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Show Today'slssue Today is Monday, Jan. 5r 2009. Today's issue of The Utah Statesman is published especially for Stephanie Peterson, a junior majoring in composite teaching-biological science from Beaver, Utah. ClarifyCorrect The policy of The Utah Statesman is to correct any error made as soon as possible. If you find something you would like clarified or find unfair, please contact the editor at 797-1762 or TSC 105. Nflf/Bricfs" La. father accused of killing son owed $4K NEW ORLEANS (AP) - Danny Platt said he was under a lot of pressure. He apparently owed his estranged wife $4,000 in back child support. But there were no signs of stress when the 22-year-old father, accused of killing his 2-year-old son over the child support debt, went to pick up his little boy for a weekend visit, his mother said Sunday. On Friday, several hours after her son, Ja' Shawn, left, Daniella Powell received a phone call. It was Platt. He said their son had been kidnapped and quickly hung up. Powell called back in disbelief. She said her husband gave different accounts of the kidnapping. She asked if he had called police. He said he had, but when she called authorities, they hadn't heard from him. Police said Platt made up an elaborate story about his son being kidnapped by three men armed with AK-47 rifles late Friday night. Platt eventually confessed to the killing, telling authorities he "would kill either his wife or his child before he paid child support," Police Superintendent Warren Riley said Saturday. Richardson withdraws bid to be commerce secretary WASHINGTON (AP) - New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson abandoned his nomination to become commerce secretary under pressure of a grand jury investigation into a state contract awarded to his political donors - an investigation that threatened to embarrass President-elect Barack Obama, Richardson insisted he would be cleared in the investigation and Obama stood by the governor as an "outstanding public servant." But both men said it has become clear that a grand jury probe would not be finished in time for COMMERCE SECRETARY-DESIGNATE New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson is withdrawing his nomination to be President-elect Barack Richardson's confirmation hearObama's commerce secretary amid a grand jury investigation. AP Photo ings and could keep him from filling the post in a timely matter. commerce secretary to be nomiity about the discussions because Richardson's withdrawal was nated soon but didn't have a timethey were private. the first disruption of Obama's table. Gibbs said the problem with Aides to both men insisted that Cabinet process and the second Richardson's nomination wasn't Richardson made the decision "pay-to-play" investigation that a matter that those tasked to look to withdraw and was not pushed has touched Obama's transition to into his background missed some- out by Obama. But one Democrat the presidency. The president-elect thing. involved in discussions over the has remained above the fray in "I think the totality of our matter said transition officials both the case of arrested Illinois Cabinet picks is impressive and 1 became increasingly nervous durGov. Rod Blagojevich and the New think our vetters have done a good ing the last couple of weeks that Mexico case. job," Gibbs told reporters travelthe investigation was a bigger A federal grand jury is investiing with Obama as he moved to problem than Richardson had gating how a California company Washington on Sunday night. originally indicated. that contributed to Richardson's A senior Obama adviser said Richardson spokesman Gilbert political activities won a New Richardson gave assurances before Gallegos said the governor Mexico transportation conhe was nominated last month that believed the grand jury matter tract worth nearly $1.5 million. he would come out fine in the would be cleared up by this time, Richardson said in a statement investigation and the presidentbut decided to withdraw when it issued by the Obama transielect had no reason to doubt it. became clear it wouldn't. "It was tion office that the investigation But as the grand jury continued the governor's idea, and his decicould take weeks or months but to pursue the case, it became clear sion," Gallegos said. expressed confidence it will show that confirmation hearings would Obama said he has accepted he and his administration acted have to be delayed for six weeks or Richardson's withdrawal, first properly. even longer until the investigation reported by NBC News, "with - Obama spokesman Robert ' : . was complete, said the adviser, ~ • ••deepTegret:'1 - ' s " r . - - *. Gibbs said he expected a new speaking on condition of anonym- Search resumes for missing Ivins woman IVINS, Utah (AP) - The search resumed Sunday for a missing Ivins woman who set out for a New Year's Day hike and never returned. Police say Ann Gilbreath left home on foot early Thursday to hike nearby Red Mountain. Family members reported the 45year-old missing to police. Gilbreath s coat and scarf were found on the west edge of the mountain Friday and rescue teams have tracked her footprints on the trail leading up the mountain. Ivins Deputy Director of Public Safety Pete Kuhlmann says prints disappear near the top of the mountain. Family members say Gilbreath lives with her parents and has suffered some mental health problems. 12-year-old guilty of shooting mother 8 times SIERRA VISTA, Ariz. (AP) - A 12-yearold boy who fatally shot his mother after an argument over his chores was found guilty of premeditated murder. Judge James Conlogue found the boy guilty after a hearing Friday in Cochise County Superior Court in the southern Arizona town of Bisbee. The boy is not being identified because he was charged as a juvenile. Conlogue ruled that prosecutors had proved the boy acted intentionally and with premeditation when he shot Sara Madrid, 34, eight times on Aug. 1. The shooting happened after the boy had argued with his mother over his chores. Madrid had left the family home after the argument, and the boy got a .22-caliber pistol from her bedroom closet, waited for her to return and then repeatedly shot her, according to court testimony. Madrid's live-in boyfriend of 10 years, Alfonso Munoz, witnessed the shooting and said the boy gave him the empty gun afterward. Munoz, who helped raise the boy, said he had taught the child how to use the weapon for emergencies and self-defense. The boy's lawyer, Sanford Edleman, had argued that the boy did not intend to kill his mother but only wanted to get back at her for abusing him. ISRAELI I N F A N T R Y SOLDIERS enter the Gaza Strip from Israel, on a combat mission Sunday, Jan. 4, 2009. Israeli ground troops and tanks cut swaths through the Gaza Strip early Sunday, bisecting the coastal territory and surrounding its biggest city as the new phase of a devastating offensive against Hamas gained momentum. AP Photo Israeli troops, tanks slice deep into Gaza GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) - Thousands of Israeli troops backed by tanks and helicopter gunships surrounded Gaza's largest city and fought militants at close range Sunday, the first full day of an overwhelming ground offensive in the coastal territory. Israel said it has inflicted a heavy blow against Hamas as it expands a weeklong offensive meant to stop rocket fire on southern Israel. But spiraling civilian casualties among Palestinians fueled an international outcry, even as the U.S. blocked approval of a UN. Security Council statement Saturday night calling for an immediate cease-fire. Israel's ground forces moved in after nightfall Saturday following hours of intense, fiery artillery shelling to clear the way, and Hamas warned that its fighters would turn Gaza into an Israeli "graveyard." Palestinians reported clashes early Monday in eastern Gaza near the border with Israel. Hamas militants fired rocketpropelled grenades and mortars at advancing Israeli tanks. Explosions could be heard in Gaza City as aircraft attacked buildings. There was no immediate word about casualties. On Sunday, Israeli soldiers fought primarily in open areas in the launching zones used by Gaza's militants to send rockets raining down on Israeli cities. As the troops in three brigade-size formations moved in, residents of those Israeli cities began cautiously emerging from bomb shelters in hopes that the rocket fire would taper off. Backing up the troops, mobile artillery units fired shells that exploded in veils of white smoke over Gaza's urban skyline. Tanks pushed south of Gaza City as deep as the abandoned settlement of Netzarim, which Israel left along with other communities when it pulled out of Gaza in 2005. That effectively cut off Gaza City, the territory's largest population center with some 400,000 residents, from the rest of Gaza to the south. Israel's military chief said Hamas fighters were trying to draw soldiers deeper into Gaza's sprawling, densely packed urban areas, where the military said militants were shielding themselves behind civilians. "You entered like rats," Hamas spokesman Ismail Radwan told Israeli soldiers in a statement on Hamas' Al Aqsa TV. "Gaza will be a graveyard for you, God willing," he said. Israeli forces have not yet entered urban areas, said Brig. Gen. Avi Benayahu, the chief army spokesman. He warned, however, that the operation was not a "school trip" and would be long and demanding. The ground invasion risks turning into intense urban combat, with house-to-house fighting, sniper fire and booby-traps. Hamas is believed to have some 20,000 gunmen and has had time to prepare. To guard against hidden explosives, Israel's ground forces moved through fields and orchards with bomb-sniffing dogs. Since the ground assault began, 64 Palestinian civilians H See GAZA, page 14 Celebs&People NEW YORK (AP) - No name on the marquee was more pleasing to theater owners in 2008 than Will Smith, according to a survey of movie exhibitors. Smith, star of "Hancock" and "Seven Pounds," was voted the star who generated the most box office revenue for theaters in an annual survey by Quigley SMITH Publishing Co. Smith is only the second black actor to be chosen in the Quigley poll, which since 1932 has asked movie exhibitors to vote on the 10 stars who brought in the most business. Sidney Poitier topped the poll in 1968. Smith's superhero summer blockbuster, "Hancock," grossed $228 million. "Seven Pounds," currently in theaters, has pulled in a somewhat lackluster $39 million in two weeks. Following Smith, in order, were Robert Downey Jr. ("Iron Man," "Tropic Thunder"), Christian Bale ("The Dark Knight"), Shia LaBeouf ("Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull") and LaBeoufs "Indiana Jones" co-star Harrison Ford. The top 10 were rounded out by Adam Sandier, Reese Witherspoon, George Clooney, Angelina Jolie and Daniel Craig. FREEPORT, Bahamas (AP) -John Travolta said Sunday he and his wife Kelly Preston are "heartbroken" over the death of their chronically ill 16-year-old son, who collapsed at the family's vacation home on Grand Bahama. Police Superintendent Basil Rahming has said a caretaker found Jett Travolta unconscious in a bathroom late Friday morning and he was later pronounced dead at a Freeport hospital. The youth was last seen entering the bathroom on Thursday, according to Rahming spolice statement. "We are heartbroken that our time with him was so brief. We will cherish the time we had with him for the rest of our lives," Travolta and Preston said in their first public statement since Jett's death. "Jett was the most wonderful son that two parents could ever ask for and lit up the lives of everyone he encountered," said a statement posted Sunday on Travolta s Web site. NORMAL, ILL. (AP) - Police in Illinois say actor and playwright Sara Shepard has been arrested on preliminary charges of speeding and drunken driving. Police Lt. Mark Kotte says officers stopped Shepard early Saturday in the central Illinois town of Normal. Kotte says the 65-year-old Shepard was driving 16 mph over the 30 mph speed limit. Kotte says a breath test indicated Shepards blood-alcohol level was double the legal limit. LateNiteHumor David Letterman, Dec. 26,2008 Top Ten Things Overheard At TlieBush Family Christmas 10. "Condi's gooned on egg nog - mission accomplished." 9. "It was nice of the White House to hire Sarah Palin to work the coat check." 8. "When all is said and done, history will show that this get-together sucked" 7. "Cheney's stopping by - charge the defibrillator." 6. "Please don't spoil this occasion by talking about the economy, climate change, Iraq, Afghanistan, collapse of the Republican party, or approval ratings." 5. "He's spent three-and-a-half hours trying to pronounce 'Chanukah.'" 4. "The Ghost of Christmas Past is here to remind us how great things were under Clinton" 3. "Why is Barack Obama moving his stuff into the Oval Office?" 2. "The red cheeks. The huge belly - Al Gore's here!" 1. "What do you get for the guy who's wrecked everything?" |