The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com

Monday, September 17, 2007 - 3A

NEWS BRIEFS
WASHINGTON
Bush nominates
judge as his third
attorney general
President Bush has settled on
Michael B. Mukasey, a retired
federal judge from New York, to
replace Alberto Gonzales as attor-
ney general and will announce his
selection today, a person familiar
with the president's decision said
last night.
Mukasey, who has handled
terrorist cases in the U.S. legal
system for more than a decade,
would become the nation's top law
enforcement officer if confirmed by
the Senate. Mukasey has the sup-
port of some key Democrats, and it
appeared Bush was trying to avoid
a bruising confirmation battle.
The 66-year-old New York
native, who is a judicial adviser to
Republican presidential hopeful
Rudy Giuliani, woulid take charge
of a Justice Department where
morale is low following months
of investigations into the firings
of nine U.S. attorneys and Gonza-
les' sworn testimony on the Bush
administration's terrorist surveil-
lance program.
BAGHDAD
Sunni insurgents
raid Shiite villages
The U.S. military yesterday
announced the arrest of a sus-
pect in the killing of a sheik who
spearheaded the U.S.-backed
Sunni revolt against al-Qaida in
Iraq, even as the terror network
launched a campaign of violence
during the hoV month of Rama-
dan.
Dozens of suspected Sunni
insurgents raided Shiite villag-
es north of Baghdad, killing at
least 15 people and setting homes
ablaze, police said. A bicycle bomb
exploded at a cafe serving tea and
food during the Ramadan fast in
northern Iraq.
The surge of bloodshed - with
54 people killed or found dead
nationwide - occurred a day after
al-Qaida announced a new cam-
paign aimed at countering U.S. and
Iraqi claims the terror movement
is reeling following the U.S.-led
offensives around Baghdad.
But the U.S. military insisted it
had the group on the run and said
a man believed responsible for the
assassination of a U.S.-allied Sunni
triballeader in Anbar province had
been arrested north of Baghdad.
DETROIT
Talks between
UAW, GM heat up
Contract negotiations between
General Motors Corp. and the
United Auto Workers reached a
critical point yesterday as local
union officials hoped for an agree-
ment but prepared once again for a
possible strike today.
Leaders at factories across
the country received conflicting
reports out of Detroit yesterday
afternoon. Several reported prog-
ress and optimism but said that if
no agreement was reached Sunday
night, the union would walk out
this morning. A local in Arlington,
Texas, however, told its members
to report as scheduled today.
At a union meeting yesterday
afternoon, UAW Local 735 Presi-
dent Chuck Rogers told members

from a GM transmission complex
near Ypsilanti that he was told by
one of the negotiators that if no
agreement was reached yesterday,
they will go on strike.
PHUKET, Thailand
Plane crashes near
Thai tourist site
A plane carrying foreign tour-
ists crashed yesterday as it tried
to land in stormy weather on the
resort island of Phuket, engulfing
some passengers in flames while
others kicked out windows to
escape the smoke-filled cabin. At
least 88 people were killed.
The budget One-Two-Go Air-
lines flight was carrying 123 pas-
sengers and seven crew members
from the capital Bangkok to Phuket
when it skidded off the runway
in driving wind and rain, officials
said. It then ran through a low
retaining wall and split in two.
"As soon as we hit, everything
went dark and everything fell,"
said Mildred Furlong, 23, a wait-
ress from British Columbia, Can-
ada. The plane started filling with
smoke and fires broke out, she said.
A passenger in front of her caught
fire, while one in the back kicked
out a plane window.
- Compiled from
Daily wire reports
3,780
Number of American service
members who have died in the
=War in Iraq, according to The
Associated Press. The Department
'of Defense did not identify any
casualties this weekend.

Michigan state
House continues
tax squabbles

THE CULTURE OF FOOD

Despite possible
shutdown, little
compromise
LANSING (AP) - A weary,
frustrated state House remained
sharply divided over a proposed
income tax increase yesterday as
the potential grew for a partial
government shutdown.
Facing a Sept. 30 deadline for
eliminating a $1.7 billion deficit
and adopting a 2007-08 budget,
Gov. Jennifer Granholm and
Democratic House leaders con-
tinued their search for Republi-
cans willing to support their tax
plan.
GOP leader Craig DeRoche
insisted Republicans would
remain unwavering in their
opposition.
The House remained in ses-
sion for a third consecutive day,
with many members forsaking
suits and dresses for jeans and

sweat shirts. Members of the
clerk's staff said they could not
recall the House meeting on Sun-
day before.
Lawmakers took a four-hour
morning break so members could
rest and attend religious services.
Bylate afternoon, there had been
no floor debate as negotiations
continued behind the scenes.
Lawmakers wandered in and
out of the chamber, snacking and
talking in small groups.
Floor leader Steve Tobocman
(D-Detroit) said he hoped for
a deal by midnight last night or
early today.
But the voting board showed
little movement on a bill that
would boost the personal income
tax rate from 3.9 percent to 4.6
percent, an increase of $350 a
year for an individual earning
$50,000.
Forty-seven Democrats were
in favor and 11 undecided, with
49 Republicans opposed. At least
56 votes were needed for passage
of a hike.

The Michigan Gospel Choral sings at the 2007 Taste of Culture event yesterday at the Trotter Multicultural Center. The Office
of Multi-Ethnic Student Affairs hosted the event, which used different foods to celebrate different cultures.

Asian Martial Arts Studio
208 S. 4th Ave.
(Close to Campus in downtown Ann Arbor)
Aikido , Okinawan Karate , Kungfu and Tai Chi
For Men and Women
Since 1974
734-994-3620
Website: a2amas.com -
"not another one!"
Michigan Head - Pain & Neurological Institute
is conducting an in-clinic research study evaluating an
investigational use of an inhaled medication for migraines.
* Participants must be 18 to 65 years old and experience
one to eight headaches per month.
* A total of three clinic visits is required.
. visit 2 ts a four- to five- hour treatment visit while having
an acute headache.
* Participants must be available to come to the clinic during
, nornal business hours (8 am. to 3 p.m.).
You will be compensated tt to $300 for your time and travel
expenses. For more information, please call a study coordinator
at (734) 677-6000, option 4.

r

rurrY

.I