NEW YORK — President-elect Barack Obama’s vast list of donors is being asked to donate to Hillary Rodham Clinton as she scrambles to reduce her massive campaign debt before she becomes secretary of state and federal ethics rule limit her fundraising, an Obama adviser said Thursday night. An appeal on Clinton’s behalf signed by Vice President-elect Joe Biden is to be sent by e-mail to more than three million donors to Obama’s record-setting fundraising, according to the adviser. At the beginning of November, Clinton owed $7.5 million to vendors from her failed presidential bid.
Firefighter awarded $3.75 million
A New York City firefighter, critically injured when a colleague hit him with a metal chair during a firehouse fight, has reached a $3.75 million settlement with the city. Robert Walsh testified at his federal lawsuit trial that the attack on New Year’s Eve in 2003 was the culmination of nearly two years of anti-gay slurs. Former firefighter Michael Silvestri pleaded guilty to assault in 2006 and served a year in jail.
D.C.: Date set for Hubble repairs
NASA has set a May date for its space shuttle mission to fix the Hubble Space Telescope for a final time. The space agency Thursday announced that it is aiming to launch the shuttle Atlantis on May 12 for what would be an 11-day repair and upgrade mission to the $10 billion space telescope. NASA was going to fix Hubble in October, but weeks before the shuttle launch, a glitch in Hubble’s science computer forced a delay.
California: Delay in Mars launch
A NASA insider said the space agency is delaying launch of a giant Mars robotic mission. The Mars Science Laboratory was scheduled to fly next year. But the project has been dogged by cost increases and technical challenges. The launch has been postponed until 2011. The delay was announced Thursday to mission scientists and engineers at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California. The Mars Science Lab is billed as the most advanced spacecraft to probe the Martian surface.
Episcopal bishop speaks out
The presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church predicted Thursday that an initiative by hundreds of conservative congregations to form their own church in North America had largely run its course and would not trigger further large-scale defections from the denomination long divided over issues related to homosexuality. The Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori, making her first public comments since a coalition of breakaway congregations declared their intention Wednesday, said the departures were painful but would have little effect on the 2.4-million-member Episcopal Church. The new Anglican Church in North America represents about 100,000 people.
Fire damages iconic L.A. strip club
A fire on Thursday burned through the roof of The Body Shop, a landmark West Hollywood strip club mentioned in a Motley Crue hit. It took about an hour to douse the fire, which was mainly confined to the attic, a fire inspector said. One firefighter suffered a minor injury. The Body Shop, which has been in operation since the 1960s and bills itself as the longest running strip club in Los Angeles, is one of several clubs mentioned in the 1980s Motley Crue anthem to the strip clubs of America, “Girls, Girls, Girls.”
Argentina: Antarctic cruise ship
A cruise ship carrying 122 people is taking on water after running aground in the Antarctic on Thursday but is in no danger of sinking, the Argentine navy said. The Panamanian-flagged Ushuaia — with 89 passengers and 33 Argentine crew members — sent out an alarm around midday after it suffered two cracks and started leaking fuel and taking on water, the navy said in a statement. A Chilean navy ship was on its way to help the Ushuaia and rescue its passengers.
China: Role sought in piracy fight
A Chinese general has called for the country’s navy to join the fight against Somali pirates, saying the mission would boost China’s international stature and give its sailors valuable experience in fighting open ocean combat operations far from their home ports. Chinese ships have been among those seized in a wave of pirate attacks this year. “I think our navy should send ships to the Gulf of Aden to carry out anti-piracy duties,” Major General Jin Yinan said.
Malaysia: Karaoke dispute deadly
Police said a Malaysian man has been stabbed to death by customers at a karaoke bar for singing too much and refusing to share the microphone. A district police official said witnesses saw a group of men punch and stab 23-year-old Abdul Sani Doli with a knife at the bar late Wednesday in Sandakan on Borneo island. The official says a brawl broke out because the men were furious that Abdul Sani was hogging the stage. He said police detained two suspects after Abdul Sani was found dead outside the bar.
From Herald news services
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
