Poughkeepsie Journal from Poughkeepsie, New York • Page 3A

Agenda The U.S. Conference of Mayors opens its 73rd annual meeting today in Chicago. Pouhkeepsie 3ournal Quote "He certainly turned hFmself in one minute from the Maltese Falcon to some form of domestic poultry." James Orteiulo Manhattan GOP leader, on opposition by N.Y. state Sen. Serphin Maltese to gay representation on a key state party committee JAMES KONRAD, NEWS EDITOR 845 437 4843 AFTER 4 P.M.

ikonradQpoughkee.ganneH.com FRIDAY, JUNE 10, 2005 3A IN BRIEF GOP weighs age hike for Social Security WASHINGTON Key Senate Republicans privately reviewed suggestions Thursday for raising the Social Security retirement age while limiting future benefits for upper wage earners, officials said, as they sought momentum for legislation atop President Bush's secondsecond term domestic agenda. At the same time, the prospects for swift Senate action on the controversial measure appeared to dim durjng the day, the result of internal GOP disagreement as well as implacable Democratic opposition to Bush's call for personal accounts underSocial Security. "I don't look for it until later oh in the fall," said Sen. Trent Lott, Last of long halted Judge picks get OK WASHINGTON The GOP controlled Senate on Thursday approved former Alabama Attorney General William Pryor and Michigan nominees David McKeague and Richard Griffin for seats on the UJS. Appeals Court, completing an unprecedented run of long delayed judicial confirmations.

With a vote of 5345, Pryor was approved for 11th US. Circuit Court of Appeals, the Atlanta based court that handles federal appeals from Alabama, Georgia and Florida. Griffin was confirmed 95 0 and McKeague 96 0, both for seats on the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati bbbbbbbbt i. "bbbk HfoM iMsHI Abuse cases cost church $1 billion Outstanding claims likely to hike figure The Associated Press The cost to the U.S. Roman Catholic Church of sexual predators in the priesthood has climbed past $1 billion, according to tallies by American bishops and an Associated Press review of known settlements.

And the figure is guaranteed to rise, probably by teiis of millions of dollars, because hundreds more claims are pending. Dioceses around the country have spent at least $1.06 billion on settlements with victims, verdicts, legal fees, counseling and other expenses since 1950. A $120 million compensation fund announced last week by the Diocese of Covington, Ky, pushed the figure past the billionbillion dollar mark, A large share of the costs at least $378 million have been incurred in just the past three years, when the crisis erupted in the Boston Archdiocese and spread nationwide. The Rev. Thomas Doyle, who left a promising career with the church to help represent victims, had warned the bishops in 1985 that abuse costs could eventually exceed $1 billion.

"Nobody believed us," said Doyle, a canon lawyer. "I remember one archbishop telling me, 'My feeling about this, Tom, is no one's ever going to sue the Catholic Asked about the figure, a spokesman for the U.S, Conference of Catholic Bishops, Monsignor Francis Man iscalco, said church leaders believe the payouts "should be just to all sides." He said victims deserve compensation, but the church must also have enough money to continue serving parishioners. Meeting planned The bishops are set to meet in Chicago next week to review their plan for protecting youngsters. The exact financial effect on the church is hard to determine, since each diocese owns property separately and settles cases on its own. Insurance policies cover policies differ across the country.

In many places, the coverage has run out. However, the church avoided one financial hit: A feared widespread boycott by donors never happened. The number of donors has' in the past few years, but the amount contributed has held steady. The Associated Press Richard Hawes awaits his case in court Thursday. Man allegedly takes sex photos of 2 MANCHESTER, NIL A man who police say took sexually explicit pictures of his 2 year old granddaughter was arrested on child pom charges after he printed the pictures at a drug store and a clerk found the images, police said.

The arrest of Richard Hawes, 63, came after a frantic police investigation intothe identity of the girl in the photos. Fearing she was in danger, police finally released nonsexual photos of the toddler. Relatives saw the pictures Wednesday on national television and the girl's father called authorities. Hawes entered no plea to five counts of possessing child pornography. Alleged hunter killer claims self defense HAYWARD, Wis.

A Hmong immigrant accused of killing six deer hunters during a confrontation in the woods was trying to "defend myself and my race," according to a letter to a newspaper reporter. Chai Soua Vang, 36, also wrote he feels badly about the hunters who died, according to letters and a transcript filed Thursday in court by the prosecution, Vang has pleaded not guilty in the deaths during a confrontation over trespassing Nov. 21 in northern Wisconsin. Falling tree limb klHs man In his bed SOUTH BEND, Ind. A large tree limb crashed through a roof and killed a man in his bed.

Police called to the home of David WetzeUlon Wednesday night found abrancb.3 feet to 5 feet in diameter lying across the man's chest. The tree appeared to be healthy, and investigators did not immediately know what caused the limb to fall. Journal wire services I i The Rad the Iatest WlRE headlines from uwiniwtf xhe Associated Press on thePoughkeepsie Journal's Web site at www. poughkeepsiejoumal.com kgaaaaw i "SBSNteufSKKIVW TaBaaaBBBBBBBBBai mbbbbbbbV'wbbbbbbbbbbbbuJbbW 'w3mHI mrMflKEkrm 8 V'bbbbbbhbbbbbbbbbV Tf jr yHlhM JafcflUSfr i jaaaBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBl ZIZ! rNh Associated Press photos A yellow ribbon hangs on a tree in Oranjestad, Aruba, Thursday, in remembrance of still missing 18 year old Natalee Holloway. Aruba detainees are now suspects Arrests made as teen still missing The Associated Press ORANJESTAD, Aruba Aruba's prime minister said Thursday finding a missing Alabama teenager was the' country's "No.

1 goal," andt police arrested three youngi men who acknowledged giving her a ride the night she disappeared. Prime Minister Nelson Oduber said his government was working closely with U.S. authorities' to solve the case of 18 year old 'Natalee Holloway, who dropped, from sight more than a week ago. Oduber said Holloway's disappearance had left the island nation "in a state of shock and disbelief." Those detained Thursday were two brothers from Suriname and a Dutch student who is the son of a high ranking Dutch justice official. The prime minister, who said he had met with Holloway's relatives, pledged police would not exclude anyone from their investigation.

The 17 year old met Holloway at a casino in her hotel, the Holiday Inn, two nights before she disappeared on May 30, Aruban police Cmdr. Jahn van der Straaten told reporters. In Mountain Brook, Ala, Holloway's hometown, teens who went to Aruba with her on a graduation trip were quoted as saying Itearaji Bush stumps for Patriot Act A 17 year old Dutch born man is seen with a towel over his head as he is taken away in a police car in front of his home Thursday In Noord, Aruba. the Dutch man was at several places the group visited, including the restaurant bar where the honors student was last seen. Marcia Twitty, Holloway's aunt, said the Alabama students recognized the Dutch detainee from photos shown them by FBI agents.

"They had seen him around during the trip. He was just a local guy in the bar and the casino where all the kids were just kind of hanging out," she said. Attorney General Caren Janssen said the three men were arrested about 6 a.m. but refused to name them or say on what grounds they were being held. Authorities previously described them as students.

"The three people have been arrested as suspects," chief government spokesman Ruben Trapenberg said. Police also impounded gray Honda; Holloway's friends reported last seeing 'her leave in a silver gar. President calls for permanence Gannett News Service COLUMBUS, Ohio President Bush said here Thursday that unless Congress makes permanent the provisions of the USA Patriot Act that are set to expire Dec 31, efforts to stop future terrorist attacks would be imperiled. "The terrorist threats against us will not expire at the end of the year," be said at a highway patrol academy. "Hie terrorists are patient and determined.

hoping we get complacent" Bush's speech lasted only 23 minutes and he spoke to 150 law enforcement officers. But Bush's target audience was members of Congress who are deciding now whether to extend and expand the law that was passed by big margins weeks after 911 to give law enforcement more power to pursue terrorists. Opponents say the law encroaches on civil liberties and has led to abuses. "Everyone was in such a state of panic in passing it" that repercussions weren't adequately considered, said Lisa Graves, a senior counsel at the American CmlXiberties Union. Bush said the Patriot Act has helped convict more (aaMftaaaaJy tJaBBaVaail The Associated Press President Bush speaks Thursday at the Ohio State Highway Patrol Academy in Columbus.

than 200 terrorists and broken up terrorist cells in Florida, New York, Oregon and Virginia. Bush defended provisions that are set to expire: Breaking down the wall that barred sharing of information between law enforcement and intelligence agencies. Giving investigators access to suspected terrorists' phone and credit card records and allowing a single judge's authorization for wiretaps to apply to every phone a suspect uses. Ending the prospect that Internet providers 'Could be sued for sharing threatening mails with authorities is sense he said. Report critical of missed pre 911 opportunities Tropical stolen season opens with 'Arlene' The Associated Press PENSACOLA, Fla.

The Atlantic hurricane season's first named storm headed north Thursday toward the Gulf Coast as Florida residents, still recovering frojn lasf year's devastation, watched with a wary eye, Tropical Storm Arlene, which strengthened from a tropical depression that formed Wednesday, was centered about 110 miles south southeast of the western tip of Cuba at 8 p.m. It was moving north at about 8 mph. The large storm's wind and rain extended 140 miles to the north and east from its center. Eastern Cuba, the Florida Keys and parts of south Florida were getting rain from the system Thursday night. Arlene had maximum sustained winds of 40 mph and was, at least for now, mostly a rain threat, forecasters said.

The storm could drop as much as 5 to 10 inches of rain, meteorologists said. Floods, slides possible Forecasters earlier warned that heavy rain in Nicaragua and Honduras could cause flash floods and mud slides. The storm was expected to enter the Gulf of Mexico by today a path that prompted authorities to warn residents of coastal communities to beware. "Our best estimate of the track possibilities are that anywhere from Louisiana to the Florida Panhandle could expect the center to be approaching them by the middle of the weekend," National Hurricane Center specialist Richard Knabb said. Forecasters said Arlene was likely to remain a tropical storm, but Navy meteorologist Lt Dave Roberts said there was an "outside shot" the system could develop into a weak hurricane.

Panhandle residents were Storm names When a tropical cyclone hits winds of at feast 39 mph, it assigned a name. Storm names for the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season, June 1 through Nov. 30 Arlene Harvey Ophelia Bret Irene Philippe Cindy i Jose. Rita Dennis Emily Franklin Gert Katrina Lee Mana Nate Stan Tammy Vince Wilma Source National Oceanic ami Atmospheric Administration Tl Auociatod Pren told to prepare for possible heavy rain and flooding this weekend. The Associated Press WASHINGTON The FBI missed at least five opportunities before the Sept.

11 attacks to uncover vital intelligence information about the terrorists, and the bureau didn't aggressively pursue the information it did have, the Justice Department's inspector general says in a newly released critique of government missteps. The inspector faulted the for not knowing about the presence of two of the Sept. 11 terrorists in the United States and for not following up on an agent's theory that Osama bin Laden was sending students to U.S. flight training schools. The agent's theory turned out to be precisely what bin Laden did.

"The way the FBI handled these matters was a significant failure that hindered the FBI's chances of being able to detect and prevent the Sept. 11 attacks," Inspector General Glenn Fine said. When the bureau did dis cover the presence of hijackers Nawaf al Hazmi and Khalid al Mihdhar in the' United States shortly before the attacks, "the FBI's investigation then was conducted without much urgency or priority," the report concluded. Internal problems The five missed opportunities in regard to the two hijackers stemmed from information sharing problems between the FBI and CIA and problems inside the FBI's counterterrorism program. The report was especially critical of the bureau for not knowing about the presence of two of the 19 hijackers who were living openly in San Diego in 2000 and who "should have drawn some scrutiny from the FBI," the report said.

The report's findings mirror other investigations by Congress and an independent commission into why the US. government failed to thwart the attacks. New chief's death shows drug gangs' murderous muscle By Olga Rodriguez The Associated Press NUEVO LAREDO, Mexico Alejandro Dominguez was the only person brave enough to be police chief Hours after he took office, assailants riddled his body with dozens of bullets in this city wracked by a turf battle between Mexico's two main drug gangs. The streets were virtually empty Thursday, a day after the killing, with only a handful of federal police armed with rifles and autdmatic weapons making routine patrols in pickup trucks and army vehicles. "We are defenseless," INSIDE LOOK MEXICAN DRUG WARS attorney Zorina Medrano said at city "It's obvious that the criminals are better organized (than the authorities.) They sent the national army and even, they weren't respected.

Who else can we ask for help?" Nuevo Laredo, across the border from Laredo, Texas, is the busiest border crossing for cargo trucks heading to the United States from Mexico. But frequent shootouts have virtually halted the flood of US. tourists who normally pour over the border to drink, shbp for arts and crafts and visit the red light district. Since January, more than 60 people were killed yi this city of nearly 350,000, including Dominguez and six other police officials. A man and a woman were shot around midnight in the continuing violence.

The United States has warned tourists and others to be careful in the border region, and U.S. officials have said the violence could threaten trade. Dominguez, 52, knew the odds but thought he could beat them. "I don't owe anybody anything," he said before taking office. "My duty is to the citizenry.

I think those who should be afraid are those who have been compromised." When he climbed into his pickup truck late Wednesday, a group of men pulled up in three dark Chevy Suburbans and blocked'his car, a witness told reporters. Sudden ambush The assailants opened fire from inside their cars, then got out to shoot more, said the witness, who asked not to be identified for fear of retribution. Dominguez was hit dozens of times. Then the gunmen climbed back in their cars and headed west slowly, lights turned off, the witness said. Officials said they had no suspects in the death, although the assault rifles used were similar to those popular among drug hit men.

Most city officials nervously channeled questions to Mayor Daniel Pena, who spent the day in private meetings. But councilman Joaquim Trevino did speak out, calling on President Vicente Fox to do more to help end the violence, even though the federal government sent in 700 soldiers and federal agents two months ago. "The reality is that there isn't anyone who wants this job," he said. i3 The Associated Press In this image released by a Mexican newspaper, Alejandro Dominguez takes the oath of office as police chief of Nueyo Laredo, just hours before being shot dead..