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8A Daily News – Saturday, November 19, 2011 WORLD BRIEFING Debt group stumbling toward gridlock WASHINGTON (AP) — Deadline nearing, the deficit-reduction talks in Congress sank toward gridlock Friday after supercommittee Democ- rats rejected a late Repub- lican offer that included next-to-nothing in new tax revenue. Each side maneuvered to blame the other for a looming stale- mate. The panel faces a dead- line of next Wednesday, the day before Thanksgiv- ing, and lawmakers on both sides stressed they were ready to meet through the weekend in a last-ditch search for com- promise. But there was little indication after a day of closed-door meetings that a breakthrough was likely, both Democrats and Republicans emphasizing long-held political posi- tions. ''Where the divide is right now is over taxes, and whether the wealthi- est Americans should share in the sacrifices,'' said Washington Sen. Patty Murray, the Democ- ratic co-chair of the panel. But Michael Steel, a spokesman for House Speaker John Boehner, said Republicans had offered ''a balanced, bipartisan plan - the fact that it was rejected makes it clear that Washington Democrats won't cut a dime in government spending without job- killing tax hikes.'' Egypt's Islamists confront military CAIRO (AP) — Tens of thousands of Islamists and young activists massed Friday in Tahrir Square, confronting Egypt's ruling military council with the largest crowd in months to protest the generals' attempt to give themselves special powers over a future elect- ed government. While united against the army, however, con- servatives and liberals were jockeying among themselves for votes in crucial parliamentary elections only 10 days away. The stakes are higher for all sides than at any time since the uprising ousted President Hosni Mubarak in February. The victors will help choose who will draft a new con- stitution, thus defining the character of post-revolu- tionary Egypt. Most of this year's ral- lies in Tahrir Square since Mubarak's ouster have been led by liberal- or left- leaning groups, but Islamists dominated Fri- day's protest. Members of the Muslim Brotherhood, Egypt's best-organized group, carried signs and waved flags bearing the logo of its Freedom and Justice party. Elsewhere, ultraconservative Salafis in long robes and bushy beards called for applica- tion of Islamic Sharia law. For most of the day, liberal groups showed lit- tle organized presence. Joe Paterno has treatable lung cancer STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) — Former Penn State coach Joe Paterno has a treatable form of lung can- cer, according to his son. Scott Paterno said in a statement provided to The Associated Press by a fami- ly representative on Friday that the 84-year-old Joe Paterno is undergoing treat- ment and that ''his doctors are optimistic he will make a full recovery.'' ''As everyone can appre- ciate, this is a deeply per- sonal matter for my parents, and we simply ask that his privacy be respected as he proceeds with treatment,'' Scott Paterno said in a brief statement. The announcement came less than an hour after Penn State said the NCAA would examine how school officials handled a child sex abuse scandal that shocked the campus and cost Paterno a job he held 46 years. Scott Paterno said the diagnosis was made during a follow-up visit last week- end for a bronchial illness. Constitutional amendment to dam fed red ink? WASHINGTON (AP) — Rejecting the idea Con- Mon-Fri: 9am - 7pm Sat: 9am - 5pm Sun: Closed En Español 26 Sale Lane, Red Bluff (530) 529-2192 www.Claytonredbluff.com INVENTORY BLOW-OUT SALE! Factory Reps will be on-site! Food, Music, Drinks BOUNCE HOUSE FOR THE KIDS! Clayton Homes invites you to visit us on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011 Come spend a few hours with us, see what we have to offer on this day! gress can't control its spending impulses, the House turned back a Republican proposal Friday to amend the Constitution to dam the rising flood of fed- eral red ink. Democrats — and a few GOP lawmakers — said damage from the balanced-budget mandate would outweigh any bene- fits. The first House vote in 16 years on making federal deficits unconstitutional came as the separate biparti- san ''supercommittee'' appeared to be sputtering in its attempt to find at least $1.2 trillion in deficit reduc- tions to head off major auto- matic cuts. The lead Repub- lican on that panel said members were ''painfully, painfully aware'' of its Wednesday deadline for action and would work through the weekend. The House voted 261- 165 in favor of the measure to require annual balanced budgets, but that was 23 short of the two-thirds majority needed to advance a constitutional amendment. Democrats overwhelm- ingly opposed the proposal, arguing that such a require- ment would force Congress to make devastating cuts to social programs. Most Republicans favored the measure, but there were prominent exceptions. FDA: Avastin should not be used for breast cancer WASHINGTON (AP) — The government deliv- ered a blow to some desper- ate patients Friday as it ruled the blockbuster drug Avastin should no longer be used to treat advanced breast cancer. Avastin is hailed for treating colon cancer and certain other malignancies. But the Food and Drug Administration said it appeared to be a false hope for breast cancer: Studies haven't found that it helps those patients live longer or brings enough other benefit to outweigh its dangerous side effects. ''I did not come to this decision lightly,'' said the FDA's commissioner, Dr. Margaret Hamburg. But she said, ''Sometimes despite the hopes of investigators, patients, industry and even the FDA itself, the results of rigorous testing can be dis- appointing.'' Avastin remains on the market to treat certain colon, lung, kidney and brain cancers. Doctors are free to prescribe any mar- keted drug as they see fit. So even though the FDA for- mally revoked Avastin's approval as a breast cancer treatment, women could still receive it — but their insurers may not pay for it. Some insurers already have quit in anticipation of FDA's long-expected ruling. However, ''Medicare will continue to cover Avastin,'' said Brian Cook, spokesman for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. The agency ''will monitor the issue and evalu- ate coverage options as a result of action by the FDA but has no immediate plans to change coverage poli- cies.'' Syria OKs Arab observers BEIRUT (AP) — Syria agreed in principle Friday to allow dozens of Arab observers into the country to oversee a peace plan, a sig- nificant concession from a hardline regime that loathes any sort of outside interfer- ence. But critics said the regime is only stalling, try- ing to defuse international pressure while continuing its bloody crackdown on an 8-month-old uprising which the U.N. estimates has killed more than 3,500 peo- ple. The acceptance came after surprisingly heavy pressure from the Arab League, which brokered the peace plan and this week suspended Syria from the 22-member organization for failing to abide by it. On Wednesday, the league gave Damascus three days to accept an observer mission or face economic sanctions. Further international pressure was mounting on Syrian President Bashar Assad. Britain appointed a senior diplomat to be its pointman in dealing with Syria's opposition over the crisis, and French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe called on the U.N. Security Coun- cil to strengthen sanctions against Assad's regime. However, Russia, which holds veto power in the council, urged caution in moving against Damascus. Violence has escalated in Syria the past week, as army dissidents who sided with the protests have grown more bold, fighting back against regime forces and even assaulting military bases. Activist groups said security forces on Friday killed at least 16 anti-gov- FREE Free quarter, half or full page ads the week of December 19 full page ads D NEWSAILY RED BLUFF TEHAMACOUNTY Counseling Center Giving Families Hope! For local businesses that publish discounted "Flight" ad programs duringNovember and December. Rates as low as $5.50 Per column inch! Ask your Daily News Advertising representative about Flights of Fancy! (530) 527-2151 Counseling Center Did you think we were just for children? • Individual & Family Counseling • Couple/Relationship Issues • Anger • Depression • Anxiety • Emotional Trauma • Family Relationships • Parenting Call our office for more info. 529-9454 Red Bluff 590 Antelope Blvd. Suite B-30 Corning 275 Solano Street #2 ernment protesters in what has become a weekly ritual on Fridays, the main day for protests in Syria as thou- sands of people stream out of mosques following after- noon prayers. Wagner not a suspect in Wood's death LOS ANGELES (AP) — Investigators reopened the case of Natalie Wood's 1981 drowning after receiv- ing new information they deemed credible enough to warrant another look at one of Hollywood's most endur- ing mysteries. A detective said Friday, however, that the three-time Oscar nominee's husband, actor Robert Wagner, was not a suspect. Los Angeles Sheriff's Lt. John Corina said noth- ing has yet changed the offi- cial view that Wood's death in the chilly waters off Southern California's Santa Catalina Island was any- thing but an accident. ''Right now, her death is an accidental drowning,'' Corina said. Corina said Friday that two detectives would delve into the case and interview witnesses, including some who have come forward since the announcement a day earlier that the actress' death is being reviewed again. Self-help author to serve 2 years in prison PRESCOTT, Ariz. (AP) — A charismatic self-help author was sentenced Fri- day to two years in prison for leading an Arizona sweat lodge ceremony that was supposed to offer spiri- tual enlightenment but instead ended with disori- ented participants strug- gling to breathe and being dragged outside. Three peo- ple died. A judge gave James Arthur Ray three, two-year sentences to be served con- currently and ordered him to pay more than $57,000 in restitution. ''I find that the aggravat- ing circumstance of emo- tional harm is so strong and such that probation is sim- ply unwarranted in this case,'' Yavapai County Superior Court Judge War- ren Darrow said. Firefighter injured in Reno wildfire RENO, Nev. (AP) — Fire Chief Mike Hernandez says a firefighter suffered first and second-degree burns while taming a sud- den wildfire that spread through northwestern Neva- da. Hernandez also said Fri- day afternoon that 25 homes had been damaged or destroyed. Hernandez says some areas are still seeing active flames. But firefighters have largely contained the blaze that sent nearly 10,000 people from their homes in the middle of the night. Intermittent snowfall in the area is helping put out the fire that started just after 12:30 Thursday night. Roughly 100 Nevada National Guard members were assisting local law enforcement in checking homes and keeping people out of the evacuated area. Up to 2,000 acres were touched by the fire. Okla. St. women's coaches die in crash STILLWATER, Okla. (AP) — Kurt Budke turned Oklahoma State's women's basketball team into a winner and hoped he'd found the place where he'd coach until he retired. Miranda Serna had passed up opportuni- ties to leave his side, stay- ing loyal to the man whom she had helped to win a junior college national championship and then rebuild a big- time college program. Having succeeded together, Budke and Serna died together — perishing in a plane crash on a trip aimed at building their team's future. In the