Statue of Liberty to reopen July 4

Statue of Liberty to reopen July 4

NEW YORK

Months after superstorm Sandy swamped her little island, the Statue of Liberty finally will welcome visitors again on Independence Day.

Sandy made landfall one day after the statue’s 126th birthday, flooding most of the 12 acres she stands upon with water that surged as high as 8 feet. Lady Liberty herself was spared, but the surrounding grounds on Liberty Island took a beating.

The damage to Liberty Island and neighboring Ellis Island cost an estimated $59 million. Some repairs to brick walkways and docks are still underway, but on July 4, visitors will arrive via ferry boats once again to tour the national landmark.

Egyptian military issues ultimatum

CAIRO

Egypt’s military issued a “last-chance” ultimatum Monday to President Mohammed Morsi, giving him 48 hours to meet the demands of millions of protesters in the streets seeking the ouster of the Islamist leader or the generals will intervene and impose their own plan for the country.

The military’s statement, read on state TV, put enormous pressure on Morsi to step down and sent giant crowds opposing the president in Cairo and other cities into delirious celebrations of singing, dancing and fireworks. But the ultimatum raised worries on both sides the military could outright take over, as it did after the 2011 ouster of autocrat Hosni Mubarak.

Jury awards $58M to man for beating

LOS ANGELES

A 43-year-old house painter so badly brain damaged that he can’t speak has been awarded $58 million by a jury after a beating at a bar left him with half his skull permanently bashed in.

Antonio Lopez Chaj appeared at a news conference Monday with lawyers who announced the award handed down against a security company Friday in Torrance Superior Court.

It was among the largest damage awards ever given to one person in California, the lawyers said. They said they expect an appeal and there could be settlement negotiations before Chaj receives anything.

Chaj was attacked at a bar after trying to intercede in an attack by a bartender and security guard on two relatives who were with him.

Lawmakers resume Texas abortion fight

AUSTIN, Texas

State troopers lined the halls of the Texas Capitol, and 5,000 protesters rallied outside against proposed abortion legislation, as lawmakers convened Monday for a second special session that Republican leaders pledged wouldn’t descend into chaos like the first.

The Texas House and Senate each met for less than an hour before recessing for the week. That was just long enough to schedule new committee hearings for the proposed restrictions that would make Texas one of the toughest places in the nation for women to get abortions.

Corrupt FBI agent apologizes in court

BOSTON

A corrupt FBI supervisor appeared to be emotionally overcome, at least briefly, Monday as he looked from the witness stand at the family of one of James “Whitey” Bulger’s purported victims and apologized for leaking the information that led to the man’s murder.

Former agent John Morris had to look past the table where 83-year-old Bulger sits at his racketeering trial to see Patricia Donahue, who looked back. Morris’ voice caught when, close to the end of three days of cross- examination, he told her and her three grown sons that he prays daily that they will find relief from their grief.

Combined dispatches