Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/72665
WORLD BRIEFING Justice Department won't prosecute AG Holder for contempt of Congress WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department declared Friday that Attorney General Eric Holder's deci- sion to withhold information about a bungled gun-tracking operation from Congress does not constitute a crime and he won't be prosecuted for contempt of Congress. The House voted Thursday afternoon to find Holder in criminal and civil contempt for refusing to turn over the doc- uments. President Barack Obama invoked his executive privilege authority and ordered Holder not to turn over mate- rials about executive branch deliberations and internal rec- ommendations. as scheduled by a law passed five years ago to save money. Had the measure failed, interest rates would have mush- roomed to 6.8 percent for 7.4 million students expected to get the loans over the coming year, adding an extra $1,000 to the average cost of each loan and antagonizing students — and their parents — four months from Election Day. The Democratic-led Senate sent the measure to Obama by a 74-19 vote, just minutes after the Republican-run House approved it 373-52. The unusual display of harmony, in a bitterly partisan year, signaled lawmakers' eagerness to claim credit for providing transportation jobs, to avert high- er costs for students and their families and to avoid being embarrassed had the effort run aground. Egypt's president-elect vows In a letter to House Speaker John Boehner, the depart- ment said that it will not bring the congressional contempt citation against Holder to a federal grand jury and that it will take no other action to prosecute the attorney general. Dated Thursday, the letter was released Friday. Deputy Attorney General James Cole said the decision is in line with long-standing Justice Department practice across administrations of both political parties. ''We will not prosecute an executive branch official under the contempt of Congress statute for withholding subpoe- naed documents pursuant to a presidential assertion of exec- utive privilege,'' Cole wrote. Republicans look to election to give them a chance to repeal health care law WASHINGTON (AP) — Turned away at the Supreme Court, congressional Republicans sketched a strategy Friday to repeal the nation's health care law in 2013 that requires a sweeping election victory carrying Mitt Romney to the pres- idency and the party at least to narrow control of the Senate. Romney sought to turn the court's decision upholding the to fight for authority CAIRO (AP) — In front of tens of thousands of cheering supporters, Egypt's first Islamist and civilian president-elect vowed Friday to fight for his authority and symbolically read an oath of office on Cairo's Tahrir Square on the eve of his official inauguration. Mohammed Morsi's strongly worded speech was a show of defiance as he gears up to power struggle with the coun- try's ruling generals who passed a constitutional declaration taking over major presidential powers in the days before election results were announced after a bitter campaign. ''Everybody is hearing me now. The government, the military and the police ... No power above this power,'' he said as the crowd roared. ''I reaffirm to you I will not give up any of the president's authorities. I can't afford to do this. I don't have that right to that.'' ''You are the source of legitimacy and whoever is pro- tected by anyone else will lose,'' he told his supporters. He also addressed popular demands, vowing to work for the release of Omar Abdel-Rahman, the blind sheik jailed in the U.S. for a plot to blow up New York landmarks, as well as detained Egyptian protesters facing military tribunals. Firefighters search for two-year-old law into a campaign battle cry, saying the 5-4 ruling had injected ''greater urgency'' into his challenge to President Barack Obama. ''I think many people assumed that the Supreme Court would do the work that was neces- sary in repealing Obamacare,'' he said, adding that the jus- tices ''did not get that job done.'' Several Republicans seized on a portion of Chief Justice John Roberts' majority opinion that said the centerpiece of the law, a requirement to purchase insurance, was constitu- tional because it is based on Congress' power to impose a tax. "Those who will end up paying the heaviest burden for not buying government-mandated insurance won't be the wealthiest Americans, but the very middle class families the president claims to defend,'' said Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky. The White House said that was an argument it was happy bodies in Colorado blaze COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) — Firefighters went from one smoldering pile to another Friday in search of bodies in the nearly 350 homes burned to the ground by the most destructive wildfire in Colorado history. As crews on the front lines made slow but steady progress against the flames, Police Chief Pete Carey said fewer than 10 people altogether were unaccounted for. The remains of one person were found Thursday in what was left standing of one home, and a second person who lived there was miss- ing. to have. Presidential press secretary Jay Carney said Obama has signed legislation cutting middle class taxes repeatedly, that Republicans want to extend existing income tax cuts for the wealthy and then add ''another $5 trillion...that would disproportionately benefit'' the same group. At the same time, the administration announced the latest in a series to steps to implement a law that already has curbed insurance company abuses and cut costs for seniors with high prescription drug costs. Officials said another round of financing was available for states to set up health insurance exchanges, the one-stop markets for consumers scheduled to open in 2014. Congress passes student loans, highway jobs, flood insurance WASHINGTON (AP) — Congress emphatically approved legislation Friday preserving jobs on transporta- tion projects from coast to coast and avoiding interest rate increases on new loans to millions of college students, giv- ing lawmakers campaign-season bragging rights on what may be their biggest economic achievement before the November elections. burning out of control across the tinder-dry West — was reported to be 15 percent contained, and authorities began lifting some of the evacuation orders for the more than 30,000 people who fled their homes a few days ago. After growing explosively earlier in the week, the fire gained no ground overnight, authorities reported Friday. And the weather was clear and mostly calm, a welcome break from the lightning and high wind that drove the flames. ''The focus for today is to hold what we got,'' extend the The 26-square-mile blaze — one of several wildfires fire lines to contain more of the blaze, and bring in more heavy equipment, said Rich Harvey, incident commander for the fire. US, Afghans say some Taliban at Gitmo could go to The bill sent for President Barack Obama's signature enables just over $100 billion to be spent on highway, mass transit and other transportation programs over the next two years, projects that would have expired Saturday without congressional action. It also ends a bare-knuckle political battle over student loans that raged since spring, a proxy fight over which party was best helping voters muddle through the economic downturn. Stafford loans for undergraduates will continue for another year, instead of doubling for new loans beginning on Sunday Under the bill, interest rates of 3.4 percent for subsidized AB109 Continued from page 1A "They screw up, they go back to jail," Hen- cratt said. The fairground is also welcome to say they do not want the inmates there on a specific day if there is an event that is concerned about their presence, he said. ily when he gets out. Eidman said the pro- gram has not been a problem and he has even had a few people thank him for his helpful staff that turned out to be one of the work crew mem- bers several times. "We law enforcement take public safety very seriously," said. "We don't want to put anyone out there who is a danger to the public." Hencratt The types of offend- ers in the program include the charges of unlicensed drivers, DUI, possession of less than an ounce of marijuana, sale of marijuana, pub- lic disturbance, public intoxication, petty theft, burglary, possession of drug paraphernalia, credit card fraud, methamphetamine for sale and texting while driving, Hencratt said. The higher than nor- mal numbers has left the fairground in good shape for getting pro- jects done and for those who might not be skilled laborers there is always the garden, Eidman said. The program is good because it gives a sense of responsibility and pride in their communi- ty. knows of one man who was one of six to repaint the Sheriff's building on Antelope Boulevard who is looking forward to showing it to his fam- In May, the fair- ground started a garden with tomatoes, cucum- bers and other produce, which will be given to PATH, the Tehama County Jail and the senior center if it pro- duces anything, he said. Hencratt said he ——— Julie Zeeb can be reached at 527-2153, extension 115 or jzeeb@redbluffdailynew s.com. Follow her on Twitter @DN_Zeeb. Afghanistan in gesture WASHINGTON (AP) — The Obama administration is considering a new gambit to restart peace talks with the Tal- iban in Afghanistan that would send several Taliban detainees from the military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to a prison in Afghanistan, U.S. and Afghan officials told The Associated Press. Under the proposal, some Taliban fighters or affiliates captured in the early days of the 2001 U.S. invasion of Afghanistan and later sent to Guantanamo under the label of enemy combatants would be transferred out of full U.S. con- trol but not released. It's a leap of faith on the U.S. side that the men will not become threats to U.S. forces once back on Afghan soil. But it is meant to show more moderate ele- ments of the Taliban insurgency that the U.S. is still interest- ed in cutting a deal for peace. have said that while negotiations with the Taliban are dis- tasteful, they are the best way to settle the prolonged war. The new compromise is intended to boost the credibility Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and others Saturday, June 30, 2012 – Daily News 5A of the U.S.-backed Afghan government. President Hamid Karzai and U.S. officials are trying to draw the Taliban back to negotiations toward a peace deal between the national Afghan government and the Pashtun-based insurgency that would end a war U.S. commanders have said cannot be won with military power alone. The Taliban have always been indifferent at best to nego- tiations with the Karzai government, saying the U.S. holds effective control in Afghanistan. The Obama administration has set a 2014 deadline to withdraw forces and is trying to frame talks among the Afghans beforehand. Republicans in at least 4 states want to abandon Medicaid expansion after court ruling JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Republicans in at least four states want to abandon an expansion of Medicaid in President Barack Obama's health care overhaul, and more than a dozen other states are considering it in the wake of the Supreme Court decision removing the threat of federal penalties. The high court upheld most of Obama's law, but the jus- tices said the federal government could not take away states' existing federal Medicaid dollars if they refused to widen eli- gibility to include adults who are only slightly above the poverty line. Some Republican governors and lawmakers quickly declared that they would not carry out the expansion. The states considering whether to withdraw from the expansion include presidential battlegrounds Florida, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Colorado. ''One thing is clear, state legislatures will play a big role in the future of Obamacare,'' said Republican state Rep. Todd Richardson of Missouri. For elected officials, the high court decision presented a stark choice: agree to accept an ambitious expansion of Medicaid or leave behind a vast pile of federal money that could provide health care to millions of poor constituents. Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes divorcing, bringing an end to one of Hollywood's most unexpected marriages, one that spawned euphoric couch- jumping on ''The Oprah Winfrey Show'' and endless spec- ulation in the tabloids. After five years of marriage, Holmes filed for divorce from Cruise on Thursday, said Cruise's lawyer Bert Fields. ''This is a personal and private matter for Katie and her divorcing after 5 years NEW YORK (AP) — Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes are family,'' Holmes's attorney Jonathan Wolfe said Friday. ''Katie's primary concern remains, as it always has been, her daughter's best interest.'' ''Kate has filed for divorce and Tom is deeply saddened and is concentrating on his three children,'' Cruise's repre- sentative, Amanda Lundberg, told The Associated Press. ''Please allow them their privacy to work this out.'' Cruise, 49, wed the 33-year-old Holmes in 2006 in an Italian castle after publicly declaring his love on ''The Oprah Winfrey Show.'' His starry-eyed celebration (in which he famously jumped on the studio couch) was a public display that forever after altered the moviegoing public's perspective of the action star. Chimps attack, severely injure American man at Jane Goodall sanctuary in South Africa JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Chimpanzees at a sanctu- ary founded by famed primatologist Jane Goodall pulled a Texas graduate student into their fenced-off enclosure, drag- ging him nearly a half-mile and biting his ear and hands. Andrew F. Oberle was giving a lecture to a group of tourists at the Chimp Eden sanctuary on Thursday when two chimpanzees grabbed his feet and pulled him under a fence into their enclosure, said Jeffrey Wicks of the Netcare911 emergency services company. The 26-year-old anthropology student at the University of Texas at San Antonio, suffered ''multiple and severe bite wounds,'' Wicks said. He was in critical condition Friday after undergoing surgery at the Mediclinic hospital in Nelspruit, 180 miles (300 kilometers) from Johannesburg, hospital officials said. Oberle, who was doing research at the sanctuary, had crossed the first of two fences separating the chimpanzees from visitors and was standing close to the second fence, which is electrified, at the time of the attack, said Edwin Jay, chairman of the Jane Goodall Institute South Africa. Campgrounds, trails open at Lassen Volcanic National Park al Park will be a cool sum- mer adventure this July 4 week for visitors looking to camp, hike, fish, picnic, kayak, or even play in the snow. year, the scenic park road opened through the park on June 1 and attractions at all elevations were opened Fri- day. Due to the low snow "This is a great time to bring your family and friends to the mountains where you can enjoy camp- ing, hiking park trails, fish- ing, picnicking by the lakes, taking scenic drives, and Lassen Volcanic Nation- viewing wildlife," stated Park Superintendent Dar- lene M. Koontz. All campgrounds in the park are now open. Kohm Yah-mah-nee Visitor Center and Loomis Muse- um are open daily and visi- tors will find the concession- run facilities at Kohm Yah- mah-nee Visitor Center's Lassen Café & Gifts, the Manzanita Lake Camper Store & Cabins, and Drakes- bad Guest Ranch in full operation. The The Lassen Peak Trail will be open to the summit from Saturday through Sun- day, July 8. The Bumpass You DO have a choice in the Red Bluff area. Caring & Compassionate Service Full traditional burial service or cremation Red Bluff Simple Cremations & Burial Service 722 Oak Street, Red Bluff, FD Lic. 1931 527-1732 Hell trail will be open as well as the trail to Kings Creek Falls. However, hik- ers must keep in mind that most of the higher elevation hikes still have many stretches of snow on the trails and can be icy in the morning and slushy/slippery as the day warms up. Hikers are encouraged to use trekking poles and sturdy shoes and be prepared for unstable snow and running water on some trails. There are ranger-led summer programs every day of the week throughout the park. schedules can be found in Information and our park newspaper or on our website. These are a great way to learn about spe- cific aspects of the park. This summer will be our first Dark Skies festival from August 10-13. During the day, rangers will lead astron- omy themed hikes and workshops. This year's spectacular Perseid meteor shower will be at its peak August 11 to 13. To learn of facility open- ing activities, trail status, receive updates, or check for current conditions, go to the park website at www.nps.gov/lavo or con- tact staff at (530) 595-4480.