1 9 The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com Thursday, January 5, 2012 - 3A * The Michigan Daily - michigandailycom Thursday, January 5, 2012 - 3A NEWS BRIEFS DETROIT ACLU to challenge domestic-partner healthcare law The American Civil Liberties Union announced yesterday that it will file a lawsuit to challenge a new Michigan law that bans pub- lic health insurance for domestic partners of some government employees. The ACLU said it would discuss the case at a news conference last Thursday in Detroit. Republican Gov. Rick Snyder signed the law on Dec.22. The ban mostly affects local governments and public schools and applies to health insurance and other benefits for unmarried partners of the employees, same sex or not. The ACLU has called the law "mean-spirited and cruel." PHOENIX Sheriff asks DOJ for proof of racial profiling claims An Arizona sheriff whose office * has been accused of a wide range of civil rights violations condi- tionally agreed yesterday to take part in discussions with federal officials about ways to correct the alleged violations. Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio said that his office first needs the U.S. Justice Department to provide facts to back up its alle- gations that his office racially pro- files Latinos, bases immigration enforcement on racially charged citizen complaints and punishes Hispanic jail inmates for speaking Spanish. "I have a suspicion that politics might be involved in this, but we want to resolve (the case)," Arpaio said. HAVANA Cuba criticizes Twitter for rumor of Castro's death State media yesterday accused the social networking site Twit- ter of helping spread a rumor that former Cuban leader Fidel Castro had died, and criticized anti-Cas- tro expatriates it dubbed "necro- philiac counterrevolutionaries" for jumping on the story. An article on the state-run Cubadebate Web site accused Twitter of allowing an account holder with the sign-on "Naroh" to start the rumor on Monday from an Italian server, possi- bly after it was taken over by a "robot." It says the account was then quickly deactivated. It said Twitter then helped spread the disinformation by allowing the hash tag "fidelcas- tro" to become a trending topic. It briefly became the fourth most popular in the world as it drew many more people to the subject. The site also accused Twitter of censoring subjects in the past that were in favor of the Cuban govern- ment. GENEVA Swiss central bank defends president amid controversy Switzerland's central bank sought yesterday to quash criti- cism of its president by releasing an independent auditors' report which concluded that currency deals from his private account were "delicate" but did not break the bank's internal guidelines. The Swiss National Bank pub- lished the report by auditors PricewaterhouseCoopers amid growing pressure on bank chief Philipp Hildebrand to reveal details of the deals that saw his family earn 75,000 Swiss francs ($83,000) from dollar currency swaps at a time when his central bank was acting to depress the value of the Swiss franc. The central bank also released its previously secret guidelines for senior officials and said Hil- debrand would hold a news con- ference Thursday. -Compiled from Daily wire reports Romney lands McCain endorsement as race shifts to New Hampshire KHALIL HAMRA/ An Egyptian anti- Mubarak protester carrying a photo of his son, reacts as he demonstrates outside a courtroom in Cairo, Egypt, yesterday. Egyptian prosecutors claim Mubarak instigated killings Santorum hopes to appeal to conservative voters MANCHESTER, N.H. (AP) - Mitt Romney eagerly pocketed an endorsement from two-time New Hampshire primary winner John McCain yesterday and bid to con- vert a single-digit victory in Iowa into a Republican presidentialcam- paign juggernaut. Unimpressed, Newt Gingrich ridiculed the for- mer Massachusetts governor as a liberal turned moderate now mas- queradingas aconservative. Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum sought to rally conser- vatives to his side after coming achingly close to victory in Iowa, saying he "hoped to surprise a few people just like we did" in the campaign's first contest. "This is a wide-open race still," added former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman, who skipped the Iowa caucuses in hopes of making his mark in next Tuesday's first-in- the-nation primary. Romney is the odds-on favor- ite to win the New Hampshire primary, though, and it is unclear how much campaign cash any of his rivals has available to try to slow or even stop his momentum. Additionally, in a measure of his establishment support, the former governor announced he would campaign with South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley on Thursday, as he was joined by McCain in New Hampshire. "The time has arrived for Republicans to choose a presi- dential nominee, a new standard bearer who has the ability and determination to defeat President Obama," said McCain, the 2008 Republican presidential nominee, and a man with a demonstrated appeal to the state's independent voters. Already, the Republican field of challengers was dwindling. Minnesota Rep. Michele Bach- mann ended her campaign after a dreary 5 percent showing in Iowa, the state where she was born. After suggesting he, too, might withdraw, Texas Gov. Rick Perry decided otherwise. "Here we come, South Carolina!!!" he tweet- ed. That primary is Jan. 21, and will mark the first balloting in the South as well as in a state that is part ofthe Republican Party's con- servative, political base nationally. Iowa, for months ground zero in the Republican race, yielded an almost impossibly close finish. Romney emerged with an eight-vote victory over Santorum, whose grass-roots campaigning produced a late surge that fell just shy of victory. Texas Rep. Ron Paul finished third, followed by Gingrich, Perry and Bachmann. A survey of Iowa caucus-goers highlighted the internal divisions in the GOP as it sets out to find a challenger for President Barack Obama in the general election campaign. Romney, who campaigned as the man best positioned to defeat Obama, was the favorite by far amongcaucus-goers who said that goal was their priority. Paul was preferred by those who said what mattered most was backing a true conservative. Santorum ran par- ticularly well among those who said they were looking for a candi- date with strong moral character. Oi S1 fa CA tion i said that his s polic insti more ing l- that 1 MI defen of co could convi W cided votin rounc tions Even Islam Brotl politi of a ture. their since es vo Islam Th frees a het were 13. Th have when 11 say usted president, be held before the end of June, but they are yet to announce an x police officers exact date for the vote and for formally handing over power to Ce death penalty a civilian administration. .f ctd Activists have been pointing to what they see as mounting signs of a confluence of interests IRO (AP) - The prosecu- between the Brotherhood and n the Hosni Mubarak trial the ruling generals. They fear yesterday it has concluded their understanding could lead Egypt's ousted president, to shelving reforms for greater ecurity chief and six top democracy they hoped for after e officers were the "actual Mubarak's fall. gators" of the killing of Activists accuse the Broth- than 800 protesters dur- erhood of opportunism and a ast year's popular uprising determination to seize power. brought down his regime. The group initially stayed out ubarak and his seven co- of the anti-Mubarak uprising, idants are facing charges though its disciplined follow- mplicity in the killings and ers later lent considerable street I face the death penalty if muscle to protesters' street icted. battles against security forces ednesday's hearing coin- and Mubarak loyalists. It has I with the second day of since largely stayed out of anti- g in the third and final military demonstrations, argu- d of parliamentary elec- ing that it was relying on the that began on Nov. 28. democratic process, rather than before the final round, protests. sists led by the Muslim The Mubarak trial brings out herhood, Egypt's largest conflicting visions. Reformers cal group, were assured and the victims' families clam- majority in the new legisla- or for a full measure of justice, They are likely to bolster while many others want the tur- gains in the final round, bulence to end so that Egypt's many of the nine provinc- battered economy can move ting have been traditional toward stability. nist strongholds. On Wednesday, chief pros- e elections, the fairest and ecutor Mustafa Suleiman said t in decades, have attracted the defendants clearly autho- avy turnout. Final results rized the use of live ammuni- due to be announced Jan. tion and a shoot-to-kill policy against peaceful protesters. He e military officers who also complained that the pros- taken over from Mubarak ecution had to launch its own he stepped down on Feb. probe after security authori- 'presidential elections will ties ignored the prosecution's requests for help in the inquiry. Prosecutors interviewed hun- dreds of witnesses, physicians and police officers to build its case. Suleiman said the decision to use live ammunition was taken on Jan. 27 last year, just before the most violent day of the 18-day uprising that forced Mubarak to step down on Feb. 11. Dubbed the "Friday of Rage," Jan.28 also saw the deployment of army troops in Cairo and across much of the nation, as well as the yet to be explained disappearance of security forc- es. The objective, he said, was to kill enough protesters to force the rest to disperse. Another prosecutor, Mustafa Khater, told the court that spe- cial police forces armed with automatic rifles targeted the heads, chests and eyes of pro- testers. The prosecution also showed video of the violence taken by TV stations. They showed police officers loading up their weapons with live ammuni- tion and police and fire engine trucks chasing protesters and running them over. One video showed a police officer perched on top of a police car and killing a protester with a gunshot to the head. "The defendants before you in the cage are the actual insti- gators and are the ones who gave police officers the order to shoot," said Suleiman. He also said that the prosecution has evidence that the regime used "thugs" against the protesters. Last defendant in Iraq war case will go on trial Mexican drug cartel kingpin pleads guilty to racketeering, other charges Mor late SAN defenda lengthie U.S. troc War is this we after hi: includin children The k 19, 2005 the war ther tail tion whi point af of prisot at Abu G The anger it of the charged main re try's de be subje remaine ended in Those be the d. withdra Staff from M leader o cleared in grena e than six years them with gunfire shortly after a roadside bomb hit a Marine con- r, Haditha case voy. One Marine was killed and two others were wounded. set to end His lawyer, Neal Puckett, said Wuterich, 31, is confident the all- DIEGO (AP) - The last military jury will acquit him. nt in the biggest and Wuterich has said he regret- st criminal case against ted the loss of civilian lives but ops to arise from the Iraq believed he was operating within expected to stand trial military combat rules when he ek, more than six years ordered his men to attack after s squad killed 24 Iraqis, the roadside bomb exploded. ig unarmed women and Marines inthe unithave saidthey 1. were under gunfire at the time. illings in Hadithaon Nov. Wuterich declined to be inter- , are considered among viewed before the trial. 's defining moments, fur- "He's ready to go to trial and nting America's reputa- put this behind him and move on en it was already at a low with his life, whatever that holds ter the release of photos for him," Puckett said. ner abuse by U.S. soldiers Military prosecutors declined ,hraib prison. to comment. case continues to fuel Jury selection will take place n Iraq because not one Thursday and opening argu- eight Marines initially ments are slated for Friday has been convicted - a before the military jury at Camp 'ason behind the coun- Pendleton, north of San Diego, mands that U.S. troops after years of delays. ct to its laws if its forces The late U.S. Rep. John d there after the war Murtha, a former Marine and December. decorated Vietnam War veteran, demands turned out to compared the killings to the 1968 eal-breaker that led to the My Lai massacre, when Ameri- wal of all American forces. can servicemen killed as many Sgt. Frank Wuterich, as 504 Vietnamese villagers. eriden, Conn., was the Marines, including Wuterich, f the Marine squad that filed lawsuits alleging that the several homes, by tossing comments damaged their repu- ades and then peppering tations. Felix could face up to 25 years in prison SAN DIEGO (AP) - Mexi- can drug kingpin Benjamin Arellano Felix pleaded guilty yesterday to racketeering and conspiracy to launder money, avoiding the spectacle of a trial for the leader of a cartel that once smuggled hundreds of tons of cocaine and marijuana into the United States and dis- solved bodies of its rivals in vats of lye. Under an agreement with federal prosecutors, Arellano Felix, 58, can be sentenced to no more than 25 years in prison - a lighter punishment than ordered for lower-ranking members of his once-mighty, Tijuana-based cartel. Prosecutors agreed to dis- miss other charges that could have brought 140 years in pris- on if he was convicted. The half-hour hearing was an anticlimactic finish to the U.S. government's pursuit of one of the world's most powerful drug bosses during the 1990s. His cartel, with its iron-tight grip on the drug trade along Cali- fornia's border with Mexico, was portrayed in the Steven Soderbergh film "Traffic" but has struggled in recent years as other cartels have become more ruthless than ever. Laura Duffy, the U.S. attor- ney in San Diego who built much of her career on the case, said Arellano Felix will likely spend the rest of his life in U.S. prison but did not elaborate on the reasoning for the plea deal. "Today's guilty plea marks the end of his reign of murder, mayhem and corruption, and his historic admission of guilt sends a clear message to the Mexican cartel leaders operat- ing today: The United States will spare no effort to investi- gate, extradite and prosecute you for your criminal activi- ties," Duffy said. Arellano Felix stood atten- tively in court, acknowledging his guilt as U.S. District Judge Larry Burns recited parts of a 17-page plea agreement. He told the judge that he has been suffering migraine headaches almost daily but that the prob- lem didn't impair his judgment to accept the plea agreement. Anthony Colombo Jr., Arel- lano Felix's attorney, said his client could be released from U.S. prison in 20 years if cred- ited for time served in this country and good behavior, assuming he gets the maxi- mum 25-year sentence. As a Mexican citizen, he would then be deported to Mexico, where he still has nine years left on a sentence for related crimes. Colombo said the govern- ment may have agreed to the deal to avoid having to bargain with 21 potential government witnesses for reduced sen- tences in exchange for their testimony. They also may have wanted to avoid a lengthy trial. "They have to consider years and years of litigation, plus the expense, is avoided by this res- olution," Colombo told report- ers. John Kirby, a former fed- eral prosecutor who co-wrote the 2003 indictment against Arellano Felix, said the case rested entirely on cooperating witnesses, instead of wiretaps or physical evidence. He said those cases weaken over time as witnesses die, get into more trouble or change their minds about testifying. "This kind of case is based solely on witness testimony, and it slowly disintegrates," Kirby said. "Maybe from the time when we put it together and now, it's not such a great case anymore." The cost of a trial was unlikely to have influenced prosecutors, Kirby said. "The government doesn't care about the expense, the government cares about win- ning," he said. Francisco Javier Arellano Felix, a younger brother who led the cartel after Benjamin was arrested in Mexico in 2002, was sentenced in San Diego to life in prison in 2007, a year after he was captured by U.S. authorities in interna- tional waters off Mexico's Baja California coast. Jesus Labra Aviles, a lieutenant under Ben- jamin Arellano Felix, was sen- tenced in San Diego to 40 years in prison in 2010. ne- 4 ouaea mes0000 yqusCve 0 SOC moneYYY o ut for You g anSd t onee Students a Pq.nerPac [pieityAro 35%-45% cheaper than other online stores on average* Saves $225 on average 55% cheaper multi-item textbook ordersa than bookstores on averages o IGG ws cewt npgvsgeho lwlthouast Pnine tore BW93 j