PENINSULA DAILY NEWS for Sunday, April 1, 2012 PAGE
A3 Briefly: Nation who mysteriously vanished four days ago after heading out for a morning run in New ALLENTOWN, Pa. — A Mexico’s rugMexican national said he has ged Gila been barred from entering the National For- True United States to bury his est. 10-year-old son, a U.S. citizen The 60-year-old True, whose who died Tuesday in a house long-distance running prowess fire in northeastern Pennsylvais detailed in the book Born to nia that killed three other peoRun, set out for what — for him ple. — would have been a routine Attorneys for Fidelmar “Fidel” Merlos-Lopez are trying 12-mile run Tuesday. True, who left his dog to win humanitarian parole so behind, never returned. A he can attend the funeral, but search began the next day. say U.S. Customs and Border Dean Bruemmer, a co-owner Protection has rebuffed their of the lodge where True is stayefforts. Philadelphia-based immigra- ing, said he last saw his friend tion lawyer Elizabeth Surin said Tuesday at breakfast. He said True gave no indication of a her client, 34, has been waiting specific route. at the U.S.-Mexico border at Laredo, Texas, since the fire. A spokeswoman for the borToday’s news shows der agency did not return a WASHINGTON — Guest lineups for phone message left at her office today’s TV news shows: ■ ABC’s “This Week” — Reps. Paul Saturday. Ryan, R-Wis., and Chris Van Hollen, Lopez entered the United States illegally in 1995. In 2007, D-Md. ■ NBC’s “Meet the Press” — police in nearby Frackville Republican presidential candidate Rick stopped Lopez for running a red Santorum; Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. light and turned him over to ■ CBS’s “Face the Nation” — Vice President Joe Biden; Republican presiimmigration authorities. He dential candidates Newt Gingrich and agreed to leave the U.S. volunRon Paul; Kevin Madden, adviser to tarily and began the process of Republican presidential candidate Mitt applying for legal permanent Romney. residence. ■ CNN’s “State of the Union” —
Mexican can’t enter U.S. for son’s burial
Runner missing ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Search teams intensified efforts Saturday to find renowned longdistance runner Micah True,
Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.; Reps. Mike Rogers, R-Mich., and Rep. C.A. “Dutch” Ruppersberger, D-Md.; Ryan. ■ “Fox News Sunday” — Santorum; former Govs. Haley Barbour, R-Miss., and Howard Dean, D-Vt.
The Associated Press
Briefly: World Car bombs in Thailand kill 14, injure 340
power and propulsion had been restored.
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
CANDLES
BURN FOR
A volunteer for the World Wide Fund For Nature sets the final candles among 5,000 to picture the globe prior to “Earth Hour” in front of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin on Saturday night. Earth Hour took place worldwide at 8.30 p.m. local time and was a global call to turn off lights for 60 minutes in a bid to highlight global climate change.
Supreme Court gives Congress rough time Justices mirror public’s view of inabilities BY MARK SHERMAN THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Campaigns begin
MEXICO CITY — The three major candidates for Mexico’s presidency officially launched HAT YAI, Thailand — Suspected Muslim insurgents staged their campaigns for the July 1 the most deadly coordinated election, all of them promising attacks in years in Thailand’s change. restive south, killing 14 people Enrique and wounding 340 with car Peña Nieto, bombs that targeted Saturday who is runshoppers and a high-rise hotel ning for the frequented by foreign tourists. Institutional A first batch of explosives Revolutionary planted inside a parked pickup Party that truck ripped through an area of ruled Mexico restaurants and shops in Yala. from 1929 to About 20 minutes later, just 2000, used the as onlookers gathered at the word “change” Peña Nieto blast site, a second car bomb 26 times in exploded, causing the majority his first official campaign of casualties. Eleven people speech, in Guadalajara. were killed and 110 wounded. Pena Nieto’s focus echoed the More than 5,000 people have 2008 campaign slogan of Presibeen killed in Thailand’s three dent Barack Obama, “change we southernmost provinces since can believe in.” It was unclear an Islamist insurgency flared in whether the echo was intentional. January 2004. Josefina Vazquez Mota, the first female candidate for a Stricken liner resumes major Mexican party, the incumbent National Action Party, told MANILA, Philippines — A cruise ship with 1,000 people on supporters in Mexico City to use social media, “this new world board that had drifted for 24 that accompanies us,” to attract hours after being disabled by a potential voters. fire was headed toward MalayAndres Manuel Lopez Obrasia following repairs, the Philippine coast guard said Saturday. dor, who is making his second The Azamara Quest that had run for the presidency for the leftist Democratic Revolution embarked on a 17-day SouthParty, told Mexico City supporteast Asian cruise was left drifters, “Let all of us, from below, ing in southern Philippine undertake a campaign to build a waters after a fire broke out new, just, humane, dignified, free Friday night. democratic and loving republic.” The ship informed the coast guard late Saturday that its The Associated Press
‘EARTH HOUR’
WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court left little doubt during last week’s marathon arguments over President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul that it has scant faith in Congress’ ability to get anything done. The views about Congress underlay questions from justices who appear to be on both sides of the argument over the constitutionality of the law’s key provision, the individual insurance requirement, as well as whether the entire law should be thrown out if the mandate is struck down.
The comments were particularly striking from the conservative justices who have called on unelected judges to show deference to the actions of elected officials. Justice Antonin Scalia, who appeared strongly in favor of striking down the entire law, was the most outspoken in his disdain for the branch of government that several justices can see from their office windows. “You can’t repeal the rest of the act because you’re not going to get 60 votes in the Senate to repeal the rest,” Scalia said. “It’s not a matter of enacting a new act. You’ve got to get 60 votes to repeal it. So the rest of the act is going to be the law,” he said, explaining that it might be better to throw the whole thing out. Justice Anthony Kennedy draw laughs when he asked a lawyer describing what Congress would want the court to do:
“Is that the real Congress or a hypothetical Congress?” Several justices joined in the courtroom’s laughing reaction when the lawyer leading the challenge to the law appeared to suggest Congress could pass new legislation “in a couple of days,” if the court wiped away the entire law. The justices thus seemed to be thinking along the same lines as the public, according to polls that show Congress’ standing at historic lows. That outlook, more prevalent among the conservatives than the liberals on the court, is one reason that the Obama administration’s lawyers ran into such stiff resistance in questions from the bench. Chances are slim that Congress would act to restore any parts of the law that the court might strike down, even noncontroversial provisions.
FDA rejects call to prohibit chemical from food packaging BY MATTHEW PERRONE THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
WASHINGTON — The Food and Drug Administration has rejected a petition from environmentalists that would have banned the plastic-hardening chemical bisphenol-A from all food and drink packaging, including plastic bottles and canned food. The agency said Friday that petitioners did not present compelling scientific evidence to justify new restrictions on the muchdebated chemical, commonly known as BPA, though federal scientists continue to study the issue.
Quick Read
The Natural Resources Defense Council’s petition was the latest move by public safety advocates to prod regulators into taking action against the chemical, which is found in everything from CDs to canned food to dental sealants. About 90 percent of Americans have traces of BPA in their bodies, mainly because it leaches out of food and beverage containers. Some scientists believe exposure to BPA can harm the reproductive and nervous systems, particularly in babies and small children, potentially leading to cancer and other diseases. They point to results from dozens of BPA stud-
ies in rodents and other animals. But FDA reiterated in its response that that those findings cannot be applied to humans. The agency also said that humans metabolize and eliminate BPA much more quickly than rats and other lab animals. The Natural Resources Defense Council petitioned the FDA in 2008 to ban BPA as a food additive, including all uses in food or beverage packaging. FDA officials stressed that their assessment of BPA is ongoing, and they expect to issue another update later this year based on their most recent findings.
. . . more news to start your day
Nation: Three tickets have $640 million lotto numbers
Nation: Thousands march in town where youth killed
Nation: Cruise ship held for short time in Texas
World: Envoy’s plea for Syria cease-fire spurned
THREE TH REE LOTTO TICKETS sold in Illinois, Maryland and Kansas hit the world-record-breaking $640 million Mega Millions jackpot, lottery officials said Saturday, dashing the get-richquick dreams of millions of players in 42 states, including Washington’s. Illinois’ winner used a quick pick to select the winning numbers at a convenience store in the small town of Red Bud, near St. Louis. The winning numbers — 02-04-2338-46 and Mega Ball 23 — also sold at a 7-Eleven store in Milford Mill, Md., north of Baltimore. The third winning ticket was sold in northeast Kansas, but no other information was released.
THOUSANDS MARCHED SATURDAY through the Florida town where 17-year-old Trayvon Martin was shot and killed by a neighborhood watch volunteer, vowing to continue protesting until an arrest is made. Protesters carried signs, chanted “Justice for Trayvon,” and clutched the hands of their children while they walked to the Sanford Police Department from a local high school. The march was organized by the NAACP was one of several taking place over the weekend. Martin was shot to death by George Zimmerman on Feb. 26 as the teen walked from a convenience store.
U.S. MARSHALS MARSHALS BRIEFLY seized a cruise ship in Texas as part of a $10 million lawsuit related to the fatal Italian cruise ship wreck. The Carnival Cruise Lines ship was seized for several hours Saturday while docked in Galveston, where it was scheduled to leave with 2,700 passengers. Attorneys later reached a deal releasing the ship. A Texas judge had ordered the seizure to secure the plaintiff’s claims against Carnival Corp., the Miamibased parent of the Italian cruise line whose ship crashed in January. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of a German citizen who died died in the wreck.
SYRIA REJECTED INTERNATIONAL envoy Kofi Annan’s call for the regime to halt violence just days after the government agreed to a cease-fire plan and a senior official declared victory over the opposition. It was the government’s first response to an appeal by Annan, the U.N.-Arab League envoy, to stop military operations in a “gesture of good faith” to the lightly armed opposition. Annan brokered the pact and President Bashar Assad agreed to it Monday. Foreign Ministry spokesman Jihad Makdessi said the government will not pull tanks and troops from towns and cities engulfed by unrest.