NRA begins news company to promote its positions

NRA begins news companyto promote its positions
WASHINGTON -- The National Rifle Association is creating a news corporation, starting an Internet talk show and preparing to buy a radio station to speak about candidates and gun rights at election time despite new political ad limits.
The 4 million-member gun lobby, looking for the same legal recognition as mainstream news organizations, says it has already hired its first reporter. NRANews.com was to start online broadcasts today.
The NRA is taking the step to operate free of political spending limits, hoping to use unlimited donations known as soft money to focus on gun issues and candidates' positions despite the law's restrictions on soft-money-financed political ads close to elections.
Wayne LaPierre, NRA executive vice president, said the NRA is taking several steps to become a "legitimate packager of news" like newspapers and TV networks, including hiring Cam Edwards, a conservative talk-show host from Oklahoma City.
Transgender slaying trial
HAYWARD, Calif. -- The attorney for one of three men on trial in the slaying of a transgender teen said his client acted out of shame and revulsion upon discovering that he had sex with a man.
The argument came Thursday, the second day of opening statements in the trial of three men charged with murdering Eddie "Gwen" Araujo, 17. The teenager, who lived as a woman, was beaten, strangled and buried in a shallow grave in 2002 after it was discovered that Araujo was biologically male.
"It brought shame and humiliation, shock and revulsion," said Michael Thorman, the attorney for Michael Magidson, 23.
The killing drew national attention to the issue of violence against people whose sexual identity conflicts with their biology.
Prosecutor Chris Lamiero, in his opening statement Wednesday, called the death an execution and portrayed Magidson as a tough guy with something to prove, and said he was the man who pulled the rope tight around Araujo's neck.
But Magidson's lawyer described him as quiet and slow to anger. The lawyer said he would put on witnesses who are gay and socialized with Magidson and never saw any evidence of bias.
Also on trial are Jose Merel and Jason Cazares, both 24. A fourth man, 20-year-old Jaron Nabors, was charged with murder but pleaded guilty to manslaughter and has been promised an 11-year prison sentence in exchange for testifying against the others.
Liberals win S. Korea vote
SEOUL, South Korea -- A majority victory by the underdog Uri Party opens a new era of progressive politics in a country long dominated by conservative legislatures. Cleaning up corruption, streamlining the economy and improving relations with North Korea are all on tap with the new liberal-led National Assembly.
It also eases a year of political uncertainty and gives a boost to suspended President Roh Moo-hyun as he battles an unprecedented impeachment.
But amid celebrations among Roh's supporters, the nation's Constitutional Court said today it won't abandon the impeachment process and was unswayed by the dramatic win for the reformist Uri Party, which backs Roh and says the vote shows that most South Koreans do, too.
Many saw Uri's sweep -- it tripled its power to 152 seats in the 299-seat parliament -- as a popular verdict against Roh's March 12 parliamentary impeachment. Analysts said it would be hard for the court to ignore.
Despite a humiliating loss, the main opposition party also rejected Uri's demands that it withdraw the impeachment motion, on charges of incompetence and illegal electioneering. It said the Constitutional Court must decide the fate of the president while his executive duties remain suspended.
Should Roh prevail, however, the restored president will be welcomed into the first ruling party majority in 16 years and the first liberal-leaning parliament in four decades.
Birth just couldn't wait
ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- A pregnant woman who couldn't make it to a hospital in time gave birth to her son on the sidewalk outside the medical center.
Janet Schlump's husband, Brian, set off for the hospital around 8 a.m. Wednesday and had to drive on the shoulder to avoid rush hour traffic on Interstate 97.
She said if they had waited, she would have had the baby in the car.
Janet Schlump says when she stepped out of the car at Anne Arundel Medical Center, gravity took over and Tristan Schlump was born on the sidewalk.
A spokeswoman called Tristan's birth the most exciting one at the hospital.
Associated Press