Page 2 — THE LACONIA DAILY SUN, Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Ex-Rutgers student gets 30 days in webcam/ suicide case
NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. (AP) — A former Rutgers University student who used a webcam to spy on his gay roommate was sentenced Monday to just 30 days in jail — a punishment that disappointed some activists but came as a relief to others who feared he would be made a scapegoat for his fellow freshman’s suicide. Dharun Ravi, 20, could have gotten 10 years behind bars for his part in a case that burst onto front pages when Tyler Clementi threw himself to his death off the George Washington Bridge. Instead, Superior Court Judge Glenn Berman gave Ravi a month in jail, placed him on three years’ probation and ordered him to get counseling and pay $10,000 toward a program to help victims of hate crimes. “Our society has every right to expect zero tolerance for intolerance,” the judge said. Prosecutor Bruce Kaplan said he will appeal the sentence, see WEBCAM page 16
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3DAYFORECAST
Today High: 72 Chance of rain: 70% Sunrise: 5:14 a.m. Tonight Low: 57 Chance of rain: 30% Sunset: 8:12 p.m.
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TODAY’SJOKE
“I noticed whenever you call information, 411, there’s always a computer voice, and they go, ‘What number would you like? City and state, please.’ ‘Yeah, I’d like the number of Macy’s in Century City, California.’ ‘Did you say ‘pretzel nuggets’?’” — Andy Kindler
TODAY’SWORD
belabor
verb; 1. To explain, worry about, or work more than is necessary. 2. To assail persistently, as with scorn or ridicule. 3. To beat vigorously; ply with heavy blows. — courtesy dictionary.com
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Catholic leaders sue Obama over birth control mandate NEW YORK (AP) — Roman Catholic leaders opened a new front against the Obama administration mandate that employers provide workers birth control coverage, filing federal lawsuits Monday on behalf of dioceses, schools and health care agencies that argued the requirement violates religious freedom. Among the plaintiffs is the University of Notre Dame, which in February had praised President Barack Obama for pledging to accommodate religious groups and find a way to soften the rule. Notre Dame president, the Rev. John Jenkins,
said the school had since decided to sue because “progress has not been encouraging” in talks with administration officials. The lawsuits have been filed in eight states and the District of Columbia by the Archdioceses of Washington and New York, the Michigan Catholic Conference, Catholic Charities in Illinois, Mississippi, Missouri and Indiana, health care agencies in New York and two dioceses in Texas. “We have tried negotiation with the administration and legislation with the Congress, and we’ll keep at it, but there’s still no fix,” said New York Cardinal Timo-
thy Dolan, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. “Time is running out, and our valuable ministries and fundamental rights hang in the balance, so we have to resort to the courts now.” Erin Shields, a spokeswoman for the Health and Human Services Department, said Monday the agency does not comment on pending litigation. The liberal advocacy group Catholics United accused the bishops of serving a “right-wing political agenda.” Health and Human Services adopted the see CATHOLICS page 8
NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. (AP) — A man survived a plunge of at least 180 feet over Niagara Falls in an apparent suicide attempt Monday — only the third person known to have lived after going over the falls without a safety device. Niagara Parks Police said witnesses reported seeing the man climb over a railing 20 to 30 feet out over the Horseshoe Falls at 10:20 a.m. and “deliberately jump” into the Niagara River. Seriously injured,
he surfaced in the lower Niagara River basin near the Journey Behind the Falls observation platform and managed to make it to shore on his own. “He waded ashore,” said Platoon Chief Dan Orescanin of the Niagara Falls, Ontario, Fire Department. “He must have gotten swept into an eddy, floated over there and was able to get out on his own. “That’s another stroke of luck,” Orescanin said. “If he was in the main current,
he would have been swept down river.” Orescanin said the man was conscious and talking at first but got quiet. He appeared to have chest injuries, including broken ribs and a collapsed lung, Orescanin said. The man was airlifted to Hamilton General Hospital with what police initially said were life-threatening injuries. Hospital spokeswoman Agnes Bongers said later see NIAGARA FALLS page 13
CHICAGO (AP) — President Barack Obama and leaders around the globe locked down an exit path from the war in Afghanistan, affirming Monday that they will close the largely stalemated conflict at the end of 2014, a strategy that means
their troops will still be fighting and dying for another two-plus years. Gathered in Obama’s hometown, the sprawling coalition of 50 NATO members and allies declared an “irreversible transition” that will put Afghan forces in the
lead of the combat mission by the middle of next year. Even in a backup role, though, the U.S. forces and all the rest will still face combat and attacks until the war’s end. see NATO page 10
Man survives apparent suicide attempt plunge over Niagara Falls
NATO allies say they’re on ‘irreversible’ course to exit war in Afghanistan
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