ISRAELI LEADER TO UNDERGO HEART PROCEDURE SOON

Israeli leader to undergoheart procedure soon
JERUSALEM -- Doctors will seal next month a small hole in Ariel Sharon's heart that they said Monday led to his recent mild stroke, an announcement that drew further attention to the Israeli prime minister's health as he campaigns for a third term. The procedure to seal the hole will almost eliminate the risk of a stroke similar to the one Sharon suffered Dec. 18, said Dr. Haim Lotem, head of cardiology at Jerusalem's Hadassah Hospital. Doctors said the hole that allowed the stroke to happen, measuring less than an eighth of an inch, is a birth defect found in 15 percent to 20 percent of the population and often goes undiscovered. The 77-year-old Sharon, who is 5 feet 7 and weighs nearly 255 pounds, is surprisingly fit, considering his girth and age, Lotem said.
Schwarzenegger's nameremoved from stadium
VIENNA, Austria -- Officials in Arnold Schwarzenegger's hometown of Graz quietly and under cover of darkness removed giant metal letters spelling out his name on a soccer stadium. The California governor had asked for his name to be stricken from the 15,300-seat arena after critics in his birthplace, where opposition to capital punishment runs high, scorned him for refusing to block this month's execution of convicted killer Stanley Tookie Williams. Late Sunday night or early Monday, authorities in the southern Austrian city unbolted the 20 letters spelling out the action star-turned-politician's name from Arnold Schwarzenegger Stadium.
Surfer fends off sharkwith punch to the nose
PORTLAND, Ore. -- A surfer who fended off a great white shark by punching it in the nose said he learned the tactic by watching television shows such as the Discovery Channel's "Shark Week." Brian Anderson, 36, remained hospitalized Monday but was expected to make a full recovery from lacerations on his ankle and calf. Anderson was at a popular surfing spot near Tillamook Head, south of the community of Seaside, on Saturday when something grabbed his leg. Realizing it was a shark, he slugged the predator repeatedly in the nose to get it to loosen its grip.
2 officers believed dead
JERSEY CITY, N.J. -- Two police officers in an emergency truck plunged more than 40 feet off an open drawbridge in thick fog. One was killed; the other was missing and feared dead. The vehicle fell into the Hackensack River on Sunday night, after the officers crossed the Lincoln Highway Bridge and placed flares to warn motorists that the bridge's safety warning system was not operating, said Police Chief Robert Troy. The body of Officer Shawn Carson, 40, was found Sunday night. Carson was a 16-year veteran of the force. Divers searched the 40-degree water Monday for Officer Robert Nguyen, 30, who had been with the police department for six years.
Church to give awayhouse on New Year's Eve
LA MARQUE, Texas -- In a game show-style giveaway, a church plans to award a $120,000 three-bedroom house to one of its worshippers on New Year's Eve. Since 2003, Abundant Life Christian Center has given away a car, a motorcycle and furniture. "It encourages people to come to the service, and it helps keep people off the street with all that revelry going on," said pastor Walter Hallam. During Saturday's service, 20 names will be selected at random and placed with 100 others chosen from services throughout the year. Twelve finalists -- symbolizing the 12 Apostles -- will be selected. Each of the finalists will receive a key, which they will try in a door on stage. The person whose key unlocks the door wins the home.
Mom backs over daughter
SHEBOYGAN, Wis. -- A woman backing out of a driveway to get Christmas candy accidentally ran over her 6-year-old daughter and killed her, police said. Cordelia Quistorf, 24, did not realize the girl had gone outside, police said. Quistorf's other daughter and two sons were in the car with her. Detective Ed Worthman said no charges were expected.
Collection basket targeted
EDISON, N.J. -- Holiday generosity made the collection basket a tempting target at the Church of the Guardian Angels. The basket, placed on the altar, was emptied of about $8,000 and checks, police and church officials said. "I don't know how someone does this and lives with their own conscience," said Monsignor James Moran.