Military planning for satellite’s fall to Earth

WASHINGTON — The U.S. military is developing contingency plans to deal with the possibility that a large spy satellite expected to fall to Earth in late February or early March could hit North America.

Air Force Gen. Gene Renuart, who heads of U.S. Northern Command, said Tuesday that the size of the satellite suggests that some number of pieces will not burn up as the orbiting vehicle re-enters the Earth’s atmosphere and will hit the ground.

Renuart added that, “As it looks like it might re-enter into the North American area,” then the U.S. military along with the Homeland Security Department and the Federal Emergency Management Agency will either have to deal with the impact or assist Canadian or Mexican authorities.

Mukasey mum on waterboarding

Attorney General Michael Mukasey said Tuesday he will refuse to publicly say whether the interrogation tactic known as waterboarding is illegal, digging in against critics who want the Bush administration to define the technique that simulates drowning as torture. In a letter to Senate Judiciary Chairman Patrick Leahy, Mukasey said he has finished a review of Justice Department memos about the CIA’s current methods of interrogating terror suspects and finds them to be lawful. Since waterboarding is not part of what Mukasey described as a “limited set of methods” used by interrogators now, the attorney general said he would not rule on whether it is illegal.

Obama sheds tainted money

Barack Obama is giving to charity more than $70,000 in contributions linked to an indicted Chicago businessman, his campaign said Tuesday. Prosecutors have charged Antoin Rezko — a real estate developer and fast-food magnate who has been a long time political figure in Chicago — with fraud, attempted extortion and money laundering in what they allege was a scheme to get campaign money and payoffs from firms seeking to do business before two state boards.

Penn.: Guilty in killing daughter

A Philadelphia man who spent long hours each day playing video games was convicted Tuesday of killing his 17-month-old daughter in 2006 when she pulled down his Xbox console. Prosecutors believe Tyrone Spellman pummeled Alayiah Turman, cracking her skull several times. Jurors convicted him of third-degree murder and child endangerment. He could be sentenced to about 23 to 47 years in prison.

Ohio: Guilty in bogus kidnapping

A pregnant attorney who police said made up a story about being kidnapped and driven from Ohio to Georgia pleaded guilty Tuesday to one count of making false alarms. Authorities said Karyn McConnell Hancock, 35, who was missing for three days in December, told them armed men abducted her outside a juvenile court building in Toledo and forced her into the back of a van. She later recanted. She told police she was tired and wanted to get away, they said.