The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com Wednesday, March 17, 2010 - 3A NEWS BRIEFS DETROIT Honda recalls 410,000 mini-vans and small trucks Honda Motor Co. will recall more than 410,000 Odyssey mini- vans and Element small trucks because of braking system prob- lems that could make it tougher to stop the vehicle if not repaired. The recall includes 344,000 Odysseys and 68,000 Elements from the 2007 and 2008 model years. Honda said in a statement that over time, brake pedals can feel "soft" and must be pressed closer to the floor to stop the vehicles. Left unrepaired, the problem could cause loss of braking power and possibly a crash, Honda spokesman Chris Martin said. "It's definitely not operating the way it should, and it's safety sys- tems, so it brings it to the recall sta- tus," he said. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has report- ed three crashes due to the prob- lem with minor injuries and no deaths, Martin said. Honda notified NHTSA of the recall yesterday, he said. DETROIT 45 Detroit schools slated for closing under district plan A $1 billion plan from Detroit Public Schools' emergency finan- cial manager calls for closing 45 schools during the next five years, including two of the city's oldest traditional high schools. Robert Bobb plans to release the complete list and possible closing dates today. Bobb's five-year master facili- ties plan calls for closing 45 schools between 2010-2015, renovating some and consolidating others into smaller and newer buildings as the district prepares for a projected enrollment drop of about 30,000 students. Osborn, Kettering and North- western, along with the massive 83-year-old Cooley and 95-year-old Southwestern high schools even- tually, would close for good. Four alternative high schools also would close. SANTIAGO, Chile Chile government reports earthquake and tsunami left 700 dead The earthquake and tsunami that struck Chile last month killed 700 people and caused damages of* nearly $30 billion, according to the government. Andthe ground hasn't stopped shaking. A magnitude-6.7 aftershock rocked south-central Chile Monday night, adding to the raw nerves and mounting damages caused by the Feb. 27 quake. Chile's Interior Minister Rodri- go Hinzpeter updated the known death and damage toll on yester- day, saying 200 people previously listed as missing would be added to the count of 500 previously known dead. "In economic terms, this is the worst catastrophe Chile has suf- fered," Hinzpeter added. He esti- mated that damages could reach nearly $30 billion, with insurance covering just $5 billion to $8 billion. NAIROBI, Kenya Somali pirates free North Korean chemical tanker Somali pirates freed a North Korean chemical tanker and its 28 crew yesterday after the owners delivered a ransom, the European Union Naval Force said. The MV Theresa VIII was hijacked last November, northwest of the island nation of the Sey- chelles. The vessel had not asked for assistance but warships were moni- toring the situation, said Cmdr. John Harbour. He could not pro- vide details on the ransom. Also yesterday, the EU Naval Force said it intercepted two pirate groups. The two groups, each con- sisting of a mothership and two skiffs, were tracked by maritime patrol aircraft after commercial ships reported attempted attacks. Seventeen pirates in total had been detained, Harbour said. - Compiled from Daily wire reports A Vatican completes probe into scandal by Legionaries TARATODRAS-WHITEHILL/AP U.S. Vice President Joseph Biden gestures as he speaks in Tel Aviv last week. Officials from both the U.S. and Israel are cur- rently discussing potential ways to reach a settlement to one of the worst disputes between the two countries in decades. U.S ., Israel atmtto heal nworst rf nyears Clinton: Officials in midst of 'intense talks' to reach settlement WASHINGTON (AP) - The United States and Israel stepped back yesterday from their deep- est rift in decades, a dispute over new Jewish homes in a tradi- tionally Arab part of Jerusalem that quickly became a test of U.S. and Israeli commitment to peace talks and one another. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said U.S. and Israeli officials are in intense talks about resuming peace negotiations, moving past the breach opened when Israel announced last week, during a visit to Jerusalem by Vice Presi- dent Joe Biden, that it will build 1,600 more Jewish houses in east Jerusalem. Israeli officials privately say Prime Minster Benjamin Netan- yahu - Washington-bound next week - is willing to go to some lengths to-calm tensions. U.S. officials are also looking for a way to finesse their demand that Israel cancel the construction. There is no obvious half-mea- sure, and both countries are wary of looking weak to the other, to important political constituen- cies at home and to the Arab world. Still, the rhetoric from both capitals suddenly softened. "We have a close, unshakable bond between the United States and Israel and between the American and Israeli people," Clinton said. "We share common values and a commitment to a democratic future for the world and we are both committed to a two-state solution. But that doesn't mean that we're going to agree." Clinton has been the leading voice of U.S. outrage over the epi- sode, which embarrassed Biden and called into question Israel's stated willingness to resume talks with the United States as an intermediary. She has called the announcement an insult and dressed down Netanyahu by telephone last week. The United States wants to see a gesture from Israel to the Palestinians and a statement that the biggest issues dividing those two parties, including the fate of Jerusalem, will be on the table for talks. "Israel appreciates and values the warm words of Secretary of State Clinton about the deep ties between Israel and the U.S. and the commitment of the U.S. to Israel's security," government spokesman Mark Regev said in Jerusalem.""Concerning the commitment to peace - Israel's government has proved over the past year its commitment to peace, in words and in deeds." For President Barack Obama, the unusually public fight tests his willingness to take Israel to task in the name of Mideast peace, even if it means angering some powerful political forces whose support is necessary to further his domestic agenda. For his part, Netanyahu is left to choose between his desire to populate east Jerusalem with Jews and his need not to alienate his all-important U.S. ally. Netanyahu's looming visit leaves little time to paper over the rift. If Netanyahu gets a cold shoulder, he has little incentive to scrap settlements the United States sees as an affront to peace talks. If he skips the trip entirely, the Obama administration risks a backlash from the pro-Israel lobby and its congressional back- ers, many of whom think Wash- ington has already taken the spat too far. The dispute exposed ten- sions that have been simmer- ing between the two allies since the election of a liberal-minded U.S. administration and a right- leaning Israeli government more than a year ago. The United States views the housing expan- sion as a deliberate complication to an eventual peace deal. Palestinians want east Jerusa- lem to be the capital of an even- tual independent state. "Though we differ on certain issues, our discussions are being conducted in an atmosphere of cooperation as befitting long- standing relations between allies," Israel's ambassador to Washington, Michael Oren, said last night. "I am confident that we will overcome these differ- ences shortly." Netanyahu yesterday ordered his ministers and spokespeople not to talk publicly about the building plan. However, Interior Minister Eli Yishai, whose office issued the order for the new homes, did agree to speak to The Associated Press about other issues, such as the need to calm tensions with the U.S. "I am very sorry that there is an escalation now and we are taking many measures to calm this," he said. However, he added that "Israel is independent and can do what it thinks is right." An AP reporter'was poked in the back by a Yidhai aide when he asked the minister about the construction plan. The minister then abruptly ended the inter- view, removing a microphone from his lapel. The Obama administration's Mideast peace envoy canceled a trip to Israel and the West Bank this week due to what the State Department said were schedul- ing conflicts. Clinton played down a con- nection to U.S. pique, but admin- istration officials acknowledged a link, saying there was no point in sending former Sen. George Mitchell now because Israel had not budged on the U.S. demand to roll back the planned settle- ments. Clinton restated U.S. "dismay and disappointment" with the announcement but disputed the perception of the relationship in crisis. "I don't buy that," she said. There are no current plans for Netanyahu to meet with Obama before his departure for his over- seas trip, nor with Biden. Vatican officials say investigators will report to Holy See this week with results VATICAN CITY (AP) - Vati- can investigators have completed their probe into the Legionaries of Christ, the conservative order that was once hailed by Rome but fell into scandal after it revealed that its founder had fathered a child and had molested seminar- ians. The Vatican said yesterday its five investigators are to report back to Rome this week about their examination of the Legion- aries' 120 seminaries, schools and communities around the globe. In a statement, the Legionaries said the first phase of the inquiry was over and that a final report would still take several months for Rome to complete. While the Vatican's recom- mendations are unknown, Vati- can analysts have speculated that the Holy See would at the very least appoint new leadership for the order and outline a series of reforms. Its recommendations will be closely watched, given the current focus on the Vatican's handling the growing sex abuse crisis convulsing the church in Europe. Pope Benedict XVI ordered the probe last year after prominent Legionaries members acknowl- edged its late founder, the Rev. Marcial Maciel of Mexico, had fathered a daughter and had sexu- ally abused seminarians. Since then, a Mexican woman has come forward saying she had a lengthy relationship with Maciel, that he fathered her two sons, adopted a third and sexually abused two of them. The disclosure of Maciel's dou- ble life has caused enormous tur- moil inside the Legionaries and its lay affiliate, Regnum Christi, par- ticularly because the leadership has been less than forthcoming with information. The order had essentially created a personality cult around Maciel, teaching that he was a hero whose life should be studied and emulated. In the wake of the revelations, the order has taken down pictures of Maciel that used to adorn its institutes, edited its Web sites and reviewed editions of books that heavily quoted from Maciel's writ- ings, the Legionaries' New York and Atlanta directors wrote in a letter to Regnum Christi members in September. Still, several U.S. dioceses have either restricted the Legionaries' work or set limits on its recruit- ment practices. The archdiocese of Miami has barred Legionaries priests from exercising any minis- try whatsoever. The Vatican investigation was extraordinary since it only launches a so-called "apostolic visitation" when it considers a group unable to correct a major problem on its own. In 2002, at the height of the clergy sex abuse scandal in the' United States, the Vatican ordered' an evaluation of all U.S. seminar- ies. More recently, it has ordered one for U.S. women's religions orders. Five bishops appointed by- Rome spent eight months visit- ing Legionaries communities to get firsthand knowledge of the order and its work. In a state- ment yesterday, the Legionaries said over the next several months. there may be further communica-, tions between the investigators and Rome before the pope "gives the instructions that he considers suitable and necessary." Even after the revelations came out, questions remained about whether any current leaders cov- ered up Maciel's misdeeds and- whether any donations were used to facilitate the misconduct or pay off victims. One of the Mexican sons alleg- edly fathered and abused by- Maciel, Jose Raul Gonzalez, has said he asked the Legionaries of Christ for $26 million because Maciel had promised him a trust' fund when he died and as finan- cial compensation for the alleged sexual abuse. The Legionaries was formed in 1941 and became one of the most influential and fastest-growing orders in the Roman Catholic Church. Pope John Paul II cham. pioned the group, which became known for its orthodox theol- ogy, military-style discipline,- fundraising prowess and success recruiting priests at a time when, seminary enrollment was gener ally dismal. New! Thai-style noodle soups Si- f Lotus Thai Restaurant 2803 Oak Valley Or, close to Target 734-668-2828 Try the fastest growing, hip & fun Free clinics, no-contact flat-ball game' party and pick-up games Spring Bonanza Saturday, March 20 Noon-5 PM Fuller Park Give it a Try! A2Ultimate.org GOP says Dems' plan on health bill abuses rules Pelosi ponders using unorthodox methods to pass health care reform WASHINGTON (AP) - It is a brazen abuse of Congress' rules. Or a legitimate tactic used many times by both parties. Republicans and Democrats have sharply divergent views about the method being contem- plated by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi for a final vote on President Barack Obama's health care over- haul perhaps this week. Using rhetoric reminiscent of the tea party movement, the GOP says Democrats are fla- grantly ignoring the will of the American people by trying to pass the legislation to reshape the U.S. health care system with- out a direct House vote on the bill approved by the Senate in December. Democrats responded yes- terday that the moves they are contemplating have been used by both parties numerous times to pass legislation such as huge increases in the government's ability to borrow money, restric- tions on immigrant workers and creation of a presidential line- item veto, which was later ruled unconstitutional. The attacks by GOP lead- ers underscore an offensive by Republicans hoping to either derail Obama's top legislative priority by scaring off waver- ing Democratic lawmakers, or to bank arguments they can employ against Democratic candidates in this fall's congressional cam- paigns. Top House Democrats are hunting votes so the cham- ber can finally send Obama the 11-year, nearly $1 trillion health care bill the Senate approved on Christmas Eve. Democrats also want to send him a smaller, sec- ond bill changing the overhaul legislation, such as easing a new tax on high-priced health insur- ance policies and killing extra Medicaid payments to Nebraska that have become a symbol of Washington's backroom deal- making. House Democrats worry that a direct vote on the broad Sen- ate bill would prove unpopular among voters. To try easing the political pain, House leaders are considering a process in which the same House vote approving the rules for debating the smaller fix-it bill would automatically send the huge Senate-approved measure to Obama. Pelosi, D-Calif., seemed to give Republicans an easy target when she told liberal bloggers Monday that she liked the idea "because people don't have to vote on the Senate bill." House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, said the Dem- ocratic effort to avoid a direct House vote on the health over- haul bill was "the ultimate in Washington power grabs, a leg- islative ploy that lets Democrats defy the will of the American people." Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, accused Pelosi of seeking "an immaculate conception" that would make it appear they hadn't actually voted on the health bill.