CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — Space shuttle Endeavour aimed for a landing tonight back at NASA’s spaceport, but rainy and cloudy weather threatened to delay the astronauts’ homecoming. Endeavour and its crew of six are returning from a bigger and certainly brighter International Space Station. They added a new room and a dome containing seven windows in a highly successful mission that won presidential praise. Mission Control will have Edwards Air Force Base in California, the backup site, ready to support a landing as well, just in case Florida doesn’t pan out. Boeing is a prime contractor for the shuttle program.
Michigan: Dingell will run
The longest-serving member of the U.S. House is running for re-election. Democrat John Dingell of Dearborn told a College Democrats breakfast in Ann Arbor on Saturday that he plans to run again. Dingell said the state needs experienced leaders in Washington to help get it out of its economic woes. He added, “Now is not the time to walk away.” The 83-year-old Dingell entered the U.S. House in December 1955 to replace his late father.
New York: NAACP leader
The NAACP elected a health care executive as its youngest board chairman Saturday, continuing a youth movement for the nation’s oldest civil rights organization. Roslyn Brock, 44, was chosen to succeed Julian Bond. She had been vice chairman since 2001 and a member of the NAACP for 25 years. Brock works for Bon Secours Health Systems in Maryland as vice president for advocacy and government relations, and spent 10 years working on health issues for the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.
Ohio: Traficant party switch
A former Ohio congressman who served seven years in prison for corruption said he’s leaving the Democratic Party and considering a run for office as an independent. James Traficant made the announcement Saturday on his talk show on WTAM-AM in Cleveland. Traficant was elected to nine terms as a Democrat from Youngstown before serving time for racketeering, bribery, obstruction of justice and tax evasion. He was released in September.
Japan: 18 injuries on 747
Eighteen people have been injured by turbulence aboard a United Airlines Boeing 747 flying from Washington, D.C., to Japan. A police official at Tokyo’s Narita International Airport, said many of the injuries were bruises, but at least one person may have broken a leg. A United Airlines spokesman said about halfway into the 13-hour flight, the pilot advised passengers to put on their seat belts. A short time later, the plane “experienced moderate turbulence.” The plane with 263 people on board landed on schedule Saturday in Tokyo.
Philippines: Militants killed
Philippine marines killed six al-Qaida-linked militants early today in an assault on a rebel encampment on a southern island, a military commander said. A marine special operations platoon raided an Abu Sayyaf camp outside Maimbung township on Jolo island following intelligence reports that two wanted militant leaders, Umbra Jumdail and Albader Parad, were there, the official said. Three marines were wounded in the clash. Officials were trying to verify an initial report that one of the Abu Sayyaf commanders was among those killed, he said.
Saudi Arabia: Family court
The justice minister said his department is drafting a law that would allow female lawyers to argue legal cases in court for the first time. He said Saturday the bill will be issued in the coming days as part of the Saudi king’s “plan to develop the justice system.” The law would mark a major step for female lawyers in the kingdom. Currently, women law graduates can work in government offices and in court offices, but cannot argue cases before court. Under the new law, women would be allowed to argue cases on family-related issues.
Vatican: Catholics increasing
The Vatican said the number of Catholics as a percentage of the worldwide faithful is growing slightly. The Holy See said that from 2007 to 2008 Roman Catholics grew from 17.33 percent of the global population to 17.4 percent. The statistics are included in a yearbook presented Saturday to Pope Benedict XVI. The yearbook said the number of priests rose from 2000-2008 but that the number of nuns worldwide fell 7.8 percent.
From Herald news services
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