, we knew it was time to get out," Groft said. "He drove right through the doors and into the main area." A hole the size of several garage doors could be seen in the front of the two-story building, with a newsroom and studio on the first floor. About 120 people work there, according to station owner the E.W. Scripps Co. Next door, a school had been locked down, but stu- dents — escorted by staff to their parents — began leav- ing about 2:30 p.m. The truck belonged to a landscaping company and was stolen from a work site less than 5 miles from the scene, police said. Police received a 911 call about 11:45 about a man banging on the door and trying to get inside, public safety spokeswoman Elise Armacost said. Within min- utes, a call reported that a vehicle had come into the newsroom. Marion said the man banging on the security door wore an oxford shirt and a closed satchel draped across his body. Marion and a co-worker moved into a lower portion of the build- ing, where they found a fel- low employee in an office who hadn't heard the crash. The group left through the back gate, Marion said. "Everyone behaved really well," said Marion, the ABC affiliate's head of commer- cial production. "People of their own volition said, 'It's time to leave the building.' No one panicked." WMAR broadcast its reg- ular programs while the sta- tion was evacuated. Brian Kuebler, an inves- tigative reporter, said in a phone interview that he heard a commotion and walked into the lobby in time to see the truck's last three rams. "I never even saw him. I just saw the truck," Kuebler said. "That's when it started to get pretty real. This guy was intent on getting into the building. It was pretty fright- ening." MARYLAND STEVERUARK—THEASSOCIATEDPRESS Police officers enter WMAR-TV, a er a truck driven by a man rammed the Baltimore-area television station Tuesday. The station believes everyone inside evacuated safely. Man claiming to be God rams TV station building The Associated Press BOISE, IDAHO A federal magistrate judge ruled Tuesday that Idaho's ban on same-sex marriage is uncon- stitutional. U.S. District Magistrate Judge Candy Dale wrote in the decision that Idaho's laws banning same-sex marriage unconstitutionally deny gay and lesbian citizens their fundamental right to marry. Dale said marriage works a fundamental change on the lives of all who experience it, anditholdsimmensepersonal and spiritual significance. Idaho's laws wrongly stig- matize gay and lesbian cou- ples and relegate their fam- ilies to second-class status without sufficient reason, she said. Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter al- ready has said he intends to appeal the case. "In 2006, the people of Idaho exercised their fun- damental right, reaffirming that marriage is the union of a man and a woman," Ot- ter said in a statement. "To- day's decision, while disap- pointing, is a small setback in a long-term battle that will end at the U.S. Supreme Court. I am firmly commit- ted to upholding the will of the people and defending our Constitution." Idaho Attorney General Lawrence Wasden said he would consult with the gov- ernor on the state's appeal. GAY RIGHTS Judge strikes down Idaho's marriage ban The Associated Press WASHINGTON It could have been over for Kyle J. White just 30 seconds into the Taliban ambush, when a rocket-propelled grenade knocked him unconscious. But he came to and by the time the four-hour fire- fight in Afghanistan was over, White, reeling from concussions and shrapnel in his face, had saved one comrade's life and helped secure the evacuation of other wounded Americans. On Tuesday, White be- came only the seventh liv- ing recipient of the Medal of Honor for actions in Iraq or Afghanistan, the latest reminder of the post-Sept. 11 conflicts and U.S. sac- rifices President Barack Obama has sought to bring to an end. "We pay tribute to a sol- dier who embodies the courage of his generation," Obama said. With the medal, White, who was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress syn- drome after the ambush, also draws attention to the recent scrutiny confronting the Veteran's Affairs health care system and allegations of lapses in care and delays in mental health treatment. Though Obama did not mention the VA con- troversies specifically, he told White: "You did your duty, and now it's time for America to do ours: after more than a decade of war, to welcome you home with the support and the bene- fits and opportunities that you've earned." Following the ceremony, White, 27, said the valor be- longed to all the members of his platoon that day. "Battles are won by spirit," he said. "Without the team, there can be no Medal of Honor. That's why I wear this medal for my team." An Army account of the attack says White, then a 20-year-old Army spe- cialist, and his team of 14 U.S. troops, along with Af- ghan National Army sol- diers, were ambushed Nov. 9, 2007, after attempting to hold a meeting with village elders in the village of Ara- nas in Nuristan province. After regaining con- sciousness from the gre- nade hit, White found his platoon split by the am- bush. Half the team had slid down the cliff for cover. He remained atop with three dead, dying and wounded comrades. MILITARY HONORS Afghanistan vet earns top medal The Associated Press WASHINGTON A bill to re- new more than 50 expired tax breaks for businesses and individuals cleared a key hurdle in the Senate Tuesday, giving hope to millions of taxpayers who would otherwise be hit with unwelcome tax increases next spring. Other hurdles remain, however. The Senate voted 96 to 3 to open debate on the bill, which has strong back- ing from the business com- munity but would add about $85 billion to the budget def- icit. Almost every year, Con- gress routinely renews the tax breaks. The Senate bill would extend the tax breaks through 2015. "Our constituents are depending on us to extend these provisions," said Sen- ate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev. "We will not pull the plug before our na- tion's recovery is complete. By passing this tax extend- ers package we will build our nation's economy more quickly." The package includes a business tax credit for re- search and development and a sales tax deduction for individuals who live in states without an income tax.Thereis ataxcreditfor using wind farmsandother renewable energy sources to produce electricity. WASHINGTON, D.C. Tax breaks renewal clears Senate hurdle www.redbluff.mercy.org /veincare GetaLeguponYour Health With the St. Elizabeth Center for Vein Care. 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