Wednesday, July 26, 2006
Teen confessed shootingson highway, officials say
SEYMOUR, Ind. -- A 17-year-old confessed Tuesday to a series of highway shootings that killed one man, wounded another and damaged at least four vehicles, authorities said. Zachariah Blanton was arrested earlier in the day and was jailed in Jackson County. He faced preliminary charges of murder, attempted murder and criminal recklessness, prosecutor Stephen Pierson said. Blanton, of Gaston, admitted the sniper shootings during questioning by investigators, but a motive was unclear, State Police Superintendent Paul Whitesell said. It was not immediately known whether Blanton had an attorney. Blanton came to the attention of investigators late Monday after an acquaintance told a Delaware County deputy that the teen might be involved in the shootings, Whitesell said. Detectives then searched Blanton's home and found a rifle of the same caliber used in the shootings.
Vatican criticizes EUon stem-cell decision
VATICAN CITY -- A Vatican newspaper condemned on Tuesday a decision by the European Union to continue funding embryonic human stem cell research, calling it the result of "a twisted sense of progress." The 25-nation bloc agreed Monday in Brussels to keep up the funding through 2013, but only under new rules that prevent human cloning and destroying embryos. Vatican Radio said the EU compromise was "unacceptable for the Church." The Roman Catholic Church teaches that life begins at conception and forbids research on embryos.
Cruise line: Ship's tiltingwas result of human error
ORLANDO, Fla. -- Human error caused a cruise ship to abruptly tilt at sea last week, sending furniture and debris flying about the boat and injuring 240 passengers, a cruise line official said. Though federal investigations continue, Princess Cruises president Alan Buckelow wrote in a letter to passengers that "the incident was due to human error and the appropriate personnel changes have been made." No further specifics were given in the letter, which was dated Monday and posted on the company's Web site. Company spokeswoman Julie Benson said in a telephone interview Tuesday that some crew members had been reassigned, but she declined to give further details. The Crown Princess unexpectedly heeled to its side last week shortly after departing Port Canaveral, where it had stopped before a scheduled return to New York to complete a nine-day Caribbean cruise. The ship, carrying 3,100 passengers and 1,200 crew, tilted an estimated 16 to 18 degrees, tumbling passengers, chairs, tables and other objects, and seriously injuring at least 20 people.
Scientist on trial says hetried to clone mammoths
SEOUL, South Korea -- Disgraced scientist Hwang Woo-suk denied embezzling research funds and testified Tuesday that part of the money went toward failed attempts to clone mammoths, extinct relatives of today's elephants. Hwang is on trial on charges of misappropriating funds, embezzlement and illegally purchasing human eggs for stem cell research. Five of his colleagues face the same charges. Prosecutors completed their first round of questioning Tuesday. "Not a single penny was spent for personal use," said Hwang, whose purported breakthroughs in creating stem cells from cloned human embryos unraveled in scandal last year. The defendants' lawyers will begin their cross-examination at the next trial hearing in September. Hwang also said he did not deceive donors who supported his stem cell research, insisting he did not realize his internationally heralded innovations were faked. "I am also a victim who was deceived. I am the biggest victim," he said. Hwang was indicted in May for allegedly accepting $2.1 million in private donations based on the outcome of the falsified research and embezzling about $850,000 in private and government research funds.
Evidence of ancient villagefound in Gulf Coast town
BAY ST. LOUIS, Miss. -- Archaeologists believe they have uncovered evidence of an ancient village, possibly dating to the time of Christ, that once thrived along the shores of this Gulf Coast community. The artifacts were unearthed during recent efforts to rebuild a thoroughfare and major bridge heavily damaged last year by Hurricane Katrina. Marco Giardino, an archaeologist acting as the city's liaison on a dig to preserve the ancient remains, said as many as 400 people may have lived in the village. "That area was very strategic and would have allowed them to travel, fish and hunt," he said. "It's on high ground at the entrance to the bay, which would allow them to see people coming and they could defend themselves a lot easier." Giardino said spearheads and pottery found in the area suggest an Indian tribe established the village sometime between 200 B.C. and A.D. 400.
Combined dispatches