Opposition in Venezuela seeks military's support

Opposition in Venezuelaseeks military's support
CARACAS, Venezuela -- Leaders of a strike that has crippled Venezuela's economy prepared a protest aimed at enlisting support from the military as President Hugo Chavez announced an international diplomatic effort to resolve the standoff.
The protest set for today was the latest step in an opposition campaign, centered on the five-week-old general strike, to force Chavez to call a nonbinding referendum on his rule next month.
Chavez, who claims the referendum would be unconstitutional, said he would support diplomatic efforts by a "Group of Nation Friends" to help resolve the crisis, which has contributed to a rise in global oil prices.
"This has to be the way out," Chavez said Thursday in Brazilia, Brazil, where he attended the inauguration of Brazil's new president, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. "There is no other way."
Opposition legislator Alejandro Armas said the opposition had already proposed an international effort to mediate the dispute.
The idea drew support from opposition labor leader Manuel Cova, secretary general of the one million-member Venezuelan Workers Confederation. "Whatever international initiative leading to an electoral solution is welcome," he said.
Los Alamos lab
LOS ALAMOS, N.M. -- Los Alamos National Laboratory's next director must do a better job telling the public about the lab's failures as well as its success, outgoing director John Browne said.
The 60-year-old physicist has resigned amid a growing number of government investigations into charges of widespread theft and fraud at the nuclear weapons lab.
Browne said Thursday he was not pressured to quit by federal officials or the University of California, which runs the lab for the Energy Department.
Browne said university president Richard Atkinson told him during a Dec. 23 conversation the lab may need a "management change" to address its problems.
Browne, whose contract was through November, told Atkinson he was prepared to offer his resignation, and Atkinson said he would accept it.
Browne acknowledged it would have been difficult for the university to renew his contract had he not stepped down.
Applegate's bodyidentified by coroner
LOS ANGELES -- A body found in a burning Hollywood Hills mansion on New Year's Day was identified as veteran film and TV character actor Royce Applegate, a co-star of the 1990s sci-fi series "SeaQuest DSV."
An autopsy was performed, but a finding on the cause of death was deferred until the results of toxicology tests were known, coroner's spokesman David Campbell said.
Two firefighters injured in the blaze were in stable condition Thursday after undergoing surgery on their arms, hands and legs.
Applegate, 64, was found dead after flames swept through the three-story home atop the Hollywood Hills.
The cause was under investigation, Fire Department spokesman Brian Humphrey said.
A couple who lived on a lower floor of the house escaped without injury, Humphrey said.
Applegate's entertainment career spanned more than 30 years. He made guest appearances on various TV shows such as "Charlie's Angels," "Dallas" "Little House on the Prairie" and "Home Improvement."
Groups awarded grantsto promote marriage
WASHINGTON -- The government has sent taxpayer money from its child support programs to religious and nonprofit organizations so they can promote marriage -- reflecting chief elements of President Bush's faith-based initiative.
A critic who doesn't believe the government should be stepping into marriages said he would keep a close eye on how these groups spend the funds.
Tommy Thompson, Health and Human Services secretary, announced Thursday more than $2.2 million in grants to 12 states and a variety of religious, nonprofit and tribal organizations to advance the nation's child support enforcement system.
Roughly $550,000 is being spent on programs that emphasize the importance of healthy marriage.
Among them are two organizations and a state agency that emphasize the importance of a healthy marriage to a child's well being.
The Marriage Coalition, in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, received $199,994 to test a curriculum for poor single parents that emphasizes the value of marriage and child support.
In Allentown, Pa., a group called Community Services for Children Inc. got $177,373 to work with local church groups in providing marriage education and other services to unwed couples.
Associated Press