Keystone XL foes reignite legal fight

Keystone XL foes reignite legal fight

LINCOLN, Neb.

Opponents of the Keystone XL oil pipeline in Nebraska reignited a legal fight Friday that could delay the entire 1,179-mile project, filing two new lawsuits over its proposed route.

The lawsuits came from seven landowners in Holt and York counties who have received written warning that pipeline developer TransCanada plans to file eminent-domain papers before Thursday to gain access to their land.

Missing lander located on Mars

LONDON

It turns out the Beagle has landed after all — but it never called home.

The gone-but-not-forgotten spacecraft Beagle-2 went AWOL on Christmas Day 2003, when it was supposed to land on Mars and start transmitting data back to Earth.

Instead, the British-built craft went dark. After several months, it was declared lost — presumed to have been destroyed during its approach or while trying to land on the red planet.

On Friday, more than 11 years later, European Space Agency officials reported that the Beagle-2 finally had been found — thanks to extensive detective work based on new photos taken by the high-resolution camera on NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter.

Medicare chief steps down

WASHINGTON

Medicare’s top administrator unexpectedly resigned Friday, becoming the latest casualty in the turmoil over the president’s health care law, which still is struggling for acceptance even as millions benefit from expanded coverage.

Marilyn Tavenner’s departure underscores the uncertainty overshadowing President Barack Obama’s health care law nearly five years after its party-line passage by a then-Democratic-led Congress.

Archdiocese files for bankruptcy

ST. PAUL, Minn.

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis filed for bankruptcy protection Friday, saying it is the best way to fairly compensate victims of clergy sexual abuse while allowing the archdiocese to continue the church’s mission.

The archdiocese is the 12th U.S. diocese to seek bankruptcy protection in the face of sex-abuse claims.

Associated Press