Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/99667
8A Daily News – Wednesday, December 19, 2012 WORLD BRIEFING Cerberus to sell maker of rifle used in school shooting The company that makes one of the weapons used to kill elementary school children in Connecticut is being put up for sale by its owner, which called Friday's tragedy a ''watershed event'' in the debate over gun control. The private-equity group Cerberus Capital Management said Tuesday it will sell its controlling stake in Freedom Group International, the maker of Bushmaster rifles. Investors also continued to bail out of other gunmakers while the retailer Dick's Sporting Goods said it would stop selling military-style rifles. The activity comes as the political winds appear to be shifting. Some Republicans now say they're willing to discuss the issue of gun control — along with mental health issues and violent video games, Cerberus cobbled Freedom Group together by buying Bushmaster, Remington, and other well-known gun brands starting in 2006. On Fri- The day, a gunman using what is believed to have been a Bushmaster military-style rifle killed 26 people at Sandy Hook Elementary School in one of the worst mass shootings in U.S history. ''It is apparent that the Sandy Hook tragedy was a watershed event that has raised the national debate on gun control to an unprecedented level,'' Cerberus wrote in announcing the planned sale. Cerberus owned 95 percent of Freedom Group, according to a year-end 2011 filing for the gunmaker on its website. NRA ends silence on school shooting WASHINGTON (AP) — The National Rifle Association is breaking its silence four days after a school shooting in Newtown, Conn., where 26 were killed, including 20 children. The nation's largest gun rights organization made its first public statements Tuesday after a self-imposed media blackout that left many wondering how it would respond to the killings. In its statement, the group said its members were, quoting, ''shocked, sad- Newtown classes are resuming NEWTOWN, Conn. (AP) — With security stepped up and families still on edge in Newtown, students began returning to school Tuesday for the first time since last week's massacre, bringing a return of familiar routines — at least, for some — to a grief-stricken town as it buries 20 of its children. A 6-year-old boy and a 6-year-old girl were laid to rest Tuesday, the latest in a long, almost unbearable procession of funerals. A total of 26 people were killed at Sandy Hook Elementary in one of the worst mass shootings in U.S history. Buses ferrying students to schools were festooned with large greenand-white ribbons on the front grills, the colors of Sandy Hook, as classes resumed for all Newtown schools except the strick- Over 25 years of experience STOVE JUNCTION The North State's premier supplier of stoves Don't be left in the 5A>6! 20% OFF select models Serving Butte, Glenn & Tehama Counties Tues-Sat 9am-5pm • Closed Sun & Mon 22825 Antelope Blvd., Red Bluff 530-528-2221 • Fax 530-528-2229 www.thestovejunction.com COMPLETE AUTO REPAIR All makes and models. We perform dealer recommened 30K, 60K, 90K SERVICES AT LOWER PRICES Smog Check $ 2595 certificate starting at +8 $ 25 (MOST CARS & PICK-UPS) 527-9841 • 195 S. Main St. Manicure • Pedicure Gel Polish Manicure Fiberglass • Acrylic Air Brush • Nail Design Pink & White Acrylic Glitter walk-ins welcome 492 Antelope Blvd. 530•527•2786 Mon.-Sat. 9am-7pm Come Join Us Hoyt-Cole Chapel of the Flowers 816 Walnut St., Red Bluff, CA 96080 In the midpoint of the year, and as its beginning and end, we remember them. Please bring us a photo of your loved one to be placed in a special ornament. Photo's are being collected from, Wednesday, December 5, 2012 Thursday, December 20, 2012 We will be honoring your loved ones with a remembrance ceremony. Friday, December 21, 2012 at 6:00 P.M. Light refreshments will be provided and music by North State Symphony members. Questions' please call 527-1174 FD652 ''The president is willing to continue to work with Republicans to reach a bipartisan solution that averts the fiscal cliff, protects the middle class, helps the economy, and puts our nation on a fiscally sustainable path,'' White House spokesman Jay Carney said. ''But he is not willing to accept a deal that doesn't ask enough of the very wealthiest in taxes and instead shifts the burden to the middle class and seniors.'' dened and heartbroken by the news of the horrific and senseless murders.'' The group also said it wanted to give families time to mourn before making its first public statements. The organization pledged ''to help to make sure this never happens again'' and has scheduled a news conference for Friday. Instagram policy change riles users en elementary school. At Newtown High School, students in sweat shirts and jackets, many wearing headphones, betrayed mixed emotions. Some waved at or snapped photos of the assembled media horde, and others appeared visibly shaken. ''There's going to be no joy in school,'' said 17year-old senior P.J. Hickey. ''It really doesn't feel like Christmas anymore.'' White House, Boehner in cliff talks WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama and House Speaker John Boehner pushed ahead on negotiating a broad deal to avert the ''fiscal cliff,'' even as the GOP leader readied a backup plan Tuesday to pressure the White House with little time left to avoid a double hit on the economy. With exactly two weeks to automatic tax hikes and spending cuts, Boehner offered a measure, dubbed ''plan B,'' that would cancel tax increases due to take effect Jan. 1 on everyone earning $1 million or less, while allowing tax increases on those earning more than that amount. Boehner insisted that his plan would address the burgeoning deficits and that the president has failed to produce a balance plan in weeks of post-election negotiations. But the speaker's alternative was a non-starter with the White House and Democrats, and perhaps more damaging to its prospects, got a frosty reception from rank-andfile House Republicans in a morning closed-door meeting. SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Instagram, the popular mobile photosharing service now owned by Facebook, is the target of a storm of outrage, much of it on social media, after changes in its user agreement give it broader rights to use its members' photos in advertisements. In a blog post that offered few details, Instagram said the changes will help its service ''function more easily as part of Facebook by being able to share info between the two groups.'' Facebook Inc. also recently updated its privacy policy to allow for more integration with Instagram. ''This means we can do things like fight spam more effectively, detect system and reliability problems more quickly, and build better features for everyone by understanding how Instagram is used,'' the blog post said, adding that the updates also ''help protect you, and prevent spam and abuse as we grow.'' But the biggest change riling users and privacy advocates is Instagram's new assertion that it may now receive payments from businesses to use your photos, user name and other data ''in connection with paid or sponsored content or promotions, without any compensation to you.''