05/12/2008

J.D. Tippit's widow sees his name on officers' memorial for first time
More than four decades have passed since Marie Tippit lost her husband to John F. Kennedy’s assassin on that fateful November day in Dallas, and on Monday, she got to see J.D. Tippit’s name etched alongside those of thousands of other fallen police officers.

05/13/2008

Families make case for vaccine link to autism
WASHINGTON – Parents claiming that childhood vaccines cause autism should not be rewarded by the courts when the scientific community has already rejected any link, government lawyers argued Monday on the first day of a hearing in federal court.

05/12/2008

Stamps rise to 42 cents today
An extra penny for your thoughts. Mailing a letter costs a penny more this week, with the price of a first-class stamp rising to 42 cents Monday.

05/11/2008

Texas polygamist sect seeks Bush's help
A member of an embattled polygamous church likened a raid by Texas authorities to an act of terrorism in a letter to President Bush.

05/12/2008

At least 22 die in weekend tornadoes
Stunned tornado survivors picked through the little that was left of their towns Sunday after storms tore across the Plains and South, killing at least 22 people in three states and leaving behind a trail of destruction and stories of loss.

Stimulus checks come with complications
When Maulit Shelat heard about plans to pump up the economy by sending out checks, he sat down with his wife and set priorities: first up, remodeling the bathroom.

Nation briefs

05/11/2008

53 illegal immigrants held against will in Phoenix
Arizona authorities on Sunday found 53 illegal immigrants in a Phoenix home being held against their will by suspected smugglers demanding more money for their release.

Wildfire in central New Mexico fully contained
A wildfire that burned 59 homes and more than 21 square miles in central New Mexico's Manzano Mountains was fully contained Sunday.

Gospel singer Dottie Rambo dies in tour bus wreck in Missouri
Joyce "Dottie" Rambo, an influential gospel singer and songwriter, died early Sunday when her tour bus ran off the highway and struck an embankment. She was 74.

05/10/2008

Immigration raids catch citizens and legal residents
Two U.S. citizens and one legal permanent resident were among those arrested last month in Mount Pleasant, Texas, during a federal immigration crackdown targeting identity fraud at poultry giant Pilgrim's Pride.

Clinton continues to fight as superdelegates flock to Obama
Barack Obama caught up to his rival Friday in the scramble for superdelegates, a major symbolic blow to Hillary Rodham Clinton's claim that she can still win the Democratic presidential nomination. But the 13 Texans already in her camp held firm.

05/09/2008

Travelers feeling weighed down with airline fees

MICHAEL AINSWORTH / Special to DMN

Brothers Mark (left) and Bill Shaw attempt to check in more than one bag at the American Airlines terminal at D/FW Airport on Wednesday.

Starting Monday, most major airlines began charging $25 for a second checked bag to domestic passengers who aren't elite frequent fliers or sitting in premium class. American Airlines added a similar fee that begins next Monday.

U.S. housing rebound is a long way off, industry leaders say
Economists and housing industry leaders meeting in Dallas this week predict it will be very late 2008 or into 2009 before the battered home market begins to recover.

Wedding excitement builds near Bush ranch
While man residents of Crawford share a genuine hope for the future happiness of presidential daughter Jenna Bush, who’s being married tonight, many love the idea that, for them, it signifies an ending.

Flu vaccine makers to set new doses record for next season
Flu vaccine manufacturers expect to make a record number of doses for next flu season despite concerns that demand may drop because this year's vaccine was largely ineffective.

Suicide rate among doctors thought to be higher than that of general populus
An estimated 300 to 400 U.S. doctors kill themselves each year – a suicide rate thought to be higher than in the general population, although exact figures are hard to come by.

05/07/2008

Oregon parents hear Afghanistan gun battle on voice mail
OTIS, Ore. – A couple checking their voice mail found a frightening three-minute recording of their son caught in a battle in Afghanistan.