WWII vet gets diploma

WWII vet gets diploma

U.S. Army veteran Bert Heuer received a high school diploma from Princeton High School Principal Ray Spicher at a “Salute to the U.S. Military” ceremony in Cincinnati. Heuer’s high school years were interrupted when he joined the Army and served in World War II.

Show dog found dead
after car is stolen

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — A Brazilian show dog that disappeared when thieves in Puerto Rico stole an idling car with the prized pooch inside was found dead Monday inside the abandoned vehicle. The chocolate Labrador retriever was found lifeless inside its cage in the stolen car, which was abandoned near a well-traveled road in the capital’s municipal area, according to San Juan International Dog Expo spokeswoman Marisela Diaz. The show dog, which competed under the name “Al Pacino,” appeared to have died from heat exhaustion while trapped inside the 2007 Dodge Caliber in the community of Carolina, Diaz said. The prized animal belonged to Roberto Rodrigues, who had offered a $2,000 reward — no questions asked — to get the dog back. “Al Pacino” was considered one of the top show dogs from Brazil, according to the American Kennel Club.

Pathologist apologizes
for mistakes in work

TORONTO — A Canadian pathologist whose expert testimony led to wrongful convictions for several people accused of killing small children, including one man who spent a decade in jail, said Monday that he was “truly sorry” for his mistakes. A public inquiry into the work of Dr. Charles Smith, once considered the country’s leading pediatric pathologist, was read a statement in which he apologized for errors in analyzing 20 cases of child deaths. Twelve led to convictions, some of which have been thrown out by courts. He stopped performing autopsies in 2001 after several cases in which he was involved fell apart amid questions about the quality of his work.

Mascot burnings canceled
at S. Carolina, Clemson

CLEMSON, S.C. — Clemson University announced Monday that students at the school will not burn the University of South Carolina’s mascot in effigy before their game because of the beach house fire that killed seven students from the schools last month. South Carolina officials also said they are considering whether to hold the traditional “Tigerburn” this year. “We’re taking a look at it,” school spokesman Russ McKinney said of the burning of a massive papier-mâché Clemson Tiger. Six of the students killed in the Oct. 28 fire in Ocean Isle Beach, N.C., attended the University of South Carolina. One attended Clemson. Rather than holding a mock funeral and burning “Cocky,” the University of South Carolina mascot, before the Nov. 24 game, Clemson students instead plan to hold a pep rally Thursday that organizers are calling “Fowl Fest.”

Gere receives award

PHILADELPHIA — Award-winning actor and human rights activist Richard Gere on Monday became the 2007 recipient of the Marian Anderson Award, which honors artists whose leadership benefits humanity. Gere, 58, who was chosen because of his philanthropy and advocacy on behalf of independence for Tibet and better care for HIV/AIDS patients, is accepting the award and its accompanying $100,000 honorarium at a Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts gala. The award presenters lauded Gere for taking on the dual role of artist and activist before it became fashionable among the Hollywood set, lending his fame and finances to significant global issues. The annual award is named after legendary contralto and Philadelphia native Marian Anderson.

A prince of an airplane

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — In the annals of excess, it could be a new high: a more than $300 million dollar, super-sized luxury airplane, bought and outfitted solely for the private comfort of a Saudi Arabian billionaire. Once done, the Airbus A380, the world’s biggest passenger plane, will be a “flying palace” for Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, the manufacturer announced Monday. Airbus SAS would not give a specific price tag for the VIP double-decker jet, with its football field-length wings, saying only that it would cost more than the aircraft’s list price of $320 million. That doesn’t even include the money the prince will spend to custom fit the nearly 6,000-square-foot plane.

Associated Press