Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/51236
8A Daily News –Wednesday, December 28, 2011 WORLD BRIEFING Mass protests in besieged Syrian city BEIRUT (AP) — Tens of thousands of defiant Syrian protesters thronged the streets of Homs Tuesday, calling for the execution of President Bashar Assad shortly after his army pulled its tanks back and allowed Arab League monitors in for the first time to the city at the heart of the anti-government uprising. The pullback was the first sign the regime was complying with the League's plan to end the 9-month-old crackdown on mostly unarmed and peaceful protesters. Yet amateur video released by activists showed forces firing on protesters even while the monitors were inside the city. One of the observers walked with an elderly man who pointed with his cane to a fresh pool of blood on the street that he said had been shed by his son, killed a day earlier. The man, wearing a red-and-white checkered headdress, then called for the monitor to walk ahead to ''see the blood of my second son'' also killed in the onslaught. ''Where is justice? Where are the Arabs?'' the old man shouted in pain. Democratic Sen. Ben Nelson tells supporters he'll retire LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Sen. Ben Nelson of Nebraska said Tuesday he will retire rather than seek a third term next year, dealing a significant set- back to Democratic efforts to maintain control of the chamber. The 70-year-old con- Democrat, servative whose seat is being heavi- ly targeted by Republi- cans in 2012, said in a statement that ''while I relish the opportunity to undertake the work that lies ahead, I also feel it's time for me to step away from elective office, spend more time with my family, and look for new ways to serve our state and nation.'' ''Therefore, I am announcing today that I will not seek re-election,'' he said. ''Simply put: It is time to move on.'' Republicans, who need to net four seats to take back the Senate next year, say Nebraska has tilted further to the right in recent years and have made Nelson's seat a 2012 priority. Nelson is the lone Democrat among the state's five-member congressional delegation, and Republicans think his vote for President Barack Obama's signature health care legislation would have weighed him down. Nelson still could have given Democrats a fight- ing chance. A two-term governor before winning a Senate seat, he has shown an ability to rebound after being down in previous statewide races. Christmas fire caused by fireplace embers left near home STAMFORD, Conn. (AP) — A Christmas morning fire that killed a couple and three of their grandchildren was acci- end-of-year Mattress Clearance dentally started by fire- place embers that had been discarded near a first-floor entryway, offi- cials said Tuesday. The officials also said it wasn't clear if the home had working smoke detec- tors. Stamford Mayor Michael Pavia called the fire a ''tragic accident,'' not the result of foul play. Sometime between 3 a.m. and 3:30 a.m., a friend staying in the home put fireplace ashes in a bag and left it either in or outside a mudroom and trash enclosure attached to the rear of the house, said Barry Callahan, Stamford's fire marshal. The fire was reported just after 4:40 a.m. ''The fire entered the house quickly and spread throughout the first floor and up two interior verti- cal openings, trapping the occupants on the upper floors,'' Callahan said. Officials described a frantic scene after res- cuers arrived early Sun- day. Yemen leader seeking American medical care WASHINGTON (AP) — The Obama adminis- tration is weighing an unprecedented diplomatic act — whether to bar a friendly president from U.S. soil. American officials were evaluating on Tues- day an awkward request from Yemeni strongman and longtime U.S. coun- terterrorism partner Ali Abdullah Saleh. Saleh has said he plans to come to the United States for med- ical treatment for injuries suffered in a June assassi- nation attempt, and he has asked for a U.S. visa for entry to the country. Fear- As US marks end of war in Iraq, parade isn't even in ful of appearing to harbor an autocrat with blood on his hands, the Obama administration was trying to ensure that Saleh visits only for medical care and doesn't plan to stay, U.S. officials said. Washington's hesita- tion reflects the shifting alliances and foreign poli- cy strategy prompted by a year of upheaval in the Arab world. Saleh has served as an American ally against al-Qaida and will soon transfer power under a U.S.-backed deal with Yemen's opposition aimed at ending months of instability. He isn't subject to any U.S. or international sanctions. But he also is accused of committing gross human rights violations during a year of internal conflict, and the U.S. is trying not to burn any bridges with Yemeni political groups likely to take part in future govern- ments. Political asylum for Saleh in the United States, or the appearance of preferential treatment from an administration that has championed peaceful and democratic change, would be highly unpopular with Yemenis who've fought to depose their dictator of 33 years. Officials close to the Saleh said Washington's suspicion that he may seek political asylum was delaying approval of his trip. They spoke on condi- tion of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the subject. But Ameri- can officials appeared to substantiate those con- cerns and said they were troubled by Saleh's recent comments portraying his trip as a move designed to ease the political transi- tion. There's never been a better time to upgrade your mattress for a better night's sleep. Consumer confidence surges in Beautyrest and Beautysleep from Simmons. Queen sets starting at $ 499 December NEW YORK (AP) — Americans are gaining faith that the economy is on the upswing. An improving job out- look helped the Consumer Confidence Index soar to the highest level since April and near a post- recession peak, according to a monthly survey by The Conference Board. The second straight monthly surge coincided with a decent holiday shopping season for retailers, though stores had to heavily discount to attract shoppers. The rise in confidence jibes with a better outlook for the overall economy. An Associated Press poll of three dozen private, corporate and academic economists projects U.S. economic growth will speed up in 2012, if it isn't derailed by upheavals in Europe. But confidence is still far below where it is in a healthy economy. And Americans' mood could sour again if the debt cri- sis in Europe deepens and spreads to the U.S. Shop- pers still face big obsta- cles — higher costs on household basics and a still-slumping housing market. Babysitter fatally beat Indiana girl with brick FORT WAYNE, Ind. (AP) — A babysitter and trusted neighbor has con- fessed that he bludgeoned a 9-year-old Indiana girl to death with a brick then dis- membered her, hiding her head, hands and feet at a home where he was staying and dumping the rest of her remains nearby, police said Tuesday. Allen County sheriff's investigators said in an affi- davit that 39-year-old Michael Plumadore admits he killed Aliahna Lemmon on Thursday. According to the affi- davit, Plumadore told police that after beating Aliahna to death on the front steps of the home in the early morning hours, he stuffed her body into trash bags and hid her in the freezer at the home in a rundown trailer park in Fort Wayne. He said he later chopped up her body with a hacksaw and stuffed her remains into freezer bags. Police said Plumadore told them he had hidden Aliahna's head, feet and hands at the trailer and dis- carded her other remains at a nearby business. Police obtained a warrant to search the trailer on Mon- day and found the body parts. Authorities didn't say Tuesday why Plumadore killed the child, but Sheriff Ken Fries said investigators suspected Plumadore was involved since soon after she was reported missing Friday night. planning WASHINGTON (AP) — Americans probably won't be seeing a huge tick- er-tape parade anytime soon for troops returning from Iraq, and it's not clear if vet- erans of the nine-year cam- paign will ever enjoy the grand, flag-waving, red- white-and-blue homecom- ing that the nation's fighting men and women received after World War II and the Gulf War. Officials in New York and Washington say they would be happy to help stage a big celebration, but Pentagon officials say they haven't been asked to plan one. Most welcome-homes have been smaller-scale: hugs from families at mili- tary posts across the coun- try, a somber commemora- tion by President Barack Obama at Fort Bragg in North Carolina. With tens of thousands of U.S. troops still fighting a bloody war in Afghanistan, anything that looks like a big victory celebration could be seen as unseemly and premature, some say. ''It's going to be a bit awkward to be celebrating too much, given how much there is going on and how much there will be going on in Afghanistan,'' said Don Mrozek, a military history professor at Kansas State University. Teen stopped treatment after learning of pregnancy POCATELLO, Idaho (AP) — Jenni Lake gave birth to a baby boy the month before her 18th birth- day, though she was not destined to become just another teenage mother. That much, she knew. While being admitted to the hospital, she pulled her nurse down to her at bed level and whispered into her ear. The nurse would later repeat the girl's words to comfort her family, as their worst fears were realized a day after Jenni's baby was born. ''She told the nurse, 'I'm done, I did what I was sup- posed to. My baby is going to get here safe,''' said Diana Phillips, Jenni's mother. In photographs, the baby's ruddy cheeks and healthy weight offer a stark contrast to the frail girl who gave birth to him. She holds the newborn tightly, kissing the top of his head. Jenni, at 5 feet and 4 inches tall, weighed only 108 pounds at the full term of her pregnan- cy. Move over Valentine's NEW YORK (AP) — The heck with lovey-dovey Valentine's Day. Turns out December, with its holiday cheer, romantic winter backdrops and family gath- erings, is among the busiest months for popping the question. ''It's a pretty time of 235 So. Main St., Red Bluff • 527-1657 MON.-FRI. 9:00-6:00 SAT. 9:00-5:00 • SUN. 11:00-5:00 year,'' said Jake Nyberg, 31, a video producer in Min- neapolis. He chose Christ- mastime to drop to one knee in a gorilla suit while teeter- ing on ice skates in front of his beloved. ''You know you're going to be around a lot of family. You're going to be seeing all the people you'd like to see after some- thing like this happens.'' Sarah Pease, a profes- sional proposal planner in New York, usually gets one or two inquiries a week from nervous grooms-to-be, but once Thanksgiving rolls around, it's more like one or two a day, with most guys looking to propose in December.